How did Phoenician merchant families limit the power of their kings?

In the ancient Phoenician city-states, kingship was the earliest form of government, but the monarch's authority was not absolute. The power of these kings was significantly limited by the influence of wealthy merchant families, who played a major role in public affairs.123

This limitation was structurally reinforced by the presence of a council of elders, which worked in association with the king in major cities such as Byblos, Sidon, and Tyre. While royal houses claimed divine descent and maintained hereditary succession, the economic power wielded by the merchant class ensured they remained a critical check on the crown's reach. In some instances, this influence led to more radical political shifts; for example, during the reign of Nebuchadrezzar II, the monarchy at Tyre was replaced by a republic administered by suffetes (judges) who held office for short terms.3