My thundersticks

[wnylib]

8. It was meant to be that way in the past.

It continues today out of tradition.

In the past, when dukes, earls, and barons were like war lords who could make alliances and raise their own armies, the monarchy displayed its wealth and power as a sign of superiority and power and demanded oaths of loyalty.

Kings and kingdoms also competed with each other for international respect in the form of wealthy displays and large military parades.

What we see today are the traditional remnants of those past times, retained in symbolism long after the time when they had practical meaning in competitive showiness.