Merchant Prince

Merchant Prince is an unofficial title given to the most successful merchants in Krag-a-Krach. The title isn't necessarily tied to money on hand, but rather money earned - this is an important distinction because Krachi honor often involves wealth distribution; some of the most famous and revered Merchant Princes have relatively little money and land, instead having donated vast sums to their city, family, friends, strangers, schools, nation, etc. Relatively is the operative word here, though, as a relatively poor Merchant Prince still likely owns a sizable mansion in the nice part of town with plenty of artwork and amenities. As the Krachi have expanded their trade network, and the Qemti have switched from a more militaristic nation to a more economic nation, the title has spread across Morgrave, especially in Qemt'Or. The same title outside of Krag-a-Krach is likely self-declared and may or may not be based on verifiable facts; the Merchant Princes in Qemt'Or, particularly, do not often donate their money.

The Road to the Oligarchy

In general, the Krachi value wealth more than all things. Well, not wealth exactly, but the beautiful things that wealth brings: art, comfort, pride, etc. In Krag-a-Krach, your worth is determined by your assets or your contribution of assets to society, at least to an extent; a penniless pauper is not seen as nothing, but nor are they respected. So with worth connected to wealth, the leaders of Krag-a-Krach, the Oligarchs, are Merchant Princes.
Of course, that's no mean feat. The Krachi economy is a dog eat dog world; everyone is angling for the best deal. It takes a special sort of luck or insight to be able to dominate the Krachi market enough to become a Merchant Prince - both excellent traits in a leader. One might think that the richest individuals would be the least suited to leading a government, given how they are often wont to think only of themselves, but two main things have worked toward a stable and profitable government. 1. There are systems in place in the council (the meeting of the Oligarchs) to keep any one Oligarch from taking control of decision-making. 2. The cultural focus on honor is a strong motivator, and the most honorable Oligarchs are those who govern the nation well and benefit the people the most.

Type

Financial / Trade