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and we are still using Roman numerals;

Not in Rome they're not! :D

Roman culture has an ineffably superior quality which is not to be summed up by any mere number

I suspect if someone were to halt the grainships to Byzantion the Senate would soon find a more effable side of Roman culture that they may not find as superior. Perhaps then they would rethink the wisdom of arming peasant rabble.. ;)
 
Treaty of Somerset

(yay boilerplate treaties!)

The Kingdoms of Denmark and Al-Andalus agree to the following:

A non-aggression pact lasting 20 years, including the agreement to return any land that come into their or their vassals’ possession that traditionally belongs to the other party’s realm. In addition they also agree to a defensive alliance and pledge to defend each other if attacked by another realm.

As a condition to this, Al-Andalus agrees to cede the County of Somerset to Denmark. Denmark will force-annex these lands by in-game means.

The treaty in its entirety is optionally renewed at the end of its duration until the year 1399. It is considered renewed unless one of the signants specifically states his refusal to do so.

Signed
Al-Andalus
 
Signed by King Väinä though I would prefer we retain in the agreed 10 years length
 
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The Fatimid Caliphate: The Seventh Branch pt.3


islamy.jpg

The night darkened around the fortress city of Firenze, brightened occasionally by a flaming boulder hurled over the walls. They frightened the horses and citizenry, but were of little real concern to Jordan de Toulouse, Lord Imperial of all Christendom. What concerned him wast the rhythmic rum-tum-tum of hurled rock working its way through the last ring of walls of the only remaining free city in Italy. He contemplated briefly surrender, per chance the infidel would let him live out his life in some golden cage on the Red sea coast. More probable was of course then putting his head on a spike outside Alexandria, as the Caliphas were wont to do, or sell him to the Iconists to be paraded around in some triumph and then strangled. No, it was not a fitting end for an Emperor of Rome.

siege.jpg

Having escaped war for many generations, and sporting some of the most impressive fortifications in Italy, the inhabitants of Firenze had hoped they could hold out for long enough for rescue to arrive from Christians in the north. The siege engineers of the Lord Leviathan of Baalbek soon disabused them of such notions.

Jordan looked upon his reflection in one of the palaces cracked mirrors. He did look the part of Last Emperor, his face dirty and rugged, his armour and tabard battered and worn. He should at least have his crown and helmet shined before going out again.

"Sic transit gloria mundi" Innocentius, 6th of that name, needlessly added.

"I do not believe we are quite dead yet holy father, or have you lost your faith?" Jordan grunted.

"Certainly no. But it does not seem the Lord is quite intent on delivering us, not that surprising given the times we live in.." he turned a tormented look towards the young Emperor "If he were, would he not have done so outside Roma? And not have let it be pillaged by the infidel, the keys of St Peter and the Triregnum brandished on some heathen banner. No, our sins are not yet paid for."

"The only sin committed here was when my forefathers did not burn all of Africa when they had the chance. Now, find some suitable outfit to bless my men in, the Saracen shall soon be upon us."

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As Arab naval raids increased, so did proportionate Imperial counter-reaction. Later historians have criticised the Toulousian Emperors for not immediately countering the very real threat posed by the raids of Barbarossa, particularly after Arab fleets started moving from large-scale raids to blatant conquest of strategically important islands. The response however was largely made up of ramshackle naval forces led by various semi-independent Italian city states. Even when Siracusa and Messina rebelled and rejoined the Caliphate the Imperial court in far of Toulouse failed to coordinate a joint response. It was then that the Pope called for a Holy league to meet the Infidels head on, marshalling most of Italy proper as well as the remnants of Holy Orders and volunteers from many lands. Unfortunately they had failed to realize this was exactly the response the Tunisian raiders had hoped to elicit. With Moslem lands suddenly under threat the Calipha was obliged to come to the aid of the Sicilian Arabs.

barbarossaatsiracusa.jpg

Several lesser clashes finally led to the massive Battle of the Thyrrenian Sea, somewhat south of Rome itself.

The largest naval battle until that day, it pitted some 252 ships of the combined Barbary and Alexandrian Battle Fleets against the 219 ships of the Holy League Fleets. The battle seemed even, until the Greeks captains from Taranto and Bari received word of Byzantion's entry into the war and abandoned their position at the centre of the line. Allowing for the League fleet to be divided in two, faulty communication between various nationalities soon led to the rout of the Occitan flank and the following capture or destruction of the Italian City fleets.

With all of Italy under threat it was not long before Imperial authority collapsed completely. The German cities by the Alps threw themselves at the feet of the Bavarian. The Andalusians temporarily forgot about all the Sultans talk about discussion and consensus long enough to launch a Jihad to conquer all of Occitania. The Greeks and Croats scuffled to claim the Empire as their own, gaining Imperial Ravenna and the tradehub of Venezia respectively. Down south the depleted Banners of Barbary laid siege to Roma herself. Meanwhile the Caliphas own, the Banners of the Nile, landed in force by Livorno. Engaging directly the major armies of North Italy one by one, leaving little remaining for the arriving banners of Syria to mop up. In the end only Firenze stood, and the Calipha impetuously gave the order to storm it.

Last of the Emperors
Siracusan University press
 
I've seen this development before, somewhere. Now, where can I be thinking of? It's on the tip of my tongue...
 
Loire refuses all peace demands, made his entire realm as one big demesne! Denmark has decided to raise the bets and is now demanding ireland as well unless the loire surrenders imediately!!!!!!
 
that said, the loire did surrender and is effectively now Ireland.
 
France is partitioned between Andalus and Bavaria! Danes take Cornwall! French flee to free Ireland!

It is called tactical retreat as your armies were defeated in Ireland! And thus did St. Patrick drive the snakes of from Ireland.
 
A Pope of the Islam faith, but that's... that's just blasphemic!!! Side note, if anyones got the time and effort I would very much appreciate a map showing the division of france and of course the rest of the world in its state.
 
King of Men steals more Croatian vassals.

Croatia writes a strongly worded letter about it, employing even such unfriendly terms as "acts of non-defensiveness" and "cannot consider this as showing the maximum possible friendship". The current Roman Emperor, with his stewardship of 19 giving Rome a manpower of 470k, may have something to do with it.