Ethnicities and Subcultures of Haense

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ETHNICITIES AND SUBCULTURES OF HAENSE

BY

OTTO THE TARCHARMAN

 

NOTE: This work is primarily focused on overview and examination of the different ethnicities of Haense, rather than a summary of cultural practices. For more information regarding the culture of Haense, please see Haeseni People or the Work Directory for more, in-depth dissertations regarding specific practices and beliefs.

 

Total Haense Population (as of 320 ES): around 8m

Around 50% are Low Marians (4m)

Around 35% are High Marians (2.8m)

Around 12% are Southern Marians (0.9m)

Around 3% are non-Marians (0.2m)

 

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What is a ‘Haeseni’ and a ‘Marian’?

    The term ‘Haeseni’, sometimes spelled as ‘Haensetian’, ‘Haensic’, or ‘Haensian’, is the demonym of nationality used to denote an individual who lives or comes from the State of Haense. Someone who is not culturally ‘Haeseni’ but lives in Haense would still be considered ‘Haeseni’, while someone who is stereotypically ‘Haeseni’ culture-wise but does not live in Haense would not be considered ‘Haeseni’. Now I can hear the complaints starting first up, as many will quote the passage of Otto Hieromar Ludovar’s work Haeseni People, which I shall include below,

 

“The Haensic people (also known as Haeseni, Haensetians, or Edlervik in their native Naumarian) are the national and ethnic natives of the Kingdom of Haense, one of the only autonomous northern states in existence. Their identity can be traced to the waning end of Schismatic Wars in the late 1st century ES, where the recently-conquered Hansetians were subjugated to Raevir governors and ruling elite.”

-Haeseni People, O.H. Ludovar, 223 ES

 

    However, this erroneous relationship between nationality and ethnicity found in this mostly stellar work must be done away with, as to include the range of diversity found through every corner of the State of Haense. Centuries of migrations, intermingling and intermarriage of different peoples, and the conscious emergence of minority Haeseni groups within the borders of our fair nation. Henceforth, we shall make distinction of the national demonym ‘Haeseni’ and the ethnonym ‘Marian’, which is used to denote someone who is ethnically and stereotypically ‘Haeseni’ in popular view, whether following the traditional customs of the realm, using the language of Naumarian in vernacular, genetically deriving from the ethnic interbreeding of the ancient Hanso-Raevir tribes (see Defining Marian Ethnicities below), and consciously seeing oneself as culturally and ethnically alike with the rest of the ‘Marians’ of the State of Haense.

 

    On a brief note on the etymology of these two names, I shall first quote again from the work of H. Ludovar regarding the origins of ‘Haeseni’ and the usage of its different forms,

 

“The ethnonym and national name ‘Haeseni’ and ‘Haense’ comes from the canonical city Hanseh, the capital of Saint Joren’s realm and its successor states […] The most common demonym in referring to the culture is ‘Haeseni’, especially popular vernacularly, and ‘Haensetian’. However, the latter has caused confusion among historians, with only a letter difference between ‘Hansetian’ and ‘Haensetian’. In most writings, it is common to see Haensetians referred to as ‘Haeseni’ or ‘Haensic people’, in order to mitigate this confusion. ‘Edlervik’ is used in Naumariav to refer to Haensetians, transliterating into ‘the Edel folk’. Other, rarer demonyms, include ‘Hanso-Raevir’ (made popular by the writings of Stanimar Vyronov at the beginning of the 3rd century ES), ‘Edelites’ in reference to the canonical city of Edel, or ‘Haensian’ which is more popular by southern writers and authors.”

-Haeseni People, O.H. Ludovar, 223 ES

 

    The term ‘Marian’, which I have coined here, comes from the root of the national language of Haense known as Naumarian. This itself comes from the elder ‘Old Marian’ language, deriving its name from the first post-classical Hansetian King Gaius Marius, which was used by the early medieval Hansetian Kingdom of Samuel Bealcrest and Mark van Nurem.

 

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Defining Marian Ethnicities

    Marians can be divided among three separate sub-cultural groups, consisting of Low Marians, High Marians, and Southern Marians. A fourth, non-Marian group is also present, and will be touched on later in the work. These three main divisions are all equally considered ‘Marian’, and bear with the common traits of nationality and ethnicity which binds them together, from the shared tongue of Naumarian to the popular consciousness of Haeseni identity. However, there still remains some cultural separation among these peoples, each bearing their own history and relations, whether caused by geographical division, historical migration, or self-imposed isolation in the frontier.

 

    As aforementioned, the three main groups of Low Marians, High Marians, and Southern Marians are defined below,

 

‘Low’ Marian - traditionally the descendents of the Old Raevir and Hansetians who settled in the lowlands of Haense [Huns-Waldor Basin, Carnatia, etc.], with majority claiming patrilineal descent from the ancient Raev with significant Hansetian admixture. They are the most numerous of Haense’s three main culture groups and are considered the ‘stereotypical’ Haeseni as seen by outsiders. Low Marians are also commonly referred to as Karovians, with sub-groups including the Piskrokarovians (Flexified as Galaharians), the Kusokarovians (Flexified as New Carnatians), and the Mejeni (Flexified as Hussarians).

 

‘High’ Marian - traditionally the descendents of the Old Raevir and Hansetians who settled in the alpine highlands of Haense [Almaanland, Slesvik, etc.], with majority claiming patrilineal descent from the ancient Hansetians with significant Raevir admixture. They are the second largest group of Haense’s three main cultures, considered to be more rugged and rural compared to their counterparts. High Marians are also commonly referred to as Alimanians, with sub-groups including Vezucheti (Flexified as Haenso-Waldenians) and Slesvicians.

 

‘Southern’ Marian - refers to the descendants of southerners (such as Renatians, Kaedreni, and Savoyards) who have settled in Haense, with majority bearing both Raev and Hansetian admixture. Though the smallest of Haense’s three main cultures, they are the most diverse and dispersed, having pockets of population from both the lowlands to the highlands. Southern Marians are also commonly referred to as Leuvians.

 

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Karovians (Low Marian)

    Low Marians, or Karovians, are the descendents of the Raev and Hansetian settlers of the Huns-Waldor basin, stretching from the lowlands of Lahy, the Mejeni steppes, the forests of Carnatia and the Wickswald, and the coastal areas of Galahar. They are the most numerous of all of Haense’s Marian ethnicities, contributing nearly half of the total population, and are what mainstream scholars and writers consider the ‘mainstream’ Haeseni. Typical traits include darker hair, ranging from black to brown, shorter builds between 5’4 and 6’2, and narrower faces. Most Karovians live in the urbanized southern portions of Haense, either in the city or in rural suburbs surrounding it, and culturally have embraced more elaborate and nuanced dress and fashion comparable to the Helenese, Renatians, and Savoyards of the southern estates. The name ‘Karovian’ derives from traditional land of Karovia, a polity created in the late 1st century ES by Emperor St Tuvya for his son and later successor Emperor Aleksandr I, with which it became the base of operations of Aleksandr’s descendents of Barbanov in unifying the northern hinterlands into the Kingdom of Haense.

 

    There exist three main sub-groups of the Low Marians (Karovians), though differences exist only in sparse genetics and almost negligible cultural marks, which include,

 

Kusokarovians (or New Carnatians) -  Settled in the valley and forests of Carnatia during the migration of Haeseni post-Schismatic War, the Kusokarovians are genetically identical to Karovians with trace amounts of Old Carnatian admixture. In comparison to their Karovian counterparts, most Kusokarovians have taken the trade of pastoralism or ranching. Traditionally, nearly all of Haense’s famous cavalry (the Carnatian kossars) have been pulled from Kusokarovian stock. The name ‘Kusokarovian’ comes from the last-name of ancient Carnatian warchief Ivan Kusoraev (Old Carnatian: Yivaenis Kuzoraenais) who united the Raev in its first rudimentary monarchy.

 

Piskrokarovians (or Galaharians) - Settled in the Haeseni coastline and the island chain of Galahar, the Piskrokarovians are genetically identical to Karovians though bear more Hansetian admixture. Unlike the more rural and agricultural focus of the rest of Haense, Piskrokarovians are known for their feats in seafaring and focus on the ocean for sustenance and their way of life. Traditionally, the paltry Haeseni navy has been dominated almost entirely by Piskrokarovians, with them being one of the nation’s only source of maritime resources. The name ‘Piskrokarovians’ comes from the Haeseni word ‘Piskro’ meaning ‘seafarer, sailor’, which itself derives from the ancient Dulonian goddess Pisktro, the deity of the sea.

 

Mejeni (or Hussarians) - Settled in the Mejeni steppes of the kossaks, the Mejeni are the most separated compared to their peers, with most descending from purely Raevir stock with little Hansetian admixture. Mejeni are few in number, with most having migrated or assimilated into the larger Karovian culture. The ones who are still extant, however, have continuously followed the ancient kossak ways of their forebears, preferring the pseudo-hunter and gatherer society over the agricultural basis of Haense. Though Naumarian has become the linga orenia of the Mejeni people, some have continued to use the ancient Raev Botch in familial settings. The name ‘Mejeni’ comes from the area where they are most concentrated in, known as the Mejeni steppes.

 

Estimated Population: around 4m

 

Notable Individuals:

See the Monarchs of Haense

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St. Karl of Haense

St. Heinrik of Bihar [VIII Palatin]

St. High Pontiff Everard IV {Josef van Alban} [IX Palatin]

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Reza [Kovachev] of Turov [I Koenas] (Kusokarovian)

Adelajda [Ruthern] of Metterden [II Koenas] (Piskrokarovian)

Katharina [Kovachev] of Carnatia [IV Koenas] (Kusokarovian)

Tatiana [Ruthern] of Metterden [VII Koenas] (Piskrokarovian)

Elizaveta [Ruthern] of Vidaus [IX Koenas] (Piskrokarovian)

Klaudiya [Vanir] of Vasiland [X Koenas] (Piskrokarovian)

Maya [Alimar] of Muldav [XII Koenas]

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Sir Rickard Barrow [I Palatin]

Prinz Karl of Haense [II Palatin]

Heinrik Kovachev, 6th Duke of Carnatia [III Palatin] (Kusokarovian)

Sir Lukas Vanir [IV Palatin] (Piskrokarovian)

Sergey [III] Kovachev, 9th Duke of Carnatia [XI Palatin]

Robert van Bihar, 2nd Prince of Bihar [XII and XVI Palatin]

Karl van der Rothswald [XIV Palatin]

Demitrey Ruthern, 2nd Duke of Vidaus [XVII Palatin] (Piskrokarovian)

Konstantin Ruthern, 3rd Duke of Vidaus [XVIII Palatin] (Piskrokarovian)

Sir Georg Alimar the Elder [XX Palatin and II Herzen]

Lerald Vyronov, 15th Duke of Carnatia [XXI Palatin and III Herzen] (Kusokarovian)

Makrus Kortrevich, 1st Margrave of Korstadt [XXIV Palatin]

Sir Georg Alimar the Younger [XXV Palatin]

Otto Alimar, 4th Prince of Muldav [XXVI Palatin]

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Sigmar Baruch, 1st Duke of Valwyk [V Herzen]

Heinrik Vanir, 10th Baron Vasiland [VI Herzen] (Piskrokarovian)

 

Notable Families:

Barbanov/van Bihar dynasty

Alimar family

Kortrevich family

Kovachev family (Kusokarovian)

Ludovar family

Ruthern family (Piskrokarovian)

van Batavic family (Piskrokarovian)

van der Grendok family

Vanir family (Piskrokarovian)

Vyronov family (Kusokarovian)

Wick family

 

Notable Settlements with Significant Populations:

Batavus (Piskrokarovian)

Bihar

Chatnik

Graiswald (Kusokarovian)

Grendok

Hundzden (Kusokarovian)

Kerzenwick

Koravia

Korstadt

Kovagradz (Kusokarovian)

Kvasz (Kusokarovian)

Metterden

Muldav

Old/New Reza

Rostig-Otistadt

Rytsburg (Kusokarovian)

Turov (Kusokarovian)

Vasiland (Piskrokarovian)

 

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Alimanians (High Marian)

High Marians, or Alimanians, are the descendents of the Raev and Hansetian settlers of northern Hanseti, including Almaanland, Slesvik, and the regions bounded north of the Greyspine Mountains. They are the second largest population that resides within Haense, though unlike their southern Low Marian peers are more spread-out in rural villages and sporadic settlements found in the hinterland frontier. Commonly considered more ‘rugged’, High Marians are staple cases of the Biharian Dream as written and taught by St Henry of Bihar, living out their days in relative peace and harmony among the untamed wilderness beyond the Greyspine. This does not mean, however, that High Marians are lacking in political merit, and with the rise of settlement and expansion by the Haeseni Crown to the north, more and more families of Alimanian descent have risen to great prominence and sizable towns have begun to form. Typical traits include lighter hair, ranging from light brown to blonde, larger builds between 5’6 and 6’5, and broader faces. The name ‘Alimanian’ comes from the proto-Hansetian tribe known as the Alimannir, one of the more significant people with whom many place-names and locations have their etymological roots.

 

There exist two main sub-groups of the High Marians (Alimanians), though differences exist only in sparse genetics and almost negligible cultural marks, which include,

 

Vezucheti (or Haenso-Waldenian) - Descendents of the Waldenian ‘Vanders’ who did not migrate from Haense following the collapse of Aesterwald, the Vezucheti are the settlers of the wild, untamed spruce forests of Waldenia, remaining in sparse villages mostly separated from the rest of Haense. They are famed as laborers, commonly enlisted as lumberjacks, miners, and whalers throughout Haense, as well as soldiery, from which many of Haense’s greatest warriors have come from their stock. The name ‘Vezucheti’ comes from the Naumarian word ‘Vezuchet’ roughly meaning ‘native’, a term used to describe the Waldenians by the first Haeseni settlers of the region.

 

Slesvicians - Descendents of the Gorundish tribes which settled in the far north, Slesvicians are some of the last remaining tribal peoples remaining in Haense. Most brutalistic of all the Marians, preferring to live in the traditional clan lifestyle passed down to them for generations and were only recently canonified by the efforts of St Otto and St Karl. They remain mostly aloof from the rest of Haeseni society, with very few Slesvicians trekking any farther south than the Greyspine. The name ‘Slesvician’ comes from the region of Slesvik, which remains as one of their last remnant areas of notable population.

 

Estimated Population: around 2.8m

 

Notable Individuals:

St. Otto of Haense (Vezucheti)

St. Rudolf of Markev (Vezucheti)

Bl. Wilhelm Hermann (Vezucheti)

Bl. High Pontiff Sixtus IV {Berengar Gotthold}

Bl. Marus Baruch (Vezucheti)

Bl. High Pontiff Owyn II {Jorik Othaman}

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Rev. Jan Othaman [V Palatin]

Sir Matyas Colborn [XV Palatin] (Slesvician)

Leopold Stafyr, 1st Count of Nenzing [XIX Palatin]

Sir Konrad Stafyr [XXIII Palatin and IV Herzen]

 

Notable Families:

Barclay family

Baruch family (Vezucheti)

Berhal family

Brawm family

Colborn family (Slesvician)

Marbrand family

Othaman family

Stafyr family

van Gant family (Vezucheti)

Volik family (Slesvician)

 

Notable Settlements with Significant Populations:

Ayr (Vezucheti)

Carranhal (Slesvician)

Freising

Mondstadt

Nenzing

Reinmar

Thurant

Valwyk

Voron (Vezucheti)

 

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Leuvians (Southern Marian)

Southern Marians, or Leuvians, are the descendents of southern peoples (including Renatians, Kaedreni, Savoyards) who have settled in Haense. They are the most recent and most diverse of Haense’s three main cultural groups, deriving from three main groups: the Ulgo-Savoyards, who live on the border of the Haense/heartlands near the swamps and plains of Savoy, the Furentaliz (lit. ‘refugees’), descendents of imperial and heartland refugees who fled the south following the collapse of the Fifth Empire (also included are the minority of heartlanders who settled in Haense following its brief occupation before the emancipation of the Greyspine Rebellion), and Haeseni Adrians (sometimes called Sarkozians), or the mixed Auvergnian and Raev settlers of the few remaining Adrian estates still maintained by the crown. It should be noted, as an aside, that due to the diverse nature of this group, the term Southern Marian is used more as a scholastic category than it denoting a true, separate people. Attempting to find equal traits or attributes among them is also impossible. The name ‘Leuvian’ derives from the town of Leuven, one of Haense’s more prominent regions which retains a strong, southern identity.

 

Estimated Population: around 0.9m

 

Notable Individuals:

Bl. Baldwin van Baar

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Ingrid [van Sarkoz-Ulgaard] of Ulgaard [VI Koenas]

Sofiya [van Kastir] of Kastir [VIII Koenas]

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Sir Fordsen Kyngeston [X Palatin]

Sir Terensz Mau [XXII Palatin]

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Sir Edward Morisz [I Herzen]

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Konrad van Falstaff, 1st Komit van Leuven

 

Notable Families:

Amador family

Kyngeston family

van Aren family

van der Grimbold family

van Falstaff family

van Kastir family

van Loden family

van Sarkoz-Ulgaard family

 

Notable Settlements with Significant Populations:

Gant

Laurenstadt

Laval

Leuven

 

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Non-Marian Peoples

    The non-Marian peoples is the small minority of Haense which has not been Haesenified through the years, whether due to strong tribal identity or stark differences in traditions. There is no common link between any of them, each bearing their own unique history and consciousness. Despite this, these non-Marian peoples can still be considered Haeseni in regards of nationality, many of which have served in positions of government, military, and even nobility within the state.

 

    The current primary list of non-Marian peoples are listed below, but in no way include all minority populations residing within Haense’s borders,

 

Kvenomen (or Kevanians) - Descendents of the Harrenite tribe called the Kvens, Kvenomen are one of the last remaining extant Arenic tribes which still remain their traditional identity passed down to them for over a thousand years. Few in number, Kvenomen settled near the glacial lakes of northern Hanseti and are sometimes referred to by the local Alimanians as Laurmannir or ‘Pond-men’. Some Kvenomen live in permanent river-barges and are commonly hired as traders and merchants for their experience in traversing the treacherous and often changing rivers of Huns-Waldor basin. Recently, due to increasing fortunes, many have begun to migrate to the lands of Kaedrin and Renatus in search of work due to the rising settlement of Marians in their tribal lands.

 

Tarchary (or Tarcarians) - Hailing from the remnants of the Rudran cavalry which once served Basileus the Great in his great conquest of the Raev, the Tarchary are a kossak-minded people of the Mejeni steppes, maintaining a curious mixture of Rhenyari and Raev traditions. Historically, the Tarchary are a dying breed, most wiped out in the Tarchary Crusades of the 2nd century ES whether through conflict or disease, with only a sparse number of villages and Tarchar centers still remaining. Despite this, many Tarchary have been pulled for Haeseni cavalry, serving alongside Kusokarovians as one of the premier light skirmishers used still by the nation’s military. Government support of some of the Tarchary clans have allowed a slow rebounce of their population, though they remain in stark minority compared to other peoples.

 

Dunnfolk (or Haeseni Gnomes) - One of the only non-human people who call Haense their homeland, the Dunnfolk or Haeseni Gnomes are a branch of halflings which have lived in the Haeseni forests for over a thousand years. According to their mythological origins, they claim direct descent from Queen Sarai and the Wildewynn (or Mali’Dun), though their exact genesis remains a mystery to most scholars to this day. Most Gnomes reside within the thick, untamed forests of the Wickswald and retain strong independence from any governmental authority.

 

Estimated Population: around 0.2m

 

Notable Individuals:

Bl. Vytanis Andruikatis (Kvenomen)

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Sir Maverik Madonvik [VI Palatin] (Kvenomen)

Sir Jakob Madonvik [VII Palatin] (Kvenomen)

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Sir Nikolas Amber-Toe (Dunnfolk)

 

Notable Families:

Madonvik family (Kvenomen)

Tosali family (Kvenomen)

 

Notable Settlements with Significant Populations:

Dasoguz (Tarchary)

Rostig (Kvenomen)

 

[Ark 2830]

Karl Barbanov coughs into his arm. “Haensic.” Could be heard from somewhere..

[seannie 6855]

Sigi smiles the sun’s smile as he leans back in his chair, reading through Otto the Tarcharman’s work in the comforts of his office.

[Gnomemancy 983]

Blessed High Pontiff Jude I would shine a welcoming smile down at this work and would note to Sixtus that as a Waldenian he is a High Marian as well.