Forms of Government in Guild Wars

From Guild Wars Wiki

Many different forms of government exist in the Guild Wars games and on the World of Tyria.

[edit] Human governments

• Ascalon - Monarchy. King Adelbern, born a commoner but descended from King Doric, was able to succeed the unnamed previous king. The events surrounding this succession are unclear, however the Royalists were bitter about it, and wanted to depose Adelbern and replace him with Duke Barradin.
• Cantha - Monarchy under the Lord Emperor of the Dragon. In practice, the entrenched bureaucracy of the Celestial Ministry also wields considerable power, meaning that this nation may be considered a constitutional monarchy, a monarchy with a parliament acting as regulators of law and government business.
  • Luxon Armada - Meritocracy. The Luxon Armada as a hole is governed by their Council of Elders which modifies and improves the law of the Luxons. Under the Council of Elders, there are the three clans. Each Clan is ruled by a Captain. Disputes over clan leadership are resolved in combat challenges, and leadership of the Luxons as a whole is determined annually at the Convocation.
  • Kurzicks - Oligarchy under the Council of Nobles, whose most powerful member is Count Petrov zu Heltzer.
• Elona - Historically monarchy, no central government since 1074 DR.
  • Istan - Meritocracy. Istan is ruled by the Council of Elders, which is lead by Elder Suhl, Istan's elected Clanmarshal.
  • Kourna - Monarchy under Warmarshal Varesh Ossa. The rules of succession are unclean, however the position of Warmarshal has been held by the Ossa clan since the Battle of Jahai, and Varesh succeeded her father.
  • Vabbi - Monarchy. It is not clear whether the position of Clanmarshal still exists in Vabbi.
• Kryta - Prior to the Charr invasion, Kryta was a monarchy, however the royal family was nearly wiped out in the invasion and all publicly known survivors fled overseas. During Prophecies, it was a Theocratic Kritocracy ruled by Confessor Dorian, then, after his death, the White Mantle Inner Council (Argyle, Bolivar and Cuthbert), White Mantle leadership after the death of the Inner Council is unclear. During the Krytan civil war, the rebel forces include the royalists, lead by Salma, a Krytan princess, and the Shining Blade, under the leadership of Bartholos. Kritocracy, a government ruled by judges (the White Mantle's inner council), is where Kryta got its name.
• Orr - A monarchy prior to The Cataclysm.

[edit] Non-human governments

• Asura - The Asura do not seem to have any formal government, Mamp appears to be the closest thing they have to a leader. However, as is revealed by the official Guild Wars 2 Wiki, Asura also opperate in Krewes, small bands designed to create unity is mechanical or technological projects, while giving freedom to the individual to rise to full potential. Krewes aid progression as they are intimate and managably organized, much like a Band Society, however Krewes stay together only for the length of their projects. Krewes also aid the progression of individuals in the fact that in large groups such as those that make up the Celestial Ministery of Cantha, one must work for years under regional managers to gain any influence, which often squanders the talented, whereas Krewes allow reputation to be given to the creative, innovative and brilliant minds in the group. This prestige is then spread throughout the Asura community quickly by word-of-mouth and through the information network provided by Asura Gates.
• Centaurs - Centaur tribes are ruled by chieftains and elders, succession methods are unknown.
• Charr - Primarily Theocratic Band Society. The secular Charr government has some aspects of a meritocracy and some aspects of a hereditary oligarchy. Each legion's primus warband is comprised primarily or exclusively of descendants of the Khan-Ur, leadership of each primus warband (and, with it, ex officio leadership of the legion) is only open to descendants of the Khan-Ur, and is determined by combat. In modern times, the Shaman caste wields more power and influence than any individual legion. Rising in power within the Shaman caste typically involves claiming a mandate of authority from the Titans. Hierophant Burntsoul is among the most powerful members of the Shaman caste, he is strongly implied to be the leader of the Flame Legion's powerful Burnt warband, and may be the supreme ruler of the Charr. The Warbands of the Charr reflect the Band Society element of Charr government, a semi-informal hierarchy of individuals on a small scale, with strongest as leader. The blood ties of a Band are less prevalent here, as Charr are not in a Warband based on their family.
• Dwarves
  • Deldrimor - Monarchy, current king is Jalis Ironhammer.
  • Stone Summit - Originally lead by Dagnar Stonepate. At some point after his death, leadership was assumed by their last remaining Hierophant, Duncan the Black. Duncan's successor, if any, is unknown.
• Norn - No formal government. The Norn's nearest counterpart to rulers are those Norn who claim hearthsteads. A hearthstead can be claimed by challenging and defeating its current holder. This places the Norn in the category of meritocracy, as the strongest will rise to the position of power.
• Undead
  • Orr - The Undead Lich commanded the Orrian undead, magically controlling at least some of them. The political situation among the Orrian undead after the Lich's defeat is unknown. It is assumed that power was split like Palawa's army after his fall - that is, split among various high ranking members.
  • The Desolation - Prior to the Battle of Jahai, Palawa Joko was the undisputed ruler of the Desolation's undead, exerting some form of magical control over at least some of them. After the Battle of Jahai, the undead were ruled by various warlords, including some of Joko's former generals. After Joko's return, all other independent undead warlords encountered during Nightfall can either be recruited under Joko's banner or killed.

[edit] Glossary of Politics

• Band Society - government based on small (usually family) unit with a semi-informal hierarchy, with strongest (either physical strength or strength of character) as leader. Very much like a pack seen in other animals, such as wolves.
• Kritocracy - government ruled by judges
• Meritocracy - government ruled by officials that have earned status or prestige and have gained merit in the eyes of the populace.
• Monarchy - government ruled by one leader chosen by blood-line.
• Theocracy - government ruled by religion.
• Timocracy - government ruled by honourable citizens.