For time out of mind,vampires followed Darwin's law: Only the strong survive. Those who had the mettle to seize power and the strength to hold it would rule,and so it was.Vampires styled themselves as warlords and nobles,controlling whatever territory they could hold,living in uneasy truce with their mortal and Cainite neighbors,and ever seeking to expand their holdings and herds.In the cities of ancient world,this often proved disastrous,as vampires battled for trade and feeding grounds.
In the elder nights,the strongest vampire in each city claimed domain over it and used whatever means necessary to keep his control over it.As time went on,traditions sprang up around this claiming and controlling,and certain responsibilities were either tacticaly assumed or forcibly taken by the one in power.The Camerilla set down and enforced these ideals over the centuries following the Renaissance.In 1743, a London anarch published a pamphlet decrying the elder society of Kindred, breaking the Masquerade in a most flamboyant manner.The Camerilla responded quickly,first by covering up the incident ("A most remarkable work of fantastical fiction!") and destroying the anarch,and then by formally acknowledging the position of Prince.The office is still held by many vampires in these nights.
The Prince is,to put it simply,the vampire who has enough power to hold domain over a city,codify the laws for that city and keep the peace.Such a position is typically held by an elder,for who but an elder has the necessary personal charisma and power to take and hold domain in a metropolis?In some small towns ,younger vampiresmay be able to claim domain in the same way,but their claims are rearly respected by the coteires of the cities.On occassion,strange circumstances have placed younger vampires in a position to rule cities,but few such upstarts manage to hold their titles when elders appear.
The title "Prince" is simply that---a title given to formalize a role,whether it is held by man or woman.There are no dynasties of vampires holding their cities for centuries on end,no hereditary ascensions.Sometimes a prince may be called by a title native to the land he rules,such as "Baron"."Sultan","Count" or a less formal title such as "boss".Kindred scholarstracing the origins of the term believe that it had its roots in the Dark Ages,in reference to the lord of the manor,becoming a solid term of address after the publishing of Machiavelli's "The Prince".
A Prince does not "reign" over a city.his role is more like that of an overseer or magistratethan that of a monarch.He is the judge who settles disputes between Kindred,the ultimate authority on the Traditions as they relate to his city,and the keeper of the peace.Above all,his concern is the Masquerade and its preservation. Whether this means he regularly sours his city for Sabbat or keeps a stranglehold on the wilder elements is up to him.Not every Prince realizes or cares that his power is meant to be so informal;indeed,some demand that they be treated like kings of old,holding 'court' and requirring their 'subjects' within the domain attend them as they pass royal pronouncements.Such arrogance can rankle the populace,both disenfranchised youth and irritated elders. |
