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by Dragao do mar. . 59 reads.

Jaekaré - Historic Military Unit

Tabajaran register of a Jaekaré


Overview

The Jaekaré, commonly mentioned as Jaekaré warrior, with Jaekarés as plural, was a special class of infantry soldier of the Empire of Tabajara and the leading military special force order in the Tabajaran society. The word "Jaekaré" derives from the ancient Tabatle language, and means "merciless alligator". This military order was made up of the bravest soldiers, of noble birth or those who had taken the greatest number of prisoners in battle. Of all of the Tabajaran warriors, they were the most feared.

The Jaekarés represented the alligators, as the alligator was the symbol of Tupă, head god of the Tupanist faith, religion practiced in majority by Tabajaras. Jaekaré warriors dressed like alligators and believed that this would increase their power, adorning themselves with alligator leather, and wearing helmets with an alligator head on it.


Etymology

The name Jaekaré comes from the ethnic indigenous language Tabatle, utilized in the city-state of Jacaréoca before it become a empire. There are several archaeological findings dated to the late 3rd century, consisting in Tabajaran accounts mentioning a specific military unity called "Merciless alligators". No one knows how the term was originated, but it was created under the reign of the empress Ketzal Taba of Tabajara.


History

It is believed that soldiers titled Jaekarés first served to the Empire of Tabajara in the 260's. But, some of its most iconic characteristics as the helmet Jaekpacet and the Arapuá weapon would only appear in the 400's .

The creation of the Jaekarés as a unit in the Empire of Tabajara was in the beginning of the reign of the empress Ketzal Taba in 261, she who, leading the expansion of her domains in the battlefronts of the south, conquered extensive wetlands. When a Imperial Guard was formed by Ketzal, she ensured to create a strict group of warriors, and introduced efficient military skills to the first Jaekarés. Undergoing a cruel and intense training, the Jaekaré warriors became very efficient.

It is proposed by some archeologists that the tradition to wear Jaekaré warriors with a helmet made of a alligator head was originated only after 400 along with the development of advanced sewing techniques with alligator leather. The doctrine of transforming them into terrifying warriors surged along with the writing of the Tabajaran religious code of Prensas. Its preached values introduced to the class the self-reliance, self-control, strict training, the ability to perform feats with weapons, and a willingness to die selflessly defending one’s family and companions.

It's believed that the Jaekarés drew their power from the figure of the alligator as they were devoted to the polytheist Tupanism, which praised Tupă, represented by a alligator, as the most powerful god. According to the Prensas, they would have to unleash their Arapuá as a alligator's bite and to rush quickly as jaguars. According to the belief, while wearing the Jaekpacet helmet they were immune to steel and fire, and made great havoc in the ranks of the enemy. But, when the fever abated they were weak and tame.

One of its most important functions of Jaekarés outside the battlefield was the execution of sacrifices and religious rituals, both generally lead by a Tupanist priest. The Jaekaré warriors were constantly in battlefields, as its primary purpose was to combat in extreme conditions. As the Tabajaran Empire grew, its social influence ad power became increasingly important until the Khas-Kirati invasion in 1122, that resulted in the fall of the empire in 1123.


Weapons and Clothing

Arapuás

The Arapuá

The Arapuá was a warclub/sword hybrid developed by the Tabajaras after a few time from the establishment of the Empire of Tabajara.

The body of the Arapuá was made entirely of hardwood which then had grooves cut into both sides. Using adhesive, sharp obsidian blades were affixed into the grooves. A leather strap was fastened to the bottom handle loop, and the users hand fit through the strap. The Arapuá was unbalanced and front heavy, which made losing the weapon during a swing a real risk. The strap ensured that the user could keep their weapon even if they lost grip.

The blades were broken off of entire obsidian cores, meaning that the blades didn’t have to be sharpened or “knapped”. Rather, they broke off of the core in an extremely sharp state. Many Tabajaras encountered by the used these blades for shaving, and according to accounts made by Khas-Kirati invaders from today Athara magarat tell that some Arapuás were so sharp that they could decapitate a horse with one swing.

It was a tool restricted to Jaekaré warriors. This is likely because the weapon requires a level of martial prowess and skill to use effectively in battle. It could only be swung, meaning that if a warrior missed his strike, he could potentially leave himself undefended. As such, the Arapuá is almost always shown as paired with a shield.

Ezcuhdol

The Ezcuhdol

The Ezcuhdol was a type of shield originated in the Tabajaran Empire. They are nearly always round and vary in diameter from about 45 – 120 cm (18" - 48") in diameter but 75 – 90 cm (30" - 36") is by far the most common. The most were completely flat while others were slightly convex or curved. They were made from wood covered by alligator leather and occasionally with metallic details.

The Ezcuhdo was held by two handles fastened to ring bolts that pass through the shield and are riveted to bosses on the outside. Between the handles was a square cushion for the knuckles to rest against. The handles were so placed that, when tightly grasped, they forced the backs of the fingers against the cushion giving a very firm and comfortable hold. The shields were usually inlaid with gold, silver and precious stones to designate higher military positions as generals and commanders, and were commonly decorated painting. The bosses were always ornamental, either by their shape alone, or through inlaying with gold, silver and jewels.

Jaekpacet

The Jaekpacet

The Jaekpacet was the military helmet utilized by Jaekaré soldiers of the Tabajaran Empire. It is definitively the most noticeable clothing feature of this specific class and of the Tabajaran military. It was made from a head of a karé alligator, common in the southeast of Dragăo do Mar, close to the border with Keomora. There are two versions of the Jaekpacet: One where the bottom part of the alligator's mouth is maintained, covering the Jaekaré's warrior chin, and other where the bottom part of the alligator's mouth is discarded, letting the Jaekaré's warrior chin exposed.

Little is know about its production process, but it's believed that Tabajaras developed advanced technics of conservation and sewing of the alligator's leather, that were lost with the Khas-Kirati invasion that defeated the empire in 1123. There are very few archeological findings of Jaekpacet as, without maintenance, the helmet is quickly degraded. The only pieces today available were found in Tabajaran tombs of Jaekaré warriors, buried with its Jaekpacet, clothes and weapon to show its high rank in the Tabajaran society.

The psychologic terror was a essential tactic for many successful campaigns of the Tabajaran Empire, and the Jaekpacet was a key tool for it. Even being much more late in military technology, they were able to make great damages to the Khas-Kirati Nine Gyarong Horde, being mostly due the action of Jaekaré warriors, showing the efficiency of the class. For example, in the Battle of Jacarécanga in 1123, Tabajaran forces, mainly its 3,700 Jaekarés, killed more than 5,100 Khas-Kirati horse archers in a ambush. Khas-Kirati accounts registered that anyone facing them for the first time can be terrified by their shouts and their ferocity in the battlefield.


Legacy

In the cultural aspect, the Jaekaré warrior is a representation of the Tabajaran culture and the ancient tradition of Dragăo do Mar. The military unit became a present icon in the Marian popular folklore, being much represent in the contemporary media and arts, as well as in the early modern myths and tales.

Some sport teams use the Jaekaré as a symbol that denotes strength, aggressiveness and power in remembrance of the ancient cultures of Dragăo do Mar, as the Jaekaré Warriors, a Marian cricket club internationally know.

The Empire of Tabajara is represented by a Jaekaré warrior in popular memes in the Western Isles know as isleballs, which are countries represented by balls in various geopolitical situations.

A Jaekaré represents Tabajara as the grandfather of Dragao do Mar in the popular anime from Athara magarat called Athara Magarat and the Western Isles. The Tabajaran character appears in a OVA that shows his fight with the Khas-Kirati one.


Modern-day artist's impression of a corn-planting ritual executed by a Jaekaré

"Jaekadog" Jaekarés are very common in Marian memes

A draw representing ancestors of Dragăo do Mar in isleball versions

Emblem of the Marian cricket club Jaekaré Warriors

Dragao do mar

Edited:

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