jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
Das... you know you want to continue this...
By a Single Decision (Alternate History)
- Thread starter das
- Start date
das
Regeneration In Process
Chapter Forty Five.
As of 962 AD, the Western Caliphate watched on quietly the collapse of its old enemy in the east. The resources and attention at the time were largely concentrated on the exploration efforts in Africa and America, and a war with the ascendant Ghana Empire across the Sahara. However, when in 960 AD Jerusalem, and the Dome of the Rock, fell to the Byzantines, the Western Caliphate - especially the conservative mullahs in Al-Iksandriyah - became concerned. Very concerned.
Finally, in 963, the Caliph had been persuaded by his advisors to start a Jihad. They argued for the capture of the three holy places of Islam - Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem. The Byzantines, they argued, were distracted in Mesopatamia. The time to strike was ripe.
The Caliph ordered an attack towards Jerusalem, led by ibn-Shadir, and an expedition towards Mecca, which he led himself. Mecca and Medina were held by the "Majahaddin" rebels at the time: the Majahaddin had claimed that it was their duty to guard the Holy Sites. The Caliph disagreed, and besieged Mecca. He dared not launch a frontal attack, not wanting bloodshed WITHIN the city. Caliph Amin (IV) was a deeply religious man, but even if he wasn't, well, spilling blood of Muslims in Mecca was not the kind of fame he wanted.
After a brief siege, the Majahaddin surrendered, being granted amnesty and being allowed to settle in the Holy Cities as defenders... under Caliph's authority, how ever nominal at times.
The war with the Byzantines was not nearly as easy. Ibn-Shaddir scored some easy victories at first and captured Jerusalem, but that was about it. The Byzantines were finished with pacifying Iraq and turned around, inflicting a harsh defeat on Ibn-Shaddir at Lod, luring him into a trap via a false retreat. Ibn-Shaddir himself survived and escaped, but lost much of his army. The Byzantines besieged Jerusalem, and retook it. But then the Caliph returned, raised a new army and clashed with the Byzantines outside of the city. Arabs won the Battle at Jerusalem, May 965, but it was not enough. The Byzantine army was still largely intact.
The "Nazarean War", as it came to be called in the Western Caliphate, has begun.
As of 962 AD, the Western Caliphate watched on quietly the collapse of its old enemy in the east. The resources and attention at the time were largely concentrated on the exploration efforts in Africa and America, and a war with the ascendant Ghana Empire across the Sahara. However, when in 960 AD Jerusalem, and the Dome of the Rock, fell to the Byzantines, the Western Caliphate - especially the conservative mullahs in Al-Iksandriyah - became concerned. Very concerned.
Finally, in 963, the Caliph had been persuaded by his advisors to start a Jihad. They argued for the capture of the three holy places of Islam - Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem. The Byzantines, they argued, were distracted in Mesopatamia. The time to strike was ripe.
The Caliph ordered an attack towards Jerusalem, led by ibn-Shadir, and an expedition towards Mecca, which he led himself. Mecca and Medina were held by the "Majahaddin" rebels at the time: the Majahaddin had claimed that it was their duty to guard the Holy Sites. The Caliph disagreed, and besieged Mecca. He dared not launch a frontal attack, not wanting bloodshed WITHIN the city. Caliph Amin (IV) was a deeply religious man, but even if he wasn't, well, spilling blood of Muslims in Mecca was not the kind of fame he wanted.
After a brief siege, the Majahaddin surrendered, being granted amnesty and being allowed to settle in the Holy Cities as defenders... under Caliph's authority, how ever nominal at times.
The war with the Byzantines was not nearly as easy. Ibn-Shaddir scored some easy victories at first and captured Jerusalem, but that was about it. The Byzantines were finished with pacifying Iraq and turned around, inflicting a harsh defeat on Ibn-Shaddir at Lod, luring him into a trap via a false retreat. Ibn-Shaddir himself survived and escaped, but lost much of his army. The Byzantines besieged Jerusalem, and retook it. But then the Caliph returned, raised a new army and clashed with the Byzantines outside of the city. Arabs won the Battle at Jerusalem, May 965, but it was not enough. The Byzantine army was still largely intact.
The "Nazarean War", as it came to be called in the Western Caliphate, has begun.
jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
Yay! It's still alive!
das
Regeneration In Process
Chapter Forty Six.
The Nazarean War was fought for over a hundred years, though it was largely an on-and-off struggle. Both the Byzantines and the Western Caliphate would be exhausted; indeed, the Byzantines only survived due to the collapse of the Magyar Empire, as otherwise the Magyars would have easily trampled the distracted Basileus (Byzantine Emperor).
Either way, the Nazarean War was fought. It was a harsh, bitter struggle fueled by the rising and dropping levels of religious fanaticism and, in its later stages, proto-nationalism - the Byzantine and Arab peoples learned to hate each other with all their hearts. During this war, both sides commited horrific atrocities, both sides inflicted and suffered huge casualties, and both sides had to deal with several "third sides" in this war - various rebels, ranging from the Shiite Imamate (the only rebel group that managed to endure beyond the war) to the Goptans, a violent sect of the Coptic Church.
After the defeat in 965, the Byzantines have regroupped, achieved a temporary ceasefire with the Shiites and begun hiring mercenaries amongst the Anatolian peoples. In particular, the savage warrior clans of Kurdistan drawed their attention...
In spring 967, the Byzantines started a new major campaign. Bolstered by Kurdish mercenaries, the Byzantines defeated the Arabs at Nazareth; the legend has it that the Holy Cross (OOC: that really cool Orthodox cross) appeared in the skies just as it seemed that the Arabs were winning. The sight of the holy image put fear into the hearts of the ignorant infidels, and they fled like the cowardly dogs they are.
And there was much rejoicing despite the loss of over half of the Byzantine army in that brutal battle and its followup at Bethlehem - the Arab casualties in both battles were almost as high, though.
The 967 Campaign, nevertheless, was a Byzantine victory. The Western Caliphate forces pulled back somewhat; the lengthy siege of Jerusalem by the Byzantines resumed.
The Nazarean War was fought for over a hundred years, though it was largely an on-and-off struggle. Both the Byzantines and the Western Caliphate would be exhausted; indeed, the Byzantines only survived due to the collapse of the Magyar Empire, as otherwise the Magyars would have easily trampled the distracted Basileus (Byzantine Emperor).
Either way, the Nazarean War was fought. It was a harsh, bitter struggle fueled by the rising and dropping levels of religious fanaticism and, in its later stages, proto-nationalism - the Byzantine and Arab peoples learned to hate each other with all their hearts. During this war, both sides commited horrific atrocities, both sides inflicted and suffered huge casualties, and both sides had to deal with several "third sides" in this war - various rebels, ranging from the Shiite Imamate (the only rebel group that managed to endure beyond the war) to the Goptans, a violent sect of the Coptic Church.
After the defeat in 965, the Byzantines have regroupped, achieved a temporary ceasefire with the Shiites and begun hiring mercenaries amongst the Anatolian peoples. In particular, the savage warrior clans of Kurdistan drawed their attention...
In spring 967, the Byzantines started a new major campaign. Bolstered by Kurdish mercenaries, the Byzantines defeated the Arabs at Nazareth; the legend has it that the Holy Cross (OOC: that really cool Orthodox cross) appeared in the skies just as it seemed that the Arabs were winning. The sight of the holy image put fear into the hearts of the ignorant infidels, and they fled like the cowardly dogs they are.
And there was much rejoicing despite the loss of over half of the Byzantine army in that brutal battle and its followup at Bethlehem - the Arab casualties in both battles were almost as high, though.
The 967 Campaign, nevertheless, was a Byzantine victory. The Western Caliphate forces pulled back somewhat; the lengthy siege of Jerusalem by the Byzantines resumed.
jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
Praise the lord! It still lives!
Gelion
Retired Captain
Great thread das! Is there any way you could "unite" all this under one Word document?
das
Regeneration In Process
Well, duh. It is a part of a bigger document called "CFC Posts" 
.
.
das
Regeneration In Process
OOC: Oh, you have seen nothing yet...
I plan to, when we reach 1000 AD, to have a "snapshot" picture of the world, that is, stuff about states, rulers, culture, science, trade, etc, etc in 1000 AD.
Btw, I realized that I mentioned the Magyar Empire collapsing. More on that now.
IC:
Chapter Forty Seven.
The collapse of Greater Magyaray came at last in late 965, much belatedly then was expected. It was also a peaceful (comparatibely) breakup. By then, the Magyars were either assimilated by native populations of conquered lands (like in Gaul), blended with the locals to create a new culture (like in Northern Italy and Germany), either kept their old culture with slight Christian influence (like in Pannonnia). So when Zator died, his successor, Arnalyk (a "true Magyar" by culture) decided that Greater Magyaray could not be held together - it was too large, and the Magyars in different places became different sub-cultures. Thus, Zator divided the Greater Magyaray into: Madjar-Francia (Gaul, from hereon reffered to as Francia), Agri-Itala (Northern Italy, from hereon Itala), Mogar-Hermaland (Germany, from hereon Hermaland) and Magyaray (Pannonia, from hereon Magyaray). Arnalyk declared himself ruler of Magyaray; his three younger brothers became rulers of the other three Magyar nations; Arnalyk was recognized as their superior, a military alliance was enforced between the four states (think a less balkanized, more centralized Kievan Rus - Arnalyk is nominally the ruler of all four nations and the other three are "subrulers", autonomous governors. Nominally.).
The now-divided Greater Magyaray soon faced a problem. The Lombards were rebuilding their army ever since that defeat, learning their lessons and imitating the Magyars to some extent. A few more years, some more patience - and Lombards would have been able to win the coming war. But upon hearing of the Magyaray "collapsing", "Emperor" Liudprando III did not hesitate one minute and ordered the reformed Holy Legions to take over Northern Italy.
Itala's ruler was Lajos. He was not a very good commander, and the Lombards adopted the lessons of the previous war well, so the Holy Legions triumphed in the first several battles. Most of the Italan army was routed, Lajos died, Lombard armies were on the offensive and reached the Alps by April 966. Liudprando III was overexcited. Rather then order an immediate fortification of the new northern border (though he did order it with a minor delay), he sent forth troops to occupy Provence as well. But it was not to be. Tamarlyn, the ruler of Francia, was a better commander - strategically, at least. He played along with the Lombard persuasion that the Magyar Horde was no more, that the Italan army was all that was to it. He allowed them to advance... then he struck. One army crossed the Alps and attacked the unfinished fortifications. They were repulsed - but the fortifications were greatly damaged by the Magyar siege weapons that were perfected since the siege of Rome. The Lombard Holy Legion within Provence started to retreat to face the "undefeated remnants of the Magyar horde". But the Magyars struck forth again. The second army attacked the retreating Legion's left flank, and in a furious struggle, eliminated that Legion. By then, the other Magyar forces attacked from the east, via the easier terrain, and cut off large parts of the Lombard forces at their fortifications.
But the Lombards were blessed with a great commander - Julius Verius. As the Magyar forces plunged into Italy, Verius prepared to turn the tables...
I plan to, when we reach 1000 AD, to have a "snapshot" picture of the world, that is, stuff about states, rulers, culture, science, trade, etc, etc in 1000 AD.
Btw, I realized that I mentioned the Magyar Empire collapsing. More on that now.
IC:
Chapter Forty Seven.
The collapse of Greater Magyaray came at last in late 965, much belatedly then was expected. It was also a peaceful (comparatibely) breakup. By then, the Magyars were either assimilated by native populations of conquered lands (like in Gaul), blended with the locals to create a new culture (like in Northern Italy and Germany), either kept their old culture with slight Christian influence (like in Pannonnia). So when Zator died, his successor, Arnalyk (a "true Magyar" by culture) decided that Greater Magyaray could not be held together - it was too large, and the Magyars in different places became different sub-cultures. Thus, Zator divided the Greater Magyaray into: Madjar-Francia (Gaul, from hereon reffered to as Francia), Agri-Itala (Northern Italy, from hereon Itala), Mogar-Hermaland (Germany, from hereon Hermaland) and Magyaray (Pannonia, from hereon Magyaray). Arnalyk declared himself ruler of Magyaray; his three younger brothers became rulers of the other three Magyar nations; Arnalyk was recognized as their superior, a military alliance was enforced between the four states (think a less balkanized, more centralized Kievan Rus - Arnalyk is nominally the ruler of all four nations and the other three are "subrulers", autonomous governors. Nominally.).
The now-divided Greater Magyaray soon faced a problem. The Lombards were rebuilding their army ever since that defeat, learning their lessons and imitating the Magyars to some extent. A few more years, some more patience - and Lombards would have been able to win the coming war. But upon hearing of the Magyaray "collapsing", "Emperor" Liudprando III did not hesitate one minute and ordered the reformed Holy Legions to take over Northern Italy.
Itala's ruler was Lajos. He was not a very good commander, and the Lombards adopted the lessons of the previous war well, so the Holy Legions triumphed in the first several battles. Most of the Italan army was routed, Lajos died, Lombard armies were on the offensive and reached the Alps by April 966. Liudprando III was overexcited. Rather then order an immediate fortification of the new northern border (though he did order it with a minor delay), he sent forth troops to occupy Provence as well. But it was not to be. Tamarlyn, the ruler of Francia, was a better commander - strategically, at least. He played along with the Lombard persuasion that the Magyar Horde was no more, that the Italan army was all that was to it. He allowed them to advance... then he struck. One army crossed the Alps and attacked the unfinished fortifications. They were repulsed - but the fortifications were greatly damaged by the Magyar siege weapons that were perfected since the siege of Rome. The Lombard Holy Legion within Provence started to retreat to face the "undefeated remnants of the Magyar horde". But the Magyars struck forth again. The second army attacked the retreating Legion's left flank, and in a furious struggle, eliminated that Legion. By then, the other Magyar forces attacked from the east, via the easier terrain, and cut off large parts of the Lombard forces at their fortifications.
But the Lombards were blessed with a great commander - Julius Verius. As the Magyar forces plunged into Italy, Verius prepared to turn the tables...
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
Go on! Charge! Death to the Magyar Barbarians!
das
Regeneration In Process
About Holy Legions - a combination of Old Roman and of "Frankish" (OTL Medieval) tactics. As in, infantry and cavalry have (in theory) equal importance. The way it works out, cavalry is less important then infantry, but still is used much more often then by the Old Romans.
das
Regeneration In Process
Chapter Forty Eight.
...as the Magyar forces plunged into Italy, Verius prepared to turn the tables...
...and he did. Tamarlyn, for all of his strategic prowess, was unable to prevail over his brother Arnalyk in this matter, and this led to trouble for the Magyars. The Magyars advanced all the way towards Rome again, and broke into it before anybody could repeat the last war. The Magyars advanced into the city, and killed the Pope when he tried to stop them alone (some Popes are just not getting the grasp of the idea that Magyars aren't going to run away upon seeing an old man with a cross.). They pillaged the city, and were so consumed with it that they failed to notice that Verius, a patrician who fell out of favor recently, was given command so that there is a good scapegoat for the latest defeat and that the Lombards (rather surprisingly to them themselves) crushed another Magyar force at Ravenna and then proceeded to seize the bridges over Po, and, finally, begun to besiege Rome. Pillaged Rome, where the Magyars were seriously unlikely to last long as they destroyed much of the crucial infrastructure and the granaries during the pillage.
A large army was trapped in Italy, the Lombards secured all the positions via which the Magyars could try to relieve the siege on the ground, while the seas remained beyond Magyar grasp due to the on-off war with Venice. An attempt to persuade Venetians to help them failed, and so Makar (a trusted Francian commander who was given control over the invading army) and his forces were trapped. An attempt to break the siege failed, obviously enough, as Lombards always were better at defending. It took a Verius to learn to utilize it well.
The Magyars were starved out by Verius, and eventually, once their morale was low and they were suffering from extreme starvation on the fifth month of the siege, the Lombards broke into the city and slaughtered most of the Magyars. Makar was captured, Julius paraded him and other captives in the streets of Brundisium, the temporary capital. Italy was saved. It happened in late 967.
There was no peace treaty, but afterwards, the border was moved north, all the way to Po. Itala north of there was restored by the Magyars, but it lost many prosperous lands and became de facto dependant on Francia and Magyaray for its survival. The Lombards celebrated. They had a new hero. A hero who will become the informal leader of Lombardia until his death, due to his influence over nobility, clergy and plebes alike.
...as the Magyar forces plunged into Italy, Verius prepared to turn the tables...
...and he did. Tamarlyn, for all of his strategic prowess, was unable to prevail over his brother Arnalyk in this matter, and this led to trouble for the Magyars. The Magyars advanced all the way towards Rome again, and broke into it before anybody could repeat the last war. The Magyars advanced into the city, and killed the Pope when he tried to stop them alone (some Popes are just not getting the grasp of the idea that Magyars aren't going to run away upon seeing an old man with a cross.). They pillaged the city, and were so consumed with it that they failed to notice that Verius, a patrician who fell out of favor recently, was given command so that there is a good scapegoat for the latest defeat and that the Lombards (rather surprisingly to them themselves) crushed another Magyar force at Ravenna and then proceeded to seize the bridges over Po, and, finally, begun to besiege Rome. Pillaged Rome, where the Magyars were seriously unlikely to last long as they destroyed much of the crucial infrastructure and the granaries during the pillage.
A large army was trapped in Italy, the Lombards secured all the positions via which the Magyars could try to relieve the siege on the ground, while the seas remained beyond Magyar grasp due to the on-off war with Venice. An attempt to persuade Venetians to help them failed, and so Makar (a trusted Francian commander who was given control over the invading army) and his forces were trapped. An attempt to break the siege failed, obviously enough, as Lombards always were better at defending. It took a Verius to learn to utilize it well.
The Magyars were starved out by Verius, and eventually, once their morale was low and they were suffering from extreme starvation on the fifth month of the siege, the Lombards broke into the city and slaughtered most of the Magyars. Makar was captured, Julius paraded him and other captives in the streets of Brundisium, the temporary capital. Italy was saved. It happened in late 967.
There was no peace treaty, but afterwards, the border was moved north, all the way to Po. Itala north of there was restored by the Magyars, but it lost many prosperous lands and became de facto dependant on Francia and Magyaray for its survival. The Lombards celebrated. They had a new hero. A hero who will become the informal leader of Lombardia until his death, due to his influence over nobility, clergy and plebes alike.
Vanadorn
Motorcycling Paladin
Still lurking. Still reading. Keep on going.
V
V
jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
Must.........have..........more..........
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
MORE.... Or i will burn the Hall of the NES Commenters...
das
Regeneration In Process
OOC: Its called a GUILD. One of the many guilds, the most famous of which is the Guild of NES-Namers that made Amen call his second NES "New Empires" rather then "Old Empire II" - an incredible achievement in the name of world peace.
A bit of a teaser right now.
IC:
Chapter Forty Nine.
Even the most quickly-developing empires can be brought to an abrupt halt. All one needs to add is some wrong people in the right places and vice versa. A brilliant combination for ending golden ages and destroying empires.
Situation in Viking Britain has suddenly went from excellent to terrible when King Sven III abruptly died. He was succeeded by King Olrik, who treated the Anglo-Saxons and Celts alike as inferior peoples and did not hesitate to tell that to everybody. Usually, the Vikings balanced Celts and Anglo-Saxons against each other. Now, the Vikings, with Olriks encouragement, insulted their way of life, while the yortag passed several laws that were quite honestly saying that Anglo-Saxons and Celts were to be unable to have any serious role even in local governments, uniting the native population against themselves.
All that led to widespread uprising, which was used by the half-Saxon pretender to the throne, Rjolf, to try and gamble for power. The Viking communities in eastern Ireland, various islands and Northumbria had to face the Celts and the Anglo-Saxons in a civil war, starting in April 963.
A bit of a teaser right now.
IC:
Chapter Forty Nine.
Even the most quickly-developing empires can be brought to an abrupt halt. All one needs to add is some wrong people in the right places and vice versa. A brilliant combination for ending golden ages and destroying empires.
Situation in Viking Britain has suddenly went from excellent to terrible when King Sven III abruptly died. He was succeeded by King Olrik, who treated the Anglo-Saxons and Celts alike as inferior peoples and did not hesitate to tell that to everybody. Usually, the Vikings balanced Celts and Anglo-Saxons against each other. Now, the Vikings, with Olriks encouragement, insulted their way of life, while the yortag passed several laws that were quite honestly saying that Anglo-Saxons and Celts were to be unable to have any serious role even in local governments, uniting the native population against themselves.
All that led to widespread uprising, which was used by the half-Saxon pretender to the throne, Rjolf, to try and gamble for power. The Viking communities in eastern Ireland, various islands and Northumbria had to face the Celts and the Anglo-Saxons in a civil war, starting in April 963.
Gelion
Retired Captain
Its aliiiiiiiiiiiiiive! ![[party]](/images/smilies/partytime.gif "Party [party]")
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
Nice read, please go on. 
