In the Mughal and Manchu empires, local power brokers were more likely to favor secession when imperial success stalled and reversed, because they saw greater benefit in leaving than remaining under foreign rulers.

“that were being ruled here by foreigners and that was okay while they were going from success to success but when the momentum halts and it begins to”

“to roll backwards.”

“That's when the local power brokers begin to feel to themselves,”

“maybe we have more to gain from breaking away from the empire than we do from remaining within it.”