Monarch

xTATTEREDx  · +FINE+  · *SUPERIOR*  · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡  · ☼MASTERWORK☼

v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

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Monarch

Room requirements
Office	Royal Throne Room
Quarters	Royal Bedroom
Dining room	Royal Dining Room
Tomb	Royal Mausoleum
Furniture requirements
Chests	10
Cabinets	5
Weapon racks	5
Armor stands	5
Other
Mandates	5
Demands	10
Arrival conditions
15,000☼ wealth in Architecture 7,500☼ in offerings to dwarven caravan Metropolis rank
Function
None

The monarch is the highest level noble, and also the noble of the highest precedence. Rather than being promoted from within, like the baron, count, and duke, the existing monarch arrives as an immigrant from the previous capital. However, one of your fortress residents may become monarch if the position is vacant, either by inheriting the title or after conducting "polite discussions with local rivals". A male monarch is known as a "king" and a female as a "queen". Either may arrive with a consort, as well as an entourage that can include the outpost liaison, general, elite military dwarves, and ordinary workers.

Requirements for a monarch's arrival can be checked by pressing n c after a fortress has reached a certain wealth. A fortress may not need to be a metropolis in order for this to happen.^[1] These requirements notably do not apply when one of your fortress residents is elevated to monarch.

With the presence of the monarch, a fortress becomes the capital of its civilization. As a result, it can no longer receive visits from a dwarven liaison (and so can no longer negotiate trade agreements with the dwarven caravans), nor can it give goods to dwarven caravans as offerings.

The monarch arrives at the same time as an immigration wave, but has an entirely separate entourage that can spawn from a different part of the map. The monarch's entourage includes a "royal guard" consisting of dwarves with Legendary +5 skill in a random weapon (but no skill in Fighter), Accomplished skill in Dodger, Shield User, and Armor User, and the "doesn't really care about anything anymore" trait. The monarch will arrive even if you have exceeded your population caps, though the entourage may be limited by the caps.

It may be that your monarch is an ancient vampire with thousands of kills to their name before arriving at your fortress. Some monarchs have been known to drop dead (of regicide, perhaps) as soon as they enter the map, especially in older worlds. Monarchs may also be of a different race, such as an elven king.

Random dwarves in dwarf fortress mode can become monarchs, if the current monarch dies, or if the position was vacant (common in dying civilizations). If the position no longer exists (i.e. the civilization is truly extinct) then no monarch will be appointed until the civilization is "resurrected" (by retiring a fortress, for example).

In other civilizations

Elves also have a monarch position of sorts, but in terms of function and importance they're royalty in name only. The actual position at the top is the druid, capable of appointing the monarch position. Elves are notable only in that they have a defined princess (both their monarchs and the position under them are always female) position that can succeed a queen. However this doesn't actually replicate a hereditary monarchy, as princesses have to be replaced by the druid appointing a new one. Both serve various noble functions, with princesses having many of the same responsibilities as the dwarven general.

Humans and goblins, meanwhile, generate equivalent positions during worldgen. These tend to have names like "law-giver" or "master", and presumably have most of the functions and behavior dwarven monarchs do – without extracting the information from the world data, however, it can be difficult to tell. In the case of goblins, the position of master often starts off taken by something else entirely.

Artist rendering of a dwarf king by Mechlin (post)

Bugs

The arrival of the Monarch is not necessarily an advantage for a fortress, as it comes with a significant risk of an accidental loyalty cascade.

If a dwarf goes berserk, or, during a tantrum, attacks a member of the Monarch's entourage, a loyalty cascade can be triggered. This can be particularly fun as the entourage can include several dwarves with high proficiency in military skills.

Raws

[POSITION:MONARCH] [NAME_MALE:king:kings] [NAME_FEMALE:queen:queens] [NUMBER:1] [SPOUSE_MALE:king consort:kings consort] [SPOUSE_FEMALE:queen consort:queens consort] [SUCCESSION:BY_HEIR] [RESPONSIBILITY:LAW_MAKING] [RESPONSIBILITY:RECEIVE_DIPLOMATS] [RESPONSIBILITY:MILITARY_GOALS] [PRECEDENCE:1] [SPECIAL_BURIAL] [RULES_FROM_LOCATION] [MENIAL_WORK_EXEMPTION] [MENIAL_WORK_EXEMPTION_SPOUSE] [SLEEP_PRETENSION] [PUNISHMENT_EXEMPTION] [FLASHES] [BRAG_ON_KILL] [CHAT_WORTHY] [DO_NOT_CULL] [KILL_QUEST] [EXPORTED_IN_LEGENDS] [DETERMINES_COIN_DESIGN] [COLOR:5:0:1] [ACCOUNT_EXEMPT] [DUTY_BOUND] [DEMAND_MAX:10] [MANDATE_MAX:5] [REQUIRED_BOXES:10] [REQUIRED_CABINETS:5] [REQUIRED_RACKS:5] [REQUIRED_STANDS:5] [REQUIRED_OFFICE:10000] [REQUIRED_BEDROOM:10000] [REQUIRED_DINING:10000] [REQUIRED_TOMB:10000]

V · T · E Nobles and Administrators
Appointed	Bookkeeper • Broker • Champion • Chief medical dwarf • Dungeon master • Hammerer • Manager • Messenger
Military Ranks	Militia captain • Militia commander • Sheriff • Captain of the guard
Elected	Expedition leader • Mayor
Aristocrats	Baron • Count • Duke • Monarch
Other	Consort • General • Outpost liaison
Unused	Captain • Diplomat • Lieutenant
Elven	Druid • Acolyte • Ranger captain