What is the name of this 90's middle-ages style PC game? It's slightly similar to Age of Empires, I think.?

I'm not sure but someone told me it's somewhat similar to AOE... it was a PC game that was popular in the mid to late 90's, and you could play as people or these beasts (don't remember what they were called...) and you formed a little colony and built fortresses and towers and whatnot, and you attacked the other colonies, etc... just throw some suggestions out there because I'm pretty sure I'll recognize the title if I read it. Thanks! :)