Were the Yeerks really an "Empire"?

[Havoc6379]

Let me start by saying I suppose this depends on your definition of the word "empire."
Despite that they were militaristic and (necessitated by biology) expansionist, I do not really consider the Yeerks an empire.
They were ruled by the Council of Thirteen, and administered by the Vissers (an appointed position). Which, and correct if I am wrong, was not a hereditary position (I think they were the oldest living yeerks?) This, to me, is an oligarchy (rule by a select powerful few). Or, if they were the oldest yeerks, a genocracy (rule by eldest)

Thoughts?

[Chad32]

I think it might just be called an empire because the word is kind of negative. Empires are evil. Kingdoms are good. Democracy is good, and everything else is bad. Not everyone is familiar with a lot of different governments, so KA just may not have known about oligarcies and such. empire is a more common term, especially for the evil government of a fantasy/sci fi world.

Though I'm not sure I'd call it much of anything, depending on whether or not there was much or any government before the Andalites showed up. After the war started, it was mostly just an army of Yeerks trying to grab everything they could in the ~40 years they were invading planets.

[yunyun]

It also depends on what yeerks consider an empire. Just like how the Andalites prince is diffrent from our prince

[RYTX]

While I think chad hit it: Evil Empire=good selling, you can also keep in mind, one of the Council of Thirteen is recognized Emperor.
We don't really see how the council operates, and how absolute the Emperor's authority is.
In Visser Edriss seems to imply the Emperor is the only judge who mattered, the real power- the rest of the council may just be his advisors or governors, and the Vissers serving as generals, but he could still be the undisputed ruler, sufficient for what I think you're looking for to fit the definition of an Empire's leader

[Havoc6379]

Very good points. To be fair, I completely forgot the Emperor mentioned in Visser. So, that pretty much invalidates my point, if we assume the emperor's power is absolute haha.

[Jetstream]

Very good points. To be fair, I completely forgot the Emperor mentioned in Visser. So, that pretty much invalidates my point, if we assume the emperor's power is absolute haha.

Emperor's power doesn't have to be absolute. The Emperor of Rome had to answer to the Senate from time to time. There are different kinds of Imperial systems.

[Noelle]

I think it also gave the propaganda feel on both sides.  It made the Yeerks feel more powerful, and it helped the Andalites gain more support of their war against them if they used a term that was more powerful than "a bunch of aliens on the loose." 

[Shenmue654]

Well, technically...an Empire in English syntax is just a government that forcibly controls multiple locations. Reich is "empire" in German, and the British Empire was called such even though their ruler was a King or Queen. By that description, the Yeerks were in fact an Empire: they owned multiple planets, one of which was relatively unwilling.