Jack of Harts

Fearing that another Napoleon could rise and conquer all of Europe, the great powers enacted a series of defensive alliances to maintain the status quo.  An attack by any realm would trigger two or three other realms to come to the defender’s aid, and any threat to the monarchies from internal threats would bring aid as well.  It was the last, desperate gasp of the great noble families as they tried to maintain their power in a changing world.