How many officials lived in the Forbidden City, how does it compare in idea to Versailles?
I’ve only read one book on Versailles and Louis XIV, so this is only my impressionf Versailles. The Forbidden City is in my hometown though. Forbidden City was literally a city -there were everything from imperial doctors to chefs from all over the country, 2983473897 servants and maids who were poor country girls, many many many wives of the emperor and their kids. The servants’ families lived there too – very often the servants married each other and their future generations carried on the job. Those people were very influential and played a huge part in the backstabbing and political relationships of the officials who lived in the city. I believe all the officials who actually resided in the place were those whose reponsibilities didn’t pertain to a specific place – so advisors mostly. The generals were out on the border or in stationed camps around the country. Each day the emperor has a briefing and holds court, and this invovled hundreds of men dressed in identical robes and head
