The History of the Tyrant

Stasis between noble factions in the archaic period was more frequently violent than at any point afterwards. Because membership in a Genoise was hereditary, this kind of civil war would keep flaring up for generations. In order to bolster credibility, tyrants did their best to uphold existing laws, customs and religious practices. They often made laws to limit the power and privilege of the nobility - including sumptuary laws which sought to curb their luxury and ostentation.