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The Mill-enese Middle Classes
A Note On the Mill-enese Middle Classes
For many with only a passing interest in the History of the Golden Nation, it may come as a shock to find out that not everyone in Mill-en was either a dissatisfied peasant or a corrupt aristocrat. Both in the Old World and the New, Mill-en retained a flourishing "genteel" class of merchants, scholars, master craftsmen, doctors, soldiers and scientists who served, either directly or through patronage, the ruling elite and were often handsomely rewarded for these services. Entrenched within the moral, religious and social life of old Mill-en these individuals stood to loose just as much (if not, in some cases, more) than their benefactors with the outbreak of revolution. Many had homes and assets seized, and others were arrested, attacked or even killed as the Pietkrieg blindly lashed out at any and all they perceived as "sympathisers". Even those that escaped such brutality found their businesses floundering as tastes changed and the economy suffered under the austere rule of the Free Merchants. Eventually, many found their homeland dangerous and inhospitable, and followed their masters into exile. Some went to other lands - remnants of "royalist" trading houses and skilled Mill-enese craftsmen can be found in Flambard, Alkyon, almost every other civilised country, and even the Free Islands - some went a step further, and came to the New World, following rumours that a small group of exiled nobles sought to remake the Golden Nation in these unfamiliar lands.
The artisans of Mill-en were and are legendary. The celebrated fine taste and expansive wallets of the nobles of the Golden Nation gave rise to craftsmen and women of almost every conceivable type; painters, tailors, playwrights, architects, chefs, sculptors, furniture makers, musicians, gardeners and goldsmiths, to name but a few. Many enjoyed privileged lifestyles and moderate fame as their benefactors saw to it that their creations were the toast of the civilised world. They remain well represented in the New World, some, out of a sense of intense personal loyalty, having chosen to follow their patrons immediately the revolution broke out, others joining in later years having crossed oceans and maelstrom to find a suitable audience for their exquisite creations.
The Teacher-following aristocracy of Mill-en had always honoured learning, and many saw supporting the work of scholars in various fields as a religious duty in and of itself. Through personal sponsorship (in the case of the extremely wealthy) or by supporting universities and other institutions of learning, many nobles footed the bill for studies as diverse as natural history, astronomy, law, meteorology and ancient history, and particularly august students of these fields often enjoyed privileged positions within academia or even the royal court. Often devout followers of the Teacher, many of these learned sages saw the Free Merchants illegal revolution as blasphemy, and (having little stomach for violence) took the opportunity to leave the country with their noble masters.
Due to a decree by a previous Majeste, with the exception of the banking guild Rimici Cappell, no Trade Houses were allowed to operate within the Golden Nation. Thus, many domestic merchants became very wealthy indeed operating the huge economic concern that was Mill-en. It was said almost everything in the world was available for sale in Saren’s narrow streets, if only one could find it and could afford it when you did, and so traders of every imaginable stripe emerged. Provisioners and grocers carried the bounty of the farms and oceans to the tables of the known world, ship builders and maritime officials oversaw the moving of thousands of tonnes of cargo in Mill-enese waters and ports, importers and exporters littered every dockside. Inevitably, in the midst of this economic success, certain greedy merchants used the Free Merchants council as a vehicle for their own unseemly ambitions, but to say every Mill-enese Merchant supported the revolution would do a dishonour to the many brave men and women who lost their livelihoods, and in some cases their lives, to speak out against the treachery in their own ranks. Though the primary motivation of many was loyalty to the country and the rulers who had allowed them such wealth, it would be fair to say that many also stood to loose a great deal fiscally speaking by the overthrow of the monarchy. Particularly those who’s goods and services were in demand among the aristocracy were financially as well as personally devastated by the revolution – the markets for fine silks, furs, spices, dyes and drugs as well as precious metals, gems and extravagant food and drink all but dried up following the revolution. Bereft of their patrons and customers, attacked and outlawed by their revolutionary peers, many a loyal merchant family left the Golden Nation to try to once again make their fortunes in other, less civilised parts, of the Known and New World.
A small though noticeable minority in the middle classes of Mill-en is formed by those who practise those useful skills unfathomable to a peasant but clearly beneath the dignity of a noble. Family doctors and lawyers, minor priests and teachers, guard captains and seneschals all formed the very lifeblood of the estates of Mill-en, and in many cases have found themselves unwilling or unable to forge a new life in the Freiboden League. Too loyal to their masters to serve the Free Merchants, but not wealthy enough to make a life for themselves without regular employment, many have fled to the far corners of the Known or the New World to find somewhere their skills are valued.
In the New World, one can find represented almost every profession that ever made up the Mill-enese Middle Classes, and more join every day. Even with the death of Dauphin Phillipe, more former subjects of the Golden Nation continue to flock to the banner of the Regent Delano and his ward, Dauphin Dominic, finding comfort in the familiar, remembered formality of Mill-enese life. That said, many things have changed in the New Mill-en, and as the Regent and Lord Protector seek people of talent and loyalty to serve them many of even the commonest birthright have risen to positions of authority (and even nobility) within the Nation. Some, appalled by this, have retreated into deepest formality, other have seized the opportunity to make the best use of their talents in this new and exciting world. What will become of all remains to be seen, but, as always, it can be assumed the fate of the middle classes remains tied to the success of the Nation as a whole.
For many with only a passing interest in the History of the Golden Nation, it may come as a shock to find out that not everyone in Mill-en was either a dissatisfied peasant or a corrupt aristocrat. Both in the Old World and the New, Mill-en retained a flourishing "genteel" class of merchants, scholars, master craftsmen, doctors, soldiers and scientists who served, either directly or through patronage, the ruling elite and were often handsomely rewarded for these services. Entrenched within the moral, religious and social life of old Mill-en these individuals stood to loose just as much (if not, in some cases, more) than their benefactors with the outbreak of revolution. Many had homes and assets seized, and others were arrested, attacked or even killed as the Pietkrieg blindly lashed out at any and all they perceived as "sympathisers". Even those that escaped such brutality found their businesses floundering as tastes changed and the economy suffered under the austere rule of the Free Merchants. Eventually, many found their homeland dangerous and inhospitable, and followed their masters into exile. Some went to other lands - remnants of "royalist" trading houses and skilled Mill-enese craftsmen can be found in Flambard, Alkyon, almost every other civilised country, and even the Free Islands - some went a step further, and came to the New World, following rumours that a small group of exiled nobles sought to remake the Golden Nation in these unfamiliar lands.
The artisans of Mill-en were and are legendary. The celebrated fine taste and expansive wallets of the nobles of the Golden Nation gave rise to craftsmen and women of almost every conceivable type; painters, tailors, playwrights, architects, chefs, sculptors, furniture makers, musicians, gardeners and goldsmiths, to name but a few. Many enjoyed privileged lifestyles and moderate fame as their benefactors saw to it that their creations were the toast of the civilised world. They remain well represented in the New World, some, out of a sense of intense personal loyalty, having chosen to follow their patrons immediately the revolution broke out, others joining in later years having crossed oceans and maelstrom to find a suitable audience for their exquisite creations.
The Teacher-following aristocracy of Mill-en had always honoured learning, and many saw supporting the work of scholars in various fields as a religious duty in and of itself. Through personal sponsorship (in the case of the extremely wealthy) or by supporting universities and other institutions of learning, many nobles footed the bill for studies as diverse as natural history, astronomy, law, meteorology and ancient history, and particularly august students of these fields often enjoyed privileged positions within academia or even the royal court. Often devout followers of the Teacher, many of these learned sages saw the Free Merchants illegal revolution as blasphemy, and (having little stomach for violence) took the opportunity to leave the country with their noble masters.
Due to a decree by a previous Majeste, with the exception of the banking guild Rimici Cappell, no Trade Houses were allowed to operate within the Golden Nation. Thus, many domestic merchants became very wealthy indeed operating the huge economic concern that was Mill-en. It was said almost everything in the world was available for sale in Saren’s narrow streets, if only one could find it and could afford it when you did, and so traders of every imaginable stripe emerged. Provisioners and grocers carried the bounty of the farms and oceans to the tables of the known world, ship builders and maritime officials oversaw the moving of thousands of tonnes of cargo in Mill-enese waters and ports, importers and exporters littered every dockside. Inevitably, in the midst of this economic success, certain greedy merchants used the Free Merchants council as a vehicle for their own unseemly ambitions, but to say every Mill-enese Merchant supported the revolution would do a dishonour to the many brave men and women who lost their livelihoods, and in some cases their lives, to speak out against the treachery in their own ranks. Though the primary motivation of many was loyalty to the country and the rulers who had allowed them such wealth, it would be fair to say that many also stood to loose a great deal fiscally speaking by the overthrow of the monarchy. Particularly those who’s goods and services were in demand among the aristocracy were financially as well as personally devastated by the revolution – the markets for fine silks, furs, spices, dyes and drugs as well as precious metals, gems and extravagant food and drink all but dried up following the revolution. Bereft of their patrons and customers, attacked and outlawed by their revolutionary peers, many a loyal merchant family left the Golden Nation to try to once again make their fortunes in other, less civilised parts, of the Known and New World.
A small though noticeable minority in the middle classes of Mill-en is formed by those who practise those useful skills unfathomable to a peasant but clearly beneath the dignity of a noble. Family doctors and lawyers, minor priests and teachers, guard captains and seneschals all formed the very lifeblood of the estates of Mill-en, and in many cases have found themselves unwilling or unable to forge a new life in the Freiboden League. Too loyal to their masters to serve the Free Merchants, but not wealthy enough to make a life for themselves without regular employment, many have fled to the far corners of the Known or the New World to find somewhere their skills are valued.
In the New World, one can find represented almost every profession that ever made up the Mill-enese Middle Classes, and more join every day. Even with the death of Dauphin Phillipe, more former subjects of the Golden Nation continue to flock to the banner of the Regent Delano and his ward, Dauphin Dominic, finding comfort in the familiar, remembered formality of Mill-enese life. That said, many things have changed in the New Mill-en, and as the Regent and Lord Protector seek people of talent and loyalty to serve them many of even the commonest birthright have risen to positions of authority (and even nobility) within the Nation. Some, appalled by this, have retreated into deepest formality, other have seized the opportunity to make the best use of their talents in this new and exciting world. What will become of all remains to be seen, but, as always, it can be assumed the fate of the middle classes remains tied to the success of the Nation as a whole.
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Latest page update: made by sam_i
, Jan 11 2008, 7:48 AM EST
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| TomJ | Ideas and thoughts on The Millenese Middle classes | 0 | Jan 21 2008, 8:09 AM EST by TomJ | ||
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Thread started: Jan 21 2008, 8:09 AM EST
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Very good, though it is the Majeste Dominic now not the Dauphine.
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