Hams and corn prepared for emperors (8)
I believe the answer is:
monarchs
'emperors' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'hams and corn prepared' is the wordplay.
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'prepared' is an anagram indicator.
'hams'+'corn'='hamscorn'
'hamscorn' with letters rearranged gives 'MONARCHS'.
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for monarchs that I've seen before include "Hereditary heads of state" , "Kings, queens and emperors" , "Kings and royal rulers" , "Kings, queens etc." , "Hereditary rulers" .)