But Rome first was a kingdom, then a republic for less than five centuries, and eventually an empire with an emperor. George compares Old Valyria to the Roman Republic. They could for example avoid having a singular Valyrian amongst them being king or emperors, despite their strong oppressive empirical tendencies.
( SSM - SF, Targaryens, Valyria, Sansa, Martells, and more June 26 2001) Of course in practice wealthy, highborn, and sorcerously powerful families came to dominate. In theory, the franchise included all 'free holders,' that is freeborn landowners. It was more akin to the old Roman Republic, I suppose. or at least it had neither a king nor an emperor. Valyria at the zenith of its power was neither a kingdom nor an empire.
