The king was seated among his courtiers. A competition was ongoing among them to bring good news to His Majesty. The king was delighted, for every piece of good news was like honey to his ears. He felt that he was the most successful ruler in the world. In his kingdom, even lions and goats drank from the same waterhole.
The subjects had become so prosperous that employees were hard to find. Law and order were so perfect that officials in every town sat idly by. Markets were bustling with goods piled high, and the people constantly prayed for the king’s long life.
The king’s courtiers were the sole source of all this happy news. They loved him so dearly that they were ready to spill their own blood wherever he perspired. Naturally, his life was so precious that even a bird could not fly past the circle of courtiers without breaking it.
Happiness and merriment always filled the palace to entertain the king, ensuring that no sorrow or bad news reached him. Every attendant tried to present new forms of amusement to earn praise and rewards from the king and outshine the other courtiers.
On one such occasion, a businessman requested permission to present an astrologer before the king. The king happily agreed. The astrologer entered the court, bowed respectfully, and awaited orders. The king commanded him to prepare a chart predicting the future and inform him of the circumstances that awaited the ruler in the coming days.
The astrologer humbly bowed, sat in a corner, and began preparing the chart while the king amused himself with other diversions. Soon, the astrologer finished and sought permission to speak after seeking the king’s protection. The king, showing generosity, granted him the audience.
With careful observation, the astrologer shared a single prediction: “Your Majesty, if the country’s current conditions persist, within a few weeks your subjects will rise in a massive rebellion against you.”
The court fell silent. The king himself was shocked. After a brief pause, a sudden uproar arose—courtiers drew their swords and rushed toward the astrologer. A clamor of pursuit and attack erupted, but the king, with a thunderous voice, rose from the throne and commanded that the astrologer be allowed to finish.
All the attendants stepped aside. The courtier who had brought the astrologer could hardly restrain himself, for the astrologer had dared to reveal reality instead of flattering the king with pleasant visions.
The astrologer spoke boldly: “Your Majesty! Your subjects are starving. Theft, robbery, and highway violence are widespread. Your ministers and courtiers have imposed such oppression that even breathing freely has become difficult for the people.”
The king bowed his head, reflecting on the last time he had personally met his people. He could not recall, for years had passed since that encounter. Yet, the ministers had insisted on isolating him to protect him from any potential threats arising from his popularity among the subjects.
That day, the astrologer risked his life to show the king the truth. Immediately, the king acted on his advice. Within months, the king regained the lost favor of his people.
Peace and prosperity returned to the kingdom. The king rewarded the astrologer by appointing him as the Prime Minister and dismissed all the previous courtiers, for he understood that anyone willing to risk their life to speak the truth for the benefit of the kingdom, its people, and the king himself, was truly deserving of the highest trust.
The new prime minister proved to be a loyal and wise advisor, ensuring the kingdom flourished once more.
Like and Subscribe
About the Creator
Sudais Zakwan
Sudais Zakwan – Storyteller of Emotions
Sudais Zakwan is a passionate story writer known for crafting emotionally rich and thought-provoking stories that resonate with readers of all ages. With a unique voice and creative flair.
Keep reading
More stories from Sudais Zakwan and writers in History and other communities.
Historical Story
For many years, battles continued between Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi and the Crusader warriors. Finally, after various military campaigns and confrontations, a battle took place that proved decisive in history—one that brought an end to the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem in Palestine and sealed the fate of the Crusaders. This was the Battle of Hattin, which occurred on Saturday, 24 Rabi‘ al-Akhir 385 AH. In this battle, the Muslims achieved a decisive victory.
By Sudais Zakwanabout 18 hours ago in History
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born on October 7, 1952, in Leningrad, a city still scarred by the devastation of World War II. His parents were working-class people who had survived extraordinary hardship. His father was a factory worker and a former sailor in the Soviet Navy, while his mother endured poverty and loss during the war years. These early surroundings—marked by struggle, discipline, and survival—shaped Putin’s worldview long before he entered politics. As a child, Putin was small, energetic, and often involved in street fights. Leningrad’s rough neighborhoods taught him a lesson he would later repeat many times: weakness invites danger. Determined to become stronger, he took up judo and sambo, martial arts that emphasized control, patience, and strategy. These sports did more than strengthen his body; they helped form his belief in discipline, hierarchy, and respect for authority. Putin was also fascinated by espionage. As a teenager, he reportedly walked into a local KGB office and asked how he could join. He was told to study law first. Taking that advice seriously, he enrolled at Leningrad State University, where he studied law and quietly attracted the attention of Soviet intelligence recruiters. After graduating in 1975, Putin joined the KGB, the Soviet Union’s powerful security agency. For him, the KGB represented order, patriotism, and loyalty to the state. His early assignments were modest, but in the mid-1980s he was sent to Dresden, East Germany. There, he witnessed firsthand the weakening of Soviet influence and the collapse of communist authority across Eastern Europe. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was a turning point. Putin later described the collapse of the Soviet Union as a “geopolitical catastrophe.” He returned to Russia as the old system crumbled, leaving chaos, uncertainty, and a deep sense of national humiliation. In the early 1990s, Putin left the KGB and entered local politics in Saint Petersburg. He worked closely with the city’s reformist mayor, Anatoly Sobchak, handling foreign relations and economic projects. Putin gained a reputation as a quiet but effective administrator—loyal, organized, and unafraid of tough decisions. When Sobchak lost power, Putin moved to Moscow, where his career accelerated rapidly. By the late 1990s, Russia was unstable. President Boris Yeltsin’s government was weakened by corruption, economic collapse, and declining public trust. In 1998, Putin was appointed head of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor to the KGB. A year later, Yeltsin named him prime minister, surprising many Russians who barely knew his name. Putin’s rise coincided with violence and fear. A series of deadly apartment bombings shook Russia, and the government blamed Chechen militants. Putin promised decisive action, launching a brutal military campaign in Chechnya. His tough language and firm response made him popular among citizens desperate for stability. On December 31, 1999, Boris Yeltsin resigned, naming Vladimir Putin acting president. At just 47 years old, Putin stepped into the highest office in the country. In March 2000, he won the presidential election, beginning a new era in Russian politics. As president, Putin focused on restoring state authority. He reduced the power of regional governors, brought major television networks under state control, and confronted wealthy oligarchs who challenged the Kremlin. Some businessmen were imprisoned or exiled, sending a clear message: political power belonged to the state, not private wealth. Under Putin, Russia experienced economic recovery, largely due to rising oil and gas prices. Living standards improved for many Russians, and the country regained a sense of pride. Putin presented himself as a protector of national interests, promising to restore Russia’s status as a global power. However, critics accused him of weakening democracy. Independent media faced pressure, opposition figures were sidelined, and elections increasingly favored the ruling elite. Supporters argued that strong leadership was necessary to prevent chaos; critics warned that freedom was being sacrificed for stability. In 2008, constitutional term limits forced Putin to step aside. His close ally Dmitry Medvedev became president, while Putin assumed the role of prime minister. Few doubted who held real power. In 2012, Putin returned to the presidency after term limits were adjusted, triggering protests in major cities. Putin’s foreign policy grew more assertive. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, a move celebrated by many Russians but condemned internationally. Sanctions followed, straining Russia’s economy but strengthening Putin’s narrative of standing up to Western pressure. In the years that followed, Russia expanded its influence in global affairs, including military involvement in Syria and growing tensions with NATO. Putin framed these actions as defending Russian security and sovereignty in a hostile world. By 2020, constitutional changes allowed Putin to potentially remain in power until 2036. Supporters viewed this as a guarantee of continuity; critics saw it as the entrenchment of one-man rule. Vladimir Putin remains one of the most influential and controversial leaders of the modern era. To admirers, he is a symbol of national revival, discipline, and strength. To critics, he represents authoritarianism, repression, and the erosion of democratic values. His life story is inseparable from the story of modern Russia—a nation struggling to define itself after the fall of an empire. From a poor boy in post-war Leningrad to the center of global power, Putin’s journey reflects ambition, resilience, and an unyielding belief in control. Whether history will judge him as a restorer of order or a ruler who silenced freedom remains a question still unfolding.
By The best writer 5 days ago in History
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.