Coup d'etat

[chrispenycate]

I've noticed that, probably biassed by the "mediaeval city" in the first post, my reply holds for something like the German principalities or Italian city states, but would be considerably more complicated in a larger kingdom, like France or Spain. The aristocratic families are generally landowners, and members of the clan would be at the ancestral holdings, frequently several days travel from the capital city and royal (ducal, whatever) court.

In the absence of reliable communications, co-ordinating the massacre becomes much more of a problem; you're forced to assume your other conspirators have got their bit right. If any segment fails, it puts the whole in jeopardy. Treaties with foreign powers will probably hold as long as your legitimacy is unquestioned, but a nephew/true heir to the throne of is a powerful playing piece in international diplomacy.

 

[Toby Frost]

Yes, I'd assumed it was a city-state too. Given the lack of centralisation in a medieval kingdom you would have to either get the other lords' backing first or hope they, er, didn't mind. I wonder what the plan for the gunpowder plotters was once the king was dead? I suspect they may have had powerful backers in the nobility anyhow. Perhaps you could invite another country to invade, but this too would be risky, as it could really stir up resistance.

 

[Gamblor]

Wow, some great ongoing dialogue – thanks everyone. Thanks Judge for the link – it sounds pretty brutal, you for sure would not want to fail in a coup attempt. Ouch! It’s a great opportunity to explore the tension and fear that must go hand in hand with an operation like this.


For interests of literary drama, I think Judge and J-WO hit a sweet spot – instead of the machinations of the coup (in whatever form this takes) being described in all political detail, you could have the main players come together for a show down in a single place. You can allude to the other things that need to happen but the really juicy stuff can happen conveniently for our audiences’ eyes…what do you think? Do you think the authenticity would suffer for the high drama/conflict (albeit convenient conflict)?



I will sum up what I hope to put to paper in the effort to give a bit of focus and to see what other juicy bits come to the surface of the community soup, if you will.
So I want to give it urgency to get the ball rolling: An external enemy is a day away from the gates. The city leader it seems has cut some sort of deal with the invaders (hang with it – the overarching plot provides decent enough motivation for this) and thus does not rally the troops. In a consequent altercation with a patriotic general the two sides are formed. The arrest warrant is issued for the fleeing general who gathers his trusted men within the city and formulates hasty plans. You can get an idea for some of the machinations here.



I would follow this generals POV as he moves to the barracks where the perplexed soldiers of the army/city guard are formed. They are perplexed because they have not been rallied with an enemy a day away. After a rousing speech by the general and a few deals being cut (which leaves the opportunity for deals being broken later) he sways half of them – just as the leader and his elite guard burst in shouting treason. The set up is just ripe for a deciding fight…it cuts a lot of the difficult chaf away and you still get that good old fight scene…


Like before, do you think it will sacrifice some of the authenticity? Sorry if you think I may be labouring the point – I just find it interesting : )

Best, gamblor

 

[paranoid marvin]

Yes, I'd assumed it was a city-state too. Given the lack of centralisation in a medieval kingdom you would have to either get the other lords' backing first or hope they, er, didn't mind. I wonder what the plan for the gunpowder plotters was once the king was dead? I suspect they may have had powerful backers in the nobility anyhow. Perhaps you could invite another country to invade, but this too would be risky, as it could really stir up resistance.

The position of the gun-powder plotters was hopeless. If they'd managed to kill the King , all that would have happened would have been a bloody civil war between Catholics and Protestants , and the distinct possibility of a successful invasion by either France or Spain - or both in coalition. We could all be speaking Spanish now if the Plot had been successful.

 

[J-WO]

Recent history puts a different slant on the plotters. Its possible their fundamentalism precluded any thoughts of what would follow their actions, at least in any solid way.