Journey 6

'For wherever the king encamps, all his entourage follow him onto land with their tents, whether it be summer or winter.'-Xenophon

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It had been over a month since Artaxerxes embarked, along with his family on the journey to Ecbatana. Artaxerxes being babysitted by his older sister, Amytis, was taken around the massive caravan to get a good idea as to what it was and as to why they were leaving Persepolis.

Overhearing from his mother and elder sibling's conversations, he had learned that the procession was the entirety of the royal court and its staff, shifting to a new location for the summer, Ecbatana. But why do this at all? Well, apparently Persepolis was largely just used for celebrations and not the governance of the Empire. So in order to be in a more centralized part of the administration, the King of Kings would shift the entire court from one capital to another based on the seasons. Ecbatana for the cool breeze during summer, Susa, and Babylon for the Mesopotamian winter warmth, and then Persepolis for the Nowruz festival in spring.

One may also wonder, how is it possible for a king to shift his capital so often yet stay centralized. Well, Artaxerxes had learned that from first-hand experience.

At the break of dawn, much to Artaxerxes dismay, a blast from a bronze horn from the king's tent, would commence the days traveling. The order of the march was dictated by tradition. In front of the cavalcade went the priests, walking on foot and carrying sliver fire altars and chanting traditional hymns; they were followed by over 300 young men in scarlet cloaks, acting as honorary escorts. Then came the horse-drawn chariot consecrated to the god Ahuramazda. It was followed by a white stallion, sacred to the god, which was called the Horse of the Sun. Golden scepters and white robes adorned the horseriders who accompanied the god's chariot.

Not far behind were ten carts of ritual paraphernalia, and these were followed by cavalry, variously armed. Next in line were the Immortals, an elite corps of the Imperial army, numbering 10,000 men. No other group looked so good. These soldiers are the pride of Persia and wore golden necklaces, uniforms interwoven with gold, and long-sleeve tunics studded with precious stones. Following the Immortals, after a short interval, marched 15,000 of the king's kinsmen; they were conspicuous more for luxury that the ability to fight. The next column comprised the servants of the royal wardrobe who preceded the royal chariot on which the king rode himself.

Seated high above all others, he spent the journey doing a variety of activities. He might greet the populace as passed by villages and hamlets, or he might busy himself with the paperwork of the state, the administration of the empire continue uninterrupted as the court trekked on.

The king's chariot was followed by 10,000 spearmen carrying lances chased with silver and tipped with gold, and to the right and left of the monarch were 200 of his royal relatives, mounted on horseback. At the end of the column came 30,000-foot soldiers, followed by 400 of the king's horses. Next, came an entourage of the royal women, traveling within harmamaxae. These luxuriously furnished covered carriages (deluxe versions of the prairie wagons of the American West) were for the king's mother and royal consorts. They were followed by a throng of the women of the queen's households, who rode on horseback. Followed by fifteen more covered wagons that rode the king's children, their nurses, and eunuchs.

This part of the cavalcade is where Artaxerxes and his siblings traveled in. Afterward came the 300 carriages of the royal concubines. It was punishable by death to cross the path of the harmamaxae in which any of the royal women were transported, and as they passed through the countryside, the royal ladies were heavily guarded.

Behind the carriages of the concubines were 600 mules and 300 camels, transporting the king's treasury. A guard of archers was in close attendance to protect his wealth. After this column rode the women of the king's relatives and friends, and hordes of camp followers and servants. Finally, bringing up the rear were the light-armed troops with their respective leaders.

The march ended, when stage by stage, the court arrived at the overnight camp which had been set up in advance by a huge team of outriders. They worked throughout the day to ensure the ground was prepared and that the kitchens had hot food ready for the many thousands of travelers. As unhurried as it was, the whole event nevertheless operated with military precision.

Thousands of animals as well facilitated the court's migrations, pulling chariots, wagons, and carriages, and carrying people and commodities on their backs. Some 100,000 horses and 200,000 other animals, including donkeys, mules, and oxen.

After a day of traveling, the Kings tent was constructed at the center of the complex, facing towards the east. It was colorfully decorated with distinguishing heraldic devices, banners, and flags. Standing at the center of the camp, the king's tent was seen as the symbol of royal authority itself, and inside the same rituals and duties were carried out as in the palaces; he sat in the council, listened to debates, judged crimes, passed laws, ate fine food, listened to music, and heard stories. Artaxerxes learned of these rituals and events after spending many hours in the king's tent with his mother and siblings who would frequently visit.

The tent was a colossal structure, made from colorfully woven textiles and leather panels which were supported by a framework of columns thirty feet high, gilded and studded with jewels. It was large enough for hundreds of couches and was decorated with expensive draperies and fine linens. Rectangular in shape, it had a high circular canopy at the center. Underfoot there were Tyrian purple carpets and crimson rugs interwoven with gold. The entire enclosure was surrounded by rich linen curtains woven with gold and silver thread; even the curtain rods were overlaid with gold and silver.

Once the tents had been erected, the work began of feeding the court. Like a swarm of locusts, the court could easily strip bare the surrounding countryside of its produce.

By the end of it all, it'd only be a few hours rest for the campers before dawn broke and the process began anew.