Post by prince on Sept 6, 2011 4:56:32 GMT -5
In the Renaissance, people were divided socially into several classes with different rights, customs, and standings in society. To give a brief overview, the classes used in this continuity are presented below.
Gentleman/Lady
A gentleman or lady is a person of noble upbringing or who is economically prosperous. They hold the highest class in society, and are treated with respect by the other classes. By law, a gentleman's challenge must be met, however oftentimes two gentlemen may opt to settle their dispute without the need for violence and a gentleman has no obligation to accept the challenge of someone of a lower social class than him. Gentlemen and ladies include:
-Upper and Lesser Nobles (including nobles of foreign lands regardless of whether or not they have only paid for the visitor's pass)
-Business Owners
Freeman (Citizen of Anaheim)
A freeman or citizen of Anaheim is a person who holds citizenship in the Principality of Anaheim. They are protected under the law and may not be enslaved legally.
-Commoners
Non-Citizen
Non-citizens include those persons who have opted to apply only for a visitor's pass into the city, as well as the destitute and vagabonds who come into the Principality and do not pay the required taxes for citizenship. They occupy the cities, though if they are investigated for a suspected crime they may be punished for illegal presence within the Principality. In practice, they escape justice more often than not and in fact may make up the majority of the population of the country, as in this era the majority of people lived in the rural areas and not the cities. Nonetheless, non-citizens are not protected by the laws of the city and may be enslaved legally.
-Destitute
-Non-Citizens
Gentleman/Lady
A gentleman or lady is a person of noble upbringing or who is economically prosperous. They hold the highest class in society, and are treated with respect by the other classes. By law, a gentleman's challenge must be met, however oftentimes two gentlemen may opt to settle their dispute without the need for violence and a gentleman has no obligation to accept the challenge of someone of a lower social class than him. Gentlemen and ladies include:
-Upper and Lesser Nobles (including nobles of foreign lands regardless of whether or not they have only paid for the visitor's pass)
-Business Owners
Freeman (Citizen of Anaheim)
A freeman or citizen of Anaheim is a person who holds citizenship in the Principality of Anaheim. They are protected under the law and may not be enslaved legally.
-Commoners
Non-Citizen
Non-citizens include those persons who have opted to apply only for a visitor's pass into the city, as well as the destitute and vagabonds who come into the Principality and do not pay the required taxes for citizenship. They occupy the cities, though if they are investigated for a suspected crime they may be punished for illegal presence within the Principality. In practice, they escape justice more often than not and in fact may make up the majority of the population of the country, as in this era the majority of people lived in the rural areas and not the cities. Nonetheless, non-citizens are not protected by the laws of the city and may be enslaved legally.
-Destitute
-Non-Citizens