Vietati

Vietati (lit. "barred ones") is a term used to refer to the lowest class in Aciria. The Vietati class was born from the slaves that were freed following the independence of Aciria from Caphiria and were ostracized by the rest of society due to their enslaved past. Many vietati to date face discrimination due to their ancestry, with the majority of vietati living in poverty and having limited access to resources the rest of the citizens of Aciria have. The ostracism allowed the vietati to develop distinct cultural and religious practices alongside the Vietati dialect of Acirian. A historic proclamation in 2018 by Ignazio I officially criminalized discrimination against the vietati, but in reality, little has changed for the vietati since.

History

Following the declaration of independence and the formation of the Free Republic of Aciria in 1618, the People's Senate wanted to distance the new Republic from its imperial past by ending slavery in the country. The end of slavery did little to change the actual living standards of the slaves, and to house slaves even reduced it, as they were now missing employment and a roof over their heads. The lack of government interest in ensuring the equal treatment of former slaves meant that society saw them as second-class citizens, with the only jobs they were able to do were jobs nobody else wanted, things such as rat catchers, gravediggers, and waste cleaners.

The situation for the vietati stayed the same until the late 18th century, when the Free Republic was reformed into the Grand Empire of Aciria by Giovanni I. Giovanni's military reforms allowed the most capable soldiers to rise in the army ranks no matter their social background, which offered many vietati a chance out of poverty. After the end of conscription following the Montanaro Rebellion of 1803, many vietati still joined the army for employment and a chance to rise in social class.

The mandatory education established by Lorenzo I in 1888 left out the vietati from the declaration, which to date hasn't been changed, which means through technicality, vietati isn't expected to go through the Acirian education system. Initially, many schools also barred vietati from enrolling, causing them to be educated by the church.

Demographics

The census from 2018 reports that approximately X.X% is a part of the vietati class, based on both ancestry and self-identification. 2018 is thought to have been the last year the vietati class is subject to a census after Ignazio I proclaimed them to be equal citizens.

Occupations

According to a report from 2011, on average a vietati works four hours more than their non-vietati counterparts. The vietati often work in less desirable occupations, such as sanitation workers.

Naming customs

Vietati often can be recognized through distinct surnames. Before 1618, slaves in modern-day Aciria had no surnames, so after their liberation, many were given surnames by either the state or the church. Many of these names were church-based, with names such as Croce (Cross) and Chiesa (Church). However, some were given names such as Liberato (Liberated) and Esposito (Exposed), which have resulted in individuals with said surnames becoming victims of discrimination for centuries.