[SoI] The Great Seljuk Empire

[danjuno]

thank you

Looks like Caligula in that he tried to make a pig governor

Didn't the Anti-Vietnam movement try to nominate a pig named Pigasus at the 1968 Democratic Convention?

 

[baseballpie]

I think it was the yippies. So I think it would be a yes.

 

[trexeric]

Yay! Someone got my reference!

Also, I thought of my next story! Although I'm telling none of you what it is.

Chapter 15: The Ride to the Caucasus

15-year old Abu Khorasani, son of Muhammad Khorasani and grandson of the honorable Abu Muslim Khorasani, met with 25-year old Malik Shah in Samarra in autumn, 1085. Abu told Malik of the recent activities of Samarra, such as the new roads and houses that had been built under the teenager's wing. Malik Shah, however, did not come to Samarra to see roads and houses, and he soon took Abu aside into an empty home and told him of his plan to invade the Caucasus. Abu, afterwards, was nervous and shocked, as he had never actually been at war despite being general of his father and grandfather's legendary forces. Abu agreed, however, and set off alongside thousands of other troops, the majority of which were led by Malik Shah himself. Mercenary camel archers were left in Baghdad to defend. On the way, however, Abu Khorasani converted to Orthodox Christianity, and renamed himself John*. This event was best described in the works of the poet-governor of Ahvaz**:
So Abu Khorasani climbed to the top of the hill,
And beside him, stood perfectly still,
Was a man clothed in flowing white robes.
The man said to Abu, "Why are you scared?
Are you not of the Khorasanis, have well they not fared,
In war and in drought and in battle and in famine?"
Abu turned to the man, "We have long relied for food on our cattle,
But I may easily fall, such as them, in battle,
Shall I not then be eaten by the butchers who slayed me?"
The man responded, "Whoever believes in me shall have eternal life,
And shall never fall, through battle, war, famine, or strife."
Abu smiled at the man and laughed at the thought of immortality.
But the man said to Abu, "I am Jesus, son of God,
Who's water we drink, air we breath, and land we trod,
So why do you laugh? Is not eternal life under God's influence?"
Not wishing to offend one of Islam's prophets, Abu bowed his head,
And hoped he would not leave the hill dead,
But the man smiled, and said, "You view me as a prophet,
But alas, I am not. I am the messiah, who has come to save all,
And I repeat to you: whoever follows me shall never fall."
So Abu listened to the man's teachings, and hope began to grow.
At the end of the sermon, the man took Abu to a lake by a tree,
And said, "I name you John, after the man who baptized me."
And into the water the son of Muhammad Khorasani was dipped.

*After John the Baptist, not John the Apostle as many first assume.
**Hulusi
NOTE: I did a poem today since I didn't want to go another turn, and a person can only go so far with Tribal Cavalry to the Caucasus. Also, which Caucasus country should I invade: Armenia or Georgia?

 

[Gruekiller]

Georgia; Armenia has had enough tough breaks in its existence!

 

[constantinople]

Invade Armenia because it's geographically closer.

Sorry Dumanois.

 

[trexeric]

It's my BIRTHDAY today! Here's your birthday update:

Chapter 16: The Beginning of the Seljuk War in Armenia and the Battle of Dvin

It was many years before the Seljuk Turks actually reached the Caucasus. Meanwhile, Malik Shah and his men encountered many Orthodox Christian missionaries and scouts. The majority of these came from the Byzantine Empire, who was in war with the Seljuks. A few of these Christians were executed by over-ambitious Muslims, and became martyrs. However, contrary to Orthodox belief, Malik Shah himself ordered no executions and even called one off and executed the soldiers who attempted it, so that no one would ever kill innocent people again in his army. Also contrary to Orthodox beliefs, Byzantine officials came to Malik, not the other way around, and made peace. The Byzantine Emperor at the time, Emperor Thomas II Doukas, was amazed at Malik Shah's kindness toward the Christians, and he gave the sultan a lump sum of gold in compensation for withdrawing support for the Sultanate of Rum.

However, the reign of the second king of Armenia, King Tigranes III, son of Ashot I, would not begin so smoothly. In the same year as the peace between the Seljuks and Byzantines, the Armenians were invaded by the Seljuk Turks. Afraid, Tigranes III called for the Byzantines for help, although it would never come. The Armenians were helpless on the mountain tops, and even the Georgians refused to offer aid against the Turkish threat. Religion would no longer hold the armies of Armenia, Georgia, and the Byzantine Empire together.

In the months following, the armies of Malik Shah and John Khorasani reached the Armenian capital of Dvin. Dvin was very heavily defended, and there was no room to fail. John Khorasani's plan, or so Malik Shah thought, was suicide, but the sultan agreed to it anyway. John, at the front lines, rode toward the archers near the south as fast as he could alongside his army. It is said John himself was shot twice with arrows, but that has never actually been proven. Nonetheless, the attack killed more Seljuks than any other successful attack. The attack, in the end, was, partially, successful. It, after all, cleared out the strongest of the Armenian defenses. The next attack was led by a general who's name was lost to time, and against all odds killed many of the Christian axemen. The next many attacks were equally successful, but were less risky. While the slaughter of the Armenian army was going on, Armenian militiamen formed in the shape of javelinmen. These javelinmen were bold, and fought and won against one of the weaker Seljuk forces. Luckily, Malik Shah had another trick up his sleeve. Tribal cavalry came in from the north rather than the east, and they entered the city. Women, wives of the javelinmen, were captured and held hostage within the city. The javelinmen were forced to withdraw into the city to save their wives, were they were slaughtered. Malik Shah entered the largest cathedral in Dvin, where he thought he would find Tigranes III. The king, however, was impaled on a lance, and it was obvious he had committed suicide. The lance was adorned with silver and gold, and many gems. When John Khorasani saw it, he declared it the Holy Lance, the lance which confirmed the death of Jesus of Nazareth.

Meanwhile, in far away Herat, near the edge of the Seljuk-Ghaznavid border, a man rose in importance. This was Tahir ibn Husayn, a 34-year-old Arab immigrant originally from Wasit in Mesopotamia. A Shia Turkish group in Herat attempted to kill any and all Arabs and Sunnis, and it just made it worse that Tahir was both Arab and Sunni. Tahir, who wanted to lead a peaceful life, fled. Or, at least attempted to flee. The Turks, riding atop camels and dressed fully in black attacked Tahir. Tahir took out his bow, and each Turk took out their swords. Tahir was able to shoot down three men before one of them blinded him in his left eye. Tahir continued to fight, however, and that man was eventually slayed. By that time, the rest of the people of Herat had come to help and the rest of the Turkish group was captured. The people asked Tahir what to do with them, and he put each one through a different kind of torture before being beheaded. Thair was quickly made governor, and soon he became known in his battles against desert barbarians. In 1091, Tahir was called to Rayy, but the journey would be long and hard.

 

[Gruekiller]

Thomas II Doukas, of the Eastern Doukid Dynasty, brother of St. John the Turk-slayer and father of Leo the Great.

Happy birfday and great update!

 

[constantinople]

 

[trexeric]

Sorry I haven't updated in a while - I was just on a camping trip (y'know, hiking, sleeping, eating, orienteering, getting lost in the woods after orienteering, getting a ride back to camp by hunters, the usual)

Chapter 17: The Armenian Retaliation

Although Malik Shah was inside the former Armenian city of Dvin on the eve of the second battle with the Armenians (which would become known in the future as the Armenian Retaliation) he was not there when the Armenians attacked the Seljuk cavalry in the city. It is believed he was called back to Rayy for the month and left his army in the hands of John Khorasani. In Rayy it is believed Malik Shah publicly humiliated and then executed at least fifty men whom abused their Armenian war slaves against the Law of the Warhorse*, which stated that you may not injure war slaves in public areas. Meanwhile, back on the Armenian front, the lack of a army in Dvin and a lack of leadership backfired on the Seljuks. After destroying Armenian catapults and siege forces, the Seljuk defense of Dvin reentered the city to find Armenian spearmen already in the city. The cavalry attempted to defeat the spearmen but were slaughtered, and thus ended the first battle between the Seljuks and another force where the Seljuks lost.

*The Law of the Warhorse was the second reform of Malik Shah (the first being the Law of the Empire Under Allah) and established the laws for slavery and vassalage in the empire (note that war slaves had more laws for them than regular slaves as they were not gained through the slave trade but through theft and conquest)

PS: Yes, I plan to recapture Dvin. I was going to say something else, but then I forgot.

 

[A.Caesar]

Sorry I haven't updated in a while - I was just on a camping trip (y'know, hiking, sleeping, eating, orienteering, getting lost in the woods after orienteering, getting a ride back to camp by hunters, the usual)

Sounds like fun.

 

[trexeric]

Sorry for the lack of updates in, like, two weeks, but I've been really busy!

Chapter 18: The Seljuk Recapture of Dvin

After the Armenians recaptured the city of Dvin at the heart of the Kingdom of Armenia, the Seljuk Turks were forced to withdraw to a nearby village. This village was governed by a Christian Turk, much like John Khorasani. John and the governor became fast friends, and legend tells of a proposed peace treaty between the Great Seljuk Empire and that village. That day, however, John was assassinated. He had no sons, nor daughters, and Malik Shah was in Rayy still. The army was leaderless. Angry for the loss of their general, the Seljuk Turks burned the governor's house, beheaded all the men, and made slaves of the women and children. Legendarily, the only building the Seljuks did not destroy was the church where John died, in memory of their assassinated commander. A man named Ubuz ibn Muhammad, known as being an Arab in a Turkish army, rallied the Seljuks. In complete and utter rage, the countless men of the Seljuk armies charged toward the city of Dvin. Armenian spearmen attempted to fend off the first wave, but were destroyed. Then the second wave came, led by Ubuz himself at the front. It is said Ubuz killed twenty five men in an hour of fighting. During the first skirmishes, Malik Shah returned. He met Ubuz then and there, in the middle of a battle field. Malik was devastated to learn of John Khorasani's death, and he legendarily said to Ubuz, "...so tear down the wall of Dvin and kill anyone who is foolish enough to stand in your way..." And that is just what Ubuz did. On the second wave of attacks, the one where Ubuz led at the front of the army, the Seljuks destroyed a hired group of mercenaries under the Armenian crown. Thus, the Seljuk armies entered the city, but unlike the first time the entire army entered the city. And anyone who stood in their way was killed on the spot.

 

[constantinople]

Phew, I was afraid you were turning into METY.

 

[Gruekiller]

Poor Armenia.

 

[constantinople]

At least Dumanios isn't here to see it...or is he?

 

[Lone Wolf]

I like the style, will check regularly. I also need to play at least one game of this modmod...

 

[trexeric]

You might be asking yourself, "Why is trexeric posting? He already posted an update today!"
To that I say HA! because I feel bad for making you all wait so long for an update so I'm giving you two in one day! And constantinople, I would never be like METY.

Chapter 19: Malik Ibn Dinar, the Merchant of Baghdad

In the years following the Seljuk recapture of Dvin in Armenia, the Great Seljuk Empire entered a period of happiness and peace. The army in the north stayed in the old Armenian capital while their wounds and minds healed from the battle. Malik Shah, meanwhile, rode out of Dvin in 1094. Rather than going toward Rayy, however, Malik rode toward Baghdad. There he met a Sunni Arab merchant named Malik Ibn Dinar, who was born in the city of Wasit in 1049, when the city was still under the control of the Abbasid Caliphate. Malik Ibn Dinar was on his hajj when the Seljuks invaded. When he returned he swore allegiance to Alp Arslan, who still ruled at the time. That was when he moved to Baghdad, and he saw the flame in the Spiral Minaret. Dinar suggested that Alp Arslan put a tax on the building for pilgrims, to gain the empire more money. Thus Dinar began his career as a merchant, and he traveled from Al-Quds to the west, Marv in the east, Makkah to the south, and Tbilisi in the north in his many years. In the end, however, he made Baghdad his home. In 1095 he met the new sultan, Malik Shah. Dinar agreed to make one last mission, a mission through the perilous lands of the Byzantine Empire, to reach a new destination that was the gateway to Europe and a center of trade: the Byzantine capital of Constantinople, the holy city of Orthodox Christianity.

 

[trexeric]

Rude people. Nobody commented on a very generous update.

Chapter 20: The Battle of Kars and the Formation of the Crusader States

Malik Shah returned from Baghdad in 1098, two years after meeting Malik Ibn Dinar. Dinar's journey started northward as he avoided the city-state of Mosul. Malik Shah was aware of growing tension in the west, especially by the Catholic church of Rome. It was said that Catholics from all over Europe united to invade their Holy Land, which was already broken up into countless city-states which were all enemies of the Great Seljuk Empire. It was rumored these 'Crusaders' were already marching across Anatolia, and even scarier it was said the Normans of southern Italy had already captured the city of Antioch. The Franks were said to be marching south, to the city of Al-Quds, what they called Jerusalem. The Crusaders would prove to be enemies of the Great Seljuk Empire in the coming future.

In Orthodox Armenia, the Seljuk army had finished healing its wounds. Ubuz ibn Muhammad held a banquet in Dvin to celebrate the return of the sultan. However, Malik Shah rebuked him for wasting valuable gold for a petty celebration. Thus, Malik rallied the Seljuk army, saddled the horses, and began the ride to Kars, the city which had become the Armenian capital after the capture of Dvin. Kars lied in the lowlands of the Armenian region of Kars. It was the last Orthodox, Armenian stronghold of the Caucasus. The city of Van to the south had a Sunni majority. The ruling power in Kars was King Smbat II, nephew of the late Tigranes III. The Seljuk army arrived at Kars in 1099, a month after they began their journey. Ubuz ibn Muhammad led an attack on archers at the eastern gate, and however he and most of his army returned heavily wounded, the attack was successful. The next attack came by Malik Shah himself, directly at Kars where the heavy infantry (axemen) lied, waiting for combat. The attack came at night, when the Armenians were tired and many were sleeping. Malik Shah led his men quietly toward the city, and legend has it the sultan slayed twice as many men as any other man, although he had half the wounds of any other man. The attack, just like Ubuz's, was very successful but caused many serious injuries. As he was uninjured, Malik Shah led the next attack as well. He destroyed the Armenian's last siege weapons, and entered the city. There he found Smbat II, who was willing to accept his death at the hands of the sultan. However, Malik Shah allowed the king to exit the city to Van, the city of Vaspurakan. Thus, the Armenian line of royalty was kept safe. For now.

Meanwhile, in Palestine, the Franks captured Al-Quds. Thus they formed the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the most powerful Crusader State. The Normans who had captured Antioch formed the Principality of Antioch, which was the first Crusader State established. The smaller counties of Edessa and Tripoli were present as well. The County of Edessa, which had been under Byzantine rule for centuries, was annexed by the Principality of Antioch under Bohemond, the brother of the county's ruler Tancred. Tensions began between the two Crusader States, and Edessa threatened to return to Orthodox rule. The Crusader state to the south, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, was headed by Baldwin I, who aided in the capture of Edessa from the Byzantines. The Kingdom of Jerusalem was the largest of the Crusader states, stretching from Acre to the north to Aqaba to the south. In its heart lay Jerusalem, the center of arts, learning, and religion. Some consider the Kingdom of Vaspurakan to be a crusader state as well, being supported by Christians against armies of Muslims. The Kingdom of Vaspurakan was the direct successor to the Kingdom of Armenia, and it was led by the same man: King Smbat II of Kars.

 

[baseballpie]

Nice to see these frequent updates.

 

[constantinople]

Seljuks sure are expanding. Who will you kill next?

 

[Bair_the_Normal]

Rum plox.