Brythunia

Origins[]

By the first Hyborian southward push, Brythunia was a virtually uninhabited land.^[1]

By the end of the Age of Acheron, circa 13,000 BC, the Brythuni were one of the many Hybori tribes dwelling north- and eastwards of the empire of Acheron, themselves being set northwards of Zamora and eastwards of the Nemedi and of the Corinthi.^[5] After the kingdom of Koth took its independence from Acheron, King Khossus V of Koth formed a grand alliance of all enemies of Acheron, including Koth, Ophir, the Corinthi, the Brythuni, and others, and marched on the Acheronian capital of Python from the east.^[6]

After the Fall of Acheron, Acheronian refugees established city-states in Brythunia, as did refugees of Hyperborea the Elder. Flourishing, the Brythunians moved southwards and mingled with the ancient people of Zamora, as well as with invading Hybori.^[1]

Age of Conan[]

Circa 10,000 BC, badly wounded from a sword-toothed leopard's attack in the snow-clogged mountain pass to Zamora, Conan was cured and healed by Ahirn and his family, in their humble abode at the foot of the Brythunian mountains. The Cimmerian spent some time helping the farmers, until they were all killed by a band of Zamoran slavers. After killing the slavers, Conan continued on into Zamora.^[7]

He tried once again to navigate the difficult mountain pass between Brythunia and Zamora, but was pushed back by a flash flood of melted snow. Conan then met Skalla, a Chooser of the Slain who wished to stay among the mortals, but eventually returned to Father Borri, the Grey God. After she left, the Cimmerian tried to climb the pass for the third time.^[8]

After the Hyborian Age[]

Millenia later, the land of Brythunia became the lands of the aristocrats of Poland.^[1]

Facts[]

Politics[]

Brythunia was one the Hyborian Kingdoms, though not a very unified one. A single monarch maintained nominal authority over a large number of autonomous cities and noble domains. The nobility in fact prided itself in being able to restrict royal authority. Brythunians had long tried to establish their country was a regional power, but their lack of unity left them overshadowed by the better-organized Aquilonia and Nemedia.^[2]

People[]

The lineage of the Brythunians is a complex one, and was said to be an admixture of refugees from Hyperborea the Elder, Acheron, completed later by Hyborian invaders and by Zamorians, but lacked aboriginal genes.^[1]

For some reason, the Brythunians were frequent subjects of Hyborian jokes. Their men had been stereotyped as "thickwitted oafs."

On the other hand, their women had a reputation for beauty and sensuality. The women were prized items for slave traders, since this reputation ensured that there were always customers willing to pay high prices for them.^[2]

• Berthalia
• Charnina
  • Wounded Unicorn
• Potrebia

• King Brian
• Ahirn
• Dunlang
• Gudrun
• Gurko
• Hylda
• Hylda (Chooser of the Slain)
• Skalla
• Turhin

• Brythunia was created by Robert E. Howard, and mentioned in many stories including "The Thing in the Crypt", "The Tower of the Elephant", "Shadows in Moonlight", "Road of Eagles", "The Devil in Iron", "Th Scarlet Citadel", "The Return of Conan", as well as in the pseudo-historical essay "The Hyborian Age".^[1]
• Brythunia was conceived as the Hyborian equivalent of Poland,^{[citation needed]} and in-universe, the land of Brythunia became Poland.^[1]