Shahs of Shahi Shahdom - the History of the Afghan Hindu Empire

[ekorovin]

So in my second AAR, I decided to take everyone's favourite Kabul Shahis to a completely ahistorical fate. Was the demise of Hindu kingdoms in Afghanistan predestined or the tidal wave of Islam can be broken by a jugged mountains of Hindu Kush? Tune in, and see for yourselves.
Unlike my Russian AAR, this will be larger in scope, and not so character oriented. So less character development, and instead of dark and gloomy POVs, contemplating treasons and atrocities - detached view of historian. And who knows, maybe even some fun can be had.
So, onward, dear reader!

Table of Contents
Book 1
Rise of the Empire (867-1132)​

Chapter 1 - Early history and the reign of Shah Kallar I
Chapter 2 - Reign of Shah Behram
Chapter 3 - Reign of Shah Kallar II
Chapter 4 - Reigns of Shah Feraz and Shah Fezl
Chapter 5 - Reign of Shah Fath I
Chapter 6 - Reigns of Shah Hormoz and Shah Fath II
Chapter 7 - Reign of Shah Sadi

Book 2​

The Decline and Fall (1132- )​

Chapter 8 - Ascension of Shah Nesir and the Beginning of Decline
Chapter 9 - Reign of Shah Nesir
Chapter 10 -Reign of Shah Firdews

The Shahs of Shahi Shahdom with their Throne Titles​

1. Kallar I (841-898), Shah of Afghanistan from 850 till 898, Brahman, known as "the Fat", The Shield of India, Vanquisher of Invaders and the founder of Shahi Empire, poisoned by the vile Prince Jagattunga Rashtrakuta.

2. Behram (871-934), Shah of Afghanistan from 898 till 934, Kshatriya, known as "the Ironside", The Kindler of Sacred Flames of Agni, the Architect of Empire and Vanquisher of Foes to East and West, killed in the battle against Persians.

3. Kallar II (934-980), Shah of Afghanistan from 934 till 980, Kshatiya, known as "the Great", Skanda Incarnate, The Defender of Empire and Vanquisher of Foes from North and South, taken to lead the armies of Gods against Rakshasas and Asuras.

4. Feraz (947-1009), Shah of Afghanistan from 980 till 1009, Kshatriya, known as "the Wise", Son of Skanda Incarnate, Conqueror of Great Cities, died in content after many great deeds.

5. Fezl (980-1017), Shah of Afghanistan from 1009 till 1017, Kshatriya, The Great Warrior, who made the Mountains tremble, killed in the battle against Arabs.

6. Fath I (1011-1065), Shah of Afghanistan from 1017 till 1065, Shahanshah of Afghans and non-Afghans from 1033 till 1065, Kshatriya, known as "the Great", Indra Incarnate, Forever Victorious Lord of all the World.

7. Hormoz (1042-1074), Shahanshah of Afghans and non-Afghans from 1065 till 1074, Kshatriya, The Unifier of Hindus.

8. Fath II (1066-1076), Shahanshah of Afghans and non-Afghans from 1074 till 1076, Kshatriya, The Twice Shahanshah, child, who didn't achieved anything of note.

9. Sadi (1069-1132), Shahanshah of Afghans and non-Afghans from 1076 till 1132, Maharajadhiraja, Kshatriya, known as "the Great", He, through whom the Wheel of Dharma is turning, murdered by his own sons.

10. Nesir (1094-1136), Shahanshah of Afghans and non-Afghans from 1132 till 1136, Maharajadhiraja, Caste-less, known as "the Apostate" or "the Mad", cursed be his name forever, murdered by his vile henchman.

11. Firdews (1136-unknown), Shahanshah of Afghans and non-Afghans from 1136 till 1141, Maharadjadhiraja, known as "the Poet", the last of Shahi Emperors.

State of the World​

1. 967 A.D.
2. 1067 A.D.
3. 1074 A.D.

 

[ekorovin]

Chapter 1 - Early history and the reign of Shah Kallar​

The origins of Shahi dynasty are not clear. According to legends, they ruled Kabul and Gandhara for 60 generations. According to legends, their founder may be of Turkic or Tibetan origin. Or even a Tibetan, who entered the cave in Kabul, spent few days there and re-emerged dressed in a Turkic dress. The legends don’t have to make sense, apparently.

But most likely, they were from this or that Indo-Arian tribe, emerged in a power vacuum left in the Middle Kingdoms of India after the fall of Hephthalite Empire. In those murky and turbulent times little is certain, but the ancestors of Shahi dynasty established they rule in areas of Kabul and Gandhara. They accepted the Presian title of Shah, though transformed it in a manner, common to the area. Over time, the title supplanted their name.

For the first time, they held their capital in Kapisa, though after in-numerous Muslim attacks, they transported it to better protected Kabul, where it remained until the rule of Shah Kallar.

The religion of Shahi was Buddhism, Hinduism, or any proportion of those two, though the area they ruled was mostly Zoroastrian or Pagan. They built temple complexes with mixed Buddhist/Hindus statuary, and were apparently quite tolerant for the day.

Under the constant threat of Muslims, the Shahi state shrunk and crumbled, right until the rule of a man, who will elevate this obscure dynasty to the status of one of the most important Hindu dynasties of all times. His name was Kallar.

The early life of Kallar is as mysterious and obscure as early Shahi history in general. He may or may not be a blood relative of ruling dynasty, who was, probably, serving as a Vizier to the Shah, until he decided that he’ll make a far better ruler and staged a coup. At least that’s how the story goes.

Anyhow, the year of 867 finds him ruling a Hindu Afghan kingdom, surrounded by the Muslim sultanates of Sindh in the South, Persian Muslim dynasties of Saffarids and Samanids in the West, Hindu Rajput kingdom of Prathihara in the East and impassable mountains to the North. Mountains divided his country in two parts – in the West – Afghans, mostly adherent of Buddhism and Zoroastrianism, while in the East Punjabi Hindus constitute the majority of population. Not the most auspicious of positions.
In the same year he marries, to much disdain of his subjects, Nattdevi of Reni, of Rajput blood and Kshatriya caste. Such inter-caste marriage was seen as outrageous and divided the kingdom even more.

However, such petty problems quickly faded, when in the same year Muslim Sindhis from the Banu Sama Sultanate invaded Shahi. Although numerically superior in the beginning of campaign, the Muslim forces were bogged down in sieges of jungle fortresses of Punjab, allowing Afghan cavalry to execute lightning raid on Multan, the Sultanate capital, and sack it. Sindhi were forced to cross River Indus to prevent further raids. Their crossing was contested in the battle of Katasraj, resulting in decisive Afghan victory and terrible Muslim losses. The war was pretty much over by then.

This victory over Muslims led to an influx of militant Hindus, calling themselves the “Followers of Arjuna” in to the army of Kallar.

These reinforcements came in handy, for few years later the mighty Samanid dynasty of Khiva, controlling the remnants of Sogdian parts of Silk Road started the war for Kabul. This campaign was very different from the previous one. While the Sindhi war was fought in the wet jungles of Indus Valley, here the mountains and deserts provided spectacular backdrop for the fast cavalry skirmishes.

The campaign was won by Hindu fanatics from “Followers of Arjuna”, attacking in seemingly endless numbers and sustaining terrible losses. The battle of Shah-ji-Dheri signified the turning point in the war.

The sack of Multan and reparations paid by Samanids enabled Kallar to greatly improve the state of his kingdom. So when Saffarids invaded in 875, they found far better army then they were prepared to see. Routed in the Battle of Adraskan, they preferred to pay their way out of this war.

The following years saw new conflict with Muslims, but this time Kallar was on attacking side. The sultanate of Banu Sama was destroyed, its lands annexed by Shahi.

In 877, Afghans invaded Habbari sultanate in the Indus valley, sacked its capital and captured the heir apperent. For the ransom, sultan in Debul ceded Bhakkar.

The year of 879 saw new war with Saffarids, by its end Kallar conquered Zabulistan, thus restoring Kingdom of Afghanistan in its de-jure borders.
By the year of 883 Shahi was uncontested rulers of the whole Indus valley.

In the year 886 the hostile actions of Governor of Samarkand served as a pretext to invasion in Merv, the blow, from which Samanids never recovered.

In the year 889 the capital was moved from Kabul to the coastal metropolis of Debul, former capital of Habbari sultans.

Despite impressive military successes, the Shahi was still very unstable. Newly conquered Muslims constituted the majority of population, and Persians, Sindhi and Punjabi greatly outnumbered ruling Afghans. The governors of the provinces enjoyed complete autonomy, and only the person of Kallar held his newly founded empire together.

His relationship with his son and heir, Behram, were far from ideal. Dissatisfied with Kallar, who openly preferred his much more able daughter to the son, Behram left for Merv, where he held his court separately.

Whether newborn Afghan Empire can survive the death of its founder, poisoned by agents of Rashtrakuta Royal Household, afraid of his power, remains to be seen.

The borders of the Shahi Empire on the day of Shah Kallar's death.​

 

[Chattus]

I like it. Let's see how you'll handle the Ghaznavids.

 

[Elm0__]

Is your game vanilla?

 

[ekorovin]

I like it. Let's see how you'll handle the Ghaznavids.

Thanks. I don't know how Ghaznavids will behave now, with Ghazna not even close to Muslim. I've never actually play Shahis before.

Is your game vanilla?

I'm using Gen.Inbreeding mod, which punishes inbreeding in a scientifically solid way and changes AI marriage patterns, other then that - vanilla.

I suppose I got lucky, for the first Muslims to attack me were Banu Sama, who were easily defeated, and karma gained in Holy war alowwed me to employ Holy Order for the future Muslim attacks.

 

[yourworstnightm]

Thanks. I don't know how Ghaznavids will behave now, with Ghazna not even close to Muslim. I've never actually play Shahis before.

Wait, will the Ghaznavids even spawn if Ghazna isn't Muslim?

 

[ekorovin]

Chapter 2 - Reign of Shah Behram​

The rule of Shah Behram is widely considered the most important in the yearly history of Shahi Empire. His administrative reform introduced feudalism to the Middle Kingdoms, and can be seen as a watershed between Late Antiquity and Medieval periods in the region.

His rule started rather turbulent. According to old tribal traditions, the lands of his father were to be distributed equally between Behram and his brother Kambiz. Kambiz, still a child, was in the Shah’s palace in Debul, his actions mostly influenced by his sisters, although many ethnically Punjabi lords in the Eastern parts of Empire expressed their support to his cause. The party following Kambiz is usually called Palace party in secondary sources. However, the main disadvantage of Palce party was their location, far from an acting army, occupying Khorasan.

At the first news of his father’s death, Behram left his court in Merv, and arrived in the army camps in Khorasan. Here he met with the army leaders, coming from Afghan tribal aristocracy, and proposed new system of government. Unlike his father, who held most of conquered land and manage it through appointed governors, Behram would distribute the lands among the Afghan tribal leaders, with the right of inheritance. Thus, the feudalism in Shahi Empire was born. Army recognized Behram as the sole Shah, and denounced any rights of Kambiz to any lands. Not having a military power of their own, Palace party acknowledged this decision, little Kambiz was put to death.

And thus the reign of Shah Behram begun. After newly occupied lands in Khorasan were distributed among an aristocracy, Behram turned his attention East, strengthening Shahi position in Punjab, most notably subjugating the Great City of Lahore. Seeing how distance between capital and army, stationed in the frontier regions played the vital role in his brother’s demise, he returned the capital to Kabul. This move was seen as return to Afghan roots of Shahi dynasty.

It was around 904, when Hindu priest called Eyyub in the city of Debul created new, highly syncretic, branch of Hinduism, putting the emphasis on the role of Agni, fire god of Hindu pantheon. This new religion borrowed a lot from Zoroastrian teachings and rituals, and quickly became very popular among population of Shahi Empire. Shah Behram proclaimed Eyyub his personal guru, and his teachings, called Agniism, an official philosophy of Empire. Over the reign of Shah Behram, the majority of population of the Empire was adherents of Agniism, with quickly shrinking pockets of Muslims in the Indus delta. Only in the Shai homeland of Afghanistan proper the local variations of Buddhism, interlaced with old pagan tradition was successfully avoiding Agniism tide.

Agni, god of fire in Hindu pantheon, and the most important deity, according to Eyyub's teachings.​

While reign of Behram is considered to be a Golden Age of Afghan culture, it’s not to be overlooked, that most of this time Empire was at war. In 904, while Shahi war besieging the last Muslim enclave in the subcontinent, the city of Vijnot, Caliph Al-Vattiq II invaded the Empire. He was defeated, and reparations paid by Arabs enabled the unprecedented military campaigns in the Eastern Iran.

By this time, while Saffarid dynasty still held Western Iran, the east was in control of different Zoroastrian and Yazidi chieftains, who were not able to stop Hindu armies.

In 913, the merchant republic of Sistan, first autonomous Hindu merchant republic ever, was created in lands, taking from Iranian chieftains. Muslim and Mazdaki states of Central Asia were conquered later, and the bloody and hard Tabasaran War begun. This campaign, with innumerous setbacks and few crushing defeats nearly bankrupted the Empire, but in the end, after 10 years of bitter fighting, Caliph Abdul was killed in a skirmish. His much less able successor ceded Tabasaran to Shahi.

In 929, after the fall of Jerusalem into the hands of Romans, the new era of Jihads begun.

Shah Behram was killed in battle with Saffarids in 934. Though he had in-numerous daughters, bastards or not, only one of his two sons survived him. Will Shah Kallar II prove to be worthy of his glorious predecessors?

Shahi Empire by the time of Shah Behram's death.​

 

[ekorovin]

Wait, will the Ghaznavids even spawn if Ghazna isn't Muslim?

Honestly, I don't know. Anyway, if they spawn now, what they gonna do?

I'll probably go for Persian Empire, and then I don't know, there's no fun in a huger realms in CK2, may be I'll show the decline and fall of Shahi Empire

 

[ekorovin]

Ok, it's 967, 100 years of the game, let's do state-of-the-world update:

Britain - dominated by two powers: Jorvik, whose ruler converted to Catholicism and fights Norse revolts and awesome Brittany, Norse Breton kingdom which also holds Coruna in Northwestern Spain. Scotland is Scottish, fruit of liberation revolt against Norway, Argyll is Welsh.

France and around: West Francia and Aquitaine are Karling kingdoms, Burgundy and Lotharingia - failed states and mes of epic proportions, with houses Karling and De Glane overthrowing each other in a constant succession of civil wars and coups.


Scandinavia - over the years seen all three kingdoms in de-jure borders, then Swedish empire, now this. All Norse. Denmark held Western Finland and converted its ruling classes into Norse faith.

Eastern Europe - nightmare. Bohemia blobbed a bit into Poland and is dealing with Pagan revolts. Bulgaria is Catholic and ruled by a Georgian house Bagrationi. Russia is a mess. Cumans ate everything. The only interesting thing over the years was Ruthenia, created by Hungarians, who than turned Orthodox, and sadly, were eaten by Cumans.

Anatolia and Levant - ERE's doing OK, Abbasids very historically plausibly imploded and petty principalities, ruled by Turkic warlords emerged. Yes, there's Bohemia in the Caucasus, I don't even want to know, this shit might be dangerous.

Iran and India - spoilers

Africa and Spain - mostly, business as usual, Viking states of Granada and Seville sadly defunct, but Granada is still Norse.

Arabia and Eastern Africa - business as usual, Socotra was occupied and is Sunni.

Religious map.

 

[Enlil]

Dear ekorovin "the Nybling",

By Syargrius Rex! This is great! Glad you were able to get a new AAR working! And with the awesome state of Brittany, there might actually be English culture!

Sempiternae Mentes Hominum,

Enlil

 

[ekorovin]

Thanks. Yes, this AAR may not posses literature value of "the Prince", but it's fun to wright, and, hopefully, fun to read.

 

[Enlil]

Thanks. Yes, this AAR may not posses literature value of "the Prince", but it's fun to wright, and, hopefully, fun to read.

I like it

 

[ekorovin]

The Reign of Shah Kallar II​

Shah Kallar II is undoubtedly the most famous of all early Shahi rulers. The amount of legends about him and his reign makes it different to divide facts from fiction. It is most certainly true, that for all 46 years of his reign there wasn't a day while Empire wasn't in a state of war. From his father, he inherited war with Saffarids for Kerman. He quickly understood, that Empire can't win a war against forces of all Muslim rulers in the known war, and agreed to "status quo ante bellum".

This was seen as a sign of weakness by his subjects and the whole Empire was suddenly engulfed in civil war. Some lords claimed that Mehrab, bastard of Shah Behram, is a true ruler of Empire, others - that Sergul, Shah's daughter. Punjabi lords and republic of Sistan declared their independence, so did the Persians in Khiva. Destitute peasants and good-for-nothings flocked in the large armies, fighting anyone with no purpose and to make matters worse, Nomadic Yagbuids invaded from the North. That was a war that couldn't be won. But Kallar won. That's how legends, claiming that he was not a mortal man, but an avatara of War god Skanda were born.

Skanda, Hindu war god​

And that's when Caliph Musa invaded. It was bad timing on his part. While few rebellions still kindled, their active phase was over, and money, confiscated from captured rebellious lords were put to improving the army. Amnesty was granted to anyone willing to take arms against Caliph, caste differences forsaken. To this day some respectable Kshatriya clans claim ancestry from peasents, proclaimed Kshatriyas for their valour in battles of Kallar II. He could do that, for he was Scanda incarnate.

Little is certain about the battle of Hashgerd in 955. Claims, that Kallar's army were outnumberd 20 times are probably legendary, but he did defeat much more numerous Arab army, and in the battle of Hamadan the Caliph was captured and executed. This was the second Caliph in a row to die from Shahi hands.

Immediately after, using reparations from Caliphate and ransoms from prisoners, Kallar declared war on weakened Saffarids for Kerman. After this victory new war was declared, for Hamadan, against crumbling Caliphate.

And that, in 970, was when Seljuks invaded. After initial successes against frontier militia they we finally met by battle hardened veterans of Kallar's army. Seljuk made a mistake by separating his armies in two, to facilitate occupation. Even divided, each part of Seljuk armies outnumbered Kallar's, yet they were defeated near the walls of Balh. Seljuk himself led the second attack of Balh, and was utterly crushed and taken prisoner.

In 972, he met with Kallar. "Of course I win every battle against you, - Kallar famously said, - you Mohammedans have but one god to help you, and I have thousands on my side." They said, Seljuk converted to Hinduism and served Kallar from this day.

Kallar II died in the age of 79, missed by his 18 years old wife and 30 years old mistress. Though a lot of people believed, that he didn't die, but return to heaven to lead Gods' armies against Rakshasas and Asuras.

His son Feraz succeeded him.

Shahi Empire by the time of death of Shah Kallar II ​

 

[ekorovin]

Shah Kallar II, women want to be with him, men want to be like him. He was so freaking awesome I even forgot to take screenshots of some awesome things he did.

 

[ekorovin]

Chapter 4
Reigns of Shahs Feraz and Fezl​

The rule of Shah Feraz started, as his great predecessor Behram, with a fratricide. Though an official version of events were rather outlandish. In an official Shah's firman it was stated, that young Savur was taken alive to heavens, to assist his deified father, who left his earthly business to Feraz.

Regardless of his personal qualities, Feraz proved a worthy successor, taking Isfagan in 986. It's traditionally believed, that during the reign of Shah Feraz Shahi Empire first started to position itself as a successor of a great Iranian empires of the past. After taking Isfahan, Derafsh Kaviani, the ancient banner of House Sassan were recovered, and from that time onward became an official banner of Empire.

Derafsh Kaviani​

In 990, Feraz abolished an ancient tradition of gavelkind and proclaimed his youngest son, Fezl, as his sole heir. More campaigns against Muslims ensued, culminating in conquest of Baghdad in 1002. The late years of his reign were darkened by a revolt of his second son, Xwedadad. Outraged by a succession change, he took up his arms, but, despite his hopes, his older brother Erdeshir, believed to be the best military commander of Empire, stayed loyal to his father.
The revolt was crushed, and Xwedadad was imprisoned in a Tower of Silence and proclaimed legally dead.

Feraz died in 1009, 67 years old. His son, Fezl, succeeded him.

Fezl spent most of his reign fighting Muslims, he conquered Tabriz and Fars. Thus all provinces of de jure Iran were recovered, with an exception of Azerbaijan.
In 1016, Afghan warriors for the short time captured Damascus, Caliphal capital.

Fezl was killed in a petty skirmish with Arabs, in an age of 37, throwing Empire in turmoil. Though his youngest son, 5 year old Fath, was proclaimed Shah, his eldest declared independence as Shah of Belujistan. The Empire was dangerously close to a Civil war of unprecedented scale.

Shahi Empire after Shah Fezl's death​

 

[Enlil]

Good to see good updates.

 

[volksmarschall]

I've read only your first two updates, but I want to say that I like the interesting country choice and that this should be a fun ride!

Btw, the painting of the two men holding the one head is a painting of the Russo-Turkmen War during the Great Great between Russia and the United Kingdom, or at least that painting has been included in several books I've read/have on the subject. It's always funny to see paintings/pictures reappear in the most unusual ways!

Cheers!

 

[TheDeaconBosco]

I like the way that you actually depict the Shahi Shahdom as some sort of successor to the Zoroastrian Sassanid empire of old mixing Hinduistic beliefs with the worship of the flame and emphasis on the god of the flame. I hope that there's more story before the "downfall of the Shahi dynasty".

 

[ekorovin]

I've read only your first two updates, but I want to say that I like the interesting country choice and that this should be a fun ride!
Btw, the painting of the two men holding the one head is a painting of the Russo-Turkmen War during the Great Great between Russia and the United Kingdom, or at least that painting has been included in several books I've read/have on the subject. It's always funny to see paintings/pictures reappear in the most unusual ways!
Cheers!

You're right, this painting is by Russian artist Vasily Vereshchagin, the man, whose life is better than fiction. He participated in, and painted first hand account of, Russian Conquest of Central Asia, Russo-Ottoman war of 1877-1878, and was killed in a naval battle in Russo-Japanese War. In between wars, he travelled through Central Asia, India, China, Tibet and Japan. For his bravery in a siege of Samarkand he was awarded Order of St. George, the highest Russian Imperial military order. The Great Game and colonisation of Central Asia is the topic of my PhD, so I saw a lot of his paintings, and wanted to share. The one in a post is a part of series of two paintings, depicting the events of Russo-Buharian war, painted, surprisingly, from the perspective of Uzbek warrior, so the one in the post above is called "After Success" and this one is "After Failure":

I like the way that you actually depict the Shahi Shahdom as some sort of successor to the Zoroastrian Sassanid empire of old mixing Hinduistic beliefs with the worship of the flame and emphasis on the god of the flame. I hope that there's more story before the "downfall of the Shahi dynasty".

Thank you! No, the history of Shahi dynasty is not over, you'll see more of it. The introduction of Agniism was a logical thing to do, Shahi became a Hindu dynasty with a lot of Zoroastrian subjects. Of course, if I'm being completely honest, that's not very probable. Very early in history, Indo-European peoples developed a notion of existence of two classes of supernatural beings: Asuras and Devas, Olympians and Titans, Æsir and Vanir, you name it. And over the ages, Iranians identified Asurs with gods, and Devs with devils. But Indo-Arians did exactly opposite, and identified Devi as gods, and Asuras as devils. So for Zoroastrian or Iranian pagan, Hinduist is literally "the devil-worshipper", and vice versa.

Good to see good updates.

Thank you as always.

 

[ekorovin]

So, it's 1067 in-game, time to do next state-of-the-world update:

India - nothing unusual here, well, that's because you know nothing, dear reader. It should be reviled in a next update:

Middle East and Eastern Africa - Caliphate goes back and force between this Zahakid, some other Persian dynasty, Abbasids (twice returned) and even Fatimids (yeah, true Fatimids, though Sunni, for some reason). Azdids made an incursion in Ethiopia, but then Afar got liberated and grabbed piece of Oman. Affirmative action, I suppose. Damietta and Alexandria were Frankish duchies, ruled by Capets, of all people, but Bursakids finally got their act together.

Africa and Spain - Ummayads got throwned of by Ismaili'is (well, not Ismaili'is, but generic Sunni dynasty, but I like my version more). Aragon and Aquitaine is a mess of Balkan proportions, everybody has claim on everything.

Scandinavia - Catholic Norway and Denmark ate pagan Sweden. Polotsk migrated closer to Baltic.

​

British Isles - true haven of Norse paganism, there are: Norse Breton house of Haesteinn (they lost their lands in Brittany proper), Norse Anglo-Saxon house ironically called "of St. Peters", and Norse Norse Jute. Currently, Jute holds the throne of England, but all other houses had it for some time. The kingdom itself is Breton creation.

Western Europe - Karlings lost everything, save East Francia and failed state of Lotharingia. Italy is technically Karling too, but is Lollard, so family reunions should be fun. Bohemia is very strong, Poland accepted Catholicism, Karvuna is Frankish state. If you look closely, you can find the last remnants of Cumanian Empire, Catholic nowadays.

Eastern Europe - nightmare left after the fall of Cumanian Empire. The only interesting thing is that Russians accepted Orthodoxy, probably first time I see AI does that from 867 start. Oh, and Grand Prince of Lithuania accepted Slavic faith, for some reason.

Stay tuned.