Prince of Persia

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Sorry about the title, had to do it. This is the start of a running AAR as Persia, using the IGC. I've only played a few years so far, so I'll sum up some of the strengths and weaknesses I have noticed so far.

Strengths:
1) Size - Persia appears to be the largest, or one of the largest, countries that is not a major power in Europe/Middle East
2) Gold - Gold in Armenia is very useful, though of course attracts many enemies who want to seize it
3) COT - I love having a COT, and a strong one, thanks to trade across the Persian Gulf area.
4) Sea access, close to India. If I ever get an explorer, would be very well positioned to expand into India

Weaknesses:
1) Strong enemies - Turkey, allied with Crimea, and others, are a constant threat. I left Turkey as a major power, for additional challenge.
2) Stability problems - Start at -3, and with multiple minority religions, lots of revolts. Also, the eastern part of the Empire is little more than trading posts and colonies, not very stable.

So far, I've managed to avoid war with Turkey, through 1502 at least. I've been working on stability, as it is the most crippling problem facing the Turks. Managed to bring it up to 0, working on positive numbers too. I've had to put down a large number of revolts in Armenia, Iraq, Kirkuk, and Kara Kum, but those are decreasing as stability increases and I expanded tolerance for those religions. My diplomatic efforts have gained an alliance with Mamelukes and Nubia, I'd really like to have gained Georgia as a buffer against Crimea, but they seem to be slowly spinning into a Turkish orbit. The European powers like me fairly well (unlike Turkey) so I am laying groundwork for possible later alliances with Hungary and/or Austria. That would spike the Turks!

In world events, Venice has accomplished the (fait accompli) annexation of Ragusa. France has fought an inconclusive war with England. Not too much is going on in my part of the world, yet. But I have a feeling it will get interesting soon. Signing off for now...

 

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More!

 

[hjarg]

Details!!!

 

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I'll post more after I play more tonight. I'm anxious to see whether my new monarch, Ismael I can win a war against the hated Turks. He has quite impressive military skills, it turns out.

 

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Ismael I's reign has been a peaceful one. For the years since his ascension, Persia has focused on improving its stability, and making sure more trade and tax money come into the coffers. For several years there is little of interest, save for September 1502, when pirates began making regular incursions into our trade routes in the Persian Gulf. A few ships, handily outfitted by local merchants, were dispatched under Admiral Jem to put an end to these pirates, which he did on two occasions. Unfortunately, in 1506 a disaster befell the fledgling navy. The three ships were out on exercises, when a line snapped and caused one ship to veer into another! Soon afterwards a horrific powder blast consumed both ships.

The focus, however, was on the land war. Keeping a watchful eye on Turkey, the Emperor decided that this was the time to strike. Turkey was allied with the ever-dangerous Crimea, while Persia had the Mamelukes and Nubia on her side. In July 1507 the battle was joined. Ismael himself led a large force of cavalry, while a lieutenant was sent towards Trabazon with the seige force. The siege was quickly engaged, and both sides waited. Crimea struck first, sending a probing force into Azerbaidjan. Ismael determined the immediate threat lay there, and his horsemen moved swiftly. Just in time, for 45 thousand Crimeans were descending on the province. In a mighty conflict, Ismael and his 31,000 crushed the foe, trapping them in box canyons. Barely a tenth of the mighty host limped back to Crimea. A confusing war followed, throughout Crimea. Unable to seige with his largely cavalry force, the Persians cut through several armies of Crimeans before they could organize. In time, though, a large force surprised the emperor and sent him fleeing back. With the help of the Mamelukes, Kouban was taken, though both allies forces soon had to withdraw to face the threat of the Turk. In December 1508 Crimea, battered from the war, signed a white peace. Back in the south, the seige of Trabazon had barely been disturbed by the Turks. Their forces turned southward, and met the Mamelukes and Nubians in several large clashes in Syria and surrounding areas. Briefly taking control of some provinces gave the Turks new strength, but in the end, they signed a peace in August 1509, granting control of Trabazon to Persia. It's new facing on the Black Sea seemed to startle the Europeans. Perhaps they should get used to the sensation...

 

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The next goal after the war was the get the economy cleaned up. Two loans had been taken to provide troops during the fight with Turkey. Over the next ten years, Ismael focused on regaining stability in the empire, fighting off rebellions, and increasing trade income throughout Europe. In 1519 an alliance with Poland was signed, that seemed to hold much promise for facing down the Turk. Though we became nominally involved in various wars with the Teutonic Order, whoever that is, we were at peace for a very long time. In 1524 Ismael died, and was laid to rest with the highest honors. He had fought the Turk, stabilized the economy, and turned Persia into a respectable power. His replacement was Thamasp, who had few of the former emperor's many skills.

Throughout this period, France and Spain fought several wars. Spain generally got the best of them, especially the second one, where France was forced to pay indemnities and Spain annexed Navarra and Helvetia. In an odd twist, the small German state of Hessen gained the southern French province of Bearn. In 1528, a valiant adventurer named Al-Din presented himself to the court. He was immediately put to use exploring the eastern coast, past Indus. He sent back word of the discovery of several states, including the Mughal Empire. Even more important, this gave Persian traders access to the trading center of Delhi, which was rich beyond imagining. This was the time when the Persian economy really gained strength. We had recently gained monopolies, and immediately set one up in Isfahan. After this we constantly battled to hold a monopoly in Delhi, as well as briefly doing so in Venice. Trade income skyrocketed, and from this point on, Persia is the richest trading nation in the world at this time, save Spain. Thamasp began a program of appointing judges throughout the land, and all was well. In 1536, a war broke out between Turkey and Crimea and the Mamelukes and her various small allies. Seeing the Turkish armies beaten time and time again in Syria and Lebanon, it was the time for Persia to strike. We declared war in 1536. Poland's forces quickly moved south to engage the Crimeans. Our main army moved into Angora and began to seize it. Poland quickly dropped out of the war and our troops faced an army over twice our size in Azerbaidjan. Just as we had done thirty years before however, we defeated the enemy in a massacre that cost them nearly 40,000 men. Crimea quickly signed a white peace. In the end, Turkey signed over Angora to us.

In the years since, we have improved our trading incomes, and are attempting to build up our infrastructure even more. A brief war with Astrakhan was recently concluded with no results. It is 1544.