The Legacy of al-Andalus

[Calipah]

The Legacy of al-Andalus
Opening Salvo

Cordoba's Political borders in 1419

[Player's Note : Hello everyone.This is my second attempt in writing an AAR about Cordoba, this time, I hope to do it properlly, with more richness and plausibility.Also, I am using the Intregnum 6.10 beta patch for the game, so there are tons of events for Cordoba in this alternative world. There is no France for example, but a set of different powerful countries, like Savoy, Brittaney and Burgundy.Byzantium is still a player in the world, and the Abbasid Caliphate controls the middle east against the Crusaders in Palestine. Im going to begin writing down why Cordoba survived, what exactly happened after Navas de Tolosa , I will also note changes happening in the world in the course of history (since afterall, its quite different - literally) The game will begin in 1419, but for now, we turn back to 1212. Enjoy and please, share your opinions.]

On the frontier of the Navas de Tolosa did the two formidable armies meet, the arrayed Christian crowns against the diseased ridden body of the Almohad Empire face to face. The Cross and the Crescent in another destructive encounter, another salvo in their many collisions since the birth of Islam in 610 AD.The Muslims deployed for battle in three lines, the great central mass of horse and foot defended by a vanguard of light-armed Berbers, Arabs, and bands of archers. Muhammad an-Nasir (Caliph of the Almohads) stationed himself with the rearguard, surrounded by his African bodyguard and the massed banners and drummers, where, seated on his shield before his red tent, clad in the black cloak of his predecessor And al-Mu'min, sword and Quran in hand, he could direct his commanders. The Christians, however, carefully observing the enemy order of battle, refused to engage on either day. But on the 16th, at dawn, they drew up in battle array in three lines, their left wing under king Peter II of Aragon, their right under king Sancho VII of Navarre, and the center under Alfonso VIII, who remained with his rearguard, behind the second line of Castilian nobles and the military orders. In contrast with the famed battle of Alarcos, the less experienced municipal militias were distributed in all three lines of each division and reinforced by cavalry. The Christian vanguard began the attack, crashing through the Arab and Berber skirmishers, and with the second line closed with the main body of the Almohad troops.

Indecisive fighting raged for hours, but when the Caliph ordered his reserves into the struggle, the weary Christian center and flanks fell back. At this critical moment Alfonso VIII, resolved to conquer or die, threw himself and the strong rearguard into the attack, while Peter II and Sancho VII rallied the wings. In the face of this general Christian counterassault the Muslims began to give way. As confusion and panic spread, the Christians broke through to the area of the red tent, cutting down the fiercely resisting African guards. Muhammad an-Nasir barely managed to escape on horseback, and his whole immense army streamed rearward, hotly pursued by the Christian cavalry with wholescale slaughter while the infantry fell upon the rich spoils of al-Andalus.

*****

Following the devestating incursion and the abandonment of al-Andalus by the Almohads, the Christians took the offensive to the heart of Muslim Spain ; Andalucia. The result was wide spread chaos and constant retreat from the northern forts to the densly populated regions of the Muslim controlled south. As if the situation was not bleak enough, the ever rebellious nobles of al-Andalus threw off the yoke of what remained of the Almohads and began to found -momentarily- independent princedoms. Rather than halting the Christian onslaught the Taifas fought each other for the domination of an ever shrinking al-Andalus, with the Christian infiletration gathering momentum with each passing day. From the midst of the violance did a lone figure emerge (under the tutalage of Ibn Hud) , the famous Warrior Monk of Alcazura'na , Son of the Bani Ahmar; Mohammed.

Forcefully merging the adjunct towns and districts in the polity of his own village, where he declared a new Kingdom, did he begin the 'core' of the Muslim resurjence of Iberia. Viciously assaulting the southern strongholds, his greatest triumph was the absorbtion of Mursiyyah and Granada into his nuclei of empire. He then turned his eyes to the 'Maiden' of al-Andalus; Isbillia 'Seville'. Being threatened by the advance of Ferdinand III, who already captured Peu'tra and Hellucina and was on the march from Batlaways, the eminent Qadi of Seville ; Abu Julayqa Marmodi put the city under the banner of Bani Ahmer and paid allegiance to the Monk King .Recieving appeals of help from the Governor of Cordoba that Ferdinand had reached the environs of the city, Mohammed marshalled his forces and swiftly took route to the north in hope of intercepting the Christian King of Castile. Detered by the fierce winter of 1231 the Muslims found the city of Cordoba under assault by the Castillians, it's walls barely fending off the onslaught and vicious hordes of Christian warriors and keeping them at bay. Surveying the power of his northern foes - Ahmar realized he had a profound choice to make.

*****

"I say we forgo Cordoba and abandon such enterprise, it would be foolish of us to face such a powerful force." the voiced opinion of Emir Zahir was unwelcome, afterall, it was in earshot of the soldiery who were already attritioned and fatigued as it is. Mohammed scowled at the popular agreement Zahir had mustered from amongst the Governors and Commanders. "Ferdinand can be reasoned with your highness, but clashing with him on the open field would shatter us, giving him more incentive to invade what remains of al-Andalus".They made camp in the nestled hill of roses overlooking Cordoba, it gave them tactical advantage and allowed them to survey the Christians - though the information they obtained bore nothing but ill news , the army of Ferdinand was numerous as the Sands of the Sahara."Again, I highly advice we open diplomatic channels".

"Without Qurtubah, al-Andalus is abolished from existance" he growled at those he wrongly precieved 'comrades' in arms, they were nothing more than leeches and courtiers who bandwagoned with the victor. "By Allah, I would not stand witness before the lord in the hour (Judgement day) and be asked before the throng of humanity why I had not saved the Muslims of Spain.Nay, I will show that she-dog he can not siege the city of Abdul Rahman with such audacity for I will bar him by my sword .Let victory decide who shall pick the flower that is al-Andalus".His scimitar in one hand, and his Quran in the other, he brusked aside the nobility of the South, ignoring their appeals to re-consider. He ascended a small collection of rocks in proximity to his open tent , maintaining the composure of a King, his head high.Mohammed addressed his men, the children of al-Andalus washed with the blood and tears of the ongoing and raging conflict between Islam and Christendom, appealing to their sense of hope that maybe - just maybe - Allah might aid them in their plight. The son of the Bani Ahmer realized the consequences of his actions, but he was hardened enough by many years of warfare to know that if he didnt fight with the same viciousness of the Christians, his cause would falter. If he failed here, he would at least die with the satisfaction of knowing that his saga would be that of a martyr, and if did emerge a victor - his Jihad would gain tract. Casting a look on his followers, he sighed. Most of them were impressionable youth who abandoned the fertile vegas and fields of Granada and Seville to join him, though they were all seasoned fighters who proved their worth time and time again, Mohammed was anguished by the greatest of sacrifice ; youth. Raising his arms in open embrace he began :

"I lay down the truth, clear and pure like the morning dew in Quzunfralina - our enemies drove us to the brink of destruction, but we survived their legions, and now, amidst the ruins of glories old, we face them for one last parlay. I give you no word of premonitions of victory from Allah, but I tell you this ; our passion must realize triumph here - before the gates of the Medina" he extended his right arm towards Cordoba, engulfed in flames and smoke - one could hear the faint battle cries from the distance - such illuminations evoke a fragrance of death and martyrdom.

"An ocean of anger rages inside us, Our hearts, desperate, burn with eternal flames - We all know the pain to suffer such , but it is nothing like the indignity of having the cross rise throughout these faithful lands. Let the cries of widows and children, and desecration of Mosques and the sewn bodies of friends drive us towards the overthrow of this tyranny.By God, even if I must bear this task of fighting the infidels alone, I shall tread it, for there is no greater glory than to battle against them. I either enter Cordoba as a liberator, or die in the attempt , and both roads appeal to me.What say you oh men of Islam?"

A collective roar echoed throughout the horizon of Cordoba, the troops chanted the name of God and his Prophet, appealing to the heavens themselves to take notice ."La Galib illa Allah" shouted Mohammed to his men "To battle!and Victory!". The soldiers quickly absorbed themselves in orderely formations, the knights to their fine Arabian steads ready for battle. Mohammed could only smile at the flurry of faith and energy his men showed, it was a good sign. Mounting his splendored Stallion , Mohammed jutted forward to the front.It was uncommon for the Muslim Kings of Spain to be the first to charge into battle, prefering the saftey of the unexposed rear, but Mohammed was no King, he was a man amongst men.Pausing for a few moments in silent prayer, he lifted his Green banner high. 'Allah grant me victory' the forced his Stallion forward and cried the battle song 'Elscando Anadalusi Hazufraniya!". Like a swarm of locusts on an Egyptian crop, the Moorish army descended from the hillside. Their attack took the Christians by surprise, who for a moment, paused in horror, trying to absorb the shock of this new adversary emerging from nowhere.

Ferdinand watched as the Moorish army broke into his ranks with a smile "The Dog of Mahomet has come barking, let us put him out of his misery Count Alfonz" the Castillian nodded his head "This shall be his undoing your majesty, if we dispose of him here, all of the south shall come under your most holy assumption, and the reconquesta would be fulfilled".

"Withdraw our forces from the walls and crush this army of peasents - and bring me his head"

"As you command"

[Mettermrck]

Ah, an Intereggnum AAR, and with Calipah at the helm, I predict a well-written Muslim victory in Iberia and beyond!

[Brownbeard]

Lets see what fortune has in store for Iberia.

[Calipah]

~I have won at the first onset
The hand of the lovely Córdoba;
That brave Amazon who with sword and spear
Repelled all those who sought her in marriage.
And now we celebrate our nuptials in her palace,
While the other monarchs, my baffled rivals,
Weep tears of rage and tremble with fear.
With good reason do ye tremble, despicable foemen!
For soon will the lion spring upon you~

-King Mohammed al-Ahmer after the conquest of Cordoba-

The vulnrability Ferdinand III's army was twofold - it's total encirclement by the Moorish army, and the elevated terrain the Muslims controlled to their advantage on the battle field. However, it did not lay down the conditions of victory - far from it - the Christian army was by far, three times larger than Ahmer's forces, around fifty thousand men-at-arms and a similar number of horsemen. The Castillians also has the support of four Counts from Leon, one being the most terrible Alfonz Duke of Rodila 'Butcher of the Moors'. However, the Moors proved their worth against the chivalry of Christendom and would incur upon the Christians a defeat similar to the one they had forced the Muslims to fouly taste some two decades ago in Navas de Tolosa.

Raining first a torrent of arrows, followed be a devestating charge led by Al-Ahmer, the Christen army broke and took to heel. Aflonz however organized the remaining troops in a counterassault and attacked the rear of the Muslim army, slaughtering over one third of al-Ahmer's forces. Mohammed abandoned his terrified stead and attacked with his men the Count's forces threatening the core units of the Jayish. Soon enough, Aflonz was killed by the spear of an Amazonian Negro from Ghana , a death reminicent to that of the powerful Prince Qaysur bin Tashfin in Alarcos, who died on the hands of a gypsie mercenary. The battle reached a climax, and what remained of the actual fighting was the systematic slaughtering of the already retreating Christians. The brilliance of the battle was given even greater catalyst with the capture of the infamous King of Castille ; Ferdinand III.

The Gates of Cordoba were opened to the 'Conquerer' , the 'flame of Myths and legends to come'. Emerging from them were the emissaries of the city council, for no Emir had ruled Cordoba after Navas de Tolosa. On their head was the valorous Governor Mu'tamid who, upon seeing the famed and brittle warrior hurried to give him an embrace. He then disengaged and kneeled before him "Greetings, Savior of al-Andalus". Mohammed customarily accepted the offer and helped the elderly man on to his feet. Collecting his troops, he entered the city with pious fanfare .A vast, enthralled crowd thronged the city streets to catch a glimpse of Al-Ahmer. The scorched and ravaged Cordoba emerged from the siege with cheerful galore, the bride of Spain celebrated the victory of her people over the invaders. As it was in those days, Ferdinand was cladded in chains and forced to suffer the humiliations of being paraded in the city like a common mule. After a long procession, Mohammed arrived at the legendary Grand Masjid of Cordoba to be traditionally bestowed control of one of the greatest cities in all of Europe. Coronated by the Imam Yusuf Rafi-Ad Din, Mohammed added the title 'Emir of Cordoba' to his growing collection of namesakes and dignified titles. Attending the Friday prayers, which concided with the time of his victory, he cemented his rule over the city. To further his authority over the rest of Muslim Spain, he adjoined all his functions into one : King of Al-Andalus. Such a dramatic move had profound effects on Europe in the coming centuries, but overall, historians agree the Modern Cordoban state came into being in 1232.

*****

"Why must I endure such treatment?" the Castillian asked bitterly as he struck the gold bars with his goblet. He was pampered and lavishly admonished with many comforts - all inside a small golden cage that was assumingly the aviary of the Almohad Caliphs not so long ago. Mohammed even allowed Elizabeth or Beatrice to come to Cordoba to copulate with him, under the cold eyes of the Amazon guard - the Andalusian didnt want them to get too comfortable.

Upon hearing the question, Mohamemd turned to face the Castillian 'Saint' or El-Santo as his people presumably called him "Many reasons but most importantly, a reminder of things to come" the Castillian resided but his ire was still struck "When the valorous knights of Leon y Castile force you into submission - I will be ever so pleased when you grovel by my feet for mercy" Mohammed laughed mockingly "Since you are in loss of your intellect, it matters not what I tell you, but for the sake of my amusement, I will - Since you foolishly left your lands in aggression and malice against us, the nobles had transpired to rid themselves of you. Your crown is facing civil war, and your son Alfonso X is a ten year old infant who will most likely be killed."

The Castillian growled "Then Christendom shall prevail for my plight" Again, Mohammed chuckled at this man on the brink of sanity "The Cross bearers fight amongst themselves.Their attempt to capture the famed city of Constantinople has failed and the Kings of Firanja and Almenad now lie amongst the dead. The great lands beyond the frontiers of your savage dominions are at war or so I hear - Tis good to see the Infidels gnawing upon each other" the Castillain threw a tantrum of rage to the luxury and entertainment of the Andalusian King.

"How strange these infidels be" he mused as he left the chambers, leaving the crazed Castillian King to the engulfing darkness.

*****

After the Fourth Crusade, when the King of France and the Holy Roman Emperor were both killed at the hands of Byzantine troops and their titles left to fade into history, the Pope elevated the duchies of Brittaney, Savoy and Burgundy to the status of Kingdoms, and coronated the Bavarian Duke as Holy Roman Emperor. This was done to hinder the anticipated infighting between the Christian states.The dissolution of the Kingdom of France brought severe consequences on the Christian Kingdoms of Iberia, weakening the support they recieved for their campaigns, also, the confusion prevailent in the Occitanian south distracted the Christians from the Moorish south, giving the Nasrid Kings time to organize and empower their Kingdom. Soon enough, the cycle of history saw the re-abosrbtion of Valencia (1257), Tullaytillah (1286) , Badajoz (1291), and the destruction of Aragona in the famed battle elar'murcia where the Muslims overran Count Beringer's fortified Castle Relandirea and once again established their rule over Zaragoza. The 14th century under the brilliant King Mohammed II the Right Handed saw a new wave of protracted battles between the Christians and Muslims, resulting in the destruction of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Order of Calaravera. By the begining of the 15th century , the Moors had driven the Christians behind the river Tajo and the Aragonese mountains, with an uneasy peace presiding over both. The halt to aggressions came with a heavy price - one of infighting and fracturing the Muslims had to pay - at least as substinance to their continued victories against the forces of Christ.

[Duke of Wellington]

An interesting start. I like the descriptions particulary those of the battle scenes.

[Avernite]

I allmost feel like writing a KoJ AAR for Interregnum, now

Great writing, so far. But I suspect there's going to be some sneaky twist once you start the game, which results in Cordoba going all peacefull in Iberia, conquering America instead

[Calipah]

Silvos was a fine little town with a rough stone fort and an ancient Mosque. Situated in the extremity of Algrave, it overlooked the embrace of the Mediterranian with the Atlantic. Surrounded by hills of bountful olive and pommegrant trees, Silvos was famed for it's Olive oil and Tangeras , it's year round green pastures munched by vast flocks ,not to mention the large catches her fisherman occassionaly returned with. This cornor of the world was home to Sancho ,son of the ruling noble House Buqqar. His father , the prominent Emir of Silvos had named him after a Castillian knight who saved him from a group of bandits during his youth. Ever in gratitude, he adorned his only son with the Christian name 'Sancho' to the objection of the Imam and much of the Buqqar clan.

Being the son of the Emir, he lived a relatively isolated childhood , pampered and spoiled by his parents as the only son of the Buqqar. Sheltered in his father's estate, he became well acquinted with the library, a haven to a multitude of manuscripts and books his father imported from Cordoba and Toledo. Saturated with the works of Ibn Rushd and Miamonidos, his father hired a dismissive Jew to tutor him in the Aristotlian disciplines and Arab arithmetics 'prequisites of the elite' as his father liked to call them. As the seasons progressed, Sancho too shed away his infancy and entered the intergnum between his former state and that of Adulthood - he was now on the verge of puberty. With it came many changes, a growing of hair, a slow process of masculanization of the body, a deeper voice and of course, the urges of his polity.

Like any young man at his age, he took an intrest in the female gender of his race. His earnest but shyful flirts were with that of a young Qistallian slave girl - an exquisite creature captured by Muslim Slavers during an incursion into Leon'. Her red hair and green eyes captured the imagination, and no doubt many a man made their advances on her, but Sancho presisted in his wet desires of her. Wearily they trode the path of sesational delight and the two lovers shared their affection in the stables of the palace - as to not arouse any suspicions from the servents.

*****

Ramadan came again to Silvos. The townsfolk earnestly decorated their beloved village with festive colors and lanterns, celebrating the arrival of the most honored guest, the fourth pillar of Islam. Spending much of their day in worship, the villagers would then express their happiness at night in more unorthodox ways, typical of the people of al-Andalus. Likewise, House Buqqar celebrated the joyous arrival, holding banquets and expensive gatherings for the amusement of the nobility of Algarve and Eoja. The Emir and his wife always enjoyed such gatherings, since unfortunitly, their somewhat isolated position didnt give them much oppourtunity to mingle with the circles of high society. Rumors, vendettas, love stories, scandals - such were the vain intrests of the rich - though the mention of Ibn Rushd or Socrates came to passing from time to time.The lazy fragrance, a mixed perfume of Delila flowers and burned incense, gave the whole evening a mood of elitation and energy, that and the Andalusian music flowing freely in the air. The lively discussion between the great houses of southern Algarve was about the thesis's of Ibn Khaldun, the well reputed Historian of North Africa.

Sipping the crimson colored wine from his chalice, the Emir replied to Turayiq "He proposed that a dynasty's average lifespan is that of roughly one hundred & fifty years".Turayiq waved his hand , dismissing the servent offering to refill his goblet "His proposal was proven wrong by the very system he attempted to interpret - the Abbasids still master much of the Heart of Dar al-Islam, the Ill-Khan tartars rule Persia to this day, and even our rivals the Trastama hold sway over northern Julayiqa - the evidence is overwhelming my dear friend, Ibn Khaldun is in much error as Aristotle was regarding higher mathematics or layman physics." the jovial Istraqi of Hellucina commented " Ibn Khaldun may have failed to interpret the dynastic cycles of nations, but he was precise in explaining the dynamics that sustain the rise or fall of the terrestrial Human Empires".

"Ibn Khaldun again?" Abu Zuhayil, a rich landowner from the north yawned at the precieved bordeom of the conversation "What a dull topic, one would have thought you blooms of al-Andalus would speak of something more...intresting than the ponderings of a man long dead".

The Emir chuckled "Never a man of complexities, tell me, I hear you've acquired a large land grant from the Sultan around the Tejo?" Abu Zuhayil picked a spiced morsel of meat and took a bite "Ive contributed men from my own estate to the campaign against the Infidels, I deserve that land moreso than anyone here.May I add " he huffed his chest proudly like a peacock in mating season "that my Jund assisted in the siege and capture of Lish'boa".

"Ive considered buying the Qasir Ali Consta'za, the fort overlooking the route between Silvos and Lish'boa" Turayiq shrugged "Ive tried myself, but that fool of a Nasrid - the Snake has barred me from purchase.Seems like a supporter of his has his eyes on the castle" Upon hearing the name, the Emir grimmeced with scorn, how he despised that bastard!"Hes a thief, Ive warned his majesty about him several times. A vesper and a devient." tapping the table anxiously, the Emir continued " The King is deluded by fraternal blood, as if his brother values traditions or bonds"

The sparred conversations quickly died out, and his wife , the Emira, attempted to change the course of the discussion .She stirred her chalice and remarked "The wine is superb this year"

He caught the bait "Dionysis would have been proud".She laughed, and the festivities resumed from the interruption. "....oh, wheres Sancho?" The Emir cocked an eyebrow and turned around to look "Hes somewhere, you know how he is around crowds" the Emira, alarmed and worried tugged her husband's elbow "It isnt proper, what would people say? Send someone to look for him" Sighing, the Emir summoned one of the servents, a bulgy Firanji to look for the boy.

*****

'Rola'und' was aggrevated by his master's untimely orders. Just as he was about to sink into a delicious juicy drum , he delegates him to the task of finding his pesky son!. He returned to the sprawling citadel and quickly checked the Chambers of the young master ,who strangely enough, wasnt there. Neither was the boy in the Library (the sniveling bookworm he is!) or for that matter in the Prayer halls .Agonized and fearful his master would whip him for not locating his son, Rola'und desperatly looked everywhere he could think of. Realizing he was nowhere to be found, the Firanji was not about to return to the Emir empty handed, and rather than face his lord , he would flee the accursed place. Haunted by shadows of punishment and paranoia about his liege's wrath , poor Roland as he was called back in Firnaja, simply lost it. Taking flight to the stables, the large Christian thrusted the Atan doors open and....

"Master Sancho?!"

*****

The Magistrate gently took another sip from his cup of warm coffee, trying desperatly to keep himself awake. He despised leaving his home city for faraway missions , especially when he had to leave so early in the morning. The local Imam didnt make it easier for him either - a blabber mouth who kept yapping like a Christian Trader in a Slave Market. The case was lesser than him by many leagues, but since the concerned was the son of a noble - there were implications.

"....He differentiates between what is right and wrong, he is no child and must pay consequence for his actions!The Holy law must be upheld and his lineage matters not to me...he shall be whipped one hundred times as the Quran ordained!...."

The Emir appealed once more "Please reconsider!" the Emira was silent, still trying to absorb the shock of her son actually playing with the knotted beauty of the palace."Hes our only son!"

"No!By Allah and his Prophet, I wont leave until his back bleeds with justice, the Magistrate also agrees!" the Emira began to weep and mutter 'ruin' .The Imam , confident of being in the right, turned to the Qadi for support and encourgement, only to find him dozzing off. He pinched him on the thigh, and the elderly man springed back to the realm of the waking.

"Perhaps were being too zealous, afterall, hes just a boy"

"a man Mullaya al-Qadi - of fifteen summers might I add"

The senile Magistrate scratched his beard, trying to find a quick solution to the whole problem. He wasnt going to waste his day going to Seville to enforce the aforementioned punishment. He then remembered a distant face from the past - the perfect fix!

"I have a solution"

[Calipah]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments, theyre very uplifting.However, I would like to ask, should I continue the Sancho storyline (whom I hope would become an important character in the AAR) or simply disband him and concentrate on the state itself?

[Duke of Wellington]

Sounds like Sancho is in for it.

[stnylan]

Mmmm, lots of interesting things going on.

[Avernite]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments, theyre very uplifting.However, I would like to ask, should I continue the Sancho storyline (whom I hope would become an important character in the AAR) or simply disband him and concentrate on the state itself?

Depends on what you want. If you feel like writing his story, do so. If you feel like continuing the story of Cordoba, you probably will be able to proceed faster not focusing on him.

Either way, it's fine by me.

[Mettermrck]

It all lies in how you feel comfortable. Don't be afraid to mix and match styles either. Sometimes you have a good historical AAR, and just want to pause and flesh out an interesting event or character interaction. Great stuff so far.

[Calipah]

He looked at Silvos from a distance, trying to capture it's pictersque tranquility in his mind. He had a gut feeling he wont be returning for a long time. His parents as expected, didnt show up. They had already lost much of their prestige amongst the townsfolk, the caretakers of an Adulterer - and word spread fast in Algarve. The kind Qadi had proposed that Sancho - now an outcast to his own blood - would be taken to the care of the prominent Sufi Monk Yahya Arm'qusir who maintained a small monestary bordering the Christian lands. There, the Magistrate said, Sancho would recant and purify himself from the sin of fornication. He did have company however, the Frenchmen who exposed him ; Roland. Banished for laying his eyes on a Buqqar in gratification - the laws of the time were obscure and strange mind you, but he was also a constant reminder of Sancho's travesty, he was thus, the Emir and his wife decided,better an escort to the boy than a servent in the household.

The small caravan, composed of two mercenaries, Sancho and his slave soon set off to the far North, to Badajoz. The trip was ardous and risky, since the route they traversed was not far from the habitual fighting between the Muslims and Christians the 'no man's land'. Strictly keeping to the highway, they reached Xelb in two days, the main town in the province. After momentary rest, they pushed on through the dazzling Andalusian countryside. However, the boy wasnt captived by the natural beauty as much as he was fixed upon the strange oddites that cross the many roads of Andalucia. Gypsies, Berber tribesmen, Jewish traubadors, Muslim and Christian farmers fleeing from the north, and the occassional authoritorian official accompanied by his retainers trying to enforce some feel of order over hapless travellers.

The Apostle's Monastery

"Tell me of yourself, how did one so large find himself in chains?" perhaps not the best way to start a conversation, but Sancho none the less wanted to know more of his companion. The Frenchmen dared not say a word, prefering to ignore the question. Again, the boy asked, and he remained Silent.Only due to the continued presistance of the young Sancho did the giant one speak.He held the reigns of the mare more tightly as he began to tell his tale.

"To those that still recall me in their thoughts back in Gual, I am Roland De'la Cardie Amarante, a knightly Crusader who served his majesty Arzur of Brythonia" he laughed sheepishly "Now, a Slave to a minor infidel noble - but that's fate young one."

"You did not answer my questions, how were you captured?"

"Some things are better left unsaid"

"Please!"

Roland's cheeks reddened, and reluctantly, he revealed his capture "I was dispatched by his highness on a Crusade to attempt the liberation of the town of Fazulana - this was oh, ten years ago if memory serves. The Moha...the Andalusians had captured the coastal town to the determined assaults of the Asutrians and Portuguese. My regiment" he said proudly "Was the only one to infiltrate the town succesfully. As we were about to storm the guard post I..." the embarssement had turned his whole face red "...accidently hit a column as we ascended the circular stairs...everything went black from then on and when I woke up, I was in Toledo sold to your father for...erm...three hundred Silver Dinars".

The boy laughed to the conjured up composure of the Frank "Then why do you fear the Moors?" Roland sighed "Ive seen the battle hardened Saracens, they spare no one. Even though your father had never raised a hair against me, I lived in constant fear of anticipated torture....all in my head of course, but you can not force an old donkey from habit...now enough, you pester me with your inquiries".

The rest of the trip went on in relative silence, barely a word spoken or a gesture made, each immersed in his own thoughts and contemplations - the future was bleak for both. The subtle peace was soon caste away to the hazards and realities of the road. Beyond the Nieva hills they crossed, the peasentry and Serfs of former Portugal , inspired by the versatality of the ancients, took to their pitch forks and crude Mihraths attacking the Sultan's administrators and soldiery in the region. From a distance,they caught sight of the behemoth monastery of Arm'qusir , situationed atop a high plaetu. Though something wasnt right...

As soon as they began the long ascension, they realized the troubling escapade - the monastery was under attack.The Christians were laying siege to it, the Monks barely fending off the peasent farmers from the Ribat. Without even giving it any thought or consideration, the small group drew their swords and immediatly joined the Ribatis defending the Mosque. Reluctantly, so did Sancho make a bid in the offensive to drive the invaders off 'if somewhat modest'. Seeing as they were allies, one of the priests , evading the hungry swords of the impoverished, led them through a secret entrance, directly under the palisades the monks had set up.Inside, the whole of the ministry was up in arms. The warrior beaconed them in, and led them into the interior courtyard, where the revered Sufist (around eighty some say) was in contemplative prayer.

A moment of eeiry silence passed "Buqqar" he said. Sancho bruised somewhat from his recent exposure nodded his head. The sheik grinned "Welcome to the Apostle's Ribat".

*****

The Arabs in Spain had never truly united. Although there were periods of harmony, they were more often engaged in pointless but savage quarrels among themselves. For a brief moment in their history, they had united to fend off the Christians who had once threatened their very existance in Iberia - up to the begining of the 15th century. It was here the threads that binded Cordoba began to unravel, and the old divisions began to resurface. Aided by his allies, the Duke of Seville and the Count of Valencia, the Snake , Mohammed IX, overthrew his 'brother' Mohammed VIII 'the small' and exiled him to a small estate in the Alpejjuras. Briefly after the coup and his proclaimation as King of al-Andalus , did the the Great Houses of Muslim Spain - including the Nasrids, lock into bloody vendettas and atrocious fraternal wars, most of which, started in the name of 'preserving' the fabric of the state. In any case, they were nothing but another chapter in the grim history of Muslim Hispania.

The troubling rise of the Jackal Prince as he was sometimes called, incited devestating rebellions centered around Barcelona and Aragon. A series of local civil wars also began to gain tract, as brother and brother, father and son, Uncle and Nephew were at each other's throats for the substinance of what little power they competited for.The riches of the realm were squandered in the'Age of Feuds and Chicanery' as Historians named it and rightly so, much of Mohammed's reign wasnt spent in governing the realm (maintained by hordes of Jewish and Arab gentry who, amblivient to the wide spread chaos in the country, continued on with their bureacratic duties) but in eliminating his political rivals and beheading the opposition. His clan, rather than facing the threat he embodied, fought each other to the point of exhaustion - culimanting in the death of Rodila al-Ahmer, the famous High Sheik of the Nasrid dynasty by his own uncles. All these factors combined weakened Cordoba domestically and ravaged the economy of al-Andalus as farmers abandoned their crops, and the craftsmen and other artisans fled the urban centers to safer havens.

Facing a mounting insurrection from the nobility, and near total collapse of government, Mohammed fled Cordoba disguised as a Prostitute when he heard that his brother, Mohammed VIII had emerged from exile as a claiment to the crown once again. Aware of 'The Small's ' return to office and the expulsion of his prime alley, the Duke of Seville declared an independent Princedom compromising much of western al-Andalus, profiting from the prevailing infighting and apathy from the government in Cordoba. The Snake contacted his supporters in Marakech and took refugee to Morocco in a self imposed exile, where he began to plot another return to al-Andalus. Ambitious and relentless, in two years time he disposed of his brother in a dirty plot whereby he induced (bribery and promises of wealth) the Royal Guard to kill him. This and relying on the support of his loyal retainers, he returned to Cordoba once more as King....but for how long?

[Player's Note : I started the game by raising my Quality +1 .I had a series of revolts in Tago (I then raised my tolerance of Catholics).As soon as Mohammed IX ascended the throne, trouble became widespread as the Feud event triggered, so I had a huge series of revolts in Barcelona, Aragon and other places.I then had the Seville event, whom I released since I couldnt contend with keeping an even bigger revoltrisk province under my control - I also thought it would help speed up my stab which was at -3 to go up if I had a smaller country.Mohammed IX was disposed in 1427 by Mohammed VIII, but he later came back in 1429. My centralization was hit deeply by the events, but my aristocracy went up. Oh yeah, and heres what my policy's were at game start aristocracy = 7 centralization = 4 innovative = 3 mercantilism = 9 offensive = 5 land = 6 quality = 2 serfdom = 7]

[Avernite]

Ahh yes, the infamous age of chickenry and foods

I say, Crush Sevilla! Then roll over for the Trastamara, for Christ and glory!

(btw, you thus didn't fight a war with Oporto and company yet?)

[Calipah]

My army is mostly running around crushing revolts and I let Sevilla go for the sake of my already plummeted stability (cen get them back later ).

Experiance has taught me that Oporto and the others are terribly fickle - and most of the time, without a good monarch, Cordoba tends to incur too many losses, thusly, until things are somewhat better I'll leave the Christians alone

[Avernite]

Meh, I say it's easy to pummel at least Oporto. Asturias isn't worth it, indeed, untill you get Iberian culture

And I also don't let Sevilla go because I avoid losing land whereever possible, even if it makes getting more later hard

[stnylan]

Well a few revolts are all to the good. An interesting conversation.

[MattyG]

More, Calipah, more.