[Glorantha] Legitimacy (from Outlaws & Orlanth's Parentage)

[Orlanth Umathi]

Just to clarify my point, legitimacy is a much wider concept than 
parentage and succession (even for Yelmites).

The concept is tied up with your mandate (to borrow a democratic term) 
and the perception of your subjects.

To explain in context with Orlanthi society, Orlanth claims universal 
kingship by a sequence of contests ending in regicide. As a mythic model 
of legitimacy, regicide is inherently flawed, not least because it 
implies that anyone can rule.

But Orlanth's legitimacy is not just based on regicide, it is based on a 
belief that empirical rule is inherently unjust: it makes all people 
subject to one man and flies in the face of freedom. Orlanth is 
questioning Yelm's legitimacy, and the principle of birthright.

This is where the Clan/Tribe building myths come in, they contrast with 
Divine Rule and emphasise unity and rule by consensus.

The consequences of the death of Yelm and the subsequent quests and 
compromises go some way to redressing the "might is right" / "Divine 
Rule" balance but there is always an inherent principle in Orlanthi 
society, if the king/high king/chief gets to big for his boots he can be 
framed as an emperor and killed.

Also, to take this to a purely symbolic level, there is an unconscious 
connection with regicide and ritual sacrifice. This type of symbolism 
can effect the mindset of the people, leading to an unspoken principle 
that every king will reach a point where he either steps down or must be 
killed.

For further reading on such vagaries of legitimacy I would recommend 
Roberto Calasso's "The Ruin of Kasch", ostensively a book on the French 
revolution in relation to legitimacy but in keeping with Calasso's other 
books it delves deep into symbolism and mythology, specifically vedic 
sacrifice.


Jamie
Orlanth.Umathi