I just had this thought, but I was wondering if any of you were to be put in a pre modern society, and was for any reason given one of the three titles, which one would you rather be? Since there titles are often self proclaimed, I'll go by how they can be defined as..

Lord: Ruler of a small plot of land that answers to a king.

King: Ruler of a decent sized plot of land.

Emperor: Ruler of a vast amount of land.

And how would you administrate your territory?

Baron: Rule a castle and a small village, I can make myself popular with the locals by throwing fairs all the time and being a good bloke. Also keep good relations by sending gifts to all relevant lords in the region, so that whoever conquers my area, me and my subjects are left relatively unscathed, seeing as a baron is relatively insignificant anyway.

I have a feeling that your terms are not properly defined...

It's fairly in line with the definitions in Where In Time is Carmen Sandiego

True. I probably did made some errors. But I was mainly going on the "scale" of land the title owns.

Emperor who rules with an iron fist that doubles as a helping hand and have trusted generals to help keep my lords and people in line. I would take care of my people but anyone who steps out of line in my land would be dealt with severely...i would be both loved and feared but fear would be the stronger feeling as fear keeps people in check.

I'd be a Lord with mystical powers and rules with a firm but fair fist, my people will learn to love me and my enemies will learn to fear me .

I'd prefer 'Your Holiness'.

Dear Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

That counts as Pre-Modern right?

Yeah.

Lord, I'd be rich enough to live well, equal to or slightly less than a king, and I would have less things I would have to deal with and less chance of being assassinated.

Fear breeds dissent.

Tell that to Stalin

There were plenty of dissenters in Russia, they just died...

Just about every single person hated Stalin, read about his death.

Hermit.

Wait, ...... that's not an option?

I'm not saying he was Jesus, I'm just saying most people kept their mouths shut out of fear. Fear does work if you have the know how for using it.

I'm sure the mass protests were there, he was really good at keeping things like that a secret.

Well fear definitely doesn't work for long terms.

I mean when the nation decides to de-Stalinize itself I think something went wrong down the road.

I doubt it, it was likely more akin to North Korea, which even though their official doctrine is 'Juche', they heavily borrow habits of Soviet Russia. In North Korea most people from the older generation unspokenly accept it as a way of life with the younger being raised in a cult of personality. It wasn't until after Stalin died most people had the balls to say anything about him in Russia. Same as in the DPRK, most political naysayers vanish or end up in a 're-indoctrination camp'.

Especially if you take care of the needs of the people and don't whip them too hard as to make them hate you more then they fear and respect you.
Look at how Hitler did it, he had the charisma to smooth over the masses but those who didn't support or like him still hailed him out of fear.

Also we're talking about a time before guns and such so it would be hard to take me out if someone dared to try...i would make such an example of them that no one would ever consider it again

I would go to war with you and free the opressed.

You have been warned Emporer Haggar!

Speaking of this, it always humours me when people hail Kings and Presidents as the one who does all the good or bad. It's the people and the soldier who keep the person in power, the King or whatever the title only has as much power as the people untrust him with. So it's quite funny when leaders think they're untouchable. Swords are only as loyal as the motive to turn on you.

Just doing it for new concubines...

Yeah, I'd be calling myself Emporer, and the people who hated me would call me a tyrant, the people who loved me would call me a.. Tyrant. but at least they would be respectful about it.

Still, I'd make sure everyone had good quality of life, its just if they broke any of my laws, I would punish them severely and make a public spectacle of it. I'd also be a warmongering country too, just saying. I want subjects that are constantly battling, like vikings or something haha.