The study of heraldry (and perhaps European monarchy in particular) would assist you in considering this issue. In the Old World, titles changed rapidly at times, and at others more slowly. This is simply the nature of autocracy - it is inherently unstable.
In the Ancient world, of Pharoahs and Shoguns, a similar pattern of warfare and strife emerges. These struggles for leadership and changes thereof do not necessarily mean a diminishing of the power held at the apex at any one time. I have always found it interesting that despite the Elves' immortality, they were unable, in Beleriand at least, to form a stable coalition with consistent membership. However, to say that the High King was merely ceremonial is a little inaccurate; some of the holders of such a title held it for a considerable time. Some of the leaguers of Angband were of great length.
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And all the rest is literature
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