The Heruli & Lankorium

Before contact with the Azeryani the Heruli lived in the fairly simple, mostly egalitarian society, typical of the Quarphic tribes . Most were semi-nomadic, camping in one area for months at a time but never putting down solid roots. Their economy was based around cattle and sheep herding and the measure of wealth was the size of one's flocks and herds. All men were herders, hunters and warriors and women worked as herders, gatherers and keepers of the home. Heruli religion was likewise relatively uncomplex. While the Heruli recognized a wide variety of spirits they actively worshipped only three deities: Wazzer, the god of warriors, Yerev, the goddess of the earth and fertility, and Nordan, god of the storms and bringer of life. Small groups of priests, drawn from various clans, wandered the Heruli lands in wagons which housed the sacred objects. Members of the priesthood were considered outside of the clan structure and so a small number of priests could service all the clans.

The basic unit of society was the clan, a group of 50-200 people, all related by blood or marriage. Descent was figured patrilineally and marriage customs were patrilocal. Within a clan one or two men would normally emerge as leaders, not by virtue of their birth but rather by virtue of their sense and wisdom. Leadership had no official title but was merely a privilege conferred by the other members of the clan.

Clans were in a near constant state of minor warfare with each other, raiding for cattle, sheep, occasionally slaves, and always for the glory of battle. This warfare was always small scale but nevertheless was a predominant element in their society. Heruli tradition has a rich heritage of heroic tales and legends, describing the exploits of heroes and gods. Most of these stories deal with particularly glorious cattle raids, defenses of the home, slaying of legendary monsters who preyed on the clan, etc. All members of the society would know a variety of songs and poems and the repertoire of the elders bordered on the amazing.

Contact with the Azeryani Empire has had a profound effect on Heruli society. These changes did not happen instantly but rather over several generations. A few of the well educated, in the traditional Heruli sense, recognize how much has changed but many do not realize that as recently as 6-7 generations ago their society was quite different.

When Azeryani expansion stalled at the edges of Quarphor, the empire set up a carefully controlled border to prevent raiding by the Quarphic tribes. In a large part this worked and most Heruli and other Quarphs were prevented from raiding across the border. Occasionally a war party would manage to penetrate Azeryani territory but few managed to return to their own lands. Azeryani policy was to corner such groups and accept their surrender. Captured warriors were given their lives in exchange for an extended term of military service. These recruits were trained as normal soldiers and assigned to units far from their homelands. Such groups were split up as part of the training and assignment process reducing the possibility of these troops rebelling. After a period of approximately 20 years of service those who had served well were allowed to retire, in the location of their choice, with a small parcel of land and a small allotment of startup money. Most chose to return to Lankorium, the Azeryani lands next to Heruli territory and a few crossed the border again to Heruli lands.

In general this policy worked well, providing the empire with a small but steady supply of recruits. As they were separated from their comrades and distant from their homelands they had few reasons to revolt. The Azeryani treated their soldiers well and so most recruited Heruli became quite loyal members of the army. A few rose to positions of prominence and served as military leaders in high ranking positions.

Azeryani presence on the border also contributed strongly to changes in Heruli society. Suddenly the Heruli found themselves with a powerful trading partner. Heruli cattle and sheep, exotic furs, hardwoods, and other products of the Heruli forest lands could be traded for 'civilized' luxury goods, bringing wealth and status. Slowly more and more Heruli tended to limit their normal ranges to areas closer to the Azeryani border and many adopted a sedentary way of life, often taking up farming. Heruli population in general expanded, in particular near the border.

This increased population led to greater warfare among the clans, over land and resources, and many of the small clans petitioned to be allowed to enter the empire. While some were shipped to other parts of the empire, most were allowed to settle in uncultivated lands in Lankorium near the Heruli border in exchange for military service. Each clan was assigned a number of recruits it must supply, based on the size of the clan, in exchange for the safety of living within the empire. These recruits were treated exactly as those described above who had been captured by raiding parties. Most returned to their clanholds to settle after their terms of service. The wealth they gained through their military service increased their prestige and joining the Azeryani military became a favored career path.

The empire was continually presented with difficulties in dealings with the Heruli across the border as their society was very fluid and nearly egalitarian. Whenever a leader would emerge the Azeryani would support his position financially and occasionally militarily. Such leaders stabilized dealings with the empire and over time a small number of clans, and in particular a small number of families in those clans, became predominant over most others. Many small clans were absorbed or driven into the empire and the powerful clans grew in size as well as strength. Over time these powerful families co-opted the rich Heruli heroic tradition for themselves, identifying the protagonists as part of their ancestry, thus justifying their positions of leadership. Eventually there emerged kings, always from one or two different families, usually the Asdings or Vesings, their right to kingship supported by their wealth and the prestige of their ancestry.

The growth of more powerful leaders meant easier dealings for the empire, but it also meant that Heruli raiding parties were even larger and stronger than before. Nevertheless, Azeryani policy did not change and raiders were captured and given their lives in exchange for military service. Heruli 'nobles' were offered positions as officers, though not normally commanding other Heruli troops. As before, these raiders were split up as part of the training and assignment process, though not as successfully since there were more of them. In some cases, large enough groups came across the border that the Azeryani had difficulty handling the influx. In such cases exceptions were often made and Heruli nobles were made officers over Heruli armies, all pressed into service for the empire. Many of these officers rose to very high ranks and powerful positions within the empire, often serving against their kinsmen outside the empire. Again this usually worked well as these Heruli groups gained the wealth and prestige they had been after in their raiding, they merely did it in the name of the Azeryani empire instead of their own clans.

Heruli religion was also being affected by the religions of the empire. With its tolerant attitude towards other religions the Azeryani empire accepted the Heruli gods and identified them with standard Azeryani-recognized deities. Wazzer was seen as an aspect of Agrik, Yerev of Peoni, and Nordan was understood to be a lesser spirit in the service of Agrik. In this way the Heruli worship was modified by the Azeryani perception of their deities and the empire's idea of these three deities took on some aspects of the Heruli deities.

All of these processes meant that the Heruli as a group were becoming 'Azeryanized', taking on more and more characteristics of the Azeryani. At the same time, the Azeryani population on the empire's side of the border was taking on Heruli elements until the societies on the two sides of the border had as much in common with each other as with either the Azeryani or traditional Heruli society. As Azeryani power waned Lankorium became more and more autonomous and also came under pressures from other groups, both in- and outside the empire. Eventually an Azeryani general of Heruli ancestry, Gaiseric Asding, became powerful enough that he could control both Azeryani Lankorium and the Heruli lands just outside the empaire. In 676 Gaiseric declared his new country, Lankorium, independent of the Azeryani Empire.

In the power struggles leading to his official recognition as king of Lankorium, Gaiseric invited many Heruli and other Quarphs from outside the borders into what had been Azeryani territory to strengthen his armies. Many of these were recruited from far enough away that they still maintained a fairly traditional way of life. The Lankorium military, already predominantly Heruli, became nearly entirely Heruli in its composition, differentiated primarily by the amount of 'Azeryanization'. Because of his two somewhat different subject populations Gaiseric eventually styled himself as Governor of Lankorium and King of the Heruli, both positions held jointly. The local bureaucracy was maintained basically intact providing Gaiseric with an efficient administration and a familiar method of government for the Azeryani citizens. In addition traditional Heruli custom and law was codified, with the help of Azeryani scribes and jurists, into a coherent legal system. One set of laws was applied to the Azeryani citizens and the other to the Heruli, the only difficulty being where the two intersected.

Gaiseric's rule began the process of integrating the local Azeryani population with the Heruli military presence. Local Azeryani nobles were allowed to keep their lands and titles and served as high-ranking civil administrators and also in military positions. By leaving the current power structure basically intact Gaiseric was able to keep the local nobility happy and on his side. In addition, by granting his armies land as payment in exchange for service he was able to greatly reduce the general tax burden so most of the lower and middle classes felt freer and financially more comfortable under his rule than they had been under the empire.

Since 676 the disparate populations have adjusted to each other and have just begun the process of merging. Currently there are still distinctly Azeryani elements to the population and also distinctly Heruli elements, though none who are still semi-nomadic, and a large body which is a combination of both traditions. The current ruler, Gundioc Vesing, styles himself as both King of the Heruli and King of Lankorium, though the former title is becoming less and less important. Most Lankorians no longer consider themselves part of the Azeryani Empire but rather subjects of the King of the Lankorium. The empire still considers Lankorium just a rebellious province, however.

Transfer of power is still a somewhat messy process when the current governor/king dies. Gaiseric died and was succeeded by a distant cousin, Gesalac also an Asding, after a lengthy power struggle. Gesalac managed to have his son inherit but Chlotar ruled only 6 years before being ousted by Gundioc Vesing, a highly placed general. Gundioc is still consolidating his position in an attempt to prevent suffering Chlotar's fate. He is actively courting the local Azeryani nobles and is also campaigning in neighboring areas as a way to keep the predominantly Heruli military busy and in line. As long as there is still some feeling that the area belongs to the empire he also must worry about highly placed Heruli from the core of the Azeryani Empire usurping his position.

Traditional Heruli clothing and equipment were very simple. Most wore simple woolen garments and cloaks, with some leather and furs. The weapons of choice were the spear, shield, and bow. However, as Azeryani influence grew clothing styles and choices and weapons reflected this change in preference. Currently only a few Heruli are distinguishable from those of Azeryani ancestry by either clothing or weapons. Most of the nobility are indistinguishable from the true Azeryani nobility in lifestyle, dress, etc. Badges of rank are mixed however, incorporating elements of traditional Heruli adornment with Azeryani military insignia. The bow has taken a more prominent role in the local military, a result of the Heruli influence. The local economy has many lingering effects of Heruli influence in that cattle and sheep herding are much more important than previously. Agriculture is still very important but is not the only agrarian staple as it was previously. Much of both local populations speaks both Low Azeryani and Heruli.

Heruli names are in the style of old Germanic Gothic/Langobardic/Frankish/Vandal names. July 16, 2001

This page was last updated on January 23, 2002
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