Ghailles
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Ghailles (Ghaillish: Gaeil), also known as Goidels, are a Tenic ethnolinguistic group indigenous to the Caldish Isles, mostly inhabiting Glytter with descendants living in a number of countries. They are associated with the Ghaillish languages; a branch of the Tenic languages comprising Ghaillish and Kilnairnish. Other ethnonyms historically associated with the Ghailles of Glytter are the Goels and Illacan-Ghailles, but the scope of those ethic groups can be more complex. Glytteronians are considered to be ethnic Ghailles, while their descendants in Estmere and Senouillac are considered to be separated ethnic groups.
The Ghailles have their own customs, language, music, dance, sports, cuisine, and mythology. Although Ghaillish is their main language, today most Ghaillishpeople speak Estmerish. Historically, the Ghaillish nation was made up of kin groups or clans that were eventually organised into petty kingdoms and the Kingdom of the Ghailles, followed by the Kingdom of Glytter. The Ghailles also had their own religion, law code, and style of dress.
Ghaillish language and culture originated in Glytter, extending to the Kilnairnish Isles in northern Estmere. In the Middle Ages, it became dominant throughout Cathia. However, in most areas, the Ghailles were gradually Estmercised and the Ghaillish languages supplanted by Estmerish and, in the case of the Illacan-Ghailles, Gaullican. The modern descendants of the Ghailles have spread throughout much of Euclea and as far as the Asterias and Sulubustria.
The population of Glytter is about 9.25 million, but it is estimated that 16 to 20 million people around the world have Ghaillish forebears, Historically, emigration from Glytter has been the result of conflict, colonialism, and religious issues. People of Ghaillish descent are found mainly in Estmerish-speaking countries, especially the Estmerish League, Federation, and Valentir.
Origins
There is no evidence of any humans being in Glytter before Mesolithic people arrived by boat from Sveltlana between 8000 BCE and 7000 BCE. The earliest confirmed inhabitants of Glytter were Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who arrived some time after 8000 BCE, when the climate had become more hospitable following the retreat of the polar icecaps.
During the Iron Age, a Tenic language and culture emerged in Glytter. Glytter's earliest routes as a form of confederacy are found in the Tenic tribes. These tribes migrated from continental Euclea and settled the island, bringing with them that Tenic language, Ogham script, and culture.
There were four separate Tenic invasions of Glytter. The Priteni were said to be the first, followed by the Belgae from northern Gaullica. Later, Laighin tribes from Armorica (present-day Amañaod) were said to have invaded Glytter. Lastly, the Goedels were said to have reached Glytter from either northern Lusitana or southern Gaullica. It was claimed that a second wave named the Euerni, belonging to the Belgae people of northern Gaullica, began arriving about the sixth century BCE. The result of a gradual blending of Tenic and indigenous cultures would result in the emergence of the Ghaillish people and culture by the sixth century. Ghaillish tradition expanded and became the dominant form over time.
After the arrival of the Verique during the 11th century and close ties to nations such as Embria, which have since become part of the Estmerish League, Ghaillish culture was heavily influenced by Estmerish culture. Likewise, various monarchs sought to Estmericise Glytter and its Ghaillish culture. As a result, much of Glytter is Esmterish speaking and while Ghaillish culture is distinct in many aspects, it shares some similar characteristics with the members of the Estmosphere.
Goels
Following the unification of the Caldish Isles in the middle of the first millennium CE, groups of Ghaillish pirates began to strike the coasts of northern Estreme. Some of these groups established entirely new kingdoms in Cathia and on the northern isles of Estmere. To a lesser degree, some new realms were established farther south is Estmere. It was from these groups that the Goels would take their origin. The term Goel is the modern Solarian word for Ghailles, which is believed to stem from the word Goidelic, which is interchangeable with Ghaillish outside of Glytter. The Goels would come to become a significant portion of the Kilnairnish Isles, as well as influencing Cathian culture. They speak their own version of Ghaillish known as Kilnairnish, which has been influenced by languages native to the Estmerish Isles as well as Norse.
From the 1960s-80s, Goelic separatists launched an active insurrectionist movement in Cathia, known as the Thistle Insurrection. It is widely accepted that the long-term cause of the outbreak of violence was the repression of the Kilnairnish speaking minority by the Cathian speaking majority, especially in terms of the latter's dominance in regional politics. The main objective of the separatist groups was to attain independence from Estmere. Some separatist groups, such as the GRA and the AFT, wanted to join Ghaillish speaking Glytter immediately after independence, while others such as the GWFA and RAFK wanted to become independent and form a republican government. The conflict ended in 1988 with the Estmero-Ghaillish Agreement, which saw the Kilnairnish Isles separated from Cathia and admitted as a province to the Estmerish League. Likewise, it saw increased participation of the Goels in politics and governance.
Illacan-Ghailles
Ghaillish Asterians
Population
In countries where Gaels live, census records documenting population statistics have taken place. The population of Glytter was 9,257,180 at the time of the 2013 census. Of that, roughly 84% of the population is estimated to be Ghaillish. There are also an estimated 1,917,192 Goels living in Estmere. According to census figures in the Federation of Asteria, 4,609,600 citizens are Ghaillish or Ghaillish Asterians and in Senouillac 3,144,870 citizens are Ghailles or Illacan-Ghailles.
| State | Ghailles | Goels | Illacan-Ghailles | Ghaillish Asterians |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Glytter
|
7,7,29,746 (2013) | 57,602 | not recorded | not recorded |
| File:Estmerish Tricolor.png Estmerish League | 64,916 | 1,917,192 | not recorded | not recorded |
| File:USA Flag Pre-War.png Federation of Asteria | 15,870 | 9,500 | not recorded | 4,609,600 |
| File:Flag of the aztec league by niknaks93-d641lec.png Senouillac Union | 7,500 | not recorded | 3,144,870 | not recorded |
| File:Flag of Valentir.png Federal Republic of Valentir | 374,025 | not recorded | not recorded | not recorded |
Kinship groups
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In traditional Ghaillish society, a patrilineal or matrilineal kinship group is referred to as a clann; this signifies a tribal group that descended from a common ancestor. The group is much larger than a personal family, which may also consist of various kindreds and septs. The word clan is derived from clann meaning children or progeny, but not family in the Ghaillish language. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organised around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolic, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a symbol of the clan's unity. In some cases, these stipulated ancestors are mythological in origin. Members may identify with a coat of arms or other symbol to show they are an independent clan. Clans are also represented by their family tartan.
Several powerful Ghaillish clans emerged over the centuries, transforming into powerful dynasties. Among them is Clan Mac Aillán, Clan MacIconnich, and Clan FitzGerlad. Before the Kingdom of Glytter was declared and centralised, power lied the leaders of the most powerful clans. This came to an end when Queen Ailbe II created a feudal system comparable to that found in much of Euclea. This marked the transition of the more powerful clans, or clans allied directly to the Crown, into noble dynasties.
Clan FitzGerald, like several other clans, is descended from the Verique settlers that arrived during the 11th century. Some clans, such as Clans MacAulay and MacLeod, have their origins in the Norse conquerors who established the Kingdom of Sklesland. However, the vast majority of the clans are native Ghailles.
Diaspora
Since the 16th century, Ghailles have made their way across parts of the world in a variety of ways. The Kingdom of Glytter established the colonies of Mariana and Ealaghleann. The latter saw significant migration from the 1620s to 1689, when the colony was annexed by Raglan. Ealaghleann was later transferred to Estmere and remained a hub of Ghaillish culture for roughly a century and a half.
Religious issues, stemming from the Protestant Reformation and Iohnibite Wars, would eventually culminate in the Highland Clearances, which saw large swathes of the Catholic Ghaillish population of Glytter forced to migrate to the Asterias, to either Estmerish or Gaullican colonies.
Emigration from Glytter also occurred during the 19th century as the country was slow to idustrialise and was met with famine. Historians believe that the emigration to places such as the Federation of Asteria prevented the nation from collapsing, as the nation could no longer sustain the population on its own and could not afford to import the food required to do so.
In recent decades, thousands of Ghailles have opted to move to other states in the Euclean Community.