On Avalon, there is a Parliament of Man and a High Khruath of all the choths. Many human beings join choths and live under Ythrian law and custom. Some Ythrians adopt the human lifestyle of atomic individuals in a global community and, I imagine, are represented in Parliament. A Khruath, i.e., a periodic meeting of all free adults in a given territory, has judicial and limited legislative but no administrative authority. The planetary High Khruath meets every six years or on extraordinary occasions.
On Dennitza, there is a tricameral Parliament, the Shkoptsina, with Houses of the Lords, the Folk and the Zmayi (Merseians) although Mersians also retain their traditional Vachs. A Vach is not ruled by a Head but served by a Hand.
"'The Shkoptsina's no controlled inner-Empire congress. It's about five hundred proud individuals, speaking for as many different proud sections of land or walks of life. It's often turbulent - fights have happened, yes, a few killings - and tomorrow it'll be wild.'"
-Poul Anderson, A Knight Of Ghosts And Shadows IN Anderson, Sir Dominc Flandry: The Last Knight Of Terra (Riverdale, NY, 2012), pp. 339-606 AT Chapter XVI, pp. 548-549.
"'Ychani" is the Eriau name for Dennitzan Merseians:
"'Ychani have always been the Peculiar People of Dennitza. The House of the Zmayi has never entirely spoken for them; it's a human invention.'" (p. 550)
Occasionally, hundreds of Merseians have marched into the Chamber and demanded that their leaders be heard. More like a Khruath?
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And on Dennitza the Gospodars were chosen or elected from the Miyatovich family, a sort of quasi hereditary set up. I forget who exactly comprised the electoral college.
And the House of the Zmayi was meant to give the Merseians of Dennitza a say in the governing of the planet. But, you knew that!
Sean
Sean,
The Gospodar is elected from the Miyatovich family by the plemichi, clan heads and barons.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Clan chiefs and regional barons, yes. But I have a vague recollection of the "electoral college" having additional members. But I'm remembering wrongly?
This is reminiscent of how the Holy Roman Emperors were chosen from the Habsburg family from 1438 onwards (with one brief exception).
Sean
Sean,
I am quoting from my post, "Dennitza," which in turn was my summary from Anderson's text.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Understood. And one point I forgot to mention is to wonder what atomized, Ythrian "walkers" on Avalon were like. We never see any in THE PEOPLE OF THE WIND. What I concluded from the few mentions of them was them being regarded with disapproval. They were described as being miserable and rootless beings.
Sean
Kaor, Sean!
I think we did see one walker in THE PEOPLE OF THE WIND, the prostitute Quennha (did I remember the name correctly?). She is excluded from respectable Ythrian society because she can come into heat at will.
Poor lass, one could wish for a social or medical solution for female Ythrians like her, but what should it be?
Best Regards,
Nicholas D. Rosen
Kaor, Nicholas!
Yes, but both human and Ythrian Avalonians did not have Quennha (?) in mind. Her problem was being unable to prevent coming into heat at the usual times. I had in mind Ythrians who became CULTURALLY "walkers." Who deliberately took up certain human ideas and customs.
Best regards and thanks! Sean
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