CPG Grey posted a video a while back the boiled down the basics of being a ruler.

As a ruler, regardless of your country or position, you have three keys to power that exist to keep you around. Your people who collect revenue for you, your people that enforce your will domestically, and your people who enforce your will internationally. As a leader, its your job to distribute revenue to keep these keys serving you.

If any of them start to go hungry, or they think someone else will cut them a better deal, you're already dead.