Ankh-Morpork

Ankh-Morpork is a fictional city-state which features in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series of fantasy novels. As cities go, it is on the far side of corrupt and polluted, and is subject to outbreaks of comedic violence and brou-ha-ha on a fairly regular basis. It is home to the Unseen University, a centre of magical learning.

Politics

The succession of the Patrician is normally either by assassination or revolution. It has been known for Patricians to resign, but it is very much the exception.

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Power is to some degree shared with the many Guilds of Ankh-Morpork (including legalised Thieves, Assassins and "Seamstresses") and the surviving nobility. They form a sort of city council, but the Patrician has the only vote at meetings.

Related Topics:
Guilds of Ankh-Morpork - Thieves - Assassins - Seamstresses

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The current office-holder is Lord Havelock Vetinari, a former assassin.

Related Topics:
Havelock Vetinari - Assassin

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The nearest surviving relative of the former royal family seems to be Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson, technically a dwarf. However, he has gone to some effort to keep this as quiet as possible. The origin of Corporal Nobby Nobbs remains shrouded in mystery. At one point he was identified as being a descendant of the Earl of Ankh (and therefore the next in line), but this was (probably?) a deliberate deception.

Related Topics:
Royal family - Carrot Ironfoundersson - Nobby Nobbs

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A Patrician has almost absolute power over the affairs of the city and works together with the leaders of the city's Guilds, who are the ones who unofficially elect him in the first place. Eligible for election are members of rich and influential families. Unfortunately, almost all of the people who have held the post through the years proved once in office to be little different from a king, except that power did not pass automatically to their descendants. They were despotic, oppressive and fairly often mad. Past Patricians have included:

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• Mad Lord Snapcase (preceded Vetinari)
• Homicidal Lord Winder (preceded Snapcase)
• Deranged Lord Harmoni
• Laughing Lord Scapula
• Frenzied Earl Hargath
• Nersh the Lunatic
• Giggling Lord Smince
• Olaf Quimby II