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Hierarchy
Highborn
High King
Commonly established through blood-line, the high king is answerable to no one. Unlike kings, the high king does not deal in any day-to-day affairs, instead he or she focuses their efforts in the prosperity and power of their kingdom.
King
Usually established by conquest or appointment by the high king, the king is the ruler over his peoples. There can be many kings in one country, and they often fight one another for land or position.
Jarl
Earl, Chieftain or Ealdorman
Appointed by the king, jarls have authority over their region and the right of judgment in provincial courts.
Nobles
Lendmann
Baron or Highest-ranking follower
A lendmann is the next highest rank, just under earl and king. They usually have military and policing responsibilities.
Shire Reeve
Sheriff
Shire reeves are given authority over the detection and prevention of crime within a shire, or division of land.
Thegn
Thane
A thegn is a wealthy property owner who is given land for military service. They are often retainers for kings or jarls.
Middle Class
Hauld
Possessors of ancestral soil
A hauld is the possessor of an ancestral plot of land that cannot be taken away by a jarl or even the king himself.
Farmer
The farmer is a wealthy individual who owns land for agriculture or animal husbandry. Often employs many families, making up small communities.
Yeoman
Freeman or Commoner
A yeoman is a freeman who works as any given profession. The common man.
Freedmen
Son of a freed slave
The son of a freed thrall, or slave, has slightly more standing then his formally enslaved father.
Freed slave
A freed thrall has paid their due to their master or was relinquished by the death of the master.
Slaves
Thrall
Slave
The lowest ranking person is the thrall. Whether by conquest, debt, feud, or bad luck, the thrall is a slave, sentenced to live out a term of servitude.
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