SKNES: Architecture of Aggression

mythmonster2 · Jul 7, 2012

Sicily Under the Byzantines

When the Sicilians first declared independence around 750 AD, their former rulers, the Byzantines, seemed too weak to be able to reclaim them. However, between 750 and 900, the Byzantines, despite empire-shaking changes in religion and organization, quickly regained their strength. Though the Sicilians did join in the Byzantine Crusades, the old Roman Empire was not strong enough to reclaim its old province yet. But when the Holy Roman War came, and with it, the Sicilian Break, the Byzantines must have seen an easy opportunity to reclaim the island. And so they did, using noble lords who opposed the Church's new power to their advantage. After 150 years, Sicily once again fell under the thumb of the Byzantines.

Life as a Byzantine vassal for the majority of Sicilians was not much different than before. Though the overlord was pagan, no attempts were made to convert the island from its still devout Orthodox Christianity. A small minority of the feudal lords did make an attempt to ingratiate themselves with the overlords by converting to Hellenism, but these were largely isolated events. Trade shifted towards the east, with Constantinople becoming the most popular destination for Sicilian merchants. And, among the priests and monks, some efforts were actually made to learn more about the Hellenistic faith, and small collections of artifacts sprang up in monasteries around the country.

For now, news of a possible reconversion of the Byzantines, led by a secret organization dedicated to Christianity, has made Sicily very unlikely to attempt a second rebellion. Trade has blossomed under Byzantine rule, and the overlords have ample military power to protect or subjugate their vassal. But in the future... time will tell if the Sicilian spirit will live on.

Terrance888 · Jul 7, 2012

DC123456789 said:
Wait, at this point in time, aren't Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy still technically unified as the State Church of the Roman Empire, since the Great Schism has not happened? (yet)

Technically that should be true, but with the roleplaying (especially from Sicily and Armenia around Turn 2) lead to the fact that it probably officially split earlier in this timeline.

To be specific, we tried to get the Orthodox nations, especially Sicily, into Catholicism after the Eastern Roman Empire fell to Paganism, but they maintained their religious differences as stronger as the need for faster allies.

Anyway, Armenia is far from Aquitaine, and all we hear from that place are either armies, apologies for those armies, and various declarations of power. In the same vein, while Aquitaine's leadership changes year to year, from the outside it seems to be the same also, especially from the distance.

Lokki242 · Jul 8, 2012

Well you know what else Armenia is doing right now? Books and Roads. And Caspian settling.

Nuka-sama · Jul 8, 2012

Stillll waiting :<

SouthernKing · Jul 8, 2012

Well...I had to be outside the house all day yesterday, and it looks like the same situation today. The update is half finished, and eta is now Monday late afternoon EDT. Sorry about that.

Popcornlord, i can change to a republic through NPC this update if you wish.

Gem Hound · Jul 8, 2012

Do you want to know what Brythonia is doing? Fighting.

SouthernKing · Jul 10, 2012

Update 8: Twilight of Nations (950 AD/338 AH)

The Western European World

In Italy and elsewhere, Papal missionary activity has begun to show results. In Pisa, nearly all non-Catholics were eliminated or converted, and in Naples only a few non-Catholics remain, mostly in small sheltered communities on the southern tip of the country. With much of Italy unified under Catholicism, it was far easier to enact wide-reaching administrative reforms and govern the lands.
(Pisa: +Stability)

Thuringia, despite all it could do, failed to keep control over the northern regions. A new king was raised to the throne in Brandenburg, to the north, and the Thuringian military is too weak and refuses to march. Even as Thuringia sheds off its outer territories, more pretenders are claiming larger and larger parcels of land. United Thuringias days are clearly numbered.
(Thuringia: -Stability)

Brythonia wanted an end to the Tamanic presence in Britains isles, and it was done. The Brythonians assaulted each and every island with a Tamanic presence on it. The Brythonians did not fail to capitalize on their vast advantage, both in numbers and in fighting close to home, and the islands fell with ease. Not long after however, a number of Celtic tribes still in Brythonia rose up against their rulers. Although their chances of success were slim, it was still costly to put the rebellion down. Even though many of the remaining druid followers were killed off, they were replaced not by Forn Sithr but rather by Catholics, and the tense religious situation seemed ready to rip the country apart. In the meantime, a number of Brythonian settlements along the Norwegian coast were built, following the reconstruction of a port on the North Sea coast.
(Brythonia: +Economy, -3 Swordsmen, -2 Crossbowmen)
(Taman: -Economy, -2 Crossbowmen)

Trouble was brewing for the Dominions hold on Britain. Continued Catholic missionary activity led to tensions and unrest in most of Britain, and not even Jute-sponsored construction of small Forn Sithr temple sites could stop it. In Scotland, unrest reached the point where Catholic rebels overthrew the king. Only with the aid of Jorvik was the Forn Sithr king restored, and the bloody civil war for control of the country caused massive damage to the countrys economy.
(Dublin, Jorvik, Scotland: -Stability)
(Scotland: -Economy, -3 Irregulars, -2 Swordsmen, -1 Horsemen; Jorvik: -2 Horsemen)

Even as Britain was ripped apart, Jutland continued to prosper. A road network was completed, linking its cities together, and it continued to expand, including its settlements in Iceland. Iceland has begun to develop its own identity as the colony continues to grow.
(Jutland: +Economy)

In the land of the Finns, a number of tribal leaders gathered. They decided that to centralize the Suomi state, a capital city, Keskitähti, or central star was to be built, and the tribes set out to begin its construction. The work so far has already had a positive impact on the fledgling Suomi economy.
(Suomi Federation: +Economy)

The Eastern Christian World

A new Emperor rose to the throne of Constantinople: Emperor Constantine VIII. Normally, this would have been any cause for concern, but the new Emperor had had enough of the Hellenic nonsense. A decree was issued: Byzantium would reconvert to the Orthodox faith, and the Patriarchy of Constantinople would be restored. Constantine died childless, designating Constantine of Angora as his heir. A decade after the decree, Constantine VIII died, and Constantine of Angora became Emperor Constantine IX. Constantinople and Angora were unified as one empire at long last.

Not everyone was happy: especially in Greece, a number of military desertions and minor rebellions wreaked havoc on the countryside, and authority outright collapsed in some places. While the rebels did control large areas of land for some time, it was put down, albeit at great cost to the Byzantine Army. But as there was still a considerable Orthodox minority, and the Hellenic faith was not centralized or organized in any way, the transition was far less bloody than the one to Hellenism had been centuries earlier.
(Byzantium: +Angora, -Stability, +Economy, -2 Irregulars, -3 Swordsmen, -1 Horseman, -4 Crossbowmen)

Sicily celebrated Byzantiums return to Christianity, and fervently began Orthodox missionary and monastic activity, reducing Catholicism to a few small enclaves on the northern coast. By establishing a permanent base on the island of Malta, Sicily was able to project its influence further west into the Mediterranean.
(Sicily: +Economy, +Stability)

It should have been a happy occasion in Armenia. But what did not sit well with King Vordin of Armenia was the fact that the Constantinople Patriarch was attempting to claim all spiritual authority. What resulted was the Orthodox Schism: the Patriarch in Yerevan claimed his own spiritual authority over the Orthodox world, and Hayaren Orthodoxy was formed. Many Orthodox Christians in the east would decide to support the Armenian partriach, but most were just glad to see Constantinople returned to the rightful faith. Even within Armenian borders a significant Constantinople-supporting minority remained, and even Taman remained a follower of the Constantinople patriarch.
(Armenia: -Stability)

Outside of the religious fighting, Armenia continued to develop its infrastructure. A road-building program was started, alongside a program to build libraries and institutions of learning in major cities.
(Armenia: +Economy)

In Armenias substate Taman, a new Tamanic code of law, called the Tamanıkoda, was decreed, establishing firm regulations for administration, punishment for crime, and trade, just as port renovations were completed, allowing for a boom in trade.
(Taman: +Stability, +Economy)

To the north, in Novgorod, a republic was established, in place of the old monarchy. The exact details are still in the working, and the traditional transitional issues are still occurring, although the Venetian republic is being used as a model for this change.
(Novgorod -> Republic, -Stability)

The Poles began to build walls around their major cities. This has continued to unify the tribes under one banner, as Poland becomes more and more of a civilized nation.

The Tatar Khanate, decaying for decades, finally collapsed and split in half. The Avars regained control over the western half, while in the eastern half, in the Crimea, a new group of Turkic peoples from the east, the Kipchaks, rode in and overthrew the existing Tatar rule. Both states have some of the most backwards societies in the known world, and survival seems unlikely in the long run for both states.

To the north of Taman, the various Khazar tribes had centralized enough to create a more or less unified polity. The new Khazar Khaganate serves as an even graver threat for the Kipchaks of the Crimea, and threatens Novgorod to the north and Poland to the west as well. But despite its large land area, the Khazars only control a fledgling state, with a small economy.

The Western Islamic World

In Badajoz, major reforms took place, creating a feudal system of administration and government, much easing the governance of the nation. The fruits of a change to feudalism included a better taxation system and more income for the monarchy. In Lisbon, a grand port was completed, and trade income began to flow in.
(Badajoz -> Feudal Monarchy, +Stability, +Economy)

The Maghreb Caliphate invaded the island of Madeira, claiming to be placing down a pagan society. Whatever the reason, the invasion was almost completely bloodless, with only a handful of Maghreb casualties. The invasion and the securing of Madeira gave the Maghreb Caliph yet another outpost and island in the western ocean. But slowly, the evil hand of corruption began to creep its way into the Caliphs government with averse effects.
(Maghrebs: +Economy, -Stability)

An academy of alchemy was completed in Carthage, and its finest minds were put to work on a jar of Greek fire that had been replicated by Jutland. Indeed, the compounds secrets were cracked, although attempts to arm ships with it failed. A handful of Berber tribes on the far reaches of Vandal territory were convinced to pledge allegiance to the Vandal sultan, although economically it did not make much of a difference. Jewish migration to Carthage increased, as the sultan opened up his realm to Jewish settlement.
(Vandals: +Economy)

The Eastern Islamic World

The Zengids, with an enormous army, attacked and ravaged what little Axumite territory there was on the mainland. Axum called for aid, but only a token Venetian force arrived, and they were refused passage by the Fatimid caliph. To try and force their way through, the Venetians invaded the Sinai Peninsula, but it was little more than a slaughter the Venetians were far outnumbered by the Zengid armies, and after a few lopsided battles the Venetians retreated. In Nubia, the Zengids plundered, raided, and pillaged. Waterways flowed red with blood. Axum was reduced to the islands of Socotra, in the Arabian Gulf. The Zengids took control over the slice of Nubia they had gotten, much to the chagrin of the Fatimid Caliph; however, the Fatimids did nothing against the Zengids, having seen what destruction the Zengid armies could rain down upon them. The Zengid Emir was well on his way to becoming master of the Red Sea.
(Fatimids: -2 Swordsmen)
(Zengids: +Economy, +4 Plunder, -Stability, -9 Swordsmen)
(Axum: -Economy, -12 Irregulars, -3 Nubian Archers)
(Venice: -1 Marinas, -1 Catholic Knight, -2 Crossbowmen)

The Fatimid Caliphate began the construction of a port at Alexandria, hoping to become a center of trade rivaling Syracuse in Sicily. Although there has not yet been a significant trade boost, this might change in the future.

Khorasan put all its efforts and resources into bringing its surroundings under its colonization and rule. Already clashes with Persians to the west have cost both Khorasan and the Ghaznavids lives, as both countries prepare to deploy their armies in full force to combat the new threat.
(Khorasan: +Economy, -2 Swordsmen)
(Ghaznavids: -1 Swordsman)

The Gupta Empire, although still in a stable state, looks like it will not stay intact for much longer. Its territories in what was formerly Oman have begun to clamor for their own local ruler, and even in India proper there are dozens of factions threatening to break away.
(Guptas: -Stability)

OOC:
The updates a bit shorter than usual, thats largely because things have calmed down a bit. It shouldnt hurt the quality of the update, but sorry if it does.

Minor change: I removed the color stat and instead will post a labeled map. Let me know how you think it looks.

Id like to state that while it may be tantalizing to plunder and rape the hell out of a piece of land, remember that if you intend to keep it in the peace plundered land isnt going to be worth much.

Lokki: When you said colonize the west Caspian coast did you mean the east Caspian? Armenia already controls the west Caspian coast. Or is there something Im missing here? PM me and Ill fix it.

Mickzter: I didnt change your name because what you wanted just sounds odd IMO, especially for a Muslim nation in this time period.

Spaceman: Unfortunately, your attempted invasion did not happen since you dont border Croatia, and neither the Avars nor Thuringia wants to allow you through.

Popcornlord: I turned Novgorod into a republic this turn, if you do send orders for turn 9 Ill let you work out the details.

Nuke has been dropped due to not sending orders, France is open for the taking. (If Nuke or someone else doesnt (re)take it this turn, Im going to switch the title of Emperor to some other

Very Important: REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR UPKEEP, EVEN WHEN YOURE AT PEACE. Next 2 turns, people who forget to pay their upkeep will see desertions.

2 more IT (normal) turns left to go, then the BT starts.

If there are any stat errors let me know as usual.

SouthernKing · Jul 10, 2012

Spoiler Stats 950 AD :

Spoiler Holy Roman Empire :

Spoiler Forn Sithr World :

Spoiler Other Central European Nations :

Spoiler Byzantine Sphere :

Spoiler Eastern Europe :

Spoiler Africa :

Spoiler al-Andalus :

Spoiler Arabia :

Spoiler Persia and India :

Spoiler Map 950 AD :

Spoiler Labeled Map 950 AD :

Nuka-sama · Jul 10, 2012

Still France

SamSniped · Jul 10, 2012

Just wondering if I misworded my orders...I think I said the crossbowmen were to come in after success, and then defend, not to help invade.

SouthernKing · Jul 10, 2012

SamSniped said:
Just wondering if I misworded my orders...I think I said the crossbowmen were to come in after success, and then defend, not to help invade.

whoops. yeah, I'll fix that, my mistake.

spaceman98 · Jul 10, 2012

What...

My orders were to destroy Croatia and yet all that happened was peaceful wall building? Where is my war?
Edit: Oh... :blush:

DC123456789 · Jul 10, 2012

DC123456789 said:
From the Kingdom of Axum
To: The Holy Roman Empire, The Kingdom of Armenia, and any other Christian nations

Please, help us. We may be strong, but the infidels are stronger. You have seen the bloody ruthlessness of the Fatimids and Zengids in the massacre of those who attempted to surrender. Our very existence now depends on your willingness to help us in our war against the infidels. If you do not help us, all of Africa will fall to the Muslims. We await your response.

We reiterate our message. We have sent messengers many times, yet the only one to respond was Venice. Will you leave us to your fate, our will you do your duty to your faith and defend us against the infidels?

OOC: No Coptic uprising?

SouthernKing · Jul 10, 2012

DC123456789 said:
We reiterate our message. We have sent messengers many times, yet the only one to respond was Venice. Will you leave us to your fate, our will you do your duty to your faith and defend us against the infidels?

OOC: No Coptic uprising?

Unfortunately, most of the Coptics were killed off by the Zengid army before they could do anything.

Nuka-sama · Jul 10, 2012

Woops

SouthernKing · Jul 10, 2012

Thuringia confirms the above.

Mickzter97 · Jul 10, 2012

SK, i hate 2 be the complainer, but cud u update the UU post...so I know who has what

Popcornlord · Jul 10, 2012

Sorry about that, I was just busy last week and felt the need for a "buffer" update, if that makes sense. I'll write a story about the transition before the next update.

mythmonster2 · Jul 10, 2012

Since you asked, I think I prefer the labeled map to listing the colors in the stats. Sure, by this point, I could tell which countries are which without the aid of colors or labels, but it's a lot easier this way and it's not even obstructive or anything.

DC123456789 · Jul 10, 2012

SouthernKing said:
Unfortunately, most of the Coptics were killed off by the Zengid army before they could do anything.

Further proof that the Zengids are bloodthirsty demons bent on the destruction of Christendom that must wiped off the face of the planet.

SKNES: Architecture of Aggression

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