Hm, for all those who wonder: no, I din't quit my Russian AAR, just taking a break from all these wars and Times of Troubles (a new part will be there today as well.
Played on hard/agressive, IGC 2.0, with old colors
The reign of Mohammed Al-Shaykh. 1492-1505
La illaha il allah muhammadun rassullu'llah.
There once was a time when banners of Islam flew high over the cities across the sea and Muslim rule of Hispania was challenged only by small kingdom of Navarra, whose chances of success were almost non-esxistant. Long gone are those days. Mislims grew apart, and no longer we were ruled by one Khalif, but by numerous Sultans, Shah and Khans. Christians grew bolder and when we fought apart, they fought together. Their Reconquista proved to be a match for our Jihad, and even as I speak, they storm Granada, the last strongold of Islam on Hispania and Portuguese dogs own the piece of Morrocan land, the city of Tangiers. Spaniards and Portugues rule the seas to the north and west of our Sultanat, while our Muslim brothers in Algiers station 40,000 troops on the Morrocan border, an insult, totally undeserved and unprovoked.
Mohammed Al-Shaykh, the Sultan of Morocco, thinks his destiny is to stop Reconquista and give a new birth to Jihad in the West. Able military commander, he lacks skills in diplomacy and organization, which could be very useful in such a poor country as ours. Moroccan Sultanat consist of only 3 provinces, one of which, Shara, hardly deserves to be called one. Three cities of Morocco have total population of 11,000 men, and Sultanat's income is so insignificant that it shouldn't even be mentioned. The army, however, is large enough to take on one foe at a time, and it is ready to follow Sultan to the ends of the earth. It may not be too far, since this is where Morocco lies, on the western end of the known world. The ships never dare to sail beoynd the islands of Azores, discovered by infidels not so long ago. Cornered in the end of the world is hardly a position for an ambitious country like ours. Our ancestros held the rich of Hispania once, and if everything goes according to Sultan's plans, our sons and grandons may yet live to see the day when Morrocans cross the sea and settle in Iberia once again.
Pre-occupied with his dreams of conquest, Sultan hardly notices what is happening under his nose. As Granada falls, Portugues grew bolder and decide to upgrade a fortress in Tangiers. In January the building works are over, and Sultan finally reveals his plans to his generals: to conquer Tangiers back from Portuguese with upgraded fortifications. It appears, he'd rather loose men than money.
In February Turkey declares war on Mamelukes, and Sultan, eager to catch Portuguese with their pants down, before they enter any alliance, declares a war of his own. 12,000 infantry begin the siege of Tangiers, while the rest (13,000 infantry and 25,000 cavalry) awaits the coming of Portuguese in Morocco.
A year passes and Tangiers still shows signs of resistance. Sultan gets another brilliant idea. He orders to bring all merchants that currently reside in Morocco and asks for money, promising them trading priviligies in his future empire. Needless to say, no wouldn't be taken for an answer. With fresh capital, Mohammed orders to build 20 guns and raise 9,000 infantry troops. When built, artillery is used to reinforce the army in Tangiers. The city bombardment begins, and its siege begins to bear resemblence of the siege of Granada. The historic significance of this event cannot be underestimated. Reconquista has found its peak, and from now Muslim Jihad will be on the offensive.
In June of 1495, after more than 2 years of stubborn resistance, Tangiers falls to Sultan's troops. Army salary is immideately brough down, and the army ordered back to Morocco. In December Portugues sent an army to re-take the city. 11,000 infantry and 200 knights besiege the city. Sultan's army again starts to receive full salary and 11,000 infantry and 8,000 horsemen are sent to deal with Portuguese dogs. The meet the enemy army off the walls of Tangiers in February of 1496 completely catching Christians by surprise. After short and bloody encounter, Portuguese army is annihilated, while Moroccans loose 600 men only.
Impressed by our success, the Empire of Hafsids agrees to admit us to the alliance with Nubia. Later, a royal marriage is arranged, to further cement the friendship between our states. Portugal begs for white peace, but rejects our counteroffer. Same month of February, Mameluks cede Adana to Turkey. Months go on, and in July Portuguese land an army in Tangiers. 5,000 infantry, supported by 10 pieces of artillery. Suprised, Moroccan army desperately fights to gain upper hand. As night falls, the army morale goes down, and they retreat south, not knowing the victory was theirs. Only 1,000 Moroccans are left dead on the field, while Portugues loose 80% of their army. The King decides he cannot afford to fight any longer and offers Sultan the city of Tangiers if peace is to be made immideately. Sultan agrees. In August of 1496 peace is made.
In September Hedjaz becomes a vassal of Mameluke Khaliphate. Sultan learns that the merchants charge him interest on the loan he took. Outraged, for it is against the teachings of Quaran, he decides to punish them by taking as much money as possible and not paying back.
By November bailiffs are appointed in all provinces and fortess in Morocco upgraded. Clearly, the next war will be with Muslim Algiers not with Christian Iberians. Algierian army on our borders creates a certain concern with our neighbor's intentions. Besides, it is the only country that stands between us and our Tunisian allies. Our provinces bring almost no income, and more land would be welcomed by the nobility.
Sultan reviews his army. 37,000 infantry, 24,000 cavalry and 20 guns. 8,000 and all artillery is sent to Sahara, while the main bul of the army retreat only to Toubkal. Morocco, with its upgraded fortress, will serve as a bait for Algiers, the killing box for their soldiers.
In September of 1497 war is declared. Stability goes down, as our people reject an attack on another Muslim nation without a good excuse, which Sultan did not have time to find. Tunisia honors its obligations to Morocco, while Nubia decides to stay away from that war. Turkey joins on the side of Algiers, we pray to Allah that they do not send any troops across the Mediterrenean.
Algiers send all its 40,000 army (20,000 of which are horsemen) to Morocco. As times goes by, it is reinfoced with total of 30,000 troops. Only half of the army survives the siege.
In June of 1497 the plague hits Morocco. Half of the city populations die. The same month he receives the news that the capital is about to fall. He arrives to the city with 54,000 army, only to find it in the hands of the enemy. In the following battle we loose 10,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry dead and wounded. Algierian army is annihilated. 7,000 Algierian reinforcements march back to the east.
In September Turks land two armies in Morocco, each dealt with seperately. In total they loose 5,000 men and 30 guns, but are still reluctant to accept white peace.
Algier's garrison in Morocco holds on 'till November of 1498. After the capture of the city Moroccan army 8,000 cavalry marches to Atlas, where they completely cut the city off the supplies and starve its defenders into submission. 8,000 more cavalry remains in Morocco, while 27,000 infantry, 6,500 cavalry, supported by 20 guns move to Orania. In Orania they meet with 3,000 enemy infantry and 4,000 enemy cavalry and defeat the foe so soundly, that they do not stop until they reach the walls of Algier's capital. There they are caught by suprise by Tunisian forces and are forced to retreat to the south. Orania is stormed and taken with little losses. 4,000 men, however, die of thirst and starvation. The army proceeds their march east.
Meanwhile, Tunisians finally capture Al-Dzhazir and Kabylia and get the latter province in a peace treaty. Hardly a better a time for Morocco, as our armies enter Al-Dzhazir and engage remaining enemy armies. 7,000 Algierians die in battle. Moroccans loose 8,000 in battle and due to attrition. Later in the month another 5,000 Algierians are massacared, and the city is taken by frontal assault, with only 1,000 losses. Cavalry is brought to from Morocco to strengthen the army, but desperate enemy attack sends us in retreat to Orania. 15,000 enemy soldiers start the siege of their capital. At the same time Atlas falls to our hands and Sultan decides to finish the war, whatever it takes. 4,000 infantry, 14,000 cavalry and 6 guns are ordered to assualt the last province in the enemy hands, Allah forgives me if I forgot its name. The mountaneous province will not support our armies if long siege will be undertajen, and enemy armies make it more difficult for our soldiers to carry on a siege unharrased. Thus, the army with almost no artillery and infantry assualt the fortress, and praise to Allah, is successful. In February of 1501, Algiers is annexed, and its soldiers join our ranks by thousands. Our army grows to 18,000 infantry, 19,000 cavalry and 6 guns.
Moroccan losses during Portuguese War of 1493-96 and the War of Algierean Annexation were suprisingly small. Moroccan army lost 20,000 infantry, 7,000 cavalry and 14 guns in combat and 25,000 more due to attrition. After the end of those wars it found itself with a navy, it was ill-prepared to keep, but the Sultan was delighted as it allowed Moroccan armies to strike Christian territories across the sea.
Next Sultan decides that the bankruptcy is unavoidable and takes even more money from the merchants. Fortresses are upgraded in all provinces but Atlas and Sahara, 10,000 infantry is recruited and 30 pieces of artillery is built.
In May of 1502, when merchant elite of Morocco appeals to Sultan to pay his debts he declares bankruptcy. Stability drops down and all investments spent of research are lost. The country's income isn't enough to pay the army and soldiers morale goes down. The Sultan, however, is pleased with himself. He predicts country's economic revival, but the growing inflation loudly argues with him in a markets.
Turkey finally agrees to a white peace. In 1503 our spies in Spain report of the discovery of the New World. Morocco is no longer the dead-end of the civilization, but somehow it doesn't make Sultan feel any better. As Spain declares war on Aztecs, Morocco watches Spain's successes with predicted uneasiness.
On December of 1504 Turkey goes to war against Mamelukes. Georgia joins on the side of Turkey, Hedjaz on the side of Mamelukes.
These is the last news that Sultan learns, as he dies peacefully in 1505, succeded by Mohammed Al-Burtughal. Mohammed Al-Shaykh, the conqueror of Tangiers and Algiers, is burried in Morocco, and his successor swears on his grave to continue the Holy War against infidel Christians. The irony of the situation excapes new Sultan, but Algierian people would surely have something to say about it. Not that anybody would listen.
Played on hard/agressive, IGC 2.0, with old colors
The reign of Mohammed Al-Shaykh. 1492-1505
La illaha il allah muhammadun rassullu'llah.
There once was a time when banners of Islam flew high over the cities across the sea and Muslim rule of Hispania was challenged only by small kingdom of Navarra, whose chances of success were almost non-esxistant. Long gone are those days. Mislims grew apart, and no longer we were ruled by one Khalif, but by numerous Sultans, Shah and Khans. Christians grew bolder and when we fought apart, they fought together. Their Reconquista proved to be a match for our Jihad, and even as I speak, they storm Granada, the last strongold of Islam on Hispania and Portuguese dogs own the piece of Morrocan land, the city of Tangiers. Spaniards and Portugues rule the seas to the north and west of our Sultanat, while our Muslim brothers in Algiers station 40,000 troops on the Morrocan border, an insult, totally undeserved and unprovoked.
Mohammed Al-Shaykh, the Sultan of Morocco, thinks his destiny is to stop Reconquista and give a new birth to Jihad in the West. Able military commander, he lacks skills in diplomacy and organization, which could be very useful in such a poor country as ours. Moroccan Sultanat consist of only 3 provinces, one of which, Shara, hardly deserves to be called one. Three cities of Morocco have total population of 11,000 men, and Sultanat's income is so insignificant that it shouldn't even be mentioned. The army, however, is large enough to take on one foe at a time, and it is ready to follow Sultan to the ends of the earth. It may not be too far, since this is where Morocco lies, on the western end of the known world. The ships never dare to sail beoynd the islands of Azores, discovered by infidels not so long ago. Cornered in the end of the world is hardly a position for an ambitious country like ours. Our ancestros held the rich of Hispania once, and if everything goes according to Sultan's plans, our sons and grandons may yet live to see the day when Morrocans cross the sea and settle in Iberia once again.
Pre-occupied with his dreams of conquest, Sultan hardly notices what is happening under his nose. As Granada falls, Portugues grew bolder and decide to upgrade a fortress in Tangiers. In January the building works are over, and Sultan finally reveals his plans to his generals: to conquer Tangiers back from Portuguese with upgraded fortifications. It appears, he'd rather loose men than money.
In February Turkey declares war on Mamelukes, and Sultan, eager to catch Portuguese with their pants down, before they enter any alliance, declares a war of his own. 12,000 infantry begin the siege of Tangiers, while the rest (13,000 infantry and 25,000 cavalry) awaits the coming of Portuguese in Morocco.
A year passes and Tangiers still shows signs of resistance. Sultan gets another brilliant idea. He orders to bring all merchants that currently reside in Morocco and asks for money, promising them trading priviligies in his future empire. Needless to say, no wouldn't be taken for an answer. With fresh capital, Mohammed orders to build 20 guns and raise 9,000 infantry troops. When built, artillery is used to reinforce the army in Tangiers. The city bombardment begins, and its siege begins to bear resemblence of the siege of Granada. The historic significance of this event cannot be underestimated. Reconquista has found its peak, and from now Muslim Jihad will be on the offensive.
In June of 1495, after more than 2 years of stubborn resistance, Tangiers falls to Sultan's troops. Army salary is immideately brough down, and the army ordered back to Morocco. In December Portugues sent an army to re-take the city. 11,000 infantry and 200 knights besiege the city. Sultan's army again starts to receive full salary and 11,000 infantry and 8,000 horsemen are sent to deal with Portuguese dogs. The meet the enemy army off the walls of Tangiers in February of 1496 completely catching Christians by surprise. After short and bloody encounter, Portuguese army is annihilated, while Moroccans loose 600 men only.
Impressed by our success, the Empire of Hafsids agrees to admit us to the alliance with Nubia. Later, a royal marriage is arranged, to further cement the friendship between our states. Portugal begs for white peace, but rejects our counteroffer. Same month of February, Mameluks cede Adana to Turkey. Months go on, and in July Portuguese land an army in Tangiers. 5,000 infantry, supported by 10 pieces of artillery. Suprised, Moroccan army desperately fights to gain upper hand. As night falls, the army morale goes down, and they retreat south, not knowing the victory was theirs. Only 1,000 Moroccans are left dead on the field, while Portugues loose 80% of their army. The King decides he cannot afford to fight any longer and offers Sultan the city of Tangiers if peace is to be made immideately. Sultan agrees. In August of 1496 peace is made.
In September Hedjaz becomes a vassal of Mameluke Khaliphate. Sultan learns that the merchants charge him interest on the loan he took. Outraged, for it is against the teachings of Quaran, he decides to punish them by taking as much money as possible and not paying back.
By November bailiffs are appointed in all provinces and fortess in Morocco upgraded. Clearly, the next war will be with Muslim Algiers not with Christian Iberians. Algierian army on our borders creates a certain concern with our neighbor's intentions. Besides, it is the only country that stands between us and our Tunisian allies. Our provinces bring almost no income, and more land would be welcomed by the nobility.
Sultan reviews his army. 37,000 infantry, 24,000 cavalry and 20 guns. 8,000 and all artillery is sent to Sahara, while the main bul of the army retreat only to Toubkal. Morocco, with its upgraded fortress, will serve as a bait for Algiers, the killing box for their soldiers.
In September of 1497 war is declared. Stability goes down, as our people reject an attack on another Muslim nation without a good excuse, which Sultan did not have time to find. Tunisia honors its obligations to Morocco, while Nubia decides to stay away from that war. Turkey joins on the side of Algiers, we pray to Allah that they do not send any troops across the Mediterrenean.
Algiers send all its 40,000 army (20,000 of which are horsemen) to Morocco. As times goes by, it is reinfoced with total of 30,000 troops. Only half of the army survives the siege.
In June of 1497 the plague hits Morocco. Half of the city populations die. The same month he receives the news that the capital is about to fall. He arrives to the city with 54,000 army, only to find it in the hands of the enemy. In the following battle we loose 10,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry dead and wounded. Algierian army is annihilated. 7,000 Algierian reinforcements march back to the east.
In September Turks land two armies in Morocco, each dealt with seperately. In total they loose 5,000 men and 30 guns, but are still reluctant to accept white peace.
Algier's garrison in Morocco holds on 'till November of 1498. After the capture of the city Moroccan army 8,000 cavalry marches to Atlas, where they completely cut the city off the supplies and starve its defenders into submission. 8,000 more cavalry remains in Morocco, while 27,000 infantry, 6,500 cavalry, supported by 20 guns move to Orania. In Orania they meet with 3,000 enemy infantry and 4,000 enemy cavalry and defeat the foe so soundly, that they do not stop until they reach the walls of Algier's capital. There they are caught by suprise by Tunisian forces and are forced to retreat to the south. Orania is stormed and taken with little losses. 4,000 men, however, die of thirst and starvation. The army proceeds their march east.
Meanwhile, Tunisians finally capture Al-Dzhazir and Kabylia and get the latter province in a peace treaty. Hardly a better a time for Morocco, as our armies enter Al-Dzhazir and engage remaining enemy armies. 7,000 Algierians die in battle. Moroccans loose 8,000 in battle and due to attrition. Later in the month another 5,000 Algierians are massacared, and the city is taken by frontal assault, with only 1,000 losses. Cavalry is brought to from Morocco to strengthen the army, but desperate enemy attack sends us in retreat to Orania. 15,000 enemy soldiers start the siege of their capital. At the same time Atlas falls to our hands and Sultan decides to finish the war, whatever it takes. 4,000 infantry, 14,000 cavalry and 6 guns are ordered to assualt the last province in the enemy hands, Allah forgives me if I forgot its name. The mountaneous province will not support our armies if long siege will be undertajen, and enemy armies make it more difficult for our soldiers to carry on a siege unharrased. Thus, the army with almost no artillery and infantry assualt the fortress, and praise to Allah, is successful. In February of 1501, Algiers is annexed, and its soldiers join our ranks by thousands. Our army grows to 18,000 infantry, 19,000 cavalry and 6 guns.
Moroccan losses during Portuguese War of 1493-96 and the War of Algierean Annexation were suprisingly small. Moroccan army lost 20,000 infantry, 7,000 cavalry and 14 guns in combat and 25,000 more due to attrition. After the end of those wars it found itself with a navy, it was ill-prepared to keep, but the Sultan was delighted as it allowed Moroccan armies to strike Christian territories across the sea.
Next Sultan decides that the bankruptcy is unavoidable and takes even more money from the merchants. Fortresses are upgraded in all provinces but Atlas and Sahara, 10,000 infantry is recruited and 30 pieces of artillery is built.
In May of 1502, when merchant elite of Morocco appeals to Sultan to pay his debts he declares bankruptcy. Stability drops down and all investments spent of research are lost. The country's income isn't enough to pay the army and soldiers morale goes down. The Sultan, however, is pleased with himself. He predicts country's economic revival, but the growing inflation loudly argues with him in a markets.
Turkey finally agrees to a white peace. In 1503 our spies in Spain report of the discovery of the New World. Morocco is no longer the dead-end of the civilization, but somehow it doesn't make Sultan feel any better. As Spain declares war on Aztecs, Morocco watches Spain's successes with predicted uneasiness.
On December of 1504 Turkey goes to war against Mamelukes. Georgia joins on the side of Turkey, Hedjaz on the side of Mamelukes.
These is the last news that Sultan learns, as he dies peacefully in 1505, succeded by Mohammed Al-Burtughal. Mohammed Al-Shaykh, the conqueror of Tangiers and Algiers, is burried in Morocco, and his successor swears on his grave to continue the Holy War against infidel Christians. The irony of the situation excapes new Sultan, but Algierian people would surely have something to say about it. Not that anybody would listen.
