Social Hierarchy in Freezeland

Social Hierarchy still plays in an integral part in Freezelandian society today, albeit the effects of this are much less important than in the past. The Nobility and are at the top of this social construct, which is based off of High Penguin concepts of power, which is tied in with magic, language, and land ownership. In urban areas this is much less definitive and much less relevant as in rural areas.

Freezeland is mostly ruled by a High Penguin, magical elite. Freezeland's corporate scene is very capitalist and most of these titles do not matter there. All penguins have equality before the law in Freezeland.

Historically
What little is known about social structure before the arrival of High Penguins is that the penguins who lives before lived in communalistic, patriarchal, tribes. It is said that High Penguins brought the systems of feudalism and were the main species responsible for the development of capitalism.

With the coming of High Penguins, social structure changed dramatically. At first, the main classes in the colonial days were: Government (at the top, nobility, then governors, then judges and lawmen), Magical, Landowners, Soldiers and Police, Merchants, Tradesmen, Farmers, free non-High Penguins, and Bondcreatures. This system had mostly died out by the mid-High Penguin Confederacy. By 1400, a much more complex system had developed, but still based on the same concepts.

High Penguins with no magic were not treated equally before the law and in land ownership until the 1400s, although there was no official discrimination against them. Legal equality for "lower" males was not established until 1447. Slavery was abolished in 1708. Equality for "females, Sroots, half-bloods, and Khanz" was established in 1884. Despite the Third Edition of the Equality Before the Courts Act being inacted in 1884, the societ was still very much male, High Penguin dominated.

Ârdh
The concept of Ârdh (pronounced ayr-dh, soft "dh" as in "the"), a High Penguin concept brought over from Valnor can't be translated properly into English. It ties together land ownership, social standing, magic abilities, culture, language, and family. The more affluent the creature, the higher Ardh they have.

=Structure=

Monarchy
The High King is the highest authority, who is held in balance by the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. He is in charge of all baronies, counties, and provinces. He is called the King of Overkings, Chief Mark, or simply "King of Freezeland". Below him are the Ruiri, the Lower Kings. They are the representatives of the High King, Triskelle, in the provinces, and thier position is to help in provincial affairs, and to oversee the Baronies and to promote provincial democracy. Below them are the Barons and Baronesses.

Baronies and their chief duties explained
A Barony is a division of a county, and the Baron is the nobleman in charge of seeing that the administration is well, the defence, taxation, and general peacekeeping of that division of the county. The Baron usually owns a large portion of the land in the Barony that is not owned by others. The Baron or Baronnses is considered nobility and the title is hereditary. Each county is divided into at least three Baronies. Each Barony is a Parliamentary Barony, meaning it is entitled to elected representation in the Montasje (Parliamentary Assembly). The Barons appoint the Shirriff of the County, along with the consent of the Mayor of the County Seat. The Baron is also entitled to unclaimed land, for example if someone dies and no family or will is left, the land will go to the Baron who may choose to sell the land for a cheaper price than what it is worth. A Baron's land, except for his estate, is considered public land. The Barons may or may not collect taxes, usually around 2.5%, but can charge more. The Ruiri (Lower Kings) are to make sure that they do not opress the populace with high taxes. Tha Baron can also declare the official language of the Barony. Cities are not part of Baronies, and elect their own representatves to Parliament.

High Penguin Elite
At the top of this, most of these positions are not very well kown outside of the High Penguin elite.


 * At the top of this chain of High Penguins are those who bear an amulet, The Keepers.


 * Just below the Keepers are the Chancellors. They are in charge of High Penguin Chapels, places where magic is taught, and knowledge is kept. They are also associated with the monarchy, beingusually the scribe for a Baron.


 * Chamberlains, magical High Penguins who hold control and resposibility over magical places.


 * Marshals, responsible for controlling High Penguin militias and delivering messages between the High Penguin elite.

Rest of Society
This is not entirely accurate, this is just a generalization. One can be a Sroot and own much land and be considered higher up on the social scale then a non-magical High Penguin. This is just generally speaking, this is arranged from the richest, most affluent and powerful to the least on a broad, national, scale.


 * Magical High Penguins
 * Government and corporate normal penguins
 * Non-magical High Penguins (Valnorian speaking)
 * Valnorian-speaking penguins
 * Penguinian speaking High Penguins
 * Penguinan and English penguins
 * Archetians
 * Foreign penguins
 * Sroots, Khanz
 * Non-penguins

High Penguin Apartheid?
It has been said that Freezeland is under an Apartheid system of High Penguin surpremecy. Some historians also say that the High Penguins are responsible for the system of Penguins being favoured over other creatues in Antarctica, in particular the USA, left over from the colonial days and the High Penguin Confederacy. This is a source of debate in many circles, mainly politically and academically.