If you are a reasonably normal person, you know some Kings and Queens around the world. In the case of England, the leading person is Queen Elizabeth II. If you were to be asked what is her last name, you would become even more normal – you likely do not know. Kings and Queens are referred to by their first names. In many societies, people are referred to by their last name and it would be an informal calling by calling the first name. However with Lords and Dukes, the tradition seems to be the reverse. In one of the summer readings, the book The Plantagenets – The Kings who Made England written by Dan Jones published by William Collins, London, UK, 2012 was read.

The family name the Plantagenets is French and for a long time, the lands in France or across the English Channel Normandy and south belonged to England. The winner of the battle to be King was William the Conqueror who was Norman. He brought the Normans into the fold of England. It was not for hundreds of years later, the Tudor family of Henry VIII took power and Queen Elizabeth II is related to this family. The time before Henry VIII, the family of the Plantagenets ran the country. More generations, only a male heir could inherit the kingdom and the names of Richard I “the Lionheart” , John, Edward and Henry are all well known Kings.

In reading the book, although the job was only available to family members and similar to most families, there was fighting over a level of power. If you think about Robin Hood, John want to be King when Richard was overseas. When Richard came back he was King and when he died, John became King. Famous documents such as Magna Carta came into force although the document is really about power sharing between the Dukes and Lords of England and the King.

Each King was not equal, some were better at gaining territory than others; all of them had what we call Public Relations people which is why we tend to like one King over the others. Each of them had to worry about money, when John was King he lost the territories of France to the French King and then could depend on the resources and money from the United Kingdom. Although for most of those years, the United Kingdom was not united,Wales and Scotland always had an independence streak and lost wars to become part of the UK. Each King had different management styles and strengths and weaknesses to run the country. Usually they were up to the task, but not always. Often being born to be King did not make a person a good administrator; a good task master and a good foreign affairs King. Sometimes Kings rewarded their friends too much, so the other Barons – Dukes and Lords fought the King to keep their place. In many ways the issues which face leaders has not changed.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, management matters. Although it would be wonderful if the company could easily continue to make profits and it did not matter who is the leaders chairs, in reality it does. When you examine your investments, ensure management speaks to your interests who find someone who does.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.