Savaders

Savaders

19th century depiction of early Savader cavalry
Total population
3–25 million
Regions with significant populations
Kirenia	827,653–1,000,000
Tengaria	760,240–800,000
East Miersa	478,280–530,000
Amathia	423,000–490,000
West Miersa	127,028–338,000
Satucin	65,456–300,000
Vedmed	92,789–139,000
Narozalica	20,353–50,000
Lemovicia	15,223–30,000
Languages
Savader
Religion
Sotirianity

Savaders (Savader: Szabadok) are a traditionally itinerant people and Kireno-Kantemoshan 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 western Euclea, 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

Endonyms

In the Savader language, the group refer to themselves as Szabadok, which loosely translates into Estmerish as "the free people".

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 and West Miersa, Amathia and Tengaria report the highest reported populations of Savaders. Other countries with sizable Savader populations include Satucin and Vedmed.