Tʜᴇ Bʀᴏᴋᴇɴ Kɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ discussion

Mod

Rᴏʏᴀʟᴛʏ

The Royalty were the highest of the Social Classes in the Middle Ages. The Royalty included Kings, Queens, Princes, and Princesses. Royals had complete power over the land and political and economic decisions during the Middle Ages.

Kings
The King was the highest authority in the land. The King had to make laws, attempt to remove poverty from the Kingdom and take care of the citizens in his kingdom.

Queens
Though they did not often rule alone, Queens played an important part in the Medieval class system. Queens were usually second in command to Kings, and often served as regents when their King was unfit to rule, either because he was ill or considered too young to make intelligent decisions. Queens also served as hostesses and event planners.

Princes
Depending on their birth order, a prince may have been next in line for the throne when his father died. Princes most likely sat in on courtly meetings.

Princesses
Princesses were not usually next in line for the throne unless there was no male heir who could take the place on the throne that was being left. Princesses were oftentimes married off to princes in other countries in order to secure long lasting friendly economic and political ties with those countries. Sometimes this was successful, but more often than not it backfired.

Mod

Nᴏʙɪʟɪᴛʏ

After the Royals, Nobility had the most power of the social classes in the Middle Ages. Nobility included hereditary nobility, which were those whose power was bestowed on them through blood relations, and non-hereditary nobility, which included those who rose to power through non-familial means.

Dukes
The main responsibility of a Duke was to be the ruler of a province. A Duke was also the direct superior of a Count. The Duke was the highest ranking in the nobility. The female equivalent of a Duke was a Duchess.

Baron
A baron was responsible first to his king and second to the people who lived on his manor. The king might require the baron to serve in the military or engage in various other activities. By complying with the King’s requirements the Baron was possibly able to earn a higher title, more land, or prosperous marriages for his children and other family members. If he did not comply, the baron could lose his manor, his luxurious lifestyle, or maybe even his life. As a percentage of each manor’s crops was sent to the King, a baron also had to make sure that all of the serfs on his estate was protected in order to ensure that a plentiful crop was produced. A baron also sometimes served as judges in a court of crime or passed out sentences in court.

Mod

Rᴇʟɪɢɪᴏᴜs Fɪɢᴜʀᴇs

Religious figures spent their time visiting citizens to preach their wisdom of the Gods. Shinem has many Gods that supposedly watch over them, and there are groups of priests and priestesses that share the wisdom of the God they believe in for everyone in Shinem.

Priests
Priests gave Mass in Church and in the Castle, as well as travelled through the kingdom to preach wisdom and information to those in the districts. They were also responsible for collecting church taxes and spreading alms to the poor. Because they were usually the only people in the village who could read and write, priests often were the ones who kept records for the church.

Monks
Monks were the lowest ranking in the church. Monks lived in monasteries and usually wore brown robes. Monks devoted their lives to learning and they could usually read and write in Latin.

Mod

Sᴏʟᴅɪᴇʀs ﹠ Mɪʟɪᴛɪᴀ

The Military doesn't need much explanation. These men were in charge of protecting the kingdom, at the cost of their lives. It was their duty to keep the Shinem safe, as well as all those that made their home there.

Knights
Knights often served as vassals during the Middle Ages. Their primary duty as a vassal was to aid and protect the lord in his army. They also would assist their lord in court and watch over their lord’s manor, keeping an eye on the day-to-day activities of the manor. Some knights also worked for the palace, led by the Captain of the Royal Guard.

Guards
Guards were knights with duties to a specific royal or noble, charged with protecting them. They risked their lives and often died for those in their charge.

Archers
Archers were knights trained specifically with bows and arrows. They worked as long distance soldiers and lookouts on the palace walls. Only a select few knights were trained in the art of archery.

Minute Men
Minute Men were peasants that lived in the town and went about their lives as normally as they could. Until the time of any attack that occurred, that is. At the call of their King or a noble, these men would grab their pitch forks and torches, or a sword if they were lucky enough to have one, and fought for their kingdom and their families' safety.

Mod

Cɪᴛɪᴢᴇɴs

The citizens of Shinem made up the majority of the population, all participating in their own occupations and lives and raising families of their own.

Freemen
Freemen were poor farmers who had control of small portions of land. Freemen usually made just enough money to live on. They sold their crops and may have worked with a trade. Wives of freemen sometimes did “stay-at-home” trades, such as brewing ale.

Serfs
Serfs had no political power and were not allowed having control of property. They lived on the property of a noble vassal, and, in order to repay the vassal for letting the serf live on his property, the serf worked the land and was at the disposal of the vassal. Serfs were slaves in all but name.

Slaves
Slavery, the practice of buying and selling human workers, was outlawed for much of Shinem's history, but it was still conducted throughout the kingdom secretly. Slavery was a favored practice among the rebels, who took slaves when they invaded and raided new territories.