Social Classes

Azeryani society is predicated on a class structure which is fairly rigid. Society is broken into 6 major classes: 1. Nobility, 2. Equites, 3. Curiales, 4. Freeborn, 5. Freed, and 6. Slaves. Members of the Equites and Nobility are often easily distinguished by their accents - they speak something closer to High Azeryani - while slaves are always branded on the right forearm. Traditionally the first four classes were strictly divided by birth though there has been substantial loosening of this in the past 2 centuries. It has always been the right of slave-owners to emancipate slaves, giving them the status of Freed. The children of the Freed are themselves Freeborn and have full rights as a citizen of the empire. Since the Hazuran reforms, Azeryani law stipulates that a member of the first four classes may move into the next higher class with permission of 3 members of that class. Typically these would be the individual's patron and two of his/her associates. Such a promotion is still moderately rare though it does happen, often as a reward for extraordinary service. The emperor, of course, can change anyone's class designation at will.

The class of nobility is defined as persons descended from the founding nobility of the empire. Obviously with the weakening of class boundaries this is a polite fiction, nevertheless this tie to the founders lends the class a certain mystique and grants them tremendous power. Members of this class are not supposed to engage in business of any sort and theoretically lead lives of comfort and ease while any work they engage in is strictly for the benefit of the empire as a whole. Their wealth is derived mainly from landholdings and the revenue they generate. Many are in fact superb businessmen but conduct their dealings through intermediaries to maintain this fiction. Many are involved at politics at the highest level and many political posts, ie provincial governors, senators, certain types of imperial advisors, etc., may only be filled by members of this class. Many also lead lives of indolence and decadence.

The second class, the Equites, is also a class of nobility though of lower stature. They are derived from the nobility of conquered states and descendants of the earliest military families. Again they are expected to abstain from business and support themselves with the revenues from their estates. Again many are actually involved in business through intermediaries and many lead lives of indolent decadence. Technically the role of the Equites is that of mounted soldier. Traditionally only members of this class could ride horses into battle, hence their name. Before the Hazuran reforms the vast majority of the senior military leaders came from this class. With the Hazuran reforms the status and power of the Equites have declined seriously. Their particular function is no longer unique to the class and they are dwindling. Eventually this distinction will probably be dropped leaving 5 social classes instead of 6; many Equites are in effect Curiales already.

The Curiales are traditionally derived from the non-noble wealthy of the Empire. As commoners it is assumed that they will earn their livings through business and will primarily not be involved in politics. The role of the Curiales is to support and maintain the cities and the areas around them, using their own funds. Curiales are the key providers of all public works, public maintenance, they fund city festivals, the arts and sciences, and generally keep the city running. Curiales are responsible for the collection of taxes in and around their cities and for paying these taxes to the regional governor. Supposedly Curiales fulfill these functions out of love for their cities but certain minimums are required of members of the class. Being a Curiale can be a severe financial burden in times of economic difficulty though the opportunities for profit in better times are large. For instance, the emperor does not set a tax rate but rather an expected revenue, based on the economic status and population of a province and his current needs. The governors are told how much each province must raise and then themselves set revenue goals for each city. Curiales in each city then know how much must be raised and set the taxes accordingly. It is common for Curiales to set rates which raise more revenue than is actually needed and pocket the rest. It is also common for Curiales to set lower rates and make up the difference from their own pockets. All depends on the current political and economic outlooks, the greed of the particular curial, and his/her desire for popularity. Many Curiale families have been driven to destitution and have faded into non-existence while others have milked the position to gain the power to move up into the Equites.

Curial families frequently become pawns in power struggles between Equite or Noble families. Such conflicts often include much jockeying for favor among the urban population. A common method to curry favor is to provide funds for a major festival, special event, new building, etc. Technically the Curial is providing the funds but everyone knows that he has a backer from a higher social class. Other Nobles or Equites may put pressure on Curiales not to use such funds and to hurt the reputation of the backer. It can be a difficult position.

The Freeborn make up roughly 70% of the urban population and 60% of the rural population. These are the common members of Azeryani society. They range widely in wealth from destitute to rivalling the Equites. Most support themselves through some form of business or craft and most artisans and craftsmen are drawn from this class. The Freeborn have little power, except as a mob, but do have substantial rights.

Traditionally professions among the freeborn were hereditary, ie if your parents were bakers you were also a baker. This code was rigidly enforced across most professions to the point that many branded their members for identification. With the Hazuran reforms this was loosened substantially, following the same pattern as for changes in general social class. With the permission and support of his/her patron, or his/her parent's patron if a minor, any individual may seek training in a different trade and start a new and different business. This social mobility has greatly stimulated the Azeryani economy as many more people are able to pursue the professions of their choice. Most patrons are supportive of this mobility as it allows them to have a broader range of professions among their clientage. Frequently two patrons will offer to train members of each other's clientages in areas where their own clientages as strong.

The Freed are one step down from the Freeborn. This is a relatively small class composed of former slaves who have been emancipated for service or, as is common, as part of a last will and testament. Typically the Freed are fairly well off since only those who have been successful in a trade while slaves are freed by their masters. While they may be economically better off than many of the Freeborn they do not have the same rights and privileges. The Freed may not change professions, may not start new businesses, and in general are restricted to exactly the same life as when they were slaves. Their children will be Freeborn, however.

The final class is Slaves. They make up nearly 40% of the rural population and 20% of the urban population. The vast majority of rural slaves are simple farm laborers, relatively unskilled and uneducated, leading lives of drudgery. Urban slaves are often well educated and highly skilled, practicing specialized crafts. Most of the slave population is hereditary and descended from captives of war. Occasionally the Freeborn destitute will sell themselves or their children into slavery but this makes up only a small percentage of the slave population. Slaves have essentially no rights or privileges and may be treated as their owner wishes. However, they are accorded the status of prize property and so may not be harmed by anyone other than their owners, which actually makes them safer in many situations than the Freeborn or Freed.

While the Hazuran reforms did not directly address the role women, they have profoundly affected their place in society. As social mobility for men became an option, women too found an improvement in their status and rights. In the early empire women were legally and socially treated identically to children. Women could not inherit, hold professions, and were entirely at the mercy of their male kin or husbands. While the laws have changed little the social reality is much different.

Women now routinely hold professions and at least 20% of households are headed by women. Women commonly inherit from their fathers and husbands, and can pass along property to their children.

These changes have forced some changes in marriage customs as well. Azeryani marriages have always been arranged by heads of households, usually by negotiation with little concern for the niceties of romance. Marriages are always outside of the clan. Neither of these have changed. As women formerly were second class citizens, the new household was always run by the man in the couple, and the financial burden of establishing the new household went to the woman's family. Currently the division of responsibility for establishing the household and which of the couple will be designated head of the household is part of the wedding contract negotiations. This decision is strongly influenced by the relative wealth and status of the two families involved. Even when the woman is designated head of the household, the new family is still considered part of the man's clan and the woman has left her clan of birth. This does cause some interesting tensions on occasion.
July 16, 2001

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