Cycae, Kingdom of (The Sicans)

The Kingdom of Cycae was a monarchy located on the island of Sicily between 118 and 95 BCE. In its short period of existence, the six Sican tribes gained a sense of unison. The Kingdom of Cycae is the basis of Sican unison, which endured the ages to follow.

Prior Events
The island of Sicily was constantly under invasion from as early as 1000 BCE, and was constantly being conquered. Around 300 BCE, Sicily was independent of other countries, but remained a makeup of different states. However, Carthaginian armies attacked the island around 300 BCE, and the six tribes of the Sicans united temporarily to defend their homeland. This was a total success, and by 290 BCE, the Carthaginian invasion came to an end.

Again in 270 BCE, the Romans took a shot at conquering Sicily. For a second time, the Sican tribes united to resist attack, and again it was a success. Some tribes even managed to take some Roman land in Calabria, establishing colonies there. After this, a vague sense of unity among the Sicans could be seen.

By 200 BCE, Sican tribes freely traded with eachother and passed through eachother's lands. On some occaisons, rulers of one tribe would allow another tribe's army to be stationed in their land. By 150 BCE, all of the Sicans were one nation, but were not legally under one ruler.

King Palermos
In 119 BCE, the six chiefs of Sicily met at Syracuse to discuss the forming of a new country. All the rulers were unwilling to give up their power, so an election was held among nobles and military leaders to see who would be king. By an overwhelming majority, King Palermos of the Frog tribe was elected king of the newly created Kingdom of Cycae, and his reign would begin on June 1, 118 BCE.

King Palermos expanded the nation's trade connections with the Romans and Ethiopians, as well as updating the military of the Sicans and establishing the Church of the Sicans. He also divided his kingdom into 58 casares, or districts. In 111 BCE, King Palermos died of a stroke.

King Grios
Upon the death of King Palermos, a general named Grios of the Green tribe was elected king. His rule was a lot more militaristic-almost all of government spending was poured into a massive military. He was also a supporter of spreading Sican influence throughout the globe, and in 103 BCE, he sent colonists to Malta and uninhabited areas of modern-day Libya.

The Romans saw this as a threat, and in 98 BCE, war broke out between the two countries. King Grios assumed command of the army immediately.

The Fall of the Kingdom of Cycae
King Grios was a skilled military tactician. In the beginning of the war, he defended Sican colonies in Africa as well as taking Neapolis in 97 BCE. But the Roman might overwhelmed the limited power of the Sicans. In 95 BCE, a Roman force took Syracuse, and ended the Kingdom of Cycae. King Grios was killed in the burning of Syracuse.

Sican Diaspora
Following the fall of Syracuse, the entire empire fell. Leaders of the six tribes gathered, and decided that their tribes would seperate, and one day return to fight the Romans and take back Sicily. The six tribes (Frog, Green, Hawk, Quick Warrior, Hill, and Dome) all dispersed throughout the world in 93 BCE, refusing to face Roman rule.