The first answer is simple: hereditary rule. For most of this period, emperors were not chosen on the basis of their ability or honesty, but simply because they were born in the right family.

The Qing Dynasty emperors did not take their meals in just one place. Often they ate where they lived, worked, or played. Banquets, feasts and dinners were given in Taihe Hall (the Hall of Supreme ...

Disfigured, awkward and clumsy, Claudius (10 BC – 54 AD / Reigned 41 – 54 AD) was the black sheep of his family and an unlikely emperor. Once in place, he was fairly successful, but his poor ...

All the Latest Game Footage and Images from Warbringers of Angrul Warbringers of Angrul is a grand strategy RTS where you manage your empire on a grand campaign map and command your armies in ...

The terra-cotta army, as it is known, is part of an elaborate mausoleum created to accompany the first emperor of China into the afterlife, according to archaeologists. Ying Zheng took the throne ...

The palace is called the Domus Aurea, or Golden House, erected by and for Nero. When the 30-year-old emperor’s crazed world exploded in A.D. 68, and he ordered a subject to drive a knife through ...

Chinese imperial food dates back to slave society. Ever since there were emperors and palaces, there has been imperial food, which was served mainly to the emperors, their wives and concubines ...

All the Latest Game Footage and Images from The Emperor and State This is a turn-based strategy game that simulates the rule of an ancient feudal monarch. It involves the administration ...

Once upon a time there was an emperor who loved being fashion-forward. So he was receptive to some fast-talking tailors who promised to make him a suit out of new, high-technology fabric — a ...

The emperor is the largest living penguin species standing around 115cm tall. Once they have found a partner they usually mate for life and work together to keep their young fed and safe. They might ...

Emperor Hulkling is a new card introduced in Marvel Snap and was specifically released as part of the Young Avengers season. He is a 6-cost, 11-power card with a unique ability: "At the start of ...

There was no emperor at the table, but rather a self-described “humble chef” in stylish dark blue chef’s garb with matching rubber clogs, a diamond in one ear and a spoon in his sleeve ...