Hello everyone, this is definitely my first AAR ever and if anyone tells you otherwise they are most definitely a liar. This AAR will be centered around a Sunni invasion of the British Isles, starting from Dublin. The AAR will switch between character based writing and gameplay writing.
Mod List:
Minimap Makeover Emboss
Clean Map Mod Dark
Rev Borders Mod
Rev Tooltip Font
Bloody Peasants
Combat Rebalance
Heir Designation for Everybody
Normal Retreat
Old Portrait Frames
Right Click to Interact Remover
Ruler Designer Unlocked
Sin's Visit Chambers
[VS] Plain map
Chapter 1 - I am Ibrahim and we are the 5000
'Fertile ground.' Ibrahim said to no one in particular as he kicked into the soft grass that made up most of the Irish Countryside. Dublin was behind them, with the 5000 invaders just leaving the city after announcing their conquest. They had picked up a few Irishmen who had declared their allegiance to them militarily, if not spiritually.
Aed Ua Flaithbertaigh was one. He rode up beside Ibrahim, eager to meet with his new ruler, or to perhaps end his rule just as soon as it had begun. Ibrahim's closest within the 5000 barred the man from coming more than an arms length from him. Nevertheless Aed waved his arm, attempting to keep a light mood, perhaps not to anger his new rulers. 'Ho there, Ibrahim! Tell me of yourself, and of course the question we all want to know the answer to - why Dublin?'
Ibrahim smirked. Luckily he had taken it upon himself to learn Irish before taking up arms against them, and so he was one of the few 5000 who could speak with Aed.
'I am of 21 years of age,' he began, 'and am descended from the Prophet himself - blessed be his name. On my 19th nameday, I took it upon myself to complete the Hajj, and there I received a vision from Allah.' Ibrahim paused, to recount the events of that day. 'I was told that our lands in al-Andalus are close to falling - and this I knew no doubt. I was lucky enough to be born near Cordoba, and so I can remember the frequent wars between Muslims and Kaffirs. Anyway, Allah has told me that a new age of jihad is to begin - and I am to lead it. I was told that to the north of al-Andalus lies the Emerald Isle - shattered between a thousand warlords. Of course upon arriving here, I have learnt that it is not a thousand warlords, but the land is shattered no doubt. I declared myself Mujahid, and upon my journey to return to home I called upon whichever man I came across, to ask for his aid in a new era of conquests. Within 2 years, I had gathered 5000 men - and they form who you see behind you, standing on the city walls, and riding next to me. Bar you of course.'
Aed smirked. 'And you outnumber the locals.' With that he rode off.
'Rashid. I have need of you.' Ibrahim called for his steward, perhaps one of the greatest administrative minds in the known world.
'What do you wish, m'lord?' Rashid arrived by his side.
'Let us return to the castle. Speak with Aed, and designate defence schedules of this land. After that, gather the council and let us meet in the Great Hall.'
Ibrahim was married to 3 women which he brought to Dublin with him from the Andalusian realms. Of course, he could always have a fourth.
The 5000 spent their time readying for inevitable war with the Irish chiefdoms, and so did Ibrahim. He held a strong belief that the center must hold, or the army collapses.
His first son, named Abu ibn Ibrahim Ibrahimid, was born.
The prospect of war was always in the air - having a strange people occupying the most powerful city in the Isle would do that. Ibrahim and the 5000 came to the Emerald Isle to conquer it, and they were ready to do so. At the beginning of 1069, a letter was sent to the Chief of Cill Dara, to the west of the 5000's land.
To whomever finds himself as ruler of the lands of Cill Dara,
We are the 5000, some of the greatest warriors in the Muslim World. We politely ask that you surrender your land and live as loyal and peaceful subjects, to avoid spilling blood onto what can be virgin land for a grand new world.
Signed,
Sheikh Ibrahim Ibrahimid of Dublin, Leader of the 5000 and the Emerald Isle
The letter was delivered by Dun Sleibe mac Eochaid, a local Irishman who laid down his arms and joined the 5000. Out of respect for his countrymen, the Chief of Cill Dara didn't have Dun Sleibe executed for delivering such an insulting message. Instead, he sent him back with another, simpler message:
Don't draw your sword unless you plan to cut something. I am ready.
The message was simple to interpret. Ibrahim ordered the local Irish levies to rise and merge with the 5000, and to march west. On the 3rd of January 1069, the two armies clashed.
Ibrahim won, as was to be expected. Outnumbering Cill Dara 7 - 1, Ibrahim won an easy victory. It seems they were not ready after all.
After the battle, the 5000 surrounded Cill Dara and waited for the city to surrender. It was only a matter of time, and inevitably the war was over.
Shortly after the war, the Council met once more within the walls of Dublin.
'M'lord.' Dun Sleibe was the first to speak. 'You are the ruler of the lands of Meath - and ancient set of lands from which Petty Kings ruled from. You have the complete right to declare yourself as Petty King of Meath.'
'Quiet Kaffir!' Court Imam Lubb yelled back across the room. 'Remember that a pious Muslim rules over these lands, not an Irish Kaffir. He needs a more fitting title like -'
'Emir.' Ibrahim finished for him with a single word. 'I hereby declare myself Emir of the Emirate of Meath. Rashid, see to it that the lands know of this. This meeting is over.'
Ibrahim gave himself a year to restore order to the subjugated provinces before continuing his wars. Two separate letters were sent to the Chiefs of Osraige and Laigin, both similar to the first declaration of war. Both messages were sent by less prominent Irishmen, and no response was received from either. Ibrahim took this as a declaration of war, and mobilised his armies.
Both Chiefdoms were aware of the fate of Cill Dara, now renamed to Kildare, and united their armies into one main force, leading an incursion into Ibrahims land.
The two armies clashed in Kildare, and the 5000 won once more.
Throughout all this battle, Ibrahim still had to attend to his lands. His 5000 had treated the Kaffirs as lesser, and had burned, raped and looted their way through the lands they had occupied. Ibrahim put a stop to this, believing that a true ruler needs to protect his people regardless of who they were.
In an attempt to get the locals to trust him more, he brought them together under a young man named Diarmait mac Enna, to assemble a Mercenary company.
The company was known as 'The Irish Followers', and Ibrahim told him that they had all gained a place in Heaven for their service to Islam.
Osraige was the first to fall to the 5000. After the grand victory at Kildare, a meagre 800 men remained from Laigins army, but Osraige lay undefended. Ibrahim sought the opportunity to end half the war quickly. They surrendered, under the condition that Osraige be ruled by its previous ruler, however a vassal of Ibrahim.
With the war going on, Ibrahim sought for new ways to invade the Irish without calling it a Holy War - potentially making other Catholic nations join in their defense. Ibrahim had sent Dun Sleib to Teadmhumhain, to prove Ibrahims legitimacy over the land.
When Ibrahim had left a year earlier for war, Steward Rashid had informed him of his plan to build a large monument in Dublin. Ibrahim left content with the knowledge that the statue would be of him, making his legacy as a conqueror visible for all for thousands of years to come. Unfortunately, a messenger came to him one day in his war tent, informing him that the 'Statue of Rashid' was done.
After Laigin surrendered, a peace was made under the same terms as the previous. The Chief of Laigin was allowed to keep his land, but became part of the Emirate of Meath.
And with that, Ibrahim declared himself Emir of the Emirate of Laigin, a title which he would no doubt later grant to one of the two subjugated Irish lords, to gain their loyalty. Within 6 years, Ibrahim and his 5000 had landed in Dublin, and quadrupled the size of their lands. The Emerald Isle was coming closer and closer into their grasp by the day.
Mod List:
Minimap Makeover Emboss
Clean Map Mod Dark
Rev Borders Mod
Rev Tooltip Font
Bloody Peasants
Combat Rebalance
Heir Designation for Everybody
Normal Retreat
Old Portrait Frames
Right Click to Interact Remover
Ruler Designer Unlocked
Sin's Visit Chambers
[VS] Plain map
Chapter 1 - I am Ibrahim and we are the 5000
'Fertile ground.' Ibrahim said to no one in particular as he kicked into the soft grass that made up most of the Irish Countryside. Dublin was behind them, with the 5000 invaders just leaving the city after announcing their conquest. They had picked up a few Irishmen who had declared their allegiance to them militarily, if not spiritually.
Aed Ua Flaithbertaigh was one. He rode up beside Ibrahim, eager to meet with his new ruler, or to perhaps end his rule just as soon as it had begun. Ibrahim's closest within the 5000 barred the man from coming more than an arms length from him. Nevertheless Aed waved his arm, attempting to keep a light mood, perhaps not to anger his new rulers. 'Ho there, Ibrahim! Tell me of yourself, and of course the question we all want to know the answer to - why Dublin?'
Ibrahim smirked. Luckily he had taken it upon himself to learn Irish before taking up arms against them, and so he was one of the few 5000 who could speak with Aed.
'I am of 21 years of age,' he began, 'and am descended from the Prophet himself - blessed be his name. On my 19th nameday, I took it upon myself to complete the Hajj, and there I received a vision from Allah.' Ibrahim paused, to recount the events of that day. 'I was told that our lands in al-Andalus are close to falling - and this I knew no doubt. I was lucky enough to be born near Cordoba, and so I can remember the frequent wars between Muslims and Kaffirs. Anyway, Allah has told me that a new age of jihad is to begin - and I am to lead it. I was told that to the north of al-Andalus lies the Emerald Isle - shattered between a thousand warlords. Of course upon arriving here, I have learnt that it is not a thousand warlords, but the land is shattered no doubt. I declared myself Mujahid, and upon my journey to return to home I called upon whichever man I came across, to ask for his aid in a new era of conquests. Within 2 years, I had gathered 5000 men - and they form who you see behind you, standing on the city walls, and riding next to me. Bar you of course.'
Aed smirked. 'And you outnumber the locals.' With that he rode off.
'Rashid. I have need of you.' Ibrahim called for his steward, perhaps one of the greatest administrative minds in the known world.
'What do you wish, m'lord?' Rashid arrived by his side.
'Let us return to the castle. Speak with Aed, and designate defence schedules of this land. After that, gather the council and let us meet in the Great Hall.'
Ibrahim was married to 3 women which he brought to Dublin with him from the Andalusian realms. Of course, he could always have a fourth.
The 5000 spent their time readying for inevitable war with the Irish chiefdoms, and so did Ibrahim. He held a strong belief that the center must hold, or the army collapses.
His first son, named Abu ibn Ibrahim Ibrahimid, was born.
The prospect of war was always in the air - having a strange people occupying the most powerful city in the Isle would do that. Ibrahim and the 5000 came to the Emerald Isle to conquer it, and they were ready to do so. At the beginning of 1069, a letter was sent to the Chief of Cill Dara, to the west of the 5000's land.
To whomever finds himself as ruler of the lands of Cill Dara,
We are the 5000, some of the greatest warriors in the Muslim World. We politely ask that you surrender your land and live as loyal and peaceful subjects, to avoid spilling blood onto what can be virgin land for a grand new world.
Signed,
Sheikh Ibrahim Ibrahimid of Dublin, Leader of the 5000 and the Emerald Isle
The letter was delivered by Dun Sleibe mac Eochaid, a local Irishman who laid down his arms and joined the 5000. Out of respect for his countrymen, the Chief of Cill Dara didn't have Dun Sleibe executed for delivering such an insulting message. Instead, he sent him back with another, simpler message:
Don't draw your sword unless you plan to cut something. I am ready.
The message was simple to interpret. Ibrahim ordered the local Irish levies to rise and merge with the 5000, and to march west. On the 3rd of January 1069, the two armies clashed.
Ibrahim won, as was to be expected. Outnumbering Cill Dara 7 - 1, Ibrahim won an easy victory. It seems they were not ready after all.
After the battle, the 5000 surrounded Cill Dara and waited for the city to surrender. It was only a matter of time, and inevitably the war was over.
Shortly after the war, the Council met once more within the walls of Dublin.
'M'lord.' Dun Sleibe was the first to speak. 'You are the ruler of the lands of Meath - and ancient set of lands from which Petty Kings ruled from. You have the complete right to declare yourself as Petty King of Meath.'
'Quiet Kaffir!' Court Imam Lubb yelled back across the room. 'Remember that a pious Muslim rules over these lands, not an Irish Kaffir. He needs a more fitting title like -'
'Emir.' Ibrahim finished for him with a single word. 'I hereby declare myself Emir of the Emirate of Meath. Rashid, see to it that the lands know of this. This meeting is over.'
Ibrahim gave himself a year to restore order to the subjugated provinces before continuing his wars. Two separate letters were sent to the Chiefs of Osraige and Laigin, both similar to the first declaration of war. Both messages were sent by less prominent Irishmen, and no response was received from either. Ibrahim took this as a declaration of war, and mobilised his armies.
Both Chiefdoms were aware of the fate of Cill Dara, now renamed to Kildare, and united their armies into one main force, leading an incursion into Ibrahims land.
The two armies clashed in Kildare, and the 5000 won once more.
Throughout all this battle, Ibrahim still had to attend to his lands. His 5000 had treated the Kaffirs as lesser, and had burned, raped and looted their way through the lands they had occupied. Ibrahim put a stop to this, believing that a true ruler needs to protect his people regardless of who they were.
In an attempt to get the locals to trust him more, he brought them together under a young man named Diarmait mac Enna, to assemble a Mercenary company.
The company was known as 'The Irish Followers', and Ibrahim told him that they had all gained a place in Heaven for their service to Islam.
Osraige was the first to fall to the 5000. After the grand victory at Kildare, a meagre 800 men remained from Laigins army, but Osraige lay undefended. Ibrahim sought the opportunity to end half the war quickly. They surrendered, under the condition that Osraige be ruled by its previous ruler, however a vassal of Ibrahim.
With the war going on, Ibrahim sought for new ways to invade the Irish without calling it a Holy War - potentially making other Catholic nations join in their defense. Ibrahim had sent Dun Sleib to Teadmhumhain, to prove Ibrahims legitimacy over the land.
When Ibrahim had left a year earlier for war, Steward Rashid had informed him of his plan to build a large monument in Dublin. Ibrahim left content with the knowledge that the statue would be of him, making his legacy as a conqueror visible for all for thousands of years to come. Unfortunately, a messenger came to him one day in his war tent, informing him that the 'Statue of Rashid' was done.
After Laigin surrendered, a peace was made under the same terms as the previous. The Chief of Laigin was allowed to keep his land, but became part of the Emirate of Meath.
And with that, Ibrahim declared himself Emir of the Emirate of Laigin, a title which he would no doubt later grant to one of the two subjugated Irish lords, to gain their loyalty. Within 6 years, Ibrahim and his 5000 had landed in Dublin, and quadrupled the size of their lands. The Emerald Isle was coming closer and closer into their grasp by the day.
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