The Last Mongol
1419-1428
Shah Rukh was a great general and an able administrator. By 1419, Shah Rukh had realized that without care his empire would collapse. The many peoples of the Empire were difficult to effectively rule, but Shah Rukh was able to hold the empire together. In early 1419, he took steps to centralize and consolidate his power. Some nobles protested this move, in particular Quaido bin Bakr*, but Shah Rukh was able to deal with him. However, when Quaido bin Bakr died under strange circumstances on January 5, 1420 people were suspicious.
Realizing that potential enemies stood on all sides surrounded the realm, Shah Rukh formed a military alliance with his vassal Mazandaran, a small state bordering the Caspian Sea. On February 12, 1420, Kara Koyunlu declared war on the Timurids. They were hoping to expand upon the gains that they made in 1410, when they captured Baghdad. The small Iraqi state, with its capitol in Basrah, was a vassal of the Black Sheep Turks, so they joined the war as well. Upon receiving the declaration of war, Shah Rukh led his armies into Azerbaijan**, where he a battle along the shores of the Caspian Sea. From March 30 until April 15, the two armies fought a series of battles. However, the mountainous terrain gave an advantage to the defenders, and Shah Rukh was driven back to Tabriz. The armies of Kara Koyunlu pursued, capturing the unfortified province on June 9. Shah Rukh rallied his army and turned south, lying siege to Basrah. However, Kara Koyunlu raised a new army, bringing 28,000 men to siege Tabristan, starting on November 27.
On March 9, Basrah surrendered to Shah Rukh, and gave 124 ducats for peace. Shah Rukh turned north, recapturing Tabriz on May 13. Coordinating with another Timurid army, Shah Rukh’s forces attacked Tabaristan. The battle lasted from June 9 until July 6, but the Timurids were successful in breaking the siege.
Battle of Tabaristan
However, on July 14, Hamadan fell to the Black Sheep Turks. Shah Rukh tried unsuccessfully to drive the enemy from Hamadan, and was he was forced to return to Tabaristan. Kara Koyunlu attacked again, but by January 12, 1422 they were defeated. However, Shah Rukh was wounded, permanently ending his military career***. The Timurid armies returned to the offensive, retaking Tabriz on May 18, and laying siege to Hamadan and Kirkuk.
Kara Koyunlu counter attacked, finally capturing Tabaristan on January 27, 1423. Although the Timurids captured Kirkuk on February 1, they were still forced to make peace. On September 6, 1423, a deal was finally made. The Timurids were forced to give up the Tabriz province****.
Much unrest within the empire was caused by the war. Many groups saw an opportunity for revolt, with Shah Rukh fighting in the West. In Karabogaz, the nomadic peoples revolted. In August 1421, Shiite Muslims in Tabaristan and Baluchistan rebelled against Sunni Timurid rule. On February 22, 1423, a meteor was seen over Herat. This was considered to be a bad omen for the Timurid Dynasty. Campaigns against the rebels were not made until 1424. Throughout 1425, addition rebellions plagued the empire. Further rebellions broke out in 1426, when Shah Rukh decided to enforce the Jizya laws, taxing non-Muslims. These laws did create much needed revenue for the emperor, and the revolts were seen as a small price to pay. By January 1427, all of the rebellions had been suppressed, and the empire was at peace. On April 17, 1427 Shah Rukh reaffirmed that his son Ulugh Beg, then the governor of Samarkand was his heir.
Campaign against rebels
When the truce with Kara Koyunlu expired in October 1428, Shah Rukh transferred the army to the western border, preparing for war. On October 20, Kara Koyunlu, Iraq and Shirvan declared war on the Timurid Empire.
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*Game terms- +1 Centralization, Assassination of Noble event. Quaido bin Bakr is fictional.
**AGCEEP renamed several provinces. In the mod, Azerbaijan province represents Tabriz. However, for simplicity I have named provinces by the names that are on the map.
***The leader Shah Rukh died. However the monarch is still alive.
****Tabriz province was the wrong culture, the wrong religion, and unfortified. I think that I gain by giving it away.