A troubling discussion for monarchists is dealing with the generalization that monarchies are the worst governments for dealing with taxes. This is mixed with half-truths and also inconsistencies on the side of opponents. As a member of the board, I am pretty relieved to find that monarchies are seen as fairer on taxation. With apologists like Hans-Herman Hoppe and others, monarchy and the reputation of being ruthless tax-mongrels lies down.
An ultimate symbol of authority, undeniably, is who is getting the levies and raising the armies, who is doing the taxing, and who is being taxed; this is a terrible mistake and grievance in the English Civil War. Ultimately, despite taxation, I would argue ultimately a power struggle between Parliament's right to tax and the Crown's right to taxation. The advent of other revolutionary battles and difficulties show that Parliament would later become the tax collectors and gather the reputation for it. Although the English were some of the less taxed in Europe around the time of King Charles I. It was a real issue of what members of society they levied in war-time dues to protect the country.
Monarchies back then used levies periodically and taxed counties, found other measures, and historically saw them as signs of loyalty and tribute.
Today it's terribly shocking with the attitude towards taxation. Despite what is said about monarchies, which used levies and didn't directly do it all during peace-time, the world today is a far-cry from what was considered outright tyranny today compared to tomorrow. People think that because the 'People' are in charge, democracy would never resolve to tax itself to death. Yet we still find the peril of it and even worse than the monarchies of old, even to the point where the idea ends.
My opinion is that monarchy is a mixed bag on terms of taxation. There have been low-tax monarchies and high-tax monarchies. The moral monarchies with strong foundations of moral code fair better because it was immoral to burden people. Time and time again, the spiritual foundation is the true discipline of monarchs.
I'm looking for the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; and a historical discussion on taxes and apologists for why monarchy doesn't tax as hard as republics despite the claim that these representative bodies wouldn't dare harshly tax. Not an ideological or economic talk as much (although partially).