Q&A ยท 42:27-43:04

Did the nobility usually start revolutions?

Aristocratic struggles for an existing throne differ from revolutions that change the political system.

Question

Were revolutions usually started by the nobility?

Short answer

Aristocratic rebellions commonly seek control of the existing system. A revolution, in the distinction used here, changes the system itself.

Notes

Competing nobles can rebel because each wants to become monarch. Replacing a ruler can leave the structure of government intact. A revolution, in the distinction used here, changes how the system works. The Glorious Revolution is an example because its settlement altered the distribution of political power.