Aquilonia vs Nemedia: What’s the Difference?

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“Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” – Conan of Cimmeria

If you’ve ever wondered why Aquilonia and Nemedia seem to be at each other’s throats in nearly every Conan story, you’re not alone – these two Hyborian superpowers are the France and Holy Roman Empire of Robert E. Howard’s world, locked in an eternal dance of rivalry, war, and grudging respect.

The Two Great Western Powers

In the Hyborian Age, Aquilonia and Nemedia stand as the mightiest kingdoms west of the Vilayet Sea. They share borders, share enemies, and – in my opinion – share more cultural DNA than either would care to admit.

Yet Howard took great pains to distinguish them, and I think understanding these differences enriches the entire Conan experience.

Aquilonia is often described as the jewel of the Hyborian world. It’s the largest, wealthiest, and most powerful of the western kingdoms, with a capital city – Tarantia – that gleams with towers and marble.

I would say Aquilonia represents civilisation at its peak, for better and worse. It’s a land of chivalry, grand armies, and political intrigue, but also decadence and corruption lurking beneath the surface.

Nemedia, by contrast, feels older and more intellectual. Its capital, Belverus, is known less for military might and more for its temples, libraries, and scholars.

The Nemedians pride themselves on culture and learning. In my view, if Aquilonia is the sword of the Hyborian Age, Nemedia is the pen – though that pen can be just as deadly.

Political Structures and Power

Both kingdoms operate as feudal monarchies, but their political characters differ considerably. Aquilonia’s nobility is martial and proud, with powerful barons who control vast territories and maintain their own armies.

This creates a constant tension between the crown and the aristocracy – a theme Howard explored brilliantly in “The Phoenix on the Sword” and “The Scarlet Citadel.” (check those out in the Del Rey Conan books).

I think Aquilonia’s political instability is one of its most interesting features. When Conan takes the throne, he inherits a kingdom where barons plot rebellion, priests scheme for influence, and foreign powers probe for weakness. It’s a powder keg wrapped in silk and gold.

Nemedia’s political structure appears more stable on the surface, with a stronger tradition of centralised royal authority.

However, Nemedia’s kings often find themselves manipulated by priests of Mitra and powerful sorcerers. The influence of the priesthood in Nemedian politics cannot be overstated – I would argue religion plays a far more overt role in Nemedian governance than in Aquilonia’s more secular power structure.

Military Traditions

When it comes to warfare, Aquilonia boasts the most formidable military machine in the Hyborian world.

The Bossonian archers, the Black Dragons, and the knights of Poitain represent different facets of Aquilonian martial tradition. The Aquilonians favour heavy cavalry, disciplined infantry, and overwhelming force.

In my opinion, Aquilonia’s military strength is both its greatest asset and its greatest temptation. The kingdom has the power to conquer its neighbours – and throughout history, various kings have attempted exactly that. This imperial tendency creates resentment and drives the endless cycle of Hyborian warfare.

Nemedia’s military is nothing to dismiss, but it lacks Aquilonia’s raw power. The Nemedians compensate with superior organisation, better intelligence networks, and – critically – a willingness to employ mercenaries and use diplomacy where Aquilonians might simply charge.

I think Howard portrayed Nemedia as the more cunning of the two powers, winning through strategy what it cannot take by force.

Cultural Identity

The cultural flavour of these kingdoms reflects their real-world inspirations. Aquilonia draws heavily from medieval France and Norman England, with its chivalric traditions, its courtly manners, and its feudal hierarchy. The names – Poitain, Gunderland, the Bossonian Marches – evoke Western European history.

Nemedia feels more Byzantine or late Roman to me. There’s an older, more sophisticated quality to Nemedian culture, with its emphasis on scholarship, religious institutions, and accumulated wisdom. The Nemedians look down on Aquilonians as somewhat provincial, whilst the Aquilonians see Nemedians as effete and overcomplicated.

This cultural tension drives much of the rivalry between the kingdoms. They’re similar enough to understand each other and different enough to despise what they see.

I would say it’s one of Howard’s more subtle bits of worldbuilding – he understood that the bitterest conflicts often occur between neighbours.

Their Role in Conan’s Story

For Conan himself, both kingdoms play pivotal roles. Aquilonia becomes his kingdom – the throne he seizes and the crown he wears for decades. His relationship with Aquilonia is one of the defining elements of the later Conan stories, transforming the wandering barbarian into a king who must learn to rule.

Nemedia, meanwhile, often serves as the antagonist kingdom. Nemedian plots threaten Conan’s rule, Nemedian armies invade his borders, and Nemedian sorcerers scheme against him.

Yet Howard was too sophisticated a writer to make Nemedia simply villainous – the Nemedians have their own perspective, their own grievances, and their own heroic figures.

I think the Aquilonia-Nemedia dynamic represents Howard’s understanding that great powers inevitably clash.

Neither kingdom is truly good or evil; they’re simply rivals caught in the grinding gears of geopolitics. Conan, as an outsider who becomes Aquilonia’s king, sees this more clearly than most.

Why It Matters for Fans

Understanding the Aquilonia-Nemedia relationship enriches your reading of the Conan stories immeasurably. When you know the history and politics involved, stories like “The Hour of the Dragon” gain additional depth.

You understand why certain alliances form, why certain betrayals sting, and why Conan’s position is always more precarious than it appears.

In my opinion, Howard created something remarkable with these rival kingdoms – a geopolitical framework that feels authentic and lived-in. The Hyborian Age might be fantasy, but its politics ring true.

The Hour of the Dragon is a brilliant read, and the only full Conan novel ever written by Robert E Howard. You can get it here in the Bloody Crown of Conan. It’s often cited as a ‘greatest hits’ of the Conan stories and I would agree.

More Conan lore:

• Conan’s Egypt-coded Stygia (and why he hates sorcerers)
• Zamora – the City of Thieves and how it shaped Conan

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