NationStates Jolt Archive

Birth of Civilization: The Nomadic Tribes

Because the early tribes never developed a written language, no documents or records of those tribes have been passed down to us. Therefore, most of what we have put together has been through archaeology, anthropology, and a number of other sciences. Despite this major set back, we have learned much of our primitive ancestors. The course of their lives was clearly determined by the comings and goings of the main sources of food. This has been determined because each of three major tribes - the Haevetii, Nomenae, and Acilliae. Each major tribe used its own separate techniques to develop primitive weapons, such as obsidian or slate arrowheads – such as the Haevetii. From the location of the distinct weapon types and variations, it was simple enough to determine the loose territorial boundaries.

1: The Haevetii and the Fickle Finger of Fortune

The Haevetii, as best we can determine by persistent and lasting oral sagas, were brought together under the yoke of a relatively boring character known simply as Haevetus. His lineage is unknown, and it is widely believed that he bore no children. Most of what has been determined about this rather enigmatic figure has been compared with what historical evidence is available. Through a series of quasi-diplomatic efforts, Haevetus was able to bring together a number of smaller tribes and unite them with his much more abundant and capable group of nomads.

Thus, the Haevetii were born. But fortune did not favor them. Though the lands they claimed through the occasional conflict and diplomatic efforts was favorable and rich in food and timber, its materials that could have been weaponized were not up to par, even with the times. Slate was the most abundant rock that could be converted into arrowheads, knives, and spears. Though easy to manufacture en masse, its weak structure made it prone to breaking completely if it ever struck something solid – sometimes even the flanks of the animals they hunted.

But under the leadership of Haevetus, the tribe adapted. It quickly abandoned its nomadic principles and began to settle down – annual crops were readily available, and required little work (comparatively) to maintain. Thus, there once proud horses became beasts of burden, forced to operate plows instead of carrying horsemen to the hunt, or to battle. Because Haevetus was so rash to convert from Nomadism, many of the tribal elders began to stir up unrest against Haevetus. At the age of fifty-two, Haevetus was struck down. For reasons still unknown, the Haevetii managed to stay unified. During the chaos that followed Heavetus’ death, a woman named Hellevae rose to power – thanks in part to what appears to be family ties to Haevetus’ brother – and asserted her dominance over the tribe.

During her reign Hellevae would return the Haevetii to strong unification, and alleviate the worries of the Elders. Nomadism returned, to an extent, but for the most part the burgeoning agricultural system – and thus settled existence – became the status quo. But the bane of slate would return to haunt the Haevetii. Twelve years after the death of Haevetus, contact was made with another tribe; the Nomenae. Fierce warriors, the Nomenae quickly broke the Haevetii tribes. However, Hellevae lead a small army of horsemen against the much larger Nomenae army at what historians call the Battle of the Hellevae. Outnumbered and facing an army with superior weapons and tactics, the army of Hellevae fought courageously. Part of this fanatical fight, it is believed, stems from the loyalty to their matriarch Hellevae. Her army was victorious in the battle, but in the end it can be considered a defeat: Hellevae was captured near the end of the battle and was probably raped, according to the customs of the Nomenae, and probably decapitated. The result of this was that the Haevetii system collapsed, despite their victory in battle, and was absorbed into the Nomenae. However, the Haevetii would continue to plague their new overlords for many years to come.

2: The Nomenae; conquest and barbarism.


Though it is believed that the Nomenae tribe formed after the Haevetii, it was much more fortunate. Its weapons were much stronger and more able to deal with large game and enemy nomads. No records indicate the founder of the tribe, or at least a patriarch or matriarch. According to some historians it is believed that the name Nomenae stems from the worship of an interesting God-figure who was merely called ‘The Name’. Thus Nomenae, which literally means ‘the name’ was formed. Violent, even for minor infractions, they became the dominant tribe in their region, and eventually subjugated many neighboring nomads, including their rivals the Haevetii.

After many major conquests, the Nomenae became the dominant force in the region. There horsemen were well equipped, well trained, and highly motivated – how well the horsemen could hunt and fight decided the survival of their people. Their great advantage, ignoring their violent tactics, was the use of early metals. Though integrated slowly, bronze would eventually become the mainstay of their weapons. Though soft and prone to bending and warping when striking a hard object, it was far superior to the slate and obsidian weapons of the Haevetii.

A man came to power around ninety-five years after the Battle of Hellevae. Brutal, tyrannical, but driven by the desire of battle, Tyrannus – the name given him by his people, and used by historians since his real name is not known - would mobilize and organize his tribe into the most fierce of all tribes before. He broke away from the Horsemen tactics, to some extent. He realized that even a smaller army could triumph, if its Horsemen were well motivated. Thus he began to use pikemen to counteract cavalry threats. His horsemen would stand stationary with the pikemen standing right behind. When the enemy cavalry charged, the pikemen would slide through the ranks and level their pikes at the enemy horsemen. When timed right, and it most always was, the enemy horsemen would not have time to stop – or would be unwilling to. Through this risky tactic, Tyrannus was able to neutralize the enemy cavalry. At that time he would deploy his own to engage and destroy the enemy force.

But the battles did not end with the defeat of the enemy. Tyrannus made sure that all the survivors were taken captive then brought before the tribes they came from, and dismembered in sight of the tribesmen. The bodies were left in the open for the vermin to devour, but remained guarded by a contingent of his less apt horsemen. The bones and bits of flesh were then taken away and thusly the tribes were deprived of their solemn tradition – the right to dispose of their loved ones. Though this sparked many rebellions against Tyrannus, it ultimately served its purpose. Tribes immediately swore allegiance to Tyrannus and the Nomenae.

But the downfall of Tyrannus was not because of his many enemies, but because of his own brutality. If a pikemen did not march fast enough, his feet were cut off. If a villager stole, both hands were cut off and that person was ostracized from the Nomenae. Through this brutality, Tyrannus sparked hatred in the hearts of his people and severely crippled the potential soldiers he could have drawn on. Thus, when the next major tribe – the Acilliae – rose to power, he could not field an army large enough to oppose the new threat. Realizing his mistake, he repented of his mistakes to the mystic god The Name, and in accord with his religious beliefs, took his own life. Deprived of soldiers and an adequate leader, the Nomenae imploded. Unlike the Haevetii, they did not have the honor of one last glorious battle. Instead, the armies of Acilliae subjugated the lands of the Nomenae, and their own subjugated people, the Haevetii.

3: Acilliae the Founder.

Born into poverty, even poverty for the time, Acilliae had no choice but to join the militia of his people. After several skirmishes that hardened Acilliae, he rose to prominence among the ranks of his people’s militia. By the time of his twentieth birthday, he was leading the militias of his people. He proved to be the most capable tactician, and very strategically minded. This is the common account. Many believe, however, that part of the reason he ascended to power is that the folklore of his people held that a leader would rise from the depths of poverty.

Not long after the Nomenae conquered the Haevetii, Acilliae began to lead skirmishes against the Nomenae. Early on, the Nomenae viewed these skirmishes as minor threats, and only deployed small contingents to repulse Acilliae. But when the Nomenae began to implode, Acilliae saw his opportunity and struck with the largest force yet seen – twelve thousand horsemen and seven thousand foot soldiers. With Tyrannus now dead, Acilliae easily swept the lands of the Nomenae and brought them under submission. But Acilliae wasn’t content with merely being a powerful general or prince. Power was his obsession. After conquering the Nomenae, he returned with his army to his own lands and set himself up as King. With this development, Acilliae had founded the first ‘global power’ for Akilliam – the name Akilliam comes from the dialect of the Nomenae.

Acilliae immediately began to establish governmental institutions. He drew up a constitution – with the help of scribes since he was unable to read or write. Though the constitution was more a farce than anything else it was a first step. In that constitution the steps to becoming leader of the people of Acilliae was established; a divine right monarchy. At the age of thirty Acilliae’s wife Agrippina bore him his first son, Drusus. Three years later his second son was born to a concubine. Acilliae named him Acillaeum because he knew that this bastard son would never have the power of his elder brother, so he honored his second son by giving him his own name.

With all the major threats now under his power, Acilliae began to relax in his age. He took up reading, though it took nearly five years for him to understand the most basic texts. Meanwhile his two sons, Drusus and Acillaeum, began to study music. Drusus, being the Crown Prince, was taught by the greatest teachers and musicians of the time. Acillaeum, however, was forced to teach himself. He never reached the level of talent or knowledge as his brother Drusus and thus the first rivalry was born. It was a playful rivalry to begin with, but in time would become more dire. Acillaeum swore early in his life to be better than his brother, despite the fact that he was ‘nothing more than a bastard’. Though self-taught, he became wise in the fields of medicine, science, and most importantly, war.

At forty-seven years old, Acilliae the Founder died. Drusus was then given his full birthrights, and became sole ruler of the people of Akilliam. In the heart of Acillaeum, the fire was kindled.


The Two Brothers: War, Unification, and Torture

“Hellfire rages in his eyes.” Recorded Drusus after seeing his brother shortly after becoming ruler. “I think that only my blood will quench the fire in his mind.” Drusus left the matter alone, and began to concentrate on governing his people and continuing to become an expert at music. This was his first mistake. While he delved deeper into music, his brother Acillaeum studied the tactics of his father at a fevered pitch. Acillaeum still found time to play his music; at every turn Drusus laughed at it. Acillaeum swore he would punish his brother.

To that end, six years after Drusus became sole ruler, Acillaeum levied a militia – flying in the face of the constitution drawn up by his father – and set himself against Drusus. Drusus sent an envoy to settle the anger of his brother. Only a head returned, with a letter that said only this; “The path you chose will lead you to the grave.” Drusus immediately dispatched four thousand foot soldiers to squash his brother's rebellion and bring him back to the family. Brutality awaited. The Army of Drusus was ambushed as it passed through a mountainous area, and dismantled piece-meal. Acillaeum had all the dead impaled. Acillaeum’s army then captured the key strategic position at Herculaneum and set up his own court. Furious with the defeat and what he saw as atrocities, Drusus dispatched a second army. This new army, numbering fifteen thousand horsemen and eight thousand foot soldiers.

Five hundred of Acillaeum’s three thousand man army began to wage guerilla tactics on the advancing army, even as it left Drusus’ base of power at Syracuse. Though casualties were small for Drusus’ army, the guerilla force of Acillaeum would take the enemy dead, mutilate the bodies, and leave them in the path of the advancing army of Drusus. This brutal deed was enough to scare the advancing army.

Meanwhile, Acillaeum began to establish heavy defenses around Herculaneum. All around the city he forced the population to dig deep trenches, with a palisade system pointed outward. He then had the trenches covered rugs or sod or whatever was available. Acillaeum, realizing that the enemy could potentially breach the defenses, spawned a new idea. He would allow his brother’s army to advance through certain portions of defense. Those kill zones were then covered with pitch and lamp oil. He set up archers on the walls of the city.

Rushing in at full speed, chased by the enemy horsemen, his guerilla force entered the city and joined up with the defenses. The army of Drusus arrived. Without siege weapons, the only option was to attempt to break the city with any means available. Immediately half of Drusus’ horsemen charged forward, only to be impaled on the outward thrusting palisades. The slaughter was tremendous. Those that survived the initial blunder fell under a massive salvo of arrows. Three thousand men of Drusus’ army were killed or wounded in the initial blunder. Realizing the trap, Drusus’ general Dumnorix sent his cavalry surging into the kill zones. The archers on the walls of the city shot fiery darts into the pitch and lamp oil as the cavalry entered the zone. Another two thousand were caught up in the trap.

In just two blunders, Dumnorix had lost a third of Drusus’ horsemen. His last viable option was to make one last push – since the zones of extreme danger had been exposed – a last push with all his might. Instead he ordered a retreat. The citizens of Herculaneum, at the sight, began to celebrate. But Acillaeum would not suffer their jubilation. He conscripted as many as he could, armed them with whatever was available, and set out in pursuit of Dumnorix.

A week later, Dumnorix was ambushed by Acillaeum’s elite cavalry. The battle that followed was the bloodiest up to that point, and the chaos raged for two full days. Knowing full well that he was outnumbered, Acillaeum resorted to more dire tactics. While Dumnorix’ troops rested at night, Acillaeum’s cavalry would launch incursions into the enemy camp. The massacre of unarmed, sleeping troops was too much for Dumnorix to understand. He killed himself at dawn of the second day. The army of Drusus collapsed and the leaders of small contingents swore allegiance to Acillaeum – for if they did not, their bodies were to be mutilated then sent to their families. Thus, Acillaeum inherited his brother’s army. He set his sights on Syracuse.

Instead of walking into the same traps as Dumnorix had, Acillaeum managed to draw out the remains of Drusus’ army, and what militia he managed to arm. Attacking again under the cover of dark, Acillaeum won his forth consecutive victory. With no defenses, Drusus called for a parley. Once again, his envoy was decapitated and a small letter sent back with the head. In fear, or fury, Drusus came out to personally meet his estranged brother. He was taken prisoner, and brought back in fetters to Herculaneum. No records survive of the meeting between the brothers, but it can be surmised that Acillaeum was without mercy. He locked Drusus away that which he held most dear – music. Locked in the dark, with little food, little water, and no music – or human contact – Drusus quickly fell into insanity. Drusus, in his insanity, gave his birth right to Acillaeum. The next day he was poisoned. Historians have speculated why he wasn’t decapitated, but the most common theory is that Acillaeum, having broken his brother mentally, saw no need to remove the head – the symbol of thought and power. The other prominent theory is that Acillaeum took pity on his brother, perhaps wishing to have his brother back.

With Drusus dead, and since Acilliae had no brothers, Acillaeum established himself as the sole ruler of Akilliam. In the years that followed Acillaeum too calmed down. He began to settle disputes with envoys and not with the sword. He augmented and refined the governmental institutions set forth by his brother. The first lasting monarch was formed. Acillaeum would lead as monarch for another thirty-two years, dying at the age of fifty-six. In his Will, he established his eldest son to be the next ruler, but at the same time solved the problem he had faced. In that Will he granted his other children titles and honors and wealth. Shortly before he died, Acillaeum made them swear loyalty to his eldest son, Quintus.