Al-Iqritiya-the Saracens of Crete: A Hafsid Old Gods AAR

[Saxon125]

Wow just wow I congratulate you on your success. I wonder what will happen now.

 

[Crimson Drakon]

Chapter 8: The Decadence of the Hafsid Caliphate- The struggle for restoration – The boy in the golden cage- The Hafsid Dichotomy

Caliph Faisal enjoying the opulence of the Hafsid Court(from Cormon Fernard Le Harem http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cormon_Fernand_Le_harem_Oil_On_Canvas.jpg)

In the years of Caliph Faisal, the Caliph of all Ibadi and Arabs, the Hafsid had amassed wealth beyond imagination: golden doors secured his palace in Damascus, his guards were clad in gold and the pillars of the palace were said to be adorned with gems and jewels. His harem was composed of the most beautiful women of all the Caliphate: Andalusian, Persian, Greek, Egyptian and so many more nationalities competed along with the legal wives of the Caliph for a part of his time.

The Hafsid had no need to be the warriors of old, to fight and expand from their modest holdings in Crete: they were scholars, poets, masters of coin and so further more. Culture, music and poetry advanced in this age, and many a writer, an astronomist and famous figures of History came to the Hafsid court to promote their art and be under the protection of the Caliph. Around those years the Hafsid Caliphs even funded a project to write a Golden Quran , however such a copy has not survived.

Yet in all this time of seeming splendor, the people clamored for change: the richer became richer and the poorer more poor. Despite extended charity, in compliance with one of the pillars of Islam, it was not enough. The multi-ethnic Caliphate could not be glued together from the existence of a dynasty which lived in pillows and soft life than the cold desert wind and the sword.


9 April 1132 of the Christians

A guard rushes inside the palace chamber, panting from running.

“…m..my Caliph?! I… I have urgent news!”

“Silence!” roared the Caliph

“Continue with the dance!”

The music resumed and two harem dancers continued with their display of art, swinging their veils as if they were swords. The spectacle was most impressive and the court clapped loudly, as the harem dancers bowed.
Suddenly though this scene of joy came at an end: for the streets of Damascus echoed with the chanting and enraged roar of the populace and the smell of smoke filled the area

“What is happening? What is going on?!”

“My Caliph! The people have rebelled against your dynasty rule! News from far away Andalusia have come, slaughtering each and every Hafsid member of your dynasty and already packs of peasant rebels are storming the palace! There is heavy fighting outside and our troops do their most to keep them at bay!”

The court was in panic! Each and everyone screamed and were in terror, trying to escape the inevitable.

“…but..but … I am the ruler of the world..” mumbled Caliph Faisal

The palace shook and rumbled, as if an earthquake took place. Screams and shouts filled the room and in mere seconds, sword clashes were held and cries of agony, male and female.

“..To..to arms! Eh…”

The Caliph was at a loss. No sooner than he spelled a few words, the main palace door was broken into pieces and armed Bedouin warriors rushed in, killing the surprised guards and shoving the women aside. They all headed towards the Caliph.

A man stepped forward, who seemed to be the leader of this coup.

“Caliph Faisal! Your dynasty has a lot to answer to the people and Allah himself! The only thing that saves you from being slaughtered like a lowly pig is your status as Caliph of all Ibadi, which you have shamed so much! By order of the new Andalusian Caliph, I strip you of your title of Caliph of all Ibadi and Arabs and you are to be thrown in the very same prison you placed so many of your kin and not only! Take him away!!”

Two men grasped the former Caliph Faisal and threw him in the dungeon. What terrible dream was this? It was as if he was part of the stories of the travelling poets in his former Caliphate, where a wicked Sultan placed a mere beggar on his throne and the next day drugged him and threw him back into the streets…and then back again into the opulent bed of the Sultan as Sultan himself.

It was the end of the Hafsid Caliphate with him as Caliph

Months later

The new Andalusian Caliph ruled from the very edge of the Caliphate, having only mere correspondence with the traditional “heart” of the Arabian Caliphate, that is Damascus and the environments.
Despite the Hafsid decadence, Caliph Faisal was loved by his vassals for his excess parties he threw and his relaxed rule upon them. So it was not news that there were rumors to restore him to power and throw the upstart Caliph in the dungeons instead

And those rumors became action: for a new war begun, this time to restore the Caliph Faisal back into his seat!

The Caliph overheard the conversation from two guards who had been stationed to guard him. They looked at the Caliph and nodded amongst themselves, but the Caliph could not know whether that was in encouragement for his troubles to end with his new installation, should the war come to his terms or else…

10 March 1134 of the Christians

The sun rose and a few of its rays came into the dungeon where the former Caliph Faisal was held. The rusted door opened and the two guards came in and rose him up with force.
The Caliph thought the war ended and he would again rule over the Caliphate…

Instead they tore down his clothes and left him only with a white loincloth. They pushed and shoved him outside the dungeon and escorted him to the palace yard. Inside there was quite a few assembly, which when they saw him began to shout upon him and curse his name. Upon where once he was, the Andalusian Caliph began to speak in the Levantine tongue:

“Behold the wretch of Hafsid! Behold he who with vile organized a rebellion against the purified Caliphate unto me! There is one law and only one which is dealt with traitors, especially those who are haram to the core…. Death!”

Faisal Hafsid was hit on his knees and his head rested upon the marble block of the palace. He remembered seeing a large bulky man holding a large, sharp scimitar…then the world became black

Back in Damascus, some days after the execution of the former Caliph Faisal Hafsid

“That mangy scurvy dog! That upstart! He executed mine own father!!”

Sultan Ismat Hafsid was obviously distressed. The Caliph Tawfiq, the new Caliph, in an effort to end the war just before it begun, took the life of his father and with it, he made a bold statement towards everyone in such a direction.

“I will not be intimidated! The Hafsids emerged the Ibadi and the Faith now runs to the corners of the world! I shall take back what is mine! His head will roll upon the filthy alleys of Damascus, I vow to the Prophet this!”

The war did not last for long. Already, the uproar by the action of the new Caliph was plenty and when the Hafsid troops stormed the palace of the Andalusian Caliph, everything was over.

The Hafsid Dynasty again came upon the throne of the Caliphate, this time purged in the memory of the people from its sins.

But again though, this was not enough. Distant branches of the dynasty lived in splendor and it was rumored that even the wives of the Caliph Ismat Hafsid indulged in haram. As such, Caliph Ismat Hafsid, took it upon himself to become the Quadi upon the world and especially upon his dynasty, executing, assassinating, imprisoning each and every one who did not follow the Quran, which he had memorized completely. While that was beneficial to the impression of the people towards the decadence of the faith, it agitated the vassals and especially the kinsmen.

Caliph Ismat one day passed the spirit at age 53, disappointed with the world and the lack of understating for his mission. His son, Caliph Ismat the II came unto power, however he had not a strong composition and fell ill most of the time. One time was too much and at age 20, he died and left in charge of the Caliphate his 1 year old son Jamil.

A 1 year old was now Caliph of all the Ibadi and the Arabs…

His life became a work of literature for the Arab world, since his journal survived and drew inspiration for many a poem and song. Caliph Jamil was known as The Boy in the Golden Cage.

“……
I knew not father nor mother, but only my uncle who came to visit me and tell me how the world loves the Hafsid and me. I am Sultan of places I have not seen. I see the sunlight through bars and can only imagine what lies beyond these four walls. I am read to often and hope one day to travel to all those places I have been told about. Damascus, Arabia, Crete…they seem majestic.

The people who placed me here I do not know. They told me they were plenty and that they were angry with my family for some reason.

I barely remember how the outside world is. I used to play in a court yard, chasing the guards and I remember many who took care of me. Now I am here in this dark room with only companion this parchment to draw and write.

…..

The walls are cold and the ceiling leaks. I feel weaker and weaker by the day… I hope one day to feel the warmth of light upon my bones, maybe a guard could one day tell those men to let me take a walk and breathe some fresh air....

…….

The years pass with nothing but books to read and the occasional visit from my uncle. I am 16 now and considered a full man…to do what? Stare upon the wall…
……
I convinced a guard to pass this letter to my captors, maybe after all these years they will take pity and let me be placed into better conditions…

Years passed and no answer still, I am forgotten from the world. My only companion is the guard who keeps an eye out for me, and his only words are those when food is served. I am sure I will never see the sunlight nor those magic places I was read to when I was little..perhaps in Paradise I will ride the white camels and take pleasure for my sinless “life”…

The tale of the Boy in the Golden Cage was spread by his uncle, Sultan Nuraddin to the poets and scholars of the Caliphate. The boy’s innocent words of despair and genuine lack of sin caused a massive uproar for the new Caliphate usurpers.

Nuraddin Hafsid took the opportunity and pressed his claim upon the revolutionaries of the Hafsid Decadence

Many a battle was held and upon such battle, Nuraddin himself slew the upstart Caliph. His army was demoralized heavily and the war for the Caliphate was won once again by the Hafsids.

Caliph Nuraddin reinstalled Hafsid rule upon the Caliphate. His reign was mostly serene, trying to expand the Caliphate beyond the Andalusian borders and attempting to conquer the Kingdom of Navara, which held half of Spain.

However the dagger of an assassin stopped his plans and Caliph was now Ismat the III, another underage Caliph.

Caliph Ismat the III was known in the Arabian world for three things: his repulse of another Catholic Crusade to liberate Greece, which purged the sins of the Hafsid once again, the Jihad for Italy which he called and won, in response to the Catholic attacks all these years and the terrible revolt against the decadence of his dynasty, which he fought to the bitter end.

Chroniclers would commemorate ,of all those battles, one which showed the Hafsid spirit to resist: the battle of Duma

With the odds heavily against them, the Hafsids blocked the swarm of revolutionaries and fought them till all the defenders perished upon the scorched desert. 50.000 or so of the revolutionaries died and with them they took the Hafsid defenders.

And as history repeated itself, Caliph Ismat the III, the one who repelled the Catholics, the one who brought Italya under Muslim control, was thrown into a pit of a dungeon in Egypt to rot the end of his days.

However, knowing that the end was inevitable, Caliph Ismat the III gave his son Sultan Majid all the rightful documents and he was send off into Arabia, from where the latter declared independence from the Caliphate before the usurpers took their place.

The world when Ismat III Hafsid was imprisoned

In a few months, Ismat III could not hold anymore as the condition of the dungeon pit were terrible and Sultan Majid Hafsid was now the new Hafsid Dynasty Head.

As mentioned before, Arabia declared its independence from the Caliphate shortly before the Hafsid Decadence Revolt climaxed and thus, Sultan Majid was not a part of the –now Adhid- Caliphate. He was though Sultan of both Syria(through inheritance) and Arabia. However, scheming vassals saw an opportunity to strengthen their position and demanded of Sultan Majib to give control of Syria to his brother

Sultan Majid complied and as such the Hafsid Dichotomy was applied.

Sultan Majid Hafsid’s rule was characterized by war in the wider Arabian peninsula and he also passed into Miaphysite Abyssynia, carving a part for his own. Still, when he was stronger and his brother could not cope with some rebellions at hands, he stroke and bid his claim back unto the Sultanate of Syria.

Unfortunately though, Pneumonia claimed Sultan Majid’s life and Sultan Ashraf, another boy, came to be the Sultan of Arabia. It was to be tested whether the underage Sultan would be inflicted with the curse of the underage Hafsid rulers or turn the tide and unite , for start, the split Hafsid

 

[DensleyBlair]

That was an incredibly enjoyable update. It's a rare thing in AARs seeing a dynasty fall so spectacularly that it's always an interesting read when it does happen. You certainly didn't disappoint with this update – plenty of turmoil to enjoy!

I'm interested to see how you'll rebuild from here.

 

[alscon]

An update spanning over one hundred years, complete with the constant struggle for power and the rise, fall, rise and fall of Hafsid rule. After the golden age, a period of war. After this very eventful period, the Ibadi faith is split, powerful sultanates contest the Caliph's power, and an external threat has risen, taken advantage of the turmoil.

Persia has fallen. I'm looking forward to how the Hafsids will deal with the Caliph and the Ilkhanate.

 

[Specialist290]

An appropriately tumultuous era for such a proud and decadent house. I wonder how the earlier Hafsids would view their surviving descendants in the present age...

 

[Saxon125]

Wow what a messy period. Still congrats on regaining power.

 

[Crimson Drakon]

That was an incredibly enjoyable update. It's a rare thing in AARs seeing a dynasty fall so spectacularly that it's always an interesting read when it does happen. You certainly didn't disappoint with this update – plenty of turmoil to enjoy!

I'm interested to see how you'll rebuild from here.

I tried to recap in a summary as possible this power struggle and the inability to keep the main Arabian Empire title due to decadence... and it could have been historically possible, meaning all this wealth lead to a distance both with the faith and the average values an average Levantine would have.. thus all these uprisings(although it was inhumanely possible to fight 300k outraged Bedouins-at once )

An update spanning over one hundred years, complete with the constant struggle for power and the rise, fall, rise and fall of Hafsid rule. After the golden age, a period of war. After this very eventful period, the Ibadi faith is split, powerful sultanates contest the Caliph's power, and an external threat has risen, taken advantage of the turmoil.

Persia has fallen. I'm looking forward to how the Hafsids will deal with the Caliph and the Ilkhanate.

This pretty much sums it all...although great achievements happened(the failed Catholic Crusades, the Jihad for Italy which expelled the Catholic Pope from his traditional lands) still decadence was everywhere, at a point it was +17% per month, with the inability to even do anything (falsely repented dynasty members, unwillingness to join plots to remove them, and so on). Sadly yes, the Ibadi Persian Empire has fallen to the Mongols, making them pretty much a nominal title...

An appropriately tumultuous era for such a proud and decadent house. I wonder how the earlier Hafsids would view their surviving descendants in the present age...

Certainly Umar the Emir would have been proud his book lead to such an upheaval of Muslim religion, after all he did the same to expand into the near East. As of the other Hafsids...well...certainly money-counters, perfumed diplomats and bookworm scholars wouldnt have been the ideal men to carry on the Hafsid legacy. Even more so child-rulers.

Wow what a messy period. Still congrats on regaining power.

Thanks! In a Sword of Islam game in CK2 you can reach great heights but also reach the very bottom... although I have to say I am content that the Hafsids didnt end with only a county or so!

 

[Crimson Drakon]

(around this time, Charlemagne set the new laws of the game!)

Chapter 9: Sultan Ashraf Hafsid the Great

When Sultan Majid was taken from the world, Sultan Ashraf, later known as the “Great”, was only 13 years of age, and was called upon to take the burden of the Sultanate of Arabia along with primarily a war against his uncle for Syria. Of course, since he was under age, those decisions were mainly made by his regent and by his mother, the Queen Mother Aesha who played a decisive role in shaping his personality

In the Hafsid palace of Mecca

Children laughters can be held all over the corridors. The noise of running upset the palace and all the servants exited the rooms to see what was going on. The young Sultan along with his friends stormed the kitchen and began to encircle the Master Cook, asking for sweets, food and whatnot. He laughed with the requests of the children and asked of his kitchen assistants to help the young children with whatever they wished.

But then Queen Mother Aesha came inside.

“ASHRAF!! How many times have I told you, no more sweets and food! You will become enormous like your uncle in Al-Italya who has eaten all that exotic gourmet from the Christians!”

“But I like food! My stomach rumbles…and it helps me forget…”

“No Ashraf, no more”

Ashraf pouted and left the kitchen with a lowered head…he had his way though and went into the kitchen despite the warning, twisting the facts and with his gregarious nature.

The young Sultan was a peculiar case. He had a lot of friends, due to his position, he had a way with words and his sense of justice showed that he would do his best to bring order to the tarnished name of the House Hafsid.

However, what worried his mother and others, was his lack of interest in war, athletics and all those surviving skills which were needed to further protect and expand the Hafsid Sultanate. Instead young Ashraf spent his time with the female girls of his age, commenting their dresses and jewelry and in general how they would look beautiful. There were rumors that he often looked and acted effeminate but since he was the Sultan, they were hushed down.

As noted above, Sultan Ashraf with his Regent and Queen Mother had to complete the war inherited by his father, which would unite the broken away from the Caliphate Hafsid once more. Many a battle was held, which were more or less victorious for the Arabian Hafsids.

In the end, the war was won by Ashraf who had come of age

A portrait of young Ashraf, before he won the Sultanate of Syria

The first war of the Sultan was won and many celebrations were held both in Arabia and Syria for now the Hafsids once again had their traditional domain united. To feast this victory, Queen Mother arranged for the Sultan some “private” time for Ashraf to spend with his wives, but his general unwillingness fueled the rumors furthermore that Ashraf was not so interested to fulfill his marriage obligations…

And indeed, some more extremists saw this again as an opportunity to topple off the decadent Hafsid who now had this suspicion as well to enlist in their family tree of “achievements”

A day after the news of the Decadence Revolt

“Mother! Oh Mother, it has begun again, the curse of the family!! Again a revolt against our rule for our family vices!!”

“Ashraf, if you only kept face and did as you were asked…I brought you the most beautiful wives of the entire Muslim world and you had not touched even a lock of hair! The shame!”

“This is not our topic today Mother, if we don’t fight them back, I will be the new tenant of the Golden Cage and I have no desire to spend my entire life in prison while these brutes spoil my conquests!”

Queen Mother Aesha nodded and called with Ashraf the war council to examine the situation. The revolt was not as numerous since the victories of Ashraf had given confidence that he was not an entire failure. Nevertheless, the revolutionaries would put up a fight, and so it was decided for the entire army to meet them in Awas where it would be make or break for the Hafsids.

The military talent of the Hafsid generals made short work of the revolutionaries and the first Hafsid Decadence Revolt in Syria was dealt with promptly. The defeated were displayed as a reminder of what would happen to those who would dare again cross the line of servitude.

Not even a year had passed and the Queen Mother already pestered Ashraf to expand the Hafsid Sultanate, this time to conquer the glorious city of Baghdad and bring it into Hafsid hands.

The Persian Emperor, when his forces scattered, was quick to call a peace and cede control of Baghdad to the Hafsids.

Around that time, the Caliph Adhid, the Usurper, called for a Jihad to reclaim Persia from the Ilkhanate. The support was not numerous, since Sultan Ashraf and his Queen Mother decided to actively ignore it, first for reasons having to do with the usurpation of the Caliphate and secondly because of the good relationship with the Ilkhanate… numerous trade agreements had been signed and it had been rumored that the Khagan was very fond of the Sultan and shared similar interests…

In fact it had been a topic of conversation amongst the people of the Sultanate, but always in quiet voices

However this very nature and broadness of mind also lead to Ashraf to issue a tolerance policy for the people of the Bible and it was also rumored that he read occult books, in search perhaps of answers for his internal questions.

The voices though silenced when Sultan Ashraf managed to procure an heir to the Sultanate, a boy named Radhi. In celebration of these news and the renewed faith towards their ruler, Sultan Ashraf decided it was time to expel the usurper Caliph from Damascus and reinstall the Syrian Capital.

The reclaiming of the Syrian capital caused much unrest into the Ibadi Caliphate, and through internal power politics, Sultan Ashraf’s uncle became the new Caliph, and the Hafsids once again were Caliphs of all the Arabs and the Ibadi.

There was much joy for this turn of events. Sultan Ashraf wrote a letter to congratulate his uncle on his ascension to the throne and of the glory of the Hafsids, hopefully this would improve the name of the family and disassociate this with the vices being charged with.

However his uncle did not take the letter with much warmth and since he was now the Caliph, the judge of morality upon the Ibadi, he was quick to punish his nephew for his “extreme” lifestyle

Sultan Ashraf was taken aback and became disgusted that even his family would judge his decisions so harshly and already the questions which troubled his mind such as the right of the people under spiritual morality to make him accountable for what he and what his family does became even more intense.

In the Damascene palace of the Hafsid Sultanate

“That glutton!! It seems he did not have enough sweets to feed himself in Italya, he now wants Syria as well for a meal!! Well I shall give him a meal that would cause him an ache at his stomach for sure…”

The Hafsid Caliph chose Crete as his battlefield, as the conquest of the isle would bring much glory to the one who held it, since it was the cradle of the Hafsids after all.

Ashraf though managed and defeated the Caliphate armies of his “dear” uncle, slowing him down from his advance to Syria.

However an unexpected turn of events put a halt upon the appetite of the Hafsid Caliph: for a decadence revolt soon broke out and stormed the landholdings in Italya!

The Caliph, to save himself, preferred to place himself in the prison of Ashraf than to face the decadence revolutionaries!! And then it was a wonder why the name was tarnished..

Ashraf agreed, after all his uncle would now be in his custody and he would surely be put under diet..

With time, Sultan Ashraf matured and the questions in his mind began to take the form of answers, solutions which though would cause much unrest and dissatisfaction.

It was then that the Sultan took his steed and rode into the desert, to contemplate upon the world and find inner peace

"The Arab and his Steed" by Jean-Léon Gérôme http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gérôme_-_The_Arab_and_his_Steed.jpg

One day though, as he was traversing the desert, his horse became exhausted and fell to the ground, throwing him off as well. Fortunately he was not much harmed, but his horse looked as if it would let its dying breath.

Of course, this was a certain death penalty for himself as well, since he did not have so many rations and water to supply himself, let alone to fend for himself for days…

He caressed the head of the horse as to ease its suffering…in a few minutes the horse passed away and Ashraf was alone in the wilderness.

He looked around him and saw the complete emptiness of the desert: vast sand dunes and around him the mountain range.

He was sure that Allah punished him for his choices, as the Court Imam warned him. What is more, with the Ibadi faith he knew that he would burn eternally in Hell with no chance of salvation. Perhaps even now, he was dead and he did not know it…

He shouted in the desert. He shouted again.

Complete silence.

It was afternoon, and the sun would set in a few hours. The desert would now be cold and who knows what would roam in search for food…surely the carcass of his horse would attract many an animal, so he decided to begin walking towards the mountains, in search of shelter.

He walked and walked with a steady pace…in a few minutes he reached the mountain base, which was rocky and seemingly inhospitable. Surely, what he lived was described in the Biblical records and in the Quran all too well, but now it was him that was under trial.

Suddenly though, he heard footsteps from upon the mountain. It seemed there was some crevice which he could not see, but what mattered the most was that there were people here in this vast desert.

“Hello!”

No response.

He thought to himself. What if they were brigands? Was it wise what he just did?

He armed his sword for any case, at least he would die by the sword

A figure with a tonsured head popped out from the cliff.

“By God, are you a brigand? Stay away or I will throw this rock upon you to meet your maker!”

Ashraf was quick to solve the misunderstanding

“No no, I am a traveler, I lost my horse in the desert and I was looking for help!”

“What else you would have said..begone!”

Ashraf became panicked in the prospect of losing his chance of survival. It was obvious that this man was some form of priest, so the danger of becoming prey was minimal

“Here in good will, I place my sword on the ground…”

Ashraf threw his sword and raised his arms. The priest looked and examined Ashraf. Perhaps now, the priest would be reassured…

“Although I am not entirely convinced, I will help you only because of my Creed… come, let me throw you the rope and I hope to God that you are not heavy!!”

In a few minutes, Ashraf was with the priest, an ascete of an order which prayed for the salvation of Mankind and believed in Jesus. They were Christians.

After exchanging words, though Ashraf concealed his true identity, it became apparent to him that the priest followed the teachings of Nestorian, an ancient Christian teaching much spread in Syria of old, even before the Sunni.
They came upon a cave and inside, modestly furnished, was a large wooden table and sitting upon a wooden throne was a man who seemed to be their religious leader.

“Come in my son…and who is this stranger who you bring…”

Ashraf came closer and looked upon the head of the order

“Why…you must either be a rich merchant from your garments or royalty…but what business do you have in the desert? We pray to God and Jesus the Divine and Human for the salvation of Mankind..”

Ashraf avoided to answer but came upon some words

“I came to the desert to contemplate upon my questions”

“Questions…hm…have you found your answers then?”

“I am not sure… What answers I have come with, they do not assure me completely”

“Then you are still on your quest for enlightenment. Why come again and we can talk stranger, brother Addai here will show you the way both to leave and return. We have to return to our prayers…”

Ashraf nodded and together with priest Addai, they returned to Antioch and from where, Ashraf went back to Damascus.

This encounter gave much thought to Ashraf, who upon seeing the elderly Christian saw something that not one of his Court Imams could give: the spiritual reassurance and wisdom of the world.
Sultan Ashraf with time became even more tolerant to the Christian people, allowing them to build churches of grandeur in the Muslim cities. Of course this lead to much protests and revolts…

Which Ashraf was prompt to deal with, as one of the glorified battles at Dibin showed:

To quell all these revolts, Ashraf had to spend a long time on the battlefield, hearing the advice of those more experienced in war and planning the course of the battles. During that time, he became affectionate with another comrade in arms, and named him his bodyguard. Of course that fueled even more the revolts for this open show of Ashraf’s favoritism.

In fact, Sultan Ashraf at that point did not really pay any attention to his wives or his harem and he openly accepted their deeds.

The constant rebellions, declarations of war from other Ibadi rulers(and the Caliph) against Syria and generally the negativism towards his desires and policies caused much stress to Ashraf, that not even his beloved ones could help.

All these events caused Sultan Ashraf to become further more convinced that the answers he had procured in his head were becoming more and more true. The talks he had with his Court Imam, the Patriarch of the East with whom he met on that day his horse died in the middle of the desert and rabbi representatives shaped his mindset.

Ashraf aged furthermore and his son Radhi had become an adult, ready to lead the Hafsid when the time came. He had become a scholar, reading and writing about the differences in religions, obviously influenced by his father.
A day came, when Ashraf was ill and he called upon the members of his household and most importantly Radhi. He gave him a letter, his will as he said, to be read upon to the people the day he would die. Radhi nodded, he was becoming prepared for this event for quite some time and it seemed the day would come even more near.

After a few months , the inevitable happened and Sultan Ashraf died at the age of 78, after witnessing people call him Great despite their open disapproval of his tendencies and open support of the people of the Bible. However, they could not believe their ears when Sultan Radhi now read in public the will of Sultan Ashraf:

“People of Syria and Arabia, my subjects,

When I have left the spirit, Sultan Radhi will read this letter to you, my will. You have honored me by calling me Great in life and for that I thank you. However I did not witness the moral support of the religious authorities in my bid to clean the name of the Hafsid , nor was there support to ease the burden of the people of the Bible whom they too are people like you and me. Instead, they preached about Eternal Hell and did not do much than criticize and judge without offering any alternative solutions.

Therefore with this, I authorize my son, Radhi, to reveal to you all that he has been taught by the Patriarch of the East and follows the Creed of the Nestorians, now known as the Hafsid Creed. The Ibadi religious authorities will cease to be the one and only recognized way of public worship and same rights will be given to the Christian and Jews. There will be liberty of worship and those of you who join the Nestorian faith shall be rewarded threefold by my son.

The Hafsid Decadence will end as such. No more shall my line be burdened by a weight that cannot be held. Radhi will no longer be obliged to be considered the Head of the Dynasty and he will not be accountable for what relatives do, as Nestorian creed teaches. Rather we now forgive and forget any slights that may happen and for any reason the Christian Hafsids will not be called for whatever happens in Armenia, Georgia , Italy or elsewhere Hafsids rule.

May the Hafsids always live and rule! Long live Syria and Arabia!”

 

[DensleyBlair]

Oh, well that is interesting. I doff my cap to you, sir - that was a lively twist. Though the hints were definitely there, I had certainly not envisaged that the family's conversion would have been so swift.

Looking forward to the repercussions immensely.

 

[alscon]

The end of the decadence! With all that experience gained through war in his long reign, Ashraf chose the most radical method to stop it.

A surprising turn of the table, for sure. The Caliphate will not take it lightly to have lost Mecca and Medina to Christians. Not to mention your vassals.

By the way, did the conversion change how the Ibadi faith is handled? Is Sunni now still an Ibadi heresy or has it been replaced? Not that it would make an impact on the world, I'm just curious.

 

[Crimson Drakon]

Oh, well that is interesting. I doff my cap to you, sir - that was a lively twist. Though the hints were definitely there, I had certainly not envisaged that the family's conversion would have been so swift.

Looking forward to the repercussions immensely.

Before Charlemagne, the decadence was intolerable, it was a monthly 20%+ and it was obvious by the 4 decadence revolts that happened. Now, because of the bug, every Muslim in the game is decadence free . Anyways, I do not really regret the change because the game had become a bit of stale, the only room to expansion was to the Ilkhanate which turned Sunni.

Ashraf's sympathy towards Christendom tied in well for the later events to happen!

The end of the decadence! With all that experience gained through war in his long reign, Ashraf chose the most radical method to stop it.

A surprising turn of the table, for sure. The Caliphate will not take it lightly to have lost Mecca and Medina to Christians. Not to mention your vassals.

By the way, did the conversion change how the Ibadi faith is handled? Is Sunni now still an Ibadi heresy or has it been replaced? Not that it would make an impact on the world, I'm just curious.

In this game, because of the game mechanics, the Ibadi is considered the main faith and Sunni,Yazidi,Zikri,Kharijite are Ibadi heresies. But I am certain in a new game it wont be such.

 

[Crimson Drakon]

Chapter 10: The first Nestorian Hafsid Sultans- The Christianization of the Hafsid Sultanate- The Holy War for Jerusalem

When the letter ended, there was complete silence. Radhi looked upon the populace that had gathered and the people looked unto Radhi. He was nervous: there he was telling the people that he was a Nestorian, he accused them through his father’s will that they made him to turn to Christianity so the people would no longer criticize him that he is not doing his job of putting the Hafsid branches in order and that those who left Ibadism, they would be rewarded threefold for their conversion(would the treasury have so many coins, he wondered?)

“Oh father, what have you done…” he murmured inside. Radhi could have been a crypto-Christian and in time promote reforms to balance repressed movements but not so drastically as to change the religion of an entire realm overnight.

Like the calm before the storm, the people erupted in angry shouts and began to throw vegetables towards the balcony of the palace. Some more calm began to stop them and told them that the Sultan would give them money, which was needed and they would do what they want in the end. The Imams had become furious and ruptured their clothing in despair, what happened was a scene of total madness

Radhi lost it for a moment, but he was taught to be brave, at least he thought, he would become a martyr for his faith and be remembered as the Hafsid who ruled the least.

“SILENCE!! SILENCE!!” someone roared

The people stopped and the hoofs of an animal were heard. Inside the palace courtyard, with the assembled mob, came a man upon a donkey, obviously a Christian teacher. The people observed him closely and once he reached near the courtyard, he dismounted.

“ I am Mar Yahballah the II, the Patriarch of the East. I have come when I heard the news of the death of Sultan Ashraf, the stranger who came upon me one day searching for answers. It seems he found them.”

“And here now his son declares upon you that he follows my faith and asks that those who follow him, will be receiving threefold in compensation. Has he asked you to abandon your faith in force? No, you may continue to believe as you do. For Sultan Ashraf promised the liberty of faith for all and especially to you, the vast majority of his people.”

The Patriarch then looked at the Imams.

“And you, why do you protest as such? Has he stripped you of your titles and your seat? You may as well continue to teach to your flock, as I do with mine.”

The Imams looked one another. It was word versus word…until a voice sprang up and said

«Christian, there is no denying the Sultan would keep his word…he is a Hafsid and should be revered, since the blood of the Prophet flows in him. What about you though? You speak and orate for the Sultan as if you are him…and that could have been proposed to be a blasphemy…and you know what we do with blasphemers..”

The Imams gave a look and then grinned slyly with the argument. Maybe if the Patriarch backed down, Sultan Radhi might change his mind and end this parody from the moment it begun.

“I speak for the Sultan because I have raised him as if he was my earthly child. In no way however I am above him as we all are equal children of God- Allah. I sense though doubt in your voice for my beliefs. Of course I cannot speak for the Sultan, though I know his bravery all too well. But as for me, even if God claims my life at this moment, I am prepared to ordeal myself to show my faith to you. Thus I shall pass the trial of fire!”

(Trial by Fire of St. Francis of Assisi before the Sultan of Egypt- Giotto)

The followers of the Patriarch quickly placed the charcoal and put them on fire. When the time was right, the Patriarch in a calm mindset crossed the fiery path. The embers were glowing but the Patriarch continued on, mumbling prayers as he walked, with his arms crossed and the smell of burning flesh was beginning to be sensed by everyone. The Patriarch though, continued on until he collapsed at the very end of the trail, with his assistants running to help him.

He survived the trial of fire in the amazed eyes of the assembled folk. There was silence and afterwards hushed talks of admiration for this Christian monk of the desert. The Imams though were resistant and muttered that he was an agent of Shaytan in disguise, thus his affinity for fire.

Some months later, news of the miracle of the Patriarch spread and many of the vassals pledged to change their belief.

Others needed to be convinced by money or titles…whatever it was, the transition was not entirely difficult except for a few zealous supporters of the Ibadi faith. Still, in time they too followed. The populace however was a different story, preferring to cling to their faith and the imams for quite some time.

Of note there were open revolts to re-instate Ibadism, namely in Oman and in Crete

The Hafsid army rushed to put down these armed displays of resistance, since when left unchecked they spread to other parts of the realm, endangering its stability.

Overall though, Sultan Radhi, despite his dramatic entrance, ruled peacefully and with his brave personality captured his vassal’s attention and convinced them to be Nestorian instead, since the Caliph was far away from their immediate needs. Furthermore, it was at Radhi’s reign that the Sultanate of Africa, which was won by Ashraf during the later years of his life, became Nestorian as well when Radhi returned it to its former owner, the Khaldun Dynasty, in exchange for their conversion.

Alas, God claimed Radhi’s life and Sultan Ghazi, his son ruled in his stead.

It should be noted that Sultan Radhi had given when in life the Sultanate of Arabia to his second son, Sultan Ashraf the II, as to further Christianize the Arabian Peninsula. Zahir, his third son, inherited Antioch.

Sultan Ghazi, as his name implies (the warrior), fought many a battle both to expand the Christian now Hafsid Sultanate, and to quell Ibadi uprisings.

His first war that he called upon, was to liberate Cilicia and make it a part of the Syrian Sultanate.

In one such battle, the two Sultans came one upon the other, their swords clashing, the one to defend his faith, the other to expand his realm.

Unfortunately for him, the Ibadi Sultan was unlucky and his death spelled the victory of the Hafsids. Cilicia was once more into the domain of Syria, lost ages ago in the Caliphate times.

What marked though Sultan Ghazi’s reign was the Holy War for Jerusalem. A dream for many Christians, but never realized, Sultan Ghazi headed with his army to bring the city under Christian rule, lost to the Muslims from the reign of Roman-Byzantine Emperors.

Speaking of Romans, an event transpired outside the gates of Damascus, just as the Hafsid Nestorian army was preparing to march to holy war. The then Patriarch of the East, rode from Antioch to Damascus to present a gift to the Sultan and to wish him victory in his war.

Before the amassed soldiers, the Patriarch came and gave the Sultan a supposedly white sheet. He unfolded it and behold, came the image of a man which bore much resemblance to Jesus himself.

(10th century icon at St Catherine's monastery, Mount Sinai- Image of Edessa)

The Patriarch explained that it was called the Mandylion and that it was actually the burial shroud of the Lord and that it would protect the army from ill fortune.

The morale of the army was raised to heights, at least those soldiers who had adopted Nestorianism. With the Mandylion as his banner, Sultan Ghazi rode to fight the Caliphate and claim Jerusalem for the Nestorian faith.

The Holy War of Jerusalem….

It all begun when the Caliphate armies crossed Antioch, perhaps in an attempt to conquer the city and do harm to the Patriarch, thus striking a blow to the morale of the Nestorians

The Nestorian Hafsids intercepted them and knowing the terrain, they defeated the armies of the Caliph. More fights were to follow in Acre and Belfort, where Ghazi was praised for his bravery.

However, in Haifa , the Nestorians were defeated and the Mandylion almost fell to Muslim hands.

It was only though a small setback. In the end, the Nestorians were victorious and Sultan Ghazi rode with pride inside Jerusalem, the first Christian ruler to ever set foot after centuries.

To thank the Lord for his victory, Jerusalem was placed under spiritual rule as the Patriarchate of Jerusalem was restored. With not much work, since everyone was speaking the same language and Nestorianism sprang from Syrian beliefs, the majority of the Jerusalemites became Nestorian in faith.

Sultan Ghazi though did not stop to Jerusalem but went about to restore the Patriarchate of Alexandria as well, where he succeeded. However he did not wish to keep Alexandria as part of the Syrian domain and gave independence to the Alexandrian Patriarch to do as he wished. For his efforts, he was named “the Pious” by his people.

In the 43rd year of his life though, he became ill and made his way to Paradise for the Christians, as he was claimed early by God for his good deeds, and Jahannam for the Muslims

But young Sultan Addai did not rule almost at all...maybe he caught his father’s illness, he coughed without pause for days and the inevitable happened…

There was much mourning in the Sultanate for the loss of the young one. Still though there were the bad tongues which blamed the sins of the fathers, or even so the forefathers, for what happened…

With this unexpected death ended the first branch of Sultan Radhi and the mandate was passed to Sultan Ashraf the II, who was Sultan of Arabia. Posthumously, Sultan Ashraf the II was named “the Blessed” by his people. But his story is another chapter of this present Hafsid tale!

 

[alscon]

A very smooth conversion. The people didn't understand directly, but while the old decadent Hafsids didn't care for them, the new have found methods to deal with the people.

Ghazi was too much of a warrior to spend time with his one wife. Another change for the family, no secondary wives. Explains the end of the first branch. May Ashraf be blessed with strong children, for the Nestorian Hafsid line will live on!

 

[DensleyBlair]

I see the treasury didn't suffer too greatly during the conversion period. That's quite an impressive balance! Speaking of the conversion, it seems it went relatively smoothly. No doubt the plethora of miracles and relics in the Levant did a lot to speed things along. Were those parts from actual events in game, or did you add them as some extra flavour?

I'm very interested to see how Ashraf earns his epithet. That will be a very good read, I'm sure.

 

[Crimson Drakon]

A very smooth conversion. The people didn't understand directly, but while the old decadent Hafsids didn't care for them, the new have found methods to deal with the people.

Ghazi was too much of a warrior to spend time with his one wife. Another change for the family, no secondary wives. Explains the end of the first branch. May Ashraf be blessed with strong children, for the Nestorian Hafsid line will live on!

The conversation was pretty much smooth due to the fact Radhi was Mirza and Brave as well, it helped a lot although it is quite unorthodox for someone with game-wise, the blood of the Prophet to propose a change in religion

The death of Addai was most unfortunate, it seemed like he would have a promising future, but alas... Syria and Arabia got united again though through this untimely death.

I see the treasury didn't suffer too greatly during the conversion period. That's quite an impressive balance! Speaking of the conversion, it seems it went relatively smoothly. No doubt the plethora of miracles and relics in the Levant did a lot to speed things along. Were those parts from actual events in game, or did you add them as some extra flavour?

I'm very interested to see how Ashraf earns his epithet. That will be a very good read, I'm sure.

Ah the poor treasury, if you compare it with Ashraf who had accumulated all the Hafsid wealth of ages of 30k or so, it fell to 12k.. well, most of the money went to buy out the conscience of the vassals, who knows what ended truly to the people!

I hate to dissapoint but it was mostly flavor and poetic license for this time period

And with this I wish to thank for the 3 votes in the Q3 Awards!!

 

[Crimson Drakon]

Chapter 11: Sultan Ashraf II the Blessed Hafsid- The Holy Warrior

Sultan Ashraf the II was summoned in Damascus and Syria once again became united with Arabia, now in peace. As Ashraf I binded with war, Ashraf the II brought back with inheritance.

Sultan Ashraf the II was not blessed with intelligence. What is more, he was scared of his own shadow, slothful, trusting, shy and charitable to those who won his trust(almost everyone)

It was a miracle that during his time, he had good advisors at his side and most notably the Patriarch of Jerusalem

A later painting of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, he who converted Baghdad,Antioch and a large part of the Hafsid Domain into Nestorianism.

He was the one to inspire Ashraf the II to one day earn the epithet of “the Blessed”. With the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Syria and Arabia turned to Nestorianism completely, turning away from the Ibadi.

Was he also the one to “inspire” him to practice kinslaying?

In his lifetime, the soar of Nestorianism was so great, that a Holy Order was formed to fight for the faith and spread it into places the flame had long extinguished, like in Persia for instance

But for start, the Patriarch- who ruled behind the scenes as a shadow Sultan- convinced Ashraf the II to reclaim the long lost seat of the father of the faith, Nestorian, the archbishop of Constantinople. He even vouched that if he wore the Mandylion in battle, he would be unharmed from even the deadliest of dangers, as when it was used with burning fire to repel the Persians in Edessa.

Ashraf II although he preferred his bed in Damascus, he complied, trusting the Patriarch and his words. Nestorian would smile upon him from where he was.

Nestorian when he was deposed by the Third Council of Ephesus

The Holy War for Constantinople ended as soon as the forces of the Sultan of Greece were defeated at the battle of Pessinus and the subsequent conquest of Constantinople. The Hafsids reentered once more into New Rome, though now it was known as Konstaniyye, having become Levantine and Ibadi through the ages.

The New Patriarch of Constantinople became Ashraf the III, his son, who inherited most of his father’s traits.

Unfortunately though he died young and the seat of the Patriarchate passed to someone else, elected by the local bishops

But under the guidance of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, another grand plan typical of the Hafsids commenced: the expansion to India and the inclusion of the Indians to the flock of the Nestorians.

It all began when the Grand Vizier stumbled upon some ancient documents that indicated that St. Thomas had passed from the area of Debul and had built a church to bring the word of the Lord to the Indians of that time.

28 December 1356

The Patriarchs of the Nestorian Faith, namely the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Constantinople and the supreme Patriarch of the East held a joint council with Sultan Ashraf II to discuss this new finding.

The Patriarch of the East expressed his marvel over such a finding and how interesting it was that this document had a similar language with the one they spoke these very days…the Patriarch of Jerusalem from his point agreed and said that it was proof of the continuity the Hafsid people had as a tradition with these ancient roots and the in between beliefs of the Sunni and Ibadi were just a path that were lead astray but in the end, they found their way back to the true faith as St Thomas and later on Father Nestorian had envisaged.

The two Hafsids, Ashraf III the Patriarch of Constantinople and Sultan Ashraf II just nodded their heads, unable to follow the conversation

Then the Patriarch of Jerusalem spoke out loud and said:

“Therefore, it is obvious that since the Sultan is the Protector of the Nestorians of the World, that we should expand into Debul and re-affirm those ancient traditions and enliven them once more!”

The Supreme Patriarch of the East could not hide his agreement: more lands to be placed under his jurisdiction!

And the Hafsids nodded in agreement once again.

It was agreed upon: Debul would be Nestorian again!

Preparations for the expedition to India, to bring back the Nestorian Faith to these lands

The Patriarch of Jerusalem was well informed as to suggest this re claim of the old historical lands: the Sultan of the area was plagued with an internal civil war and was unable to defend his holdings properly.

Thus after a few skirmishes, some battles and the complete conquest of the Debul area, the Sultan ceded control and Debul was Hafsid. Immediately, the Patriarch of Jerusalem moved there to bring the people under Nestorian guidance

However neither the Ibadi West was neglected: for the Patriarch of the East declared war upon the underage Ibadi Sultan of Greece to conquer the ancient Roman lands of Cibyrrhaeot from him. In a joint effort, Sultan Ashraf II declared war upon the Sultan himself to wrestle away the Aegean Islands.

In an uneven fight, for the Ibadi, Sultan Ashraf II caught them unaware at the island of Santorini and they fought hard to the end

To the fight also came the Order of St. Addai which had an auxiliary role, to deal with the surviving Ibadi armies

After some major battles and the occupation of Naxos, Santorini and Euboia, the underage Ibadi Sultan gave away the Aegean Islands to the Hafsids. Christianity once again began to return to the Greek lands under a different teaching this time.

Still though, although admirable feats, Sultan Ashraf II was not known for his foothold in India nor his expansion to the ancient Roman lands and their return to Christianity: it was more for the gambit he executed against the mighty Ilkhanate, the sleeping giant, which numbered a hundred thousand troops from levy at its disposal.

Even the Sultan himself, not blessed with great intelligence, he questioned his close advisor the Patriarch of Jerusalem for his proposal

“You think we can really take on the Ilkhanate? I hear the Khagan eats babies for breakfast…”

The Patriarch shook his head and opened a map in front of the eyes of Sultan Ashraf II

“Why, my Sultan, do you lack faith in the Almighty?! Already He has send his angels and they have provoked a rebellion in his lands, trying to break free from the oppression of Sunnism!”

“Ooh..pretty colors..who are the dark green again..”

The Patriarch sighed..it was difficult most of the times, but he knew he would make it in the end

“The Mongol Rebels, my lord..and they wish to break free! Is it not an opportunity?”

“Uh..yes..I suppose..”

“Good! Well, let us declare war and take the lands of Tabaristan! Maybe one day we can press further and reclaim ancient Roudehen, a holy site for us Nestorians since the ancient Persian Nestorian Church taught the Word of God to the area.”
Ashraf nodded. Tabaristan would become Hafsid as well!

The Hafsid soldiers placed under siege the area of Dalam, which would become the major battlefield of the Ilkhanate forces against the Hafsid Nestorians.

One by one the waves of the Mongols perished when they attacked the fortified position of the Nestorian Hafsids. It should be noted, that as in the ancient times when the Romans rallied under the Emperor, stopping their infights, the same happened with the Khagan and the Revolt was put to a halt, putting eventually more Mongols to the slaughter.

With the weakened Ilkhanate army, a liberation front for Persia sprang

The last major battle for Tabaristan was held in Rayy, with the Hafsid spelling victory once more

Thus the Holy War for Tabaristan was a success and the faith placed to the Lord by the Jerusalemite Patriarch was well founded

The Ilkhanate was sapped of its manpower, placing much distrust to the formerly invincible Khagan. Again the Mongolian Revolt took arms for independence and this time there was no forgiveness

The missionaries, the holy wars and the obvious support of the Nestorian Church gave Sultan Ashraf II the fame of a man who gave the most for his faith, although he had limited immediate contact with his vassals and his people, as the Patriarch of Jerusalem advised.

To show their gratitude, a priest, after the approval of the Patriarch, gave to Sultan Ashraf II what was alleged to be St Thomas arm, for safe keeping due to the increase of Mongolian bandits at the borders… Sultan Ashraf II nodded in acceptance.

Sultan Ashraf II did much for the Nestorian Faith , although it is contested what would have happened if the Patriarch of Jerusalem was not there to offer him his sage advice and aid.

He closed his eyes at the age of 65, leaving the Nestorian faithfuls more plentiful than ever before and the Mongols being struck with a severe wound.

 

[alscon]

St.Thomas would be proud of the Patriarch's Ashraf's plan to christianize India. As for the Ilkhanate, by converting to Sunni, a religion which was on the permanent downfall, they asked for what happened to them.

 

[DensleyBlair]

I would say that Nestorianism looks set to keep its hold of the Hafsid lands, but I that the same about Ibadiism, so I'll withhold my comments for now. That said, you've done well to keep things so smooth. Even if you did have 30 thousand earlier on, 12 thousand gold pieces definitely looks enough to placate a wary group of vassals.

Looking forward to more.

 

[Crimson Drakon]

St.Thomas would be proud of the Patriarch's Ashraf's plan to christianize India. As for the Ilkhanate, by converting to Sunni, a religion which was on the permanent downfall, they asked for what happened to them.

That Patriarch, Hashmaddin the III was his name(found it out later on while sorting some pics for the AAR), was a real gem with his bright mind he helped a lot to convert the Ibadi provinces to Nestorianism. It helped though that Ibadism even reached 0 moral authority due to the wars, the lost holy cities and perpetual religious revolts that kept the Caliph very busy(he had to fight a Karling invasion once or twice, but with no spectacular results).

The Mongols well...their choice. I tried when Ibadi to bring them to the true faith, but they instead imprisoned the Court Imam. Then one day all of a sudden they decided it was best to be Sunni, probably they did it as to expand into the dying Persian Caliphate. But from then, the giant slept a long sleep till the Nestorians pestered him.

I would say that Nestorianism looks set to keep its hold of the Hafsid lands, but I that the same about Ibadiism, so I'll withhold my comments for now. That said, you've done well to keep things so smooth. Even if you did have 30 thousand earlier on, 12 thousand gold pieces definitely looks enough to placate a wary group of vassals.

Looking forward to more.

Thank you, the crown laws of Syria which is Gavelkind do help alleviate the grumbling and keep the vasals somewhat content, although as you can see, Ashraf II the Blessed was not keen with money either(Charlemagne the patch did put his hand too,hehe) and now the treasury is 6k... the elite troops of Syria have a high budget to maintain! Else you cant expect them to fight on the Persian mountains..

Also if you noticed, Anatolia passed on to Radhi the II(although it is half of what Anatolia de jure was, since the crown laws of Syria had absorbed a big part of the land from the Hafsid Muslim years) and to Prince Addai the Sheikdom of Debul, the Indian foothold.

 

[Crimson Drakon]

Chapter 12: Saint Thomas’s Dream

An engraving of Sultan Mas’ud, depicting his virtues

In Debul province, Far Syria

The people gathered at Sunday morning for the weekly arranged sermon. The new faith attracted many of the locals, but also for the food and water being distributed after the ceremony. New members of the Nestorian Church were also entitled a small earning, alms for the poor they called it. Organizer of all these innovations was none other than the Patriarch of Jerusalem Hashmaddin III.

In other news of the era, the Ibadi faith was struck so hard by the Nestorian wars, that Sunni once again became the mainstream Muslim religion, leading also to the formation of a mystical holy order(perhaps to repel the Nestorians?)

It dawned one day to the Patriarch to advice the Sultan about this turn of events and to perhaps pay a visit again to the Mongolian Ilkhanate neighbors.

“My Sultan, may I advise you to prepare for a Holy War against the Ikhanate, to reclaim the ancient church of Roudehen and restore the old archbishopric there? Perhaps it could also be a lesson to the Muslims that neither Ibadi nor Sunni can save them from our arms…”

The Sultan agreed and once again, the Nestorian Hafsids mobilized for war, this time pressing further in the former Persian heart.

However an ill turn of events turned the tide against the Hafsids, when revolutionaries and Mongols fought together the invading Nestorians

Still though, the Hafsids regrouped, hunting down the Mongolians even beyond the traditional borders of the Ilkhanate

A map of the Tartarian plateau, after the successful Mongolian movement for independence, which happened under Sultan Ashraf II years

After the battle of Abiward, more skirmishes and sieges took place, leading to the inevitable conquest of the area. This blow against the Sunni this time, turned again the moral compass of the Muslim , reinstating now the Ibadi faith as their primary one

Sultan Mas’ud did not reign for long, having been the Steward of his father Sultan Ashraf II for so many years. His son Muzaffar inherited the Nestorian Hafsid Domain and he was the one, inspired by the aged Patriarch of Jerusalem to follow that which was poetically later known as “St. Thomas Dream”

Sultan Muzaffar was a valiant soldier for the Nestorian faith and was characterized by an inherent humble spirit and patience. However it was rumored that he had an interest in the occult as well, as many Hafsids before him, which did not comply perfectly with the teachings of the Church…

At his reign, Basra came unto Hafsid rule, which was given to the Jews to develop into a trading hub, in addition to a military port to and from Far Syria(the Debul region)

In his lifetime, he aided his uncle to defend his Sultanate of Anatolia from a foreign adventurer. It should be noted that around that area gained prominent note a descendant of the Wessex family, who won the Duchy of Achaia from the Ibadi Caliphate.

The famed Patriarch of Jerusalem Hashmaddin III was claimed by the Lord at 4th November 1390 and his sage advice was no more to aid the Hafsids, nor his talent to convert the people to Nestorianism. Many lamented his departure and he was known as a later Saint of Nestorianism.

The absence of the Patriarch and the increasing discontent among the rumors of occultism by Sultan Muzaffar(in addition to the reduction of the treasury to very low levels and the depletion of the elite core of Syrian soldiers), lead to a demand by a Hafsid Kinsman, to reduce the crown authority of the Sultanate of Syria.

Muzaffar replied over his dead body and Civil War erupted!

The civil war was long and bloody and cost a lot to both sides. The loyalists prevailed but the price was heavy: the relationships were marred to such a degree, that the revolutionaries preferred to be independent from now on and never associate with the Hafsids again(maybe older dynastic grudges were underlying from centuries ago?)

Thus the Sultanate of Syria was split and the revolt for a lower crown authority went to the other extreme and several emirs parted ways, enjoying their independence.

This disruption in the Sultanate shook the populace and without reason, deviations begun to show up from the Nestorian line of faith

Sultan Muzaffar rode to the province of Maan to see for himself the rumors of heresy. Apparently, some villages had adopted Messalianism, an ancient sect which promoted that Lucifer was the elder son of God and they practiced marriages amongst the family, as the Firstmade supposedly did. Indeed, they came upon such village and the heretical priest was conducting a similar marriage ceremony.

Muzaffar along with his retinue, entered the village and demanded the inhabitants to cease their heretical practice, or they would face the consequences.

They rejected, saying that the Elder son of God would aid them. In fact the village elder wore a ring with a certain symbol…

Fighting and chaos erupted and they were all put to the sword, Muzaffar would not allow heretics in his domain for any reason.

Amongst the dead, he saw the village elder and took a closer look at that ring which caught his attention before the battle.

Could that engraving be…the seal of Solomon?

A priest took a better look at it as well, and his face immediately grew pale

“Your Majesty! This ring… it bears bad news, one of these has been documented when the Abbasid Caliphs ruled these lands and it has been said they hide the essences of the Djinn, Devil spirits! They seduce those who wear them with promises of power and absorb their life force till they die!”

Sultan Muzaffar laughed…fairy tales at best.

“You believe in Djinn and flying carpets, priest? These are stories for children to eat their food, not adults like you and me!”

“My liege, I warn you, nothing with that form could bear good news..besides this province is filled with heretics, worshipers of the Devil as you saw yourself!”

The Sultan did not comment. His fixation with occultism urged him to study more this ancient looking artifact. He dismissed the priest and rode on.

When night came, at his tent, he examined once more this peculiar ring. It had a ruby placed upon it, with the symbol of a pentacle, the seal of Solomon according to his books.

“ Would a Djinn actually live inside this ruby, I wonder? Bah, that is fairy tales for sure…”

He did not resist and wore it. He rubbed the ruby to see if anything would happen. He even spoke a command for the Djinn to come out.

Nothing. It was nothing more than a symbol of decoration. So much fuss for nothing.

Muzaffar went to sleep, at one point relieved that nothing diabolical sprang out immediately to corrupt him in an instant, at the other disappointed since he was certain that from what he read, that ring did hide something of importance.

“Muzaffar….Muzaffar…”

A voice called upon him.

He saw a woman, in a dark red dress calling upon him. Although she was far, the voice of whisper was as if she was near him, to breath’s distance.

“Muzaffar… I can see into your heart and your desires… you were born and raised to fight for your faith, and your name shall be known in history! Yet for this to happen… to fulfill St. Thomas’s Dream… find your kinsman Boutros ibn Tawfiq, he who speaks to our Lord Jesus. He shall help you reach your goal and the Nestorian Faith shall be spread to the jungles of India and beyond!!”

The dream ended and Muzaffar awoke, with sweat. Only a name came to his mind in repetition

Boutros ibn Tawfiq. Boutros ibn Tawfiq.

He send forth to all his messengers to find this distant kinsman and speak with him. Truly, was he the one to realize the dream of St. Thomas and become a Warrior Saint for the Nestorians?

After months and months of search, they found Boutros ibn Tawfiq Hafsid in the ancient Roman province of Prusa, where he was the marshal of the local garrison. Immediately he was relieved from these duties and was sent forth before the Sultan to speak about this strange dream.

Boutros was a man of God, a fighter of faith and zeal with every virtue that could be attributed to those who followed His Will. He even claimed that the Voice of Jesus inside him ushered him to greatness and the time would come when he would place his stone among the foundation of great things to come.

Apparently that time was now, perhaps. Yet still there were the rumors that Boutros was not the man he seemed. He was rumored to be , in secret, a Messalian worshiper and that Voice was not of Jesus but a much darker force…

The two men met and after tracing their mutual family roots, Boutros was a descendant of the old Hafsid Emirs of Antioch, they spoke in earnest about the cause of this invitation.

Boutros spoke frankly and asked the Sultan: “Has the Ring called you?”

Muzaffar lost his words. How did he know about the ring?

“The Lord calls us when our time has come to serve Him. Tell me what must be done”

Muzaffar told Boutros about the adventure to India and the need to spread Christianity to the people living in the Hindus, who had ran astray with Sunni beliefs.

Boutros nodded and reminded the Sultan that Debul was lost, not much ago, when Sultan Addai the Wise of Africa inherited it and it was later conquered by the Punjabi Sunni Sultan of the area. It was unclear what happened to the Nestorian faithful there.

And so once again, the Hafsids fought to restore their rule in Debul, for a start and then expand further on the Hindus to Christianize the area.

The first battle in Thatta was a disaster. The Nestorians held their part against the Indian Sunni armies but as soon as the reinforcements of ten thousand soldiers came from the mainland, the Hafsids routed and ran with full haste back to the fleet.

It took quite some time to reorganize the army into a full fighting force. Boutros suggested to reverse the strategy: they would land in Sonra and provoke the Punjabi to cross the Hindus as to protect their holdings.

The stratagem worked! The Punjab army took heavy losses and was unable to participate anymore in a worthy fighting force against the Nestorian Hafsids. In the end, after the siege of Debul, the war was decided and the area was annexed to the Nestorians.

Muzaffar was very pleased with the result. For some reason, the Ring with the Seal of Solomon was true…and Boutros’s military advice contributed to a respectable degree for this victory.

However the woman of the Ring, when Muzaffar slept, in promise for the success of the spread of Nestorianism to India, asked more and more requests, which seemed odd to Muzaffar

For start, she asked of Muzaffar to excommunicate his own son Afrem for his wicked deceptive nature and to send him off to the Order of St. Addai in repentance. Then, she asked for his second son Nestorian to be taught by Boutros, so he will become a leader of men with the magnitude of Alexander the Great and that he would bring forth a New Age.

In the end, Muzaffar complied. Afrem was a tough soldier but nothing more. Nestorian on the other hand, showed much promise and already the counsel and divine influence of Boutros made him into a very prominent young general.

The next goal was to bring the wider area of Sauvira, which the capital was Debul, under Hafsid Nestorian rule.

After a series of battles, even in the mainland of the Punjabi Sultanate, the Hafsids were victorious once more. The Emirate of Sauvira was Hafsid and immediately the priests from mainland Syria began to spread the word of the Nestorians to the populace.

While all these victories would no doubt spell the obvious Grace of the Lord upon Muzaffar, an event took place which fueled the rumors of the suspicious ring’s influence upon the Hafsid family. Through negligence, the arm of St. Thomas was lost forever and some doubted if this was a sign how the Saint himself interpreted all these expansionist wars

Although the news disturbed the Sultan, still he did not punish the court chaplain for this loss. What he treasured the most though was the Ring, which he kept always by his side and wore it gradually more frequently. At first he took measures not to wear it in public but as time passed, and his victories grew, he did not bother and it was always a part of him in the later days.

This was commented, as of how a Christian Sultan would wear a ring with the pentacle on plain sight, but there was also some interpretation to cast the shadows of doubt away.

With time, the entire Sultanate of Sindh passed to Muzaffar’s hands and with intensive proselytism, it would become in the future the first Christian Nestorian Sultanate in the region.

Having won this war, it was now up to the preachers to do their job and utilize this dream.

And so Muzaffar laid to rest his expansion to India temporarily, gazing his eyesight upon his immediate region and especially the fallen Patriarchate of Alexandria.

With the fall of the Ibadi, the Nubian and Abyssinian leaders revolted and carved for themselves considerable Kingdoms. Unfortunately, they did not follow the Nestorian creed but rather Miaphysitism. What was even more worse though, they had dismantled the Nestorian Patriarchate of Alexandria and in its place, the Coptic Pope administered the Miaphysite faithful. Despite the diplomatic calls for its restoration, the King of Egypt dismissed them. Sultan Muzaffar’s patience run thin and resorted to the last means at his disposal: war.

For the Syrian troops who had fought so many battles with the Indians and elsewhere, the war to reclaim the Alexandrian Patriarchate was trivial. It culminated with the battle of Fustat, where the Egyptian Miaphysite armies were crushed

However, due to strange Miaphysite laws, while Alexandria belonged to the King of Egypt, the Coptic Pope was a vassal to the King of Nubia. Again, Muzaffar pressed his claim, so that in the end, the office would pass to a Nestorian Theologian and not a Miaphysite.

War upon war, battle upon battle, the Christians squabbled over the nature of Christ once again, this time though the underlying motive was the control of the Alexandrine Patriarch.

Reports came regularly from the war front, reporting the progress made against the Miaphysites. But one day, a messenger came running as fast as he could and barged into the room of the war council, bringing interesting news…