Muslims of the Levant - A Mousavid AAR

[Battle bunny]

Hello there, readers! Well, first of all, I must apologise to the readers of my former AAR about the Scottish Buchanan house (all 2 of them), since that one obviously won't be continuing. The reason for that is because I started it before trying out CK2+. As soon as I installed that mod, I decided I don't really want to look back at vanilla anymore... so that AAR had to go as well.

But now, it's time for another AAR, this time with CK2+! And since Muslim AARs tend to be quite rare... I'll throw one your way. Muslims have been slightly changed in the mod. Family members no longer increase decadence wildly. Only the highest-ranking member(s) of any given dynasty affect dynastic decadence. Events have been given an increased role in the rise or fall of decadence. The county invasion CB is gone. Holy wars cost 100 piety against neighbours or 250 against distant foes, unless you receive a sanction from the Caliph, in which case it is free, but this may be refused and is only valid for one war. (This last rule also applies to other religions, though.)

There will be quite a bit of challenge in this game, I think. As far as I know, Muslims can revoke emirates (i.e. duchies) without penalty. I'm a Sunni living in a Shia caliphate. That doesn't bode well... Of course, I might convert later on, but only if it makes sense for the character in question. Oh, and did I mention that my real estate is located in the number one crusading destination? If I get destroyed utterly by a crusade before I can do anything about it (that is, while I'm still a puny Sheikh and my fate is in the Fatimids' hands), I'll reload, but if I have the power to influence the results of the crusade and fail to do it... well, that's a game over, and such is life.

I'll try to roleplay the characters as well as I can and will avoid most gamey tricks. For example, marriages will be made with alliances in mind first, and if none are available, the first wives will be chosen from the court, not from an obscure Mauritanian court where geniuses grow on trees. Exceptions may be made depending on the characters' personalities, of course.

The first post is coming up in a moment, I'm on it.

 

[Battle bunny]

The Levant was always one of the most turbulent regions of the Middle Ages. This was essentially true after the first millenium, when the clash between Christendom and Islam intensified, with the Levant being one of the prime battlefields. Of course, the Holy Land wasn't contested merely between Christians and Muslims - the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam fought over it numerous times. For most of its history, however, the Levant was not ruled by a native of the region. In 1066, for example, the Fatimids, a dynasty originating in North Africa, ruled it - and the Sunni population by and large resented the rule of the Shi'ite caliphate.

Why is 1066 of any particular importance? While the year is most famous for the three-way succession war over England, coincidentally, this was also the year when Giyasaddin, a Levantine Sunni Sheikh ruling over the provinces of Ascalon and Beersheb, started recording the chronicles of House Mousavid. Giyasaddin wasn't an ambitious man by nature, but he had dreams, and though he was generally content to pave the way for a future generation, he still began the tradition of recording Levantine history that every one of his successors continued after him.

The chronicles can be seen in this book in their original, unaltered form, though some parts will be annotated to explain things that might not be understood just from reading them.

---

I am Sheikh Giyasaddin, ruler of Ascalon and Beersheb. I am a loyal servant of Allah, a fervent follower of Sunni Islam - the one, true faith, in opposition to the heretic Shi'ites and the Christian infidel. This is my realm:

I am a vassal of the Shia Sultan-Caliph of Egypt, the Fatimid heretic who is, right now, the undisputed master of Egypt and the Holy Land.

Since my dearest wife died last year, having left me with no child, I have been looking for suitable new girls into my harem who will ensure the continuation of my dynasty and fulfill my desires whenever I wish. I have finally found three young girls who are worthy of being the wives of a Sheikh:

While I have no son, I do have a surviving distant relative who will inherit my lands in case I die prematurely. Not as good as passing my realm down to a son, but still better than if my holdings slipped out of House Mousavid and into the hands of another dynasty - especially if it's a Shiite house. For him, I have found a girl named Mahwash from the neighbouring Sheikhdom of Jaffa. She's way too smart for his own good, but I've always wanted to get back at Salahaddin for that time he smeared my face into a bucket of camel dung back when I was still young. Let him deal with this uppity harlot:

It is the year 459 (or 1067, if we go by the calendar of the Christian Kafirs. For reference, I am going to include the Christian year in parantheses. If, one day, the infidel are going to read these chronicles, they shall tremble at the accomplishments of the Mousavids - but it is important that they understand what happened in which year. And I bet none of those savages know which year Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, went on the Hajj for the first time in Islamic history). This year marks the fall of another Levantine Sheikhdom. When will our people be free from the whims of the Shiites? If at least it would be a Sunni Caliph ruling over us! But no, our Caliph is currently a subject of the Seljuk Sultanate. A shameful state of affairs.

Nonetheless, the faith is strong in my house, and my subjects know that. Other Sheikhs are converting to Shia, one after the other, betraying the true faith for some petty favours from the Caliph. They shall see if they made a good deal when they'll burn in hellfire after their deaths!

It is the year 460 (1068) and Shaykhah Noushin (the one with brown, not blue eyes) delivers her first child. Unfortunately, not only is she a female, she's also damaged goods - it is clear that she is mentally deficient. A great disappointment. Though admittedly, girls don't need to be smart - that's not their duty. If she grows up to be infertile, though, that's another matter...

Noushin bears another child, and this time a son! Even better, he appears to be a healthy boy. I give him the name Faisal and thank Allah for this favour.

And the other Noushin also delivers me a son. His name shall be Fayiz.

The Byzantines to the north are embroiled in civil war. Good - if the Christians are disunited, it is only a matter of time before this "Eastern Roman Empire" falls. Our brothers in faith under Alp Arslan the Seljuk has failed to conquer Armenia, unfortunately, after a marginal defeat at some Armenian city, but this is only a temporary setback, I'm sure of that.

I can't believe this... my firstborn, Faisal, succumbs to a deadly disease. I know that brown-eye Noushin can't deliver healthy children, I just knew it!

Allah is testing me severely - Fayiz died too, and from a similar disease as Faisal. Perhaps Fayiz caught the disease from his poor half-brother. I can't believe that neither Noushin can bear healthy sons. I am beginning to suspect my first wife, Negar, is infertile too. My choice of wives was a disaster. Blue-eye Noushin is my only hope now.

I begin formulating a scheme to expand inside the realm. The neighbouring Sheikhdom of Jaffa is held by a corrupt, impious Sheikh. It would be most pleasing to Allah if I liberated it from him. Unfortunately, I must have a claim to his lands, and I see no other way to secure one than to have my Grand Vizier forge a claim to Jaffa. I hope Allah shall forgive me - it is for the greater good.

I am definitely scared though, I must admit. What if my plan is discovered? What if the Sheikh would plan revenge against me? Would he send an assassin after me, or would he hire someone to poison my food? Or would he call upon the Fatimid Caliph to punish me?

Regardless, now, in the seventh month of the year 464 (1072), my Grand Vizier comes back to me with perfectly legitimate-looking papers. Of course, it is very expensive - he had to bribe many officials, he says, but it is still a heavy burden on my finances. I take a loan of 50 gold to partially pay for the bribes.

However, I still don't have enough gold to pay off all my debts, so I wait patiently, and spend more time with my wives so that I could finally have a son. Again, it is brown-eye Noushin who turns out to be the most fertile. I don't even have much hope for young Jahan anymore, but perhaps he shall survive... I shall pray to Allah to protect my child from the disease that felled my other two sons.

Meanwhile, the Fatimid Sultan-Caliph proves to be a nuisance again as he creates the legal entity known as the Emirate of Ascalon. He delegates an Egyptian child to be an Emir, probably as an additional insult to us Levantines. This means I now have an Emir to answer to, while still having no less duties towards the Sultan.

It was a good idea to take up the hobby of bookkeeping, though! I should have done this years ago. Now I understand all the ledgers detailing the finances of my Sheikhdoms - and a good number of them are dodgy, now that I have checked them. My men have taken me for an idiot for all these years, and worst of all, I have no proof of anyone specifically being involved. Oh, if ever I shall find one of these traitors...

Blue-eyed Noushin once again manages to surprise me with a child. This one shall be named Hussayn. Perhaps this time, the boys will survive... though Faisal and Fayiz were both born before Faisal died.

I make blue-eyed Noushin my first wife, for Negar is now almost certainly infertile and the other Noushin has delivered me two sick children already. Besides, she is the most pleasant of the three. The least disappointing of my wives, overall.

Ah, 466 (1074), what a great year this is! I have managed to get enough money to pay off my debts, and so I can now pay my soldiers. So I immediately summoned them all and sent them to attack Jaffa.

Of course, there could be no question as to who won. Not only did we outnumber them, but our troops were evidently helped by Allah himself. Of course, not that I want to be overly proud, I did choose skilled commanders, and gave them my moral support.

And as if that was not enough, I, with the help of my spymaster, found one of the traitors! I should have known he was none other than my Grand Vizier - how could I have believed that it really cost 100 gold to forge that claim? He pocketed at least half of it for himself, and my spymaster caught him in the act of trying to recruit more people for his scheme to embezzle money from me. I shall make an example of him - he is already rotting in the dungeon, and so he will for the rest of his life, after which Allah will judge him strictly but fairly. Never again shall my men make a fool of me!

This is it. Hussayn is dead, succumbing to the same disease as Faisal and Fayiz. All three of my wives have greatly disappointed me now. I'll have to get a fourth soon. At least Jahan is still alive and healthy... this is a good sign and a small consolation for my grief.

I now rule over a sizable portion of the Holy Land, as seen on this map, but who knows what the future will bring? It is hard to rule three Sheikhdoms. I should be the rightful Emir of Ascalon, but wresting the title out of the hands of the Fatimids' puppet will not be easy. I feel that Allah is with me, though, and by his will, I shall succeed.

 

[tnick0225]

I like this. Not enough Muslim AARs on here sadly so its nice seeing another.

Giyasaddin sure does horrible luck with his children being unhealthy though. Hopefully he can get another wife that will give healthy sons.

 

[Battle bunny]

Hope this update provides an adequate solution for the offspring problem...

---

I soon find another traitor, this time my Court Mullah. The fool thought he was smarter than that other embezzler - well, I proved him wrong. He too will rot in the dungeon forever. Speaking of my former Grand Vizier, that upstart had the gall to ask for better accommodations! What does he think a dungeon is for? I threw him into the oubliette and spread news of my heavy-handed punishments throughout my realm. If this doesn't dissuade them from ever disobeying me, I don't know what will.

The end of year 467 (mid-1075) marks the birth of another daughter of brown-eye Noushin. Young Mahwash is born with a hunchback, and I'm barely surprised anymore. Luckily, I manage to find a young girl who is suitable to be my fourth wife. Nastaran is a pious, sweet girl who is fun to chat with and knows her place, though she's a bit full of herself sometimes... oh well, she's the best I can get.

Blue-eye Noushin bears me another son! I name him Imamaddin. Just like Jahan, he turns out to be healthy. Perhaps there is hope for my wives after all.

The rest of 467 (1075) and 468 (1076) passed without anything significant happening. My retribution against the traitors seemed to have achieved its goal, for no more traitors have sprung up in our midst. I have spent a lot of time educating my eldest son Jahan, who is growing up nicely, although he is showing some worrying tendencies. In particular, he seems to have a lack of respect for authority. He doesn't seem to listen to anything I say, constantly pestering me about things he is not yet meant to know about. I have tried to discipline him many times, but to no avail...

I find myself having less and less to do other than raising my sons. 469 (1077) was another boring year - with me still having to scrape together money to pay off my debts, I cannot dream of further expansion as of now. The heretic Caliph certainly does, however, as he goes to war with the mighty Seljuk Sultanate over a few desert strongholds in the middle of nowhere in the end of the year.

(Historical notes: though the Sheikh talks about the end of year 469, by our reckoning this is actually the middle of 1077. One must remember that the Islamic calendar is rarely synchronised with the Western one, as it consists of 354 or 355 days.)

My situation is further worsened by the fact that my direct liege is the spawn of the Shi'ite Caliph himself, the heir apparent to the Caliphate. It is pretty much unimaginable that either the Caliph or his successor would ever grant me the Emirate. The only reason he doesn't try to replace me with someone loyal to his heretic faith is because I'm too insignificant for him to bother with, but when he does have to interact with me, he clearly shows his dislike of me.

Admittedly, I have my own problems to deal with. More and more ruffians are ravaging my holdings in Jaffa, and I am having problems receiving my taxes from there. I will have to manage my realm more efficiently and ruthlessly suppress any attempts to undermine my rule.

So I start overhauling the administration of my three Sheikhdoms, restructuring the bureaucracy, reworking the administrative divisions of the individual Sheikhdoms and generally ensuring things go smoothly. It is a great undertaking, for whoever ruled these lands before my rule (especially Jaffa) was an incompetent fool who didn't know the first thing about administration. It is no wonder treason had become commonplace.

I am certainly glad the war between the two giants of the Muslim world is fought far away from my own demesne. From what I've heard, Syria has been devastated by the two armies, Seljuk and Fatimid.

It is now the middle of 470 (1078) and the Battle of as-Suwaida has concluded with a Seljuk victory. This is good news for any true faithful Muslim, though I have no love lost for the Seljuks either. Alp Arslan has degraded our proud Caliph to a subject of his, showing utter lack of respect for the descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Brown-eye Noushin surprises me with yet another healthy son, Hashmaddin. It truly seems like my succession is now safe. In equally great news, my administrative reforms were a complete success. I could finally conduct a complete census and hopefully there shall be no more corruption in our bureaucracy from now on. Even the brigands terrorising Jaffa have been pacified.

Year 474 (1081)... time has passed fast, with me having more and more to do. My fourth son, Mukhtar, has been born. I try to raise my two eldest sons as best as I can. Jahan, despite his faults, shall be a worthy heir one day. He shall definitely inherit my talent with money - he understands the concept of holding on to every piece of gold he gains until it is absolutely necessary to spend. Some might say this is just simple greed, but if charity means foolishly squandering one's wealth, then greed is a virtue. He had more trouble making friends, though... but eventually got past his reclusive phase and is now socially quite competent. That is just as well - how is someone who cannot communicate with his subjects expected to rule?

Imamaddin is also turning out well - in fact, he might turn out to be even more diligent and dedicated to his duties than Jahan, though he's still too young for me to tell accurately. I can only guess from his behaviour.

All in all, my subjects are content with my rule, with only a few peasants grumbling - but you can't please everyone.

 

[Malurous]

Hi Battle bunny, the image limit for an AAR update is 20 (with any posts made within one hour counting as an update). Your first update breaks this rule; please make sure you don't do it again.

 

[Battle bunny]

Hi Battle bunny, the image limit for an AAR update is 20 (with any posts made within one hour counting as an update). Your first update breaks this rule; please make sure you don't do it again.

That's not the kind of publicity I was hoping for, but oh well. I'll try to be more careful next time.

Also, since the mods are bombarding me with requests today, I'll take the opportunity to fulfill another:

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