═───╡❖╞────────═ DUAL CITIZENSHIP IN THE SFLE ═────────╡❖╞───═
╞────────═ OFFICIAL DOCUMENT OF THE SPHERE OF THE INTERIOR ═────────╡
The SFLE makes no provision for dual citizenship, although the complex system by which an individual is stratified within society allows for specific advantages for some foreign citizens over others.
As a result of the conquest of large amounts of land outside the metropole of Selia, homeland of the native ruling Selian ethnic group, citizens of the Ephyral state do not comprise the majority of all residents (just 22%) and instead operate as its minority ruling class. Non-citizens refer to a variety of different people with different rights, duties, and statuses both inside and outside the authority of the Freehold. Holders of Lykosian rights are residents of the Freehold, promoted to that status or inheriting it from their parents. Lykosians possess many rights similar to the full Ephyral citizens, although lacking any rights to partake in the Ephyral elections, and no recognition of lawful marriage between anyone except them and a citizen (marriage is a citizen institution). As a by-product of this, Lykosian status is inherited through the mother, as are all statuses when the mother is neither wife nor concubine to a man with the right to have one.
Provincials refer to a second type of domestic population, and referring to peoples of two sub-distinctions who were incorporated into the Freehold by treaty (federates), or by conquest (tributaries). The former are granted far elevated prestige, and whilst not sovereign states in any capacity, are largely left to run their own affairs, elect their own leaders, and pass their own laws within Ephyral provinces so long as their community's duties and obligations towards the Ephyral are upheld. The latter are far more numerous, of lower status, and pay an annual poll tax as their tribute. These communities are additionally left to run themselves, but out of practicality as opposed to any form of leniency, and the provincial governor maintains every right to dictate to them if required. Many federates possess higher rights than tributaries as incentive, including commerce and contract, and in some cases even marriage (almost always arranged with a male citizen and female non-citizen), although the best usually hoped for is that a daughter of a federate might be taken as concubine by a citizen male, and through this relationship establish a patron-client style relationship with the federate father of the concubine. Tributaries are regarded as only having the rights recognised as common to all men.
Slaves comprise the third domestic non-citizens class, and indeed are a class, with set rights (or rather lack of them) and social status, belonging as chattel to their owners. One of their only protections is that, due to growing scarcity, a slave can no longer be killed by his or her master on a mere whim, and the owner will be fined for doing so. However the commercial exploitation of their slave, be this through involving them in an owned business, selling their services to those that require it, or prostituting the slave as a few examples, is perfectly legal and within the rights of the owner.
Two types of foreign non-citizen class are recognised to exist however. The lesser of these are simply foreigners / aliens, citizens of foreign states. The same classification applies if they are living in their own state, or in Ephyra, where the set rights and duties of foreigners applies. These foreigners can be further sub-divided but this is irrelevant to this document. The greater are 'allies', citizens of states with active friendly treaties or relations with the Ephyral state. As Ephyral philosophy regards the state as the public interest in republican fashion, and regards the state as the body of citizens, Ephyra's relations with foreign powers dictates the rights of their citizens in Ephyral land. Allied citizens are equivalent to Lykosians in rank, with near enough many of the same rights including marriage with a citizen. This is the closest anyone can get to dual citizenship in terms of recognised identity and possession of rights, as other foreigners are reduced in status, and the only upward motion for allied citizens is to become Ephyral citizens. This can be achieved through service in the allied auxiliaries, which when completed allows the allied citizen to apply for Ephyral citizenship (renouncing their own in the process). Though this is only open to males, as is auxiliary service of any kind, such a recipient of the gift of citizenship is free to name a woman who, with her consent, will be naturalised with him and established as his wife. Any non-adult sons, and all daughters of this man can also be naturalised with him, and any children subsequently born from them will be granted full citizenship in turn.
This process can be viewed therefore as an alternative to dual-citizenship, for whilst Ephyra does not permit any of its citizens to hold loyalties due to another state, it does allow foreigners to elevate themselves to Ephyral status, as well as classifying these foreigners based on their state's relationship with the state. Should an allied citizen be residing in Ephyra concurrent to a breakdown in the relationship between Ephyra and their state of origin, transference of status to Lykosian rights is offered, with the similar expectation that the individual renounce their citizenship to their home nation. Rejection will see their status demoted to that of a typical foreigner.
In brief, the SFLE has no provision or recognition for dual citizenship, but various internal classes and social statuses which serve as a substitute.
As a result of the conquest of large amounts of land outside the metropole of Selia, homeland of the native ruling Selian ethnic group, citizens of the Ephyral state do not comprise the majority of all residents (just 22%) and instead operate as its minority ruling class. Non-citizens refer to a variety of different people with different rights, duties, and statuses both inside and outside the authority of the Freehold. Holders of Lykosian rights are residents of the Freehold, promoted to that status or inheriting it from their parents. Lykosians possess many rights similar to the full Ephyral citizens, although lacking any rights to partake in the Ephyral elections, and no recognition of lawful marriage between anyone except them and a citizen (marriage is a citizen institution). As a by-product of this, Lykosian status is inherited through the mother, as are all statuses when the mother is neither wife nor concubine to a man with the right to have one.
Provincials refer to a second type of domestic population, and referring to peoples of two sub-distinctions who were incorporated into the Freehold by treaty (federates), or by conquest (tributaries). The former are granted far elevated prestige, and whilst not sovereign states in any capacity, are largely left to run their own affairs, elect their own leaders, and pass their own laws within Ephyral provinces so long as their community's duties and obligations towards the Ephyral are upheld. The latter are far more numerous, of lower status, and pay an annual poll tax as their tribute. These communities are additionally left to run themselves, but out of practicality as opposed to any form of leniency, and the provincial governor maintains every right to dictate to them if required. Many federates possess higher rights than tributaries as incentive, including commerce and contract, and in some cases even marriage (almost always arranged with a male citizen and female non-citizen), although the best usually hoped for is that a daughter of a federate might be taken as concubine by a citizen male, and through this relationship establish a patron-client style relationship with the federate father of the concubine. Tributaries are regarded as only having the rights recognised as common to all men.
Slaves comprise the third domestic non-citizens class, and indeed are a class, with set rights (or rather lack of them) and social status, belonging as chattel to their owners. One of their only protections is that, due to growing scarcity, a slave can no longer be killed by his or her master on a mere whim, and the owner will be fined for doing so. However the commercial exploitation of their slave, be this through involving them in an owned business, selling their services to those that require it, or prostituting the slave as a few examples, is perfectly legal and within the rights of the owner.
Two types of foreign non-citizen class are recognised to exist however. The lesser of these are simply foreigners / aliens, citizens of foreign states. The same classification applies if they are living in their own state, or in Ephyra, where the set rights and duties of foreigners applies. These foreigners can be further sub-divided but this is irrelevant to this document. The greater are 'allies', citizens of states with active friendly treaties or relations with the Ephyral state. As Ephyral philosophy regards the state as the public interest in republican fashion, and regards the state as the body of citizens, Ephyra's relations with foreign powers dictates the rights of their citizens in Ephyral land. Allied citizens are equivalent to Lykosians in rank, with near enough many of the same rights including marriage with a citizen. This is the closest anyone can get to dual citizenship in terms of recognised identity and possession of rights, as other foreigners are reduced in status, and the only upward motion for allied citizens is to become Ephyral citizens. This can be achieved through service in the allied auxiliaries, which when completed allows the allied citizen to apply for Ephyral citizenship (renouncing their own in the process). Though this is only open to males, as is auxiliary service of any kind, such a recipient of the gift of citizenship is free to name a woman who, with her consent, will be naturalised with him and established as his wife. Any non-adult sons, and all daughters of this man can also be naturalised with him, and any children subsequently born from them will be granted full citizenship in turn.
This process can be viewed therefore as an alternative to dual-citizenship, for whilst Ephyra does not permit any of its citizens to hold loyalties due to another state, it does allow foreigners to elevate themselves to Ephyral status, as well as classifying these foreigners based on their state's relationship with the state. Should an allied citizen be residing in Ephyra concurrent to a breakdown in the relationship between Ephyra and their state of origin, transference of status to Lykosian rights is offered, with the similar expectation that the individual renounce their citizenship to their home nation. Rejection will see their status demoted to that of a typical foreigner.
In brief, the SFLE has no provision or recognition for dual citizenship, but various internal classes and social statuses which serve as a substitute.
