Once there was a very prosperous land.  The land was ruled over by various kings, dukes, lords, viceroys, viziers, turks, and despots.  Each ruler came into power over the wealth of these lands by the same means... Assassination of the previous ruler.

  So it was that when one young and ambitious man took the title of King from the former skull that had filled the crown, he grew very nervous and quite scared.  In an attempt to placate his fears, the King hired a lookalike to stand in his stead at public appearences and on trips.

  The poor peasant he hired to wear the crown in public was quite happy to have three square meals a day and a warm room to sleep in at night.  This peasant thought he had quite a nice life ahead of him, until the royal foodtaster dropped dead one night at dinner.

  The reality of his situation as a living target dawned on him, and this peasant didn't much like the idea.  So he made it a point to do something about it.  His solution was different from the king who ruled from the shadows - This man decided instead to get married and create an alternate target.

  The wedding was glorious.  This land was not short on money, and they knew how to celebrate.  The festivities lasted for hours.. until half the guests suddenly were pierced by a hail of arrows loosed on the ceremony.

  The royal couple fled in terror to their bedchambers and schemed some more.  The queen didn't like the idea of being a target any more than the peasant pretending to be king.  But they could only think to expand their royal family more, to confuse or at least spread out the assassins across the lands.

  So it was that the fake King and Queen adopted scores of children.  After several of the children ended up missing, the others hired siblings or viziers or regents.  Before long, every resident of this prosperous land was royalty in one way or another.

  They all lost track through all the adoptions, guardians, marriages and such who it was who was truly in charge.  And so they all decided in stead to found a democracy, where they all ruled with equal voice.  The land went on to even more prosperity, becoming the envy of royalty everywhere.  They lived happily due to their new national motto:

Sharing the Wealth Benefits Everyone's Health.