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Among historians, political authors, and military thinkers, a debate has raged since long before the Collapse of the old Tiberian Empire. Both the definition of leadership and the most effective styles of leadership have caused the expenditure of buckets of ink and countless hours of conversation or argument.

But perhaps to make the subject manageable, we might make a few observations about two of the principal characters in the recent war.

Emperor Marcus, raised under the stern tutelage of the Northern Church and his demanding father, ruled with the confidence of a centuries-old dynastic leader, but also with a merciless hand, being well aware of the history of attempted rebellions and popular unrest in the Empire. He worked with his staff to formulate meticulous plans, and then he implemented those plans with great efficiency. His tantrums over failures of intelligence gathering or deviations from plans were legendary. He was ruthless and, therefore, feared by many of his subjects, even though he was respected for his willingness to risk his life on the battlefield with his armies. His soldiers accepted the necessity of following him and knew that they would be well rewarded for good service.

Duke Aidan, raised mostly by his father’s elite soldiers and shaped by the instructors at the Academy of War, ruled by establishing clear goals, pursuing them relentlessly, and sharing the risks with his followers. He trained hard and continuously, and he expected similar levels of effort from the men under his command. He was decisive in moments of decision, and his soldiers have described his arrival on the battlefield as if they could feel sure hands put on the army like a glove and begin to wield it against the enemy. The soldiers under his command respected his lethality and his tough-mindedness, but he usually succeeded at creating a culture in which instead of fearing him, the soldiers under his command feared the possibility of letting down their comrades or failing in their duties. Most of the men under his direct command followed him because they wanted to follow him.