Revelations from SHADOWBRINGERS

[Edax]

Outside of republics and democracies, that is entirely how power works. lol If you have the might behind you, you get to be in charge. IRL that might means being the strongest/most ruthless individual in some setups, and means having the right connections and political alliances in others, depending on the society. In fantasy games, its being invincible. If you are unable to be opposed, you are unable to be opposed. The people you are dominating don't have to like you for you to be in charge.

Also, in your example, 1. Achilles didn't want to be in charge of everyone. And 2. Agamemnon had the might of his political savvy behind him, in addition to being a respectable enough fighter. Neither were commanding through fear, but that's just b/c they didn't need to/want to. Its still an entirely viable path to take. They just didn't.

That's my point. Zenos is physically strong but as politically weak as a kitten. He's the governor of 2 provinces that are under enemy control, there are rumors that he's actually dead or the puppet of foreign influences, he's infamous for having no interest in administration and for how he was disinherited out of the line of succession. National Leaders aren't chosen by how much they can bench press.

Zenos is so politically weak, nearly any military leader can make viable bid to be Emperorship now, and Zenos wont have time to personally slay every member of the rebel armies and even if he did, he would have just demolished the military strengthen of the Empire to get the throne. Though personally I don't think the writers will go down this path.