Marriage and children: What is the culture behind it?

[amst27.livejournal.com]

Hello everyone,

I am extremely curious concerning the subject of marriage and children, what is the culture behind it? For example, does the emperor have to have a lot of wives and numerous children to continue the royal line? Does the emperor have a lot of wives for political gain? I get the impression that the emperor is playing his children either against each other or maybe something else to prove their worthiness to be the next successor to the throne, and whomever proves worthy may have to remove their father by exiling him or killing him to challenge him for the throne. I think that this is terrible, but it appears to be that type of environment they live in. The emperor is a crappy father! However, to be fair he was probably raised without love and affection from his own father and/or mother, so he does not know any better. We do not know the history of the current emperor's childhood. And, does the emperor marry off his children for political gain? It would be nice if the series could explain the social culture and customs of the Britianina empire, but I do not think that this will happen. It seems to me that you have to piece together their social customs from certain episodes and do your best to interpret it. I do hope that I have not confused anyone with my questions. I would appreciate any help that you can give me.

Thanks!

Comments

[interstellar.livejournal.com]

I think the emperor's many wives/children would be a combination of continuing the royal line, and also the fulfilment of his Darwinist philosophy - the strongest one will eventually become the new ruler, one way or another. It's probably an emperor-specific kind of polygamy, since no-one else (not even his children) seems to have multiple partners. I can't actually recall - were they all his wives, as in he had married them all, or was it some other kind of arrangement?

He'd definitely marry off his children for political gain, at least the less useful ones - but that exists throughout many cultures. It's not just the emperor and direct royalty; marriages like Milly/Lloyd (or the hypothetical Zero/Kaguya XDD) are also for political influence. Arranged marriages seem to be common among the Britannian nobility.

It'd be great if Sunrise released a Britannian cultural primer as bonus material. I doubt they would, since only total geeks like me would buy it, but it'd be really cool.