Earth monarch


 * This article is about the political position. For other similar uses, see Earth King (disambiguation).

"earth"

- His Majesty is an icon, a god to his people.



The Earth King is the sovereign of Ba Sing Se and the ruler of the Earth Kingdom. Perceived as gods by their subjects, there were fifty-two Earth Kings until Ba Sing Se fell to the Fire Nation. The Earth King consolidates his power, palace and seat of government in the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se, the capital of his kingdom.

Traditionally, the Earth King leaves behind all personal possessions upon ascending the throne, including his given name, and is henceforth known only as "Your Majesty" or by his reign number. This enhances the appearance as a figurehead, though the citizens of Ba Sing Se do not seem to care.

History
Though early Earth Kings controlled their lands personally, sometimes even brutally, over time the monarchy became stagnant and corrupt, as kings ceded more and more control over the day-to-day operations to the Byzantine system of government and bureaucracy which sprang up around them. They traditionally made use of sixty-seven different seals, depending on the document in question.

Due to Earth King Kuei's premature ascendancy to the throne at the age of four, the position had declined to that of a figurehead, allowing Long Feng, Kuei's regent and later adviser, to take control of the city. When the Fire Nation took control over the city, the Earth King was forced into exile, leaving Joo Dee as a puppet ruler with the title of "Supreme Bureaucratic Administrator of Ba Sing Se".

After the end of the century long war, Earth King Kuei was restored on his rightful place as the leader of the Earth Kingdom, and as such, he played a very important role in the execution of the Harmony Restoration Movement in order to remove the Fire Nation presence in the Earth Kingdom by transferring the Fire Nation colonials back to the Fire Nation.

Known Earth Kings

 * Yi Ming
 * 46th Earth King - c. 270 BSC
 * Kuei - 79 - 100 ASC, 100 ASC - Unknown
 * Azula - Spring 100 ASC
 * Ozai, as Ruler of the Fire Nation who had successfully conquered Ba Sing Se, leaving Joo Dee in charge as Supreme Bureaucratic Administrator - Summer 100 ASC

Trivia

 * No Earth King had been to the outer wall of Ba Sing Se until Kuei ventured there with Team Avatar.
 * A trait shared by both Earth Kings and Real Life rulers are the yellow-coloured clothing. In China, it was a color reserved only for the Emperor, and trespassing that rule could result even in capital punishment. Yellow was the color often associated with the gods, the emperor and the element of Earth, in chinese philosophy.