Savaders

Savaders

19th century depiction of early Savader cavalry
Total population
3–25 million
Regions with significant populations
Tengaria	2,375,000–2,500,000
Kirenia	827,653–1,000,000
East Miersa	478,280–530,000
Amathia	423,000–490,000
Werania	200,000–500,000
Satucin	65,456–300,000
Vedmed	92,789–139,000
Soravia	20,353–50,000
West Miersa	15,000–30,000
Languages
Savader
Religion
Sotirianity

Savaders (Savader: Szabadok) are a traditionally itinerant people and Armonic ethnic group that historically lived across Euclea and more recently in Asteria Superior and Inferior. They maintain their own language, known as Savader, as well as a unique identity and cultural traditions.

The origin of the Savader people is disputed, but most academics agree that they are ethnically distinct and share a genetic lineage, and that the group is native to the region of Armonia in modern-day Tengaria, having been expelled from their homeland by early Marolevs. After their expulsion by the Marolevs, the Savaders became itinerant, and offered their services as mercenary cavalry to early Euclean states. The Savaders eventually emerged as a unique social class in Euclean society, indebted to their overlords but ultimately granted greater autonomy than other subjects. By the time of the Euclean Spring, anti-Savader sentiment had become widespread, and the group experienced repression from Euclean states.

As an itinerant people, the Savaders by definition have no homeland, and are found across Euclea. There are believed to between 3–25 million Savaders globally, with this population varying significantly between regions. Central Euclea in particular is home to a far more concentrated Savader population than Euclea as a whole, with Kirenia, Miersa, Amathia and Tengaria being home to the largest documented Savader populations in Euclea.

Terminology

Exonyms

The group are most-widely known as Savaders, the Estmerish name for the people, which is derived from Savader language endonym of Szavad. The term Gypsies was also common in Estmerish until the rise of the Savader civil right movement, but the term is now considered offensive and pejorative by most Savaders. Another common name for the people is travellers. In Soravian and most Marolevic languages, the group are generally known by the term kozak, but Savaders themselves prefer the translation svoboda. In Tengaria, the Marolevic country with the largest population of Savaders, they are officially known as the Svoboda.

Endonyms

In the Savader language, the group refer to themselves as Szabadok or Szavad, which loosely translates into Estmerish as "the free people" and "freeman", respectively. This name is believed to have two possible origins. The first is in reference to the fact that the Savaders were an itinerant people - and therefore not 'tied down' to any lands - and the second is in reference to their status as free mercenary retainers in the middle ages.

History

The Savaders have a long and complex history, in which they have been subject to repression, widespread discrimination and hostility. Their origins are subject to debate, but there is an agreement that their language is part of the Armonic family, and that the group originted in western Euclea before becoming an itinerant people. The Savaders emerged as an influential class in middle age Euclea, as autonomous, self-governing communities engaging military service to Euclean monarchies. The fall of monarchy in Euclea led to widespread pogroms against the group, which saw their autonomy rescinded and their repression entrenched. More recently, the people have seen a renaissance in their culture and a movement for greater civil rights.

Origins and early history

The Lone Migrant, painting depicting an early Savader.

There is no consensus on when the Savaders emerged, but they are accepted to be related to the Armonic peoples, but later split off from the Kireno-Kantemoshans. The most popular theory posits that like the other Armonics the group was expelled from their homeland in the region of Armonia, in modern day Tengaria, due to a migration of the early Marolevs, particularly the Tengars, which would place their emergence as an itinerant people around the fifth century. Other theories say that they were displaced from another homeland further westward, with the emergence of Great Vesemir in 7th century as the latest time this could happen, but it is likely the group emerged earlier than this.

The early Savaders were thought to have been expert horseriders, and their relationship with their steeds would allow the Savaders to roam most of central Euclea when they became an itinerant group. Three broad, separate migrations are considered; one to the north, one to the south, and one to the east.

Though the Savaders were in possession of ample horses in this time, the group in general was resource-poor, and often had to make a living selling younger steeds to Eucleans while they travelled to greener pastures. The group were also often taken advantage of by Euclean nobility, and they were often subject to a 'migrant tax' when entering new lands. It is believed that this, along with other factors such as increasing hostility from peasants and the rise of larger wars than prior, is what pushed most Savader groups to begin to seek out mercenary contracts with Euclean monarchs.

The fifth estate

Statue of Török in Ryża. The statue was paid for by a Savader interest group.

Most early Savader mercenary bands were small, poorly-equipped and generally not seen as different from other mercenary companies. The shift to professional mercenaries was slow, but the success of mercenary leaders like Török, an 11th century Savader who made a name for himself as a captain who would never break a contract, as was common for mercenaries at the time, helped to cement this shift. Savader mercenaries gained a reputation for loyalty and trustworthiness, and they emerged as the most prominent mercenary cavalry on the continent.

By the 15th century, it was common for Savader bands to have exclusive contracts with individual Euclean monarchs, and as such these bands emerged as a new class in Euclean society; they were ultimately indebted to their lords, who granted them continuous work, but were also granted ample autonomy and self-governance. An example of this was the Tengarian Emperor Vasil the Great placed the migratory Savaders in Tengaria under the personal protection of the Emperor in exchange for military service, as well as giving them designated grazing land for their horses. Savaders would form an integral part of the Tengarian armies during the Iconoclast Wars, and would be instrumental in several victories. The Savader general István Dömötör was a prominent military commander and Vasil II's chief lieutenant during the war.

Decline and repression

Disarming of the Kozaks, painting depicting the eponymous event in which the Savaders in Soravia were relieved of military service.

Modern day

2019 annual Savader cultural festival in Harimisaareke.

Culture and practices

Language

Savaders have their own language, known as Savader. Due to how dispersed the Savader population is, the Savader language has a number of mutually intelligible dialects unique to each group of Savader. Savader is an Armonic language, distantly related to Kirenian and Kantemoshan. In addition to Savader, most Savaders also speak the language of whichever countries they are resident in. This has also led to a number of loanwords being adopted into Savader from these languages. The number of Savader speakers globally is unknown, but it is estimated that at least 1.5 million people speak the language, with the likelihood being that it is even more widespread than that.

Armonian Savaders

The Armonian Savaders, also known as the Armonian Svoboda, Savadi, Răzeș or simply Armonians, are a subgroup of the Savader people who live in the region of Armonia in Tengaria. With a population size of over 2 million, they form the single largest continuous group of Savaders in any single country. They speak a similar but distinct language from the main Savaders, known as Armonian Savader, although it has a high degree of mutual intelligibility. One of the most prominent differences between Armonians and mainline Savaders is their lack of a migratory lifestyle, although they also historically were an agrarian people and also specialised in horses and livestock.

History

The origin of the Armonian Savaders is unclear, but the commonly held is that they are the Savaders who were not displaced from their homeland in the fourth and fifth centuries, although their spread was relegated to a smaller region than before. Others have speculated that the Armonians were forced out of their homeland and only later settled in the region of Armonia, displacing the earlier settlers of the region, although this view is not widely held. What is known is that a group of "Armonians" were made foederati of the Empire of Arciluco in the fifth century and after the conquest of the Tengars were grouped under the Diocese of Tengaria. They played an important role in the adiutorii of the military forces Empire of Arciluco. With the consolidation of the Vicariate of Tengaria, the Armonians largely came under the control of the Vicarii, who were major military figures in the Imperial structure.

Over the centuries, the Armonians had become integrated into the Imperial society at large, although they had their own language and semi-autonomous Church structure. Although they were not migratory in the same way as the other Savaders, they nevertheless largely relied on transhumance between the hills in North Armonia for the summers and the warmer coastal plains for the winter. They formed cavalry units for the Empire's forces, and played key roles in military service. During this time, they were referred to as Armonians, although the term "Răzeș" also came to be used to describe the group. The Armonians came into conflict with migratory Savaders during the medieval period, especially over grazing land disputes. In the late 14th century, with Emperor Vasil's proclamation of Imperial protection for the migratory Savaders and their conscription to military service, the term Savadi was used for the first time officially. With the incorporation of both groups of Savaders in military service as cavalry, the two groups were often put together, which for the first time caused the two groups to form a connexion.

With the rise of nationalism during the later half nineteenth century, the Tengarians who supported nationalism wanted to Tengarianise the Savader populace and other minorities, rather than rely on a common Solarian identity with regional differences. In order to keep the minority groups loyal, the Emperors gave special priveledges to the Savaders, and in turn relied heavily on their support. During the Great War, the collaborationist government would commit several atrocities against the Armonian Savaders. During the Tengarian Republic, the nationalist government attempted Tengarianisation policies on the Savaders, a move met with resistance. On account of this, the Savaders largely supported the All-Solarian Union and then the Patriotic side of the Tengarian Civil War. Since the establishment of the Kovachev regime, the Savaders have seen restoration of some regional and linguistic autonomy.

Status as Savader

The status of the Armonians as Savaders has historically been a contentious issue. The two groups likely diverged in the fourth and fifth centuries. In the medieval era the two groups initially were hostile, as the migratory Savaders would fight for the same pasture lands and lived a different lifestyle. Movements of the migratory Savader away from the southwest region helped to ease these tensions; however, this never completely erased conflict. Due to the long time under Imperial control, the Armonians saw themselves largely as "Solarian", although they would use the Armonian name as a regional and linguistic indicator. The migratory Savaders had a greater deal of self identity, although the name Savadi and Svoboda became used to come to be called both groups and their languages over the centuries within Tengaria. During the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, figures from both within the Armonian Savader community, the mainline Savader community, and other scholars, began to take positions on the issue.

The prominent view, held by most academics and members of the communities, is that the Armonian Savaders, due to a common heritage and similar language, are seen as a subgroup of the Savader people, with historic differences. Some scholars posit this to the less migratory lifestyle of the Armonians, or to their increased Solarianisation under two Empires, or just the linguistic and geographical distances which seperated the two groups. Some who hold that the Armonians as Savaders go further to say that the two groups of Savader are intimately united and inseperable, and should be closely held together. Usually those who take this position are members of the two group who push for an increased Savader identity and independence, and usually see that their group is the "true" group from which the others split away from.

The historic divergence of the two groups and their differing lifestyles have lead some to posit that they would not fit under the Savader group, but must be seen as an entirely different ethnic group.

Demographics

A map showing Savader populations in Euclea; regions in darker shades of green have higher Savader populations.

The size of the Savader population is often under-reported in census data, with experts estimating that the Savader population could be as much as five-times as large as their reported size. This is believed, in some part, to be due to widespread discrimination that leads to under-reporting and distrust of central government. Most estimates agree that the global Savader population is between 3 and 25 million, though this figure does not include people of mixed-Savader descent, who may inflate the figure further; there may be as many as 50 million people of Savader descent worldwide.

The Savader population is concentrated largely in central Euclea. Among the countries in that region, Kirenia, East Miersa, Amathia and Tengaria report the highest reported populations of Savaders. Other countries with sizable Savader populations include Satucin, Werania and Vedmed. Prior to sanacja policy of ethnic cleansing West Miersa had a high population of Savaders.

In Tengaria, Savaders form the largest minority in the country, comprising nearly 8.5% of the population. However, this number is sometimes disputed, because the vast majority of these are of the Armonian Savaders; due to the disputed nature of their connexion with other Savaders, these are sometimes not included in counts of Savaders. The number of migratory Savaders who later returned to Tengaria number at about 250,000, or just under 1% of the population. Vándorlás are those who maintain a migratory lifestyle, while the Változatlan are those who have settled and who live in Tengarian society.

Notable individuals

• Imre Király, the current Deputy President of Tengaria since 2018.
• István Dömötör (1379-1464), Magister Utriusque Militum of the armies of the Empire of Tengaria during the Iconoclast Wars.
• Károly Erdő (1868–1930), Minister-President of Tengaria, killed during the Siege of Lenovo during the Great War.
• Lajos Martinovics (1828-1889), Commander of the Imperial Cavalry Corps during the Green Revolution.

See also

• Lowland travellers