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Wasn't the king usually also the richest person in the country?

• mblakele 17y ago
  I don't think life has ever been quite that simple, unless the population of the country is close to one. In any reasonably large society there is a complex dynamic between the king, various holders of political power, and various holders of economic power. Sometimes the king has been the poorest person in the country, because the national debt is his personal debt as well as the country's. Yes, the crown might try to liquidate its creditors - but they have friends too. And how will the crown borrow more money tomorrow?
  • areaMan 17y ago
    There's an apocryphal story here in Dubai (most such stories are that or rumours but you couldn't help but wonder the veracity of such 'truths') that the owner of Majid Al Futtaim group (http://www.majidalfuttaim.com http://www.majidalfuttaim.com) is richer than Shiekh Mohammed - the ruler of Dubai, and on the surface it looks like it might be true.
• donaq 17y ago
  Well, yes, but sometimes the king can become richer (and more secure) by making his kingdom the vassal of an empire.
  • gaius 17y ago
    That is the deal Xerxes offered Leonidas, who turned it down :-)
    • donaq 17y ago
      Continuing the analogy, that was more of a hostile takeover. <joke>Yeah. Bugger should have taken the deal and bought himself some bling.</joke>