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[Bartholomew]

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What Makes a Great Leader?

What makes a ruler great and has them stand apart? One might say it is the size of their armies. I think not. One might argue that the training of their army. Closer, but still no. Others might say the number of subjects or size of their kingdom. Again, nope. So if all these are not the measure of a great leader, what is?

First, a great leader cannot be measured in physical term. A great leader is measured in more esoteric qualities. All of the above would be met by a great leader, but not through force or other coercion. A great leader is one that puts his subjects before himself. This one principle is the abiding measure of a great leader and has a multitude of implications.

By putting his subjects and their needs above his own a great leader shows the Virtue of Humility. Humility does not equate with a humble appearance but with a humble and objective view of oneself and the influence one wields. A leader can show humility and still wear the finest of robes, the two are not exclusive to one another. A great leader would obviously see to the needs and cares of his subjects as a higher priority than fine robes, but the clothes of position are not precluded, nor are the prestige and comfort of position. Further, through putting one’s subjects first, a leader would garner more wealth through a more productive populace.

A great leader wants the best in comfort and sustenance for his people. This shows his understanding of the Virtue of Compassion. Such a ruler does not overly burden his people but rather cultivates them much as one would their garden. To follow this analogy, the ruler would water his people with skills and trades. He would make them skilled and productive. This could be accomplished in many ways. One such method would be to establish and finance guildhalls that would instruct all who seek their training. Their training could be further empowered by paying the apprentice a sustenance wage during their training, nothing excessive but still within reason. This would encourage all to become self-sufficient rather than a vassal of the realm. Further, a leader could encourage the priests and sages to instruct every child in literacy and other basic skills. With this they would be better prepared to serve the realm and be productive. This is part of being a great leader.

Further, a great leader who has an enlightened populace could expand his benevolence by giving his people some level of input as to the running of their lives. This is only accomplished when one has an enlightened populace and has dealt truthfully with the people. This would be implementing the Virtue of Honesty. When the people have a voice, an influence, and a stake in the realm, they are more likely to be content rather than rebellious. They would also be more inclined to rise up and protect the realm in times of duress or attack. This is the fruit that is harvested by a great leader.

A great leader also prides himself in the accomplishments of his subjects rather than claiming their glory as his own. This is a form of the Virtue of Honor. This honoring of the accomplishments of those under his rule gives them a feeling of worth and of having a place of value in the society. This strengthens the bonds between the people and their liege thus strengthening the realm.

Furthermore, a great leader must rule justly placing no more importance on the greatest in his court than to that given the lowliest of his subjects. Favor must not be given when grievances are adjudicated. Every claim and trial must be subject of fact over position. This is the Virtue of Justice. This justice of equality gives to each the blessing of security in that what is theirs is safe and secure against usury.

To initiate such a society, a great leader must begin by investing in his people. Even though this investment shall reap returns, those returns are in the future and thus uncertain. This requires a great leader to show the Virtue of Sacrifice. This same Virtue, Sacrifice, is also shown though the equality of the justice where all are equal before the law. This is a sacrifice of privilege that also shows Humility. This may be the most difficult demand upon a leader but is necessary to become a great leader.

Further, a great leader has to protect his subjects just as any other leader. Given time for the fruits of his compassion and trust of his peoples, this will become an easier task, as the people would willingly defend their realm and their leader. But until the fruits are ripe, a great leader must show the Virtue of Valor and protect his lands and subjects. This may be the most difficult challenge as in some ways he will be balancing the more enlightened rule while still needing initially to protect his rule by a more base implementation of force. With time, this difficulty will wane as the people have more to lose if their ruler should fall. Self-interest would bring out the hidden Valor in many of them.

Finally we come to the Virtue of Spirituality. As noted through the missives of what it takes to make a great ruler, we see a great ruler is a Ruler through Virtue. With a society versed in the Virtues and a ruler leading through Virtue, a spiritual society is more easily envisioned. When people are well provided by their own labors and are led with a light hand, then they will be more likely to visit the Virtues and thus be of a spiritual nature. So what can we conclude except a great leader inspires a great peoples which become a Virtuous society full of those principles that embellish life and make a rough stone into a shining gem.
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Bartholomew; Celebrant of Virtue {HCV}