Let's be clear: Turnip doesn't want to be King. He wants to be a goddamned Emperor.
Last edited Tue Oct 21, 2025, 03:09 PM - Edit history (1)
I just started reading a biography of Napoleon Bonaparte and was reminded of how, at his coronation, he was so eager to be crowned that he snatched the crown from the hands of the Pope and placed it on his own head. I have a feeling there are going to be noticeable similarities to Turnip throughout the book. One big difference is that Napoleon started out as a passionate patriot (of Corsica, not France) and fairly well-educated, thoroughly competent and resourceful gunnery officer. Neither passion, nor patriotism, nor education, nor competence is inborn in Turnip. But seeing as Napoleon created the French secret police and engulfed Europe in a series of wars, I expect more parallels than differences.
Forgot to add a big one: Napoleon served bravely under fire, rose through the ranks, and was wounded in battle. (He also slaughtered a bunch of civilians, which would meet with Turnip's admiration; he's always wanted to do the same thing.)
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Doing whatever he wants whenever he wants w/ his military + courts, his courtiers + other sycophants jumping at his orders...
Royals have far too many rules + Krasnov is not a rules guy... However, K may already have a wardrobe filled w/ dictator uniforms
(in a variety of sizes so one always fits)...
* * * * * *
Wiki says:
Dictators are political leaders who possess absolute or near-absolute power, often maintaining control through force, intimidation, and the suppression of civil liberties. They typically come to power through force, fraud, or manipulation, such as military coups or self-coups, and consolidate their rule by eliminating opposition. A defining characteristic is the concentration of all state power in a single individual or a small group, with no effective constitutional limitations or checks and balances.
In addition, Dr John Gartner says
Common personality traits associated with dictators include charisma, narcissism, grandiosity, and a lack of empathy. They often exhibit pathological lying, manipulation, impulsiveness, and a lack of remorse or guilt, traits consistent with psychopathy or malignant narcissism. These leaders frequently project an image of strength and decisiveness, using their charm to attract followers and build a cult of personality that fosters intense loyalty. They may also display paranoia, as seen in leaders like Saddam Hussein, who took extreme measures to conceal his whereabouts.
Britannica says:
Dictatorships are characterized by the systematic suppression of political opposition, censorship of the media, and the use of propaganda to manipulate public opinion and sustain support. Totalitarian regimes, a subset of dictatorships, exert total control over mass communications, social organizations, and ideology, aiming to shape every aspect of public and private life. The regime often employs secret police and a security apparatus to monitor citizens, silence dissent, and commit human rights abuses, including imprisonment, torture, and execution.
Finally, Wikipedia notes from Dr Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny" (read by John Lithgow)::
Dictators maintain power through a combination of coercion, repression, and the strategic management of an inner circle of elites, such as military officers or party members, who are rewarded with power and privileges in exchange for loyalty. This inner circle can be a source of both support and threat, as divisions among them can weaken their bargaining power, while unity can pose a risk of a coup. Dictatorships may also create a democratic facade by holding non-competitive elections to legitimize their rule, but these are not genuine expressions of popular will.
America, beware... Call him by his name...
DICTATOR...