Mesopotamia

In the beginning, Mesopotamia's ruler was called an “en.” The en served as a high priest or god's representative on earth. The en also was the political or secular(non-religious) authority. After much time, the population grew and there emerged a need for a larger government. Before long, the office of governor was added, and they called him a ensi. At this time, the ensi was in charge of the military, commerce, trade, law and order, all religious rituals, and the management of temple lands. During times of attack or special needs, the Mesopotamians were known to elect a “great man,” or “lugal” who would serve long enough to lead them out of the impending disaster. However, if the crisis continued then the lugal might have become a permanent leader. In this case he would have to claim that he had been chosen by heaven, and he would have had to have support from from the highest priest from the temple of the god Enlil at Nippur.