Our first dropout is, as
@Bullfilter guessed, the
Sultanate of Iraq and Persia. The dual Sultanate
lost 21 holdings to 129, dropping from #4 to #9. The principal cause was the lost of their Levantine exclave to a crusade as the Kingdom of Jerusalem. A leadership timeline:
14 November 1205 29yo Al-Zahir Abbasid inherits the Sultanate of Iraq.
21 July 1207 Caliph Al-Zahir creates the Sultanate of Persia.
8 June 1229 53yo Caliph Al-Zahir dies after a lengthy illness ending his 23 year reign. His 16yo son Hasan Abbasid inherits the dual Sultanates.
22 February 1240 27yo Caliph Hasan was killed in a battlefield duel with Doux Gijn of Dyrrachion during the Orthodox Holy War for Doliche (Turkey) province between the Byzantine Empire and the Sultanate of Syria ending his 10 year reign. Caliph Hasan's 9mo son Fadl Abbasid inherits the Sultanate of Iraq and Persia.
10yo Caliph Fadl and his
twelve thousand man army are involved in three conflicts:
1) Assisting Shahanshah Bahman and the Empire of Rajasthan defending the Duchy of Uttaranchal (3 provinces, northern India) from the Buddhist Holy War of Gyelmo Jetsunma of Phagmodrupa (Tibet). Pundits are referring to this as the Children's War as Bahman is 15 and Jetsunma is 13.
2) Aiding Sultan Hasan of Rum's Sunni Holy War for Tmutarakan (northern Black Sea coast) province against Khan Koytan II of Cumania.
3) Defending against Vali's Revolt for an independent Yazidi homeland.
The future of Iraq and Persia will depend on:
1) Future Catholic Crusades and Sunni Jihads.
2) Relations with the large surrounding Sunni realms of Rajasthan, Rum and Syria.
Our second dropout is the
Byzantine Empire. In typical Byzantine fashion, the Empire
gained 36 holdings to 168, but fell from #5 to #6. A leadership timeline:
13 June 1222 26yo Megistos Angelos is elected Basileus of the Empire.
14 September 1245 The infirm 49yo Basileus Megistos dies ending his 23 year reign. His 19yo son Stephanos Angelos is elected Basileus.
28 October 1245 Doux Manuel II of Optimatoi leads a group of nobles, including Basileus Stephanos II, openly professing to be Catholic.
21 June 1247 21yo Basileus Stephanos II dies after suffering crippling injuries before completing the second year of reign. 58yo Doux Manuel Laskaris is elected Basileus.
61yo Basileus Manuel II and his
twenty thousand man army are involved in one armed conflict:
3yo Duchess Damiane of Opsikion (daughter of Basileus Stephanos II) revolted after Basileus Manuel II demanded that she surrender the Duchy of Thrace to him. She is controlling 20 holdings.
The Byzantine future will depend on:
1) Catholic Crusades and Sunni Jihads.
2) Stopping Rum's Asiatic expansion.
3) Continued expansion in the Balkans.
In 1225, we proceeded with a standard #5 to #1 countdown. This time we will go with a geographical progression from west to east. Our first stop will be England, then the HRE, our two newcomers and finally Rajasthan before returning to Dyrrachion where you will reboard the 'WayBack Machine'. While all research was done at the first of January, I will name each chapter with an one month progression. IE England will be February, HRE March, summary in Dyrrachion July.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED: As we proceed from the Gjin/Visar generation, I will need a new liasion. Thank you to
@Bullfilter and
@HistoryDude for liaising with Doux Gjin and Visar.
@diskoerekto has graciously accepted to be Count Alek's liasion. I need a liasion for Liridon Progonovic (nephew of Gjin and Visar, Dyrrachion Mystikos) who will be the guide for the AmazingAvonReaders beginning with the Holy Roman Empire. Also I would like someone to lead a mountaineer company (sorry
@diskoerekto, you have an important job) in stop #3. Also a travel expert for our return from Rajasthan to Dyrrachion.
Guesses are still allowed for our two newcomers.
@Bullfilter can make his research request at any time.
SHOUT OUTS: AmazingAvonReader
@Kazanov has started book four in his MEGA Campaign. 'A Storm from the West part IV' can be found on the CK3 thread. Also this weekend
@AxolotlKnight started 'A History of the Iron Throne II' on the CK2 thread.
Visar Progonovic: With Doux Gjin returning to his troops in Thrace, AmazingAvonReaders please board the fastest ship in the Byzantine Navy, the 'Purple Steward'. My nephew, Liridon, and I will assist you with your berthing. Count Alek, please do not get in Commodore
@diskoerekto's way!
Next Stop: London, February 1250
