Khiyzan

Khiyzan

Three Khiyzan women dressed in various traditional styles.
Total population
~528,000
Regions with significant populations
Ruvelka	~489,000
Syara	~21,000
Arkoenn	~18,000
Languages
Khiyzan language
Religion
Limanism Vilageism Zobethos

The Khiyzan (Khiyzan: Խիձանը; Ruvelkan: Kayzán; Ruvelkan Script: Űiḫủáṵ) are an ethnic group native to central Siduri with the majority of the Khiyzan poplace currently residing in eastern Ruvelka along the Ruvelkan-Arkoennite border. The Khiyzan originally inhabited a shifting area along the Kaspar River in west-central Arkoenn where they often involved themselves in minor political affairs of the Mansuri, Tennaite, and Ruvelkan peoples. Amongst their neighbors, the Khiyzan were known as fierce nomadic warriors of the central Siduri steppe and for a short time exerted influence throughout their geographic region.

Although closely related to the Arkoennites, their rivalry over the supremacy of what would become Arkoenn culminated into the formation of the Khiyzan Confederation and eventually open conflict in the late-1100s. By the 1270s, a series of major defeats against the Arkoennites and their allies greatly reduced the political power of the Khiyzan, pushing them further and further north. Most of what remained of the Khiyzan eventually sought asylum with the Grand Duchy of Vysocsina and the Principalities of Bács-Kiskun and Nagykun where they eventually permanently settled through the signing of the Treaty of Nagykanizsa.

When the Arkoennites invaded the Ruvelkan states, the Khiyzan rallied to assist in the defense of the Ruvelkans although their coalition would also be overwhelmed and defeated after several years of continuous fighting. By the 1700s and following the fall of Arkoenn’s Empire, the Khiyzan peoples had become well integrated into the society of the southeastern Ruvelkan Kingdoms and Duchies.

Etymology

The origin of the name “Khiyzan” is disputed. While it can be roughly translated or understood as “Owl” in similar dialects, it is not a completely accurate rendition. It is speculated that the adoption of an avian-related name, specifically a bird of prey, can be traced to the religious significance of owls in Limanism.

History

Origins

Political Organization

The geographical area inhabited by the Khiyzan consisted primarily of dozens of loosely connected nomadic tribes. While this represented a unified military force, none of these clans were originally politically united by a central power with each khan and chieftain acting on their own initiative. In their early history, the lack of a Khiyzan state is hypothesized to have limited the overall effectiveness of their military potential and it is speculated that had the future Khiyzan Confederation been created earlier, the Khiyzan could have contested or even defeated the Arkoennites for political supremacy. Ruvelkan historian Arnold Kelemen, however, argues that the dominance of more unified nation-states such as the Makedonian Empire and Rideva Empire would have made the development of a unified Khiyzan state relatively unlikely.

The Khiyzan were never truly unified against either the Makedonians or the Ridevans who were both content with leaving the relatively resource-scarce steppes the Khiyzan inhabited to the devices of the nomadic peoples. Historically, many nations of the time also hired and bribed Khiyzan to act as mercenaries and irregular forces for their armies. As the Khiyzan Confederation only came about as a result of a singular greater threat to the existence of the Khiyzan as a whole, it is believed that the Makedonian unwillingness to subjugate them and instead incorporate them as part of the Empire’s military helped to stave off the greater possibility of a Khiyzan rebellion.

Relationship with the Makedonian Empire

The Khiyzan and Makedonians first began encountering one another in the 230s BCE as the Makedonians began to expand their influence past the Kurilla and Matra mountains of present-day Ruvelka. The relationship between Makedon and the clans of the Khiyzan varied greatly from peaceful to antagonistic; historians often describe the first few decades of relations between the two as a low-intensity conflict as it was not uncommon for Khiyzan clans to raid the border territories of the Empire while, in-turn, other clans would be hired to defend them.

War with Arkoenn

Formation of the Khiyzan Confederation

Main article: Khiyzan Confederation

Culture

As with most nomadic tribes of the Arkoennite steppe, horses were central to the Khiyzan culture and way of life. The practice of riding and training horses is a traditional skill that was consistently handed down from generation to generation and many young Khiyzan, boys and girls, were taught at an early age to ride. Animal husbandry was a significant practice of their culture and they were known to raise horses, sheep, goats, camels, and cattle; selling and trading animals and animal products was the Khiyzan’s main form of trade. During the summer the Khiyzan would migrate northward and would return south in the winter months. The traditional diet of the Khiyzan consisted of millet and meat soups, beers, and breads.

After the expansion of the Makedonian Empire across Siduri, many Khiyzan would adopt semi-settled lifestyles which would include farming, blacksmithing, furriery, shoemaking, saddle-making, and clothes-making. Other forms of making a living for Khiyzan included questing and raiding with their tribe, which became less prevelant as employment with the various empires of Siduri became more acceptable and common place. It was often culturally frowned upon to serve in a defensive garrison as long-term service in such a role would result in a loss of skill as cavalry and the Khiyzan were poor infantry.

When travelling, Khiyzan used covered wagons to transport supplies. Wooden laths were attached to their wagons or carried on top and could be attached to wagons when they needed to stop and rest. The windows of these wagon tents were fabricated in such a way that it was difficult to see inside but easy to see out. There were very strict rules against theft in Khiyzan culture and, as a result, it was common for tribe and clans to allow their horses, camels, and livestock to graze without shepherds or guards. If it was necessary to cover a great distance without stopping, the Khiyzan would attach feeding sacks to the bridles of their horses. Khiyzan warriors were known to go on campaign with little baggage and could carry everything they needed.

Familial ties were held in high regard within Khiyzan society. Groups of families formed tribes, which were led by chieftains, and groups of tribes formed clans, led by khans. Clans lived together in nomadic, easily movable settlements which enabled the Khiyzan to migrate when necessary. Most tribes were named after animals or leaders of clans. Individual names were often descriptive, representing a personal trait or idea. Confederations between clans were common and often governed by charismatic ruling houses, but most of these confederations were short-lived. Most clans acted independent of each other and commonly had opposing policies that would often bring clans into conflict. It is commonly understood that this early focus on clan-based independence was a major contributing factor to the inability of the Khiyzan to unify.

The Khiyzan are known to be a handsome people with dark hair, fair skin, and green or blue eyes. Attire for Khiyzan included sleeveless sheepskin vests that were usually worn with bracers. Underneath the vest, was a short or long-sleeved tunic or tabard. Clothes were mostly white with deep crimson accents for decoration. Men wore trousers and kaftans fastened by belts with pointed conical felt and leather hats. In Khiyzan tradition, men were often hunters and fighters with leadership being determined by ones martial skill. The position of a clan’s Khan was primarily reserved for men, but there are records of women serving as Khans.

Khiyzan women historically had a well-known reputation for their beauty and were considered very desirable by the aristocracy of the Makedonian Empire and later the Ruvelkan principalities. Women wore kaftans as well as pants and dresses, but attire for women would commonly differ depending on the clan’s traditions. Headwear for women varied by Clan as well as an individual’s role, most women often wore intricately decorated headbands with their hair loose or in a single braid. Traditionally, women also braided colored ribbons into their hair and depending on the color, this would also denote an individual’s status or role in the clan. Women were very well respected in Khiyzan society; they would often ride a horse or a wagon while men walked and could be seen fighting beside their fellow male warriors.

Military Tactics

The Khiyzan fought as a mixture of varying types of cavalry although they became primarily known for their heavy cavalry by the early 100s CE. Under Makedonian employment, many Khiyzan riders gained access to better armor and weaponry which were quickly adapted to suit their expertise on horseback. Khiyzan were expert horse archers and much of their light cavalry were best utilized in support of their harder hitting heavy cavalry companions.

The weaponry of the Khiyzan consisted of a very wide variety, but common weapons included flails, war hammers, backswords, and heavy spears often accompanied with a circular or almond shaped shield. In terms of armor, Khiyzan wore short-sleeved mail armor, lamellar armor, a leather cuirass, shoulder spaulders, and a conical or dome shaped helmet that may have also had a chain camail. Leather or felt disks were sometimes attached to the chest or back to help strengthen their protection. Khiyzan mounts were equally as well protected, often consisting of mail or lamellar barding.

Charging an enemy with alternating waves was a common battle tactic for Khiyzan heavy cavalry as a galloping, heavily armored horse was equally as lethal as the armament their riders carried. In between waves, the Khiyzan would employ their light cavalry archers to cause further damage, physical and psychological, before another heavy cavalry charge would begin. To maintain this tactic, the Khiyzan kept large numbers of reserve horses to replace fatigued ones, thereby always making a fresh horse available.

In the late-12th century, the Khiyzan began employing the use of hand cannons as part of their battle doctrine beginning with Clan Kherlen. The first recorded use of gunpowder weaponry being used by the Khiyzan is a historical account of the Battle of Dubroi which was fought between the forces of Clan Kherlen under Damira Khan and several tribes of the growing Arkoennite Empire. The usage of “Thunder Cavalry”, as they were named, was considered a force multiplier that allowed the significantly outnumbered Khiyzan to even the odds. Clan Kherlen, under Damira, would later go on to unify the Khiyzan Clans into the Khiyzan Confederation.

Religion

Main article: Limanism

The Khiyzan people are primarily practitioners of Limanism, a shamanistic religion that is believed to have originated in west-central Arkoenn, with smaller minorities of Khiyzan who practice the Ruvelkan religion of Vilageism and the Makedonian religion of Zobethos.

The Limanist belief system is monotheistic with worship centered around the sky goddess Limani. Shaman of the religion were traditionally women, but on some occasion men were also known to have fulfilled the role. In the Khiyzan language, shaman are known as Kam for men and Kam Katun for women; while the practice of consulting a shaman is commonplace, even in the modern era, Khiyzan believe the prophecies told by shaman are always understood as flexible as shaman are only interpreters of Limani’s will and incapable of truly deciphering what exactly her intentions are.

Animals play an important role in Limanist beliefs and their relationship with the Khiyzan, particularly in the past, are of great importance. Among the revered animals of the Khiyzan are horses, wolves, dogs, and bees. Birds are considered the sacred animals to the Khiyzan. Terms for death and the afterlife can be roughly translated as “flying away” and “nesting”; it is a commonly held belief that the souls of the departed take the form of a bird. Funerals in Limanist practices involve cremating the body of the deceased as it is believed that by doing so it allows one’s soul to enter the spiritual realm.

Gallery

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  Damira Khan; founder of the Khiyzan Confederation and its first IlKhan.

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  Eliska Hanáková, Ruvelka's Chief of the Imperial Staff, is of Khiyzan and Hayeren descent.