13,595
edits
Stratification in Caphiria: Difference between revisions
m
→Equite class
mNo edit summary |
m (→Equite class) |
||
| Line 59: | Line 59: | ||
Advantages to membership in the nobility, aside from natural ''dignitas'', are invulnerability to sentences of execution (except capital crimes such as treason, or under direct orders of the Imperator), ability to freely enter government facilities (unless prohibited), special placement at venues like the theater and market, and the right to follow the ''cursus honorum'', a path through the entire political spectrum of the Imperium from minor offices to Senate. Nevertheless, patricians obey the same laws, pay the same proportional rate of taxes and have the same vote as lower class citizens. | Advantages to membership in the nobility, aside from natural ''dignitas'', are invulnerability to sentences of execution (except capital crimes such as treason, or under direct orders of the Imperator), ability to freely enter government facilities (unless prohibited), special placement at venues like the theater and market, and the right to follow the ''cursus honorum'', a path through the entire political spectrum of the Imperium from minor offices to Senate. Nevertheless, patricians obey the same laws, pay the same proportional rate of taxes and have the same vote as lower class citizens. | ||
====Equite class==== | ====Equite class==== | ||
Below Patricians are the Equite class, making up the "upper class" for those not born in the aristocracy. Making up 27.9% of the population, the equestrian rank is enjoyed by over 223 million citizens. For most citizens, becoming a member of the Equite class is the highest obtainable ''ordo'', and as such it is a highly sought after place in society. Lacking the ''dignitas'' of the nobility, many equites are still wealthier than their upperclassmen. | Below Patricians are the Equite class, making up the "upper class" for those not born in the aristocracy. Making up 27.9% of the population, the equestrian rank is enjoyed by over 223 million citizens. For most citizens, becoming a member of the Equite class is the highest obtainable ''ordo'', and as such it is a highly sought after place in society. Lacking the ''dignitas'' of the nobility, many equites are still wealthier than their upperclassmen. Prior to the end of the [[Great Schism of 1615]], all clergy within the [[Imperial Church]] were automatically granted the rank of equite. | ||
Members of the Equite class are typically knowledgeable and have been educated in "elite" settings. Because the bulk of equestrians are not born into their wealth, they place an extremely high value on education and go above and beyond to ensure their children will also be a member of the upper class when they grow up. Equestrian parents enroll their children in prestigious preschools and elementary schools leading to private middle schools and high schools, and finally elite, private colleges such as [[Fortuna Institute]]. Through this, their children traditionally join exclusive clubs or fraternities and further ingrain themselves in the upper echelon of society. Hefty donations and tithes to the church are also used a way to ingratiate themselves further. | Members of the Equite class are typically knowledgeable and have been educated in "elite" settings. Because the bulk of equestrians are not born into their wealth, they place an extremely high value on education and go above and beyond to ensure their children will also be a member of the upper class when they grow up. Equestrian parents enroll their children in prestigious preschools and elementary schools leading to private middle schools and high schools, and finally elite, private colleges such as [[Fortuna Institute]]. Through this, their children traditionally join exclusive clubs or fraternities and further ingrain themselves in the upper echelon of society. Hefty donations and tithes to the church are also used a way to ingratiate themselves further. | ||
Members of the Equites control and own significant portions of corporate Caphiria and may exercise indirect power through the investment of capital. The high salaries and the potential for amassing great wealth through stock options have greatly increased the power and visibility of the "corporate elite". The equestrians are renowned for a work ethic that is the envy of other countries, bringing them wealth through their own hard work. For this common trait, some of the largest corporations are owned by an equestrian rather than a patrician. The very richest of these corporate magnates is [[Alexandus Venio II]], with a net worth of $70 billion from his ownership of [[Quicksilver Industries]], Caphiria's largest and most valuable company. | Members of the Equites control and own significant portions of corporate Caphiria and may exercise indirect power through the investment of capital. The high salaries and the potential for amassing great wealth through stock options have greatly increased the power and visibility of the "corporate elite". The equestrians are renowned for a work ethic that is the envy of other countries, bringing them wealth through their own hard work. For this common trait, some of the largest corporations are owned by an equestrian rather than a patrician. The very richest of these corporate magnates is [[Alexandus Venio II]], with a net worth of $70 billion from his ownership of [[Quicksilver Industries]], Caphiria's largest and most valuable company. | ||
====Plebeian class==== | ====Plebeian class==== | ||
Below the Equites is the Plebeians, or Plebs, - socially divided into the ''Upper-Plebeian'' order and the ''Lower-Plebeian'' order. Upper Plebs are the empire's middle class, earning a decent living but lacking the privileges of the upper classes. They represent the average citizen, making up the majority of the population. Lower Plebs are the work force, those of farmer, miner, janitor, doormen, street cleaner, servant and the like, ones which few Caphirians consider respectful employment, despite the rigorous physical and mental fortitude required to perform many of these tasks Plebeians receive good benefits from the government to compensate for their reduced privileges and are more well-off than the lower classes citizens of other countries. | Below the Equites is the Plebeians, or Plebs, - socially divided into the ''Upper-Plebeian'' order and the ''Lower-Plebeian'' order. Upper Plebs are the empire's middle class, earning a decent living but lacking the privileges of the upper classes. They represent the average citizen, making up the majority of the population. Lower Plebs are the work force, those of farmer, miner, janitor, doormen, street cleaner, servant and the like, ones which few Caphirians consider respectful employment, despite the rigorous physical and mental fortitude required to perform many of these tasks Plebeians receive good benefits from the government to compensate for their reduced privileges and are more well-off than the lower classes citizens of other countries. | ||