Society of the Virasana Empire

The Virasana Empire has a feudal society ruled by an absolutist emperor and falls into three distinct strata: the Nobility, the Commoners and the Slaves, the latter one including serfs. Roughly one percent of the Empire's population are nobles, roughly 25% are slaves and the rest are commoners.  
While there is a clear and immense power differential between those strata, the details differ wildly depending on the local ruling House and the planet - a serf on Terra is still many times better off than a commoner on Yaiciz.  
== Upward Mobility ==
Technically, one's birth determines one's status once and for all. (In case of doubt, it's usually the mother's status that counts, though traditions may vary.) While one can be dropped down the ladder at any time and with little effort, there are only three officially accepted ways of rising in rank:  
* Being adopted by someone of a higher status
* Being married by someone of a higher status
* Being knighted 
While technically, even the Emperor cannot free a slave, no one will argue with him about that. So in theory, that's a way, too.
While this sounds like a repressive system calling for a rebellion (which in many ways it is), it has been mostly stable for many centuries. Public rebellions are cut down swiftly and viciously. Among many other reasons (see also Currency of the Virasana Empire, Laws of the Virasana Empire, Taxes in the Virasana Empire), part of this stability is the fact than any person looking for upward mobility can find ample oportunity besides the three known options. For example, on many rural planets the vast majority is considered serfs, but no one keeps book on them. Anyone with a professional education can show up in another village claiming themselves a commoner and try to join an appropriate guild. 
==Other Articles on the Society of the Virasana Empire==
Society
Category:Umbrella Articles