The Cizimeneans

Past the South Kretaza Mountains of the southern Protectorate are found an interesting people. Their language and culture are very different to the Kretazans who make up most of the population, and their history unique. These are the Cizimeneans, inhabiting the region of Cizimene.

The Cizimeneans were originally a tribal confederation of steppe nomads, living approximately three hundred kilometres south of the Protectorate. Highly decentralised, it's chiefs would come together to elect a leader for the entire confederation, the Yula, who's primary duties was commanding the confederation in war and settling disputes between tribes. The other powers of the Yula were few and far between. At this time, the total population of the Cizimeneans was around 200,000.

In the mid 1100s (approximately 230 years ago), regional conflict made Cizimenean-controlled grasslands too dangerous to occupy, forcing the confederation to seek new land further north. Different tribes within the confederation moved at different times over a decade.

The tribes passed through the southern range of the South Kretaza Mountains with little resistance, as mountain passes were large and not occupied by any major state. Similarly, most passed the central range without conflict. But much of the land between the central and northern range was occupied by the Kingdom of Kretaza. Their arrival caused alarm in the royal court, and an official was sent down in an attempt to bribe the Cizimeneans to leave. Sipos, the Yula, declined. He demanded that the Cizimeneans be given a large area of land to the north of the mountains; this was quickly rejected by the court.

The Cizimeneans attempted to cross the northern range of the South Kretaza Mountains, but were met by a large Kretazan force of 35,000. Sipos was able to gather 25,000 fighting men from the tribes, and thus began the battle of Istvan Pass. Fighting on horseback with composite bows, the Cizimenean force outmatched that of Kretaza; but with little room to manoeuvre between the mountains, there was little either side could do. After a day the Cizimeneans had to withdraw, ending their attempt to cross. Months later, the Cizimeneans attempted another crossing in the east. After defeating a small Kretazan army, the Cizimeneans sent their warriors over the mountains. But, passing over borders, they soon found themselves facing a Fendirolan force, and were defeated. A third and final attempt to cross the mountains was made the next year. the Kretazan army of 30,000, led personally by the king, managed to inflict a pyrrhic victory over the Cizimeneans, at the cost of thousands of lives. It was clear that further war would only result in strife for the Kretazans, and so the king met Sipos, agreeing to allow the confederation to settle in all of the lands south of and within the South Kretaza Mountains.

The primary unit of societal organisation among the Cizimeneans is the tribe, of which there are 22. These are groups of families ranging in size from just over 1000 to 30,000 individuals. Tribes act as single political (and often cultural; most tribes have their own dialect or language) entities, with the heads of families regularly assembling to discuss matters. Below the tribe, the main organisational unit is the family. Families are extended units and collectively own goods such as tents, sheep, and horses. Each is usually headed by an elder member, though they are subordinate to the interests of the family.

All tribes have a chief; a singular leader. Since the Cizimenean migration, some tribal chiefs have become little more than Sejm representatives, with the assemblies of the tribe providing real governance. Others are powerful leaders who have the power of life and death over their tribe. Chiefs are chosen by a variety of methods, depending on the tribe; all last until the holder's death, but some are chosen by the assembled families and others are hereditary. Chiefs automatically have a seat in the Sejm.

The Cizimenean Confederation never officially dissolved, although in current times tribes act independently of one another. With the tribes being seperated by difficult mountain journeys, it had become less and less important. The title of Yula, leader of the Confederation, has been vacant since the early 1300s.

Different Cizimenean tribes may be sedentary or nomadic. After the Cizemenean Migration, some tribes chose to settle in recently vacated villages, and eventually learned to build their own buildings. Others, particularly those in the flatter valleys at the base of the mountains, are nomadic, moving around throughout the year to different areas of land to allow their animals to graze. Whether tribes are sedentary or nomadic often has an effect on their overall customs, with nomadic tribes being more in line with pre-migration Cizimenean culture. Sedentary tribes more often interact with Kretazans living in the mountains due to participating in the wool trade, and so a number of loan words and shared traditions have entered their cultures. One of the most visible signs of this is in naming, with Kretazan names being fairly common within sedentary tribes (Marcher Lord Ludvik, one of the most famous Cizimeneans in the Protectorate, is one such example of this).

Slavery is also practiced by the Cizimeneans. Captured war-enemies may be made into slaves, being forced to do menial work around settlements and camps. Slaves are owned by families, like other goods. Slaves deemed to be trustworthy are usually freed after a few years of servitude and become members of the family that previously owned them. Children of slaves are also raised as members of that family. Since the Cizimenean migration, slavery has declined significantly. It is thought that there are less than 500 slaves held by Cizimeneans in the modern day.

The Cizimeneans do not have a religious tradition as rich as that of the Kretazans, but one does exist. As nomads, the Confederation-era Cozimeneans would pay respect to nature spirits and local gods (who they saw little distinction between) at small stone shrines which would be built throughout their territory. This has continued into modern times, with shrines dotting the South Kretaza Mountains, and larger shrines in towns. Most Cizimeneans have adopted elements of Bowism, the semi-monotheistic religion of the Kretazans, into their own tradition. The degree to which Bowism is practiced varies by tribe, with some tribes actually being more devoutly Bowist than Kretaza - the most prominent of which is the Magiak tribe, which follows the dogmatic school and is home to several radical Bowists including the Lord Protector.

Ancestor worship is also present to a limited extent among the Cizimeneans, with most families having relics from Chiefs or Yulas that they descended from. These usually consist of inconspicuous objects such as pieces of wood from bows, or fragments of clothing, and are believed to bring good luck. Bones are never used as relics, as most Cizimenean dead are burned.

The Cizimeneans have a variety of different customs and cultural norms. Generally, Cizimenean society is patriarchal, with the position of chief being male-only and women being barred from fighting in war. However, it is less so than both Kretaza and (especially) Fendirol. Women may serve as the heads of families, and so can have a role in governing the tribe/electing the chief. Women may also freely inherit, as Cizimenean culture does not have rigid rules on inheritance. Women may also refuse marriage, even if it is supported by their family.

Within Cizimenean society, the Tribe and individual family are very important. The family head (generally chosen by the previous head) has significant power. Marriage, as well as movement out of tribal land, requires permission from the family head, and slaves are directed by them. Insulting the head of one's family is a punishable offence in most tribes.

The Cizimeneans practice a strict system of marriage. Men and women will usually marry between the ages of 20 and 25, and these marriages will last until a partner has died or been exiled, even if the partners have been physically separated or one has committed crimes. The closest thing to remarriage, then, is for a separated partner to have a non-marital relationship with another person, without the rights awarded to marriages. While arranged marriages are not encouraged per se, Cizimeneans are usually encouraged by their families to marry people of similar social status, and especially people close to the current tribal chief. Inter-tribal marriage is frowned upon but not forbidden. The process of marriage is usually quick; ceremonies are short and occur at shrines, where the marriage is blessed by a chosen spirit or local god. The heads of the families of the bride and groom will give their approval, and at that point the ceremony completes.

After a person dies, they are cremated on a funeral pyre. There is usually a marked out spot in towns and villages inhabited by sedentary Cizimeneans where all pyres are built. Bodies are always burned within three days of death, and at sunset. After a battle, all of the dead (including those of the opposing side, if they have been left behind) are burned on a single large pyre. Ashes are then scattered across the ground by horse riders. (Note: wood is rare in much of Cizimene, so cremations are often expensive).

Currently, it is believed that there are around 200,000 Cizimeneans in the Protectorate- the group having finally reached it's pre-migration population after years of slow growth. This is a very small portion of the population, being less than 2%, and as they are largely self sufficient few are seen outside of Cizimene itself. Despite this, the Cizimeneans have not gone unrecognised.

As nomads (and former nomads), the Cizimeneans are able to raise much larger armies than their population would suggest. Armies of over 25,000 have been raised by the united tribes in the past, which being entirely mounted, provided a force capable of rivalling all but the largest royal armies. Since the formation of the New Army, a large professional force adept at dealing with cavalry, this has become less of an issue. But Cizimene could still tip the balance of power in a potential second civil war, as had happened in the first.

During the Kretazan Civil War, the tribes initially stayed neutral. The conflict had, at the beginning, been seen as a battle between different factions of nobles. But Cizimeneans did get involved nonetheless. Skilled commanders and mercenaries from Cizimene were recruited by both sides, and became influential in their militaries. The most notable of these was the soon-to-be Lord Protector, a zealous Bowist from the nomadic Magiak Tribe. He became a general in the Parliamentarian Army, and founded and commanded the New Army which brought a parliamentarian victory. After that, he had the influence and power to shape Kretaza in his own image, and ordered the king's execution. Another notable commander is Ludvik, now a Marcher Lord (military governor), who initially fought for the Royalists but changed sides mid-way through the war.

One would think that the Lord Protector's heritage would make Cizimeneans disproportionally prominent in The Protectorate. But, outside the New Army, this has not been the case. The Lord Protector does not care much for his ancestral tradition, and has not resided in Cizimene for over twenty years. Cizimenean languages cannot be used within the Sejm, despite being the native tongues of 19 of it's members.