Chapter 96: Foundations Of Power

*To speak of power in the socio-political sense is a broad and somewhat cloudy topic, but in the broadest sense possible, Power is the ability of one entity to get another entity to do what the first wishes.  More than two thousand years ago, the Greek philosopher Euripides wrote "The Tongue Is Mightier Than The Blade" on the difference between coercive and social powers, and this distinction is important.  Power can come from a number of sources, ranging from coercive power derived from force, consequences, or threats thereof, to more subtle social powers derived from culture, diplomacy, ideals, values, ideologies and other such institutions.*

*As the ancient philosopher noted, coercive power has its limits in comparison with more social powers; it breeds resentment and resistance, and its influence lasts only so long as the threat lasts.  In contrast, social powers can be attractive and appealing.  This is not to make moral judgments on either form of power and are simply categorizations of sources of socio-political power; an army liberating thralls through coercive power is unquestionably more moral than a political leader using their social power to agitate for the purging of ethnic and religious minorities.*

*Furthermore, while coercive power in the form of warfare is a major consideration for international relations, it should be noted that every nation that depends on coercive power for internal cohesion is fundamentally unstable, due to the transient nature of coercive power.  Such nations inevitably disintegrate once the coercive power is removed or weakened and provinces kept under control by the threat of force break away.  In contrast, a nation with a strong social power is more stable over time, from the presence of institutions and a coherent identity.*

*—Nationbuilding: How People Move, Talk, Think, Organize, & Structure Themselves, 1888, Amsterdam University Press*

## Major Events

* The Byzantines celebrate Sigurd's and Sophia's betrothal.
* Alexios approaches Harald with the idea of backing him and Sigurd to the thrones of Norway and Berk.
* Hakon approaches Rabbi Moshe ben Ephrayim for help judging the hurling games between the Eirish tribes.
* Fintan relays news of Heather's discovery of the perpetrator of the Thawfest Festival attack to Hakon.
* Toireasa learns from Heather's letter that Eochaid was killed by Stoick for sending the assassin to Berk's Thawfest festival and that Ulaid has been annexed by Berk.
* Judah ben Hanoch arrives at Berk as an envoy from Shmuel HaLevi ben Yosef HaNagid, the vizier of Granada, to speak with Rabbi Dovid. They discuss how Viggo conquered the Taifa of Al Jazīra Al-Khadrā.
* Cattongue Ingerman petitions Stoick for more teachers to help him and a larger school to handle the increased workload.
* Viggo receives an envoy from Ferdinand the First of the Kingdom of León, Nuño de la Rúa. They discuss Berk and Viggo's standing with them.

## Trivia

Judah's joke about "thirty-nine categories of response" is a reference to the 39 Melakhot, types of activity that Jews are not permitted to do on Shabbat.

## Characters

### Humans

* Harald Sigurdsson
* Sigurd Trondsson
* Sophia Makris
* Alexios Makris
* Moshe ben Ephrayim (first appearance)
* Hákon Mortensson
* Gunvor Dugaldsdóttir
* Demetrius Pachis
* Gunnar Bræsisson
* Heidrun Hallvarsdóttir
* Toiréasa
* Savage
* Dovid ben Eliezer
* Rivkah
* Fishlegs clan Ingerman
* Esther bat Rivkah
* Judah ben Hanoch (first appearance)
* Joseph ben Abraham (first appearance)
* Maor ben Dovid
* Cattongue Axwitsson (first appearance?)
* Stoick the Vast
* Serena Hamishsdóttir
* Snitwit Spiteloutsdóttir
* Snotpout clan Jorgenson
* Igor Yaroslavich
* Vyacheslav Yaroslavich
* Andrew Vsevolod Yaroslavich
* Bladewit Drorsdóttir
* Viggo Grimborn
* Nuño de la Rúa (first appearance)
* Fishwings clan Ingerman

## Analysis

### Foreshadowing

<spoiler> Maor's interest in the Sephardi Jews' swords foreshadows his future interest in becoming a warrior. </spoiler>

### Epigraph Tie-In

* The epigraph discusses the meaning and sources of power. The chapter shows the following:
	+ Harald chafing under his oath of service due to his lack of power compared to the institutional power of the Byzantine government and noting Sigurd is also beholden to them as they control the food supply for the dragons Sigurd cares about.
	+ Harald being open to Alexios' suggestion of weakening his own home if it meant building his own power base.
	+ Savage staying his hand from killing Toireasa due to her connection to Berk giving her coercive power in the form of retaliatory action.
	+ Toireasa thinking Heather is using coercive powers to keep her under control.
	+ Dovid discussing the Jews of Rouen's lack of power in not being able to challenge not being allowed weapons.
	+ Viggo being acknowledged as having power when he receives an envoy.