Method of Rule GovernmentSemi-Constitutional Monarchy
Crown Inheritance
By bloodline but then by skill. Only direct descendants of the Tabarna's (King's) bloodline (immediate and then extended) can inherit the throne. Only legitimate children or illegitimate children of upper class/royal blood both on both sides can inherit the throne, males taking precedence. I.e. sons born to legitimate wives of kings and princes are first choices. Then sons of concubines who are entitled to the throne because their mothers were born to an extended royal bloodline. Legitimate females are then able to inherit the throne should there be no viable males left, so long as they are married. If there are no eligible heirs at all, the children of lower class concubines can be considered for inheritance. On the ascension of a new king, the title of crown prince is bestowed to the next eligible heir deemed most suitable to follow him, not necessarily the eldest born. This title can be stripped and redistributed throughout a Tabarna's reign, depending on the performance / 'suitability' of the individual. When a Tabarna dies, the crown is passed to the current crown prince, whomever that is at the time.

The title of Tawananna is passed to the most suitable female within the royal family upon the previous Tawananna’s death. This is usually the current Tabarna’s wife (the Queen) or sister (a Princess).
Power Divide
The Hittites do not believe in an absolute monarchy but the wisdom of collective ruling. This is why the crown prince title is given to the male deemed most suitable, not solely based on birth. There are three main Hittite bases of power: the Tabarna, the Tawananna and the Council of Ministers. In smaller matters, where only one of the powers are present, their authority is ultimate. In larger matters, brought before Council meetings, all three powers must be present and two of the three must agree. A Tabarna can be outvoted.
Official Language

Social Hierarchy INSERT FROM SOCIAL PAGE Tabarna Current Tabarna

Whilst large decisions in the land must be discussed between the three powers of rule, the Tabarna is technically the chief amongst them. Whilst it is against the Hittite Law Code for a Tabarna to disregard the will of the Council and Tawananna if ever he is outvoted on matters during Council sessions, he might, depending on his intention, actually have the social power and political might to do so anyway. The Tabarna has the ability to alter the lands and titles distributed to the Councilmen and extended royals within the Council. To cause disgrace in the Council discussions, by disagreeing with the Tabarna, comes with risk. For example: the Tabarna may be forced to capitulate in session, but a few weeks later a Councilman might find his taxes just went sky-high. Ergo, even if the Tabarna is not supposed to have ultimate power amongst the three power-bodies, he has more cards to play than the Tawananna or the Councilmen. Playing tyrant, however is a very grey and murky area of politics that is actually illegal and that most kings avoid straying into as, technically, it can result in the Tabarna's empeachment if the law is held to by the others in power and if his personal strength and connections don't make such a removal impossible.

The Tabarna controls all foreign policy, decisions regarding wars and conflict, the ownership of lands and the distribution of powers amongst his mayors and advisors of Hittite cities. His word holds the most authority and as the Tabarna title is awarded not solely on birth but to the man deemed most appropriate by the Council, the Tawananna and the previous Tabarna, the royal word is believed to hold more wisdom and fairness than most men. There is a deep respect and loyal adoration towards the title of Tabarna. Tawananna Current Tawananna

After the king, the Tawananna is the most powerful role in the entire empire. It is usually held by the wife or sister of a Tabarna. Once bestowed, however, the rank of Tawananna is a life-long position and is not lost until the woman dies, regardless of how many Tabarnas come and go. The role of Tawananna and Queen can therefore be held by the same woman, or they can be different people. The Tawananna is in the highest form of authority if the Tabarna is not in the capital or unable to attend Council sessions. She is required to understand any and all duties performed by the Tabarna including the practical theory and deployment of the armed forces. She may also go to war at the head of an army should the Tabarna be unable to do so (though, as a female, she will not fight personally). She is, for all intents and purposes, a secondary or stand-in king and ranks higher than any man or woman of other ranks.

GAL MESHEDI - INSERT from military page Councilmen - Antuhsa'talla Current Antuhsa’talla 5 / 5 Filled

All members of the Council of Ministers are considered of equal rank when in session. However, outside the political assembly, the men are divided in rank between the Antuhsa'talla and Antuhsa. Both hold ranks of nobility, possess land and are leaders to the people who live there. An Antuhsa'talla, however, holds more economic power as their 'lands' are larger or more significant cities, not provincial villages or towns. These leadership positions are appointed to members of the extended royal family, which means they also possess an element of royal power as well as economics. As money is a powerful tool for trade and resources between the provinces, these higher economics also translate to political power. All Antuhsa'talla are given a seat on the Council of Ministers. An Antuhsa who doesn't want to sour trade negotiations with the nearest city will often side with that city's Antuhsa'talla in political matters in order to gain favour. The title of 'Antuhsa'talla' is a (usually) unnecessary formality. All members of the Council are more usually referred to as Antuhsa, regardless of their technical rank.

City	Significance	Antuhsa'talla
Alinna	The Ironworks	+beratpiluwanda
Arzawa	Trading Outpost	+maheptaeryi
Carchemish	Assyrian Border City	+teomananurtu
Kizzuwatna	Trading Outpost	+turahtepeniya
Nerik	Religious Import	+ilbanunanuun

Councilmen - Antuhsa Current Antuhsa 1 / 8 Filled

An Antuhsa is leader of a provincial area. This will usually include several villages and lots of open land. Different areas are rich in different minerals, resources and natural wealth, which means different Antuhsa hold different levels of power in economic and political circles. All Antuhsa are given a seat on the Council of Ministers. Like their Antuhsa'talla counterparts, Antuhsa are responsible for the trade, taxes, legal matters and general care of the people and places under their command.

Councilmen - Antuhsa'memāi Current Antuhsa'memāi 0 / 1 Filled

The Antuhsa'memāi is the least powerful member of the Council in terms of practical wealth or possessions but also holds a role of great distinction. He has no lands and no bias in discussions in the Council but he is appointed to a lavish home, salary and personal resources in the capital. His role is to play speaker and mediator to the Council. He must listen to all discussions, commanding quiet when necessary for certain men to speak, and conducts arguments and debates with care. He might then distil the concerns of the Council and speak on their behalf to the Tabarna, whether the previous debate was in public or not. It is his duty to make sense of multiple voices in the political assembly whilst holding no personal opinion / bias. In this sense, his political impact is limited but the respect he is given outside of the Council is huge. He is often referred to, either as another Antuhsa or as the Memai specifically, if discussed informally. He is the only member of the Council who must be present at every session meeting, else the event cannot go ahead. Councilmen - Ministers Current Councilmen 0 / 16 Filled

The Council of Hattusa is not solely filled with land-owners or the rulers of cities. The remainder of the seats are assigned to the rich, the powerful and/or the wise. Bestowed to particular family lines and to new achievers in the spheres of economics and legal studies, the role of Minister is a mark of distinction. It comes with no land or additional wealth besides a salary, but the holder is given a title and treated with great respect amongst their peers. Most Ministers live in the capital, as this is where the Council convenes and they have no responsibilities over towns or cities to see to. This usually means that the smaller, more regular meetings that organise the everyday ruling of the empire are overseen more by the Ministers than the Antuhsas, even if it is the Antuhsas who wield more power when they are in attendance.

HUIYATALLA and Deputies- INSERT from military page Crown Prince Current Crown Prince

The title of crown prince is appointed when a new Tabarna rises to the throne. It can be removed and redistributed throughout a Tabarna's reign, depending on who is most suitable to be the next king. Whoever holds the title when a Tabarna dies, is the next Tabarna. It is not uncommon for a young king without heirs (or whose heirs are too young to yet show their promise) to appoint a brother or cousin as crown prince. If the Tabarna then produces sons who grow to be young men suitable for the role of Tabarna, it is customary that the brother or cousin will gladly relinquish their title in favour of the prince. This ceremony is usually enacted on the prince's birthday, during a celebration of his achievements or at some other significant event. Whilst the appointment of crown prince is very real, a non-direct descendant of the king will usually not expect to become Tabarna unless the king suffers some early tragedy: they will expect to pass it to a future son of the king. Once the role is held by a suitable prince of the realm, it usually remains with them until they become king. Whilst the title can shift and be given elsewhere, the current crown prince must do something that deems him a disgrace or no longer suitable for the title to pass elsewhere. Another of royal blood being successful is not enough, he must be deemed an inappropriate choice for the crown prince title to go back 'up for grabs', so to speak.

The role of crown prince itself comes with no more authority than any other royal. However, as he is the man destined to become Tabarna, the crown prince’s word is highly adhered to and his trust is coveted. Also, as the role of crown prince is appointed through a man's abilities and suitabilities to be king, the man who holds it is often more respected than his siblings or relatives from the outset, regardless of title. The respect he engenders is fairly earned, not an add-on to his title. The political and economic power of the crown prince is, ironically, often less than his brothers (who may be Antuhsa'talla or Gal Meshedi), as he is normally not permitted land of his own but kept in the capital for training at the hand of the Tabarna himself. He will, however, have been given extensive political, economic and military tutorship or held positions of authority before his appointment to crown prince, in preparation, making him incredibly knowledgeable of the inner workings of all areas of the empire. Queen Current Queen 0 / 1 Filled

After those who hold political, economic and political power, come those who hold sway over those authorities and retain a level of social authority. The Queen is foremost in this list after the crown prince. Though the current Queen might also hold the role of Tawananna (see above), the wife of the Tabarna may be a different individual. If she does not hold the rank of Tawananna, a Queen has no political authority but is still expected to attend Council sessions as a mark of respect and tradition. She is also highly important in Court and social events. As a Tabarna's wife must always be a member of the extended royal family, a foreign princess or come from an extremely high ranking Hittite noble family, the Queen may possess other powers beyond her own station. E.g. A Queen who was also a princess of Assyria will have political sway in her home country which therefore gives her clout in Hattusa. A Queen must also have the ear of the Tabarna. With so many concubines and royal women to attract his attention, if a woman has been appointed as Queen, she must hold a special place in the Tabarna's affections or trust. This makes her a highly influential person when it comes to the social side of politics. Royal Concubines The concubines of royalty are given the same power and prestige as the princes and princesses born to royal life. The only ones to outstrip a concubine's rank socially are the formal partners of their lovers. Otherwise, their power is linked to the prestige of said lovers. For example, the royal concubine of a crown prince, falls short of the crown prince's formal wife. But they are of greater standing than the concubine of a normal prince. Concubines are not kept prostitutes. They are referred to as princesses and treated with the same respect a queen or wife might expect, unless the queen or wife is personally present, then they are treated as respectful seconds. The only unique difference in a concubine's power is that, unlike married partners whose union tends to be for life, a concubine can fall out of favour. If it becomes obvious that a prince has lost interest in a concubine and has not taken to her bed in several months, that concubine begins to lose her standing in social politics and vice versa if a concubine is shown more favour than usual. A concubine can retain her prestige (to a point) regardless of the current passions of her lover, if she has birthed them a child and provided another prince or princess to the royal family.

Immediate Royal Family Whilst the immediate relations of the king will hold a higher social standing than other princes and princesses their official authority is the same as their cousins or extended relations (see the sections below).

Princes Princes in the Hittite kingdom (legitimate or illegitimate) all hold significant social power and sway but not political or economic authority. Most princes will often hold roles as an Antuhsa or Antuhsa'talla, or leadership status within the military, which then gives them authority in those spheres. But, solely as a prince, they have little real power; just social respect for what their birth might give them access to.

Princesses Princesses hold similar social sway, given they could be married to important men or have a claim to the throne if all male heirs are removed. They are often the center of social attention and international politics or mediation. The perceived power of a princess is often tied to which men of power she has a connection to (father, husband, lover, brother etc.) The princess married to the crown prince, for example, will usually hold more sway than a niece (or even daughter) of the Tabarna. Should it become obvious, however, that said wife of the crown prince has lost his favour, her standing would diminish. Whilst princesses born to a king or prince have their power by birth and are less likely to lose it. Some princesses will hold actual titles of distinction as mediators or diplomats for the empire and are sent to make reparations or negotiations between cities or with foreign bodies.

Extended Royals Those of royal blood are always referred to as 'Prince' or 'Princess', whether they are immediate or extended family. The closer they are related to the current Tabarna, the more power they generally have in social circles. They may also (if male) hold the ranks like Antuhsa'talla or Antuhsa alongside their royal pedigree. See the above sections for more information on the potential levels of authority they might hold.

Nobility The nobility of Hattusa includes: all those of royal blood, and all those appointed to the roles listed above. Each of the previously listed roles may attend Courtly sessions. See the specific descriptions for which can attend the Council of Ministers.

MESHEDI AND CAPTAINS - INSERT from military page

Common Peerage The common peerage is the rest of the Hittite populace. Whilst they do not enjoy nobility status these civilians can be incredibly wealthy or powerful in their own right through commerce, economics or by working with the temples or the armed forces in their area. They can also hold no personal power at all but be respected in their community as a dependable worker. A member of the 'peerage' can be anything from the lowest of servants to the highest of international traders. Slavery Slavery is an accepted part of life in Hattusa. Slaves can be individuals born into the service and ownership of others because their parents were slaves before them. Or they might be prisoners of war. Whilst there are always those who flout it, Hittite law places strict rules on how slaves are to be managed and treated. Most slaves, therefore, live good and healthy lives. Slavery is seen more as an inescapable position in life, such as your class, than it is a prejudice or discrimination.
Born Slave A born slave is exactly that: an individual born to slave parentage is then owned by the same master who owns their parents. They are usually a slave for the duration of their lives unless they seek to pay their master for their freedom or the master releases them for some reason.
War Slave A war slave is someone who has been imprisoned or taken hostage during war efforts. This could be a soldier of an opposing, foreign army, or a deserter from the Hittite forces. If they are enemy soldiers, they are usually kept as slaves until the conflict is over and then returned to their own countries. If they are deserters they are either sentenced to a particular period of time as a slave or expected to remain a slave for the rest of their life, depending on the scale of their poor conduct.

The Council is a body of men including all the Antuhsa'talla and Antuhsa of the empire as well as sixteen Ministers and the Antuhsa’memāi of the group. These thirty men convene to discuss the larger more impactful state of affairs in the land. Council meetings consist of the Council, the Tabarna and Tawananna; three governing bodies that rule together.
Convenes Every six days.
Mandatory Meets Once a month.
Location The Council Chambers, in the Royal Palace. Attendance Council meetings are officially held every six days, with the full Council, Tabarna and Tawananna open for attendance. In reality, only those who have something significant to discuss will attend every meeting. Antuhsas and Antuhsa'tallas are the leaders of particular provinces or cities that may be far from the capital. They are unlikely to make the journey unless they have a matter to raise that's specific to them and their lands.

In the Council, all men are legally equal. This does not always translate so in reality. As Antuhsas are responsible for the economies of their provinces, to which trade with the powerful cities (ruled by the Antuhsa'tallas) is essential, favour and social politics tend to create a level of hierarchy in the Council that doesn't officially exist on paper. Almost in counter to this, the Ministers (who have no lands and less financial power or resources than their peers, and might therefore be seen as bottom of the hierarchy) actually decide the majority of the empire's day-to-day politics. Living in the capital, they are likely to convene for more meetings and be more informed of political matters both domestic and international.

The Antuhsa'memāi also has no lands of his own and not only resides in the capital but is expected to attend every Council session, every time. The Council cannot be officially convened without the Antuhsa'memāi.

There are thirty days per month in the Hittite calendar. This means that every fifth Council session falls on the last day of the month. Attendance at this session is mandatory for all Councilmen, regardless of where they live or their other duties. Special permission (from the Tabarna) for absence can be requested ahead of time by a Councilman, but it must be an incredibly good reason, else they risk their position / rank.

The Tabarna and Tawananna will attend any and all meetings that they choose. They can also refuse to attend whichever sessions they wish, including the mandatory sessions. This, however, is rare. Whilst no-one in the Council can tell the king and Tawananna what to do, it is generally expected that they attend at least the mandatory sessions, as well as most of those convened in between. The Council sessions are, after all, not solely for the Council but for the three governing bodies of the empire to rule together.

It is traditional for the Queen (if she is not also the Tawananna) to attend every Council session attended by the Tabarna. She has a specific seat placed near him. She has no voice or power in the meets but is expected to attend as a sign of marital and political solidarity with her spouse. If the Tabarna is not present, the Queen may attend to pass along his word.

Others permitted to attend the Council sessions include: any male of royal blood (even if he does not hold a Council position); women of royal blood (if they have permission from the Tabarna) and immediate, male family members of the Councilmen (if they have permission from the Tabarna). These people have no legal authority in the Council and will be forbidden from speaking publicly. They may be brought to the Council out of curiosity of the process, if they are being groomed to take on a position in the Council, or simply for traditional purposes.

The Council also includes admittance to several scribes and accountants who record the proceedings down to the last word on clay tablets and servants / slaves who provide the members of the Council and the governing bodies with wine and refreshments.

The only other people permitted inside the Councilroom whilst the Council is in session are those who are a part of the disputes being discussed, such as offended parties, victims, the accused or witnesses. They are kept in a separate antechamber and only brought into the main hall when their particular matter is being discussed.

Any attempt to eavesdrop on a Council session when one does not have express permission to be there, is assumed to be an attempt of espionage and, therefore, treason. Matters for Debate The Council meetings are charged with making judiciary choices on the direction of the empire and upon its people. This includes criminal disputes between members of the population, issues between provinces and houses of power and decisions in international politics and trade.

Smaller matters within the Hittite people are handled by the temples and their priesthoods. Disputes that are outside of the temple's authority escalate to the Antuhsa'memāi. Political, economic and criminal offences from provinces are messengered to the Antuhsa'memāi ahead of time for the Council session or, if recently occurred, will be brought up by the Councilman himself at the convene during 'Other Business'.


The Antuhsa'memāi decides which matters are discussed at which Council meets. General matters, disputes and issues are always discussed in the next meeting whether it is a mandatory session or not. Larger issues that require a particular Councilman to be in attendance or for the Tabarna to preside, will be scheduled for the mandatory session at the end of the month. If a Councilman brings a matter to the Council without forewarning and it turns out to be a significant matter, the Antuhsa'memāi has the right to cease discussion on the topic and insist that it be postponed until the next mandatory session. Which disputes are discussed when is entirely under the Antuhsa'memāi's control and the Council relies heavily on his judgement when it comes to the urgency and significance of a problem.

If a matter is particularly urgent and the Tabarna and / or Tawananna is not attending Council sessions, the Antuhsa'memāi may conduct the Council session and then visit the king and / or Tawananna personally to ask their opinion and ruling to try and find a solution outside of all three powers being in the same room. But this only works if all three turn out to be in agreement. Disputes between the three bodies really have to be discussed together at an open session. Process Council meets are organised thusly:
Reading of the Minutes
The matters discussed and their outcomes from the last Council session are conveyed by the Antuhsa’memāi to those in attendance. At mandatory sessions, this includes all matters from the last five sessions.
New Matters for Discussion
The Antuhsa'memāi leads an organised discussion of each of the matters prearranged for that session, the floor opened for discussion after all evidence, witnesses or information has been presented. Decisions are then made by a voting system within the Council (the majority being their collective answer) and the Tabarna and Tawananna. If two of the three bodies cannot agree on a course of action, discussion is continued.
Other Business
Occasionally, there is no time for Councilmen to messenger the Antuhsa’memāi ahead of time over a matter they want raised at the meet. These matters are raised at the end of the session. The Antuhsa’memāi will decide if they are to be heard then and there or postponed to a future meeting.
Social Meetings
All Council sessions begin at high noon and usually last for several hours. Once all matters have been discussed and ruled upon, the Council is disbanded. At regular meetings, this would be the end of the matter. At mandatory sessions, it is customary for the Tabarna or Tawananna to host the Councilmen for the evening. This then becomes a Royal Court gathering (see the section below).

The Royal Court is an informal series of meetings, parties and gatherings. There is no specific schedule for these events. Any social event hosted by someone of immediate royal blood would be considered a session of the Court. Any session hosted by an extended member of the royal family or a wealthy nobleman would not be an official meeting but worthy of attendance all the same.

Court sessions are usually convened around a purpose such as prominent birthdays, the celebration of a nobleman's new child, an annual festival or religious event etc. They are also always held after mandatory Council sessions, hosted by either the Tabarna or Tawananna themselves. The Royal Court is not an official body or governing power, which means meets are not held simply as 'Court sessions' but under the guise of another reason. Despite no official power, the Court is widely considered to be a powerful means of access to men of power and their political decisions. Attendance Unlike in other lands, where the political meets are attended by men and the Court the women, Hittite Court is very much a unisex event. Men attend in just as many numbers as the women. Court sessions are often used by men to seduce the female relatives of powerful figures or for women to whisper in the ears of male authorities. It is most definitely a two-way street of information and influence.

There are no rules on attending a Court function. The simple fact of the matter is that the more social events one attends, the more aware they are of the political matters at hand. This usually equates to being more informed and holding more power within the royal circles.

Depending on the host or hostess, there may be ramifications to turning down invitations to social events, from those who are of higher rank than oneself, so refusals to attend should also be considered carefully. Authority All authority in the Court is subjective and social. A person's authority is based not so much upon their rank but on their connections. A wealthy woman, without title but known to have the ear of several powerful men might, for example, be considered a more powerful member of the Court than a Councilman who actually holds rank in the political world. Royal concubines are another example of women who have no legal rights or authority but are treated with the utmost respect in Courtly sessions.

The only person to hold more authority over others at a Court session is the host or hostess. As the events are usually held in their private homes and estates, they hold rights over who is in attendance and who is asked to leave. They also have the responsibility of ensuring the comfort of those present. Whilst this is the only formal means of authority in social events, the practical and real power of the guests is not immediately discounted and appropriate respect is always shown to people like the Tabarna, Tawananna and immediate royal family.

Different ranks of people are able to officially attend different Council meets and social functions. Those marked below as having Council Authority have actual power as part of judiciary decisions. Those with access are simply able to attend and witness silently. Those with Court Access are able to attend any social events hosted by royalty without a formal invitation, if they hear that one is happening. Even if they do not require an invitation, however, it is always considered polite to issue one, for a lack of an invitation could be considered an insult… Others specifically require an invitation from either the host / hostess themselves or someone with the right to attend Court sessions. Invitations to Council sessions must be approved by either the Tabarna or the Antuhsa'memāi.

Seraglios The term 'seraglio' applies to both a place and a group of people. All royal estates have a building that is called the 'seraglio' and a 'seraglio' of women reside within. The individual women within this collective seraglio are either the official wife of a man or his additional lovers, referred to as 'concubines'. A formal wife is a part of the seraglio but not called a concubine.


As polygamy is legal in Hattusa, but royal inheritance is a dangerous political structure to complicate, the seraglio system became a practice for royal men to birth children with multiple partners, without muddying the lines of succession too much. Instead of taking second or third wives, royal males take concubines, keeping their one and only wife as the means of legitimacy. Only men of royal status therefore (i.e. a part of the Hattusa canons list) are permitted a seraglio. All other men must acquire additional romantic partners through the practice of polygamy.


Seraglios are treated as a natural way of life. A royal male, even a male child, who does not have a seraglio of women is considered odd. A formal wife will not feel jealousy or disgust over a seraglio, for it is a normal custom and seen as a way of lightening the burden of such a powerful man's needs from resting on a single woman's shoulders. Whilst personal feelings, of course, may differ depending on the dynamics between man, wife and his concubines, the actual system itself should not cause perturbation for a prince's wife.

A royal male can have a seraglio without a formal wife. He can take as many concubines as he likes both before and after his marriage and may, if he has a favoured concubine that he is legally entitled to marry, choose his wife from his already existing seraglio. He may also marry a woman who is not a part of his seraglio, at which point she becomes a part of it as his wife.

Concubines The first point to emphasise with Hittite concubines, is that they are not prostitutes. They are not mistresses, adulterers or secret lovers. Concubines are, essentially, secondary wives to their royal lovers. They are not kept solely for sex. A seraglio is where a royal male will go to relax and feel at home. This might include having his concubines present him with food, perform music, or simply sit, talk and keep him company. Whilst domestic chores like cooking and cleaning are handled by servants, concubines provide all the other expectations of a wife; a long list that only includes sexual satiation as a part of it. Seraglios can hold up to hundreds of women for just one man. And he is unlikely to have regular sex with all of them. Many concubines will be kept, for example, if a prince likes their singing, or their manner of conversation. He might even, simply, enjoy looking at them if they are particularly beautiful, like living artwork. Whilst a woman is not considered an official concubine until she has spent the night with her male lover, that one night may be the sum of their sexual encounters.
Scale

It is important to note that every royal male (particularly those in the direct line of succession) will have a seraglio containing anything between half a dozen to several hundred women. Even male children can be wed at a young age or be assigned concubines before they have reached puberty in preparation for the future. The younger a royal male is, the smaller their seraglio is likely to be but there is also no upper limit on a seraglio's capacity within what a prince can afford. A prince with a serious appetite for women might accumulate concubines faster than another. With an average of a hundred female residences, plus their children, servants, slaves and attendants, a seraglio is more like a small town; a social ecosystem onto itself.
Seeking Favour

Life in a seraglio is one of great luxury and concubines are given everything they could possibly desire; especially if they are a favourite of their royal lover. But their world also revolves around the man to whom they are all loyal. It is his favour and pleasure that decides the ups and downs of their world.

A concubine who falls out of favour with her royal lover may be moved to less pleasant quarters in the seraglio, given less allowance for fine clothes and necessities, or generally ignored by the other concubines in residence. This is a fairly miserable way to exist from day to day making the favour of her royal lover a concubine's priority.
Competition versus Community

Whilst favour is currency within a seraglio, the purpose of all concubines is to create a pleasant and relaxing environment for their lover and benefactor. Disagreements and conflicts in the seraglio are, therefore, rarely enacted around the royal male to whom they all belong. Issues are handled in private and disdain hidden in the presence of their royal lover. A concubine who places her issues upon her royal male's plate will bring further universal distaste upon herself.
Hierarchy

Hierarchy is a complex thing to manage within a seraglio. Whilst the prince's personal favour is one way to measure power, most women in a royal seraglio come from noble and politically advantageous backgrounds. Some may even be royals from other lands. Others could be completely common born and only brought into the seraglio after catching their lover's eye.

To further complicate matters, the legal wife of the royal male holds, by default, a position of superiority in the seraglio and is expected to rule it as a queen runs a nation. However, as Hittite princes may marry common born women (with special permission), it is entirely possible for the official wife of a prince to be from a significantly lower social class than many of her husband's concubines. Alternatively, a powerful wife who is married for advantage over affection may find herself in an inferior position beside a concubine who clearly has the prince's heart.

Whilst there are many rules of social order applied in a seraglio, many of them overlap, conflict or are disregarded. Every concubine and her servants will have differing opinions on whether favour trumps social standing and whether foreigners should be given the same consideration they would receive in their homeland. It is a tricky field of politeness and insult that must be navigated with care.

Because of these complexities, a concubine's personality, character and comportment are hugely significant within a seraglio. Confidence, charisma and the intelligence to limit your weakness or emphasize your bonuses can lead to particular women becoming the leaders of her concubine peers.
Limits of Power

Concubines hold no legal authority. Their power is a social one and found only in courtly meetings and royal gatherings. Their reputation and social prestige is tightly bound to the man they are attached to, his position in social and political circles and his personal opinion / favour for them.


Sexual Expectations and Fidelity

Whilst concubines are not kept solely for sexual pleasure, this is also an expectation of their role. Specifically that they are sexually loyal to their royal male. Hattusa has an uncloistered seraglio system so concubines can leave the estate whenever they wish, can meet with men outside or allow male visitors within the seraglio. These behaviours are all done under the watchful eye of their attendants. A concubine is not banned from meeting other men but she is required, by law, to remain sexually faithful to her royal lover, to ensure that any children born to her are royal without issue. In the same way that a wife would be expected to remain physically loyal to her husband. A concubine meeting another man in private, without her servants in attendance would be deemed suspicious and investigated.

A concubine found to be unfaithful to her royal lover in any way (sexually with another man, or a spy or traitor to the crown) is removed from the seraglio and sent for a legal hearing on criminal charges. A concubine who betrays her prince, is a citizen betraying her nation. It is a serious crime and can result in criminal charges and punishments as severe as execution. These penalties may also fall to any children the concubine has birthed in the seraglio, even if those children were indeed blooded kin to the prince.
Children

Children born to concubines are kept within the seraglio. Daughters remain with their mothers in the seraglio until they marry. Boys stay until the age of eight, at which point they are moved into their father's main house (a different building on the same estate) because they are too old to live solely amongst women. At the age of maturity (fourteen) they are given or built a royal estate of their own and expected to live there as master of their own domain, with their own seraglio etc.


Disgrace and Removal

A concubine may be removed from the seraglio at any time. However, the process of instigating removal can be very complicated. A royal concubine is often from an influential family, whose favour and opinion must be considered. She may also have sway over children or other concubines within the palaces. To be ejected from a seraglio is a mark of great dishonour and seen as a severe failing on the part of the woman, unless the prince issues a statement explaining an alternative reason for his choice. Removal from the seraglio also means that a concubine will be separated from any children she has birthed the prince, as her offspring will be kept within the royal estate, even when she's forced to leave it. Worse still, she may be barred from having any form of contact with the child / children in the future. Or the children themselves may be implicated, punished and / or rejected.

It is seen as a prince's duty to keep his concubines in good health and secure comfort. Even if a concubine no longer draws a royal male's eye, he is expected to hold to his promise of providing this, even if he rarely sees or utilises her. It is not uncommon, among the hundreds of seraglio residents, for "forgotten" concubines to wander the halls, living out their life in quiet luxury. For a woman to receive the severest of punishments and be extricated from a seraglio, she cannot simply have lost favour but actively damaged the prince, his assets or his reputation in some way. Treason, for example, or attempting to murder competitors within the seraglio would be a crime to which exile is acceptable. Infidelity is another. A prince who rejects a concubine unfairly will be expected to answer to public opinion.

Imperial Land All land in the Hattusa empire belongs to the Tabarna. This is both a socially recognised and legal fact. Those who rule areas of land, do so for the Tabarna and the royal family.

Antuhsa'talla Antuhsa'tallas are almost exclusively members of the royal family (immediate or extended) and most often leaders of the Hittite Houses. An Antuhsa'talla is awarded land usually as a mark of respect for his blood-line or in training for a higher position (such as a Crown Prince, in preparation for becoming the Tabarna). Where he is assigned holds a strong relation to his favour. An extended royal, who has been recently disgraced, for example, might be assigned a poor province in the wastelands of nowhere. Someone in high favour might hold a strategically important city.

Because the role of Antuhsa'talla is awarded to royals over nobles, it can be given to a royal of incredibly young age (so long as the royal has reached the Age of Maturity). Until the child is decided (by the Tabarna) to be able to rule their assigned land independently, they are appointed two royal advisors (one military and one civil). Of age Antuhsa'tallas will usually have men in similar positions working under them as opposed to guiding them.


The Antuhsa’talla rank is usually inherited from father to eldest or most competent son. This inheritance is authorised by the Tabarna and, unless the king has some particular reason to dislike the Antuhsa’talla’s choice of successor is almost always permitted. After all, the son of an Antuhsa’talla, who will have been trained for taking on the role, is a more sensible choice for leadership than an outsider.

The most common (though still rare) reason for a Tabarna to interrupt the inheritance of the Antuhsa'talla title is for a different royal son to be deemed fit for, or needing of, a position of power. As there are a limited number of powerful cities for rule, another Antuhsa’talla might be ousted in favour of the royal prince.

The lands bestowed on Antuhsa'talla's can be removed and / or reassigned at any time by the Tabarna, depending on their skills, efficiency and favour. Antuhsa Antuhsa's are awarded land in exactly the same way as an Antuhsa'talla (see above). The only difference is that Antuhsa's are less often royal-blooded and will normally be given leadership over provincial lands, villages etc, rather than powerful cities. They are never underage (unless the title is prematurely inherited) and are awarded their title through meritocratic gain.

Common Peerage The common peerage are permitted lands on which to live, farm or start a business / industry by their local Antuhsa (whether they're an Antuhsa or Antuhsa'talla). They pay rent to their Antuhsa and can be forced to leave their lands or change their location by the Antuhsa. It is entirely within the Antuhsa's power how and where people live and work on their land. They are also in charge of the taxes paid within the peerage's rent and business income.

Common families living on the Antuhsa's land will rarely have to inform them of new generations taking over the land (new births and marriages etc. are reported to the local temple for record but the Antuhsa does not need to be informed). The only time the peerage must inform their Antuhsa landlord of a change is when they move and leave the land altogether. But this is a rare event as most families remain in their homeland for generations at a time.

As well as owning the land on which the peerage live, an Antuhsa is also responsible for the maintenance of that land. If weather or criminal behaviour damage the land or cause issues for the common peerage, they can report it to their Antuhsa. It is the Antuhsa's responsibility to then deal with the matter. Inheriting Wealth
When it comes to inheriting personal resources such as wealth and possessions, these are passed down in accordance with the deceased's personal will (drawn up with the local priesthood). It is entirely at the discretion of the deceased who he or she leaves all of their wealth and possessions to. This includes whether illegitimate children are recognised or not.

If a female dies without a stated will, her resources and wealth all go to whomever is her legal guardian at the moment of her death.


If a male dies without a stated will, his resources and wealth go to his father (if he is under the Age of Maturity) or to his Antuhsa (if he is of age). If an Antuhsa dies without a stated will, his wealth and resources go to the royal treasury.

Criminal Offences Below is a list of actions considered to be criminal offences and their most usual punishments. Most crimes are handled by the nearest temple and their residing priesthood. Only the most severe crimes are escalated, instead, to the empire's Council.

Divine Treason A crime committed against the Gods. This might include theft or vandalism of a temple, an act of violence against a priest or pretending to be an 'oracle' or 'speaker'. Anything that can be considered a direct insult to the Gods is divine treason.

Common Punishments » Death by hanging. » Death by gibbeting / exposure. » Death by beheading. » Blinding. » Limb amputation. » Exile. » Life imprisonment.

Treason Treason is any act that goes against the empire as a whole. This includes espionage for foreign lands, the deliberate sabotage of political, economic or military matters, or an act of violence against the Tabarna, Tawananna, Crown Prince or Gal Meshedi (as the death of these figures would have disastrous effects on an imperial level). Smaller offences like theft or insult towards the Tabarna in particular are also considered treason.

Common Punishments » Death by hanging. » Death by gibbeting / exposure. » Death by beheading. » Blinding. » Limb amputation. » Exile. » Life imprisonment.

Theft Theft is as simple as it sounds: the stealing of another person's property. This can also include the kidnapping of a woman who is another person's ward. In such cases, the perpetrator is accused of both assault (against the woman) and theft (against her guardian), making the crime more severe than the kidnapping of a man.

Common Punishments » Limb amputation. » Permanent enslavement. » Temporary enslavement as a sentence slave. » Forced manual labour. » Forced conscription to the army. » Imprisonment, punitive fines.

Assault Assault is any act of violence, capture or insult against another person, male or female. The degree of the assault (from verbal slander to physical violence) determines the degree of the punishment. Sexual assault against men, in Hittite law, actually comes under the title of Assault.

Common Punishments » Limb amputation. » Public lashing. » Forced manual labour. » Forced conscription to the army. » Punitive fines.

Sexual Assault (for Women) Sexual assault is stated as a separate crime to normal Assault (above) because it can lead to pregnancy. Pregnancy and childbirth is considered to be a gift from the Gods. To risk it in an act of violence, therefore, makes sexual assault a darker crime beholden to more severe punishment.

Common Punishments » Castration. » Death by beheading. » Public lashing. » Imprisonment. » Punitive fines.

Fraud Fraud can be generally summed up as lying in a way that diminishes another. Lying to steal gifted money, to raise one's own social standing or to in any way injure another party is considered Fraud.

Common Punishments » Exile. » Public lashing. » Forced manual labour. » Imprisonment. » Punitive fines.

Breach of Contract Many social arrangements in Hattusa come with a written contract: such as employment, inheritance, marriage and divorce. Any breach with these contracts is a criminal offence. Depending on the severity of the breach, a culprit can be brought up on just charges for breaking the contract or also be charged with other criminal offences. For example, a man who sexually assaults his wife has both breached his marital contract, in which he is expected to keep his wife in health and comfort, but also committed the crime of sexual assault.

Common Punishments » Public lashing. » Forced manual labour. » Imprisonment. » Punitive fines.

Public Indecency Public indecency is a catch-all term of any behaviour that does not conform to the social norm and is an imposition to members of the public. Being overtly drunk and loud in the streets at night, vandalism, or brandishing a weapon in a public place can all be considered public indecency. Usually, the victims of these acts are numerous and unspecific. If the accused is focusing on a particular individual, they are more likely to be charged with one of the more severe crimes listed above.

Common Punishments » Public lashing. » Short-term imprisonment. » Punitive fines.

Poor Conduct Any and all crimes committed within the military (from stealing to murder) fall under the offence of 'Poor Conduct'. These crimes must be dealt with within the military. Only the most severe crimes are considered too offensive to be handled within the military authorities and escalated to the Council.

Common Punishments » Dependent on the type of crime (see above for examples).

Social Rules Gender Legalities Financial Transactions Suing Culture

Reporting a Crime Offences in Hattusa can be broken into two categories: criminal acts and the demands for financial compensation. Both are handled with the same judiciary protocol.

The criminal / suing system of Hattusa operates as an escalating ladder. When a crime / offence is committed, the victim must report it to the first stage of the judiciary system: the temples. This can be done independently, simply by walking into the temple and requesting an audience with a priest, or by reporting the issue to any militant personnel who is, by their oath as a soldier, duty-bound to escort the victim to the temple themselves and ensure that they are granted a meeting with a priest. Military Authority

Military Authority - INSERT from military page Temple Authority When an offence is brought to a temple, it must be determined if the temple has the authority to rule on the matter or if it must be escalated to a higher power. As the authority on public morality and the 'right' way to live one's life, the temples and the priesthood have the authority to rule on:

Criminal Offences
» Accused / Victim’s Rank in Table
» Theft (of property under the value of 25,000 shekels)
» Assault (not of a member of the royal class or Council)
» Sexual Assault (not of a member of the royal class or Council)
» Fraud
» Breach of Contract
» Public Indecency


Financial Disputes
» Accused / Victim’s Rank in Table
» Betrothal Arrangements
» Annulments and Divorce Settlements
» Illegitimate Alimony Claims
» Criminal Acts Upon Wards



The priesthood is in charge of ruling on the above offences and will often invite the victim, the accused and both of their guardians and / or families to a hearing in which the highest priest available in the temple will listen to all sides and then make a judgement of guilt and declare the appropriate punishment. Their decision is legally registered in the temple's monthly reports but is otherwise kept private. Council Authority The only punishment a temple or military commander is forbidden from enacting is execution or severe limb removal (fingers, for example, are acceptable). They can declare it to be the right and fair action, but must request permission from the Council before it can be carried out.

Offences that the priesthood or military cannot rule upon are listed below. These must be escalated to the convene of the Council of Ministers and ruled upon there.

Escalated Offences
» Divine Treason
» Treason
» Theft (of property over the value of 25,000 shekels)
» Assault (of a member of the royal class or Council)
» Sexual Assault (of a member of the royal class or Council)


If the victim or accused is a direct descendant of the current Tabarna, the priesthood / military must escalate the issue to the Council, regardless of the offence committed. Accusations Across Classes Legally, all Hittite people are equal in the eyes of the law. A person of lower birth is entitled, nay expected, to report crimes committed by those of higher standard and vice versa. All accusers and victims are to be listened to with equal weight and without bias.

In reality, this is often carried out as it should be in theory. However, in an era of limited physical evidence and cameras, most judiciary steps are handled in verbal audiences where both the victim and the accused state their cases to a priest or members of the Council. Those of higher class are often better educated, know the ways of those who will be judging them and are often more well-spoken. These can turn the judiciary process to their benefit, even subconsciously.

There are also, of course, the less subtle realities of bias and bribes to consider. An offence brought to the Council, where the accused as a Councilman's son is going to receive different consideration to a case where the accused is a seamstress. Whilst most in the political sphere of Hattusa would like to consider themselves above such things and beholden to the law only, it is an unavoidable fact of reality. Diplomatic Immunity The Hittites do not extend diplomatic immunity to anyone within their own royal circles, nor that of other nations. All inhabitants of Hattusa, temporary or permanent, are legally required to follow Hittite law.