If you want to play Oman do not read this there is a strategic line for Oman that is pretty strong and would take the fun out of it.
This is a IGC 1.9 all settings normal
As I sat by the Fire I heard My grandfather speak.
"No indead Oman was not always the greatest power in the world. In fact 100 years ago today we had only Two real Cities, most of our people still wandered the Deserts.
1492 was a fatefull year it started with dire news. Grenada the last outpost of our faith on the Iberian Penninsula fell to the Unbelievers. The year ended, As fate would decree, with the begining of our Campaign of conquest.
Do not believe the stories of ancient Omanies Allways annihilating the Foes in pitched battles. Today as our Armies Slowly Conquer Russia this may be so, Today we have such superiority in weapontry that we can sweep the foe from the field.
No indead in 1492 we knew little of the world, and had few resouces besides our legendary fleet to shape it. We knew the then mighty Turks, like us, had an undieing hatred of the Mameluks with thier perversion of the faith. We knew nothing at all of the Mameluk lands and so our first great campaign was to gain knowledge and a base of operations to join when the inevtitable future war between the Noble Turks and Dark Mameluks.
Yes the day we all will remember in history was August 1492, the day we fell upon the Hadjez the Vassels of the Mameluks.
As I said my son we did not fall upon them in pitched battle, as the Sultans would have us believe, but by guile with suprise landings in three provinces. We besiged all three cities of their major cities in within the month, and began starving them out, We never once fought a single pitched battle with the Hadjez.
We did launch three assaults on Mekkah to gain their capital, and access the maps of their masters the Mameluks, only the third succeeded. This noble success was against 82 starving men. Even this assualt would not have been ordered if the Turks had not declared war on the Mameluks in January 1493. Time was short for it was fated for the bulk of the Mameluk lands to fall into our hands.
After the capital fell in February we hurried troops from home, and loaded troops on our transports from Mekkah.
by April we had a decent force available and Joined the Turks by declaring war on the Mameluks. Ignore again your history teachers, we did not sweap the Mameluks from the field, with the Turks watching in Awe. Nor did the Turks beg leavings from our table as we smashed the Mameluks.
The Truth is we never fought a pitched battle against more then 1,000 men untill 1496, we landed in Egypt, and immeadiately detached a force to Alexandria, and simultainiously landed in the unfortified Nile. None of these armies were more then 8,000 men and were just enough to besiege the provinces and assure that no Mameluk troops would be raised. In late 1493 as we settled with the Hadjez leaving only Mekkah in their hands. We established a Base of operations out of Lebanon and arrabia to raise more troops. perhaps more importantly we solidified our cavalry in lebannon.
It was this speed more them power that solidified our hold on the Mameluks, they speed across all of egypt into Cyrenia, and won a glorious pitched battle agains 1,000 bedragled Mameluks before besieging Cyrenia.
When The Turks withdrew from our war in 1495, claiming the Holy site of Jerusalem and Lebanon, It was a cause for celbration not dismay. for all the lands west of the Sinia were safely besieged, and as Egypt fell we raced this contingent to Sumaria to besige it as we raised a steady stream of troops in Lebanon and Arrabia. It was in 1496 then that Mameluk troops freshly raised in Allepo were engaged in pitched battle.
Yes there was some sourage there but, the Mameluks were so green that they often did not know which end of the pike was for business, they never had even a chance to solidify there moral as we broke them and chased them back and forth while we raised troops to finally besiege Allepo and Syria.
In 1497 then the last of the Mameluk cites fell to siege, and we annexed the all the lands of Egypt.
Perhaps the greatest battle of those early years, was fought with diplomats and bankers. We brought Turkey to be our allie, this seems the natural order today but at the time it was The tail wagging the dog and was a great coup. Perhaps requiring more courage was investing in couriers, trappings and presenting enticing letters of friendship to the Hasfids, Algerians, and Morroccans. The battle for the hearts of our future allies was the greatest of battles, It in fact had to be won before we Annexed the Mameluk lands, for surely Jealousy after the annexation would be profound. Yes my son human nature is a immutable law that Jealousy would of made our trusworhthy allies too envious to ever become the noble and true friend they have been since.
In fact think upon this battle of dipolomacy if you ever visit the Ban el Hajar in Nubia a Hasfid Province nestled in our Sudanese Holdings.
But this great battle was accomplished and by 1497. We had won the alliance that would lead us to become the formost nation in the world.... at the cost of 600,000 ducats in debt. The timing on the loans was fortuitous though. Each loan occuring 18 months apart. as the riches of Egypt poored into our coffers each loan could be paid as the bankers required.
I suppose in your History books the Ethiopian war of 1502-1504 seems now a longsighted investment to gain a foothold for the future. I suppose it turned out that way, but the truth is it was a failed war of conquest. It is where we first learned that some Mountainous provinces are simply too expensive to siege. Yes my son the ethiopian war that gained us Afar province was a failure.
The develomement that lead toto world leadership could have come in many ways. We had extensive resources at our disposal. As Allah willed though it came with arrival of a brave conquistador and 300 pioneers on our shores in 1508. Over the next three years with the arrival of 300 more colonists we established small colonies in Bombay Cochin and Cambay.
We moved a steady stream of troops to India and by 1512 we were ready to unify the sub continent. Mysore was not conquered in brave battle, but with Manuever seige and starvation. Striking from two directions we manuvered the Mysores out of their homeland.
As we besieged their main cities we played cat an mouse untill all three of their provinces fell. In despair 35,000 Mysore troops swore alliagence to us with ther Homeland conquered.
In 1518 the rest of India came under our attack, We battled Hyderbad, and in 1519 as we played a similar cat and mouse game Mughal Empire declared war on us knowing there turn would surely be next.
It took 4 long years of manuver but we first conguered Hyderbad in 1520 with 10,000 troops joining us. It would not be for two more long years untill the Mugahals would acknowledge defeat.
Ultimately they too were drawn into our coastal porvince of Bomaby while we besieged and conquered their cities. When they admitted defeat in 1522 over 150 artilary pieces were added to our army along with 25,000 other mixed troops.
I think It was this that guarenteed our succes in the first Persian war in 1524. It was easy to quickly reduce Isfahan, Hormus and Baluchi, and force a peace leaving the two latter in our hands.
Building up our bases and pouring troops into Hormus and Baluchi these same guns were the margin of victory in 1531 when the final Persian war began. This time with careful timing and manuvuer we were able to bring all of persia under siege with Turkey taking the two northern provinces. Yes the annexation of Persia in 1534, solidified our empire. My son as you see though it was starvation and manuever that brought us glory not a headlong fearless rush into battles.
In 1536-1559 we fought a serries of skirmishes against a Uzbec-Sibir alliance always forcing peace and taking one province. We were not ready to face Russia yet so we fought slowly when they decared war on us.
The campaign starting in 1545 against the Nubia, Hadjez and Aden was long fought, in the end though our resources assured us we could annex all three areas in a 3 year war.
and in 1553, the Ethipians decared war for the 4th time, and instead of settling for a white peace like we had in the first three wars, we sent massive armies down through our newly conguered Nubian possesions and annexed Ethiopia also.
Yes my son by 1560 we were ready to move toward the russian. Here the pitched battles that stir your blood would occur. In 1561 we annexed the Sibir and as anticipated the Russians declared war on us.
I think perhaps you know the rest for it has become recent history. how every five to ten years we fight the Russians and gain more provinces. How Crimea and Georgia, who also foolishly declared war in 1475 and 1481, have been annexed. My son remember in each case it has been the sieges that have gained the most ground, not the glorious battles.
Yes you know of our continueing conficts. Only one part is hidden, The investments and superior culture that fuels our Armies.
The fact that we have 13 goods manufacturies, 8 refineries and a fine arts center , could be easily overlooked, but it is part of the engine that brings a 290,000 ducat monthly budget. The monopoly we maintain in the Delhi trade area itself contributes over 60 Ducats a month.
Yes my son it is true we are the world power today, but I though you should know it was earned more with guile and planning then bravery. Learn this leason well the wise general can often wins without ever having to waste his soldiers blood. It is this thought I want to you to carry into Poland in the future.
Yes son I said Poland for Surely as the Russians crumble before this century is over the Poles will join the fray . Look ahead young one..."
As my grandfather finished speakin I did look ahead. My vision fixed on the burning fire, and thinking of Lithuania, Prague, and Vienna, I could see what lay beyond the horizion. For a Brief moment I could see the images of these cities superimposed behind the raging fire, and had a vision into the next century.
This is a IGC 1.9 all settings normal
As I sat by the Fire I heard My grandfather speak.
"No indead Oman was not always the greatest power in the world. In fact 100 years ago today we had only Two real Cities, most of our people still wandered the Deserts.
1492 was a fatefull year it started with dire news. Grenada the last outpost of our faith on the Iberian Penninsula fell to the Unbelievers. The year ended, As fate would decree, with the begining of our Campaign of conquest.
Do not believe the stories of ancient Omanies Allways annihilating the Foes in pitched battles. Today as our Armies Slowly Conquer Russia this may be so, Today we have such superiority in weapontry that we can sweep the foe from the field.
No indead in 1492 we knew little of the world, and had few resouces besides our legendary fleet to shape it. We knew the then mighty Turks, like us, had an undieing hatred of the Mameluks with thier perversion of the faith. We knew nothing at all of the Mameluk lands and so our first great campaign was to gain knowledge and a base of operations to join when the inevtitable future war between the Noble Turks and Dark Mameluks.
Yes the day we all will remember in history was August 1492, the day we fell upon the Hadjez the Vassels of the Mameluks.
As I said my son we did not fall upon them in pitched battle, as the Sultans would have us believe, but by guile with suprise landings in three provinces. We besiged all three cities of their major cities in within the month, and began starving them out, We never once fought a single pitched battle with the Hadjez.
We did launch three assaults on Mekkah to gain their capital, and access the maps of their masters the Mameluks, only the third succeeded. This noble success was against 82 starving men. Even this assualt would not have been ordered if the Turks had not declared war on the Mameluks in January 1493. Time was short for it was fated for the bulk of the Mameluk lands to fall into our hands.
After the capital fell in February we hurried troops from home, and loaded troops on our transports from Mekkah.
by April we had a decent force available and Joined the Turks by declaring war on the Mameluks. Ignore again your history teachers, we did not sweap the Mameluks from the field, with the Turks watching in Awe. Nor did the Turks beg leavings from our table as we smashed the Mameluks.
The Truth is we never fought a pitched battle against more then 1,000 men untill 1496, we landed in Egypt, and immeadiately detached a force to Alexandria, and simultainiously landed in the unfortified Nile. None of these armies were more then 8,000 men and were just enough to besiege the provinces and assure that no Mameluk troops would be raised. In late 1493 as we settled with the Hadjez leaving only Mekkah in their hands. We established a Base of operations out of Lebanon and arrabia to raise more troops. perhaps more importantly we solidified our cavalry in lebannon.
It was this speed more them power that solidified our hold on the Mameluks, they speed across all of egypt into Cyrenia, and won a glorious pitched battle agains 1,000 bedragled Mameluks before besieging Cyrenia.
When The Turks withdrew from our war in 1495, claiming the Holy site of Jerusalem and Lebanon, It was a cause for celbration not dismay. for all the lands west of the Sinia were safely besieged, and as Egypt fell we raced this contingent to Sumaria to besige it as we raised a steady stream of troops in Lebanon and Arrabia. It was in 1496 then that Mameluk troops freshly raised in Allepo were engaged in pitched battle.
Yes there was some sourage there but, the Mameluks were so green that they often did not know which end of the pike was for business, they never had even a chance to solidify there moral as we broke them and chased them back and forth while we raised troops to finally besiege Allepo and Syria.
In 1497 then the last of the Mameluk cites fell to siege, and we annexed the all the lands of Egypt.
Perhaps the greatest battle of those early years, was fought with diplomats and bankers. We brought Turkey to be our allie, this seems the natural order today but at the time it was The tail wagging the dog and was a great coup. Perhaps requiring more courage was investing in couriers, trappings and presenting enticing letters of friendship to the Hasfids, Algerians, and Morroccans. The battle for the hearts of our future allies was the greatest of battles, It in fact had to be won before we Annexed the Mameluk lands, for surely Jealousy after the annexation would be profound. Yes my son human nature is a immutable law that Jealousy would of made our trusworhthy allies too envious to ever become the noble and true friend they have been since.
In fact think upon this battle of dipolomacy if you ever visit the Ban el Hajar in Nubia a Hasfid Province nestled in our Sudanese Holdings.
But this great battle was accomplished and by 1497. We had won the alliance that would lead us to become the formost nation in the world.... at the cost of 600,000 ducats in debt. The timing on the loans was fortuitous though. Each loan occuring 18 months apart. as the riches of Egypt poored into our coffers each loan could be paid as the bankers required.
I suppose in your History books the Ethiopian war of 1502-1504 seems now a longsighted investment to gain a foothold for the future. I suppose it turned out that way, but the truth is it was a failed war of conquest. It is where we first learned that some Mountainous provinces are simply too expensive to siege. Yes my son the ethiopian war that gained us Afar province was a failure.
The develomement that lead toto world leadership could have come in many ways. We had extensive resources at our disposal. As Allah willed though it came with arrival of a brave conquistador and 300 pioneers on our shores in 1508. Over the next three years with the arrival of 300 more colonists we established small colonies in Bombay Cochin and Cambay.
We moved a steady stream of troops to India and by 1512 we were ready to unify the sub continent. Mysore was not conquered in brave battle, but with Manuever seige and starvation. Striking from two directions we manuvered the Mysores out of their homeland.
As we besieged their main cities we played cat an mouse untill all three of their provinces fell. In despair 35,000 Mysore troops swore alliagence to us with ther Homeland conquered.
In 1518 the rest of India came under our attack, We battled Hyderbad, and in 1519 as we played a similar cat and mouse game Mughal Empire declared war on us knowing there turn would surely be next.
It took 4 long years of manuver but we first conguered Hyderbad in 1520 with 10,000 troops joining us. It would not be for two more long years untill the Mugahals would acknowledge defeat.
Ultimately they too were drawn into our coastal porvince of Bomaby while we besieged and conquered their cities. When they admitted defeat in 1522 over 150 artilary pieces were added to our army along with 25,000 other mixed troops.
I think It was this that guarenteed our succes in the first Persian war in 1524. It was easy to quickly reduce Isfahan, Hormus and Baluchi, and force a peace leaving the two latter in our hands.
Building up our bases and pouring troops into Hormus and Baluchi these same guns were the margin of victory in 1531 when the final Persian war began. This time with careful timing and manuvuer we were able to bring all of persia under siege with Turkey taking the two northern provinces. Yes the annexation of Persia in 1534, solidified our empire. My son as you see though it was starvation and manuever that brought us glory not a headlong fearless rush into battles.
In 1536-1559 we fought a serries of skirmishes against a Uzbec-Sibir alliance always forcing peace and taking one province. We were not ready to face Russia yet so we fought slowly when they decared war on us.
The campaign starting in 1545 against the Nubia, Hadjez and Aden was long fought, in the end though our resources assured us we could annex all three areas in a 3 year war.
and in 1553, the Ethipians decared war for the 4th time, and instead of settling for a white peace like we had in the first three wars, we sent massive armies down through our newly conguered Nubian possesions and annexed Ethiopia also.
Yes my son by 1560 we were ready to move toward the russian. Here the pitched battles that stir your blood would occur. In 1561 we annexed the Sibir and as anticipated the Russians declared war on us.
I think perhaps you know the rest for it has become recent history. how every five to ten years we fight the Russians and gain more provinces. How Crimea and Georgia, who also foolishly declared war in 1475 and 1481, have been annexed. My son remember in each case it has been the sieges that have gained the most ground, not the glorious battles.
Yes you know of our continueing conficts. Only one part is hidden, The investments and superior culture that fuels our Armies.
The fact that we have 13 goods manufacturies, 8 refineries and a fine arts center , could be easily overlooked, but it is part of the engine that brings a 290,000 ducat monthly budget. The monopoly we maintain in the Delhi trade area itself contributes over 60 Ducats a month.
Yes my son it is true we are the world power today, but I though you should know it was earned more with guile and planning then bravery. Learn this leason well the wise general can often wins without ever having to waste his soldiers blood. It is this thought I want to you to carry into Poland in the future.
Yes son I said Poland for Surely as the Russians crumble before this century is over the Poles will join the fray . Look ahead young one..."
As my grandfather finished speakin I did look ahead. My vision fixed on the burning fire, and thinking of Lithuania, Prague, and Vienna, I could see what lay beyond the horizion. For a Brief moment I could see the images of these cities superimposed behind the raging fire, and had a vision into the next century.
I might have to try this.
