The road was empty as night fell over the surrounding hills.
“It's not long now. Before long we'll be in Jerusalem, where the light of god will reward us for our journey.” Truth was our supplies would run out before we reached the city. Still it would not be far after that. We would just have to make do.
“It's been a week though. I would have thought we would have seen some escort on the road.”
“True, maybe after they destroyed Probus' hospital they thought nobody would dare go on pilgrimage?”
“Maybe, we'll prove them wrong though.” Two months prior before we set out on pilgrimage, the Caliph of Arabia had burned down the Christian hospital in Jerusalem and scattered the knights that lined the roads to escort Christians to their place of worship. Still we received no abuses when we arrived in Acre, hopefully the whole situation has died down now and as we make our return journey more pilgrims will arrive.
“How much further?”
“Not much. Just down this hill.”
“But its been two weeks since we left Acre, I though we would have heard something, some news perhaps or found an escort.” The sound of pounding hooves could be heard from the distance as they walked down the path.
“What's that noise? Sounds like riders, an escort maybe?” Looking back up the path, a flurry of banners could be seen, the cross of Saint George, the Papal sigil and the purple banner of the Spanish. The riders didn't appear to be slowing.
“Run!”
But it was too late. The horses rushed down the path, trampling the pilgrims beneath their hooves, and further on, towards Jerusalem. The Christian scouts cared not for the insignificant holy men who lay behind them, bleeding on the fields. God would reward them, forgive their sins. For they have been good Christians. They slaughtered the infidel and reconquered his holy city...
introduction to
Michael Warston's
The Lost Religion
A fictional story based on the suffering of everyday folk during the First Crusade
Guzman II Emperor of the Spanish, King of Leon, the Basque and Duke of Gascony
The announcement of a potential crusade into the heartland of the Islamic Caliphate shuddered Europe. The chance to strike back after the infidel was all too tempting for all true Christians. However the Pope's idea was only a consideration. Direct action would not be taken, at least not yet. The time seemed right however, following years of widespread discontent and abuse, the decadent dynasty of the Abbasids were overthrown by the Muradid dynasty. The Islamic Caliphate had definitely seen better days.
For now Guzmán kept himself occupied by continuing his Aquitainian campaign to capture Bordeaux. The Battle of Blaye saw the evenly matched forces of Aquitaine and Spain clash. The arrival of Spanish reinforcements however tipped the battle in favour of the Spanish and King Gaston was captured on the field of battle. The King at the mercy of the Spanish Emperor signed the territories of Bordeaux and Agen to Spain. The Duchy of Aquitainia was now part of the Spanish realm, and Aquitaine was forced to relocate their capital to Sancerre.
However the jubilations did not last. On the 11th of October 1104, Pope Severinus II declared a holy crusade for Jerusalem against Caliph Musa of the Muradid Caliphate. All Christians were urged to take up arms against the vile infidel.
Guzmán was all to willing to aid the Christian cause, declaring his intentions to set off for Jerusalem himself. The Pope, delighted by Guzmán's declaration named him
Rex Catholicissimus, the Most Catholic Majesty.
Guzmán set sail across the Mediterranean with around 40,000 men for Antioch where he planned to land. Landing near Jerusalem itself would be suicide. Instead Guzmán sought to lead his armies south to defeat the Mohammedan infidels before reaching the holy city.
Following the successful Spanish landing at Antioch, the army set off south where they ambushed the Caliph's forces at Zerdana. The battle saw the Christian forces scatter the Mahommedans to the four winds!
Deus Vult!
However as the Spanish armies continued south, they too where ambushed by the Caliph. A force 12,000 strong struck Guzmán's personal guard at Kafr-Tab. The Spanish forces appeared to be holding, but as foreign reinforcements arrived, the situation became unsustainable.
The Spanish were forced to retreat north following the decisive Muslim victory, the Caliph's numbers were too many for Guzmán's forces to handle. The Mahommedans however were in hot pursuit.
The Islamic armies battled the depleated Christian force at Hazab. Guzmán, separated from his force was set upon by the Emir of Ahvaz. The Emir charged at Guzmán, blade drawn high. As Guzmán turned and began to stand, the height of the Emperor shook the Infidel.
The whole 6ft 7inches struck fear into the heart of the Emir. Guzmán was no man, for the Emir came up to his polynes. The Emir upon seeing the might of the Spanish Emperor made haste and ran back into the crowd.
The battle itself however was lost, Guzmán and the remainder of his forces rushed back to their ships at Antioch. Many Spanish knights were left behind on that day. Guzmán mourned for them all on his way back across the Mediterranean. The Muradid Caliph had bested all that Spain could throw at her. Yet it was not enough. The Mahommadans had won. For now...
Upon his return to Spain, Guzmán came home to his son Carlos, now of age and a strong young man of 16. Guzmán saw fit to marry his son Carlos to Violante of Franconia. However papal dispensation was required as both were infact related. The House of Cantabria also sits the German throne of Franconia!
Two years after the begining of the First Crusade, Caliph Musa
'the bold' was slain on the field of battle by Aldebert Karling on the field of battle. The German crusader however was mortally wounded from his battle with Islam's head and died shortly after the confrontation.
The death of the Caliph saw Ubayd a boy of fourteen declared the Caliph. Following a series of military setbacks and the growing lust for power of the Caliphates subjects, many began to openly turn against the boy, and by July the Caliph had mysteriously disappeared. Following the disappearance of the ruler, Musa II a boy of 6 was given the throne. Many suspected him to be a puppet of the notorious schemer Ja'far.
Guzmán was determined to return to his crusades, the light of heaven was far too alluring for the Emperor, and so Guzmán began to rebuild his military. The Imperial retinue had disbanded following the excessive debt taken on by the crown during Guzmán's early reign. Guzmán set about creating to so called
Holy Brotherhood, the Santa Hermandad. The idea came from the Fadlid peace keeping force, the
Shurta. The local militias would maintain peace and stability throughout Spain, allowing Guzmán to send more of his knights to front-line duty. Guzmán even expanded the role of the brotherhood to roles in the Cortes de España. Many members of the brotherhood gained powerful judicial and management roles within the Cortes, however infrequent it was called.
After his military reform, Guzmán once again eyed the Holy land. Taking his best remaining forces, he set out once again. Jerusalem was not yet lost!
Instead of landing at Antioch however, Guzmán decided to land in Egypt. The vast majority of the Caliph's forces were concentrated in the levant. This way, Guzmán could undermine the Mahommedans and take Jerusalem from under their noses.
Striking fast, Guzmán's forces burst through Rafah, annihilating the outnumbering Islamic army. Truly god favoured the righteous Christian faith.
After the elimination of the Islamic armies, Jerusalem was Guzmán's for the taking. Internal instability and the threat of Roman invasion led the Caliph to divert his forces away from the Holy Land. Guzmán set out to capture the city before the armies returned. Tired from the march to the holy city, many of the crusaders wept. For their holy city and salvation stood before them. The Spanish forces surrounded the city for 5 months, starved of resources and with little food. On the morning of the 17th of May however, Bishop Gonzalo approached Guzmán. The man claimed to have had a divine vision from Jesus himself who told the Crusaders to perform a ritual. The crusaders would fast and then march barefoot around the walls of the city each day for six days, after which the city would fall. Facing a potentially mutinous army, Guzmán reluctantly agreed and on the 24th of May the cities gates opened, allowing the Crusaders to enter the city. Jerusalem was once again in the hands of the Christians! A slaughter engulfed the city as the Infidel fell to the blades of the Crusaders, Jerusalem had been liberated!
Following the news of the conquest of Jerusalem, the Pope declared the formation of two new holy orders, the Knights of St. John and the Knights Templar. The knights would defend Christian pilgrims venturing to the holy land and guard the city of Jerusalem from the Mahommedan invaders. Jerusalem is in safe hands under the guidance of Guzmán and the Christian faith.
The crusade continued for four years after the fall of Jerusalem, as the remainder of the Holy Land was captured by the Spanish forces. Eventually, following a string of defeats in their war against the Eastern Roman Empire, the Muradid Caliphate folded.
Victory was achieved, and month of celebration was declared across the Christian world. The faith was triumphant and Jerusalem had been returned to its rightful owner. Christianity had prevailed and the barbaric forces of the Caliph slaughtered, Guzmán came home to the praises of his subjects. The Emperor would surely be in the memory of the Spanish people for generations to come.
Guzmán the ever pious king however decided not to keep Jerusalem for himself. His second son, Guzmán would receive the prize and all the glory that comes with such an honour. The management of the Holy Land would also benefit if Guzmán was to control the land for the Emperor.
The tides of Islam had not been curbed however. Following the inability of Ja'far and his puppet Musa II to defend the holy land from the Christian invaders, the nobility within the Muradid Caliphate placed Ali II as their ruler. The new Caliph promised an era of renewed Jihad to fend off the Christians infidels.
Guzmán's spies also announced that the Caliph was organising a whole legion of new Holy orders to take back Jerusalem. The Arsiyah, Bektashi Order, Saqaliba and Haruriyyah swore their allegiance to the Caliph in Baghdad. It appears the Spanish will have to fight to defend the Holy Land.
The King's trimphant return from the Holy Land was met with joyous parades in the capital of Leon, jubilant crowds watched as the beloved monarch marched victoriously through the city. Guzmán had certainly sealed his place in history. Guzmán spent the rest of his life in Spain, he had proved his worth. Now was the time to settle down to matters of bureaucracy. Grand new construction projects were undertaken throughout the realm. A new castle was built in Tortosa, which housed the Imperial residence during visits to Aragon, and a giant column was erected in Leon, dedicated to Guzmán's victory over the Caliph.
5 years after the end of the first crusade, Guzmán II died at the young age of 46. He died after one of the largest feasts held in the Spanish Empire, stuffing himself silly with all range of delicacies. After his victory in the crusade, the Emperor had gorged on all manner of food, growing obese in the process.
The Emperor left his throne to his son Carlos II, who would carry of the legacy of Guzmán Longshanks.
. Overall much improved over Guzmans entry, and all for the future.
