Handling Power | Forum

You can delegate tasks because you have power.  If you give it away, you aren't in a position to delegate anything.

If you're in power, you can create an illusion of delegating power to others.  That's sort of the point, you move people around to do the things you don't want to do, even if you just feel like being lazy or to pacify the power-needy. There's no chance to usurp your power because you have a tight grip on it.  Unless, you're wasting your resources, ya know those people you've given little jobs to do.  Let them deal with the houses that come a knocking at your door.  It's lightwork.  You're busy being powerful.

Your house is in order.  

But, "power"... based on the way I understand and use the word, I'd say that "power" is not a thing in and of itself. It's more of an "interaction" between parties. In this hypothetical setting you gave, the two parties seem to be a monarch and the monarch's subjects. 

The "courtiers vying" for the monarch's power, would actually be trying to fight for the social interaction which exists between the monarch and the populous. But, I doubt they would realize this... so I would exploit their ignorance. 

Maybe one thing I would do, to maintain power, is to first try and appease the courtiers by giving them something which superficially represents power: such as titles, land, their own province to govern, fame/glory; etc. This is to try and not just appease their want, but to divert their attention away from what actually gives me power: a species of interaction with my public. 

Second thing I would do is to somehow maintain that interaction between me and my public/populous. The connection or link between me and the public must not be interrupted or impeded. One way I would do this would be to become close friends in some way with those people in the public who are the most influential. Perhaps by letting them marry my children, thus making them family; and provide them with wealth.

So first I would give meaningless titles and land to the courtiers to appease them, and divert their attention away from my "power source." Then to try to retain power I would marry those in society who are the most influential to my family members, and share my wealth with them. 

Third thing I would do to try and hold onto my power is to reform my political system by introducing some form of democracy and by getting rid of my own title as monarch. Give myself a lower peerage title or something or no title at all.

A parliament or senate would be established, and I'd make the rival house members members of this parliament. Let them make petty rules and laws to regulate the state. This might appease them.

To counteract this parliament, I'd establish a political party of some sort, or a religious society, or an organization of some sort to house and disseminate my ideals, beliefs, political ideology, and so on. I'd place all public schools under the control of this political or ideological party. So that each new emerging generation is imbued with my ideals, my views, my ideology, and so on. This way, even if my rivals kill me, my ideas and political ideology remains to continue to influence. 

Lastly I'd murder or exile the other people, houses, or whatever who don't like the changes I made. First I'd do a PR campaign, and show the populous that such types who don't like the new democratic system are enemies of the people, since democracy is when the people have the power. Then, I'd arrest them and kill them, or exile them. 

I think that would do it.

EDIT:

Is the analogy about relationships? Being a gf to a guy, and other girls like him?

Could be an odd analogy for federalism as well. 

Courtiers are suitors.  They get jealous of one another often, and sometimes get butthurt and bitter if rebuffed.

Other members of your royal family are other women.  They are generally vicious when other women interfere with their sex monopoly.  They like having that power and don't want anyone compromising it by undercutting their asking price for pussy.

Usurpers are generally those that won't take no for an answer and try to force themselves on you.  It doesn't happen very often, but it's almost universal for women to be sexually assaulted in some form or fashion at some point in their lives.

And of course, power is pussy, because pussy is power.  A lot of men will do a great deal to get it.