''was an example of a 'great man' from the past who generated wealth (in reality, through the subjugation of other people) as the Empire expanded''
Isn't that also how the royal family and their clique came to get their wealth- through the efforts of basically servants/soldiers/peasants/serfs,etc fighting to win them land and riches? How many estates in the country were won by the deaths of the common man fighting but not then sharing in the subsequent wealth? Should these not be revlaimed for common use?