[FE] The rise and fall of Begnion

[myaru]

Generally speaking, when you read history, you notice there's a life cycle for countries - the idealistic and unstable beginnings, the golden age, the time afterward that's okay but maybe not glorious - and then the system starts to fail. The rulers lose interest in governing, high officials become corrupt or greedy, and in their efforts to line their pockets force lower officials to become corrupt, or risk losing their jobs. (Example: if the guy in charge of your province wants X amount of money, but the taxes don't actually cover that, you find ways to extort more money from the commoners so he won't fire you and find someone more capable of draining the public.) Taxes may rise - see example. People become unhappy. Eventually, there's enough dissatisfaction that something happens to topple the old regime and start a new one, and the cycle begins again.

(Let me emphasize again how much I'm generalizing. I'm not trying to be academic about it, just give you an idea as to my reasoning. You can see similar cycles in dynastic history - for instance, in China - and amazingly, this is also covered at length in the Twelve Kingdoms novel series, where one monarch basically equals a dynasty when you look at it this way. You see it in the anime too, but they don't spend as much time talking about it.)

So let's look at Tellius. Crimea and Daein have been around a few hundred years, and Daein has experienced some turmoil in the form of regimes changing (with rulers like Ashnard and Micaiah sort of symbolizing different ideals from the traditional monarchy it started out as), but they're both apparently having golden ages at the end of RD. Begnion, on the other hand, has been ruled by the same regime for eight hundred years - or if you want to get technical, probably only six hundred or so, as it sounds like the senate cropped up a bit after Altina.

But the senate has grown so corrupt, with the power in only a few select hands, that the corruption has probably trickled downward in the ranks. Consider the slave rings in PoR, and the fact that Sanaki had to manipulate Ike and Co. into taking care of them, contacting the Laguz Alliance, and helping the herons because she couldn't openly challenge them - because she couldn't trust her own officials to carry out her orders. She hired neutral, unaffiliated mercenaries to do the job instead.

At the end of RD - again, working from memory - Sanaki's ending script says she 'elected to lead her people without the goddess' and united the continent with treaties. The Japanese was a little darker as I remember it, but my translations are doomed to be imperfect; it said something to the effect that Sanaki united the continent through her efforts (treaties = fine interpretation) and then said something I interpreted differently than the official translation because my Japanese skills have degraded for some reason - that she held Begnion together by the strength of her will. As in, the fragmenting caused by the senate's takeover and Sephiran's rebellion against them didn't go away. Makes sense. They don't really address that in the game, but Sanaki has a huge mess on her hands after Ashera is defeated.

What, no golden age for Sanaki? No credit for telling her people the truth - how else could she rule without the goddess? - and turning her back on tradition? No resurgence of art (maybe Oliver takes care of this) and philosophy? It's interesting, because it looks like Sanaki is popular enough to hold the country together just by sitting on the throne. That's the implication in some of her base conversations - that she's a good empress because her people were willing to die by the hundreds to put her back on the throne.

In a country ruled by the dreams of a goddess for six hundred years, I think it's probably just as reasonable to say that Sanaki has to replace the goddess with something her people can hold onto - but instead of looking outside of herself, she reached inward and became their pillar of strength.

Or-- when she dies, the empire will crumble. Lehran's little epilogue kind of hints at that. Begnion is declining. There may be a revival with Sanaki, but it's inevitable, I think. I also kind of like the idea she's the only thing holding it together. Is that my bias talking?

Why do these get so long? I'm better off writing fic, but speculating on this would demand an epic.

Comments

[elddonnemar.livejournal.com]

I was going to comment with fannish glee about this yesterday, but since I've only been lurking I finally decided against it. The fact that after an entire day there were still no comments on this incredibly fantastic idea has prompt me to change my mind.

I just wanted you to know that I would be willing to beg for read your epic. If having a single audience does not merit the effort, I would be willing to read and elaborately comment upon anything you would write on this topic.

[myaru.livejournal.com]

Lurking is fine! I do it all the time. Comments are always welcome, anyway.

If I weren't already writing an epic I would consider it. XD It'll probably show up in stories, though - peripherally in fics about non-Begnion characters like Rafiel or Micaiah, but if you can swallow Lehran/Sanaki, there will be a few 30 Kisses entries dealing with the topic, which will be mostly gen. I understand if that's not someone's cup of tea, though. I just really like the idea 'empire in decline' idea.

[elddonnemar.livejournal.com]

That sounds perfectly lovely. I'm working my way slowly through your all of your old fics in no particular order. I'm actually enjoying the Lahran/Sanaki ones the most so far. =D

[searains.livejournal.com]

I agree with most of this except the second-last paragraph. Yes, Sanaki is left with a huge mess on her hands. Yes, half the government being wiped from the face of the earth simultaneously might pose a problem, especially for their various districts. Yes, there are probably going to be internal conflicts, especially if Sephiran is dead.

But overall, everything is on Sanaki's side for a revival. First of all, no exterior threat while the country in is turmoil. Second, having the entire top tier of the bureaucracy wiped out in one fell swoop as well as their armies allows her to act quickly with only having to deal with minimal paperwork. It seemed to be implied that they were the only thing holding her back from passing laguz rights legislation and whatnot. Thirdly, she's Sanaki. Undoubtably she'll have to hold Begnion together through the power of her will for a short time while everyone is like WTF, but seeing as how much time she would have on the throne, she can easily instate a new and less corruptable government while having several children. Being the only one in power and with an army, she can pretty much pass as many laws as she wants.

In fact, I think it's highly likely that with sanaki would definetly bring on a revival, socio-economic change following government restructuring. Being the smart person she is, it's likely she'll create a system that works quite well. She'd be like, the next Altina if she manages to pull it off.

[myaru.livejournal.com]

I think even if Sephiran lives, the same conflicts would occur - he's still a traitor, and he still leaves Begnion eventually, though the game isn't really specific on when or how. Sanaki may be really pissed at him, but she's also relieved he's alive if you take that path, and the implication to me is that she's willing to forgive him to an extent. I just take that inch and run a mile with it, I know. But that isn't what this paragraph is about, I promise. It's-- god, I lost my train of thought. Shock, betrayal - she's probably obligated to get rid of him, and even Oliver. And then she's left with a power vacuum that she has to fill, and probably can't completely take over herself.

That's where I'm going with that, mainly. Sanaki will be able to take control of her government, but she'll still have to choose new high officials - I imagine the internal conflict over that could get nasty - and there's the matter of people who were loyal to the senior council. There's also the matter of those members of the army mentioned in the game as unhappy with following a "false apostle." Without anyone to take care of the provinces, she may lose control over them. I'm sure there are a lot of people who love their empress, but there will also be people willing to take advantage of the situation to cause trouble. Laguz-haters would be at the top of the list, I'd think.

I'm a fan of the idea that she can and will hold it together. As long as she lives I think you're right, and Begnion will see improvement. But when she dies is a different story. That depends on how she raises her children, and what kind of environment they grow up in, whether any of them are Branded, whether any of the prejudice is blunted over her lifetime, and that kind of thing. There are a lot of variables.

I don't think Begnion would fall right away even in the worst scenario, but I think it's on its last legs, so to speak.

But anyway, I agree, and think Sanaki could do that. It wouldn't be easy, though. I know it's a game, but realistically speaking, she can't possibly keep track of the entire country without some kind of provincial network, and it would take her a long time to develop that. She CAN, but in the meantime...

Maybe she sat Sephiran down and made him draft a plan before he left? He'd be useful for that. And if he protested, she could threaten to pluck his feathers to stuff her mattress.