Tyrannies existed almost since the dawn of civilization, closely connected to the rise of the warrior caste. These governments relied on a small force of trained warriors to protect against foreign and domestic opposition, but otherwise gave the citizens little incentive to support their regimes. As a result, when governing over large regions, Tyrannies were susceptible to revolutions and coups (as Voltaire once said, "The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination"), but on the other hand provided rulers with the means build their military and cultural power.