Ckul/History

The history of the Ckul is a wild adventure, with many mysteries still yet to be explained.

Pre-History

We have no idea how human being came to be speaking Na'vi on Earth, in the region of the Atlas mountains. The earliest written records we have their existence is ca. 200 B.C., in a possible reference from Carthaginian naturalists. Archeological records may barely precede this day, but not by much. Amazigh would not be written down for many centuries, but from the time they are, they record interactions as being ancient.

Dating into the Common Era, Roman records begin to have more solid evidence of "Na'vi Human" contact. They are mistaken for just another Berber tribe, and generally avoided as primitives by the Latinate city folk. Carthaginian survivors, may have interacted with the Na'vi, transmit rumors and myths about these unusual mountain dwellers. The Tlanra manuscript would seem to suggest (to modern ears) that they were a language isolate and noticed as such, but that is disputed.

Christianization

With the spread of Christianity, missionaries venture into the mountains. The Na'vi-speaking people are resistant at first but gradually interact with Christians, particularly as some of them "go native." While never coming into the city, bishops begin writing out the "wild barbarians" who have meeting halls in the mountains. They are numbered in the census of 376 A.D. as being in the bishopric of Hippo, though far outside of town.

The conversion seems to be complete before 400, suggesting that there were a minimal number of autonomous units or clans. At this point, it is safe to assume that a pidgin evolved, as Latinate grammar and Na'vi phonetics began to intermingle. Intermarriage must of been common by this time, and baptismal dating changing from adult converts to infant baptism within the first weeks of life. African Latin operated as the superstrate and Na'vi as the substrate. A fairly systematic series of changes to Latin words is clear, via the comparative method.

Our final records from this time are from the Altava Kingdom, where the Na'vi Latins seem to have migrated to. It was a broad melting pot of mutually unintelligible languages, even among the Amazigh. It was a catholic hold out against the Arian Vandals, showing that the Na'vi Latins were orthodox. This could have continued right until 708, though it is likely they were all gone before then.

Umayyad Upheaval

The records we have from Iberia show a diverse set of refugees from Africa to the short-lived Kingdom of Toledo. As King Chintila's reforms were creating a level playing field for all Catholics, it was a destination for many fleeing Muslim control. We do not have records of the first or last arrival date of the Ckul, but we do have King Wittiza's books. King Roderic records that they were not Mauri (Moors), though they "only supplied limited soldier to defend Hispania."

The next several decades are without records, which historians assume is from the tumult of conquest by the Abbasid caliphate. After the dust settles, we find records of Ckul payments of the jizya tax. As dhimmi, they lived in the mountains of Granada, then Ilbira. While some records from the metropolis of Córdoba suggest some traffic, these could just as easily be Mozarabic or Judeo-Ladino.

The situations seems to have stabilized for a time. Eventually, however, Al-Andalus began to find them in the mountains and exert pressure to conform to Isalm and Arabic. More than half of the community crossed the Guadalquivir River, and joined Castile. Those who stayed behind called the others Tornadizos ("turners"). Those who left called the rest Muwallad ("birth traitors"). This made for a great deal of tension when Ferdinand III reconquered Córdoba in 1236. The reintegration of the communities took generations. Old practices and words were rediscovered by both groups.

Regnum Nevadensis

The reunification of the two part of the Ckul community was embodied in their first king and queen. Aksilus Nevata Rex (أكسيلة بن ملزم) was local leader of the Ckul communities who served under Muslim rulers before rebelling to protect his people’s autonomy. His knowledge of both Arabic and Christian systems positioned him as a skilled diplomat and strategist. His charisma and military acumen rallied the fragmented Ckul-speaking villages into a united front. He forges alliances with nearby Christian rulers (e.g., Castile and Aragon), negotiating recognition of his sovereignty in exchange for military or logistical support during campaigns.

Aksel's bride was Dixia Regina Nevadensis (الكاهنة). Even before marriage, she was a spiritual and cultural leader who preserved Ckul language and traditions, founding several religious houses that use Ckul as a mandatory language. Most of the myths about her cannot be true, but she became legendary for her insight, bravery, and devotion.

In 1398, Aksel leads a rebellion against a weakened Granada. His Christian marriage to Dixia assured the local bishop, who at first had reservations because of his muwallad history. The Church supported their efforts, recognizing their kingdom as a bulwark against Muslim forces, much like Navarre served as a buffer in the north. Under their reign, Mulhacén becomes the symbolic and administrative heart of the kingdom. Aksel and Dixja focused on fortifying their mountain strongholds, ensuring survival against external pressures. The couple’s children and heirs established a royal lineage, securing their legacy and ensuring the kingdom’s stability through the 15th century.

Golden Age and Onward

The 16th century was the height of the Kingdom of Nevada, as she supported Spanish colonial expansions, sending missionaries, linguists and mercenaries all over the world, while thriving as a semi-autonomous kingdom. The fueros (local priviledges) were bought with tribute to the Spanish crown. These included exemption from certain taxes, local governance in their own language, and military obligations to scout the mountains and maintain a calvary. Local timbers, minerals, olives and wines bloomed as industries. Numerous cathedrals and basilicas were built.

Aristocratic families emerged at this time, carefully positioning themselves through Castilian intermarriage. This lead to increased pressure from Spain to unify, which was difficult to resist. This, in turn, sparked a local renaissance of Ckul culture, in poetry, epic tales, and art (circa 1700).

Quechuan Missions