Hum, okay, that does sound reasonable, then. I guess that (significantly) underage rulers haven't been very common, especially earlier on.
Though I do wonder – Ezar was in his 40s when he got made Emperor, and didn't have any prior children. That's odd, I think. He was a Vorbarra underling to General Count Piotr Vorkosigan, hero of the resistance, and childless and unwed. (Or was he? That would involve a wife and potential children being put aside, since no mention was made of Yuri killing his family.) Did he simply not wed for dynastic reasons like not wanting to piss off Yuri? Homosexuality? Secret fear of fathering muties?
(Looking at Tel's timeline, Ezar reproduced at 46 and Serg at 26. What's the median age of first reproducing for Barrayaran men, anyway? Based on text-based guessing, I'd say 25-30 for Vor. A bit older than for women?)
no subject
Though I do wonder – Ezar was in his 40s when he got made Emperor, and didn't have any prior children. That's odd, I think. He was a Vorbarra underling to General Count Piotr Vorkosigan, hero of the resistance, and childless and unwed. (Or was he? That would involve a wife and potential children being put aside, since no mention was made of Yuri killing his family.) Did he simply not wed for dynastic reasons like not wanting to piss off Yuri? Homosexuality? Secret fear of fathering muties?
(Looking at Tel's timeline, Ezar reproduced at 46 and Serg at 26. What's the median age of first reproducing for Barrayaran men, anyway? Based on text-based guessing, I'd say 25-30 for Vor. A bit older than for women?)