While the regency council finished Qansawh's war the Mamluk empire was aflame, with rebllions springing up every where. The Mamluk armies returning from Timurid lands were put to quick use, and after some years most of the rebellions had been put down, with the pretender Malik himself cornered after several battles in Alleppo, where he surrendered.
Despite the appearance of a rebel government in Damascus claiming the creation of the nation of Syria, things appeared to be settling down until the self-styled Barqua II managed a quick coup, executing the members of the regency council and provoking a new round of Civil Wars.
A second Civil War proved too much for the already fragile nation. First Hedjaz reappeared in Arabia, taking the settlements of Mecca, Mocha, and Asir. Meanwhile rebels took control of the northern provinces of the country, and due to manpower shortages Barqua was unable to prevent the defection of Mus, Adana, and Beirut. Then Yemen revolted, while Najd would manage to take Asir. Word began to spread that the Mamluk nation was tearing itself asunder. Pirates spread to mamluk coastal provinces while defections continued.
Eventually the rebellions cooled down, but few provinces were recovered. The nation's economy was ruined by the loss of territory and rebellions. Barqua knew he needed money to rebuild, and despite the advice of his military commanders, decided that an attack on weak Swahili would work as well for him as for the first Qansawh. Swahili was esily overrun, even by the weakened Mamluk army, but just as he was about to get a peace deal Barqua II died on campaign, having apparently acquired some disease unique to the tropics. He was replaced by the capable Ahmad III, who found himself facing another Civil War, although a rather easier one than his predecessor had to deal with.
Ahmad quickly made an advantageous peace with Swahili, using the money thus acquired to build up infrastructure in what remained of the empire.
He knew this was a temporary measure at best, though. It was decided that the gold mines of once ally Mutapa would be required to fuel a Mamluk military capable of dealing with any rebellion. While most of the troops returned home to take care of the pretender Malik that had arisen there, Ahmad stayed to personally command a pleasantly short war against Mutapa, that ended in their annexation.
With the wealth from the Mamluk-Swahili war and the new Matapan mines, Ahmad set about rebuilding the country. The newly acquired territories in Africa were converted and forts were built to keep them from falling quickly to rebels, and Ethiopia, an island among Mamluk Africa, was finally annexed.
Despite the appearance of a rebel government in Damascus claiming the creation of the nation of Syria, things appeared to be settling down until the self-styled Barqua II managed a quick coup, executing the members of the regency council and provoking a new round of Civil Wars.
A second Civil War proved too much for the already fragile nation. First Hedjaz reappeared in Arabia, taking the settlements of Mecca, Mocha, and Asir. Meanwhile rebels took control of the northern provinces of the country, and due to manpower shortages Barqua was unable to prevent the defection of Mus, Adana, and Beirut. Then Yemen revolted, while Najd would manage to take Asir. Word began to spread that the Mamluk nation was tearing itself asunder. Pirates spread to mamluk coastal provinces while defections continued.
Eventually the rebellions cooled down, but few provinces were recovered. The nation's economy was ruined by the loss of territory and rebellions. Barqua knew he needed money to rebuild, and despite the advice of his military commanders, decided that an attack on weak Swahili would work as well for him as for the first Qansawh. Swahili was esily overrun, even by the weakened Mamluk army, but just as he was about to get a peace deal Barqua II died on campaign, having apparently acquired some disease unique to the tropics. He was replaced by the capable Ahmad III, who found himself facing another Civil War, although a rather easier one than his predecessor had to deal with.
Ahmad quickly made an advantageous peace with Swahili, using the money thus acquired to build up infrastructure in what remained of the empire.
He knew this was a temporary measure at best, though. It was decided that the gold mines of once ally Mutapa would be required to fuel a Mamluk military capable of dealing with any rebellion. While most of the troops returned home to take care of the pretender Malik that had arisen there, Ahmad stayed to personally command a pleasantly short war against Mutapa, that ended in their annexation.
With the wealth from the Mamluk-Swahili war and the new Matapan mines, Ahmad set about rebuilding the country. The newly acquired territories in Africa were converted and forts were built to keep them from falling quickly to rebels, and Ethiopia, an island among Mamluk Africa, was finally annexed.
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