The Kingdom of Kush
Nubia? Meroe? Kushites? The Kingdom of Kush? Aethiopians? So many names and terms for a region, a region misunderstood, misconceived and shrouded in confusion. First of all, to clear things up, the proper name for this faction is the Kingdom of Kush, their adjective is Kushites, and Meroe was their capital city during classical antiquity, the period of Ancient Empires. Nubia is a western term for the entire region south of Egypt and doesn't directly relate to the Kushites, and Aethiopian is simply the Greek word for black people (Aethiopian literally meaning burnt face).
But who were the Kushites? The Kushites were an African people inhabiting the region that is now Sudan, they had a civilisation which spanned for over 1000 years from 1070 BC–AD 350, they were people who built cities, temples, and pyramids. They had an organised military, laws and administration. This civilisation was old, the previous civilisation, called Kerma Culture, grew up alongside Ancient Egypt. The Kingdom of Kush had a long historical cultural connection with Ancient Egypt, and at one period the Kushites managed to rule all of Egypt, establishing the 25th Egyptian Dynasty. Egyptian and Kushite culture became entwined and there are many parallels. You'll see in Kushite architecture, statues and wall reliefs an extreme Egyptian influence, and as time went on the Egyptians became ruled by Persians and Greeks and losing their culture, but that culture continued, isolated down in the Kushite Lands. However that culture was not entirely Egyptian, the Kushites had their own Gods and cultural quirks, for example they were often ruled by a Queen, called the Kandake or Candace, rather than a King, and eventually they switched from writing in Egyptian hieroglyphs to their own script, which is still not deciphered. The Kushites occasionally made attacks on Ptolemaic Egypt, and later Roman Egypt. Eventually the Romans and Kushites came to blows, with the Kushites claiming some early victories, but ultimately resulting in the Romans sacking one of their important cities, Napata. However the Kushites must have been significant enough threat to the Romans as they conceded to Kushite demands and gave them a large part of southern Roman Egypt. Famously, the Kushite ambassadors on presenting Augustus Caesar with a bundle of golden arrows said "This gift is from the Candace. If you want peace, this is a token of her warmth and friendship. If you want war, keep the arrows because you are going to need them.” Economically the Kushites traded in exotic goods from the heart of Africa, as well as overland trade in incense from the horn of Africa. They were also involved heavily in the elephant trade, even building a gigant elephant stables for the training and storage of elephants. Eventually for reasons not quite understood the Kingdom of Kush began to decline in the 2nd century AD, perhaps due to rise of Christianity resulting in a decrease in the desire for exotic goods. By 350AD the Kingdom had more or less declined into non existence, and the final blow was struck when the now Nobadians from the west settled there, and the rising Axumites of the south captured the region.
Militarily the Kushites primary weapon was the bow. The Kushites used a composite longbow. Most composite bows are short, and make up for their small size by being more powerful due to the composite materials, and inversely most longbows are a single piece of wood and get their strength from their length. The Kushite bow was both, this made it extremely powerful, with a very long range. Though not all Kushites were archers, citizens would be levied into units of spearmen, and the rural citizens would fight like more traditional warriors. Cavalry wasn't too common but still saw use, and war elephants were used as well. In general the Kushites were very light on armour, only the Royal Guard would use full armour, the majority would use no armour, and those wealthy enough would have simply scale armoured tops or front cuirasses, helmets were quite rare as well. Padded caps and clothing seem to have been moderately common. The swords which they used seem to have been inspired by Greek or Roman designs, but many of the less civilised Kushites would simply use wooden clubs. The throwing club was also a popular hunting weapon which could be used in warfare, taking the place of the javelin. The Kushite military was quite organised, citizens would be levied into spear or archer units, and an elite Royal guard of infantry and cavalry was maintained. Kushites from the rural less civilised areas were also raised to fight if needed. Beyond that, the Kushite influence extended south into the African interior, and they would have been able to recruit these much more primitive but fierce African warriors. Overall the real Kushite are a far cry from the simple topless tribal spearmen that are usually portrayed, and instead an organised civilised force with a rich cultural history.
The units.
As usual with my units, i have broken them down into their social structure. Much of the visuals you will see in these units was created from scratch for this faction.
Kushite Archers, Levy and Militia Spearmen.
Hailing from the Urbanites of the Kushite Kingdom, these men are levied into units of archers. The Kushite are natural and famous archers, however these urbanites are not quite as skilled as their countryside counterparts, especially in melee. Nonethless their extremely powerful composite longbows will make any enemy take caution before them. The Spearmen are not particularly well trained but provide a good mass of men to hold the line in battle. If a militia is set up, their training and equipment improves.
Kushite Nobles
The Kushite nobility where the wealthiest men in the state, apart from the Royal family. With this they were able to afford good armour and equipment, of the local variety. This tended to be lightweight scale armour or occasionally a native bronze front cuirass. They fight with sword and shield, but being Kushites they take their bows into battle as well.
Kushite Light and Medium Cavalry
You had to be a wealthy man to own a horse in the kushite lands. In the medieval period the region becomes famous for its heavy cavalry and Knights, but in this period cavalry is something of a rarity. Though it still exists, initially in the light form, men not quite willing to risk their precious steeds in direct combat, and eventually in the form of regular medium cavalry ridden by wealthy armour wearing elites.
Kushite Elephants
For the Greeks, east Africa became an important source of War elephants, especially when the Indian trade dried up. The Kushites capitalised on this and became experienced elephant trappers, they even built a huge elephant stables. If the Kushites could train and sell war elephants, then they could also use them in battle.
Kushite Royal Guards and Royal Cavalry
The Kushite Royalty had a professional bodyguard of elite soldiers. These soldiers wore the best equipment you could get in the region, which tended to be a full dress of scale amour. They also use the distinctive kushite helmet, and the cavalry have flowing red banners on their spears. This elite force comprises just about the only heavy infantry available to the Kushites.
Kushite Warriors and Bowmen.
The men of the Kushite Kingdom not living in its cities and towns tend to be more traditional and typical of the older Kushite culture. They still sport the large earrings of old and the unkempt hair, while wearing animal skins. The Warriors prefer melee combat and make use of wooden clubs, a deadly underestimated weapon. They also use a traditional hunting weapon, the throwing stick, essentially a large heavy club, it can be thrown to lethal effect. The Bowmen of the rural Kushites are also typical of the older Kushite culture. There are probably no finer archers in the ancient world, they were said to be able to target the individual eyes of enemy soldiers, and their bows were so powerful that the Persians were apparently unable to even draw back the string. This gives them extremely long range, but they are also still moderately capable in melee.
Kushite Swordsmen
As the Kushite Kingdom advanced it would have had increasing contact with the Hellenistic and Roman world. Naturally some ideas would be passed over to the Kushite, the primary one being the adoption of the Thureos shield, which the majority of the Ancient world went on to adopt.
Kushite Warlord
In the rural areas of the Kushite Kingdom, administrative control is less common, and local leadership falls under local Warlords, loyal to the Royal family, but with their own following of troops from their particular area.
African Warriors, African Spearmen, African Archers.
From the unknown and seemingly unending land that is the African interior, come hordes of Africans troops, either under Kushite influence or lured by the prospects and pay and adventure. While primitive in equipment, such as the use of stone spears, they are full of warrior spirit and bravery. There are three broad types of troops, Spearmen and archers make up the bulk of the levy, but also self proclaimed warriors in fierce warpaint who provide the best troops.
New Equipment.
This faction required much new custom made weapons, armour and equipment. Here is a selection of just some of the new items. All of it is historically sourced, from archeology and the hundreds of reliefs the Kushites left for us. I'd like to thank LinusLinothorax of the Vae Victis team as his research was instrumental in creating this faction roster.
Longbows
Body armour
Earrings
Greaves
Hairstyles
Spear Banners
Horse Armour
Quivers
Helmets
Spears
Throwing Sticks
Credits
LinusLinothorax of Vae Victis Mod - Provided nearly all the research used to make this faction, without him it would have come out very differently.
Fall of the Eagles - For some of their black skins which were very useful
Divide et Imperia - As usual we have used some of their assets
[UNITS] The Kingdom of Kush
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Originally Posted by LinusLinothorax
Can't wait to play as them 
