The Fatimid Caliphate: At the dawn of the 12th Century
The Younger Fatimid dynasty has lasted some 60 years since the civil war was instigated against the corrupt and inbred Calipha Mustandir and his brothers. Led by Calipha Muhammad of Alexandria, First of the Young, the Nile was taken by might and Syria by the hassassin's blade. The sons of Dongola swooped in like carrion upon the beleaguered Caliphate only to be beaten back in a series of bloody wars stretching over 3 continents and hunted like vermin out of every hole they hid in.
Nubia is now the hiding place of the remnants of the Old Fatimid dynasty. Though their bloodline has been rid of its degenerations and proven itself pure there is no reconciliation between the lines. So they await with dread the final blow, desperately seeking one final trick, one final gamble to regain their old lands. But it is for naught, the ten thousand spears of Nubia lay broken on battlefields strewn from al-Andalus to Damascus. Never more will they be able to field such a force again.
Militarily the younger Caliphate is a much different beast from the days of the old dynasty. Forged from the hellfires of battle the Emerald Banners have fought every single nation upon earth and crushed them regardless of numbers, the number of Christian knights buried in their masses in sandy graves defies count. Acting not as mindless masses led by a single king or marching in rigid blocks of spear incapable of deviating from a set plan the competence and freedom of command at every level of the Fatimid army allows it to flow like water around its enemy. Striking at their every weakness until the enemy morale falters and the heavier units is free to strike at the serpents head.
It was Calipha Muhammad al-Awwal himself who saw the need for reform and hired every competent military tactician gold could buy and set up the first scientific Academy of War. It was first and foremost a training ground for noble officers and his elite Sayeedi Guard, men of the prophetic bloodline who's competence and military prowess would bring glory and legitimacy to the pure Fatimid line. But also a place for any man who could prove himself their equal or bring fresh new ideas for tactics and war machines or fortification. Most famous among them the Levithan Siegemaster Herrman von Wittelsbach, founder of the school of engineers, after whom many a trebuchet and siegetower have been named. Most celebrated for beating back the entire Polish Crusade with little more than 200 men and his own wits at the battles and sieges of Baalbek.
Economically the Caliphate is doing surprisingly well, despite the looting of much of the Alexandrian countryside by ravaging Scotsmen and the need to sell of several holdings to pay of the war debts. Most importantly the Fatimids posses one of the largest trade fleets in the world, equal to that of the Toulousian Emperor (currently under reconstruction after their wars of unification). Having overextended itself and come into conflict with the Greeks, and wishing to strengthen their Fatimid trade partners, the Emperor wisely sold the capitally important trading hub of Crete to the Calipha for a pittance. This allowed for tariffs to be raised on any Greek shipping in the Eastern Mediterranean, filling Egyptian coffers and weakening Byzantion. But was the Toulouse Emperor simply extracting himself from an overextended position, balancing the eastern powers to his benefit, or was it a first step in a much more elaborate plan?
Regardless the influx of gold and plunder from defeated crusades to numerous to count was soon put to good use in equipping the many new banners raised by the Calipha, Sayeedis first, then the Arab city guards and Bedouin. Lastly Mamluk slave warriors and mercenaries. A new horse breeding program was established to provide the best chargers possible for the Caliphas visions of a new banner of lancers capable of turning back the charge of the Antiochean cataphracts, who had proven themselves uncomfortably capable during the initial phases of the disastrous Syrian War.
The scourge of the Damascid army. It was only when the Prince of Antioch, arrogant with victory, was ambushed by the Armies of the Nile during his foolish crossing of the Sinai that the Fatimids where finally able to drive the exhausted heavy cavalry into rout and cut them down.
But despite the bellicose mindset that comes from constant assault from every nation the Calipha non the less begrudgingly recognized the need not only for economic but also civil investment. Due to the earlier Grand Vizier having pawned the University buildings, half the docks and training grounds, the mosque and most of the judiciary there was quite some clamoring among the learned classes for the Calipha to pay back the lenders, donate to every manner of institute and support all kinds of arts. Something the Calipha found a waste of money that could go to fortifying Syria or something, but his position necessitated these frivolous expenses in the eyes of his people.
The renowned Mullah Rasheed al-Undstedt, a perpetual thorn in the Caliphas side, discovering a previously overlooked Frankish Kingdom in the outskirts of Europe. The cost of repainting all the Caliphas maps would delay the completion of the mammoth Manupuran Citadels by several months!
But incorrect maps and war debts where not the only problems that faced Calipha Seyfullah, no the regency rule of the Grand Vizier Mustaffa al-AI had suffered two disasters far more damaging. The loss of the fortified garrison cities of Damascus and Palermo, Bastions of East and West, was a devastating blow to Fatimid morale and strategic position.
Damascus was the first and last line of defense in Syria, having withstood every siege in living memory it was expected that any invading army would have to detach half of its force to contain the Damascid banners. It was not so, the Grand Vizier had neglected the proper management and manning of garrisons and forts, ignored the regular payments of the mercenaries and refused the Emirs their positions in the Majlis ul-Ummah. When the Greeks and Persians invaded in concert the mercenaries in Syria swiftly disbanded and joined the invaders. Lacking coordination the Greeks soon took the entire coast, and even Baalbek. The loss of the spiritual home of the school of siege engineers stung the members of the Academy especially. With the victorious Antiocheans landing in Sicily and marching on Egypt itself the newly come of age Calipha, desperately trying to gather and organize the Nile Banners, saw no other option than surrendering Damascus to Persia.
Palermo had always been in a tenuous position, so far away from any reinforcements, and was guarded only by a token force of Mamluks and Greek converts. Led by Ioannes Spartenos, rightful prince of Napoli, the moslem Greeks consisted of the remnants of Greek Italy. Invaded by ravaging Normans Napoli, last remnant of those faithful to Byzantion, had thrown itself at those paragons of loyalty the Komnenids. Promised protection and safety by Antioch they thought themselves safe, only to be sold for a few coins when the Komnenids thought it inopportune to defend them. So it was when the forces of Antioch landed in Palermo they were met by Mamluk and Cataphract, kontos and spear leveled, songs of the furious charge are sung in Palermo to this day.
That could have been it, but the Spartenids were cursed to tragedy like the Greek plays of old. No later had they had their revenge on their former masters than the Normans invaded. Against an entire kingdom Palermo could not hold, what little was left of the garrison was evacuated to Alexandria. Where many of the Spatrenids now hold positions as advisers on cavalry tactics.
The Calipha meanwhile paces back and forth in the halls of his palace contemplating how to restore his Caliphate to the days before the rebellion, the head of Grand Vizier Mustaffa al-AI impaled on a pole outside his window.