Power Behind the Throne

Indicates the real decision maker in a given power structure. This term arises from the start of the reign of Czar Peter the Great of Russia in the 1680s. Due to strange quirks of history Peter started as a co-czar with his half-brother Ivan V, with his sister Sophia as regent. She had a throne behind the two brothers and supposedly would whisper advice to them, hence the name of this term.

She would later attempt and unsuccessful coup and then fade from history.

See also Lame Duck.

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