Coronan Feudalism

Coronan Feudalism was the unique form of government utilized by the majority of Coronan nations during the Kingdoms Era of -1,837 to -230 NAC. Supporting a class hierarchy which had the nobility on top and in charge of the majority of lands, Coronan Feudalism varies compared to other types considering its rejection of serfdom and the ownership of people by landed nobility. The vast majority of peasants under this Feudal doctrine were consider freemen and owned their own lands or rented properties from the ruling nobility. Private property as a result did exist early on for the average citizen and nobles instead laid claim to specific counties, duchies or regions to lord over and protect from outside threats. Villages and towns fell under the jurisdiction of their respective nobles, however the actual homes and buildings that weren't public property remained in the possession of their freemen occupants. Taxes and resources were paid in tribute to the noble protecting their property and any freemen or settlements which refused to do so were relinquished from protection and had to fend for themselves; in protected towns this led to unique circumstances were a specific property may be unprotected and was freely sacked by roaming mercenaries or armies.

Later on during its lifespan this free form of Feudalism gave way to a more centralized system which saw freemen required to pay their taxes or else risk losing their properties, a system similar to the earlier version which saw renting freemen having similar requirements and consequences by their landlords. However unlike the older form of renting, those capable of paying off their homes assessed value were capable of receiving reduced taxes as an incentive to remain at their homes and loyal to their Kingdom. Nobles dealt with a similar circumstance with counties, duchies and properties all receiving an assessed form of taxation which the Monarch required them to pay alongside their usual tribute; this helped keep nobles sedentary and also less likely to conquer their peers on account of increased taxes.

To offset these requirements, Monarchs were bound by their oath to protect the Kingdom and all its inhabitants along with granting nobles and freemen alike ample privilege to rise within the Feudal ranks. Nobility while primarily only gained through birthright was accessible for freemen to obtain through hard work and dedication to reach such an ambitious goal. This helped nurture a more competitive and uplifting environment as any Coronan regardless of social class could rise through the ranks and obtain prosperity. It's just as easy to fall as well though and Monarchs had the right to strip any nobles of their ranks, political alliances between royal houses being a counterbalance to deter rulers from doing so. Military careers proved the most stable and straightforward means of rising through the ranks with years of service opening up new opportunities for advanced education and even attendance at noble balls or events which were otherwise forbidden for common folk.

While other forms of Feudalism did exist upon Corona, the majority were short lived as the dominant faith and Corona itself denounced serfdom and slavery. The better living conditions in Coronan Feudal nations also helped motivate more repressed societies to rise up or perhaps even leave their homelands for life in a more promising Kingdom. These two factors helped deter and eventually extinguish all competing forms of Feudalism, the dominant and traditional structure surviving up until the Noble Wars conclusion which saw the Linorn Dynasty solidify control over the other nobles and centralize their lands.

## Traditional Feudalism

*Noble Titles Used: Knight (Holak), Baron (Jatyl), Viscount (Voshen), Count (Vogen), Duke (Dashi), King (Coron), Emperor (Coroni), Vogen*

The dominant and most adopted form of Feudalism in Coronan history, Traditional Feudalism arose following the Age of Anarchy and the peoples desire for a more advanced form of government. Influenced by Coronas own teachings, Traditional Feudalism developed originally as an extremely decentralized structure which small condense communities and nations adopted. Ineffective at mobilizing its populace and amassing large quantities of soldiers, it was primarily a peaceful governing type that allowed its people nearly absolute freedom aside the basic laws set in place by the ruling nobility. This did not last as Feudal nations came under threat from stronger clan and tribal communities which saw their weakness as an opportunity to exploit. Necessary centralization policies were put into effect by Feudal lords to combat these threats and allowed for their civilizations to prosper and develop in ways the older government systems couldn't. Being landed and establishing social roles, the feudal Coronans formed into hierarchies which allowed for a more effective society that inevitably eclipsed its opponents.

Originally the hierarchy was the Nobility which ruled over the gentry that performed specialized and important tasks for their lords, below them were the merchants, craftsmen and finally the freemen which made up the majority of the nations populace and workforce. Freemen unlike the upper ranks were free as the name insinuated and performed an array of jobs the upper ranks didn't, these varied from shepherds to soldiers and even servants if they so desired. An unspoken lower class existed below freemen which were known as servants, a voluntary class which lived and served under a household of any rank and could break contract whenever they pleased. Most servants never broke contract despite the ability to do so, their servitude allowing them to live in the upper ranks of society they never were able to as simple freemen. This hierarchy was later given the added addition of the Monarch which rested above the nobility and inevitably the clergy as well which arose from the gentry class and gained a position in between the nobility and their old rank.

After the collapse of clan and tribal dominance over Corona, Traditional Feudalism underwent one final iteration as its practicing countries grew in size and required more effective administrations. Centralized and established national laws, armies and government workers were added alongside several other additions to help ease the Monarchs burden of rulership. Divine mandate was recognized as legitimate form of authority and different versions of succession developed beyond the traditional election of an heir by the ruling monarch. Elective, Gravelkind, Primogeniture, Oligarchial Princely rule and countless others bloomed in the mid to late Kingdoms Era, however the original Monarchs election of an heir still remained relevant and exists to the present as the Kingdom of Zoscias policy for electing its next ruler even if it isn't Feudal. Traditional Feudalism became defunct after the Noble Wars, the Linorn Dynasty seeing to the removal of authority from landed nobles and empowerment of the state and ruling monarch.

## Divine Feudalism

*Noble Titles Used: Pastor, Priest, High Priest, Prophet*

Similar to Traditional Feudalism, Divine varies only in its removal of the nobility and monarchy from its hierarchical system. Instead opting for a Kingdom ran by the clergy, Divine Feudalism structures the government into a divinely directed entity which has the The Light as its true King and his humble clergy interpreting his words. Using an elected council of clergymen to rule the nation, earlier iterations saw each member in charge of a specific section of government whereas later iterations had an elected head councilmen in charge of the nation and the councils meetings; this led to it being seen by critics as a divinely inspired elective monarchy. Operating underneath the main council were a collection of council elected clergymen which operated as administrators within the land and divided their duties similarly to how each noble rank does so, all of them swearing fealty and absolute authority to the council. Divine Feudalism petered out near the end of the Kingdoms Era as clergy were raised in Traditional Feudalism to a new rank above the gentry they once shared authority with. The modern Council of Light within the Kingdom of Zoscia is the only existing government branch which takes inspiration from Divine Feudalism.

## Jatei Feudalism

*Noble Titles Used: Knight (Holak), Chieftain, Clan Lord, High Chieftain*

A reactionary form of Feudalism, Jatei was created to preserve tribal and clan relevancy within the Feudal system. Using an elective form of monarchy which had a Head Chieftain in charge, the various clansmen and tribal chiefs underneath the monarch participated in a voting process where they chose from a collection of candidates that had to prove themselves in the Trial of Giants. The trial itself saw to an election of candidates amongst the various tribes and clans which were tasked with venturing down into the Tomb of Giants and surviving together or alone for one year. Those which commenced in more commendable feats and survived with fewer assistance were the ones usually chosen to replace the late High Chieftain, Corona itself operated as an overseer during this trial and solidified or refuted whatever feats the champions said they did. During this year without a ruler, the clans and tribes operated independently and only banded together into a war council when threatened by outside forces.

Ruling in a decentralized manner, Jatei Kingdoms rejected most national standards and instead dealt with laws and regulations on a regional by regional basis. Only national laws regarding taxation and warfare were usually accepted, clans and tribes paying tribute depending on the size of the land they inhabited and their population size. While honor bound to provide men and taxes to the High Chieftain, tribal chiefs and clan lords held no other obligations to the monarch and were allowed to freely worship and enact laws as they pleased; social and religious pressure playing a primary role in keeping a status quo within these Kingdoms. Despite having little control over his vassals, the High Chieftain unlike in other Feudal societies was able to punish clan lords and chiefs unfettered of any laws if they broke the Feudal contract. Duels to the death were often employed as well by hearty High Chieftains to eliminate law abiding rivals, a refusal to duel being seen a breakage of the Feudal contract as well. This allowed High Chieftains to have considerable influence over their decentralized vassals, respect and fear running in the same vein.

Hierarchies while present were less prevalent within Jatei societies, everyone for the most part being a freeman with only a select few elites of each tribe and clan holding privileges over the rest. Slavery was heavily employed by Jatei Feudalism and helped establish a standard hierarchy which held the High Chieftain above Clan lords and chiefs which both ruled over the freemen and finally the slaves which even freemen could own. Aside slaves, everyone within the hierarchy aside the High Chieftain was able to rise if physical prowess was shown in battle or they challenged their betters, the High Chief was an exception to this rule as anyone who slays him must then be elected during the Giants trial to gain the crown; this specific means of becoming High Chief made it illegal for anyone to challenge him, the High Chief having to engage the duel first.

Slaves could only gain their freedom after twenty years of service, them being able to join the freemen afterwards if a Clan lord of Chief accepted them into their lands. Those few which were refused by all lords and chiefs remained slaves until someone accepted them, this was a common occurrence in many Kingdoms as slaves didn't count towards a tribes population and so accepting them raised the lords taxes.

Surviving up until the mid Kingdoms Era, Jatei Feudalism died out with the last of the clans and tribes which either were assimilated into Traditional Feudal societies or fled to the wild lands. No existing Coronan organization exists today which takes inspiration from the Jatei system and its traditions aside the scarce few communities which live more traditional and tribal lifestyles. Some warrior lodges also draw their origins from these Kingdoms and attempt to upheld their traditional attire and form of warfare.

## Zotew Feudalism

*Noble Titles: Guard Captain, Village Elder, Karlite, Grey Tail*

Created by the Grey Tailed Rebellion in the Age of Anarchy, Zotew was a form of proto-feudal anarchism which employed a peasant republic style of government led by the Grey Tailed leader named Saskhen. Wishing to free themselves of all nobles and rulers, Zotew Feudalism is a decentralized and loose collection of military alliances that existed between independent towns and communities which supported the Grey Tailed Rebellion. Ruling through their locally elected village elders, these communities traded primarily in goods and lived peaceful agrarian lives with little innovation. Having a natural hierarchy to rule over their free lands, Zotew placed the Village Elders and Guard Captains above the freemen below them which could be called upon by Guard Captains or the Elders to take up arms. Both shared power and in the event of a dispute, the town voted on which one of them was in the right.

Because of this focus on agrarianism, Zotew was a self-sustaining system with no taxation nor central government to rule over the people. This came at the cost of technological advancements and the ability to field a professional army. These negative aspects ultimately brought about the demise of Zotew Feudalism as their foes quickly outpaced them and fielded larger and better armies with more advanced technology. The failure of the Grey Tailed Rebellion and Saskhens death put the final nail in any hope of an anarchic collectivist form of Feudalism, the Karlic Uprising several centuries later attempted to revive Zotew Feudalism and suffered a similar fate.

## Trivia

Traditional Feudalism is based on the historical European version without serfdom and a better off peasant and free class.

Divine Feudalism takes inspiration from the Papacy and European Prince-Bishops.

Jatei is a blend of Islamic Clan systems and reformed Pagan tribal Kingdoms, some norse being added in there.

Zotew Feudalism is based around the tales of Robin Hood, the Yellow Turban Revolt of China and the Peasant Republic of Dithmarschen.