I’ve found myself in some down time so I thought I would try my hat at another TL. Firstly, a tip of my hat to Napoleon for some initial inspiration. Secondly, I have very little knowledge of the Semitic languages so I apologies if the names ruin any sense of realism. Lastly, this is basically a test run to see if the idea will fly before I devote any length of time to its continuation – so, please, hit me with those comments.
Enjoy.
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The history of the Children of Da’ud begins in Egypt. Though what we are as a people goes back even further the events in Egypt mark our place in history. In the third year of Pharaoh Rameses III the glory that had been the Egyptian empire was waning. Libu tribes pressed in from the west. A coalition of nomadic sea faring tribes attacked the coast. Nubia was in unrest. The Asiatic provinces were only tenuously under control. Perhaps most troubling to the king was the civil struggle in the heartland of the nation – priests and followers of Amun battling those of Aten (a legacy left over from Akhenaten and Merenptah reigns). Then in the fifth year of this power-struggle came a major slave revolt, year one of our people (OTL 1178BC).
The years under King Da’ud (1AE – 40AE):
Year one: Da’ud, a slave – a carpenter by trade, was a captive of Memphis. Over the preceding years he had organized a quiet revolt (mostly in the guise of imperfect work causing many a public project to collapse). It is in this year that he gathered his people (all those who would follow him) and under the dark of an empty moon fled the city. The absence of nearly six thousand slaves did not go unnoticed but despite demands from nobles and merchants Rameses did little – sending out only one scouting party to track the escapees (the besieged pharaoh saw the exodus as a small blessing as there had been signs of a major slave revolt and so took the peaceful fleeing and concentrated on other more important issues plaguing his empire).
Tensions between the various tribes soon drove away the feeling of unity and during most of the first year of First Exodus Da’ud held his people together with vague promises and charisma.
Da’ud raids Egyptian cities and battles local militias.
The voice of the nobles could not go unheard forever and eventually the pharaoh was forced to send a small contingent of foot soldiers and chariots to retrieve the slaves.
The battle of the Red Sea. Luck and the fatal flaw of underestimating the slave army helped Da’ud lead his people to a victory along the banks of the Red Sea (a number of weapons and chariots were captured). News of this defeat slowly drifted back to Memphis but by the time any effort was made to send out a second army Da’ud had convinced his people that their salvation rested outside of Egypt and led his people across the Sinai.
Early in the second year of the Exodus they came to the land of Canaan – currently occupied by a collection of people that have come to be called the Philistines (recent arrivals to the area ~50 years). Their control over a collection of cities along the coast marked the epicenter of the weakening Egyptian grasp in the area. The slave army was not a welcomed sight and several battles would ensue over the next year.
The Seranim of Gaza sent his militia against Da’ud, the army was handily defeated and Gaza was raided for supplies.
The battle of Ashkelon came soon after and although the battle was a draw Da’ud and his people was forced to withdraw from the field (not without some spoils: three fishing ships among that which was looted).
Over the next few months Da’ud helped his semi-nomadic people establish Mash’ab between Ashkelon and Ashdod. Da’ud next sent missions to Seranim Makarioa of Ashdod. Initially these offers of truce and peace were rebuffed and Da’ud now faced the combined force of Ashkelon and Ashdod. The battle of Mash’ab was Da’ud first defeat, the town was lost, and his people once again captured. For a time they became slaves of Ashdod and if not for Rameses army that is perhaps where they would have stayed.
Year three brought war to the Asiatic. Rameses III succumbed to pressure from his nobles (and seeing this as a long over due move to reign in his Asiatic cities) and sent a second army to reclaim the land and his slaves. When Makarioa heard of this army he and the other Philistines cities collected their forces to finally throw off the yoke of Egypt. Impressed by what he was told about Da’ud and his people at the battle of Gaza, Ashkelon, and even the defeat at Mash’ab Makarioa formed his new slaves into the front ranks of his army (Da’ud and his people were willing to do battle once more with their former masters – and perhaps earn their place in Ashdod as citizens). At the two major battles of Gaza and Gath and during several subsequent encounters Da’ud and his people distinguished themselves coming to be known as elite units of spear, sling, and bowmen.
The Philistine war would continue through Da’ud’s fourth and fifth year as the nominal king of a disenfranchised people. Eventually “The Sea People”, which the Philistine cities were a part of, launched a sea borne assault on the delta. The incursion that brought raids as far inland as Upper Egypt and put Memphis under siege for three months, would end the war and further tip Egypt into civil war (though actual strife between factions would be another five years in the making). The Philistine war did manage to endear Da’ud to Seranim Makarioa who granted the La’adamah (what Da’ud’s people were now calling themselves) a small segment of territory north of Askdod on which to settle. Though grateful for what the La’adamah did for the Philistine city-states during the war with Egypt what Makarioa was really doing was settling a buffer city between Ashdod and the Phoenician city-states. Though both territories cooperated often during sea raids of other lands, and during Phoenicians periodic battles with the Hittites (whose power had greatly weakened in recent years), it was always best to mind your neighbors.
Tel Aviv (a little south of OTL) was officially founded a few months later when the first mud brick homes were built. The city became a trading center between the Philistines and the Phoenicians being much wealth. Within a couple of years temples began to be built – the first being dedicated to Dagon. All was not peaceful for the La’adamah for throughout Da’ud’s reign his people were called upon to fight many battles. The first actions came along the eastern stretches of the Philistine city-states against nomadic incursions (which would eventually leave a lasting mark on Da’ud’s people). Raids against Egypt also continued, mostly via the sea, where the La’adamah gained another name for their people. As well as being masters of projectile weapons they were now known as sailors to be feared. In fact in the twelfth year of Da’ud’s kingship construction was completed on Tel Aviv’s first shipwright.
Also at this time Egypt erupted into bloody civil war (c.1165BC). This eventually leads to two separate dynasties leading Egypt – the houses of Thebes and the houses of Amarna; a status quo which will last for the next hundred years.
In the year 25AE (1153BC) Da’ud began his own raids against the floundering city-states of the Mycenaean people. This initially caused a great deal of tension between Tel Aviv and Askdod (the people of which held a kinship with the Mycenaeans). Eventually the prospect of greater wealth overwhelmed the aged Makarioa sense of fealty and the raids fell under his command (a changing of the guard Da’ud had little choice but to comply with).
In 30AE Makarioa died (of natural causes) and passed Askdod to his son Mikolad.
In 32AE Seranim Mitica of Ashkelton sent a scathing letter to Mikolad concerning the growing relationship between Askdod and Tel Aviv. The letter was ignored, so too were those that were sent over the next two years.
By 34AE Mitica worse fears were realize when Ashdod, with the help of many a citizen of Tel Aviv, founded Mikos on Cyprus. The growing hegemony of Ashdod drew the cities of Ashkelton, Gaza, and Gath together and when their forces were ready they attacked. Between 34 and 38 battles would be fought between the city-states of the Philistines. The coalition of Ashkelton is defeated at the Battle of Ashkelton (the culmination of a year long siege). Though Tel Aviv was a minor partner Da’ud was now the co-ruler over a new Philistia (Gaza and Gath to the south, Jerusalem to the east, with the borders of the north brushing that claimed by the Phoenician city of Tyre).
40AE is marked by mourning (1138BC). Da’ud dies in his sleep whereupon his second son, Aaron, accepts the crown for his people.
Enjoy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The history of the Children of Da’ud begins in Egypt. Though what we are as a people goes back even further the events in Egypt mark our place in history. In the third year of Pharaoh Rameses III the glory that had been the Egyptian empire was waning. Libu tribes pressed in from the west. A coalition of nomadic sea faring tribes attacked the coast. Nubia was in unrest. The Asiatic provinces were only tenuously under control. Perhaps most troubling to the king was the civil struggle in the heartland of the nation – priests and followers of Amun battling those of Aten (a legacy left over from Akhenaten and Merenptah reigns). Then in the fifth year of this power-struggle came a major slave revolt, year one of our people (OTL 1178BC).
The years under King Da’ud (1AE – 40AE):
Year one: Da’ud, a slave – a carpenter by trade, was a captive of Memphis. Over the preceding years he had organized a quiet revolt (mostly in the guise of imperfect work causing many a public project to collapse). It is in this year that he gathered his people (all those who would follow him) and under the dark of an empty moon fled the city. The absence of nearly six thousand slaves did not go unnoticed but despite demands from nobles and merchants Rameses did little – sending out only one scouting party to track the escapees (the besieged pharaoh saw the exodus as a small blessing as there had been signs of a major slave revolt and so took the peaceful fleeing and concentrated on other more important issues plaguing his empire).
Tensions between the various tribes soon drove away the feeling of unity and during most of the first year of First Exodus Da’ud held his people together with vague promises and charisma.
Da’ud raids Egyptian cities and battles local militias.
The voice of the nobles could not go unheard forever and eventually the pharaoh was forced to send a small contingent of foot soldiers and chariots to retrieve the slaves.
The battle of the Red Sea. Luck and the fatal flaw of underestimating the slave army helped Da’ud lead his people to a victory along the banks of the Red Sea (a number of weapons and chariots were captured). News of this defeat slowly drifted back to Memphis but by the time any effort was made to send out a second army Da’ud had convinced his people that their salvation rested outside of Egypt and led his people across the Sinai.
Early in the second year of the Exodus they came to the land of Canaan – currently occupied by a collection of people that have come to be called the Philistines (recent arrivals to the area ~50 years). Their control over a collection of cities along the coast marked the epicenter of the weakening Egyptian grasp in the area. The slave army was not a welcomed sight and several battles would ensue over the next year.
The Seranim of Gaza sent his militia against Da’ud, the army was handily defeated and Gaza was raided for supplies.
The battle of Ashkelon came soon after and although the battle was a draw Da’ud and his people was forced to withdraw from the field (not without some spoils: three fishing ships among that which was looted).
Over the next few months Da’ud helped his semi-nomadic people establish Mash’ab between Ashkelon and Ashdod. Da’ud next sent missions to Seranim Makarioa of Ashdod. Initially these offers of truce and peace were rebuffed and Da’ud now faced the combined force of Ashkelon and Ashdod. The battle of Mash’ab was Da’ud first defeat, the town was lost, and his people once again captured. For a time they became slaves of Ashdod and if not for Rameses army that is perhaps where they would have stayed.
Year three brought war to the Asiatic. Rameses III succumbed to pressure from his nobles (and seeing this as a long over due move to reign in his Asiatic cities) and sent a second army to reclaim the land and his slaves. When Makarioa heard of this army he and the other Philistines cities collected their forces to finally throw off the yoke of Egypt. Impressed by what he was told about Da’ud and his people at the battle of Gaza, Ashkelon, and even the defeat at Mash’ab Makarioa formed his new slaves into the front ranks of his army (Da’ud and his people were willing to do battle once more with their former masters – and perhaps earn their place in Ashdod as citizens). At the two major battles of Gaza and Gath and during several subsequent encounters Da’ud and his people distinguished themselves coming to be known as elite units of spear, sling, and bowmen.
The Philistine war would continue through Da’ud’s fourth and fifth year as the nominal king of a disenfranchised people. Eventually “The Sea People”, which the Philistine cities were a part of, launched a sea borne assault on the delta. The incursion that brought raids as far inland as Upper Egypt and put Memphis under siege for three months, would end the war and further tip Egypt into civil war (though actual strife between factions would be another five years in the making). The Philistine war did manage to endear Da’ud to Seranim Makarioa who granted the La’adamah (what Da’ud’s people were now calling themselves) a small segment of territory north of Askdod on which to settle. Though grateful for what the La’adamah did for the Philistine city-states during the war with Egypt what Makarioa was really doing was settling a buffer city between Ashdod and the Phoenician city-states. Though both territories cooperated often during sea raids of other lands, and during Phoenicians periodic battles with the Hittites (whose power had greatly weakened in recent years), it was always best to mind your neighbors.
Tel Aviv (a little south of OTL) was officially founded a few months later when the first mud brick homes were built. The city became a trading center between the Philistines and the Phoenicians being much wealth. Within a couple of years temples began to be built – the first being dedicated to Dagon. All was not peaceful for the La’adamah for throughout Da’ud’s reign his people were called upon to fight many battles. The first actions came along the eastern stretches of the Philistine city-states against nomadic incursions (which would eventually leave a lasting mark on Da’ud’s people). Raids against Egypt also continued, mostly via the sea, where the La’adamah gained another name for their people. As well as being masters of projectile weapons they were now known as sailors to be feared. In fact in the twelfth year of Da’ud’s kingship construction was completed on Tel Aviv’s first shipwright.
Also at this time Egypt erupted into bloody civil war (c.1165BC). This eventually leads to two separate dynasties leading Egypt – the houses of Thebes and the houses of Amarna; a status quo which will last for the next hundred years.
In the year 25AE (1153BC) Da’ud began his own raids against the floundering city-states of the Mycenaean people. This initially caused a great deal of tension between Tel Aviv and Askdod (the people of which held a kinship with the Mycenaeans). Eventually the prospect of greater wealth overwhelmed the aged Makarioa sense of fealty and the raids fell under his command (a changing of the guard Da’ud had little choice but to comply with).
In 30AE Makarioa died (of natural causes) and passed Askdod to his son Mikolad.
In 32AE Seranim Mitica of Ashkelton sent a scathing letter to Mikolad concerning the growing relationship between Askdod and Tel Aviv. The letter was ignored, so too were those that were sent over the next two years.
By 34AE Mitica worse fears were realize when Ashdod, with the help of many a citizen of Tel Aviv, founded Mikos on Cyprus. The growing hegemony of Ashdod drew the cities of Ashkelton, Gaza, and Gath together and when their forces were ready they attacked. Between 34 and 38 battles would be fought between the city-states of the Philistines. The coalition of Ashkelton is defeated at the Battle of Ashkelton (the culmination of a year long siege). Though Tel Aviv was a minor partner Da’ud was now the co-ruler over a new Philistia (Gaza and Gath to the south, Jerusalem to the east, with the borders of the north brushing that claimed by the Phoenician city of Tyre).
40AE is marked by mourning (1138BC). Da’ud dies in his sleep whereupon his second son, Aaron, accepts the crown for his people.
