So, to take this thread really far back (several pages ago, in a galaxy far, far away):
I think it could be said that the Syndicate COULD be hereditary and there is a historical basis for this on Earth. Â In the 1300's the Medicis rose to power in Florence (Italy) based solely on their capacity as bankers and the vast amounts of wealth they had. Â Since Florence was a Republic City State (although this would fluctuate wildly during the Renaissance, arguably because of this one family's power and influence), this family rose to join the ranks of other very prominent, wealthy families and essentially came to control the city while keeping it under the guise of a Republic. Â
One would argue that they were not nobility since they were bankers and descended from peasants. Â Likewise, you could say that they weren't nobility because Florence was not a kingdom or run by a ruler, per se. Â However, the fact stands that they were considered nobility and allowed to marry into foreign royal houses (they provided France with two queens, both of which made a profound impact of the country itself) and even managed to get some of their relatives into the Papal seat. Â Eventually, they were given Florence as a dukedom. Â
They managed this through patronizing various artists (propaganda), bribery, putting family members in prime positions politically, and ruthlessly eliminating the competition (Pazzi Conspiracy.) Â Their greatest leader was arguably Lorenzo "il Magnifico" de Medici who was the patron of Michelangelo, Leonardo di Vinci, Botticelli, etc. Â Despite having been out of power for centuries, the Medici stamp can still be seen all over Florence in terms of their coat of arms marking buildings they built or owned.
So, how this affects Ul'dah:Â Because wealth is inherited (we assume since I don't think there's a thing talking about inheritance laws in Ul'dah) and it's wealth that allows someone to buy into the Syndicate, it's possible that a Syndicate position could be hereditary on the inside while outwardly presenting a facade of "if you had enough wealth/power/prestige, you could be here too." Â If a man owns a business that has made him a ton of wealth, is he going to just let his employee take over it? Â Or will he let his son/daughter? Â At the end of the day, his employee could destroy everything he worked towards as well as harm his family by forcing them out of benefits associated with the business. Â However, his son/daughter can't hurt his/her family without hurting themselves. Â It's a safer bet to keep wealth in the family than giving the source of your wealth and power to a treasured employee.
TL;DR: Â Ul'dah is a lot like Florence in terms of a city state. Â If there is no nobility, the Syndicate is like nobillity. Â Look up Medici family in Florence and see the similarities between Florence's Republic and Ul'dah's Syndicate.
Quote:We do not know Ul'dah has nobility. There is a royal family and there is the Syndicate, the latter of which is not hereditary but rather bought into with gil.
I think it could be said that the Syndicate COULD be hereditary and there is a historical basis for this on Earth. Â In the 1300's the Medicis rose to power in Florence (Italy) based solely on their capacity as bankers and the vast amounts of wealth they had. Â Since Florence was a Republic City State (although this would fluctuate wildly during the Renaissance, arguably because of this one family's power and influence), this family rose to join the ranks of other very prominent, wealthy families and essentially came to control the city while keeping it under the guise of a Republic. Â
One would argue that they were not nobility since they were bankers and descended from peasants. Â Likewise, you could say that they weren't nobility because Florence was not a kingdom or run by a ruler, per se. Â However, the fact stands that they were considered nobility and allowed to marry into foreign royal houses (they provided France with two queens, both of which made a profound impact of the country itself) and even managed to get some of their relatives into the Papal seat. Â Eventually, they were given Florence as a dukedom. Â
They managed this through patronizing various artists (propaganda), bribery, putting family members in prime positions politically, and ruthlessly eliminating the competition (Pazzi Conspiracy.) Â Their greatest leader was arguably Lorenzo "il Magnifico" de Medici who was the patron of Michelangelo, Leonardo di Vinci, Botticelli, etc. Â Despite having been out of power for centuries, the Medici stamp can still be seen all over Florence in terms of their coat of arms marking buildings they built or owned.
So, how this affects Ul'dah:Â Because wealth is inherited (we assume since I don't think there's a thing talking about inheritance laws in Ul'dah) and it's wealth that allows someone to buy into the Syndicate, it's possible that a Syndicate position could be hereditary on the inside while outwardly presenting a facade of "if you had enough wealth/power/prestige, you could be here too." Â If a man owns a business that has made him a ton of wealth, is he going to just let his employee take over it? Â Or will he let his son/daughter? Â At the end of the day, his employee could destroy everything he worked towards as well as harm his family by forcing them out of benefits associated with the business. Â However, his son/daughter can't hurt his/her family without hurting themselves. Â It's a safer bet to keep wealth in the family than giving the source of your wealth and power to a treasured employee.
TL;DR: Â Ul'dah is a lot like Florence in terms of a city state. Â If there is no nobility, the Syndicate is like nobillity. Â Look up Medici family in Florence and see the similarities between Florence's Republic and Ul'dah's Syndicate.
