I know it's a bit offtopic but since were (also) talking about how misunderstood barbarians were:

- Stirrups (more known as a fact) aswell as Shirts and Underwear were brought to Europa by the Nomads of the east. (as much as I know even Herodot wrote about it but declared it as a sign of barbarism)

- These nomads did place meat under the staddle but not to soften it but to make sure the saddle doesn't rub too much in the horses back.

- The Germanic tribes were also quite democratic. The King (konig - I think its not written with ö as in Modern German) was elected by the Thing (gemanic council) and came from the nobility. He had to travel is his realm all the time to spread the "königsglück" (kings - luck: some kind of blessing by the gods). In case of war he lead the warriors to battle but if he wasn't capeable then the Thing elected a "Herzog" who would lead the army of the tribe (he didn't need to be a noble, infact he could be anyone who was held apropiate).
In case of great disasters (natural or military) the konig had to be sacraficed to the gods since the "königsglück" had abandoned him. ( if I know right then this Tradition survived to the 11. century in the Scandinavian Peninsula) (correct me if I'm wrong)

- There was a similar Instituion among the eastern nomads - a leader was elected by the nobles (or named by the Ruler of another People if the tribe had been subjucated). The high-shaman had pronounced the choosen as the leader of their People. Somehow like this: "You shall lead our people for 40 years... but after that you must die". After the time elapsed or a great disaster had struck them they sacraficed the ruler. (sounds cruel but here is some explenation: a very spread form of rule amongst theese Nomads was the so called "dual principality" (or something like that) - this meant there were two leaders: one who was the tribal (religious) leader "- his naming has been stated above) and a miltary leader who would lead the warriors of the tribe. The first was held a more important position - he represented the soul of the Tribe and was the conection to the gods. He couldn't take part in any battle (think of the effect on moral it would have if he fell - or just seemd to have fallen). By "sacraficing" him they just sent him back to the gods who he had represented for years. (besides on the steppes every weakness could have decisive consequences - a tribe always needed a clear minded Leader).