Yebase
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የዳሰ Yebésé | |
|---|---|
 A group of Yebase nobles from the wall paintings in the Church of the Sepulchre of Saint Sinead | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Garambura | |
| Languages | |
| Gaullican, Mehare, veRwizi | |
| Religion | |
| Solarian Catholicism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Gaullicans, Habashis, veRwizi |
The Yebase, also known as the Yebésé in Gaullica, were a historic caste in early Gaullican settlements in modern-day Garambura, as well as late Hourege settlements after Euclean contact. The Yebase were a warrior class, and specialised in naval warfare, serving under a multitude of nations, but mainly the Gaullican Navy.
The Yebase first emerged as Solarian Catholicism was introduced to Garambura, and initially consisted of immigrants from Habasha who settled in Sainte-Germaine when it was established in the mid-1600s. The Habashi immigrants spoke Mehare and dominated the early Yebase class, but it eventually expanded to include Gaullican settlers, mixed-race people as well Habashi Solarian Catholics. They were one of the most influential classes in Garambura and the Terre-Noire Colony until they were abolished along with Charles Dumont's execution in 1919.
Etymology
The origins of the term Yebase are definitive and concrete. It is a shortening of the three word phrase in Mehare, የባህር ዳርቻ ሰዎች; yebahiri daricha sawochi, literally meaning "men of the coast". It was documented in an unidentified Gaullican explorer's mini-encyclopedia of Bahia, as well as various Habashi journals and scriptures. The term Yebase has been in use since at least 1663, and the Gaullicanised version Yebésé was first recorded in 1670.
Classification
The classification of the Yebase within the conventional Hourege system is fiercely debated by Bahian historians. Many agree on the fact that it is impossible to place the Yebase into a single conventional caste as they straddled many, often serving as clergymen, warriors, merchants and some members of the caste being artisanal slaves. The Yebase were an effective caste in Hourege society due to their caste versatility, as the Karame often only had to keep the Yebase happy, instead of three separate clergy, warrior and mercantile classes in other examples of Hourege settlements.