From 1822 (or 1730) till 1836 the Spah of Eranshahr in secret prepared for war with Incastan, attempting to break their power and, more importantly, finally subjugate India. In this last stretch of the Hundredth Year Peace the most important events were the construction of the great University of Anshan, from that moment the Research-capital of the world, and the election of yet another Byzantine Pope. In Anshan a brilliant scientist, Hakeman Erep, who invented light bulbs, started to teach at the University. Foreign affairs were the formation of an alliance between China and Celtica and between Spain and Russia. Also notable were the gift of steam engines to the Celts by the Shahanshah & Council and the founding of the Malinese Sushi Corporation in nTimbuktu.
The Peace ended in 1836. This year marks for many historians the beginning of the Modern Era of Mankind and the ending of the Renaissance. Strengthened by the fact that Eranshahr was the only state capable of fielding a capable air fleet, the Spah attacked. A suicide squad of Savaran riders took the massive city of Ollantaytambo in surprise and burned it to the ground, making millions homeless. In the ensuing chaos Zulustan slipped from Byzantions power and reinstated their independence. The Great Northern War had begun. The secret of flight was sold to Bellanda, Russia and Mali. In return came Bellandan weapon technology, Russian energy circuits and Malinese Soldiers, Mali declared war on Incastan.
With money earned by selling outdated weapons and machines the Spah was equipped with the new assault rifles, of prime importance were the defenders of Gorgan Verkana, led by the legendary Parsi Bowmen. Simultaneous with the atrocity of Ollan, the Savarans rode to Dinsha (Delhi) and another Spah marched to Lilya (Lahore). The Navy, composed of the E(ranshahr)S(ship) Shahanshah, blocked the port of Dinsha and started to bomb its defences. Some Savaran raided the country site of Incan occupied Zard, capturing some engineers (workers). In reaction to this aggression China declared war, be it pushed by the Inca or by greed for more land. Land they thought ill defended, however they would be mistaken.
In 1838 Dinsha and Lilya were captured by the forces of Eranshahr, Dinsha in particular was a great throphy. In that city stood the Mahabhodhi, the centre of Buddhist faith and many a Buddhist had made a pilgrimage to the city, fuelling Indias economy greatly. And now Eranshahrs. Buddhism, the oldest religion in the world, according to legends founded by a great prophet Siddhartha in 3643 BC. Sometime later another load of technology was sold, to pay for the war-efforts, along with the plunder. Due to this bargaining, the Zulu joined the fray, declaring war on the Inca on yet another front.
By 1840 Mali recaptured Nubian from the Incas and an ill-equipped Chinese host besieged The Hague. Around the same year
Russian songs became immensely popular. South of Dinsha the ES Shahanshah sunk part of the Indian navy, frigates proved no match for destroyers. Two years later the brand new ES Shahanshah sunk another quarter of their fleet near Iskanderum. In the East Zard was retaken by the Spah, albeit with considerable losses. The Cloud Galleys (fighters) kept free the skies of enemy airships and bombed enemy fortifications and units to great success.
BombayBardiyas defences were halved and the Savaran approached the city. Around the same time a great steel tower was erected in China, the highest broadcasting tower of Baghodat.
In 1844 Bardiya was taken by the Spah with minor losses. With Bardiya taken, India lost all possessions south of the Zagros-mountains (The mountain range separating Mali from Eranshahr, stretching from Vilya to Gorgan Verkana). In 1846 the Arabs followed the example of the Zulu and renounced the protection of Byzantion, reaaserting their independence. At Gorgan Verkana, an Incan army of almost 500 000 men () lay waiting. For four years they had been reducing the citys defences, and now they prepared to storm the heavily fortified city. In Gorgan 150 000 men stood ready to defend the Realm. Already fighters and cannon fire had reduced the enemies strength, but a sally by some units proved to be unwise, as losses were too severe.
The Incas attacks were twarthed and two years later thier numbers were greatly diminished, as were the defenders numbers. A counter-attack took out most of the remaining Incan soldiers, only a few cavalerists escaped and attempted to go rogue. They were taken out in the following year. In 1850 general Hindushgir Ahmed founded the Military Academy of Agmatanu, for troop quantity rather than Pathragadan quality training. Not much later researchers of Anshan figured out how to effectively cool food, called refrigeration. Two years later the Pope requested all to stop fighting, which resulted in China stepping out of the war. This was followe by the Celts signing an alliance with the Byzantine. Around the same time a descendant of Jahangir Carzhan, the legendary merchant, founded a corporation in Dinsha. A foodprocessing company utilizing the discovery of refrigeration to feed more, the Carzhan Cereal Company. In the north
Vijayanagara Valya was captured in a surprise attack. Few Aryan soldiers died that day. Technologies, like refrigeraton, were than sold to Russia, the Autonomous Satrapy of Bellanda, China and Mali. In return the Realm gained knowledge of Radio transmitting and paratroopers (fascism), Russias support in the war and fourth times the GNP of the Realm in cash.
The final nail into Incastans coffin was hammered there by the Romans, who desired the Incan lands for themselves. In 1854 they declared war. In the same year knowledge of improved medicine came from Bellanda, improving life in Eranshahr severely. Also the Shahanshah & Council seduced the Celts to stop discriminating people for their religion and adopt free religion. In the winter of 1855-1856 Calcutta, last bastion of Indian resistance was besieged. For months they fought until the city finally succumbed. The city was razed to ground as a message to those who would defy the Realm, without surrender. A lesson the Greeks had yet to learn, as they fuelled rebellion in Zard. India, arch enemy of the Realm for centuries, was defeated and Eranshahr now ruled supreme over their lands. By this time Mali had reclaimed all of its former possessions and started to invade Incastan itself. A Russian demand to cease trade with Mali was there for refused. The Spah now moved into Incastan itself, besieging Vilcas. By now the Spah was the third army in the world, slightly smaller than the Russian army and 40% smaller than Byzantions. However industry, food production and research were unmatched anywhere in Baghodat. By now the Shahanshah & Council reconsidered the administrative division of the empire. Badakshan and Rayomand were split from the Satrapy of Athura and formed their own satrapy. Former India was now composed of four satrapies, Gandhara, Bactria, Hindustan and small Valya across the Zagros.
Nice story!
-stan is Persian and means "place of", "land of" or "-land". I doubt the Persians (Iranians => Eran) would call their lands kwaZulu. Presumably Zulustan and Incastan are what the Iranians would call it, just like British say Zululand. Iskander is a common name in post-Alexandrian Persia and it's the Persian version of Alexander (pusher of man) even though it's source is Greek. So: I know and -stan lands sound nice.
. The Civ3 Austria sav file was toasted together with my previous comp by a lioghtning strike, so no.
