The Robin Hobb Collection discussion

Alex wrote: "Has the court shifted in the years from this tale to the Farseer trilogy? Was the capital and where the King ruled not always Buckkeep?

I ask because there's lots of talk here about the Duke of Buckkeep"

Duke Strategy is called the Duke of Buck as in Buck Duchy - as opposed to Buckkeep which is where the king rules from.

As the Duke's family ends up taking over the throne, I'm not sure they would elevate another to take the title of Duke of Buck - that would be letting go of too much power and land I would think.

I agree, not bad as backstory for fans of the Fitz and Fool books.

My review

Buckkeep is in Buck Duchy

Alex wrote: "So the King isn't automatically the Duke of Buck?"

I've never seen the king referred to as Duke. But Buck is a Duchy so if there is no Duke then it means the king controls the Duchy - but you wouldn't call him a Duke because it's a lesser title. The Duke in this book is a Farseer so I'm guessing he owned quite a bit of land.

The kings have always been Farseers. Taker was the first king - a raider who took over buckkeep and kept it ever since. I think the other Duchies were controlled by kings or lords that the Farseers conquered but couldn't control without allowing the previous kings/landowners to rule as Dukes.

So the dukes of other Duchies can't be kings, but they get a final say on who the rightful Farseer heir should be.

I think.