Krieger-FS
Warlord
With the confirmation of Nubia and Swahili for 1.18, and the possible later inclusions of Songhai, Kanem-Bornu, Nigeria, Boers, Zimbabwe, and maybe even Madagascar given the discussion in this thread (by the way, sorry to necro!), I’d like to discuss some polities and peoples that were influent on the continent history and may be interesting to include in some form for historical and gameplay purposes: the minor civs and special events for the new map!
Kano
Spawn: 700.
Represents the main Hausa city-state and later emirate (under Sokoto suzerainty), which was one of the most powerful centers in the region. It was contested, for long time, between Kanem-Bornu and Songhai, being a central hub in the trans-Saharan trade and one of the major cities in the area even today (is the second largest city in Nigeria). The inclusion of the city as an Independent spawn certainly would ensure the establishment of this canonical city in the region, making it more lively and inhabited, and also impose a barrier for any civs nearby.
Technically, we could argue that Kano could be part of an eventual Nigerian civ (if don’t represent only the southern Yoruba and Edo peoples/polities) or “included” as part of Kanem or Songhai to settle it if they are included later, but I think is better to represent them as an Indy spawn given Kano’s rich history, cultural uniqueness, and resistance against these empires.
Lunda Empire
Spawn: 1600.
One of the larger sub-Saharan polities in pre-colonial Africa, covering at their peak almost half of modern Congo-Kinshasha, east Angola and most of northern Zambia, the Lunda kingdom also was impressive given the length of their existence as an independent polity, from early-to-mid 17th until late 19th centuries. An heir of the older Luba Kingdom (which became vassal for some time), we could even argue for making Lunda a full fledge civ (I’ve found much info while reading to make the CNM suggestions and maybe later I’ll write a proposal here), but I think that the more appropriate representation would be an Indy or Native spawn of Musumba, their capital.
In game, the Lunda representation also would make the area livelier and serve as a “barrier” between the Atlantic and Indic coasts in Africa, as they did historically and thus limiting Congo expansion there. Another useful role that they can fulfill is as a more reliable source of slaves: historically, Lunda peoples and later states were victims of slaver raids that came from both west (to supply trans-Atlantic slave trade) and east (from Swahili city-states).
Sokoto Caliphate and Fulani Jihads
Spawn: Barbarian units from 1700 until 1900 and Sokoto in 1800.
The series of uprisings of Islamic jihadists (mostly by Fula people) reshaped West Africa in 18th and 19th century, weakening the old traditional empires/kingdoms and ensuring that a more fundamentalist version of Islam gained foot in the area, largely disrupting much of the more established religious syncretism there. Besides, these jihadists established a series of new polities that included Futa Toro, Futa Jallon, Massina Empire, Toucouleur Empire and the famous Sokoto Caliphate, the largest African kingdom during the Scramble of Africa.
In gameplay terms, a series of Barbarian and Sokoto (also as a Barby city) spawns could serve to severely weaken Mali and future civs there (Songhai and Kanem-Bornu, the last historically fought the jihadists and, while weakened, still manage to last almost one hundred years more), opening space for European colonialism, and ensure the region’s conversion to Islam (if not did before). It would be interesting that we could have some special units for the Barbarian spawn, representing specifically these Fula jihadists.
Mfecane
Spawn: Barbarian/Native units from 1800-1840.
Another regional reshaping event, this time in Southern Africa, that came by the widespread warfare and destruction and resulted in the formation of several new African kingdoms/chiefdoms in South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia. Historically, the event also had important consequences for the European colonies in the area: the Portuguese were almost expelled from large areas in modern Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia, which weakened even more their holdings in East Africa that eventually were taken by other Europeans, and opened space for Boer expansion on the devasted lands. Right now, the inclusion of Mfecane probably would not make much impact besides creating additional troubles for colonial powers, but it would be an interesting addition if we add a Zimbabwe and Boer civ there.
Loango Kingdom
Spawn: 1550.
Another lasting (until the Scramble of Africa) and regionally quite relevant kingdom on Congo basin, it became an important partner in trans-Atlantic slave trade. It could serve the purpose of making things more challenging to Congo and making things more diverse in Central Africa, even though these two kingdoms seem to have lived in relatively peaceful terms (Loango may have been a Congo vassal for some time, though they fought in some occasions, particularly in contested kingship successions). Either way, would be another form to avoid an isolate Congo there with the addition of Loango capital Bwali as an Indy city.
Jolof/Wolof Empire/Kingdom
Spawn: 1350.
Another important pre-colonial kingdom in Senegal, also lasting until the Scramble of Africa. Essentially, it would make the area less empty and also serve the gameplay purpose of creating a barrier between Mali and the sea with an Indy Lingeer (capital of Jolof). Thus, we make the contact and trade relations between Mali and Europeans (particularly in Middle Ages) more difficult ensuring that the civ remains slightly undeveloped in technological terms and exposed to Moorish invasions.
Kano
Spawn: 700.
Represents the main Hausa city-state and later emirate (under Sokoto suzerainty), which was one of the most powerful centers in the region. It was contested, for long time, between Kanem-Bornu and Songhai, being a central hub in the trans-Saharan trade and one of the major cities in the area even today (is the second largest city in Nigeria). The inclusion of the city as an Independent spawn certainly would ensure the establishment of this canonical city in the region, making it more lively and inhabited, and also impose a barrier for any civs nearby.
Technically, we could argue that Kano could be part of an eventual Nigerian civ (if don’t represent only the southern Yoruba and Edo peoples/polities) or “included” as part of Kanem or Songhai to settle it if they are included later, but I think is better to represent them as an Indy spawn given Kano’s rich history, cultural uniqueness, and resistance against these empires.
Lunda Empire
Spawn: 1600.
One of the larger sub-Saharan polities in pre-colonial Africa, covering at their peak almost half of modern Congo-Kinshasha, east Angola and most of northern Zambia, the Lunda kingdom also was impressive given the length of their existence as an independent polity, from early-to-mid 17th until late 19th centuries. An heir of the older Luba Kingdom (which became vassal for some time), we could even argue for making Lunda a full fledge civ (I’ve found much info while reading to make the CNM suggestions and maybe later I’ll write a proposal here), but I think that the more appropriate representation would be an Indy or Native spawn of Musumba, their capital.
In game, the Lunda representation also would make the area livelier and serve as a “barrier” between the Atlantic and Indic coasts in Africa, as they did historically and thus limiting Congo expansion there. Another useful role that they can fulfill is as a more reliable source of slaves: historically, Lunda peoples and later states were victims of slaver raids that came from both west (to supply trans-Atlantic slave trade) and east (from Swahili city-states).
Sokoto Caliphate and Fulani Jihads
Spawn: Barbarian units from 1700 until 1900 and Sokoto in 1800.
The series of uprisings of Islamic jihadists (mostly by Fula people) reshaped West Africa in 18th and 19th century, weakening the old traditional empires/kingdoms and ensuring that a more fundamentalist version of Islam gained foot in the area, largely disrupting much of the more established religious syncretism there. Besides, these jihadists established a series of new polities that included Futa Toro, Futa Jallon, Massina Empire, Toucouleur Empire and the famous Sokoto Caliphate, the largest African kingdom during the Scramble of Africa.
In gameplay terms, a series of Barbarian and Sokoto (also as a Barby city) spawns could serve to severely weaken Mali and future civs there (Songhai and Kanem-Bornu, the last historically fought the jihadists and, while weakened, still manage to last almost one hundred years more), opening space for European colonialism, and ensure the region’s conversion to Islam (if not did before). It would be interesting that we could have some special units for the Barbarian spawn, representing specifically these Fula jihadists.
Mfecane
Spawn: Barbarian/Native units from 1800-1840.
Another regional reshaping event, this time in Southern Africa, that came by the widespread warfare and destruction and resulted in the formation of several new African kingdoms/chiefdoms in South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia. Historically, the event also had important consequences for the European colonies in the area: the Portuguese were almost expelled from large areas in modern Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia, which weakened even more their holdings in East Africa that eventually were taken by other Europeans, and opened space for Boer expansion on the devasted lands. Right now, the inclusion of Mfecane probably would not make much impact besides creating additional troubles for colonial powers, but it would be an interesting addition if we add a Zimbabwe and Boer civ there.
Loango Kingdom
Spawn: 1550.
Another lasting (until the Scramble of Africa) and regionally quite relevant kingdom on Congo basin, it became an important partner in trans-Atlantic slave trade. It could serve the purpose of making things more challenging to Congo and making things more diverse in Central Africa, even though these two kingdoms seem to have lived in relatively peaceful terms (Loango may have been a Congo vassal for some time, though they fought in some occasions, particularly in contested kingship successions). Either way, would be another form to avoid an isolate Congo there with the addition of Loango capital Bwali as an Indy city.
Jolof/Wolof Empire/Kingdom
Spawn: 1350.
Another important pre-colonial kingdom in Senegal, also lasting until the Scramble of Africa. Essentially, it would make the area less empty and also serve the gameplay purpose of creating a barrier between Mali and the sea with an Indy Lingeer (capital of Jolof). Thus, we make the contact and trade relations between Mali and Europeans (particularly in Middle Ages) more difficult ensuring that the civ remains slightly undeveloped in technological terms and exposed to Moorish invasions.
Last edited:
