Wilf:

I thought the point was that since the (1) invention and wide distribution of the effective handgun, (2) the emergence of middle classes and non-royal wealth, and (3) tactics where scruffy insurgent militias could defeat the greatest army in the world, ended the tyranny of kings and laid the foundation for our modern world?

Now, the king works to keep our "rice bowls" full, or, ultimately, we say: The king is dead, long live the (next) king.

It's been shown to be rather a good concept.