Classes in Portchester Society

Each person in the Dual Kingdom of Portchester has an assigned status based primarily on property:

King:  the two ruling kings of Portchester are elected by the freemen of the kingdom, one is elected from the house of Osric, the other from the House of Hildric.  Each year one is chosen by the bishop’s augury to run the courts and the treasury and the other to command the armies.  The Kings are not allowed to lead the armies outside the borders of the kingdom without the approval of the assembled freemen.

Atheling:  any person who is descended from a king, to the 7^th generation, or who has married such a descendant is counted as an Atheling.  Members of this class have few legal privileges beyond those of a Lord, but are eligible to be elected king.

Reeve:  a lord elected by the freemen of a district to lead the fyrd (militia) and administrate the petty law courts of the district is called a reeve.

Lord: a man who owns 5 square miles of land (25 hides) and a hall, and employs 25 or more armed housecarls can claim the status of Lord, allowing him to be eligible to be elected reeve and to be considered for a captaincy in the fyrd.

Thane:  a man who owns a square miles of land (5 hides) is expected to serve as a mounted infantry man in the fyrd and form the backbone of the army.

Citizen:  anyone who owns a house or other building in the city of Portchester itself has the status of citizen of the town and is subject to the justice of the town reeves and guilds, not to the reeves and lords of the countryside.

Steadman:  anyone who owns at least 1 hide (120 acres) is considered a freeman stead-holder and is expected to serve in the fyrd at the order of the kings and reeves, but also can elect said officials.

Farmer:  anyone who owns at least 25 acres is considered a freeman farmer and is expected to serve in the fyrd at the order of the kings and reeves, but also can elect said officials.

Crofter:  anyone who owns at least 10 acres is considered a freeman crofter and is expected to serve in the fyrd at the order of the kings and reeves, but also can elect said officials.

Housecarl: a landless man who serves a lord as a soldier is called a housecarl, and is counted as a freeman of the kingdom.

Let:  a farmer who rents his land, or owns less than 25 acres is called a Let, and is not counted among the freemen who serve in the fyrd or elect the kings.

Bondsman: those who have been bound because of capture in war, debt, or inheritance must wear an iron collar and are bound either to a plot of land they work as share-croppers or as household servants.

Stranger: an outlander, who has made an oath of peace for his visit, is allowed to travel and do business in the kingdom, but has no legal privileges, beyond basic protection of life and property.  He can own personal property, but not real estate.

Outlaw: anyone outlawed by the kings can be killed with impunity and has no property rights