Zanaro Imperial Caste Structure

The Imperial Caste Structure

Imperialis

The Imperialis of Zanaro have been the Imperial Family of Zanaro, the Kurohiun family. This family has ruled over Zanaro for millennia, and even when they were exiled their power still influenced the Norundra Archipelago in ways that have ensured their position was regained.

Imperial Family

• Kotonashi/Kotonashi-Ko(Emperor/Empress)
  • The highest level of Peerage.
  • Rules over the Empire of Zanaro, controls the Zanarite military, and oversees the Imperial Diet.
  • Use -heika as the honorific.
• Koto Pronjii/Koto Pronjii-Ko(Crown Prince/Crown Princesses)
  • The Heir to the Kotonashi or Kotonashi-Ko.
  • May lead the Zanarite military in the stead of the Kotonashi/Kotonashi-Ko.
  • Use -ue as the honorific.
• Pronjii/Pronjii-Ko(Prince/Princesses)
  • A member of one of the Imperial Families.
  • The Pronjii/Pronjii-ko are able to fill any post and position as dictated by the Kotonashi/ko.
  • Use -ue as the honorific.

Nobility

The Nobility of Zanaro serve either a Great House or a Minor house depending on their birth, and perhaps that is what defines this position most. The Nobility of Zanaro are raised in a strict controlled environment to serve as the Koto'Ara's leaders and bureaucrats, to ensure the security and prosperity of Zanaro as a whole.

Great Houses

• Inpuku Pronjii/Inpuku Pronjii-Ko(Sovereign Prince/Sovereign Princess)
  • The Heads of the Great Houses are granted the title of Inpuku Pronjii/Inpuku Pronjii-Ko.
  • They rule over a specific Inpuku (Principality) and act as the head of government there.
  • Use -dono as the honorific.

• A'Pronji/A'Pronji-Ko(Prince Heir/Princess Heir}
  • The Heir to the Head of a Great House holds the Title of A'Pronji/A'Pronji-Ko.
  • Use -dono as the honorific.

• Arahaku/Arahaku-Ko(Duke and Duchess)
  • Inpuku are divided into Ara's. Each Ara (Duchy) is ruled over by a Arahaku/Arahaku-Ko.
  • Use -dono as the honorific.

• Kahaku/Kahaku-Ko(Count and Countess)
  • Ara's are divided into Ka-Ara's. Each Ka-Ara (County) is ruled over by a Kahaku/Kahaku-Ko.
  • Use -dono as the honorific.

• Kaihaku/Kaihaku-Ko(Viscount and Viscountess)
  • Kaihaku/Kaihaku-Ko serve a Kahaku/Kahaku-Ko as heads of Administration for specific cities or regions. Sometimes they serve as an overall administrative head.
  • Use -dono as the honorific.

• Daihaku/Daihaku-Ko(Barons and Baronesses)
  • Daihaku/Daihaku-Ko serve Kaihaku/Kaihaku-Ko as direct representatives to specific cities, acting as the Mayors of the city.
  • Use -dono as the honorific.

• Haku/Haku-Ko(Lord/Lady)
  • Haku/Haku-Ko are the lowest level of Peerage. They directly serve a higher level of the Peerage.
  • Use -dono as the honorific.

Minor Houses

• Inpuku Arahaku/Inpuku Arahaku-KoGrand Duke/Grand Duchess
  • A Inpuku Arahaku/Inpuku Arahaku-Ko rules over an In'Ara (Grand Duchy), they are not beholden to an Inpuku Pronjii, instead they serve the Kotonashi/Kotonashi-Ko directly.
  • The Inpuku Arahaku/Inpuku Arahaku-Ko acts as the head of government within their realm. Often served only by Haku/Haku-Ko instead of the traditionally large Peerage that the Inpuku Pronjii have access to.
  • Use -dono as the honorific.

• A'Haku/A'Haku-Ko(Lord Heir/Lady Heir)
  • Where most heirs to the lesser positions just utilize the title of Haku, the Heirs to a Minor House utilize A'Haku/A'Haku-Ko as a way to signify their position.
  • Use -dono as the honorific.

Knights

While referred to as Knights by Lyran's the position of Kenjin in somewhere between soldier and noble. These are warriors trained from a young age to lead from the front, to serve as battlefield commanders, to act as elite bodyguards. Their lives are ones of service to the Nobility and the Koto'Ara that they represent.

Kenjin

• Kensai (Sword Saint)
  • Only 56 Kensai exist at any one time as they are elected to the post for life from among their peers within a specific Ara. More Kensai had existed in the past when Zanaro ruled over more territories.
  • Kensai serve in the capital city of Torman as direct servants to the Imperial Diet.
  • Kensai are the head of their Knightly House.
  • Use -hanshi as the honorific.

• Kenjin (Knight)
  • During the divided Zanaro period the position of Kenjin was created as a sort of hybrid of Nobility and Soldier. They served the exiled Imperial Family, and those loyal to them.
  • Kenjin must serve in the Zanarite Military to retain their rank. Kenjin are always officers within the Zanarite Military.
  • Kenjin are considered higher than any commoner in the peerage, but are lower than the lowest of the nobility.
  • Use -kyoshi as the honorific.

• A'Kenjin
  • A member of a Kenjin family who has yet to attain adulthood, and thus has yet to join the Imperial Military and attain the rank of Kenjin.
  • They are expected to be constantly striving to better themselves to better serve the Imperial Military as an officer.
  • Use -renshi as the honorific.

Non-Nobles

The position of Non-Nobles covers Subjects, and Outsiders. Even within the Subjects of Zanaro though there are rankings and structures so that everyone knows who to look to for leadership, and what to aspire to achieve through hard work and diligence.

Subjects

• Heisho
  • Members of the Imperial Military are referred to as Heisho, and are considered of higher position then all other subjects, but they are beneath the Kenjin, and below even the lowliest of the Nobility.
  • After completing service the Imperial Military these people will retain the position of Heisho and often fill up local leadership positions among the subjects of the Koto'Ara.
  • Use -sama as the honorific, unless you are higher ranking in the peerage, then you use -san.

• Heimin
  • The average every day person, commoners make up apx. 90% of the population of Zanaro, and their daily lives are not overly hard.
  • Within the Heimin Caste there are many classes of people depending on the level of wealth they, or their families, have attained.
  • Use -san as the honorific.

• Hinin
  • Any person who has committed a 'major crime' will lose all their status and power and become a Hinin.
  • Hinin can only hold specific jobs related to uncleanly activities, and they are relegated to specific ghettos.
  • Children of Hinin are taken from their parents to be raised among the Heimin.
  • Use -yogisha as the honorific.

Outsiders

• Gaijin
  • People from other countries who have not sworn to serve the Imperial Family, they exist outside the Caste structure and are generally seen as outsiders to society.
  • Typically you will use -san as the honorific for gaijin. If they belong to another nations government you will use -sama as the honorific.

Extinct Ranks

Many ranks have existed throughout the history of Zanaro. The following ranks have existed historically within Zanaro but are not enshrined within the Imperial Constitution and have not seen use since at least the founding of the Third Koto'Ara.

Extinct Caste Ranks

• Dai'Kashi/Dai'Kashi-Ko(King/Queen)
  • The Dai'Kashi/Dai'Kashi-Ko ruled over Dai'Ara (Kingdoms) prior to the unification of Zanaro. During civil wars it is not uncommon for a rebelling Lord or Lady to reclaim this title until they were killed.

• Sha'Gun(Commander-in-Chief)
  • The Sha'Gun was both a political and Noble position that was created during the first Koto'Ara Period. It was in theory supposed to oversee the military for the Kotonashi, in actuality the position became the defacto ruler of the Koto'Ara during the Sha'Gun Period. The position was removed with the creation of the Second Koto'Ara.

• Hahaku/Hahaku-Ko(Noble Bastard)
  • During the Warring Kingdoms Period and the First Koto'Ara Period the Bastard children of nobles were often considered 'Half-Noble' and were granted a title stating that fact. The title saw wide spread use during the Divided Empire Period.
  • With the founding of the third Koto'Ara this rank was removed and all bastards were to be recognized as true nobles, and potential heirs. This shocked many among the nobility and has reduced the number of bastards born for fear of them inheriting their power instead of their true-born children.