Royal courts as centers of power and intrigue from "summary" of The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
Royal courts were not merely ornamental fixtures in the grand tapestry of society; they were pulsing centers of power and intrigue, where the fates of nations were decided and destinies forged. Within the hallowed halls of these palaces, monarchs held court, surrounded by a retinue of advisors, diplomats, and courtiers vying for favor and influence. The air was thick with the heady scent of ambition and machination, as each player sought to outmaneuver the others in the high-stakes game of politics. At the heart of every royal court lay the monarch, the ultimate arbiter of power and authority. Their word was law, their whims capricious and absolute. To be in the favor of the king or queen was to hold the golden ticket to wealth and privilege; to fall out of favor was to risk exile or even death. It was a precarious dance, navigating the treacherous waters of royal politics, where alliances were fragile and betrayals commonplace. But it was not only the monarch who wielded power within the court. Behind the throne stood a shadowy cabal of advisors and confidantes, whispering in the ear of the ruler and pulling the strings of government ...
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