A comprehensive list of societal terms and concepts
You poor readers have been flooded with strange terms and languages in my Akiniwazisaga freebies. Well, I’m going to give you a little more of a freebie and that’s the glossary and notes to help you understand the words, pronunciations and meanings of them. It’ll teach you to cuss like a Viking, too. This will be a compilation of the master list that will cover all 3 novels that are out. That means there will be terms and subjects you haven’t encountered yet, or are buried too deep in the novels for you.
Check it out from the start, here:
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Society
The Hird
The Hird is the royal structure of government in Akiniwazi that was formed in 1302 A.D. or 35 A.S., which stands for Ad Segregationem denoting the beginning of isolation from the world following the end of Fimbulvetr by Akiniwazi reckoning. It was the result of Visekonge Halmar Mikkelsson Sveinnaettir negotiating a truce between the warring jarls and ending The Aettirkrigen. This allowed for organizing a new aettir peerage that addressed many grievances of the clans and families and also formalized the aettir structure. This provided stability for tradition and new growth, hierarchy and a much smoother succession of power as time went on. The agreement was called the Halmarpakt and created the Akiniwazi Union which delineated the structure and territories of the land.
Lineage of the Sveinnaettir Dynasty
Halmar Mikkelsson the Uniter – Founder of the Akiniwazi Union
Axel Halmarsson the Peaceful
Boje Axelsson the Builder of the Palace
Cruim Bojesson the Crooked – Died/Assassinated
Hrollief Ahlstrohm the Savior
Trigg Nyqvist the New Branch
Mikkel Triggsson the Fierce
Erick Mikkelsson the Resolute
Oysten Ericksson the Joyful
Wyck Oystensson the Clever
Vidar Wycksson the Bold
Gregor Vidarsson *Current Visekonge
The Statsraad
This is the ruling body of the Akiniwazi Union, created by the Halmarpakt in 1302. It consists of a fluctuating body centered around the thirteen lands of the Union. These are represented by the jarls directly or their designated factors and approved counsellors. There is a mutable extended membership of the Statsraad that serves at the pleasure of the Visekonge. These members are prominent members of the Hird as well as representatives of business owners and wealthy aettir, influential artists, philosophers and other educated men of the day.
The Statsraad have their own tables in which to manage the needs of the Union and advise the Visekonge. The Statsraad may overrule the Visekonge only with a unanimous vote of all the jarls, represented in person, and not by factor or counsellor. In this manner the bureaucracy of the government is delegated and managed.
The Privy Council
In addition to the Statsraad, each table is lead by a special advisor to the Crown known as the Privy Council. This consists of men chosen to personally oversee and focus the Statsraad members with the germane business of the bureaucracy. These positions include:
Chancellor – Highest judge in the Union and chief of the guard
Stallare Marshal – The general in charge of all the Crown’s army
Admiral – Highest naval officer in charge of all the Crown’s naval forces
Crown Chaplain – Spiritual advisor to the Crown
Minister of the Exchequer – Chief accountant and tax collector
Minister of the Wardrobe – Personal assistant to the family of the Visekonge and master of all the Crown household.
Coroner – Chief bureaucrat, Keeper of the Census and all Crown records, Curator of the Bok av Familiar. The Coroner position is the most recent addition. It replaced the Kronaprophet, A Sanaadian Prophet who advised the visekonge. This change was made by Gregor Vidarsson early in his reign.
Aettir Peerage
Society in Akiniwazi is formed around the family structure, followed by extended family and clans which creates the political construct of the aettir. The aettir follow back to a common ancestor as is found in most feudalistic or monarchic societies. There are only thirteen dynastic aettir in Akiniwazi, all of which relate back to the nobility of the Gamleverden royal lineage, the sea captains who ferried settlers to live in Akiniwazi or a set of powerful men who became influential enough to take over power from those aettir that collapsed during the Aettirkrigen that began shortly after Fimbulvetr and ended in the Halmarpakt.
To solve the problem of new aettir and significantly more family lines, a new hierarchy of peerage was created to reflect the contributions of other aettir in the land. Often the origination of a new aettir was in the accomplishment of great acts or services to the Hird, the system is perpetually growing, which then leads to a hierarchy of the aettir, forming their own social structure as explained below. Once an aettir is part of the peerage, it can only be removed by the bloodline dying off or by being supplanted through marriage. In extreme cases, some have been stripped of their status for treason to the Hird.
There are considered six levels of aettir peerage in Akiniwazi. The highest is called the Hird, while the lowest is the Fellesaettir or “Common Aettir” that has no real organization or recognition. With the merits of members associated with them, they can gain status, and therefore common power among the Forsamling.
An aettir is recognized in its status and therefore grouped by the following:
Vapenaettir – [VAH-pen-EH-ter]
Crested Aettir
These bloodlines are allowed Heraldic crests and mottos in addition to possessing fiefs and lands as well as their colors and crests given due to great fealty and accomplishment to the Visekonge. Members of the klan are required to wear their heraldry at all special occasions and are considered the most senior of the families that do not possess a jarldom. They are often headed by a lendmann, herse or huskarl.
Landetaettir – [LAN-det-EH-ter]
Landed Aettir
These clans are allowed fiefs and lands as reward for service to the Crown or by their own enterprise. These were provided the privilege of recognized colors. They often were given much better titles and greater power as the Visekonge wished to rule in concert with the forming blocs of power. Any crest provided must be that of their patron jarl.
Fargeaettir – [FAR-jee-EH-ter]
Colored Aettir
Loyal retainers to the Crown or jarls are given the merit of aettir colors. Although they are given the distinction their own of heraldic colors, they take the crest of their patron jarl through which the merits were given.
Sivuaettir – [SIH-voo-EH-ter]
Paged Aettir
These are aettir who do not have land, colors or a crest, but nonetheless are recognized by the Hird in the “Bok av Familier” or “Book of Families” which is an official census and have their own pages in that book. These families can often trace their history back to the Gamleverden, which is part of why they are recognized as important families who immigrated by choice.
Fellesaettir
[FEH-les-EH-ter]
Common Aettir
These are unrecognized families by the Hird. They are known locally but carry no real political, legal or military weight. They are more or less a way to categorize families. This group of aettir often consist of Forsamling brought as thralls, exiles or from conquered lands by Denmark, Norway or Sweden. Those bearing Irish, English, French, Inuit or other non-traditional names and geneology are often treated like second class citizens by those in the other aettir.
Hird Titles (In Order of Precedence)
Visekonge – [VEE-say-KON-gay]
The Viceroy or literally Vice King
Addressed as “my Tign.” This is the highest noble rank in the land. The original appointment was created by King Haakon IV of Norway through his youngest son, Sveinn to act in his stead in an effort to stabilize fractious jarls in Akiniwazi. The Visekonge is the defacto king of Akiniwazi but since the Isolation, it has taken on the actual mantle-ship of a King, but maintains the title Visekonge in respect to its origin, but no longer recognizes any other Earthly superior.
Visedronning
[VEE-say-DROH-ning]
Vice Queen
The wife of the Visekonge. Addressed as “my Tign.”
Tronerving – [TROH-nur-ving]
Heir to the Throne or Crown Prince
The eldest child, destined to be Visekonge. Addressed as “my Tign.”
Kronasson – [KROH-nah-sun]
Crown son
Son of the Visekonge. Addressed as “my Tign.”
Kronadottir – [KROH-nah-DAW-tur]
Crown daughter
Daughter of the Visekonge. Addressed as “my Tign.”
Jarl – [YAH-rul]
Earl
Addressed as “Den Aerefulle” (The Honorable) by introduction or “Deres Naade” (Your Grace) as a nonspecific form of address. Det Aerefulle Herre or Dame Ogimaque. This title was given to the heads of the 13 families that make up the Royal Hird. Jarls are always landed titles. There is one jarl per lake and major settled river system.
Jarlsonn – [YAH-rul-sun]
Jarl’s son
The son of a jarl. Addressed as “Deres Naade” or introduced as “Den Aerefulle.”
Herse – [HEHR-sey]
Baron
Addressed as “Hovding” or “Hovdingfrue” (i.e. Hovdingfrue Tungloddr). The title used for the local representative of the Visekonge. It is usually a military title used more often with fortifications, it can also be the equivalent of a mayor or count to run an isolated territory that would be difficult to rule otherwise. They are more often appointed by a jarl and have an incredible amount of autonomy and power on his behalf.
Lendmann – [LEN-de-mahn]
Count or Countess
Addressed as Lendmann for either gender by using their given name after their title (Lendmann Ulla) or Greve (Male) Grevinne (female) are also common forms of address. Lendmenn run local affairs for the jarl or Herse. Often of an allied aettir (plural Lendmenn).
Huskarl – [HOOS-kar-ul]
House Man
An armed retainer or house guard with a limited number that accompany a member of the Hird. Unlanded nobility. They have two honorifics, sjef or meistari, depending on their function. A sjef is typically a leader of a group of soldiers, while meistari is used for berserkers and the ennobled title. Ennoblement is typically done for Huskarls who serve in a governmental capacity for the Hird.
Armann – [AR-mahn]
Courtier or Hird official
Although a member of the Hird and granted ennoblement, they do not have land but rather a royal office that is theirs as long as they are in position. Often this title is used for administrators of the Visekonge or in the Hird of the jarl. They have the right to command huskarls and Haulds. Given the honorific “Herre or Dame.”
Hauld
[HAW-uld]
Ennobled Farmer or businessman
The lowest form of royalty but is not hereditary. Given for extraordinary service to the Hird. Allowed the honorific “Herre or Dame.”
Forms of Address and Social Status
Berserker – [bur-SUR-kur]
This title is bestowed on champion warriors often blessed with great spiritual gifts for battle. Every jarl has one berserker whom he uses as his personal champion. This is a much sought after title among warriors in the army and the huskarls. As a sign of their station they are awarded the Bear Shirt, a cloak made from the hide of a bear, often with the head still attached and given a gold medallion denoting his patron. The design varies from jarl to jarl.
Traditionally, the berserker goes into a trance in battle and manifests most often as skin impervious to blades and fire. Other gifts manifest from time to time that vary with each berserker. The danger with the trances that these warriors enter is that they sometimes cannot control the fury that is unleashed and will kill friend and foe alike.
Dame – [Daym]
Mistress or Lady
A polite form of address toward a woman of superior position or status. Also used as part of honorifics for female Hird of unknown station.
Damer – [DAH-mur]
Plural form of address for a group of women.
Domari – [doh-MAH-ree]
A judge
A special sogumathr that also knows the legal code by oral tradition, and only used for criminal trials at a Thing. He is the final word on a legal matter. Although a domari is always present at a Thing, not all Things require their services.
Fredlause – [FRED-la-ohss]
Outlaw
A shunned person who is outside the law who has no protections, just like a wild dangerous animal. A person expelled from the protections of the law in Society.
Froeken – [FROH-ken]
Miss
An unmarried woman or maiden. Form of polite address to an unfamiliar equal.
Frue – [FROO]
Madam. A married woman. Form of polite address to an unfamiliar equal.
Herr – [HAIR]
Mister
Polite form of address to a man.
Herre
[HEH-reh]
Master or Sir
A polite form of address toward a man of superior position but unknown status.
Herrar – [HEH-rahr]
Plural for gentlemen or a group of men.
Karl – [Carl]
A free man or citizen
This is the status of all people not under judgment of the law, or not a member of the Hird with royal status.
Kerling – [KARE-ling]
A Free woman or Citizen
This is the status of all people not under judgment of the law, or not a member of the Hird with royal status.
Meistari – [my-STAH-ree]
Sir (as in knight)
A term of formal address used exclusively toward huskarls or berserkers.
Niding – [NIH-ding]
Protected Exile
A conditional outlaw, someone who has been punished with skoggang or had his freedom or protection under the law constrained. A prisoner.
Sjef – [SHEH-ff]
Chief
The leader for a group of warriors. Sometimes an informal title of respect, similar to the term ‘boss’.
Sogumathr – [SOH-goo-MAH-tur]
Lawspeaker
The second highest ranking member of a Thing. Required to have complete oral knowledge of the law and the ability to speak on the behalf of the accused or victim in a trial or settle civil disputes and arbitration.
Thrall – [THRAW-uhl]
Slave
This may be a temporary status like an indentured servant.
Viking –[VY-king]
A raider, pirate, cutthroat, brigand
This term is a pejorative and insult, but also applies to those engaged in the actual acts of piracy, raiding and brigandage.
The Kyrkja
[HERE-hyah]
The Kyrkja or Church is an offshoot of the Roman Catholic Church by the proxy of several monastic orders that were active in Scandinavian lands at the time. This included the Benedictine, Franciscan and Dominican orders while influence and heritage from Carolingian colleges and Cistercian traditions are evident.
In 1266 and the beginning of the Isolation Era, being cut off from the Roman Catholic Church, they have gone off in their own directions to fit the unique circumstances of the land and their monastic traditions. Their stated mission purpose is to preach the Word of God to all those willing to listen and to protect those who request salvation. They have engaged in the spiritual war against the lords of the land and members of opposing Skaerslinger paganism. They war against all those who serve the demons and their masters. Each sect is organized around a set of gifts in the spirit or societal duties associated with those gifts to form a cohesive whole like that of the separate parts of the body of Christ.
Sects of the Kyrkja
Anjars (Anja)
Order of Charity, Healing
Colors – Red, Blue and Gold
Ankarites (Ankar)
Order of Preaching, Teaching and Ministry
Colors – Green, Black and White
Havarians (Havar)
Order of Preservation, Protection, Knowledge
Colors – Grey, Dark Blue and White
Koenraadians (Koenraad)
Order of Counseling & Wisdom
Colors – Brown, Red and Green
Ragnarites (Ragnar)
Order of Holy Warfare, Defenders of the Faithful
Colors – Black, Crimson and White
Sanaadians (Sanaa)
Order of Prayer and Prophecy
Colors – White, Light Blue and Dark Blue
Taitians (Tait)
Order of the Arts, Praise and Worship
Colors – Blue, Purple and Red
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