Savaders
 19th century depiction of early Savader cavalry | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 3–25 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Tengaria | 1,674,013–1,800,000 |
 Kirenia | 827,653–1,000,000 |
 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 |
 Soravia | 20,353–50,000 |
 Lemovicia | 15,223–30,000 |
| 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
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 Amonics 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
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 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
Modern day
Culture and practices
Religion
Culture
Language
Demographics
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.
In Tengaria, Savaders form the largest minority in the country, comprising nearly 7.5% of the population. There are two kinds of Savader communties- the 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.
- Lajos Martinovics (1828-1889), Commander of the Imperial Cavalry Corps during the Green Revolution.