The Lords of the Land of the Bow: A Makuria AAR

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Gabriel Matthaios: A re-examination

By Zerebekka Azim, University of New Dongola.

Gabriel Matthaios: It is a name that rings down through history. Saint Gabriel. The Warrior-Priest. The Scholar-King. The myths of him are many and to this day persist. That he was not a man but an angel sent by God to save the nation. That he did not truly die but instead sleeps until he is needed again. Separating the myths from the reality is no easy task.

So who was he?

To understand the man and his place in history, we have to go back to study the records of the time he lived. He himself left behind numerous written works that we can read; books and treatises and more besides. From them we can glean some insight into his mind, his intellect. There are also other reports, written by those that knew him, but we have to be careful when we examine them, as even from the earliest days of his reign the myths were beginning to emerge, only to grow over the long years of his rule.

Then there is also the Annals of the Legendary Matthaios, the epic tale reportedly start by Gabriel himself, and recounting the rule of the Matthaios over Makuria.

It is there that we shall commence our study.

Image reportedly of Gabriel Matthaios


The Annals of the Legendary Matthaios

Being an account of House Matthaios and the lands of Makuria.


It is told that in the earliest days that peace lay upon the lands of Makuria and Nubia, and all who live within lived in blissful ignorance of the troubles ahead. Yet peace could not last and the days of Makuria were numbered if they continued on in the manner they were headed.

There lived in the deserts one who could see the shape of days to come. He was man blessed by God Most High, a man with few equals in body or mind. And there was he put through trials, and assayed and refined and purified until he was at last made ready for the task set for him. Yet a heavy charge was set upon him so that he would remain true to the path, for he was not allowed to take a woman to bed.

His trials had left him hurt in body mind and soul, but that swayed him not from his appointed task.

And lo, he emerged from the deserts, carrying a girl child in his arms, with the fires of heaven burning in his eyes. All could see that the child, Zerebekka, was fair beyond the measure of all the children of Nubia, and she he named the Rose of the Desert. When pressed as to who her mother was, even to his dying days Gabriel never spoke.

Across Nubia he travelled, preaching his message, of a grim warning to any who would listen, yet those lands proved not fertile and so at last he came to Makuria, closest to the danger, for few others had heeded his words.

"O Makuria, O Nubia," he cried, "You who contended with the ancient Egyptians, and for a time ruled over them. You who contended with the might of Rome, and defied them, you who drove off the Muslims hordes alone of all the lands, do not rest of past glories. We are safe, I hear you say, We are blessed. We have signed the baqt with Egypt and it protects us.

Put not your faith in the promises of man for I say unto you already the forces of the Mohammadeans are rousing and cast their covetous eyes upon your lands, for they are a people who do not forget and do not forgive, and the memory of those defeats we inflicted upon them still burns in their hearts."

Long he spoke to them, and many were the warnings given and in time all were swayed to his side, for none in the land were his equal in wisdom, and his knowledge surpassed that of even the wisest and most learned in the kingdom, even despite his youth and his wild appearance, of one who has emerged from the deserts.

And word came to Khael Azim, the King of Makuria, of all that was said. Now Khael possessed wisdom and learning almost unto that of Gabriel, and was a well liked king, for he had an open and friendly manner. He consulted the notables of his kingdom and studied the scriptures and the signs and undertook long bouts of prayer as to the course of action he should take.

And it came to be that the King, Khael Azim, came to Gabriel and bowed down before him. "Truly, you were sent by God in the hour of our need and I am content that you shall rule."

But Gabriel raised Khael up and embraced him as a brother. "I tell you this truly, that you shall see great things in your lifetime due to your faith, and that you and yours shall be blessed and shall have the friendship of the Matthaios for as long as both shall last. But come, we have much work ahead of us to do and little time to do it in."

Author Notes

Spoiler

Yes, Gabriel is a little on the more OP side of ruler design, but it was done with the narrative in mind

 

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Now Gabriel took stock of all that lay before him, of Makuria and the lands about, and deep were his thoughts, for he knew that should the might of the Muslims turn upon them, they were not yet ready to stand against it, not alone. With such thoughts in mind, he began to devise plans and stratagems to improve the fate of Makuria.

Yet it would take time for his all of his plans to come to fruition, to raise Makuria up, though also he knew that strength at arms was not enough to defend them for quite some time, but that knowledge was the key to their survival, and thus it was that he sought to make Makuria a centre of learning and wisdom, of innovation and technology, renown in all the world.

He himself led the way, as he began to focus on scholarship, to channel his intellect to the benefit of the nation, and towards this aim he ordered the construction of an Observatory in Dongola, so that he could begin his research.

Yet that was not the end of his involvement, as also he sought out the society of the Hermetics and joined to their number, for it was said that they knew many secrets, secrets that would be of great benefit to the nation. These he would learn, though it not be easy and its members secretive and loathe to share them.

And he took with him Khael Azim into their number, appointing him both Hermetic Apprentice and Court Physician, forging closer bounds between the two great men.

Despite all of this, Gabriel found time to begin composing a great book as well, to leave behind his thoughts on God and religion for those that followed in his steps. And in addition to that work also he started work on a detailed theorem paper for the Hermetic order, to impress them with his knowledge and learning and advance his status with them, one in which he tackled translation of the ancient hieroglyphics of Egypt.

Not alone could Gabriel rule though, despite his proficiency in many things, and so he took to considering a council in which to aid him in the running of the Kingdom.

Looking across those available to him, he found that not all would be up to the task to the level that he would desire.

Of those he found, Eliezer, Mayor of Marawi, was devious and cunning and well capable of serving as spymaster. In those days, Constantinople of the Eastern Romans was the seat of learning and knowledge, and to Eliezer was assigned the task of journeying, to see what he could learn that would aid Makuria in their struggles.

And there was one, a man called Dionisios, who was most learned in theology, almost to the level of the King, and to him was given the place of Court Chaplain.

But of the others, none could be found to fulfil stations as Gabriel would hope, and so he began to look beyond the borders of Makuria. Through his contact with the Hermetics, he sought out men of foreign lands who would be willing to join him, and these he soon found. From the lands of Armenia came Vesd, a fellow believer, to serve as Steward, while the Georgian Mukhran was persuaded to serve as Chancellor.

The Eastern Roman Empire provided Niketas, strong and brave, to serve as a commander at war, while, Soizuros, his equal in body and bravery, was found in the neighbouring Nubian lands, and he Gabriel made Marshal of the lands.

And he looked across his new council and saw that it was good, and that the kingdom would prosper under their competent administration.

"This marks a new dawn for Makuria, and indeed for all Nubians," Gabriel said unto them, "Yet until such time as all Nubians are brought together under one rule then they shall not be safe."

To them he unveiled his vision of a Kingdom that encompassed all of Nubia, and he ordered that they seek out means of seeing it come about. And when each was assigned his task, they were set forth to do so.

Then Khael came to Gabriel and spoke to him thus; "It is not good that you rule alone, brother. You need to take unto you a wife to support you in the tasks ahead."

"The one that would take up that role would have to be a women of exceptional sacrifice, for she must know I am wed to the land and that she could expect no child from me."

"Fear not, for I foresee that in all the lands we shall find such a women."

Then Khael set out to search through the lands, and lo, he found a young women of standing, Prisisilla of the minor house of Atbarid, a women of formidable talents, quick of mind yet with great ambition, and she agreed to be the wife of Gabriel, and once they were wed, Gabriel made her regent in the case he was ever unable to rule, and tutor of all children of the court, for if she could have no children of her own then she would be a mother to many.

All but his daughter, Zerebekka, that was, for he alone was to undertake her education, instructing her in her duties and responsibilities towards the land. "Remember that a ruler's life is not their own," he would say unto her, "But it belongs to the nation and the people."

Then did Gabriel ponder how best to repay Khael, and he he sought throughout the lands and found a young women, Rahmah Semn, a gifted young women, and to Khael he gave her in marriage, so that his line would not die out.

And to all these things Gabriel threw himself with vigour, even to the sake of his own health, to make preparations for the trials to come.

Yet little was he, or any other, to know just how soon those troubles would be, for north of the borders, among the Egyptians, were storm clouds brewing.

 

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Makurian warriors preparing for war

The rule of Gabriel was barely a month old when the threat that he had feared and preached of came about, for Emir Abdullah of the Tujibid Emirate in Southern Egypt proved himself a treacherous dog and declared a holy war upon Makuria, attempting to wrest the northern counties of Nobatia from the Makurians.

The people were in shock at the suddenness of the assault, and yet they gained a newfound respect for the prophetic abilities of Gabriel, and were all the more willing to believe him and follow his lead.

And so Gabriel called up the warriors of Makuria to face the Egyptians, even though the enemy outnumbered them, and he sent out word for the other Nubian rulers for aid.

"Tell them this," he said to the messengers, "That should we fall here, then we shall not be last, for the covetous eyes of the Muslims will be cast upon them next."

Yet of them, only proud Maththias of Nubia and brave Soizuros of Hayya answered the call, and though their warriors were few, Gabriel felt that they were sufficient to the task along with his own men and the commanders that he had sought out and brought to Makuria for just such a purpose.

Even as they marched to war, Gabriel put the finishing touches to the treatise he had been working on, for validation by the fellow members of his order. And all who read it praised it but for Sultan Yazid of the Muhallabid Sultanate, the liege lord of the Emir of Tujibid.

"The master shows his true colours," pronounced Gabriel, "For the servant would not attack us so were it not for his master's blessings. And I perceive that it shall not be long before he too shall move against us."

Now fear had gripped the heart of Abdullah at the alliance of the Nubian nations, and he was loath to engage in combat, and so Gabriel proposed to take the war to the enemy. Therefore the armies of the alliance marched north, into Buhairya, and there they laid siege to the strongholds of the foe.

Not until the castle there fell, in the ninth month of the war, did the foe bestir himself, but deigning to engage in combat, he instead marched into Dotawo.

When word of this reached Gabriel, he took the army south to deal with them, as now they numbered three for every two of the foe. And at Pakhoras on the banks of the Nile, Nubian warriors first went into combat under the eye of Gabriel.

A the armies drew up before each other, Gabriel stood before the men of Nubia and he spoke unto them.

"This day, this battle decided the fate of Nubia, for should we fail this day then the last hope for our people shall fall. The Egyptians shall sweep across our lands, enslaving our women and children, burning down our temples and forcing you to slave for them until you die. But we shall not fail! These followers of a false god fear you as they see the numbers arrayed against them and perceive the nobility and strength of your hearts and wills. Let them cling to the hope of superiority of arms. It will avail them little. We shall drive them from our lands and slay them until such time as the thought of facing a Nubian warrior again puts fear into their hearts!"

Then the men took up their arms and shields and with a great cry advanced upon the foe.

The battle was long and hard, and grievous wounds were struck on both sides and though the right flank of the Nubian army wavered and threatened to collapse, the centre and left held strong and pushed forward, routing the foe and inflicting terrible losses upon them.

When the sun set upon the field of battle, more than half the Muslim horde lay dead, while one out of ten Nubian warriors were lost. The loss was felt heavily by Gabriel, but a great victory had been won and the threat of the Emir had been broken.

It was only then, when the threat was no more, that Kuriakos, Count of Aydhab, slothful, deceitful and arbitrary, a man who had bowed before the might of the Abbasid and offered them tribute, bestirred himself and offered to join in the war.

Little need did Gabriel have for the warriors of Kuriakos, but he was a gracious man and accepted them none the less, and they took part in mopping up the last of the enemy and occupying his lands until at last, almost two years after the war began, the Emir was forced to come grovelling to the feet of Gabriel, and offer restitution for his unjust war and sue for peace.

And then did Gabriel return home, to his wife and studies, but there he found Queen Prisisilla involved in the frivolities of new fashions and Gabriel was most vexed.

"Do you not know that men have fought and died for God, and yet this is what occupies your time?"

Then did the faith of Gabriel and his wife burn strong and zealous.

The wealth brought in as spoils of war was soon put to good use as Gabriel began the construction and outfitting of a laboratory to aid in his research, assisted by the ever reliable Khael Azim, who had grown close in friendship with Gabriel.

As they worked upon it, Gabriel perceived that his friend was distracted and enquired as to the reason.

"My wife has announced that she is with child," Khael told him.

Gabriel was most pleased for his friend and in due course Rahmiah bore Khael a son whom they named Krisanthos.

Long and hard was the work put into the laboratory, and great the expense but in time it was completed, a work of wonder and marvel with no equal in the land or those beyond.

Gabriel was most pleased by it, but his pleasure was short lived for word soon came to him that the Sultan Yazid had bestirred himself had raised an army to attack Nobatia as his minion had down before, for if the servant could not accomplish it then the master desired to do so.

 

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And so again did Gabriel raise a force to meet a heathen foe, and he put forth a call to arms but only Count Maththias of Nubia answered.

Thus did Gabriel say unto Maththias; "Oh faithful Son of Nubia, once more in the hour of need have your ridden forth to aid our righteous cause, and this will not be forgotten. And it may be that if we fight alone we may fall, but if that be so, then we shall make such a stand as to remind the Egyptians of what a true man looks like, and perhaps our sacrifice shall inspire timid hearts to rise up."

"Nay Lord," Count Maththias responded, "It shall not be so, for even alone we shall more than match the foe, if not in numbers, then in courage and valour, and yay, even eclipse them."

And gathering the forces available to him, Gabriel once more led them into Egypt.

Then came news unexpected, for messengers from the south came unto him, from Aydhab, Kassala and Alodia, stating that they were ready to march to war alongside the Makurians, and while the men of King Zaharias of Alodia and Chief Thoma of Kassala were light tribal warriors, they were welcome still.

And even as the allied forces marched, Gabriel besieged the places of strength of the enemy, and dared them to attack before his full number was assembled, but terror once more had stricken the hearts of the foe and they declined to engage.

The strain of the wars and of the great effort that Gabriel had undertaken began to wear on even his noble body, and in the camps of the besiegers he, as with many others, was stricken down with dysentery. It was not his destiny to die then, though, for his good friend and physician Khael worked a most successful treatment upon him, that restored his vigour, yet not even that could cure it, and in silence Gabriel suffered, for the sake of the nation.

Yet he would not allow such a concern to impede the course of the war, and soon all the holdings of Buhairya had been reduced and taken.

That was not enough to deter the heathen Sultan, for his lands were still yet vast, and rich. Even as Gabriel prepared to march his army once more, missives arrived to him from the Coptic Pope, admonishing him to turn aside from his studies of the stars and the heavens. Perhaps it was the sickness that he still suffered from, or the stresses he was under that made Gabriel respond as he did, but he was sharp and forthright with the head of the Faith.

"Has not God Most High set the course of the stars in the skies? How then can I turn aside from the study of them, to uncover what He would reveal to us? No, I say, no! You may sit in your gilded cage beneath the heels of the heathen, but I shall not! I shall fight them for as long as breath remains in my body, for the Glory of God Most High, and I shall seek out knowledge where ever it may be to aid that cause. I say to you that if I am wrong, then God shall strike me down, but if I am correct then upon your head be it."

All were amazed at the speech of the King, sick and pale as he was, for it has sparked a bravery in him that was to burn bright and fierce.

Then taking to his mount, Gabriel rode forth at the fore of the combined army, and they prepared to cross the Nile to assault the forces of the Sultan waiting upon the far bank, in Aswan.

And there Gabriel, still wan from his sickness, did address the gathered warriors of Nubia.

"See there, gathered across the waters, are the heathen dogs, trusting in it to protect them. But is not the Lord Most High, the Lord of Hosts, master of the Nile just as he was of the Red Sea and the Jordan? It shall avail them not. Press on, my brave brothers, and send them to the fires of eternal damnation that they so richly deserve. By days end the Lord will give us victory!"

The two armies were near equal in numbers, but for the light infantry of the tribal chiefs, of which Gabriel had twice the number, and these led the way across the Nile. The Sultan's army was well dug in on the far bank, and the losses among the troops first across were heavy. Fierce anger burned in Gabriel as he watched his men cut down and he drew his sword and plunged into the fray, little caring for his own safety. A renewed vigour gripped the Nubian warriors at the sight of the sickly Makurian King in action, and they pushed back against the foe. First to collapse was the left flank of the Egyptians, allowing the Makurian right to press on against the centre, sending it into flight as well. For a while the Egyptian right fought on before it too at last was routed. And it was from this battle that King Gabriel learnt much on how to lead the heavy infantry that were the core of his army.

A thousand Egyptians lay strewn across the field of battle, slain, and almost seven hundred Nubians were among them, of which two thirds were from the light infantry, and once more did the waters of the Nile run red.

Yet the Sultan in his vanity would not yet surrender, and his men retreated into the mountains of Quena, in the hope that it would strengthen his cause, but his men were tired and weary and they would not stand. A religious fervour gripped Gabriel as he pursued them, hounding at their heels, even to capturing one of the Sultan's vassals, Sheikh Abu-Bakr of Sinai. Though many pressed the great king to put the heathen to death, Gabriel stayed his hand.

Despite the end being nigh and obvious to all, the Sultan tried to rally his army, to raise new troops to his cause, to fend off the coming disaster, and in between the sieges to reduce the strongholds of the enemy, Gabriel's men fought in a number of small skirmishers, and while they held the advantage, it was not without loss, for in one of them, one of his foreign warriors, the Frank Faroin, was slain.

Yet the end was inevitable, and the cancerous, stubborn Sultan Yazid was at last forced to prostrate himself before the victorious Nubians, to sue for peace, even as he offered up the wealth of his Sultanate with which to buy peace.

And Gabriel returned home, well pleased, though a darkness still lingered over him.

To the gathered chiefs of the Nubians he spoke once more. "Can you not see the strength that we have together? Once more I beseech you to cast aside your pride, your vanity, and to join together."

Some there were that wavered, chief among them being Count Maththias of Nubia, but the others retained their stubborn pride and answered nay.

Then did Gabriel say to them, "If you shall not bow, you shall kneel."

And as they left to head to their lands, the Nubian chiefs were worried by his words and their meaning.

 

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Now great wealth had come to Gabriel as a result of the defeat of the Egyptians, and the high opinion of nobles and priests alike, but he was sore beset, by doubts and ill-health.

Then did Khael come to him, and said unto him; "Rest you must have, brother, for the mind and body can not take the stresses that you are inflicting upon them, for if you continue as you do, then all that you have worked towards may yet be lost."

"Rest I can not take," Gabriel told him, "Not until Makuria is safe."

"Then allow me to aid you, brother. Let us turn to the Hermetic arts, to release you from the turmoil that rests upon you."

Retiring to Gabriel's laboratory, the two men took up ingredients that previous they had gathered, and together they brewed up a potion as dictated in ancient hermetic recipes. This did Gabriel drink, and it washed away the darkness that rested heavy upon him.

There was a renewed energy to him, and a purpose make strong, and soon even his bodily sickness passed.

To him he gathered up his council, along with his good friend Khael, and he addressed them, unveiling to them his vision and the path ahead, though it be a heavy one, and one that would not sit easy with all.

"You have all now seen the threat that faces us, and for a time we have kept it at bay, but a threat still greater awaits, for is not the Egyptian Sultan but part of a much larger Empire? What, then, shall happen should the Caliph turn his endless hordes our way? To face that threat all of Nubia needs, nay, must be unified. Yet fear and ignorance and pride stay in the way of that. Therefore if the lords of Nubia shall not join to us willingly, then we shall make them do so."

Therefore he raised the army of Makuria and there was much excitement among them men, for twice before they had defeated the Egyptians and they expected to march against them again, but their march instead took them towards the south, and Gabriel became aware of a sense of growing concern amongst them as they neared the border of the lands of Chief Soizuros of Hayya. He drew up his army before him and thus did he address the;

"Men of Makuria, o brave Sons of Nubia, I hear your concerns, and indeed I too share them. Across the border lies Hayya and there are some of you gathered here that fought alongside them, shed blood with them, when first the Egyptians fought us. Why, I hear you say, are we going to battle with those who are as kin to us, fellow Nubians and believers? Is it greed, is it pride, is it power? Nay, it is none of those I say unto you. We make not war against the men or Hayya or their families, we go not to loot and plunder. No, ours is a greater purpose. It is true that the Hayyan chief marched to our aid in our first war, but where was he in our second, when our need was greater? And there may come a day when our need is yet greater still, when the covetous eye of the heathen who rules all of Arabia turns our way. What then shall be our fate if Hayya once more decides to deny us aid? Do not forget that in the war against the Egyptian Sultan near half of Nubia did not offer us aid. We of Makuria are the Bulwark of Nubia. It is against us that the tide will come, and if the nations of Nubia shall to come to our aid, then we shall add their strength to our own. And it may be that I am in the wrong in this, and if so then I damn my own soul, but I do not believe that to be the case, for I was sent among you for this very purpose."

And while some doubts lingered, the words of the King, the passions and fire with which he spoke swayed the men to his side.

Now Chief Soizuros knew that his outnumbered tribal warriors could not stand against the might of Makurian infantry and thus did not offer combat, but in doing so he could not prevent Gabriel marching into his lands, to besiege his tribal seat and take it, bringing the war to a bloodless end.

And so did the reunification of Nubia had begun.

Gabriel had a seat set up in the centre of the the Hayyan village, and had Soizuros brought before him. No fear did the Hayyan cheif show, for he was a brave man. And thus did he say to Gabriel;

"Once we were brothers in battle, facing down the infidel, and this is how you would repay me? By making me kneel before you?"

"Nay, brother," did Gabriel reply, "That is not my desire. Once you did aid me and then you turned your back on us. I require nothing more than your oath of fealty. Your lands you keep, your title, your people and wealth. If you can not do so, then another I shall find who can."

Then did Soizuros look into the eyes of Gabriel and saw nothing but steel and fire, and then did he swear fealty to Gabriel, for no other choice did he have, though it did not sit easy with him, yet Gabriel did not make him kneel as he had once threatened.

From Hayya, Gabriel moved on, his army invading the lands of Chief Thoma of Kassala, and it too fell without bloodshed, and the lands of Kassala were added to the growing kingdom, and this was then followed by the lands of Count Pangiros of Trinkitat upon the sea, a man who had not once offered aid to Makuria in her struggles.

But the recent conquests did not sit easy with all, and most of all with the priests and bishops and the Patriarchy itself, for in warring with fellow believers of the faith they labelled it an unjustified war, and added to his studies of the stars, their view of him began to wan. Worse yet was to come when Gabriel published his studies, proving that Earth revolved around the Sun, and while some named him Gabriel the Scholar, a growing discontent began to bubble.

Then did Gabriel stand down his armies for a while and enter a period of reflection, for he wished to mend his relation with the Faith, even as he fought to defend it.

 

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With doubts lingering as to his purpose, and the means by which he was working towards it, Gabriel entered a period of seclusion and reflection. His studies seeking knowledge and learning were set aside, and instead he turned to faith and the bible.

And as he did so, he underwent a time of mediation and fasting, prayer and study of the holy scriptures, searching for meaning and for answers.

When at last he emerged from his seclusion, he came bearing two book that he had completed the composition of. One was the Confessions of King Gabriel the Scholar, in which he accounted to the temptations that a King would face in their rulership. Not just temptations of the flesh were touched upon, but also of pride, of wealth and power, and it dealt with the means to best deal with them. The second was his Magnum Opus, on Contemplative Theurgy, studying the mysteries of God and meditation.

His faith had been renewed and once more his purpose was clear, but now he vowed to undertake it in a different manner. There would be other means to bring the recalcitrant rulers of Nubia around to his view, yet before then there remained enemies of the faith that needed to be dealt with.

Bordering the tribal lands of Kassala was Gondar, ruled by King Ogbae Zagwe, an Ethiopian who had been excommunicated for his sins and he Gabriel prepared to march against, to force from the throne and to replace him with a king who was still in the graces of the Church.

Ogbae was not willing to allow such an event to go unopposed, and so he brought up his men and marched them into the lands of Hayya, and there did Gabriel bring them to battle, and with more than twice the warriors than his foe, he routed them and sent them fleeing and but few Makurians were lost in the battle.

Then did Gabriel march up into the mountains of Ethiopia and reduced the strongholds of the enemy until such time as Ogbae had no choice but to yield, and Gabriel did raise up Ogbae's son, Dahnay, to rule over Gondar, and bring it back into the fold of the faith.

Now the old Coptic Pope had passed away after a period of sickness, and a new one, Shenouda II, had risen to rule the faith, a hunchback, though one noted for his sense of justice and his knowledge of the faith. He did Gabriel approach and thus addressed;

"I wish no dispute with the Church, only to serve its best interest. What, then, must I do, to prove this to you and all believers?"

Then did Shendouda say; "First you must set aside your old life, and your dabbling with the mystic arts. and instead devote your life to God. Second, as you smote your fellow Nubians, thus must you smite the infidel and heathen and heretic."

And so Gabriel departed the Hermetic Order and turned his gaze to the lands about, and there he saw an opportunity, for beyond the lands of the Ethiopians was the Emirate of Shirazid, ruled over by the Sunni Emir Talut, known to all as the Unready.

Then did Gabriel declare a holy war upon him, to wrest from the infidel the lands of Afar, and almost two thousand two hundred Makurian warriors marched to war, eager to battle the infidel and not fellow believers. Yet of the Unready and his men there was no sign, for his troops were involved in battle in Yemen, aiding the Arwadid Emirate, and so his lands fell to Gabriel without contest.

With the heathen smote, Gabriel returned home to Makuria in triumph and his standing amongst the faith was renewed.

Then did his Chancellor come to him, with news unexpected. "Oh great King, my scribes in their studies have uncovered ancient documents that proclaim that Makuria is the rightful claimant of the lands of Aydhab, though it took much time and money to verify this."

In prayer Gabriel considered the news, and only then did he decide press the claim, for this was no claim that the Faith objected to, and it would wrest the lands from the grip of the Caliphate.

In face of the assembling Makurian army, Count Kuriakos grovelled before his Muslim liege and begged for aid, and the Caliph made grandiose promises, though but a small force was available near at hand.

Trusting to the strength of the Muslim, Count Kuriakos marched his small army into Makurian land, and at Pakhoras, where Makuria had once before defeated a Muslim horde, Gabriel brought them to battle.

The battle was swift and one sideed, as the Aydhab forces collapsed before the Makurians, and in the rout that followed, Makurian cavalry ran down the Count and captured him, dragging him back before Gabriel.

Thus did Gabriel address him; "Your faith in the Muslims has prove misplaced, for where were they when you needed them? I say unto you that they were indifferent to your concerns, much as you were to mine when I was under attack."

Then Gabriel stripped him of his title of Count and reduced to him to the Baron of Marsa Alam, and he took for himself the lands of Aydah.

And there at the sea, he looked out over it and saw ships of many nations and cultures drawn up, traders from foreign lands.

"This, then, is but part of the famed Silk Road," said he, "And a source of wealth and knowledge. If we are to prosper them we must seek out more access to it."

And for the first time did news of a mighty, far off Empire reach the ears of Gabriel, but what he thought of it he did not say.

 

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As the twelfth year of the reign of Gabriel Matthaios dawned, Zerebekka Matthiaios was maturing into a young woman of potential, and her beauty continued to blossom. Gabriel began to instruct her in the ways of the faith, so that she would walk the path in righteousness and not fall into the same follies that he had.

Now it came to the mind of Gabriel to further Makuria's claim on the silk road, and to do so he declared a holy war for Taizz, wherein lay the trading hub of Aden, against the one year old Emir Abdullah of the Arwadid Emirate, whose warriors were involved in battle with fellow Muslims to the north, the Muradid, though ones of a sect that they called heretical. And in this battle, Abdullah was joined by Emir Is'mail of Sharazid, a boy who had come to power following the death of his father Talut the Unready.

Now unimpeded was Gabriel as he marched his warriors into Taizz, and Aden had fallen before any response came from the foe. Then did the Somali King Hil of Berbera throw in his lot with the cause of the Arwadid, and raise up his forces to march against Gabriel.

The forces of the three Muslims rulers were slow to come together, and Gabriel moved against them, taking each apart one by one, until none could stand before him. Even so, the war was not quick in concluding, and for two years Gabriel battled the enemy, taking their strongholds, until Abdullah was at last forced to concede and Taizz fell into Gabriel's hands.

Upon the shores of the sea, Gabriel led a worship service before his assembled army, and gave praise to the Lord Most High, the Lord of Hosts, for giving him victory over the heathen.

And Gabriel renamed Aden to New Dongola, and he did announce that from then on it would serve as the capital of Makuria, for it held a trade post of the Silk Road, and great riches and knowledge flowed through it. Then did he move his court and establish himself, despite the local Bedouin Sunni populace not yet being pacified.

With the new lands he had taken, Gabriel turned to restructuring the nation, and he brought together Hayya, Kassala and Trinkitat together, forming the Duchy of Blemmyia. Then did Count Papasinen of Suakin, who paid tribute to the Muslim Caliph, come before Gabriel, and he bowed down.

"Oh Great King," said he, "I would swear fealty to thee, and seek freedom from the cruel terms that have been forced upon me by the infidel."

Much did this please Gabriel, and willingly he accepted Suakin into the nation, for it brought more of Nubia together and had not taken war to do so.

The recent conquests of Taizz though had made the realm too large for Gabriel to administer on his own, and thus he approached Khael Azim, so saying; "My brother, long have you served me, and faithfully, and so I give unto you the lands of Tadjoura and Harer in Afar, for you and yours to rule, as but part payment for all you support and friendship."

Further did he reward him, for Gabriel's Chancellor, the Georgian Mukhran, had passed on after a bad case of the flu, and in his place Gabriel raised Khael.

For a time then did Gabriel rest, and his thoughts turned to how best serve the Faith. Thus did he join the Community of Saint Anthony, the oldest of Christian Monastic traditions, one that valued simplicity, submission and humility, and the spreading of the faith.

But the world beyond remained in turmoil, for reports filtered down through the Silk Road that the Dragon of China had gone to war, crushing the Uyghur. And religious unrest had afflicted the Eastern Romans as Iconoclast and Orthodox has wrestled for dominance, only for the Iconoclast to emerge victorious for a time, while King Karl of West Francia had captured Paderborn, a holy site of the pagan Germanic people, and burned the holy tree Irminsul.

The world would not allow peace for long, and so Gabriel roused himself, for many enemies remained close at hand.

 

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With chaos spreading through the world and the enemies of the faith growing stronger, Gabriel knew that he must rest, lest the foe turn their gaze upon him afore he was prepared.

Thus he looked upon the lands of the heathen near at hand still, and to King Hil of Berbera who had aided the Arwadid in their defence against Gabriel.

Then did the warriors of Makuria march forth, and in but four months had taken the lands and driven Hil out, adding the Berbera to the nation. And soon too was the last remnant of the Shirazid taken so that all Muslim presence in Somali was expelled, though as yet the people clung to their heathen ways.

To his loyal Marshal, Soizuros, who for long had trained and recruited the men that Gabriel needed, was awarded the lands of Berbera.

The title of Duke of Nobatia also did Gabriel claim, and with it at last came the noble Count Maththias of Nubia, swearing allegiance to Makuria, so that all of Nubia but for the lands of the High Chief of Alodia were now within his kingdom.

Even as he did so, his daughter, Zerebekka, came of age, and she exhibited a masterful knowledge of the faith, as well as being the foremost beauty of the land. Gabriel was well pleased, for she would make a fine Queen when he was gone, yet their remained the issue of the continuance of the dynasty, as few there were willing to accept a matrilineal marriage to a woman of such a distant and minor land, even to one of such beauty.

As Gabriel pondered this, a ship came sailing into New Dongola, one of foreign design as yet not seen before, and aboard it were not merchants but emissaries, ones sent out by the feared Emperor of the Tang Dynasty. They arrived not to treat with Gabriel, but to reprimand, for they accused Makurian merchants of dishonesty and deceit, and demanded action upon Gabriel's part.

Then Gabriel called together his counsel and advisers and thus spoke with them; "It is no easy thing to accede to demands thus given, yet what options lie before us? If we do not, then shall they not trouble us further? All who have dealings with them say that their anger is like unto the sun, and that it eclipses even the might of the Caliphate, yet their favours are rich indeed. Shall we not, then, accept the loss of trade for a little while in the certainty of prosperity in the future?"

And so for a while the merchant guilds were restricted in their dealings with the merchants of the far off Empire, but the Silk Road remained open and the wealth upon it flowed still.

Now in the lands of Egypt, a new Sultan, Dawud, had risen to rule, decadent and gluttonous and lustful, and he sought means to placate his people before anger at his behaviour spilled over.

Therefore he fixed his eyes upon Makuria and said he unto his vassals and minions; "Shall we let the humiliation of their victories stand? Are we not destined to rule the world, to force all to convert or die? Therefore let us take up the sword and banner and punish these Nubians."

And so war once more came upon Makuria, and Gabriel gathered up his armies to face them, but not alone did he stand. The two other Kings of the faith, King Oda Gosh the Fat of Abyssinia, and King Zakharias of Alodia pledge their support in the war, and between them near four thousand warriors were added to the cause.

As the enemy army, two and a half thousand strong, moved into Dotawo, the three Kings drew their forces together then marched against the foe. At Qasr Ibrim in Dotawo the armies met, nearby to where a previous Egyptian army had been defeated, the Sultan's forces where over run and slaughtered, leaving the dead strewn across the sands. Two thirds of the foe were struck down by the righteous zeal of the Nubian and Ethiopian forces, and for each of those of the faith lost, near ten Egyptians were slain.

At the fore was Gabriel, and his sword sung as it slew until it ran red with the blood of the infidel, and the enemy fled before him, but it was to little avail, for they were hunted down until the Sultan's army ceased to exist.

Then, with his armies utterly destroyed, and the vengeful Gabriel marching into his lands, Dawud abased himself before Gabriel as his father had been forced to do, and once more the riches of Egypt were laid at the feet of the victorious army.

And returning home, Gabriel used part of the treasure paid to him to stage an elaborate coronation, and he was crowned King of Makuria, for in the sight of all he was no longer a mere Petty King.

The Kingdom of Makuria at the time of its founding, in the eighteenth year of the reign of Gabriel the Scholar.

 

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Upon the establishment of his new Kingdom, King Gabriel led a service of worship and praise, thanking the Lord Most High for the victories He had given them.

Then did Gabriel turn to securing the future of his Kingdom, and in New Dongola he founded the first Makurian hospital, to aid in dealing with outbreaks of disease that seemed to prevalent in the world.

And for a husband for Zerebekka, he found an Ethiopian who was willing to wed to her, to become in time the Consort of a Queen. Fethee was a proud man, but also a theologian like Gabriel and Zerebekka, well read, charitable and above all kind, for which fact most he endeared himself to Gabriel, for the King knew that Zethee would treat his daughter well.

Now for a time there was peace in the land as Gabriel concentrated upon his faith and his works within the Community of Saint Anthony, and in time he advanced within them and as a reward for his diligence and noble rule, Megaloschemos Muschel rewarded him with Saint Anthony's finger bone.

When two years had passed since the war against Egypt, and twenty had gone by since Gabriel had risen to the throne of Makuria, it came to his mind to go on a pilgrimage, and for his destination, he would go to the Holiest of Cities, Jerusalem.

Now many in the Kingdom were of concern about this, for his journey would take him through the lands of Egypt and deep into the Caliphate.

"What, then, shall come of us should the heathen lay hands upon you, oh Great King?"

"Do not be afraid," Gabriel responded to them, "For if it transpires that the heathen breaks the laws of pilgrimage, then all the world shall be turned against them. Yet if they do, what greater honour is there than to die as a martyr for our Lord? And fear not for the Kingdom, for Zerebekka shall make a great Queen and rule you wisely."

Then did Gabriel set out, and passed through the lands of the heathen, and along the way, on a lawless section of road, bandits set upon him, demanding a toll.

"Gold you demand, but steel you shall receive," Gabriel told them, and he took up his sword and smote them until they fled before him.

Not alone had he been a victim of the bandits, for he came upon another that had been robbed and left for dead, and he did Gabriel care for, and pay for his recovery, an act of kindness seen by none but God.

And his journey done, Gabriel arrived in Jerusalem, just one among many pilgrims, and he offered up praise in the Holy Places.

Long he would have liked to stay, to visit all the Holy Sites, to walk in the path of the Lord on his ministries, but he could not neglect Makuria, or her cause, for on his journey he had seen the size and strength of the Caliphate, and knew the day was not yet at hand were his people could stand against them.

Upon arriving home, he instituted a new force, a small band of three hundred warriors, the best that Makuria had to offer, as a permanent army, in the style of the Legions of Rome, comprising of the feared Nubian archers, and spearmen to protect them as they struck down the foes of Makuria.

Then came news that the Kingdom had been hoping and praying for, as a little over three years since her wedding, Princess Zerebekka gave birth to a daughter that she named Athanasia, and she did Gabriel bless and become guardian of.

And the continuation of the dynasty had been assured.

 

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As more lands came into the kingdom, and more of heathen faiths became subjects of Gabriel, the need for priests to minister to them grew, to show them the errors of their believes and to bring them into the fold of the faith.

Thus in the county of Bayda near to New Dongola, Gabriel caused a temple to be raised, the first of what would in time become a program of temple raisings.

Four years did peace settle upon the lands of Makuria, and slowly it flourished and grew, but ambition still burned bright in the eyes of Gabriel, and holy zeal would not let him rest, not while heathens were near at hand.

Therefore he raised his armies up and marched upon the lands of Emir Murad of the Muradid Emirate in a Holy War for Hadramawt. No allies would come to fight for the Emir, for all other Muslims saw him as a heretic.

The tribal lands of the region stood little chance against Gabriel's now veteran armies, for while their arms and harness were not to the level of many of the Muslims, their training and morale were beyond any known army.

Then came word that the Emir had sougt to outflank Gabriel, as he had marched his army north around the Rub' Al Khali Desert, to strike down into the heart of Gabriel holdings. But by quick march did Gabriel race to meet him, and at as-Suqaiq did the two forces clash.

Larger was the force of the Emir, for he brought six men for every five that Gabriel had, but it stood him to little avail, for the heavy core of the Makurians cut through the ranks of the Muslims and sent them into rout, and the trail of dead was long.

And as Gabriel hunted down the remnants of the enemy army, he still found time to pray, to read the scriptures, to contemplate the Rule of Saint Anthony, and as he did, all sense of pride and ego began to depart him, for he realised that he was but part of the nation, and that it would continue long after he was gone.

Not unnoticed was the change in the King, and many began to call him an exemplary of the faith, a True Christian Knight, brave and virtuous.

For three years the campaign had dragged on, for the Emir was hard to run to ground, even as his lands were occupied and hope for him dwindled.

Then came a messenger form New Dongola, and he brought glad tidings; "Oh Great King, news from your daughter, for she had borne a son, and she has named him Gabriel."

And Gabriel did lead a service of praise, and sent word back to his daughter, to send his respects, and to take guardianship of the boy, to tutor him in the ways of the faith.

Though a year and half a year more passed, in time Gabriel ran down the Emir, and at Dhofar he brought him to battle, and there slaughter was inflicted upon the Muslims, and his army all but wiped out, leaving him little option to surrender.

Then Gabriel returned home, and for half a year his army was allowed rest, but Gabriel did not. The old Megaloschemos of the Community of Saint Anthony had been taken up to meet the Lord Most High, and Gabriel was anointed in his place, to both led and to tend to the faith.

Near thirty years had passed since Gabriel had taken the throne of Makuria, and though age was beginning to catch up with him, he still remained vigorous for the faith, and desired still to see it spread.

 

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Now it came to pass that the realm of Abyssinia became torn apart by a vicious civil war, and while that was in progress, the Emir of the Arwadid Emirate, Abdullah the Young, took it upon himself to take advantage of the situation and try to claim part of the lands of the rebellion.

Of the internal affairs of a fellow kingdom of the faith, Gabriel would not involve himself, but he could not allow the heathen to grow stronger at the expense of the Abyssinian.

Thus he went to war with the Arwadid, and did aim to annex all of the Duchy of Sanaa to Makuria.

The sieges of the land of Sanaa were slow, and as he wiled away his time in the encampment around the strongholds of the enemy, Gabriel took up the quill again, and once more started to compose a book, this one of the House Matthaios, with advice contained within for those that followed.

As Sanaa fell before him, word arrived that the army of the Arwadid was in action in Abyssinia, and thus did Gabriel gather to him his armies, and march to engage them, and there at Massawa upon the sea did the five thousand Makurian warriors bear down upon a mere fifteen hundred Arwadid, and the slaughter among their ranks was horrendous.

Then was the remnants of the army hunted down and slain to the last, so that no more would they trouble the Abyssinians, and Gabriel took possession of Sanaa, and with it all the Kingdom of Yemen.

As the thirtieth year of his rule upon the throne of Makuria came around, Gabriel turned his eye to the isle of Socotra off the coast, where ruled the mad Emir Athanasios, a Nestorian, who was, by law, a vassal of his yet refused to acknowledge him.

Thus did Gabriel press the claim, and raised up his armies, though his ships were few in number, enough for just a twelve hundred men.

Yet as the force took to ship to land upon Socotra, the Emir landed his own force at Bayda, and Gabriel dispatched forces to engage him.

The battle was short, as the Nestorians did not have much fight in them, and as they fled, their mad Emir stayed behind, ranting and ravaging, and he Gabriel's force took and brought to the king.

Now Gabriel took pity upon the man, and had him resealed, and he fled to far off lands, and Gabriel took possession of Socotra.

Then did word come to Gabriel that Emir Murad of the Muradid Emirate had passed on, and his son, Jabir, had taken up the rule of the Emirate.

And so once more Gabriel marched to war, against the last of the Muslim rulers nearby to his lands but for the overbearing presence of the Caliphate.

Into Oman the forces of Makuria advanced, and no enemy dared come forth to challenge them, and so began the reduction of the strongholds of the enemy, and for two and a half years they marched across the lands until all of Oman had fallen to them. Only then did Emir Murad surrender to him, and flee to his last lands across the Strait of Hormuz.

Now in the port of Muscat, another centre rich in trade, a bedraggled ship made its way in, and the once proud merchants from China were in a much reduced state, for they bore reports that a great famine had ripped through China and the suffering there was terrible. Trade would all but end along the Silk Road as the people in the far off lands were reduced to simply trying to survive.

Noble Gabriel was much touched by the news, and he made orders to send what aid they could, be it ever so little. Many there were that opposed the idea, quick to point out that the Chinese Emperor had but recently treated them poorly.

Thus did Gabriel say unto them; "Has not the Lord Most High granted us all that we require, yay, and more than we need? How then can we not aid those in suffering? It is not with the common folk that our disagreement lies, but those that rule them, and do any think that the nobility will do without? No, it is our Christian duty to aid them as best we can."

And so ships began to depart from Makuria, laden with food grown upon the fertile banks of the Nile, and with men to help with the distribution of it.

When word of the assistance reached the far off ears of the Chinese Emperor, he was much amazed at it, and much touched, yet within two weeks he passed on, and a new Emperor rose to replace him.

Not unrewarded was Gabriel, for in return he received a book from the Chinese, Gorgren's Chronicles of Economic Principles.

For a time there was pace, but news was to soon come from his Chancellor to change all that.

 

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As with all people, it came to be that the King of Alodia had passed away and was taken up by God, and Gabriel was saddened by the news, for they had fought alongside each other when battling the Egyptian army..

Now Gabriel's Chancellor came up to him, and thus he told the King; "Oh Great King, with the passing of King Zakharias, the throne has passed to his daughter, Ephanne."

"Then we shall bid her our greetings and respect, and the hope for continued friendship between our nations," did Gabriel respond.

"Alas, for it is not that simple, for she is wed to a Prince of the Eastern Romans. Great may be the city of Byzantium, but dark are the thoughts of those that dwell there, for they secretly, and yay, even openly, plot upon one another. It would take but a death or two and the Empire may soon encompass Alodia as well."

A virtuous man was Gabriel, and he had never once mistreat a prisoner or ordered the death of any, but well he understood the darker side of human nature, and he could foresee what might happen, for the tribal lands of Alodia were a far cry from the mighty cities of the Eastern Roman Empire, and ill prepared they were for courtly intrigue.

And patient he might be, but the King was still a man of zeal and faith. "This shall not be," he said. "Nubia shall be ruled by the Nubians, and not the Romans."

Ancient claims there were in Makuria for the lands of Alodia, yet Gabriel had not pressed them out of respect for King Zakharias, but all now had changed.

Therefore he raised up the men of Makuria and pressed claim for the county of Alodia, and the tribesmen of Alodia were scattered before him, though they outnumbered the Makurians, for they were not versed in the clash of arms against a disciplined army.

Then fell to Gabriel the first part of Alodia, which had once been its capital.

And then there was peace upon the land for a time, and glad tidings within the family, for a second son was born to Zerebekka, who she named Kael. The years rolled on and children aged, and among them was Athanasia, the first born of Zerebekka, most versed in theology and learning, and while she had been trained well by her grandfather, the king, ambition burned in her heart, as it did for most of the dynasty.

When not engaged in prayers and mediation, reflection and fasting, Gabriel worked upon his second great book, and as the fortieth year upon the throne rolled around, he produced a great work, one that his scribes called The Legendary Matthaios, though the humble man would have preferred otherwise. Within it he contained his thoughts on leadership and desires for the future generations that would come after him.

It did not come in time, for word soon came to him of the actions of his granddaughter, Athanasia, as she had established a plot to have him murdered.

Deep sorrow was in Gabriel's heart at this action, for while he and his granddaughter had their differences, he wished no harm upon her.

Before him she was brought, and with sorrow he asked what he had done that would cause her to act in such a way.

"I am what you made me, Grandfather. In all things you made me excel, and more than excel. You pushed me to be not just good, but to be better than good, to strive, to seek. Why act so surprised now that this should turn out so? You have ruled long, too long, and I would not grow old, as mother has, before your rule ends, and we can step out from beneath your shadow."

"It is not your time to decide such things," Gabriel told her, "But God alone. I live at His Grace."

Now some there were who pressed for Gabriel to imprison Athanasia, or to send off to far off China to be a concubine for the Emperor, but both courses of action appalled Gabriel. Instead he ordered her to take vows and retire to a nunnery.

"There shall ye spend your life in prayer and reflection, to contemplate the scope of your sins and to beg forgiveness form the Lord Most High."

 

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A pall of gloom had settled upon the court of King Gabriel following the attempt by Princess Athanasia to encourage the murder of the most respected King, for few there were who could understand it, and fewer still contemplate such an action. The aged King was much beloved by his subjects and none wished harm upon his august self. And anger burned against the Princess, yet Gabriel would allow no harm to come upon her.

But the gloom lifted in time as Prince Gabriel, second in line to throne, came of age, and he was a theologian of some standing, despite his youth, and well versed in diplomacy, and King Gabriel knew that the nation would be in good hands when it came his time to rule.

Peace in the kingdom lasted for five years, in which Gabriel judged it ample time for the inheritance issue in Alodia to have been resolved, and yet when he inquired into it, matters still stood as they were.

Thus did Gabriel once more raise up the warriors of Makuria, and pressed claim for Sennar, and he led the way, even though by now age was catching up with him, and he was nearing his sixtieth year.

Little opposition was to be had from the tribsemen, yet Gabriel's slowing reflexes allowed one foeman to mark him in battle.

When Sennar fell to him at last, he formed the Crown of Nubia, so that he was a Thrice Crowned King, of Makuria, Nubia and Yemen, and with it he vassalised the last remaining part of what had once been Alodia, the tribe of Kosti.

Many years had passed since he had first came to the throne of Makuria, but at long last he had achieved his dream, of unifying all of Nubia beneath one banner.

But there had been a price for it. Even as his wounds were bandaged, a messenger arrived from the capital, weary and still coated with the dust of the road, and his face was distressed.

"Oh great king," said he, "I was bid carry you tiding most grievous, for your wife has died, and so has your friend Khael Azim."

Great sorrow settled upon Gabriel at the news, as his wife was but fifty nine and they had been together for forty three years. There had been love, of a kind, behind them, even if he had not been able to provide her with a child, but she had remained faithful throughout it all. And he felt the weight of the years settle upon him, though it bowed him not.

"Nubia, oh Nubia, weep," he cried, "For to have such as these taken away lessens us. Give praise to the Lord for the lives of so faithful a friend and so loyal a woman, for she sacrificed all for the nation. No mother was she, but a mother of all she was. They have been taken up by the Lord, and so shall we some day, to be reunited with them. But glad I am that they lived long enough to see Nubia united, and prospering."

Then did Gabriel lay down his sword and vowed never to take it up again but if grave peril came upon the nation, for the long years he had spent in battle were taking their toll, and guilt there was that he had been away at the time of their deaths. And no new wife did he take, so as not to disrespect the memory of his fallen wife, but alone he ruled and her throne sat empty beside him.

Now, as he mourned for his wife and friend, once more Abyssinia was rent asunder by civil war and heresy. Into this confusion came his vassals, circling like vulture, and they began to pick apart the dying corpse of Abyssinia, yet Gabriel did not interfere, for the loss of his wife and friend distracted him.

As the years flowed ever on, Gabriel began to consider the future more, and he selected for his grandson, Gabriel, a wife who was also called Zerebekka, and she was most skilled in stewardship.

Yet even as the marriage was celebrated, a fresh tragedy struck, as Fethee, husband of Princess Zerebekka passed away, a natural death at the age of sixty eight. Now Gabriel knew that his daughter would need a strong husband at her side when she came to rule, and he chose for her a Pecheneg by name of Konel, a mighty warrior, just and kind, yet well read.

Still mourning his father's death, Zerebekka's second son, Kael, came of age, an earnest yet dull young man, though one ill-suited for public life or rulership. And knowing thus, he requested to retire from public life, into a monastery, to become a monk, and thus did Gabriel grant his request.

Gabriel spent the years of peace in religious reflection, and during the period he put quill to paper once more, writing a religious tract, Tractatus de Purgatorio Sancti Gabriel, furthering his reputation as one of the foremost authorities on faith in the land.

Fifty years had passed since Gabriel had first taken the throne, and as the celebrations rang out across the land, his vassals and advisers came to him.

"Oh great King, your might and prestige are renown, and your standing among the nations is well respected. You have made this land great, and it is time to acknowledge what you truly are, not a mere King, but an Emperor. Forge together the three crowns, of Makuria, Nubia and Yemen, and take the place reserved for you."

Humble was Gabriel, one without pride, and he wished not to elevate himself, but under the persuasion of those about him, he took up the crown of Empire, though he did not crown himself, but chose for the role a humble priest of the land, and Gabriel knelt before him, without ornament or device, and received the crown and the Empire.

 

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Though now an Emperor, Gabriel's concern, first and foremost, was for the spiritual well being of the realm, and he spent his twilight years in the building of churches in tribal lands where there were none, in the establishment of monasteries of Saint Anthony to enable the conversion of the heathen who still inhabited the lands, and the teaching of vassals and family members alike, to bring out the best in them.

Of news of the outside world he paid little attention to, unless it impacted upon the realm, but in the fifty fourth year of his rule, two such events came to him.

The old Emperor of China, Li Anzong, had died, and his successor, Li Zhongzong, remembered well the aid that Makuria had sent in their time of famine, and he was well disposed towards those from Africa.

And in Abyssinia, the Kingdom has been split apart, with half of it having broken away, led by King Tekke of Gondar, a follower of the Monophysite heresy. Now Abyssinia was still troubled by internal instability, and they could not deal with the heretic. Gabriel roused himself, for he could not permit such heresy to flourish upon the borders of his lands, where it could leech out and infect his realm.

So he made orders for the land to be invaded, to smite the heretic king and to liberate the rest of Afar from him, yet he remained behind as he had vowed, and he was not alone in invading, for his vassals were also eager to smite the foe, if only to increase their lands.

Soon was the heretic nation torn apart until it was no more.

As did Gabriel's power increase, so to did that of the King of Abyssinia decrease, until such a time that he commanded little enough of his former realm that he could no longer be counted King. Then Gabriel assumed the crown of King of Abyssinia, and the once powerful Kingdom of Abyssinia broke apart into four petty Kingdoms. Of them one, Shewa swore fealty to Gabriel, but the other three, Axum, Assab and Damot, preferred to stand alone.

And Gabriel let them be.

The Kingdom itself Gabriel granted to Michael Azim, son of Khael Azim, to fulfil the promises made many years before to Khael Azim.

Then did Gabriel rest, but for not long could he sit still, and so he had a library built in the hospice of New Dongola, and such was the inspiration it provoked he began work on a third great book, to recount the long tales of warfare that he had undertaken, and to advise those who were yet to come.

Now in time there came a child to his grandson Gabriel, and to Gabriel's wife, Zerebekka, but she died giving birth, though not before she could name him Samson. He did the Emperor take under his wing to instruct, but age and the composition of his book took up much of his time, and so the boy was left much to his own devices and in part raised himself.

For a period they mourned the loss of Prince Gabriel's wife before the Emperor selected a new wife for him, as it was not well that he who would in time come to rule to do so alone, and for this was chosen an Ethiopian woman, Debetra Desta, noted for his quickness of thought.

Yet Prince Gabriel could not easily forget his former wife and the mother of his son, and thus he approached the Emperor and requested that he travel to far off China, on a mission to strengthen the ties between the two nation. This was Emperor Gabriel willing to allow, and so Prince Gabriel departed for the long trip to China, to bring glory to House Matthaios and to Makuria.

While he was yet away, his youngest brother, Raphael came of age, and for wife he was given Eusebia Sennarid, born illegitimate yet with a mind sharper than any others, and in time a child was born to them, a daughter, named Zerebekka for her grandmother, and it was evident to all that she favoured her mother in terms of her genius, for even from a young age she mastered all that she set her mind to.

Then did Prince Gabriel return from China, and he was much taken by the land, and wished to return, but foresight rested upon Emperor Gabriel and he persuaded Prince Gabriel to remain in Makuria. "This land shall need you," he prophesied.

Well it was that he did so, for within the year tragedy was to strike at House Matthaios. Sixty three years had passed by since first Gabriel had entered Makuria, carrying a babe in arms. That girl had grown and lived well, loved and brought children into the world, but now the Desert Rose was no more, for age had taken her.

Now great was the distress of Emperor Gabriel at this, and much his lamenting, for he had not foreseen that she should die before he. "A father should not have to bury his daughter," he said.

It was not the last tragedy to strike the House, as within the next few years first died the second wife of Prince Gabriel, Debetra Desta, and then fell Raphael Matthaios, the grandson of Emperor Gabriel.

Once more after a period of mourning, a new wife was chosen for Prince Gabriel, and this time was chose a Greek woman, Berta Sorrenti.

Then did Gabriel feel his life ebbing, and he called for his grandson and the heir to the realm, Prince Gabriel.

"My time here is done," the Emperor did say. "To you I bequeath the Empire, to rule it well and faithfully. The threat that has long hovered over us, of the Abbasid Empire, had weakened, for in their decadence they have been overthrown, and the Caliphate has broke apart. Yet dangerous still remain the lands of the Muslims."

"I shall strive to my utmost to defend what you have built," the Prince responded.

"Go with God," the Emperor told him.

"Surely it is you, at this moment, who shall go with God."

Then Gabriel smiled. "I have all my life," he said and then breathed his last.

Thus ended the life of Gabriel I, after eighty seven years of life and seventy on the throne, and thus began the reign of Gabriel II.

Great was the mourning in the land, for none there were who had lived longer than he, and very few who could remember when he had not reigned over them.

 

[Crosswire]

From a lecture into Medieval History;

It is interesting to take a look at the state of the world at the time of the death of Emperor Gabriel I. At the time, the Makurians had little contact with the outside world, or interest in it, beyond some diplomatic and trade missions to China and of course the aggression from the Egyptians.

But the world had changed since the time Emperor Gabriel I took the throne, and the changes would in time come to have a profound effect upon Makuria, so it is well to look at them, to understand what was going on, so as to understand what came later.

Firstly, we have to look at Makuria, at what it had become during the reign of Emperor Gabriel I. From humble beginnings, it had come to dominate East Africa and even firmly established itself from Oman in the north down to what had once been Aden in the south, but is now known as New Dongola. The trade flowing in through the Silk Road, as well as the Emperor's pursuit of knowledge and innovation had made Makuria both wealthy and strong, establishing itself among the powers of the world.

Looking across the rest of the world, we can see a number of points of interest. In the British Isles, Mercia was rising to dominance, though with the viking age beginning, its dominance was in no way secure.

To the south, the Bretons had forged the Kingdom of Brittany. While seemingly insignificant compared to its neighbours, its emergence would have a profound effect upon the world, as we shall alter see.

The Franks had seen much change in a period of seventy years. After having come together intot he the powerful Empire of Francia, they had pushed south beyond the Pyrenees into Hispania, as well as east by the conquest of Saxony. Their rise had seen inevitable, but it had all gone wrong after that. The pagan Saxons had rebelled and regained their independence, the Umayyads had driven the Franks out and then pushed north beyond the Pyrenees and Francia had broken apart, into Aquitaine and West Francia.

In eastern Europe, the Khazaria hordes had swept away all before them, taking over large parts of the Balkans as well as subjugating the Poles, pushing perilously close to the Franks, with only the Germans between them. Khazaria shared a long border with the Eastern Romans. Neither bothered the other much as they had other targets and concerns.

The Eastern Romans had managed to reclaim lost territories in the east, and even clashed with the Caliphate, going from strength to strength. Their long, slow decline seemed to have been reversed.

The big change was the collapse of the Abbasid Caliphate, shortly before Emperor Gabriel I's death. Zealous tribesmen had risen up at the perceived decadence of the Abbasid court, during which the Caliphate had become fractured, loosing its tributary states, as well as the rich Sultanate of Egypt, which would come to hurt them.

Westwards, another decadence revolt had shattered the African' Sultanate, a state that the new rulers of Egypt had been quick to take advantage of. Only the Umayyad's of Hispania remained untouched by decadence, and they were on the rise. Few at the time doubted that they would continue to march into the lands of the Franks.

Out east, the establishing of tributary states was the norm. Tibet had used its wealth, position and power to cast its dominance across the northern regions of India, while the Chinese were establishing themselves firmly as the masters of the steppes.

The world was in much turmoil, though, and the institutions of state were not yet well developed enough to deal with shocks, as we shall see in our next snapshot.

 

[Crosswire]

Upon the passing of Emperor Gabriel I, great was the mourning that swept across the land, for who had there been to match him in word and deed and faith?

Uncertainty there was to, a concern for the future ahead, bereft of the guiding hand of one who had ruled so fairly and justly for so long. None disputed that the new Emperor, Gabriel II, was shaped by Gabriel I in his image, and that he would rule well, yet change was always a time of concern.

Makuria had grown wealthy under Gabriel I, thanks to its position upon the trade routes to the east, and was regarded as one of the leading nations of the world, and secure it was as well with the collapse of the Caliphate. Even so, there were concerns, and most of those were for the House Matthaios, for it remained in a perilous state.

Gabriel II was the sole remaining adult of the dynasty who could rule, as for near thirty years his older sister had remained confined to a convent for her past indiscretions, and his brother, Kael, had for almost twenty years been a monk, and neither of them could inherit or produce heirs for the house.

Now Gabriel II was forty four years of age upon his taken of the crown, three times married. By those three wived he had but a single son, Samson, and two daughters, Helene and Zerebekka. There was but one other member of the house, his niece, also by name of Zerebekka, the daughter of his dead brother. All knew that with but a few deaths the house could fall and all the hard work spent creating the Empire reduced to naught.

Tensions there were too with the vassals of the state, for while none would provoke trouble while Gabriel I had been alive, there were rumbles of dissent and whispers of the desire for more power.

Gabriel II turned, as his grandfather had, to prayer and to God. He followed his Grandfather into a dedication to a life of faith, to joining the Community of Saint Anthony, and the penning of a manuscript on faith and belief.

Gabriel II had not forgotten his time in China, of his desire to once more see it, but he knew that those days were no longer available to him, and so he appointed his brother, the monk Kael, to travel in his stead, to live among the Chinese court and bring honour to Makuria. And the Emperor was most pleased, for well he remembered Gabriel's visit, and in high honour he held the Africans.

Yet still the whispers of discontent could be heard, of a rumbling for increased power for the council at the expense of the Emperor, and thus Gabriel II sought to dissuade it, to increase his standing among them, especially with King Michael Azim of Abyssinia, and so he pressed the King's claim on the minor Ethiopian state of Assab. Swiftly was any resistance swept aside, and soon Prince Hakim the Wicked was forced to bend knee to King Michael Azim, to acknowledge him as his liege-lord, and in turn Michael was well pleased and turned aside from any plotting for power. As he was the most powerful of the vassals of the Empire, all other discontent soon was put to rest.

Now in the north, in Egypt, the Muhallabid's were the most powerful vassal to have broken away from the Caliphate during the decadence revolt, and yet they were led by but a boy, and were not secure as it would seem, for int he south, in Aswan, a revolt had broken out.

This was no normal revolt, as it was led by a man named Aberikos, a warrior and a scholar, a Nubian who had risen the flag for the Miaphysite cause, and more than ten thousand rose to his call and swept the Egyptians from the field, establishing their own state in Aswan. To him did Gabriel II send well wishes and the hope for the future, as the new found kingdom stood in a perilous position, defiant against the Muslim world. But to him did Gabriel II promise support should the need arise, for he would not allow a fellow Nubian Miaphysite nation to be swept aside, not one so newly won for the faith.

But trouble was about to emerge in Abyssinia, for House Azim was about to experience a crisis.

 

[Crosswire]

Khael Azim, friend and adviser of Emperor Gabriel I, had been most blessed, as he had fathered five sons and two daughters, and yet for that, his House was in trouble. Of his sons, his eldest, third and youngest sons had all perished before they could produce heirs of their own, and it was his second born, Michael, who had succeeded his father and had been gifted the title King of Abyssinia.

Michael had fathered a son and two daughters, but likewise his son had died without issue. When, in the fifth year of Gabriel's reign, when Michael was fifty seven years of age, he died of the slow fever, and the throne of Abyssinia passed to his eldest daughter, Marana Azim. Now Marana had married an Ethiopian so upon her death not just would the Kingdom of Abyssinia pass from the House of Azim, but would be ruled by an Ethiopian once more, and no a Nubian.

Of the House of Azim, but one adult male remained, Kyriakos, the Count of Harer the second youngest of Khael children. He was accounted by all as slow of thought, but he was an Azim, and the last hope for the house. Through him were born but a single son, Eionkouda, and a daughter, Eitou.

Well did Gabriel II remember the aid that Khael had given to his grandfather, and the promises Gabriel I had made to Khael, and so he took his daughter, Zerebekka, and betrothed her to Eionkouda, to be wed when they both came of age, in order to bring the two houses closer together, and to safeguard the survival of House Azim.

Then did Gabriel go into seclusion, to undertake a period of penance, and while so doing, fresh misfortunes were to come upon Abyssinia and the Azim, for Queen Marana sought to strip the land and title from her uncle, Kyriakos.

Kyriakos refused to accept the demand and took up arms against his niece, though as a lone count taking on a queen, his days seemed numbers. Yet Marana, a Nubian woman, was not well liked by her vassals, who for the most were Ethiopians, and they revolted against the Queen, to overthrow her and install one of their own, Semere Tekle, an Ethiopian tribal warrior, as King.

Now Marana was successful in her attempt to defeat her uncle, stripping him of his title, but at best it was a pyrrhic victory, for she in turn was defeated by the coalition arrayed against her and Semere Tekle became the new King of Abyssinia.

When Gabriel II emerged from seclusion, he found a much changed situation in Abyssinia, and House Azim in hard times, for once Marana died there would be no longer an Azim who held land or titles. Some counciled that he revoke the Kingdom from Semere and raise Kyriakos back up.

This Gabriel did not do, for though he and Semere had little in common beyond their faith, and Semere was an uneasy vassal at best, he did not wish to antagonise his other vassals. as doing so would make them fear for their own titles and might drive them into rebellious action. There was also the chance that Semere might refuse the attempt and raise his flag in rebellion, and so plunge Makuria into a bloody civil war, and that Gabriel II did not wish for. So he left the situation as was, but his thoughts turned to how aid House Azim again.

Not all was well with House Matthaios either. Samson, Gabriel II's son and heir, had reached an age where he would begin a more formal education, and for this the Emperor desired that he be instructed in faith, learning and philosophy much as he had. Yet the boy, despite showing a natural aptitude for such matters, had been left much to his own devices in his early education by his great-grandfather, Gabriel I, and as such was ill-disposed for such an education. A tradition had sprung up whereupon the first born and heir of House Matthaios was given to the Lord, to be raised by the Church and for the Church, and Gabriel II was not about to break with the tradition.

When Samson came of age, it was much as some had feared, for at best he was a dutiful cleric, but rumours had surfaced that he was not as a man should be, showing no interest in the fairer gender, though he learnt to hide it well so it remained no more than a rumour.

This did not sit well with Gabriel II, yet little there was that he could do about it, and he still yet hoped that his son would rise above it. Thus he chose a wife for his son, of the house Bagrationi. Hasmig was yet to come of age but already her formidable intellect was known far and wide. There were some years before she would come of age, and so Gabriel II appointed his son both court chaplain and court physician, so as to keep him occupied and away from temptation until such time as Hasmig was old enough to marry, for much could change in the years of waiting.

 

[Crosswire]

While matters internal with House Azim and his own family had been occupying Gabriel II's attention, the world had continued on, with major developments taking place.

King Aberikos of Aswan had once more declared war on The Muhallabid Sultanate of Egypt and swiftly overran Cairo, the target of his expansion. Victory had been close at hand before the Muslims had managed to bring together a force to challenge him, and when word of this reached Gabriel II, that the war might turn against his fellow Miaphysite ruler, Gabriel II sent missives to Aberikos that he would march to aid him in the war.

By ship did a force of Makurian warriors sail north, to Egypt, and joining up with the Aswanite forces, they brought the muslims to battle at Memphis, and there did they inflict slaughter upon the muslims so that near five out of every six foe were struck down and there blood left to soak into the ground.

So heavy was the loss that the Sultan had no option but to surrender the Emirate of Cairo to Aberikos, and so did the strength of the Miaphysite faith grow.

Even as this success was being celebrated with praise to God, in prayers and church services, word came to Gabriel II of further set backs to the heathen Muslims. The Sultunate of Africa had seen great upheaval following a decadence revolt during the later years of Gabriel I's reign.

The new Sultan's reign had proven turbulent, for their still remained a sizeable Catholic population in north Africa, and they rallied behind one of their own, Anwa I, known as The Pious, a Catholic, and they forced the muslim ruler, Abdul, from the throne, to be replaced by Anwa. Fifteen years had passed since and now Anwa the Pious' grandson, Anwa II, ruled, and much of the land was now Catholic.

And Gabriel II gave thanks that the heathen had seen the light, turning from darkness to the worship of God.

Then did he plan a pilgrimage, to more fully worship God, to give thanks for the many victories that had been given to the Christian world, to Antioch like the apostles of old had.

Then through the lands of the heathen he passed, and he noted still the turmoil that it was in upon the revolt against the Abbasid, and unhindered he made his way to distant Antioch, for who could believe that the humble pilgrim they saw was indeed the Emperor of Makuria.

Now, upon his return from pilgrimage, his niece, Zerebekka, came of age, and she become most skilled in stewardship, in diplomacy and learning, and in her Gabriel saw a future for the the Matthaios family. Now ambition burned bright within her, and a forthright nature, for she was one to always speak the truth when she saw it.

Then did Gabriel II arrange a marriage for her, and from Lombardy he found a Catholic by name of Erchempert, a most skilled warrior and a man her match in skill, and it was arranged that all offspring of their union would be accounted unto the house of Matthaios.

Yet this was not enough for her, and she came to her uncle, the Emperor, and to him she did say; "Oh Uncle and Emperor, you are credited by all for your Wisdom? Why then am I, who are as skilled as any within the Empire, relegated to being a mere brood mare for the Empire?"

Gabriel II pondered deeply these things, and entered into prayer and reflection and the study of the holy scriptures. Then did he send for his niece.

"Are not man and woman created equal before God? And did not God make woman to help man? While the heathen may preach that a woman is worth but a fraction of a man, that is not our belief. Therefore I say unto you that this shall change, and that you shall serve the state to the best of your abilities. But this shall take time, for the affairs of state move slow. Patience shall be required."

Then Zerebekka went away, well pleased.

 

[Crosswire]

In the ninth year of the reign of Emperor Gabriel II, an event transpired that was both unexpected and a source of celebration, for Empress Berta announced that she was with child. It had been some time since the Emperor had sired a child, as Prince Samson had come of age and married, and his two daughters, Helene and Zerebekka, were almost of age as well.

Yet the joy was short lived, as on but the next day the Emperor began to suffer from serious headaches, and within a month the pains had spread to his abdomen. Then Prince Samson, still acting as Court Physician, pronounced that the Emperor was suffering from cancer. The Prince made attempts to remedy the situation, and despite it easing the suffering of the Emperor, he could not cure his father.

Now there was great sorrow at the news, but Gabriel II, though he suffered most cruely from the disease, bade them not do so.

"Is not the body corruptible?" he said. "All is but transient and will in time perish. It is not the body that is important, but the soul, and it shall be with our Lord and God one day. I consider it a blessing that I am considered worthy enough to endure this suffering."

In time Empress Berta gave birth to a son, and he they named Athanasios, and soon it became apparent that he was a gifted child.

As his brother had been given to the faith and was destined to rule, and Samson's firstborn would do likewise, Gabriel II decided upon a different course for his new son, and stated that he would be raised with duty foremost; duty to family and Empire, and that he would be taught of numbers and stewardship, so that he could aid his brother in the administration of the realm.

Now a period of blessing descended upon the House of Matthaios, and to all that watched, it was if the Lord Most High favoured the Emperor and his family, for a year and half followed of great joy and celebration.

First there was born to the Emperor's niece, Zerebekka, and her husband Erchempert, a daughter whom they named Petronia.

Then the betrothed of Samson, Hasmig Bagration, came of age, and the pair were wedded in New Dongola to great joy and celebration, and this was followed in less than half a year by a second grand wedding.

The Emperor's youngest daughter, Zerebekka, had come of age, and as had been promised, she was wed to her betrothed, Eionkouda Azim, and at last the two houses were joined together, and the promises to the House Azim were fulfilled.

Now less than a year had passed since since Prince Samson and Hasmig had been wed before she gave birth to a child, a son, whom they named Gabriel, the heir apparent to the throne.

In all of this, Gabriel had suffered, for his sickness was at times most severe and limited his ability to travel about the Empire, as was his wont, but he would not let it slow him down. And in those times he took solace in the gardens of the local monastery, and there he found his burdens lifted as he worked in it, and in time became well regarded for his knowledge of plants and gardening.

And also he oversaw the completion of the book he had started, and it followed in the steps of that composed by grandfather, Gabriel I, for it expounded upon the themes that Gabriel I had laid down, of the temptations that those in power faced and how best to avoid them.

And beyond the borders of Makuria, where peace reigned, the world as ever turned on.

 

[Crosswire]

Now it came to be that if far off Hispania were events transpiring that would shake the world. The King of Brittany had taken advantage of a period of unrest and invaded and taken a portion of land from them, in the region of Castille, and was on the verge of victory in a second war when the boy Emperor of Hispania, Saddiq II, accepted the Catholic faith as his own, in an effort to end the war.

Yet his vassals were overwhelmingly Muslim, and so were most of his subjects, and Gabriel II feared that his reign would be short as a result.

The Muslim world was indeed restless, for a great schism emerged within it and the long persecuted Shia rose up to win their freedom from the Caliphate, and Christian world breathed a sigh of relief that those who had longed plagued them were now tearing apart each other.

And in time they carved out for themselves a land of their own, upon the eastern shores of the Mediterranean.

The Shia Aramid realm.

As for the Sunni Caliphate, a struggle within took place between the usurpers and the Abbasids, and once more the Abbasids were able to gain control of their old titles, though the Caliphate had fallen far since the peak of its power. And yet it still remained a dangerous foe.

Then came the news from Hispania that Gabriel II had expected, but also dreaded, for after ruling less than three years, and at just eleven years of age, Saddiq II was murdered, and once more a Muslim Emperor sat upon the throne.

Yet, according to the words of the muslims, it was not one off their own that had performed the most foul deed, but instead it had been the Catholic wife of the Muslim High Chief of Tangier, though Gabriel II was of the opinion that she had been made a scapegoat for the true masterminds of the murder.

Then came the twentieth year of Gabriel II's rule of Makuria, and it came to him that he should mark the occasions by the commissioning of a set of Crown Jewels. Now the wealth of Makuria had grown great indeed, and such was the renown of Gabriel II that it was decided upon the construction of a set of jewels of unrivalled make.

A goldsmith by name of Papsinkouda was hired to undertake so audacious a task, and he soon struck up a friendship with Prince Samson, and many things they discussed, and Prince Samson's knowledge of the world grew as a result. While it did delay the production of the Crown Jewels, Gabriel II was a kindly, patient man and did not dissuade the pair.

The work did progress though, and Papasinouda produced a set of Crown Jewels that dazzled all that set eye upon them, such was their majesty.

Yet there were those that whispered that such jewels could only have been the work of the proud and the greedy, and that ill could only come to those who wore them, though to any that they told this, it was accounted to them as the words of the envious, for Gabriel II was not one to wear them but for on the most important of occasions.

And indeed it seemed that good fortune followed, for in New Dongola did representatives of the Jewish faith approach, and ask permission to settle, so that they could manage their affairs more effectively. This did Gabriel II allow, and further did New Dongola flourish as a result.

Now, as Gabriel II had promised his niece, it had taken time for the laws of Makuria to change, yet change they did, and she he did appoint as steward of the realm. Young she still was when she came to the role, not yet thirty years of age, and she proved to be a most skilled administrator of the realm, and the wealth of nations flowed through Makuria.

And all seemed well in the land.