I started as the Fatimid Caliph/Sultan in 1066. It is 1092 now, and I'm only 2 counties away from creating the Empire of Arabia, and BOOM- Crusade is declared against my vassals in Jerusalem.
I am not unprepared- I have 3,000 gold, two silk road trade posts in my demesne, and 17k levies between my personal and vassal troops. I also have the vassalized Mamluks adding another ~8,000 troops, and two Chinese strategists employed as commanders. My current ruler is a member of the Assassins, but he is still on the 1st tier, so I can't yet summon the Assassin armies. Shia MA is in the high 60s, and Sunni MA is about 70%.
I have no experience defending against a Crusade. Several pre-HF threads have said I should concentrate my forces on an amphibious assault on Rome; and let the other local Muslim rulers play whack-a-mole on the 50 different crusader armies rampaging through the Levant. Will nearby Sunni rulers will join in the defense, or can only count on Shia support against the Pope?
I am also hoping that I can capture at least one Christian King in battle, then assassinate him in my prison for the Unwelcome Visitors achievement.
Worst case, I lose Jerusalem to the Christians, then I can declare a Jihad for it a few years later. I assume that will be trivial for my ruler, since he is also the Shia Caliph.
Any advice is appreciated!
I am not unprepared- I have 3,000 gold, two silk road trade posts in my demesne, and 17k levies between my personal and vassal troops. I also have the vassalized Mamluks adding another ~8,000 troops, and two Chinese strategists employed as commanders. My current ruler is a member of the Assassins, but he is still on the 1st tier, so I can't yet summon the Assassin armies. Shia MA is in the high 60s, and Sunni MA is about 70%.
I have no experience defending against a Crusade. Several pre-HF threads have said I should concentrate my forces on an amphibious assault on Rome; and let the other local Muslim rulers play whack-a-mole on the 50 different crusader armies rampaging through the Levant. Will nearby Sunni rulers will join in the defense, or can only count on Shia support against the Pope?
I am also hoping that I can capture at least one Christian King in battle, then assassinate him in my prison for the Unwelcome Visitors achievement.
Worst case, I lose Jerusalem to the Christians, then I can declare a Jihad for it a few years later. I assume that will be trivial for my ruler, since he is also the Shia Caliph.
Any advice is appreciated!