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3070 BC turn
Great turmoil has caused distress in the Assyrian Court, and a few heads have rolled.
The struggle for power continued behind the scenes during the last decade, and the influence of different factions has seen quite a few changes. The warfactions thought they had it their way when they succesfully pushed for the sacking of Tarsus, and they thought to have a puppet on the Throne in Mandaru. But they were wrong. Mandaru had acknoledged the threat Tarsus posed to Assyria, but he knew war was not a goal in itself, but only a means to secure the eternal Assyrian lands. He eagerly accepted the mediation of his Egyptian brother, Pharaoh Ramesses II, and he pushed actively for a settlement with the Hatte. This to the great dismay of the warfactions, headed by the great warrior Deth Tual.
When negotiations took a big step forward with the dispatch of a negotiator to Hattusas, and the envoy send was picked from the southern tribes who had opposed the militairy campaign against the Hittites, Deth called upon his fellow tribesmen from the north and many meetings were held. In secret, they thought…
When news came from the Hatte capital that the house of Tanelorn was no longer in power, Deth smiled, as he was confident that the ruler of the Hatte was disposed of in the turmoil that must have disrupted the Hittite society following the outbreak of hostilities with Assyria, and he was sure the war would last long, and great booty lay waiting for him in the many Hittite cities. His armies would grow strong, and when the war would be over, his powerfull troops would return triumphantly to Nineveh, and they would surely bring him to power.
How wrong would his assesment prove to be.
Power in Hatta was ceded to the house of Staybow when the last heir of the Tanelorns had to abdicate for health reasons, at the point where an agreement had practically been reached on the spheres of influence between Assyria and Hatta. Pharaoh's mediation had allowed for an honourable peace, where the loot from Tarsus would return, and the recently captured slaves in southern Assyria would be send to Hatta to compensate for the loss of the Hittite settlement. For this, the Hatte would acknoledge the Assyrian sovereignty over the city radius of Ishkandaroun, and the river Seyhan that is the lifeline of the city.
The new King of the Hatte quickly settled the minor details of the agreement, and soon oxen-carts were seen leaving the Royal Treasury, bound for Hattusas.
Furious that his plans were being obstructed, Deth went to the Royal Palace with his bodyguards to demand the anullment of the cease-fire by Mandaru. Unfortunate for him, his loyal troops were well away from the capital, allready celebrating the loot they were going to get when they crossed the border north of Karkemish, and Mandaru, not quite the fool he was thought to be, had ordered his Palace Guards to be on full alert ever since he had had word of Deth's secret meetings. When Mandaru defended his honourable peace with the Hatte, Deth could not control himself, and he hurled himself on the Assyrian King, a poisoned dagger in his hand. Though a proud and experienced warrior, he was no match for the Guards that had stood close to the Throne, and Deth never made it near Mandaru. He was thrown off his feet, and fell on the dagger meant for the King. Within seconds, Deth died an agonizing death, and his loyals were swifly overwhelmed, and later that day executed for high treason.
The northerners had been dealt a terrible blow, and many of the posts they held among the advisors of the King were now being transfered to southereners, most notably that on militairy and foreign affairs.
Armies were being recalled, and the training of new troops halted. Ordered weaponry from the artisans in the empire were thrown on big piles, and good use for them will have to be found, now that they have become obsolete. Maybe the spearshafts can be used as timber? Maybe the timber can even be traded within or outside the empire? What a waste, the southerners say, but maybe a profit can still be made?
Thus has ended the Northern War.
An open message to the Kings of Persia, Hatta, Babylonia and Egypt:
King Mandaru is contemplating to send out Assyrian traders to the four corners of the world. To establish demand for Assyrian goods, Assyrian troops will be send into your respectives territories. We ask to all of you if this is acceptable, and if any retrictions will apply to Assyrian troops in your territory.
events
Tribesmen in the far east shared with us their knowledge on an advanced barter system. Assyrian scolars are looking for ways to implement this idea into the Assyrian economy.
At the same time, in the pivotal town of Dibshiya, the governour has set up a barter system of his own, drawing many traders to the central sqaure, and increasing the revenues on the local taxes. The state Treasury in Nineveh benefit accordingly.
Assyrian Charioteers meet Persian scouts in the far north. The setting of this encounter was very fortunate. The magnificent scenery, the refreshing source of the Euphrates river and the abundant prescence of grapes in the surrounding hills all contributed to a relaxed atmosphere, and the brothers-in-arms shared many stories about their travels in these lands. They camped side by side for many days and nights.
tableaux in the Royal Palace artists depicts the meeting
The Charioteers have told the Persians that if they travel further west, they may encounter the Assyrian city of Karkemish. They are welcome to the ciy, but they should leave any irrigated fields free for Assyrian citizens to work on.
Many roads are under construction or have been finished. Having a militairy purpose at first, these roads will benefit trade as well, and they will allow for swift transport of slaves and goods to the north. The north will long suffer from the infamy their shegh Deth Toal has brought upon them, but they will forever benefit from the (militairy) infrastructure build there over the last decade.
Troops - do you mean chariots, noble leader?
Unfortunately, nobody can help me make sense out of where previous dynasties placed cities. And why did Kull have to start the capital one tile away from a sweet spot?
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