Empires grow. Empires decline. That is the lesson of history. Those who refuse to learn the lessons of history - usually because of a believe that they actually HAVE learned those lessons, or were chosen by their god and so the lessons don't apply to them - are condemned to learn those lessons the hard way.

That's the lesson of history.

Another lesson of history is that a receipe for screwing the body politic is to be ruled by aristocrats. Hint, you don't have to have 'lord' before your name to be an aristocrat.