Welcome to the court of...
The Emir of Dulkadir
Nation: Dulkadir
Head of State: Emir Murat I, by the Grace of the Allmighty Emir of Dulkadir and protector of Sivas.
Player: Arilou
Religion: Sunni, with sufi/shi'ite minorities
Culture: Turkish
Stats: 1/0/2/3/1 --> [1/0/2/3/1]
Provinces: 1
Ports: 0
Owned: Sivas
Emir currently resides at: Malaiyet, Sivas
Guards of the Emir of Dulkadir: 10000 Men, Not Mobilized
The Heridetery palace of the Emirs of Dulkadir is a reasonable modest affair, a stern fortress built for defence of a territory once carved out of the crumbling Rum sultanate, recent years however, have seen attempts at turning this bleak fortress into an luxurious palace. Unfortunately the Nation's economy cannot sustain the more opulent lifestyles of the Emirate's richer neighbours, but nonetheless the Emir seems to have made an attempt.
A visitor is likely to be greeted by the Emir himself, or at the least one of his numerous sons, for the Dulkadiri take pride in their hospitality, and anyway they probably would not be able to afford the large staffs that other nations employ, thus even the most menial tasks are delegated to the immediate family.
The Power Players
The Emir himself, Murat I, is an aging man in his 50's, once he might have been an impressive warrior but years of fervent activities both at the dinner-table and in the bedchamber has left the Emir with a girth that is only matched by his appetites for pleasures of all kinds. His years of debauchery has also left him with a sore stomach, an ailment that not only complicates his relations with foreign lands but also requires him (or so he claims loudly) to imbibe vast amounts of frankish wine.
The Emir's eldest son, Metin, is also the commander of the Palace Guard and leads the Emirate's armies in times of war, never on the best of terms with his father, the Emir's recent years of gluttony and excess has estranged the ascetic and devout son of the Emir even further. The young warrior dreams of greater things for the tiny realm he is about to inherit and rumours abound of secret contacts with foreign powers...
Currently on a diplomatic mission to Egypt
The grand vizier, Yildiz Khan, claimed to be an exiled prince himself. None but himself seems to believe it and opinions wander between considering the vizier insane and a clever hustler trying to grab position and power for himself. In any case the Vizier has been the effective ruler of the Emirate for many years. Hated and detested by all he clings to power by something much thinner and more flighty than a strand of hair: The favour of a ruler. Yildiz is a believer in peace and prosperity, and aside from his incessant demands that people afford him greater respect he is a skilled diplomat that has kept the Emirate afloat even though it lies wedged between two great powers. His loyalty is undoubted because he is loyal for the best of reasons: He has to be.
Currently on a diplomatic mission to the Timurids
Zeki, the Emir's youngest son has not yet been given an official position at court, partially this is because of his dangeorus ideas and partially it is because he seems to avoid work whenever he can. Mostly he just loafs around the palace, overhearing everything, and now and then interjecting. It is rumoured that young Zeki has been influenced by various heterodox sects of islam and he is therefore distrusted by many.
Currently sent on a diplomatic mission to the Almohads
Mehmet, one of the sultans numerous middle-sons is the one who has managed to achieve the greatest amount of responsibility. He is in charge of the Emirate's dwindling treasury, this puts him constantly at odds with his father, whose extravagant spending he viciously disagrees with. He is also at odds with his older brother Metin, whose position he quite obviously covets. Although his policies would make him a natural ally of Yildiz Khan an intense personal rivalry between the two over Melek, the daughter of a prominent Dulkadiri duke, prevents any cooperation between the two.
Currently on a diplomatic mission to the Ottomans
Though she holds no official position, Melek, daughter of a deceased Dulkadiri nobleman, she has nonetheless managed to command a position of considerable influence. Her vast fortune is married to a great intellect, and she has managed to trap both the Vizier and the Sultan's son Mehmet, she plays the two courtiers against each other, for a purpose only she knows.
