The Battle of Religions - Rise of Islam

[Emperor Ike]

Preemptive war

So to control the Greek threat in Alania the Sultan decided to launch an preemptive campaign against Kingdom of Alania and it's vassals.

The Alanians quickly marched in to Seljuk territory with the lead of their King. By February 1076 with almost 3000 men.

The war ventured on and many men died. Many battles were fought but eventually the Seljuks managed to cross the border in to Alania. Other kind of news reached Baghdad, news that could be a threat to the Muslims. The Pope of the infidels had declared Holy War against Egypt in the name of liberating Jerusalem from them.

In December 1076 the Seljuk armies were almost finished with Maghas, the Alanian capital city and were ready to move further inland.

 

[Enewald]

Maybe they can kill the Sultan?

 

[Alfredian]

Maybe they can kill the Sultan?

and mybe an heir or two as well.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

Time for some European tourists to come to Palestine!

 

[AllmyJames]

A muslim AAR? Intriguing.

Which map are you using, btw - looks nice!

EDIT - As to the vassalization weirdness, I think it is TAG-related, since ABBA is a non-recreatable title. I suspect the game is treating you as a King-level title in some respects; hence you can vassalize emirs, and the Sultan can't vassalize you.

 

[Emperor Ike]

Great Success

So did the Seljuk armies march against the Alanian hordes destroying their armies while they ventured forth. The Sultan himself led the armies to glorious victories all over the Alanian lands.

Baghdad regiments had been split from the main armies to carry out sieges in less important locations.

By November 1078 Seljuk armies had armies had conquered over half of the Alanian provinces and they were now closing to the last castle where the remaining Alanian armies had fled.

In May 1079 Salma gave birth to an healthy baby boy.

 

[Enewald]

Are the locals still Jewish?

 

[Emperor Ike]

Are the locals still Jewish?

As far as i know Itil is the only Jewish province.

 

[Emperor Ike]

Cultural revolutions

So it was inevitable that the Alanians would lose their Alanian posessions. The Kievan Rus had attacked them too and had carved in to their vassals so deeply that after Alanian provinces had been occupied by the Seljuks the only place left for the Alanian court to go was Perekop. Soon they were force to accept peace with the Seljuks.

After the war the Seljuk Sultan started programs that aimed to rid the Arab culture from the Empire and turn everyone into an Turk. This of course didn't gain much support in the majority of Arab Sheiks,Beys and Emirs.

Many of the Seljuk vassals started to lose their loyalty and Baghdad knew that this was a good time to spread the influence. Soon Sheiks started to pledge their loyalties to Baghdad.

Also few Arab Emirs did the same.

The first Emir to declare independence was Mosul who was the ally of Baghdad. Even though Baghdad was called to help Mosul they stood with the Seljuks and continued to gather more vassals.

 

[Enewald]

Attack Mosul?

 

[AllmyJames]

And so the road to independence begins!

 

[Emperor Ike]

The Catholics are coming!

So the Emir of Mosul was quickly defeated by the Seljuks and peace was restored to the lands. But in West in the lands of Egypt things were not so great because the Croatian Catholics had landed on the beaches of the Holy Land and had defeated the defending Muslims. And to strengthen their grip over the lands they invented the Templar Order.

In Baghdad the Steward of the Emir had made a little side profit with bribes and gifts.

The eldest son of Al-Muktadi grew up and became the Marshal of Baghdad.

He had been married to the Zuhal Qara Khan of Qarakhind who happened to be...

The eldest daughter and heir of Masud Qara Khan Bey of Bukhara who then happened to be...

The Eldest son and heir of Ibrahim Tamghach Qara Khan the Sultan of Qarakhnind. Thus making All the sons of Habib as the heirs of the Qarakhnind Sultanante.

 

[Patukov]

Croatians?!

 

[Emperor Ike]

Croatians?!

Well yeah but they won't be the master of jerusalem for long...someone is going to take their place.

 

[Enewald]

Turkish?

 

[Emperor Ike]

Turkish?

Hell no!

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

Templars in Slavonia?

 

[Emperor Ike]

Trade and Land

The second son of Al-Muktadi, Aarif grew up to be a Master Theologian after he had spent numerous hours in studies with the scholars and Imams of Baghdad.

Baghdad wasn't just a place for scholars but also a traders paradise. An gateway for western traders to sell their goods for exotic things both organic and non-organic.

Egypt was losing her struggle against the Crusaders. The Templar Order had grown strong and had seized much of the Holy Land.

In East the Duchy of Porto had somehow managed to seize Samarkand for themselves after they had defeated the Khans forces there. This of course wouldn't stand for long.

So the Emir of Baghdad decided to seize the opportunity and marched to free Samarkand.

It didn't take long for Porto to yield it's claims on Samarkand. After all the Moors in Iberian peninsula were threatening to conquer them. This of course soon ended up in a all out war between the Spanish Kingdoms and the Moors.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

These Muslims must be cousins of those pesky Arabs that had laid waste to Leon and Castille while I was conquering Finland with my Swedish king and made me change my mind...

 

[Emperor Ike]

When one is over another starts

In 1089 the first child of Habib was born and he was named Salahaddin. He would become the Sultan of Khan if his mother would die.

The same year the first crusade ended and the Pope who had ordered passed away.

Not long after the Popes death the Sultan of Seljuk Turks died too and a new Sultan took his place.

In 1090 the first wife of Aarif died of illness leaving after she had inherited her fathers throne in Aleppo. Naturally the succession went on to her children leaving her three year old daughter to rule the Emirate.

Well Aarif was soon remarried to Spain where the Emirate of Sevilla was ruled by a young girl. Much rejoicing happened but the most happiest person was the Emir of Baghdad.

For Aleppo it was only natural to pledge their loyalties to Baghdad as the Emir was only three years old. After this Baghdad declared war on Egypt to save the Arab lands from the Templars.

It only took few months before Egypt accepted to give Damascus and Palmyra to Baghdad.

Now that Jerusalem was liberated a new crusade was launch against the Moors in Spain who had taken over half of the peninsula.

The Emirate of Sevilla had fought fiercely against the catholics and while their attentions had been in Jerusalem it had been easy to defeat the Spaniards who had been left alone with no defense.