Culture and People of Moldavia
Moldavia is a land apart from the rest of Europe in terms of culture. The people of Moldavia and the surrounding lands of Wallachia (and in smaller quantities Jedisan and Transylvania) call themselves the Vlach. Though a number of invaders and nomads have roamed the Vlach homelands over the years, the most profound impacts left behind on the people were brought by the Romans and the Slavs. The language of the Vlach to this day is of a Latin root, and scholars from outside of the country have little difficulty learning the tongue provided they are well-versed in Latin before their arrival. Additionally, the transition to Vlach from French, Spanish, or Italian is simple and quick.
During the age of the Roman Empire, the Vlach lived in the Roman province of Dacia, and often served as auxiliaries in the Roman Army. Closer to the end of the Western Empire, full units of Vlach soldiers were incorporated into the Army proper, or attached to Visigoth forces, also from the area. After the fall of Rome and during the age of Byzantium, horsemen from the Vlach homelands made up significant portions of the Eastern Roman Army, including a number of soldiers in the famed Kataphraktoi. Many settlements were established in the Roman era, and the majority of them still stand in some form. Most simply retain the old street layout, but in some places, individual buildings have even been preserved.
The Slavic influence on Moldavia is centered more in the northeastern areas of the realm, such as Bujak. Place names in the north maintain a Slavic flavor from the times of Kievan Rus' dominance of the region. Here the Russian tongue is also common, though the vast majority speak Vlach as well. The influence of nomadic tribes such as the Mongols, Cumans, and Pechenegs is still felt all over the realm, particularly in the Wildlands. The deep forests and tall mountains of Moldavia shelter a startling array of independent Vlach tribes, nomadic and warlike in nature. Each tribe is led by a chieftain who is sovereign of his group. The majority of the tribes share a working agreement with the Voivode, where in exchange for their independence and the freedom to wander their lands unhindered, they will fight for Moldavia in times of war. The Voivode may also wield some influence over them, declaring certain roads used by traders off limits to any attacks. However, he has no guarantee the tribes will listen.
The Vlach are, by and large, an independent minded people, often called stubborn and headstrong. Many, if not most, would rather die than submit to another, particularly in areas of great personal importance, such as their independence, religion, or culture. This nature tends to make them extremely distrustful of Outlanders, or anyone not of Vlach descent, to the point of being rude, if not outright hostile. The Vlach have a tendency to take great pride both in themselves and what they do for a living, even simple occupations such as shepherding or farming are sources of pride. The attitude that makes them fierce warriors has also resulted in their being called barbarians, savages, poor hosts, and miserable spouses. Earning the respect of a Vlach is a difficult conquest, to earn the love of one is nigh on impossible for an Outlander. But once past the tough exterior, you will have a friend, or lover, for life.
Moldavian Folklore and Mythologies
The Vlach maintain that in a time long since forgotten, a great white wolf came down from the steppes, heavy with a litter. And in a secluded valley, she lay and gave birth to a number of pups. Some were gray, some were black, but one, and only one, was white. And this pup grew to become the strongest of all its brothers, and when the rest of the family moved on, this wolf stayed, lending its spirit and name to the people...Moldu'c.
Many Vlach also believe that when a Vlach dies, particularly a Vlach warrior, that a wolf is born. This belief descends from one that stated each Vlach spirit would return as a wolf, though the Christian church has managed to make inroads on this belief, tempering it to its current point. The color of the new wolf however will depend upon the nature of the Vlach who died; great warriors are often reborn in black, commoners in grey, and only the noblest and most powerful in white, in the image of Moldu'c himself.
Moldavian Heraldry
The Coat of Arms of Moldavia
An Explanation of the Various Symbols in the Coat of Arms:
The Aurochs Head - The head of the beast in the center is neither a bull nor an ox, but an aurochs, a large beast of pre-historic origins, known to roam the remote eastern regions of Europe. According to tales handed down in the oral tradition, the first Prince of the region, Dragos I, encountered a particularly large specimen of this beast while exploring the region before founding the Voivodeship of Moldavia. The great creature attacked, throwing the Voivode's wife from a cliff into the river Moldova. Dragos was so impressed, humbled, and pained by the display of awesome natural power, that following this incident he not only put the great beast's head in the coat of arms, but also gave the name of his wife's watery grave to the entire realm, and commissioned a statue of the scene in nearby Sucevita. Some Moldavians argue that the character of that great beast has since rubbed off on the Vlach. Many Outlanders would agree.
The Eight-Pointed Star - An ancient Dacian symbol of wisdom
The Flower and Crescent Moon - Dacian symbols of day and night, light and darkness
The Cross - Homage to the Orthodox Christian faith of the region
The Eagle - This is in fact an adaptation of the old Roman and Byzantine Eagles, a homage to the Roman heritage of the peoples of the region
The Olive Branch - A symbol of peace
The Sceptre - A symbol of sovereignty
The Armies of Moldavia
The Vlach have a strong military tradition that extends back centuries. As a result of the many influences that have crossed their lands, they have developed a unique troop composition and set of tactics. Overall, the Vlach favor mobility and surprise over heavy armor and shock, preferring to disrupt their enemies and remain out of reach until the enemy is disorganized enough for a killing blow.
A Moldavian Horse Archer
The Vlach have been perfecting the art of mounted archery for as long as any other race on the planet. In the days of the Roman Empire, the Vlach served first as auxiliary cavalry, most commonly as mounted archers. The waves of invaders that have drawn back and forth across their lands have exposed them to new tactics and ideas, all of which they have incorporated into their warfare eagerly.
The origins of horse archers lie in the time of Alexander the Great. For years, it was thought his hoplites and phalanxes were unstoppable, however it was eventually discovered by the Parthians that a trained and highly professional fast cavalry unit could be used against them effectively. By riding at the phalanx from the flanks, the unit could be disrupted and confused. If a large number of riders came at the unit from multiple angles, the hoplites would try to maneuver to meet all threats, leaving a number of openings to strike at. At this moment, the Parthians would fire arrows into their ranks using compound bows capable of punching through armor. Just before closing to within the range of the phalanx's weapons, the Parthian horsemen would turn around and ride away, turning backwards in their saddles to fire behind them, causing further damage as they departed. This disorganization and destruction could be followed by a heavy cavalry or infantry charge to wipe the phalanx from the field. These 'Parthian Tactics' gradually spread throughout the eastern world, ending the era of dominance enjoyed by the Hoplite.
While the Romans often used horse archers to disrupt dug-in foes or enemies behind shield-walls, the majority of their foes preferred disorganized charges, and so the need for the horse archer decreased dramatically. The next army to come through the Balkans with significant numbers of mounted archers was the Mongols. Though the Mongols sacked a number of cities, full occupation of the Vlach provinces proved impossible as both the Vlach and Mongol forces never met for an extended toe-to-toe battle, both striking and fading before the other could react. From the Mongols, the Vlach took hit and run tactics, and the infamous 'feigned retreat', where a presumably routing unit of Moldavians could draw an over-eager enemy unit out of a strong defensive position and into a trap.
The Vlach tribes of the mountains are primarily horse archers, and when the Voivode musters the tribes the Moldavian ranks become primarily horse archers as well. These units are armed with compound bows, light chain or heavy leather armor, small bucklers worn over the left hand, and often a spear and/or sword in case close-quarters fighting becomes necessary. The wealthier among the horse archers often wear silk shirts under their armor as well, another trick learned from the Mongols. When an arrow penetrates their armor, it will twist up in the silk instead of penetrating it, thus significantly reducing the damage the projectile causes when removed.
A Heavy Foot Archer
The Heavy Foot Archers make up a very small part of the field army, but are often used as castle garrisons. Armed with longer compound bows than their mounted counterparts, they are capable of launching armor piercing strikes at long ranges. Conscious of their lack of mobility, they wear heavier chain or scale armor, particularly when serving as castle guards where mobility is not as much of an issue.
Infantryman
The infantry forms the core of the Voivode's personal army. With so many horse archers available for muster, the Voivode must provide a unit to make up for their deficiencies. The infantry's job is not to overpower or break the enemy, but rather to pin them, tying the opposing forces down and anchoring the fight in a position the Moldavian cavalry and horse archers can then turn to their advantage. Armed with a long spear (significantly lighter than the much longer pike), a small shield, a sword as a sidearm in case of emergencies, and moderately heavy chain armor, the Moldavian Infantryman is well suited to a mobile battle-field.
The Fighting Orders of Moldavia
Knight of the Order of Moldu'c
The fighting Knights of the Order of Moldu'c are a relatively new arrival to the army, established during the Great War of Liberation against Venice. The finest warriors and greatest heroes of the war, each of the 32 Knights of the Order is a highly skilled killer in heavy armor. The absolute elite of the Moldavian armed forces, they wear black heavy armor and always have their helmets on and visors down when serving in their official capacity. The Order maintains that the Order itself is more important than any individual knight therein, and so the identity of a specific knight may never be known. While there are obvious exceptions to this, such as the Voivode or the previous knights who train the new ones, as well as their squires, the vast majority of people will never know the identity of even one of the Knights of the Order. Membership in the Order is the highest honor any Vlach warrior can receive, and is one only granted to the absolute best of the Moldavian knights. Years of service, combat experience, and particular bravery or heroism are all required.
Additionally, honorary membership in the Order of Moldu'c is granted to those individuals performing a great service to the Moldavian throne.
Honorary Members of the Order of Moldu'c
Sultan Akbe Mohammed - The Liberation of Dobrudja
Grand Prince Boris Aleksandrovich (Posthumous) - The Liberation of Dobrudja
Lup Fantoma
The Lup Fantomas are an ancient order established early in the history of the Voivodeship. Serving as the Elite Guards of the Voivode, they are also often tasked with watching over visiting dignitaries. However, as opposed to obvious guards, the Lup Fantomas, or Ghost Wolves, watch their charges from the shadows and afar, not letting those they guard know of their presence. This same skill makes them gifted assassins, and it is said that no one knows the city of Iasi, especially by night, as well as a Lup Fantoma. Rooftops, walls, and shadows are their usual domain, and for these duties they often wear light leather armor and cloaks to camoflauge themselves. However they have often ridden to war along with the Voivode, and in these instances bear heavier arms and armor, serving as footsoldiers in his elite sections.
However, the skill of the Lup Fantomas comes at a grave price. Two Voivodes have been slain by their own Lups, the first Iuga Ologul and the second Ilias I. While Iuga was commonly thought of as a tyrant, usurper, and oppressor, and his destruction served as a great service to the people of Moldavia, Ilias was slain in a blind quest for power by a traitorous rogue Lup. The same man, Mihai Litovoi, a cousin of the Voivodes and son to Alexandru cel Bun's older brother who had been denied the throne, attempted to slay Stefan II but failed due to the timely interventions of Prince Ivan Ostrov of Pskov-Novgorod, Rodrigo de Braganza of Portugal, Conte Gilles du Foegeres, and Princess Maia Litovoi. His escape was then foiled by Dimitru Getrescu, who slew him.
Fortifications
Castle Iasi
The Vlach have a great deal of natural assistance in the building of their fortifications, and they use as much as they can to their advantage. Their castles are often built high on hill- or mountaintops, with long, winding, narrow roads through various rocky passes on the approach. In times of war, the Vlach will establish a series of roadblocks on these passes, mostly rocks or fallen trees, to slow the advance of armies and siege engines. While the army attempts to clear the path, Vlach archers will harass them, then retreat when significant resistance is brought upon them or the roadblock is cleared.
The steep mountain faces around the castle make it very difficult for opposing armies to set up trebuchets or catapults within range of the castle, and with the difficulty of getting rams up the roads, assaults become impractical and sieges necessary. The stone, mined from the Carpathians, is usually of excellent quality and combined with a stodgy build, makes the castle able to withstand quite a lot of damage.
A Vlach castle is built for defense, not for extravagance or recreation. As such, the building can be cold, drafty, impersonal, or bleak to visitors used to luxury. However, as in all things, the Vlach take great personal pride in the castles they've built, and often demean the less defensible, more heavily decorated and lavish castles of their wealthier counterparts. This is not to say that the Vlach castles are totally unpleasing to the eyes. A great deal of effort is put into making the structures imposing and pleasing in their look. But first priority is always defense.
