Familiae Martiales

The *Familiae Martiales* are the old military families whose members often occupy the highest-ranking tiers of the Turian Hierarchy. Each family within this prestigious social group has a proud history of military service, their lineages adorned with famous admirals, generals and primarchs. Many of the old military families can trace their lines back to the time of the Unification War, a decade-long war which culminated in the official unification of the Turian Empire, nearly 3000 years ago. Some lines are even older than that, with a few even claiming descent from semi-mythical figures from Palaven's distant past. *Familiae Martiales* roughlytranslates from High Cipritine as "Families of Martixus". Martixus was the Titan of War from the ancient turian religion of Titanism.

## Structure

Each house is led by a *parriarch*, who is the highest-ranking member of the family. *Parriarchs*, as their gender-neutral title suggests, can be both male and female. A *parriarch*'s main function is to ensure the survival of the family's bloodline and name. They decide whom their kin will marry, what their role in the hierarchy will be, and even where they will be buried after death. *Parriarchs* also reserve the right to name the children of their relatives and can claim custody of any child of their bloodline, should they feel the need to. They can also forcefully disown any member of their bloodline if the individual in question has brought dishonour to the house. A family is beholden to its *parriarch*'s decisions in all matters; their word is law.

## Septem et Unus

Of all the great houses of the Turian Hierarchy, there are eight which stand above the rest. Known simply as *Septem et Unus*, "The Seven and One", this select group of families can each trace their lineages back to one of the seven original primarchs chosen by Aurelion Imperator to represent the needs of his colonial subjects, with the exception of House Aurelos. House Aurelos instead claims shared ancestry with Aurelion himself. While no different from any other house *de jure*, these families are the true *de facto* power within the Hierarchy. They are historically loyal to Palaven, often to the point of fanaticism.

* **Bostra:** House Victus - led by Fidellion Victus, *Primarch* of Palaven
* **Carthaan:** House Abrudas - led by Elissa Abrudas
* **Digeris:** House Mehrkuri - led by Astraeus Mehrkuri, *Primarch* of Digeris
* **Epyrus:** House Fedorian - led by Regnaltus Fedorian II
* **Macedyn:** House Caelax - led by Menelus Caelax, *Primarch* of Macedyn
* **Palaven:** House Aurelos - led by Aurelia Aurelos
* **Parthia:** House Aventen - led by Nasira Aventen, *Primarch* of Parthia
* **Thracia:** House Kandros - now extinct, previously led by Ravis Kandros, former *Duarch Classis* of Palaven

After the extinction of House Kandros in the Milky Way, House Arterius became the *de facto* leading great house of Thracia and the newest member of the Seven and One, led by Sairus Arterius.

## Notable Families

* House Arterius - led by Sairus Arterius
* House Aurix - led by Bartus Aurix
* House Barro - led by Sidereus Barro
* House Carteia - now extinct
* House Corinthus - led by Achaeus Corinthus, *Duarch Exerticus* of Palaven
* House Coronati - led by Polema Coronati
* House Darikun
* House Dorian
* House Emperus
* House Enterus
* House Erax
* House Halabrian
* House Haut
* House Impera
* House Invectus
* House Jacobus
* House Kindrax
* House Korilius - led by Claudia Korilius
* House Lokarion
* House Marnek
* House Narkkin
* House Natanus
* House Oraka
* House Orinia
* House Pallin
* House Partinax - led by Cahaerix Partinax
* House Praeton
* House Quentius - led by Cadmus Quentius
* House Resverix
* House Saneraxis
* House Septinas
* House Septimax
* House Sparatus - led by Domitia Sparatus, *Primarch* of Bostra
* House Tatum
* House Tavus
* House Tiervian
* House Tinos
* House Vakarian - led by Garrus Vakarian
* House Valterus
* House Verrikan