Gondor as Byzantine Empire and other parallels

My dear all, I found smething very attractive-Eastern Roman and Gondor's polity were totally different, as the previous' form of state was a republic, yet the latter was...as you knew, they got kings.

Hisoka Morrow said:

My dear all, I found smething very attractive-Eastern Roman and Gondor's polity were totally different, as the previous' form of state was a republic, yet the latter was...as you knew, they got kings.

Click to expand...

Eastern Roman Empire was never a republic - unless you subscribe to Kaldellis' view that ability of people to influence Emperor made it a republic.

Aldarion said:

Eastern Roman Empire was never a republic - unless you subscribe to Kaldellis' view that ability of people to influence Emperor made it a republic.

Click to expand...

OK, my mistake, I thought monarchs are defined by the standard that the heads of the states are inheritage or not, but obviously...(looking at Northern Korea called itself Republic)

Hisoka Morrow said:

OK, my mistake, I thought monarchs are defined by the standard that the heads of the states are inheritage or not, but obviously...(looking at Northern Korea called itself Republic)

Click to expand...

Eh, not really. Most monarchies historically had some sort of a mixed system - they tended to evolve into hereditary monarchy, but it wasn't the only category.

Basically, you have three lawful systems:
Monarchy - rule of one
Aristocracy - rule of many
Democracy - rule of all

And three tyrannical systems:
Tyranny - unlawful / unlimited monarchy
Oligarchy - unlawful / unlimited aristocracy
Mob rule - unlawful / unlimited democracy

And lastly the republic, which is a mixed system that contains elements of monarchy (single head of the state), aristocracy (a body of "chosens") and democracy (rule of the people).

As such, it really doesn't matter how monarch comes to power so long as it is lawful and with agreement of the people. It can be heredity by birth, heredity by choice (e.g. adoption), election by nobility, election by masses... what matters is that monarch is one.