SKNES: Architecture of Aggression

To: The Crusaders
From: Roman Empire

We support your intentions, and will perhaps aid you on this Crusade.
 
ooc: if your Catholic it would be well advised (gets out bell, book and candle "just in case")
 
From: The Zengid Sultanate
To: The Warring Christian Tribes

When we received word of your unwarranted assaults against us, we laughed, and danced with joyous celebration. It's usually difficult to massacre infidels, having to send our armies deep within Africa to do so. It's not everyday you have an opportunity to slaughter thousands on your very own doorstep! Do come, please, but know that once we destroy whatever 'armies' you can accumulate, we will be coming for you.

From: The Zengid Sultanate
To: The Roman Empire

It's funny, how quickly you forget the deals your government struck with us, but a few years ago. We have defended your borders, and prevented incursions into Anatolia. Yet the 'honorable' Roman Empire wishes to swap positions without a precedent?

From: The Zengid Sultanate
To: Other Islamic Nations

It seems a Holy War has been declared on Islam. It is the job of every Moslem nation to listen to our call, and spread chaos among the Christian tribes. Send us money, ships, or soldiers. Or embark on your on quest to disrupt to Christian tribes homelands while their soldiers are away, trying to wrestle the holy lands not from the Zengid Sultanate, but from Islam itself. We call upon you all to support our righteous defense on the Holy Land. We can handle them by ourselves, but is this not a perfect time to continue spreading the Word?

From: The Zengid Sultanate
To: The Abassids, Fatmids

We hope you need no reminded that we aided you under much lesser circumstances. Should you not find yourselves in a position where you wish to send aid in terms of men, money is a fine and decent supplement.
 
As far as I am concerned, Holy War is declared on the Zengids for their utter disrespect. We respect our Moslem neighbors in Al-Andalus as they do to us; grudgingly, but respectful. Thus we have peace on this border, and will have peace on this border for many years to come.
 
One cannot declare a Holy War against one nation of the faith. True Moslems will realize now it is the time to strike at the Christian Tribes while they are weak.

The Zengid Sultanate has fashioned itself a beacon of light in this dark world. We have the best economy, the strongest army, and the best universities. We do not fear the shroud the Christian armies are attempting to bare upon us. As we said, when we destroy your armies, we will be coming for all of those who attempted to destroy us.
 
One can declare a holy war against certain acts against a faith. And what a heinous act it was- the slaughter of innocents. The massacre of the surrendering. The near eradication of an entire people. This is what you support of you join them, and this is the true reason we march and we sail.

The Zengids are molded by their history perhaps, but so was Aquitaine. The Zengids were not hounded by enemies on every border. The Zengids did not face internal subversion, nor fearful aggressors, nor barbarian invasions.

Aquitaine, and the nations of the Holy Roman Empire fought for many years for mere survival, but also for chivalry. We fought the Provencials for attacking the innocent. We fought the Hellenic Uprising because they massacred the Christians, Orthodox they may be, and we endured until the Orthodox Revival. We fought the Savoyards murdering their Catholic subjects left and right, and raiding Germans destroying our borderlands. We fought the Blood Scythe war on all fronts and ended it with gracious peace. And for fifty years we have laid down our arms, barely able to take a gasp of fresh air, barely able to go on the path the Zengids have walked so long.

The Zengids have friendly neighbors. The Hellenic Rebellion secured their northern front as the Romans turned west. Trade flourished in the Arabian sands. And from this ground, did brutality spring.

Axum fought in self defense, and it was willing to end the war with the Fatamids in status-quo, to return the lands to their origins and respect each other's religion. It was turned down, and the Zengids marched in. And the Zengids commited many acts of brutality and terror-acts we are all familiar of.

Had the Zengids been Christian of any kind and did what they did, I am assured that we would have also intervened. We have fought the Forn Sithr, the Orthodoxy, the Moslems of Al-Andalus and for the most part, their warriors were Chivalrous and their leaders sensible. And now, we will see if the same is true with the Zengids.

OOC: Historical Revisionism :p. Technically this would be IC for Aquitaine to think that way, especially of the "Christian" and "Roman" ways of righteous warfare.

EDIT: You know what burns? When PISA has more influence then you. D:
 
From: The Kingdom of Axum in exile
To: The Papal States, The Holy Roman Empire, and anyone else supporting this crusade

We thank you greatly for coming to help us in our war against the infidels. We, and our people, cannot properly express the gratitude we feel towards you. May our enemies burn! May the Zengid Sultanate be utterly destroyed as they deserve!
 
The Zengids had no enemies around them, as we created none. We focused on trade, learning, and religion, rather than the European 'art' of warfare. But even then, when the time came, we aided both the Abassids and the Fatmids in war. We were wildly successful, and now our armies wait for the Christian tribals that wish to attempt to dislodge us from the Holy Land for being 'disrespectful'.

As if perceived disrespect really warrants any foreign involvement in the affairs of the Sultanate, or that of the Islamic nations in general. What to us, is disrespectful is your stalling of helping the Axumites. Their blood does not lay soley on our hands, but yours as well. We heard nothing from the 'Holy Roman' Empire. Not a word of condemnation, and the only support sent to the Axumites was a token force from the Venetian tribals. You had every opportunity to cease our war against Axum, and yet you played politics, and chivalry instead. We offered the Axumites peace under our rule dozens of times, and they had every opportunity to cease fighting. Even now, in their exile, they continue the war against us. We did not go into Axumite lands to kill civillians, we killed those who resisted our rule, an act hardly Chivalrous, wouldn't you say? Does not the victor get to rule over the vanquished, in the same way you have forced yourselves upon non-Christian locals?

It's funny that the very people who preach Chivalry, and Christian brotherhood are the same ones who left their African brothers out to dry. If you wish to turn the area into a crime scene, know that you are also all suspect. Those who allow a crime to happen are as at fault as much as those who commit the crime. And while we would hardly consider what we did to be out of the norm, inappropriate, or worthy of being called a crime, if that's what the cornerstone of your argument is, then for arguments sake we'll call it one.

Yet we don't see how committing a crime of equal proportions will solve much of anything, but leave many of your tribal soldiers dead in the sands of the Levant. Was it not Jesus of Nazareth who encourage his follows to simply turn the other cheek? Your blatant aggression serves no religious or moral purpose, and the opportunity you had to do any good with the situation has long passed. Where were you when the Axumites needed you? Where were you to help solve the issue through words, and not through sword? Busy elsewhere? It does not take many men to contact both parties, and try to solve the conflict through diplomacy, rather than sword. Rather, the Axumite calls went entirely unanswered, and it is another black-stain that will forever be left on your already black record. The 'Holy Roman' Empire has shown itself to be nothing more than opportunists, that wish to rape the rich lands of the Levant, steal our knowledge and plant their tribal flags across the coast. It's clear to any Moslem that you are simply taking advantage of the situation that has transpired. Now that you have finished fighting the Pagans around you, you turn your greedy eye to the glorious sands of Arabia.

Just know Moslem brothers, with the Zengid Sultanate at war, there is no one to protect you. And should the Christian tribals have their way with us, know you will be next on the chopping block. We are the protectors of Islam right now, and we are calling upon all of our Brothers to aid us in our fight against the Christian opportunists, and spread the faith by the sword if need be. Our two worlds can't exist together for much longer. Allah beats the Shaitan every time, and so shall we on this land. For unlike Jesus of Nazareth's teaching that the Children of Judea follow, the Qu'ran preaches Qisas.

"O ye who believe, equivalence is the law decreed for ye when dealing with murder - the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the female for the female. If one is pardoned by the victim's kin, an appreciative response is in order, and an equitable compensation shall be paid. This is an alleviation from thine Lord and mercy. Anyone who transgresses beyond this incurs a painful retribution"

It is your duty, Moslem brothers, to stop this incursion into the Holy land, arms locked with us Zengids.
 
We have always supported Axum (coughcough), even if the lack of Imperial decree prevents official support (COUGHCOUGH), and many issues (coughRLcough) have prevented further overt action.

If you remember, we did offer to help manage a peace on terms acceptable to both. The Fatamids accepts no terms less than 'All of Africa' (which is also aggressive towards the Moslems of the Maghrib we traditionally deal with, south of Al-Andalus) even while Axum, the defending party of Fatamid aggressive, wished to stay their sword and retreat to the border at the start of Moslem aggression. The Zengids fully supported the Fatamids-truly, we suspect this is the reason of their bombastic optimism-and thus fully cut off any chance of an equitable peace.

And why did they not surrender later? They must have learned when when their surrendering brothers were killed to the man. You yourself left no option for them; either fight to the death, or die kneeling. Was there not many tales in Castile and Badajoz of surrendering Visigothic Nobles becoming important Moslem Nobles, and their retainers Moslem warriors? You gave them no chance that other Moslems gave, or we gave- no prisoners were taken, all were slain, or so says the reports.

Indeed, the victors do have power over the vanquished. I do not say what goes on in the other nations of the Holy Roman Empire, but Aquitaine ALWAYS left religious choice free as long as we keep tabs and find and reeducate the rebellious. In our many wars we did not slaughter our prisoners-many were exchanged, ransomed, extricated or pardoned as the event may be.

The succession crisis has passed, and new Electors and Emperors and Popes have risen. The False Dukes and Rebels are put down. And it is only now that we are able to act-and with the Imperial Decree, act we will. (COUGHREALLIFECOUGH)

OOC: Nuke was sick, I was banned, Erez is off doing something and Sam Sniped was barely sent his orders. We couldn't do anything.
 
TheLizardKing said:
The Zengids had no enemies around them, as we created none. We focused on trade, learning, and religion, rather than the European 'art' of warfare. But even then, when the time came, we aided both the Abassids and the Fatmids in war. We were wildly successful, and now our armies wait for the Christian tribals that wish to attempt to dislodge us from the Holy Land for being 'disrespectful'.
Click to expand...

"Disrespectful" is far too soft a term to describe the massacre of tens of thousands of innocent people, who were simply caught in the crossfire.

As if perceived disrespect really warrants any foreign involvement in the affairs of the Sultanate, or that of the Islamic nations in general. What to us, is disrespectful is your stalling of helping the Axumites. Their blood does not lay soley on our hands, but yours as well. We heard nothing from the 'Holy Roman' Empire. Not a word of condemnation, and the only support sent to the Axumites was a token force from the Venetian tribals. You had every opportunity to cease our war against Axum, and yet you played politics, and chivalry instead. We offered the Axumites peace under our rule dozens of times, and they had every opportunity to cease fighting. Even now, in their exile, they continue the war against us. We did not go into Axumite lands to kill civillians, we killed those who resisted our rule, an act hardly Chivalrous, wouldn't you say? Does not the victor get to rule over the vanquished, in the same way you have forced yourselves upon non-Christian locals?
Click to expand...

We offered peace to the Fatimids first. We proposed that everything return to the status quo, with nothing lost or gained. It was a perfectly reasonable offer, and there is no reason why they should not have accepted it, seeing as they were on the losing side. On the other hand, you were aggressive with your "offers", demanding our conversion to Islam and vassalage to you.


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

This, of course, implies that there was a general massacre of the Copts before any hint of rebellion began. Only barbarians ruthlessly kill everyone in their path, raze cities, and destroy entire nations. And you talk about yourself being "chivalrous", when you refuse to even call your enemies by their proper names.

It's funny that the very people who preach Chivalry, and Christian brotherhood are the same ones who left their African brothers out to dry. If you wish to turn the area into a crime scene, know that you are also all suspect. Those who allow a crime to happen are as at fault as much as those who commit the crime. And while we would hardly consider what we did to be out of the norm, inappropriate, or worthy of being called a crime, if that's what the cornerstone of your argument is, then for arguments sake we'll call it one.

Yet we don't see how committing a crime of equal proportions will solve much of anything, but leave many of your tribal soldiers dead in the sands of the Levant. Was it not Jesus of Nazareth who encourage his follows to simply turn the other cheek? Your blatant aggression serves no religious or moral purpose, and the opportunity you had to do any good with the situation has long passed. Where were you when the Axumites needed you? Where were you to help solve the issue through words, and not through sword? Busy elsewhere? It does not take many men to contact both parties, and try to solve the conflict through diplomacy, rather than sword. Rather, the Axumite calls went entirely unanswered, and it is another black-stain that will forever be left on your already black record. The 'Holy Roman' Empire has shown itself to be nothing more than opportunists, that wish to rape the rich lands of the Levant, steal our knowledge and plant their tribal flags across the coast. It's clear to any Moslem that you are simply taking advantage of the situation that has transpired. Now that you have finished fighting the Pagans around you, you turn your greedy eye to the glorious sands of Arabia.
Click to expand...

"Blatant aggression"? That term fits much better on you. Although we agree that the Catholic response did take far too long, the important part is that they did, in the end, come to save us before all hope was lost. There was considerable indirect support from Aquitaine, and the only reason for this delay was the incredible bureaucracy of the Holy Roman Empire (OOC: The difficulty of getting everyone to reply) Also, be careful about how you chastise your enemies; did you not join the war solely so your soldiers could taste blood, so you could conquer new lands for your empire, so you could take advantage of a weak nation that has done nothing against you? After you finished fighting the peoples within you, you turned your greedy eye to the glorious lands of Axum.

Just know Moslem brothers, with the Zengid Sultanate at war, there is no one to protect you. And should the Christian tribals have their way with us, know you will be next on the chopping block. We are the protectors of Islam right now, and we are calling upon all of our Brothers to aid us in our fight against the Christian opportunists, and spread the faith by the sword if need be. Our two worlds can't exist together for much longer. Allah beats the Shaitan every time, and so shall we on this land. For unlike Jesus of Nazareth's teaching that the Children of Judea follow, the Qu'ran preaches Qisas.

"O ye who believe, equivalence is the law decreed for ye when dealing with murder - the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the female for the female. If one is pardoned by the victim's kin, an appreciative response is in order, and an equitable compensation shall be paid. This is an alleviation from thine Lord and mercy. Anyone who transgresses beyond this incurs a painful retribution"
Click to expand...

With the exception of the corrupt kings of Tagrabunti Armenia, no Christians have ever gone to war without a righteous cause, usually in defence of their lands or fellow co-religionists who were being brutally prosecuted. This, of course, falls into "brutally prosecuted".

Why cannot Christians and Muslims peacefully co-exist in this world? Because of the aggression of people like you, who manipulate and bend your religion and your holy scriptures to fit your own desires and aspirations. We have no doubt that if there was no greedy, aggressive people like you, peace, harmony, and happiness would reign in this world.

It is your duty, Moslem brothers, to stop this incursion into the Holy land, arms locked with us Zengids.
Click to expand...

It is your duty, Christian brothers, to aid us in our righteous war, arms locked together in the defense of our faith.
It is also important to note that the statement above made by the Zengids softly suggests Zengid supremacy in the Muslim world.

OOC: Whoa. That was long.
 
Muslim NPC Responses

From: The Abbasid Caliphate
Sultan of the Zengids, we have forgotten your help to us. We will pledge our armies in support of Allah.

From: The Fatimid Caliphate
We are willing to help. Allahu akbar!

From: The Sultanate of Barcelona
Peace is the way. We will not go to war.

From: The al-Maghrebi Caliphate
While we are willing to fund your rightful defense, we are unwilling to perform any actions that would place us in direct conflict with the Christians.

From: The Sharifate of Hijaz
It is my duty to protect the Muslim world from outside threads. We will aid your rightful war.

Everyone else is either apathetic or simply has other issues to deal with.
 
Terrance888 said:
If the Sunnis and the Shias can unite, why not the Catholics and Orthodoxy? *grumble*
Click to expand...

Well, let's see what the Roman Empire does. Then again, my country is Coptic, so I suppose that could be two denominations coming together. But I have to agree that the Shia countries (except for the Fatimids, who are practically a Zengid vassal at this point) shouldn't be getting involved.
 
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