The Declaration on Helotry
When Empress Sorsasta Quiris came onto the the Imperial Throne of Kyrnia after her father's death, many thought her too young and too unprepared to rule the vast Empire, and many thought she would be a figurehead, at least for a while, while her father's advisors continued to run the government. They were quickly proven wrong. Less than a year after being crowned Empress of Kyrnia, Sorasasta issued her Declaration on Helotry to the surprise and bewilderment of many.
Empress Sorasasta realized that she would not be able to eliminate slavery overnight, as it did not develop overnight but she did quickly move to immediately prevent the enslavement of any citizens of Krynia due to capture in war or raids. Citizens could still be enslaved as punishment for crimes and for revolt against the lawful authorities and non-citizens could be indentured if captured in war, but for no longer than five years, and their indenture could be bought for a reasonable price as decided by a magistrate.
The profession of slaver was abolished. No person had the right to take another person as a slave without a magistrate or a rightful lord or lady so ordering the enslavement. People who were slaves when the declaration was made were not immediately released, but rules dictating how they were to be treated, and how they could earn their freedom have been put in place.
Purpose
Empress Sorsasta issued the Declaration on Helotry to make clear to her subjects that she was not going to let the vile practice of slavery continue. While the declaration did not immediately eliminate slavery in the Empire, it did put in place an outline of how slavery was to handled going forward, and who had the right to make someone a slave. It banned the capture of citizens of the Empire for the purpose of slavery, and it set out rules for how slaves were to be treated, and expectations that slavery would be ended in the future.
A lessor, but still important purpose of this document was to show her father's advisors, who had been been running the country with her as a figurehead, that she was a force to be reckoned with. Several advisors who objected to the Empress' Declaration were subsequently sent into retirement, opening up offices for the Empress to fill with her advisors, giving the Empress much more control over her government.
Document Structure
Legal status
The Declaration on Helotry applies to the entirety of the Empire of Kyrnia, although some of the more remote provinces have been slow to adopt the principles declared within it.
Type
Decree, Royal
Medium
Paper
Authors
Signatories (Organizations)
Comments