The Diarchy of Gehegne
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The Diarchy of Gehegne (Capticha: Ⲓ Ⲇⲓⲁⲣⲭⲓⲁ Ϯⲥ Ⲅⲉϧⲉⲋⲛⲁ, I Diarkhia Tis Gexe'na), sometimes referred to as the Gehenite Kingdom (Capticha: Ⲅⲉϧⲉⲋⲛⲁⲛⲃⲁⲥⲓⲗⲓⲁⲥⲇⲓⲙⲟ, Gexe'nanvasiliasdimo), is a dual-monarchist classist state with a population of approximately 16 million as of 2016.
Etymology
Gehegne gets its name from the ancient city-state of Ge'daemosh (Capitcha: Ⲅⲉⲋⲇⲁⲉⲙⲟϣ) which existed from approximately 900 to 130 BC.Classes (Ⲕⲁⲧⲩⲅⲟⲣⲓⲁⲧ)
Gehenite society is officially split into four classes (Ⲕⲁⲧⲩⲅⲟⲣⲓⲁⲧ) : the Arkhontishto (Ⲁⲣⲭⲟⲛⲧⲓϣⲧⲟ), the Efgenishto (ⲉⲫⲅⲉⲛⲓϣⲧⲟ), the Ashtosishto (ⲁϣⲧⲟⲥⲓϣⲧⲟ) and the Kliirosishto (Ⲕⲗⲓⲓⲣⲟⲥⲓϣⲧⲟ). Gehenite class is defined based off of two factors: birth and wealth. A poor man born to the Efgenishto class can be demoted to the Ashtosishto class and vice versa. Each member of their class, except the Kliirosishto, is provided with an allotment of public land upon the completion of military service. This allotment is either bought back or taken back by the state after the death of the recipient.In Gehenite society, traditionally a person's class defined their education, military service, place in society and political rights, however, in modern-day Gehegne, class mostly defines a person's political rights and taxation with most occupations and other societal positions being flexible in terms of class or completely classless.
Traditionally, women were not considered to belong into any class inherently, instead, the classes of women were decided by the class of their closest male relation, i.e. father, brother, spouse, etc... with single non-widowed women without close family relations being essentially classless. However, this changed in 1932 when women were granted the right to their own class referred to as the katugoriadexia (Ⲕⲁⲧⲩⲅⲟⲣⲓⲁⲇⲉⲝⲓⲁ).
The Arkhontishto (Ⲁⲣⲭⲟⲛⲧⲓϣⲧⲟ) represent the highest class traditionally it referred to either people of close descent to the Diarchial Royal Families or people of extraordinary wealth making up around 1% of the population yet owning around 17% of all Gehenite income. The only way to become a part of the Arkhontishto is to be anointed as such by a Gehenite Diarch or the Diskates.
The Arkhontishto contribute the most in taxes and investment, and in exchange, Arkhontishto men are given a public allotment of land alongside a title, often royal, and on occasion, financial assets after having completed the longest military service which is often enough to make the person a landed aristocrat. Sometimes, as a diplomatic gesture, a Diarch or the Diskates of Gehegne will anoint a foreigner often a head of state or diplomat to the rank of Arkhontishto as a gesture of friendship and recognition of status.
Women born into or granted the class of Arkontishto, do not receive a public allotment of land or financial assets, for they are exempt from military service. Despite this, the Arkhontishto consist of predominately rich women. This is because of Gehenite inheritance law where a man's privately owned land and financial assets all go to their wife which has led to the formation of extremely rich Arkhontishto women who, in turn, created even richer Arkhontishto women.
The Efgenishto (ⲉⲫⲅⲉⲛⲓϣⲧⲟ) is the second-highest class which is formed out of people of either traditional nobility or notable wealth. The Efgenishto and the Arkhontishto altogether constitute around 11% of the population and receive some 47% of all Gehenite income. A person can be born into the Efgenishto or be appointed to the class by their local community often through the municipal council or by a judge. Today most people in the Efgenishto are rich capitalists making it the class most in favour of Capitalism and the free market.
Efgenishto men are also given a lesser allotment of public land, a title and financial assets in return for completing the second-longest military service. The Efgenishto is also the most common class to be demoted from as the relatively less-wealthy descendants of the wealthy and nobility often find it hard to cope with the second-highest tax rates. Because of this, many Efgenishto women decide to demote in class instead of completing voluntary military service. Men refusing military service is also one way to be demoted from the two highest classes.
The Ashtosishto (ⲁϣⲧⲟⲥⲓϣⲧⲟ) is the largest class of Gehenite society. Ashtosishto loosely translates as "not noble" or "lacking in Stoicism." The Ashtosishto is formed from 89,5% of Gehenite population accounting for the rest 53% of Gehenite household income. A person cannot be demoted from this class only anointed to a higher class. Still, many wealthy people would prefer to remain in the Ashtosishto class in order to avoid paying higher taxes.
Ashtosishto men are required by law to complete a shorter military service and in return receive an allotment of public land far smaller compared to the two higher classes. Often this allotment of public land is meant for living and does not make the receiver particularly wealthy unlike in the two higher classes. In Gehegne, most government income (62,9%) is from the taxation of the two highest classes while the rest comes from governmental projects and the Ashtosishto class that pays a flat tax of 20% with the bottom 15,2% of the Ashtosishto class being tax-exempt.
Originally Gehenite society only had three classes as clerical duties were taken care of by the two kings of Gehegne and many oracles, however, with the introduction of Christianity into Gehegne, the title king became diarch and a fourth class was added.
The Kliirosishto (Ⲕⲗⲓⲓⲣⲟⲥⲓϣⲧⲟ) officially called the Duoxois-Kliirosishto (Ⲇⲩⲟⲝⲟⲓⲥ-Ⲕⲗⲓⲓⲣⲟⲥⲓϣⲧⲟ) that roughly translates to "the two clergies" is the smallest class formed exclusively from clergy from the two state-churches of Gehegne: The Orthodoxy of Gehgne ( Ⲓ Ⲟⲣⲑⲟⲇⲟⲝⲓⲁ Ϯⲥ Ⲅⲉϧⲉⲋⲛⲁ) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Gehegne (Ⲅⲉϧⲉⲋⲛⲁⲛ ⲉⲃⲁⲛⲅⲕⲉⲗⲓⲥ-ⲗⲩⲑⲓⲣⲁⲛⲉⲛ ⲉⲅⲅⲗⲓⲓⲥⲓⲁ).
The Kliirosishto make up around 0,01% of the population and do not generate notable income as they are the only completely state-funded class. The Kliirosishto is the only class that cannot be born into and that is exempt from taxation, including Value-Added-Tax, and military service. The only way to become a part of the Kliirosishto is to be anointed by a priest and approved by a state-certified judge.