Aquilonia

Age and Fall of Acheron

By 13,000 BC, at its high point, Acheron was bordered at the northwest by the Aquiloni,^[3] one of the Hybori tribes.

"Aquilonian Acheron" fell to the invading Hybori some time after "Nemedian Acheron."^[4]

Hyborian Age

Foundation and Andromedus' rule

Aquilonia was one of the nations to rose on the ashes of Acheron,^[5] after its Fall circa 13,000 BC.

King Andromedus was one of Aquilonia's earliest kings, or its first, who turned Aquilonia from a wilderness and wasteland, and made it a might empire, carved from nothing, and was considered the founder of the Aquilonia.^[6] The exact role of Andromedus in history, whether the very first king of Aquilonia, or the first to make it a mighty empire, remains unrevealed. It is possible that Andromedus participated in the Fall of Acheron, circa 13,000 BC, or came in the years following it, in the early Hyborian Age.

During Andromedus' rule, strange deaths, monsters, devil cults plagued the near south of Tarantia. With a small troop, Andromedus ventured southwards winto the mountains along the Khorotas River and near the heart of Aquilonia, where he was slain by the sorcerer Xondar Kan, who then used his soul as a source of power, feeding him the Pale Ones (descendants of Andromedus' soldiers and abducted hillwomen) to increase the power of the Undead One, the twisted soul of Andromedus.^[6]

Epeus' rule (circa 10,900 BC)

Circa 10,900 BC (nine hundred years before the Age of Conan), Epeus the Sword-Wielder was king of Aquilonia.^[7] Around that time, Nemedia, then ruled by King Bragorus invaded Aquilonia but was driven back.^[7][8]

Undisclosed Time Events

Expansion

Aquilonia vassalized the kingdom of Gunderland at north, who allowed it for expediency.^[9]

King Vilerus I's rule

King Vilerus I had a great bridge to be built up upon the River Khorotas.^[10]

It is unclear which King Vilerus was involved in this event:
King Vilerus and Poitain went at war, leading to a Poitainian invasion of the central provinces. That event cause a resentment from the central provinces' people towards Poitain.^[11]

King Pharineus' rule

During King Pharineus' rule, gold coin were rather made of brass.^[12]

Vilerus III's rule

About twenty-five years before the ascension, Aquilonia entered an era of expansionism and imperialism, attempting to extent into Cimmeria and Pictland. This was possibly during the rule of King Vilerus.^[13]

Vilerus III was succeeded by his nephew Numedides.^[14][15]

Age of Conan (circa 10,000 BC)

King Numedides' rule

During the lifetime of Conan, the privileges of the nobility created a shortage of farmland. The nobles used the right to claim otherwise fertile land as part of their private hunting grounds. In combination with the rising population of the country, this trend left many peasants with no land to tend to. This led in turn to ongoing efforts of the state towards western expansion and colonization of Pictland. Unsurprisingly, the Picts repeatedly attempted to drive settlers away and reclaim their hereditary lands. Making border wars recurring events.^[16]

King Conan I's rule

Conan the Cimmerian claimed the throne for himself during a civil war. His queen consort Zenobia was a Nemedian. Their children included the heir Prince Conn, Princess Radebund, and Prince Taurus. Publius served as Conan's chief councilor, Trocero, Count of Poitain as seneschal, Prospero of Poitain as de facto right-hand-man, Alcemides as the court philosopher, Dexitheus as High Priest, and Pallantides as commander of the Black Dragons.^[16]

After 20 years of reign, Conan abdicated in favor of his son Conan II (Conn).^[4]

King Conan II's rule

...^[17][16]

Circa 9,500 BC

Aquilonia's wars of aggression

Circa 9,500 BC, When it was at its zenith, Aquilonia annexed Zingara, Argos, Ophir, western Shem,^[4] Corinthia, and Zamora, which they treated with as subjected countries. Similarly, the Bossonians and other less powerful peoples were treated with growing contempt. Koth was practically tributary. Stygia, then Brythunia were defeated in battle.

The Picts started going and coming in Aquilonia, aided by the Nemedian priest of Mitra Arus who also helped the Pict chieftain Gorm how to mine and work iron into weapons. Many Picts joined the Aquilonian troops as mercenary, learning about civilized warfare before returning. Meanwhile, Gorm became chief of chief, and then moved his armies to war against Aquilonia. The invasion was halted by the Bossonians.

As powerful Nemedia was still free, the Aquilonian armies, mostly comprised of mercenaries and Bossonians, marched on the neighbor. This eastern war caused the Bossonian Marches to be lightly guarded. Once word of the Pictish's attacks on Bossonia, whole regiments of Bossonians left the campaign and return home where they defeated the Picts. That desertion was however the direct cause of the Aquilonians' defeat by the desperate Nemedians.

In retaliation, Aquilonia positioned regiments on the borders of the Marches. The Bossonian chiefs were lured into their encampment and massacred. The Aquilonians then attacked the people, ravaged the land and marched back from the borders.^[1]

Destruction

Without the Bossonians' resistance, Gorm (who was now an old man with his ambition intact) had his Picts swarm into Aquilonia's itself.

Zingara, Corinthia and the Shemites seized the opportunity to free themselves from Aquilonian rule. Whole regiments of mercenaries and vassals mutinied, marching back to their countries, looting and burning on the way. In addition to the Picts and the mercenaries' ravages, the Cimmerians invaded the land as well. The sum caused the destruction,^[1] mostly attributed to both internal decay and the massive Pict invasion.^[4] The Picts made themselves master of Aquilonia and massacred nearly all the inhabitants in the process.

A short age later, Gunderland was destroying by the Cimmerians fleeing from the north.^[18]

Facts

Economy and Expansionism

Aquilonia had an advanced economy for its era, aided by the fertility of its land and by trade through the so-called Road of Kings. The latter being the main east-west trade route of the Hyborian Age. The profits from commerce have allowed the country to maintain one of the largest and better-organized military forces in the known world. It is often viewed as an empire instead of a kingdom. The imperial troops are known as the Black Legions due to the color of their armor. The personal guard of the king forms an elite unit, known as the Black Dragons.^[16]

Currency

The Aquilonians used at least Aquilonian Gold Crowns,^[19] Aquilonian Cesterces (under the form of coins),^[20] and Aquilonian Silver Talents^[21] (a talent being a measure).

Provinces

The capital city was Tarantia. Aquilonia included several provinces and regions of diverse culture and historical background. Attalus in the southeast was one of its major commercial centers and a stronghold of the aristocracy. Poitain in the far south was a fertile land of meadow lands and plains. Gunderland to the far north is a woodland with a climate similar to its neighbor, Cimmeria. The Bossonian marches in the west used to be the traditional border area, and long wars with the Picts left their cultural marks. The Westermarck was by the Age of Conan a recently-settled western frontier and unstable due to frequent conflicts with the native population.

The Gundermen maintained a regional identity and have kept some primitive elements of Hyborian culture. Their warrior culture made them outstanding soldiers. Gundermen pikemen and spearmen form the backbone of the Aquilonian army, and served in mercenary forces across the Hyborian world. The Bossonians trained their lads to become master archers. The mainstream Aquilonians either served in the country's strong infantry or in its heavily-armed cavalry.^[16]

Religion

Initially the Aquilonians worshiped the ancestral god of the Hyborians, Bori (or Borri). By the time of Conan, they were instead monotheistic worshippers of Mitra.^[16]

Language

• Vestalia: "Virgin".^[22]

• Albiona
• Amellius
• Northern Aquilonia
  • Amilius
  • Goralian Hills
    • Gunderland
    • Raman
    • The Tauran
      • King's Altar
      • Palaea
      • Valley of Lions
  • Valkia River
• Armavir
• Attalus
  • Shamar^{[citation needed]}
    • Shamar Arena
• Western Aquilonia
  • Bossonia
    • Bridge of the Accursed
    • Endless Stair
    • Galparan
    • Kyof's Grove
    • Torh
• Brondi
• Crypt of Yog
• Elymia
• Ford of Nogara
• Khorotas River
• Kormon
• Korvela Bay
• Minas-H'Rath
• Northern Forest
• Pass of Saxula
• Pellia
• Southern Aquilonia
  • Poitain
    • Alimane River
      • Bornos Bridge
    • Aquilonion Steppes
      • Trakaal Swamps
    • Brocellian Forest
    • Castria
    • Culario
    • Imirian Escarpment
      • Imirian Plateau
      • Giant's Notch
    • Imirus
    • Karaban
    • Poitan
• Eastern Aquilonia
  • Cave of Zelata^[23]
  • Valley of Valkia^[24]
• Road of Kings
• Ronda
• River Shirki
• Tanasul
• Tarantia (Capital)
  • Great Hippodrome of Tarantia
  • Iron Tower
  • Palace of Many Kings
  • Royal Gardens
  • Royal Library
• Telanor
• Thunder River
• Thune
• Wall of Damos
• Westermarck
  • Conajohara
    • Coyaga
    • Fort Tuscelan
    • Ghost Swamp
    • Gwawela
    • Velitrium
  • Conawaga
    • Scandaga
  • Ogaha Creek
  • Oriskonie
  • Schohira
    • Fort Kwanyara
    • Schondara
  • Thandara
    • Fort Thandara
  • Tullian's Creek

• Epeus the Sword-Wielder - King of Aquilonia circa 10,900 BC
• Pharineus - King of Aquilonia
• Vilerus I - King of Aquilonia
• Vilerus III - King of Aquilonia circa 10,000 BC
• Numedides - King of Aquilonia circa 10,000 BC, successor of Vilerus III
• Conan I - King of Aquilonia circa 10,000 BC, usurper of Numedides
• Queen Zenobia - Queen of Aquilonia circa 10,000 BC, wife of Conan I
• Conan II ("Conn") - King of Aquilonia circa 10,000 BC, successor of Conan I