[SoI] The Tale of the Crusades

[DC123456789]

Hello, I'm DC123456789. You may have seen my lurking around these forums before. This is my first story . I will be playing as the Principality of Antioch and the excellent modmod The Sword of Islam, an RFC of the Middle East from 750 AD to 1700 AD. You can find the forum here. I'm a terrible player, by the way, so feel free to critique by playing style and give me suggestions for this story.

And without further ado, let the story begin!

 

[DC123456789]

The stats for the Principality of Antioch…

And the settings for my game. (Note that I have never played Sultan before, so this will be… interesting.)

In March 1095, the Byzantine Emperor, Alexios I Komnenos, asked Pope Urban II for help in his campaign against the Turks. Urban II agreed, hoping to gain favour with the Eastern Orthodox Church and perhaps reunite Christianity. In August 1096, several massive armies set off from Western Europe to the Middle East, starting the First Crusade. The Seljuk Sultanate of Rum was defeated, and the crusading armies marched to the Levant. On October 20, 1097, the armies of the First Crusade, led by Bohemond of Taranto, lay siege to the city of Antioch.

The army the besieged Antioch was already well-experienced from the battles in Anatolia, giving them an advantage over the defenders of the city.
Here we see the Norman UP- in addition to getting free units from crusades, all our starting units start with 5 XP.

Later that year, the army successfully captured Antioch from the Seljuk vassal state centered around that city, which was renamed Antiochia. They recovered the Holy Lance from the city, an important Christian relic. Bohemond was crowned prince of the newly created Principality of Antioch. Trade relations were established with the Byzantine Empire and the Kingdom of Cilicia, who would be important allies for the fledgling Crusader State.
We capture the independent city of Antioch easily with our starting army. We also get the Holy Lance, which we will settle back in our capital. Finally, we get open borders with the Byzantines and Cilicia.

Bohemond I of Antioch, as he was now called, also lay down three goals he set for his principality:
1. Control or vassalize Cilicia and Syria in 1190 AD.
2. Have open borders with at least 6 other countries by 1270 AD.
3. Have Venetian Quarters in at least 3 cities in 1290 AD.
Our UHV goals aren’t really too hard, except backstabbing Cilicia and its master the Byzantine Empire will be a bit… evil, don’t you think?

Two years later, in 1099, the Sultanate of Tarabulus and the city of Urfa, which had belonged to the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, surrendered to the Principality of Antioch. These cities were renamed Tripoli and Edessa, respectively. Meanwhile, to the south, the rest of the crusader army had reached Jerusalem.
Tarabulus and Urfa flip to us and become Tripoli and Edessa. The Kingdom of Jerusalem spawns. We also get our stack of workers.

Trade agreements were signed with the Kingdom of Jerusalem even before Jerusalem was captured, and the Holy Lance was settled in a great chapel in Antiochia.
We sign open borders with Jerusalem and settle the Holy Lance in Antiochia, which gives 1 culture per turn and 2 experience points for every unit built in the city.

And that concludes the first update.

 

[hoplitejoe]

Oooh a SoI game! And not an easy civ either. I wish you the best of luck

 

[Princeof Persia]

Subbed.

 

[SouthernKing]

Subbed.
I'd also like to make a friendly pointer that March 1905 is quite a bit late for the pope to call a crusade
Good job so far though

 

[DC123456789]

Subbed.
I'd also like to make a friendly pointer that March 1905 is quite a bit late for the pope to call a crusade
Good job so far though

Fixed.

 

[Optical]

Great mod which I wish I had the time to try out. Subbed and nice start

 

[trexeric]

Subbed! I wish I had more time so I could play SoI...

 

[strijder20]

I'd also like to make a friendly pointer that March 1905 is quite a bit late for the pope to call a crusade

Good luck with your game/story!

 

[DC123456789]

In 1101, the Holy City, Jerusalem (Al-Quds), was captured by the invading Crusader army, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem was created. Baldwin Boulogne was crowned Baldwin I of the new Crusader state. The Emirate of Sur and the Sultanate of Akka surrendered to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, as well as the Fatimid city of Gaza (Ghazzah) shortly after the fall of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem captures Jerusalem, like they always do. Tyre, Acre, and Gaza flip to them. Nothing particularly special.

In 1102, the Crusader Army stationed at Antioch invaded the Sultanate of Damascus and besieged Homs.
We attack Homs, an independent city just to our east. We also discover that Damascus is independent.

In 1105, a number of Artuqids were spotted near the city of Edessa. However, they were swiftly defeated.
Some barbarians appear near Edessa. We quickly kill them. There's going to be a lot more, but luckily, most of then will either go seek other targets or get killed by Cilicia.

Also, a couple of statements I found pretty funny.

In 1107, the Sultanate of Rum agreed to pay 200 gold to the Principality of Antioch in exchange for peace, after being defeated during a skirmish north-east of Edessa.
We make peace with the Sultanate of Rum for 20 gold, which is excellent for us. Now we have one less enemy to contend with. I also wonder why they agreed to pay when all we did was kill one horse archer…

In 1109, the Byzantine Empire and its vassal the Kingdom of Cilicia made peace with the Sultanate of Rum. Most of the details of the peace treaty have been lost.

In 1110, the Kingdom of Jerusalem conquered Aqaba (Al-Aqapah) from the Fatimid Caliphate. The city of La Chemelle (Homs) was also conquered by the Principality of Antioch that year after a 8-year long siege.
We capture Homs/La Chemelle in 1110, after slowly bringing down its defenses by constant catapult bombardment. Sadly, we also lose that catapult during the assault.

In 1112, a small contingent of Norman Horse Archers entered Abbasid territory. They began to ravage the countryside, plundering everything they could.
We send a Horse Archer into Abbasid territory. Since it obviously can’t attack any cities, it’ll plunder improvements and hopefully persuade the Abbasids to offer a more favourable treaty (right now they’re demanding Edessa, which is not happening).

6 years later, in 1118, the Norman Horse Archers that had ravaged the countryside around Al-Mosul was destroyed by a small Abbasid army.
Our Horse Archer died. Oh well, at least we got like 50 or so gold out of its exploits.

In 1119, right after their peace treaty expired, the Byzantine Empire declared war on the Sultanate of Rum once more.
The Byzantines declares on the Sultanate of Rum again. They obviously think they are much stronger.

In 1121, the Fatimid Caliphate made peace with the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

In 1122, the Principality of Antioch agreed to pay 250 gold to the Seljuk Empire in exchange for peace.
We make peace with the Seljuks by paying 25 gold. Oh well, it’s not that much.

And that ends the second update.

 

[SouthernKing]

Sieging Homs just seems so very apt right now

 

[DC123456789]

In 1126, the Principality of Antioch made peace with the Fatimid Caliphate by agreeing to pay 350 gold.
We make peace with the Fatimid Caliphate for 35 gold. Not too much, really.

In 1127, Imad ed-Din Zengi declared independence from the Abbasid Caliphate and secured control over Asuristan and Jazira. Ruling from Mosul, he declared war on the Principality of Antioch and Kingdom of Jerusalem, even though the Abbasid Caliphate was already at war with him.
The Zengid Emirate spawns. We don’t lose any cities, but they do have quite a few units. This won’t be good. Also, we and the Abbasids now have a common enemy. Maybe now they won’t demand as much.

In 1128, A large Frankish army approached Dimashq and lay siege to it, nearly penetrating the city’s defenses. The Principality of Antioch took advantage and took the city of Damascus, massacring the Islamic population. The Sacred Seal was recovered and traded to the Abbasid Caliphate in return for peace.
Thank you, Jerusalem, for leaving only a wounded Swordsman in Damascus. Now we can take it very easily. We also get the Sacred Seal, but since we can’t actually use it, we give it to the Abbasids for peace.

The Zengid Emirate divided its forces, sending one half south to the Abbasid Caliphate, and the other half west to the Principality of Antioch. However, in 1129, the Principality of Antioch took the weakly defended Zengid city of Callinicum (Rakka), in the first major battle of the war.
Nothing to say here, really, except that the Zengids should probably defend their cities better.

Meanwhile, the Knights of St. John, also known as the Knights Hospitaller, set up a base in Tripoli and constructed a castle in the city.
We get the Knights of St. John event, which gives us one free building. We choose the castle, since we don’t need any health from a hospital or a Catholic Church for happiness and culture. The defense bonus will come in handy.

In 1130, Rakka (Callinicum) was attacked by the Zengid Emirate from the Principality of Antioch. The Normans fought hard against the Zengids, but the city ultimately fell. Hugues de Payens was inspired by the unconventional tactics used by the Lancers of the city and became a Great General. Upon this recognition the government sent him to Edessa, where he trained a contingent of Horse Archers to become one of the most skilled in the world.
Callinicum falls, as it was lightly defended. A Great General spawns in Antiochia, and we send him to Edessa and attach him to our only defender, a Horse Archer in hopes that it will be strong enough to resist the Zengid attacks.

In 1135, Callinicum (Rakka) was recaptured by the Principality of Antioch after sustaining heavy losses.
We recapture Callinicum. I really hate those Zengids.

We also discover that the Zengid capital, Al-Mosul, has been recaptured by the Abbasids. Yay!

In 1143, the last stronghold of the Zengid Emirate, Arbil, was captured by the Abbasid Caliphate, bringing an end to the rule of the Zengid dynasty.
Our co-belligerent ally, the Abbasids, captures Arbil and destroys the Zengids. This is very good news.

And that concludes the third update.

 

[hoplitejoe]

Now you got peace with (almost all) the Muslims I guess it is time to look for war with fellow Christians.

 

[DC123456789]

Now you got peace with (almost all) the Muslims I guess it is time to look for war with fellow Christians.

Nah, I already have enough enemies. Besides, I need to build up forces for the Ayyubids .

 

[hoplitejoe]

Not Aiming for the UHV then?

 

[DC123456789]

Yes I am. I hope to somehow vassalize Cilicia. If not..., well, I suppose I won't get the UHV.

 

[DC123456789]

In 1147 one of Bohemond’s goals was completed. The Principality of Antioch secured open borders agreements with six other countries, bringing prosperity to the country.
We complete one of the UHV conditions.

In 1153 the Abbasid Caliphate declared war on the Seljuk Empire. Soon after the declaration of war, Arbil was captured by the Seljuk Empire.
The Abbasids declare war on the Seljuks. Good to see that they’re weakening each other.

In 1155 the Fatimid Caliphate collapsed, leaving numerous weak city-states in its wake.
The Fatimids collapse. It doesn’t really matter anyway to us.

In 1158 the Kingdom of Jerusalem declared war on the Sultanate of Rum.
Jerusalem declares on Rum. Not like they’re going to be able to do anything to each other, really…

In 1160 the Armenian city of Malatya was captured by the Sultanate of Rum.
Looks like the Sultanate of Rum is making progress in their war.

In 1164 the Byzantine-Seljuk war ended with a peace treaty.
The Byzantines and Sultanate of Rum make peace. Oh well, they’re probably going to declare war on each other again very soon…

In 1168, Salah ad-Din took control over the city of Al-Qahira, founding the Ayyubid Sultanate. He declared war on the Crusader states, hoping to reconquer the Levant.
The Ayyubids, the bane of the Crusader states, spawns. Let’s see if we’ll fare better than in real life.

In 1171, the people of Lower Egypt, Sinai, Transjordan, and Syria revolted to the Ayyubid Kingdom. Homs (La Chemelle) and Dimashq (Damascus) revolted from the Principality of Antioch to join the Ayyubid Kingdom.
La Chemelle and Damascus flip. I let them go so I won’t have to face unit flips.

In 1173, just as the previous peace treaty had expired, the Byzantine Empire declared war on the Sultanate of Rum once more.
Well, I guessed right, didn’t I?

In 1174, La Chemelle (Homs) was retaken by the Principality of Antioch after a short, brutal siege.
La Chemelle falls. Dimashq will be next…

That year, Damascus (Dimashq) also fell to the Principality of Antioch after a failed Frankish attack.
Once again, thank you, Jerusalem, for weakening Damascus for us to take. At that’s all the cities that flipped to the Ayyubids back in Antioch.

In 1176, after the fall of Wasit, the Abbasid Caliphate collapsed.
The Abbasids collapse. Good riddance.

In 1177, there was a revolt in Al-Mosul against the local government. The people decided that they would rather be under Norman rule than on their own, vulnerable to attack.
There is a Norman revolt in Al-Mosul. Okay then…

In 1183, after a long, grueling, two-year siege, the Frankish city of Akka (Acre) fell to the Ayyubid Kingdom. There were numerous casualties on both sides.
Akka falls to the Ayyubids. Oh well, their army has been decimated.

In 1185 Malateia (Malatya) fell to the Byzantine Empire.

And that ends the fourth update.

 

[strijder20]

Fatimids collapsed in 1155, while they were still stable in 1153 ?

 

[hoplitejoe]

There are quite harsh stability drops for civilisations after they died irl iirc.

 

[DC123456789]

Sorry about this, but this story will have to end prematurely. I accidentally overwrote the save file, and now I can't recover it. This is the end.