I agree with your general point, but Kings and Queens absolutely had to consider other people. Specifically, most rulers had some kind of patronage network whe

I agree with your general point, but Kings and Queens absolutely had to consider other people. Specifically, most rulers had some kind of patronage network where they gave out 'gifts' like land, or the right to collect taxes, in return for loyalty. Princes did not generally just sit on a huge pile of money, like a dragon. If they wanted to go to war or build a palace, they had raise taxes, which meant concessions to their power. Anyway, slightly off-topic! Still, the analogy holds - you don't get to be a prince of the internet without the work of a lot of minor nobles.