jackelgull
An aberration of nature
Not your fault obsolete ideologies decided to cause trouble in your city.
The Democratic Caliphate.
- Thread starter Sanguivorant
- Start date
adhiraj.bose
Deity
When I remember the days of rebellion their visions come to me as a thorn in my eyes. I was reminded of the message the Prophet (pbuh) gave to the umma before he departed us, When Muslim shall draw sword against Muslim, the violence shall not cease till the Day of Judgment.
When the Ansars had arisen, the governor of Dar-al-Arab had been sent to the city of Sanaa where he negotiated with the Houthi people to facilitate trade in incense to the Karimi merchants. It was a well thought measure to bring lasting peace to the province and ensure that the fruits of prosperity be shared by all. Little did he or the Caliph know, that the Ansar would show such dishonor in the holy month of the Islamic calendar.
When the news of the rebellion reached him, four days had already passed. Mecca, that great holy city of Islam, the center of Din-i-Islam, chafed under the reign of terror the Ansars had unleashed. After the first two days of the rebellions, they relinquished all thought of peaceful resolution. Rebel contingents were formed where each had their own sectoral leader. They spread across the city occupying market places, streets and forges. The Caliph remained resolute, that even though they may strike and shed blood of Muslims, he would not sully his honor. The garrison of the Northern gate remained on the defensive.
When finally the port of Jeddah too fell to the armed Ansars, they turned to the garrison of the Northern gate. Having shed their peaceful ways the leaders of the Ansar contingents struck. The Imam of Al-Aqsa was horrified by this act. The Ansar who had rebelled for Islam had now begun to shed blood in the holy month! It was a cardinal sin, more so because they were shedding the blood of their own pious Muslim brethren.
Ten Thousand Ansars fought against two thousand crossbow wielding archers. The Imam intervened to reason with the rebel contingents. He appealed to the humanity within them, to find the strength to purge this hatred that had so blinded them. He warned that these actions would be judged upon the day of their reckoning before Allah. At that time, they would be condemned to eternal hellfire if they shed a single drop of Muslim blood. He pleaded that they find another way to express their grievance, rather than have to shed blood so dishonorably. The rebels did not concede, in response to the pleas of the Imam, they sent forth volleys of spears upon him and impaled the wise man. With this most dishonorable act did the Ansars begin their descent into sin.
The garrison troops attacked the Ansars first and they attacked in rage. Volleys after volleys of crossbow arrows were launched upon the enemy. It was said the rain of arrows nearly blocked out the sun, but the Ansars were consumed by fanatical hatred. They braved the rain of arrows and made their way over the walls. Hundreds upon hundreds were killed by the defenders, but hundreds more came to take their place. The fight was fierce but the garrison troops won the day. Three and a half thousand Ansar rebels lay dead with only a dozen crossbow defenders martyred and a hundred injured.
The Ansar wary of another debacle had retired to their strongholds within Mecca, but Jeddah was lost to them. As the days passed, the rebels weakened till they became desperate. The Caliph had ordered the governor to return with a contingent of troops from Sanaa to help relieve the city. Having sealed the pact with the Houthi people, they eagerly assisted in this task aiding the governor with their cavalry. Within two days the long journey between Mecca and Sanaa was completed. The Northern gate was opened to these troops who would make quick work of the rebels.
The remaining garrison troops and the Houthi cavalry began the task of freeing every sector of the holy city that had fallen to Ansar rebels. Special care was taken in relieving mosques and madrassahs, so that no destruction befall them. Before long, the Ansars had realized their cause was lost. Starving and isolated, they had only to surrender or die.
The most fanatical of them held out for a week, but hundreds had their resolve broken. Many of those who abandoned this cause were murdered by those who were fanatical. It was as if they had been driven by blood lust. They descended into an unending spiral of violence and hatred which saw no end. Then the end had to brought upon them.
In the final day of the rebellion, the forces of the caliphate assaulted the fortifications where the Ansars had secured themselves. Here they were massacred in the thousands. Throughout the day and throughout the night the clanging sounds of scimitars and the whizzing sound of arrows ringed creating a macabre symphony of death. When the dawn came, we could see rivers of blood flowing through the streets and avenues.
We collected the dead and mourned for the loss that we suffered. In retrospect, it was counting the dead that was most heartening. How can one put a number on the slain ? What would be the point of it ? These were the darkest days of Islam and those forsaken to bear witness to it would forever remember in shame.
The victory was only to be half won, as several hundreds of rebel Ansars had escaped into the desert from where they descended to rogue banditry while still preaching their falsehoods. It would be a few years before the last of these bandits would surrender bringing a most dishonorable end to the Ansar.
When the Ansars had arisen, the governor of Dar-al-Arab had been sent to the city of Sanaa where he negotiated with the Houthi people to facilitate trade in incense to the Karimi merchants. It was a well thought measure to bring lasting peace to the province and ensure that the fruits of prosperity be shared by all. Little did he or the Caliph know, that the Ansar would show such dishonor in the holy month of the Islamic calendar.
When the news of the rebellion reached him, four days had already passed. Mecca, that great holy city of Islam, the center of Din-i-Islam, chafed under the reign of terror the Ansars had unleashed. After the first two days of the rebellions, they relinquished all thought of peaceful resolution. Rebel contingents were formed where each had their own sectoral leader. They spread across the city occupying market places, streets and forges. The Caliph remained resolute, that even though they may strike and shed blood of Muslims, he would not sully his honor. The garrison of the Northern gate remained on the defensive.
When finally the port of Jeddah too fell to the armed Ansars, they turned to the garrison of the Northern gate. Having shed their peaceful ways the leaders of the Ansar contingents struck. The Imam of Al-Aqsa was horrified by this act. The Ansar who had rebelled for Islam had now begun to shed blood in the holy month! It was a cardinal sin, more so because they were shedding the blood of their own pious Muslim brethren.
Ten Thousand Ansars fought against two thousand crossbow wielding archers. The Imam intervened to reason with the rebel contingents. He appealed to the humanity within them, to find the strength to purge this hatred that had so blinded them. He warned that these actions would be judged upon the day of their reckoning before Allah. At that time, they would be condemned to eternal hellfire if they shed a single drop of Muslim blood. He pleaded that they find another way to express their grievance, rather than have to shed blood so dishonorably. The rebels did not concede, in response to the pleas of the Imam, they sent forth volleys of spears upon him and impaled the wise man. With this most dishonorable act did the Ansars begin their descent into sin.
The garrison troops attacked the Ansars first and they attacked in rage. Volleys after volleys of crossbow arrows were launched upon the enemy. It was said the rain of arrows nearly blocked out the sun, but the Ansars were consumed by fanatical hatred. They braved the rain of arrows and made their way over the walls. Hundreds upon hundreds were killed by the defenders, but hundreds more came to take their place. The fight was fierce but the garrison troops won the day. Three and a half thousand Ansar rebels lay dead with only a dozen crossbow defenders martyred and a hundred injured.
The Ansar wary of another debacle had retired to their strongholds within Mecca, but Jeddah was lost to them. As the days passed, the rebels weakened till they became desperate. The Caliph had ordered the governor to return with a contingent of troops from Sanaa to help relieve the city. Having sealed the pact with the Houthi people, they eagerly assisted in this task aiding the governor with their cavalry. Within two days the long journey between Mecca and Sanaa was completed. The Northern gate was opened to these troops who would make quick work of the rebels.
The remaining garrison troops and the Houthi cavalry began the task of freeing every sector of the holy city that had fallen to Ansar rebels. Special care was taken in relieving mosques and madrassahs, so that no destruction befall them. Before long, the Ansars had realized their cause was lost. Starving and isolated, they had only to surrender or die.
The most fanatical of them held out for a week, but hundreds had their resolve broken. Many of those who abandoned this cause were murdered by those who were fanatical. It was as if they had been driven by blood lust. They descended into an unending spiral of violence and hatred which saw no end. Then the end had to brought upon them.
In the final day of the rebellion, the forces of the caliphate assaulted the fortifications where the Ansars had secured themselves. Here they were massacred in the thousands. Throughout the day and throughout the night the clanging sounds of scimitars and the whizzing sound of arrows ringed creating a macabre symphony of death. When the dawn came, we could see rivers of blood flowing through the streets and avenues.
We collected the dead and mourned for the loss that we suffered. In retrospect, it was counting the dead that was most heartening. How can one put a number on the slain ? What would be the point of it ? These were the darkest days of Islam and those forsaken to bear witness to it would forever remember in shame.
The victory was only to be half won, as several hundreds of rebel Ansars had escaped into the desert from where they descended to rogue banditry while still preaching their falsehoods. It would be a few years before the last of these bandits would surrender bringing a most dishonorable end to the Ansar.
adhiraj.bose
Deity
754 AH
The benevolence of the Caliph
The revolt of the Ansars had shaken the Caliphate to the core. Word spread to other provinces whence the treachery and dishonorable actions of the Ansars became known. The knowledge of their villainy spread even to those distant nations of the Caliphate who held our realm in the highest esteem. There were those who began to fear for the future and doubt he unity and stability of our Caliphate.
The Caliph entrusted the task of repairing Mecca and Jeddah from the damage caused by the Ansar rebellion to the governor of Dar-al-Arab. It was a task he accomplished most ably. As the reconstruction proceeded, the Caliph turned his mind to appeasing the fear struck minds of the masses and of far away realms who pondered on the safety of their trading interests, in particular the Malian empire and the Sultanat of Mataram.
To the latter, the Caliph gifted the knowledge of the feudal order which was the backbone of the levy army system and vassalage. The Sultanat of Mataram was spread over myriad isles, but the largest of them dominated over all of the smaller isles. It was well nigh impossible for a despot ruling with central authority to administer all these islands efficiently. The knowledge of the feudal order was thus a boon for the Sultanat. The Sultan was ever grateful.
To the emir of Mali, he proposed a trade. The Arab fishermen from Misr and Dar-Al-Arab knew of various methods of breeding exotic fishes. These were much sought after in the Malian realm. In return for setting fisheries along their ports the Malian would pay to our Caliphate half a maund of gold annually.
Al-Misr
The land of Misr, most fine and prosperous, her people rich and refined, her culture the envy of the world and the pride of the Caliphate. For long such had been the reputation of this fine land, and by the grace of Allah, it shall be forever more.
The city of Alexandria which the Caliphate has built and refined over the ages has achieved yet another milestone of cultural development. Like the beacon of the Great Lighthouse that stand on its shores, and of the shining marble of its library, it stands as a resplendent beacon of our realm.
In this year of the Caliphate, the governor of Dar-Al-Misr proclaimed before the heavens that the lands to the West shall come under the grace of the Caliphate. So it was, that more tribes and villages along the Mediterranean coast that bordered Al-Misr swore to join in our August coalition of nations and become part of the Caliphate.
New nations
For long it had been known of rebellious discontent brewing in the nations on the borders of the Caliphate. To the East the backward nation of the Khmer had given way to a new nation. This was founded by the Thai people. For centuries the hostility of the Khmer towards the Caliphate and its allies had prevented the merchant folk in their southern domains from availing of the opportunities to enrich themselves.
While the Khmer sought to preserve their cloistered ways, the Thai looked beyond. They learnt of skills and sciences that had been denied to them by the Khmer, before long differences began to grow sharper between the Thai and the Khmer. These people were as distinct from one another as a Dog was from a Hyena. Though being of the same family of canine creatures, where one was a skilled predator the other was not. The Thai would soon reveal to the world the difference between the dog and the hyena when the armed militias of the first Thai king stormed the palace of the Khmer ruler.
He put all the nobility to death and plundered their city till even the memory of it was lost. With the ruins of Angkor the Thai built a new more vibrant city, that of Ayuthayya. These tumultuous events had transpired in the East even as the Caliphate wrestled with its own challenges. When we finally approached them for trade, we were given a cold reception.
The Thai while being more learned than the Khmer, more civilized and sharper, still bore the same fangs of infidel hatred towards the house of Islam. They worshipped the same infidel gods and bore the same beliefs towards us and our allies, yet they distinguished themselves in decidedly showing that they were more powerful than their hapless predecessors.
While this Eastern nation still struggled to find its footing, there was yet another nation who bore itself before the world like a stunted child. This was the nation of maritime traders in the Northern lands of Italia. This was the city state of Firzene whose stretched from the Western Mediterranean to the Eastern Mediterranean confined to the North of the Italian peninsula.
It was a petty kingdom sandwiched between the two great behemoths of Europe, the empire of the Franks and the Empire of the Aleman. These realms surrounded it on all sides. While they had adopted the righteous path of Islam, these petty merchants had retained the most archaic beliefs of Christianity. This dhimmi nation, had not any power nor respect within the realm of Europa, nor any fitting army. Nor was there cause to conquer it, for it would yield so little but cause much pain.
Like a hermit who refuses to engage with the world that Allah had created, the city state of Firenze had closed itself to the wider world and rotted in ignorance and poverty. Was it then any surprise that they would have closed their doors before us ?
757 AH 766 AH
In the years following the pacification of Mecca and Hejaz the Caliphate returned to the normal state of affairs. Since the Almohad sultan had showed his arrogance by demanding half our treasury as tribute for the safekeeping of the treatise of Cordoba, the Caliph had invested heavily on the strengthening of Nidhams networks of spies. Though this proved to be an expensive proposition compelling our Caliphate into a near perennial state of deficit, these were in turn offset through years of accumulation and through trades and tributes.
Inca emirate
Many centuries ago, the people of our Caliphate had discovered a new land beyond the Great Western Oceans. Those brave navigators and adventurers, who ventured west for the glory of Islam, soon won over a vast new realm for the Caliphate.
Two great Islands exist here, one in the North whose lands are dry and arid but replenished by great rivers and one to the South where jungles hills and a great river, twice the strength and length of the Nile flows through. There a people dwelled on mountains and hills and on an arid coastline on the foothills of these hills.
These hardy people of the mountains were the Inca. So enthralled by our culture and faith, the Inca resolved to join our Caliphate. The Incan emperor whose writ ran through all the hills of this land, most eagerly converted from his heathen faith. The Caliph himself embraced the emperor as his brother.
Over the centuries, he built the Incan realm as an emirate of the Caliphate. He expanded into the North near gold mines and corn fields. Our explorers ventured further North where the mountains range into the shape of a crescent. Here the land seemed ripe for cultivating coffee.
Raising funds
Many years had been spent in the strengthening of Nidhams networks such that they may build a vast enterprise of espionage in the domains of the Almohad Sultan. This policy had drained us of several thousand of maunds of gold from the treasury, but the Caliph deemed it necessary.
The question remained however, that the Caliphate needed funding. On this the Caliph thought hard and developed an emergency plan. The plan involved a threefold measure to raise several maunds of gold, tributes from nations, exchanges of technologies, and trade in goods.
The Caliph listed those nations with whom he would request tribute, those with whom he would trade goods and to those with whom he would trade in knowledge.
To the empire of Aleman, he sold a supply of fine sugars from Dar-Al-Abyssina for seven maunds of gold every three years.
To the Mongol empire, a model compass was constructed and sold to the court of the Great Khan for one hundred and sixty maunds of gold.
To the nation of Nihon, was sold a copy of the Holy Koran. This would be translated into the language of the natives of their land. One hundred and forty maunds of gold were raised from this exchange.
From the Malian emirate was raised a tribute of Hundred and twenty maunds of gold.
And finally from the Kingdom of Goguryeo was raised a tribute of over 210 maunds. It was not known at the time, how deeply this act would hurt the fortunes of the fledgling hermit kingdom, but in three years the truth would emerge.
From the Franks, was demanded an indemnity that was justly requested for participating in their war against the Spaniards. They gladly gave us a hundred and fifty maunds in gold.
Thus, did the Caliph raise funds for continuing to strengthen the enterprise of the Al- Nidham.
Rabd Al-Handaq
When the isle of Crete was brought under the realm of the Caliphate, it was but an isle of shepherds and vineyards. There were villages of self-sustaining farming and sheep herding communities, and nothing more. Then, merchants from Sam founded Rabd-Al-Handaq.
This would be a port to facilitate trade between Al-Misr, Al-Anadol and Al-Sur. To the West were the Greek islands under the rule of the Aleman who have ruled these lands with honor, though they were foreign to it.
It is among the newest of the Caliphates settlements, but it has since matured. The Karimi merchants ever conscious of a good trade realized the potential of this city and of these islands and opened a funduq in this port town. It can only be hoped that the city will continue to grow and prosper with time.
The wrath of nature
Much has been said of this vast land called Afriqiya. Barbarous, mysterious, prosperous, powerful, intriguing, dark yet promising. Whilst the North bears familiar terrain of deserts and seas, the continent gets darker and murkier as one travels South.
Beyond the Sudanese deserts, the land changes its character drastically. Here there are jungles which bear within them such hostile tribes and exotic creatures which can be seen nowhere else. Here there are mountains, hills and plains. Rivers and marshes which create scenes of such breathtaking beauty that would challenge the senses. And within these places of beauty, there lurk such dangers that would make lesser men pale with fear.
Among the many perils that haunt the domains of Afriqiya is the looming doom of volcanoes. One such threat emerged in the domain of Al-Zanj.
To the West of the prosperous port of Zanzibar North of Lake Zanj, there lay the volcano which the Arabs of Zanj named The furnace of hell. An active volcano where even the bravest fear to tread, liquid fire churned at its mouth like a great evil cauldron. It was said, that here the Shaitaan plotted the end of the world.
None believed this myth, till one day the mountain exploded. The Earth was shaking at every corner, the waters of the Lake of Zanj suddenly became warm. Fishes died, and animals ran helter-skelter in fear. When the people of Zanj looked West to the horizon, a massive cloud could be seen covering the western horizon spewing ash and a blood red glow was around it like a halo.
The Shaitaan had unleashed his wrath, or so it would seem. Allah was merciful that day, for the city of Zanj was not consumed by the evil red fiery liquid that flowed. Wherever it went destruction followed, ashes covered entire jungles and choked to death those unfortunate enough to come under its cover.
Worst hit though, were the mines North of Zanj. Thousands labored under the harsh conditions of the mine. The toiling masses found themselves hopelessly trapped when the earthquakes came all so suddenly. The mines collapsed trapping and killing those inside. Thousands perished in this tragedy, and those who escaped were trapped by the red death that came from the furnace of hell.
The fall of Goguryeo
Nestled in the very corner of the vast land of Asia, the kingdom of Goguryeo had stood for over a millennium and half. This was a land of calm, where the mornings were greeted by the gentle due on soft leaves.
The land was blessed with fertility nestled between rivers and rich coastlines. The hills produced minerals such as iron and tin. The peninsula on which the kingdom was situated sat on the trade routes between Chin and Nippon. With these gifts bestowed upon them the nation prospered over the ages.
But where there is prosperity, envy and greed soon follow. When the Mongol hordes rode out of the Northern steppes to conquer the world, they had their eyes set not only on the great nation of the Chin but also on the prosperous kingdom of Goguryeo. The land of morning calm would find its peace shattered under the hoof beats of the horde of Chinghiz Khan.
The North Western cities fell to the enemy in quick succession leaving Goguryeo with the Southern capital of Hanseong. Here the once prosperous nation rotted in isolation and poverty. By the time that the Caliphate approached the kingdom with a demand for tribute, the wary weakened nation meekly submitted opening their royal treasury to our emissary.
The emissary recalled the experience to me. I had never felt more powerful than I did that moment for the Goguryans obeyed my every word. It was as though I and not the king were the true ruler of the realm. When I had made the demand for tribute on behalf of the esteemed Caliph, the King panicked perhaps fearing an invasion. He ordered that the vault be opened and I take whatever has my fancy. Oh what riches there were! Golden chariots, jewels and silverware brighter than the moon! Having been granted the liberty to take whatever I would fancy I wasted no time in emptying the vault of all precious goods. When I left the royal halls, the King prostrated before me and expressed his gratitude and prayed that I may never come again. All I could say was, if it is the will of Allah.
The months after the tribute, the kingdom entered a period of severe crisis. There were many in the court of Goguryeo who were displeased with this weak king, none more than the general of the armed forces. The hapless display of cowardice perhaps enraged him further. More importantly however, it was perhaps the emptying of the treasury that created the greatest pain on the nation, for the soldiers could no longer be paid for. A rebellion ensued led by the general.
It did not take much effort to overthrow the enfeebled ruler, but the rebels could not establish a stable administration. The kingdom fell to disorder and civil war came as factions battled for supremacy. The land of morning calm would never be the same again.
769 AH
Nidhams greatest mission
Some in the Caliphate argued that this was folly, that much wealth had been wasted on something fanciful. Notwithstanding those detractors, the Caliph was determined. He trusted the skills of the men of Nidham, for he knew what was at stake and what would be gained at the end of this venture. The greatest philosophical work of Islam, the treatise of Cordoba was at stake, and the Caliph would ensure its security.
For nearly three decades, the spies of Nidham had invested their time and their network in the realm of the Almohads. They went in as traders, merchants and scholars. Few Karimi merchants had established their shops in the Maghreb lands of the Almohads. These would be turned into nodal points of Nidhams networks.
Those who went in as scholars settled in the capital city of Cordoba. Over time the spies of Nidham developed such a vast and intricate network that would have very few parallels in history. At the height of the operation, nearly twenty thousand spies operated across the Almohad emirate. They had infiltrated every organ of power, every facet of society and every level of trade and business. It was not long before the Treatise of Cordoba was within reach.
On the twelfth day of Rabad in the year 769 AH, the Caliph gave the order to initiate the mission to retrieve the treatise of Cordoba.
The methods by which the spies operate remain a closely guarded secret, and I shall not infringe the secrecy of their traditions. All that needs be said, that the grand mission was a grand success.
The treatise of Cordoba was now in the hands of the Caliph of Mecca. From it we learnt much more than we had previously expected. Hidden knowledge of the stars and of the skies had been stored in this philosophical work. From here, our scholars deduced the science of Astronomy.
With this knowledge the Caliphate can now build sturdier ships and more advanced navigational instruments. Soon, we shall be master of the seas.
The benevolence of the Caliph
The revolt of the Ansars had shaken the Caliphate to the core. Word spread to other provinces whence the treachery and dishonorable actions of the Ansars became known. The knowledge of their villainy spread even to those distant nations of the Caliphate who held our realm in the highest esteem. There were those who began to fear for the future and doubt he unity and stability of our Caliphate.
The Caliph entrusted the task of repairing Mecca and Jeddah from the damage caused by the Ansar rebellion to the governor of Dar-al-Arab. It was a task he accomplished most ably. As the reconstruction proceeded, the Caliph turned his mind to appeasing the fear struck minds of the masses and of far away realms who pondered on the safety of their trading interests, in particular the Malian empire and the Sultanat of Mataram.
To the latter, the Caliph gifted the knowledge of the feudal order which was the backbone of the levy army system and vassalage. The Sultanat of Mataram was spread over myriad isles, but the largest of them dominated over all of the smaller isles. It was well nigh impossible for a despot ruling with central authority to administer all these islands efficiently. The knowledge of the feudal order was thus a boon for the Sultanat. The Sultan was ever grateful.
To the emir of Mali, he proposed a trade. The Arab fishermen from Misr and Dar-Al-Arab knew of various methods of breeding exotic fishes. These were much sought after in the Malian realm. In return for setting fisheries along their ports the Malian would pay to our Caliphate half a maund of gold annually.
Al-Misr
The land of Misr, most fine and prosperous, her people rich and refined, her culture the envy of the world and the pride of the Caliphate. For long such had been the reputation of this fine land, and by the grace of Allah, it shall be forever more.
The city of Alexandria which the Caliphate has built and refined over the ages has achieved yet another milestone of cultural development. Like the beacon of the Great Lighthouse that stand on its shores, and of the shining marble of its library, it stands as a resplendent beacon of our realm.
In this year of the Caliphate, the governor of Dar-Al-Misr proclaimed before the heavens that the lands to the West shall come under the grace of the Caliphate. So it was, that more tribes and villages along the Mediterranean coast that bordered Al-Misr swore to join in our August coalition of nations and become part of the Caliphate.
New nations
For long it had been known of rebellious discontent brewing in the nations on the borders of the Caliphate. To the East the backward nation of the Khmer had given way to a new nation. This was founded by the Thai people. For centuries the hostility of the Khmer towards the Caliphate and its allies had prevented the merchant folk in their southern domains from availing of the opportunities to enrich themselves.
While the Khmer sought to preserve their cloistered ways, the Thai looked beyond. They learnt of skills and sciences that had been denied to them by the Khmer, before long differences began to grow sharper between the Thai and the Khmer. These people were as distinct from one another as a Dog was from a Hyena. Though being of the same family of canine creatures, where one was a skilled predator the other was not. The Thai would soon reveal to the world the difference between the dog and the hyena when the armed militias of the first Thai king stormed the palace of the Khmer ruler.
He put all the nobility to death and plundered their city till even the memory of it was lost. With the ruins of Angkor the Thai built a new more vibrant city, that of Ayuthayya. These tumultuous events had transpired in the East even as the Caliphate wrestled with its own challenges. When we finally approached them for trade, we were given a cold reception.
The Thai while being more learned than the Khmer, more civilized and sharper, still bore the same fangs of infidel hatred towards the house of Islam. They worshipped the same infidel gods and bore the same beliefs towards us and our allies, yet they distinguished themselves in decidedly showing that they were more powerful than their hapless predecessors.
While this Eastern nation still struggled to find its footing, there was yet another nation who bore itself before the world like a stunted child. This was the nation of maritime traders in the Northern lands of Italia. This was the city state of Firzene whose stretched from the Western Mediterranean to the Eastern Mediterranean confined to the North of the Italian peninsula.
It was a petty kingdom sandwiched between the two great behemoths of Europe, the empire of the Franks and the Empire of the Aleman. These realms surrounded it on all sides. While they had adopted the righteous path of Islam, these petty merchants had retained the most archaic beliefs of Christianity. This dhimmi nation, had not any power nor respect within the realm of Europa, nor any fitting army. Nor was there cause to conquer it, for it would yield so little but cause much pain.
Like a hermit who refuses to engage with the world that Allah had created, the city state of Firenze had closed itself to the wider world and rotted in ignorance and poverty. Was it then any surprise that they would have closed their doors before us ?
Spoiler :
757 AH 766 AH
In the years following the pacification of Mecca and Hejaz the Caliphate returned to the normal state of affairs. Since the Almohad sultan had showed his arrogance by demanding half our treasury as tribute for the safekeeping of the treatise of Cordoba, the Caliph had invested heavily on the strengthening of Nidhams networks of spies. Though this proved to be an expensive proposition compelling our Caliphate into a near perennial state of deficit, these were in turn offset through years of accumulation and through trades and tributes.
Inca emirate
Many centuries ago, the people of our Caliphate had discovered a new land beyond the Great Western Oceans. Those brave navigators and adventurers, who ventured west for the glory of Islam, soon won over a vast new realm for the Caliphate.
Two great Islands exist here, one in the North whose lands are dry and arid but replenished by great rivers and one to the South where jungles hills and a great river, twice the strength and length of the Nile flows through. There a people dwelled on mountains and hills and on an arid coastline on the foothills of these hills.
These hardy people of the mountains were the Inca. So enthralled by our culture and faith, the Inca resolved to join our Caliphate. The Incan emperor whose writ ran through all the hills of this land, most eagerly converted from his heathen faith. The Caliph himself embraced the emperor as his brother.
Over the centuries, he built the Incan realm as an emirate of the Caliphate. He expanded into the North near gold mines and corn fields. Our explorers ventured further North where the mountains range into the shape of a crescent. Here the land seemed ripe for cultivating coffee.
Raising funds
Many years had been spent in the strengthening of Nidhams networks such that they may build a vast enterprise of espionage in the domains of the Almohad Sultan. This policy had drained us of several thousand of maunds of gold from the treasury, but the Caliph deemed it necessary.
The question remained however, that the Caliphate needed funding. On this the Caliph thought hard and developed an emergency plan. The plan involved a threefold measure to raise several maunds of gold, tributes from nations, exchanges of technologies, and trade in goods.
The Caliph listed those nations with whom he would request tribute, those with whom he would trade goods and to those with whom he would trade in knowledge.
To the empire of Aleman, he sold a supply of fine sugars from Dar-Al-Abyssina for seven maunds of gold every three years.
To the Mongol empire, a model compass was constructed and sold to the court of the Great Khan for one hundred and sixty maunds of gold.
To the nation of Nihon, was sold a copy of the Holy Koran. This would be translated into the language of the natives of their land. One hundred and forty maunds of gold were raised from this exchange.
From the Malian emirate was raised a tribute of Hundred and twenty maunds of gold.
And finally from the Kingdom of Goguryeo was raised a tribute of over 210 maunds. It was not known at the time, how deeply this act would hurt the fortunes of the fledgling hermit kingdom, but in three years the truth would emerge.
From the Franks, was demanded an indemnity that was justly requested for participating in their war against the Spaniards. They gladly gave us a hundred and fifty maunds in gold.
Thus, did the Caliph raise funds for continuing to strengthen the enterprise of the Al- Nidham.
Rabd Al-Handaq
When the isle of Crete was brought under the realm of the Caliphate, it was but an isle of shepherds and vineyards. There were villages of self-sustaining farming and sheep herding communities, and nothing more. Then, merchants from Sam founded Rabd-Al-Handaq.
This would be a port to facilitate trade between Al-Misr, Al-Anadol and Al-Sur. To the West were the Greek islands under the rule of the Aleman who have ruled these lands with honor, though they were foreign to it.
It is among the newest of the Caliphates settlements, but it has since matured. The Karimi merchants ever conscious of a good trade realized the potential of this city and of these islands and opened a funduq in this port town. It can only be hoped that the city will continue to grow and prosper with time.
The wrath of nature
Much has been said of this vast land called Afriqiya. Barbarous, mysterious, prosperous, powerful, intriguing, dark yet promising. Whilst the North bears familiar terrain of deserts and seas, the continent gets darker and murkier as one travels South.
Beyond the Sudanese deserts, the land changes its character drastically. Here there are jungles which bear within them such hostile tribes and exotic creatures which can be seen nowhere else. Here there are mountains, hills and plains. Rivers and marshes which create scenes of such breathtaking beauty that would challenge the senses. And within these places of beauty, there lurk such dangers that would make lesser men pale with fear.
Among the many perils that haunt the domains of Afriqiya is the looming doom of volcanoes. One such threat emerged in the domain of Al-Zanj.
To the West of the prosperous port of Zanzibar North of Lake Zanj, there lay the volcano which the Arabs of Zanj named The furnace of hell. An active volcano where even the bravest fear to tread, liquid fire churned at its mouth like a great evil cauldron. It was said, that here the Shaitaan plotted the end of the world.
None believed this myth, till one day the mountain exploded. The Earth was shaking at every corner, the waters of the Lake of Zanj suddenly became warm. Fishes died, and animals ran helter-skelter in fear. When the people of Zanj looked West to the horizon, a massive cloud could be seen covering the western horizon spewing ash and a blood red glow was around it like a halo.
The Shaitaan had unleashed his wrath, or so it would seem. Allah was merciful that day, for the city of Zanj was not consumed by the evil red fiery liquid that flowed. Wherever it went destruction followed, ashes covered entire jungles and choked to death those unfortunate enough to come under its cover.
Worst hit though, were the mines North of Zanj. Thousands labored under the harsh conditions of the mine. The toiling masses found themselves hopelessly trapped when the earthquakes came all so suddenly. The mines collapsed trapping and killing those inside. Thousands perished in this tragedy, and those who escaped were trapped by the red death that came from the furnace of hell.
The fall of Goguryeo
Nestled in the very corner of the vast land of Asia, the kingdom of Goguryeo had stood for over a millennium and half. This was a land of calm, where the mornings were greeted by the gentle due on soft leaves.
The land was blessed with fertility nestled between rivers and rich coastlines. The hills produced minerals such as iron and tin. The peninsula on which the kingdom was situated sat on the trade routes between Chin and Nippon. With these gifts bestowed upon them the nation prospered over the ages.
But where there is prosperity, envy and greed soon follow. When the Mongol hordes rode out of the Northern steppes to conquer the world, they had their eyes set not only on the great nation of the Chin but also on the prosperous kingdom of Goguryeo. The land of morning calm would find its peace shattered under the hoof beats of the horde of Chinghiz Khan.
The North Western cities fell to the enemy in quick succession leaving Goguryeo with the Southern capital of Hanseong. Here the once prosperous nation rotted in isolation and poverty. By the time that the Caliphate approached the kingdom with a demand for tribute, the wary weakened nation meekly submitted opening their royal treasury to our emissary.
The emissary recalled the experience to me. I had never felt more powerful than I did that moment for the Goguryans obeyed my every word. It was as though I and not the king were the true ruler of the realm. When I had made the demand for tribute on behalf of the esteemed Caliph, the King panicked perhaps fearing an invasion. He ordered that the vault be opened and I take whatever has my fancy. Oh what riches there were! Golden chariots, jewels and silverware brighter than the moon! Having been granted the liberty to take whatever I would fancy I wasted no time in emptying the vault of all precious goods. When I left the royal halls, the King prostrated before me and expressed his gratitude and prayed that I may never come again. All I could say was, if it is the will of Allah.
The months after the tribute, the kingdom entered a period of severe crisis. There were many in the court of Goguryeo who were displeased with this weak king, none more than the general of the armed forces. The hapless display of cowardice perhaps enraged him further. More importantly however, it was perhaps the emptying of the treasury that created the greatest pain on the nation, for the soldiers could no longer be paid for. A rebellion ensued led by the general.
It did not take much effort to overthrow the enfeebled ruler, but the rebels could not establish a stable administration. The kingdom fell to disorder and civil war came as factions battled for supremacy. The land of morning calm would never be the same again.
Spoiler :
769 AH
Nidhams greatest mission
Some in the Caliphate argued that this was folly, that much wealth had been wasted on something fanciful. Notwithstanding those detractors, the Caliph was determined. He trusted the skills of the men of Nidham, for he knew what was at stake and what would be gained at the end of this venture. The greatest philosophical work of Islam, the treatise of Cordoba was at stake, and the Caliph would ensure its security.
For nearly three decades, the spies of Nidham had invested their time and their network in the realm of the Almohads. They went in as traders, merchants and scholars. Few Karimi merchants had established their shops in the Maghreb lands of the Almohads. These would be turned into nodal points of Nidhams networks.
Those who went in as scholars settled in the capital city of Cordoba. Over time the spies of Nidham developed such a vast and intricate network that would have very few parallels in history. At the height of the operation, nearly twenty thousand spies operated across the Almohad emirate. They had infiltrated every organ of power, every facet of society and every level of trade and business. It was not long before the Treatise of Cordoba was within reach.
On the twelfth day of Rabad in the year 769 AH, the Caliph gave the order to initiate the mission to retrieve the treatise of Cordoba.
The methods by which the spies operate remain a closely guarded secret, and I shall not infringe the secrecy of their traditions. All that needs be said, that the grand mission was a grand success.
The treatise of Cordoba was now in the hands of the Caliph of Mecca. From it we learnt much more than we had previously expected. Hidden knowledge of the stars and of the skies had been stored in this philosophical work. From here, our scholars deduced the science of Astronomy.
With this knowledge the Caliphate can now build sturdier ships and more advanced navigational instruments. Soon, we shall be master of the seas.
Spoiler :
So well, this sums up everything that has happened on the last term.
Thanks for the your effort on this adhiraj
Now, I'll resume the procedures to start the next Council. I'm working on the report right now, and after I'm done with it I'll post the Master Map.
While I do all of this, I call all Counselors, and any interested spectators, to go to the Majlis Ash-Shura to give their opinions on 2 subjects:
1 - Dar al-Abyssinia (CaterpillarKing) has proposed to change the form we present our Caliph to foreign authorities. Currently it's 'Muslim Leader', and Dar al-Abyssinia has proposed to change it to 'Caliph';
2 - As soon as the term ended, the Malinese Empire, which isn't engaged in any war, has stated they are willing to become our Vassal.
Thanks for the your effort on this adhiraj
Now, I'll resume the procedures to start the next Council. I'm working on the report right now, and after I'm done with it I'll post the Master Map.
While I do all of this, I call all Counselors, and any interested spectators, to go to the Majlis Ash-Shura to give their opinions on 2 subjects:
1 - Dar al-Abyssinia (CaterpillarKing) has proposed to change the form we present our Caliph to foreign authorities. Currently it's 'Muslim Leader', and Dar al-Abyssinia has proposed to change it to 'Caliph';
2 - As soon as the term ended, the Malinese Empire, which isn't engaged in any war, has stated they are willing to become our Vassal.
adhiraj.bose
Deity
Well its been almost a year now ... where's this going ?
I'd love to make it go forward, but the lack of time for me and for the other participants has stopped the flow of this story. I'd love to get back to it, but I need more time and motivation.
If most of our Shura members came here asking for this story to go on, I'll feel bad if I don't help it go back on track.
If most of our Shura members came here asking for this story to go on, I'll feel bad if I don't help it go back on track.
