Crusader Kings 2 AAR: Lords of the Nile - A Kingdom of Makuria Campaign

[Corvus]

Hi all. After reading a number of excellent AARs (like Shadow of the Acropolis (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?433408-Paradox-AAR-Shadow-of-the-Acropolis), So Much for the Glory of Rome (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?383346-Let-s-Play-Crusader-Kings-2-So-Much-for-the-Glory-of-Rome) and others), I was inspired to try one myself. I am not sure yet just how frequent it will be, given work and a baby chewing up the spare time, so you may need to bare with me at times.

For this game I will be playing as the Kingdom of Makuria. Before CK2, I'd never heard of the place. Right now I'm fascinated by the place and trying to find out just where to get more information on it. It is little understood, hasn't been studied in great detail and appears under represented in the game compared to its real strength and accomplishments.

Makuria was probably founded around the 4th or 5th century in what is current south Egypt/north Sudan (and with Makuria you seem to deal with a lot of probably and possibly as not one knows for sure.) Two other Nubian kingdoms formed around the same time – Alodia and Nobatia.

By the end of the 6th century, all were Christian, the result of a series of missions sent by the Byzantium Empire.

Then the muslims struck, invading Egypt at the end of 639 and conquering it by 641. The Christian populace was given the stark choice of converting, being killed or becoming second class citizens subject to a heavy tax burden.

In 642 the muslims turned south, invading Makuria with 20,000 men. The exact circumstances of what follows are uncertain as the only records are muslims ones and they deny being defeated. The end result though was that the excellent Nubian bowmen, combined with superior Makurian light cavalry, fought a (probable) guerilla campaign, inflicting heavy losses on the muslims and forcing them to retreat, one of the few defeats they suffered in their early expansion.

Ten years later, in 652, they tried again, laying siege to Dobata, the Makurian capital. There they were again defeated, this time by the Nubian bowmen defending the walls of the city. Realising they were unable to defeat the Nubians, they signed a treaty with them – the baqt. This was unprecedented at the time, as for the muslims, the only option when facing a set back was to regroup, recover and attack again. After all, they were to conquer the world and convert it all to Islam. However more pragmatic heads prevailed and a treaty was signed, one in which both sides promised not to attack the other. The Makurians were to send slaves north, while the muslims sent manufactured goods south. The treaty lasted for near seven hundred years, the longest lasting treaty in history.

Makuria reached its zenith in the 8th and 9th century, but then began a decline, brought on by internal disputes, and by pressure from the muslims after first the Ayyubids and then the Mameluks replaced the Fatamids. The kingdom came to an end in 1312 when the Mameluks invaded and occupied the Kingdom, converting it to Islam.

Alodia clung on to around 1504 when it too was conquered and converted to Islam, ending the long history of Christian Nubia.

I will be starting at the 769 date, which is a challenge. In game Makuria is weaker than its historical counterpart. It has no archers to start with, despite being the main causes of the defeat of the muslims in 642 and 652. It has no walls at Dongala despite historical evidence showing they were there and helped with the 652 victory. In fact it has no tech, no buildings and a pitifully small army. And – due to the way the game is designed – the baqt treaty doesn't exist to protect it from rampaging muslim hordes.

My Goals:
1) Survive. This will be a tough ask, especially if the Caliphate turns its eyes down south. Its a shame the events of the test bed game I started won't be replicated – the Caliphate imploded and after 20 years was one third its original size.

2) Build up a Nubian nation based on the Nile and the Red Sea. I don't plan to world conquest, merely to establish a nation that can survive and thrive.


The Annals of the Lords of the Nile

Being established by decree of Michael Hadaatar, King of Makuria, on his ascension to the throne, to chronicle the deeds of his dynasty and of the fortunes of the land of Makuria.

As has been told, Michael came to the throne upon the abdication of Khael of House Azim, long the rulers of Makuria. Few know what transpired between the pair that led to such events, only that Michael, a man noted for his intellect and his way with words, appeared before the king, bearing wounds he proclaimed had been taken by Mohammedean raiders in violation of the baqt. The end result of that meeting was that Michael was pronounced king, and that e drew together the council of Makuria to plan the course of the nation.

Michael's rule was dominated by three main facets – the growth of the nation, his family, and service to God. While each three were continuous, each formed a focal point at stages of his life.




http://i.imgur.com/FV2NyYT.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oCWg3xq.jpg

[Corvus]

And so commences the history of Makuria and the Hadaatar family.

http://i.imgur.com/bnktRsZ.jpg

Barely had the coronation finished when Michael commenced his work, and his councillors were not spared. Troops were to be trained, taxes raised and cultural research to be commenced.

Thus spoke Michael to his formidable spymaster, Mayor Petrou. “Before the time of the Mohammedeans, we had dealings with the East Roman Empire, a powerful nation under the blessings of God. Travel unto their lands and seek out that which can aid us.”

And then he spoke unto Mayor Gabrielophorou, his Chancellor. “Though it distresses my soul to wage war upon a fellow Christian, we are to weak should the eye of the infidel fall upon us. We must unify our neighbours and use their wealth to build us a mighty nation. Go hither to Aydhab upon the coast and find us a claim upon it, for the riches of the trade routes flow though that land.”

And the council commenced their tasks.

Next, King Michael turned his thoughts to his own dynasty and sought out a wife. None worthy could be found in the kingdom, and so he cast his eye beyond, finding what he sought in distant Armenia. The one destined to be Queen Gorandoukht was not without her faults, but her intellect outshone even the king's. Though she was of lowly birth, it did not dissuade the king.

http://i.imgur.com/tORVWDg.jpg

They were married soon after and the benevolent king waived the usual tax that was levied to pay for the ceremony. Barely a month had transpired since the blessed union when the joy of the kingdom was shattered by ominous news – Zacharias, High Chief of Alodia had declared war with the aim to make Makuria a tributary.

http://i.imgur.com/TDZJieK.jpg

The armies of Makuria were marshalled, a mere 1300 men to take on 1600 Alodians. At Atbara the two forces met in heavy fighting. Over 500 Makurians were slain, but for each 2 Alodians were slain, and among their number was Philotheos, a member of the Alodian court. Four months later, after a series of minor clashes and the capture of Alodia, the war was over, during which nearly half the Makurian army had been lost.

http://i.imgur.com/bmUXvhl.jpg

The king's somber mood was lifted three months later when the queen announced she was with child. In due course a son, Athanasios, was born, gifted with his mother's looks and father's intellect.

http://i.imgur.com/wAebYDT.jpg

Later in the year 771, Michael's diligent stewardship began to bear fruit, for a group of crastmen came seeking funds to set up a workshop in Dotawo and Michael order his first work of construction, walls around the keep of Kawa. For many, it is the building projects of King Michael that are most renown.


In early 772, the Queen once more became with child. The daughter that was born, Douriko, was an unremarkable child in comparison to her elder brother.

http://i.imgur.com/Yex9KbM.jpg


The kingdom slumbered for a time in peace until later in the year 772 when Chancellor Gabrielophorou announced he had discovered claims that proved Aydhab rightfully belonged to the King of Makuria.

The war that followed was over in two months when in the first – and only – battle, the Count of Aydhab was captured. Compared to the losses in the war against Alodia, only 100 Makurians perished.

The annexing of Aydhab required some reorganisation. Khael Azim, the former king, was granted the county of Nobatia, and was soon appointed the new Chancellor. Gabrielophorou, as if nagged by guilt had become a depressed lunatic.

Indeed, it seemed to all that God had frowned upon the events in Aydhab when a gate to hell opened up near the capital a mere two months later. Michael did not despair but turned to God, humbling himself before the Almighty. His faith was rewarded, for the priests were able to shut the gate, and more good news was to follow with the Queen expecting her third child.

http://i.imgur.com/PjCljJf.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2Gbz5nS.jpg

While their marriage had been one of convenience to begin with, it was around this time that the first signs of love between the king and queen began to bloom.

Perhaps shaken by the gates of hell, the king's Chaplain, Bishop Mouses, began to experience his first crisis of faith. A short period of imprisonment resulted in a heartfelt conversion, or so it would seem. With no reason to believe otherwise, Bishop Mouses was restored to his position as chaplain.

Even while dealing with this, the Alodians once more declared war to enforce tribute from Makuria. As the armies were raising and marching, King Michael continued to improve the nation. Three new sets of castle walls were commissioned, the Duchy of Nobatia was established and Count Matthias of Nubia accepted vassalisation.


http://i.imgur.com/o4AHiNp.jpg

Even as the war continued, the queen bore her third child, a truly gifted daughter named Miriam.

http://i.imgur.com/h6FYHD3.jpg

A year and a half went by before the war was concluded, one with far lighter casualties for the Makurians, with losses of only three hundred men in the sole battle. Such was the calm during the war that the queen even came to visit the king during the siege of Sennar, an event that led to her announcing her forth pregnancy.

A son was borne from that pregnancy, whom they named Michael. While gifted with his mother's intellect, grave fears were held for his safety and many prayers were said for his survival.

http://i.imgur.com/Oh8RVbg.jpg

Plans were put into place to deal with the Alodian threat and Chancellor Khael Azim went to work. By early 776, a claim had been established on the Chiefdom of Alodia.

The war was over by the end of the year, for the loss of only 100 Makurian lives.

While it was going on, though, the Court Chaplain, Bishop Mouses, once more raised heretical ideas with the king. He spent the remainder of the war under house arrest until he once more renounced his heretical views and returned to the position of chaplain.

Following the victory, and annexing of Alodia, its once tribal lands were fuedalised and the king began to mentor his firstborn, Prince Athanasios

Chancellor Khael was given a new task immediately, to stake a claim on Kassala. While waiting for this scheme to bare fruit, the queen announced a fifth pregnancy. The young Prince Michael had survived his childhood and was now thriving, which was posing a conundrum for the king – how would the kingdom survive once he was gone, especially if the new child was also a son.

Less than two weeks later, the king had matters to take his mind off the question, for Khael had rapidly staked a claim upon Kassala. Six months later in an entirely bloodless war, Kassala was joined into the growing Kingdom of Makuria.

Arriving home, Michael was greeted by his fifth child, a gifted son they called Petrou.

http://i.imgur.com/XrqoxjC.jpg

Petrou was only six months old when the queen announced a sixth pregnancy. Michael came to a decision on the fate of the nation – new succession laws were introduce, establishing primogeniture succession. While many were unhappy with the changes, the king's diplomatic skills lessened the impact.

Barely had the ink dried when another son was born, Raphaelkouda.

http://i.imgur.com/JlmxtRY.jpg

At the end of 779, the king pronounced his most audacious plan yet – the building of a grand tower.

http://i.imgur.com/OmKyPNs.jpg

A gifted mason, Epiphanios, was hired to oversee construction. So impressed was he by Epiphanios that the king granted the man the county of Kassala, a decision that in later days was to haunt the king. At the time it seemed a wise choice, yet the first seeds of doubt were cast about the manner Epiphanios chased after the women of the court. Indeed, he spent part of the funds allocated to the building on his lustful adventures. The king refused to give him more money, but he was willing to finance a stone quarry, one that would aid construction in the county for at least 80 years. Funds were also found to compensate the families of workers killed in the construction of the tower.

As the construction continued, Queen Gorandoukht announced another pregnancy, a sign of God's blessing for the tower Michael announced. Bishop Mouses did not agree, but after his recent forays into heresy, the king was disinclined to listen to him and construction continued.

http://i.imgur.com/oRpD5Op.jpg

In the beginning of 781 the great tower was completed, a monument to the architectural prowess of a great king.

http://i.imgur.com/Bjb45rO.jpg

It was shortly after its completion that the king turned his attention to his family, to prepare them for adulthood and foster relations between them.


That turned out a bit longer than I anticipated and I didn't cover most events or child mentoring. I'll have to see if I can be a bit less verbose in future or this will take a while...

[OrcusMcP]

Nice! Not a bad start, and best of luck for your first outing!

[SilverLeaf167]

I like your style! If you feel like you're being too verbose, you'll probably just adjust with time until you find the most natural balance. Believe me, I always start with lots of detail and gradually drop the stuff I find menial. Just remember to prioritize quality over quantity! :smallwink: Subscribed!

[Cristo Meyers]

I'll be keeping an eye on this too. That's an area of the map I've always wanted to try a game in, but just not quite good enough to make it work.

I'd snag a few screenshots of the map and put those in. It helps us see what's going on a little better and really helps the folks who don't know the area all that well.

[Flickerdart]

I've never tried playing in Abyssinia so early, and later attempts have always resulted in Egypt capping my expansion and then destroying me with green blob powers.

[Corvus]

Thanks for all the comments so far :) I'm working on the report for the second part of Michael's reign - I'v played through until the end of it and it was a decent length reign.

I have also added a map of the starting position of East Africa. I'll try and add more maps in the future but that may have to wait until the next king. I did take a pile of screenshots but I'm not sure how many workable maps are in it.

Abyssinia, I think, has it a bit easier at the start. Larger and more powerful, it also has a number of holy wars it can wage without having to go through the slow claim route like Makuria, as well as having a number of tribes it can vassalise. Even so, it does still come down to what the great green bob does. At least for Abyssinia, they do have to go through the Nubians first. Namely Makuria.

[OrcusMcP]

Also, one small piece of advice if you're still looking, have an idea of where you want to end up. Don't necessarily tell US those goals, but I have found that looking forward 10, 25, 100 years can help give you narrative ideas.

[sidebar commentary]That's how the Dragonforce update happened. ;)[/sidebar commentary]

[Artanis]

Very well done thus far, I look forward to reading more in the future!

The main point of constructive criticism I can give is to have a few more maps, especially given that people won't be as familiar with "that one place below Egypt" as they will with Britain or Italy or whatnot. But that's already been touched on, so there isn't a whole lot I can add.

On a non-narrative note, I hate you so very very much for stealing away all of my luck with congenital traits. Two Genius kids and two Quick kids out of six? I can't get that out of twelve to save my life :smallfrown:

[Eldan]

My Russian Emperor is Quick, with a Genius wife and a Genius concubine. He has a dozen children (not counting bastards) and none are geniuses.

[Corvus]

I do have a few ideas for where I'd like the dynasty/nation to go. Mostly that involves surviving the green blob to the north :smallbiggrin:

As to the breeding program, I got lucky. Never had its like before. As I mentioned, I did do a short test run of the region prior to starting the aar. Same combination of parents, zero congenial traits. Of course the luck was eaten up my the massive Caliphate implosion in that game.

[Rockphed]

I do have a few ideas for where I'd like the dynasty/nation to go. Mostly that involves surviving the green blob to the north :smallbiggrin:

As to the breeding program, I got lucky. Never had its like before. As I mentioned, I did do a short test run of the region prior to starting the aar. Same combination of parents, zero congenial traits. Of course the luck was eaten up my the massive Caliphate implosion in that game.

I hope the Caliphate implodes nicely on you this game. It could be fun to control the Red Sea as the Nubians.

[Corvus]

I hope the Caliphate implodes nicely on you this game. It could be fun to control the Red Sea as the Nubians.

Sadly the Caliphate is showing no such inclination so far. I'll have a update of the state of the world later on, though I should make some notes about what is going on with Makuria's immediate neighbours - the Egyptians to the north and Ethiopians to the east.

[Corvus]

And here we are with the second part of the life of King Michael I. Epiphanios is such a cad, but he makes for a memorable story...

With the endeavours to build the nation beginning to bare fruit, and the lesser vassals, the barons, mayors and bishops starting to upgrade their own fiefs, King Michael turned his attention on his family. With a growing brood, and strong personalities amongst them, he sought to head off any future troubles that may have arisen between them by strong example.

He had already begun the education of his eldest son, Athanasisos, and his second daughter, Miriam, while his wife taught the eldest daughter, Douriko. There are those that claim that he favoured Miriam over Douriko, and there may be some truth in that, for in Miriam he could see much that reminded him of his wife. If he had lavished as much love on Douriko, they say, then the fate that befell her could have been avoided. That King Michael loved all his children is undeniable, though evidence of favouritism does seem to exist in the records of the time.

In May of 781, his forth child, Michael, reached the age to be mentored, and for this King Michael selected the Mayor of Aydhab, the Marshal of Makuria, Gabrielophorou, though a different man to the Gabrielophorou who had initially served as the king's Chancellor. The King felt it wise to raise a son suited for war, to lead his elder brother's armies when Athanasiso became king.

The following month, another son was born to the king and queen, whom they named Panigiros, their seventh child and fifth son.

http://i.imgur.com/5grAYxZ.jpg

In an effort to steer his attentions away from the chasing of women, Count Epiphanios of Kassala was appointed the king's Chancellor, and was assigned to stake a claim upon the Chiefdom of Sennar. As was to be proven, this did nothing to curb the man's baser instincts, and may even have opened up further opportunities for him.

By March of 782, the nation's understanding of trade had advanced enough to enable the construction of a trade port in Aydhab, one that enabled them to tap into the wealth of the fabled Silk Road.

http://i.imgur.com/Lcpw2Zx.jpg

King Michael's focus on the family began to show signs of success as his two eldest sons, Athanasios and Michael, grew as close together as brothers could. Other sons, as they grew up, were to join this tight knit bond, lessening the King's concerns about the future. It was not just his children that grew closer, for by this stage love had fully blossomed between the King and Queen, with the King lavishing expensive gifts upon her, including a white mare that cost more than a months income for the kingdom.

http://i.imgur.com/1WlIC8z.jpg
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Ad still the King's family continued to grow, with another pregnancy announced by the Queen in February of the year 784, her eight. The child, born later that year, was a sixth son for the royal family, named Mena.

http://i.imgur.com/5LgW5bf.jpg

It had been a long while since Bishop Mouses' crisis of faith, and so when Prince Petrou reached age, he was entrusted into the Bishop's care for a religious education.

In October of 784, the King's subjects began to call him King Michael the Just. Some wondered if at times he wasn't too just and forgiving, as was the case in the education of his son Raphaelkouda, to whose care he entrusted the lunatic ex-Chancellor and current Steward Mayor Gabrielophorou. While his depression had lifted, his lunacy remained.

http://i.imgur.com/CXzHQCx.jpg

Another example occurred upon the same day whereupon he arranged the education of Raphaelkouda, when the King unexpectedly snapped at his courtiers. The situation was salvaged by the quick thinking and smooth words of Count Epiphanios and even turn it to the King's advantage, claiming that the thought of any separation from his children always troubled the King.

http://i.imgur.com/3oEcXRq.jpg

In April of 787, a momentous event occurred – the kings eldest son, Athanasios, reached legal age. In thought and mannerisms, he much resembled his father, except for being more devout in his faith. The king promptly granted to him the county of Alodia, to commence his training in statecraft. In the meantime, the King took under his wing a younger son, Panigiros, to teach.

http://i.imgur.com/5FPp81G.jpg

Athanasios was such an excellent statesmen that Michael anointed him as his Chancellor, and set him to work on the former Chief of Alodia, this time staking a claim upon the region of Sennar. It took the young chancellor a little over a month to achieve results. The war itself took longer, but the end result was never in doubt.

http://i.imgur.com/2Sjhy2m.jpg

As the war went on, mostly taken up by besieging the enemy lands, Douriko reached adulthood. The most memorable thing about her was her bloodline, and so King Michael sought out a suitable husband for her. He chose in the end Duke Daniachew of Gojjam, a vassal of the King of Abyssinia, who had unified all Ethiopians, and most Somalians, into his rule. The young Duke was only 11 years of age, and so Princess Douriko would have to wait 5 years for her marriage. With too much time on her hands and little to do, problems were bound to arise.

http://i.imgur.com/O8lyxxM.jpg

The King's efforts to build up Makuria had spread word of the lands beyond Nubia, even into central Europe, as a Jew by the name of Binyamin of Angsburg arrived at the court of the King, offering suggestion to approve the smooth running of the realm. Michael appointed him Steward, just in time for the war for Sennar to end. Claiming the county, it enabled Michael to usurp the title of High Chiefdom, later Duke, of Alodia, relegating Zacharias to a vassal in charge of Kosti. The once powerful High Chief fumed and seethed at the fate that had befallen him and held out a lifelong hatred towards Michael yet there was nothing he could do about it.

http://i.imgur.com/0U0AGbI.jpg

The taking of a third duchy enabled Michael to establish a true Kingdom, no longer King of a Petty Kingdom. With added power and prestige to his name, the last three independent Nubian lords of Suakin, Trinkatat and Hayya quickly agreed to become vassals of Michael, bringing all of Nubia into his family.

The gathering of all Nubia under his control meant that Michael held all three established duchies for his own, an event that caused some of the lesser vassals to express some minor discontent. As a result, King Michael made some changes to the realm, with his namesake, Prince Michael, gifted the newly acquired County of Sennar, while the Duchy of Alodia was assigned to Prince Athanasios.

All families have their dark sheep, and in this case it was Count Epiphanios. His adultery had reached such levels that he was known to all as 'the Lecher', and of his four known children, only two were with his wife. One of his first conquests had been with the 16 year old daughter of Count Matthias of Nubia, which had resulted in a daughter being born. Yet his contribution to the nation had been significant and King Michael simply said prayers for the man in a hope he would renounce his debauched ways. Indeed, it is said that King Michael well knew the lure of the pleasures of the flesh, which in some way may have contributed to his growing brood of children, but he was too honest a man to succumb to the temptation of forbidden fruit.

http://i.imgur.com/6iLCe26.jpg

King Michael's actions, or lack there off, were to produce a dark day upon the reputation of his family, when in late 789 his eldest daughter Douriko gave birth to a daughter, the result of an adulterous affair with Count Epiphanios. The child, named Agathe, was marked by a noted lisp, a sign, or so people said, of the sin of her birth.

http://i.imgur.com/yQm1NbM.jpg

The king was incensed at the betrayal of his trust after all the faith he had placed in Epiphanios, and yet he knew there was little he could do about it. A lesser man would have imprisoned the count, or had him executed or even assassinated. The King was not a lesser man though, for he believed strongly that even a king was not above the law, else the land descend into tyranny and anarchy.

His daughter, the king forgave, perhaps seeing that he was part at fault for her actions. As for his first grandchild, he had not expected them to be illegitimate, but he loved her as much as any others that followed. Indeed, he pronounced her innocent and that she was not to be held to account for the sins of her parents. Even so, old prejudices die hard.

Meanwhile, Prince Athanasios had taken to wife Genoroua, the daughter of Count Matthias of Nubia, despite her affair with Count Epiphanios prior to their marriage. Athanasios, like his father, had put the needs of the country before his own needs, forging stronger ties with the other nobles in doing so.

Princess Mariam came of age in mid 790, an exceptional diplomat and well rounded in all other areas. While the King would have had it otherwise, she made it known she too would marry for the good of the kingdom. Of the potential suitors, her father ended up choosing Gabrielophorou Alwa, son and heir of Count Zacharias Alwa of Kosti, the man who so hated the King, in an effort to mend the rift. The young Gabrielophorou had a much better opinion of the king, especially after marrying the King's gifted daughter.

http://i.imgur.com/vIobVEy.jpg

Two months later, aged 57, the King surveyed all that he had done for the kingdom and his family, and found it good. He knew that death was creeping up on him and so made preparations for his immortal soul, turning to the study of theology, and with it the last phase of his life.

Before the next part, I'm hoping to do a 'travel guide' for those who don't know the East African region that well

[Corvus]

And here is the travel guide, so that some context can be made of the places mentioned in the reports.

It has been more than a century since the perfidious infidel took from us our rightful lands of Egypt, and in that time the lands of the African Christians have been cut off from us. Little is know of what has happened there since, so I, Kallistos of Athens, have made the journey their to add a description of the region to my various travel guides. Using guile, cunning and a few well placed bribes, I was able to make my way through heathen Egypt and into the lands south of them.

http://i.imgur.com/kfZ6f0B.jpg

Directly to the south of Egypt lies the lands of the Nubians. For the most it is desert, cut through by the mighty Nile river. Like the Egyptians, the Nubians rely on the Nile for their living, though they lack the many broad flood plains that make Egypt such a rich land. Much further south the deserts do give way to pains, though it still remains dry and hot, while hills mark the east, alongside the Red Sea.

http://i.imgur.com/ix3ep3D.jpg

The Nubians are not a unified people, broken into many small realms. They are, de jure, one nation, but have been unable to form it. In addition they have four de jure duchies, but only two of these are formed.

http://i.imgur.com/qKSuOfm.jpg

The most powerful of the nations is Makuria, which occupies the Northwest of Nubia, bordering Egypt to the north. The Makurians are a feudal people, though undeveloped. They hold the Duchy of Makuria, comprising Makuria, Napata and Atbara, as well as half of the northern duchy of Nobatia. Their two holdings in the duchy, Nobatia and Dotawo, are in the west, while the other two are in the west, both independent realms. Nubia is a poor, tribal province, while Aydhab is a feudal state on the Red Sea through which flows a node of the Silk Trade, bringing it some measure of wealth.

http://i.imgur.com/4e2IHhK.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gjIB4DR.jpg

The other formed Nubian duchy is the tribal Alodia in the southwest of Nubia, comprising of Alodia, Kosti and Sennar.

http://i.imgur.com/XZawYed.jpg

The remaining, unformed duchy is Blemmyia in the east. Two of its provinces, Suakin and Trinkitat, are feudal lands in the hills alongside the Red Sea, while the other two, Hayya and Kassala, are tribal states in the interior.

http://i.imgur.com/uubFDs8.jpg

Leaving the deserts of Nubia, you climb into the mountains that make up the lands of the Ethiopians and Somalis. De Jure, this all belongs to the Kingdom of Abyssinia, and while the Abyssinians are the most powerful nation south of Egypt, most of these lands are not ruled by them.

http://i.imgur.com/ZdeqTNK.jpg

There are, de jure, nine duchies with the de jure Kingdom of Abyssinia. The King of Abyssinia only controls two, Axum and Wag in the north, and half of Afar in the east. The other half of Afar is controlled by the Muslim Somali nation of Shirazid. Shirazid also controls one province of the Duchy of Berbera, the rest being in the hands of the Muslim Somali nation of Berbera.

http://i.imgur.com/7TDKWhJ.jpg

The three southern Ethiopian duchies, namely Damot, Gojjam and Shewa, are tribal lands. The western two duchies, Gondar and Semien, are both feudal lands, but, oddly, Semien is a Jewish nation.

[SilverLeaf167]

I love me a good map! :smalltongue:
It's a very interesting area, geographically and culturally speaking. Too bad it always seems to get sidelined in every game unless it's where the player is... even poorer in other Paradox games.

[Corvus]

King Michael Hadaatar's focus on more theological studies did not impact on his family life, as in august of 791 his wife announced yet another pregnancy, her ninth.

Michael decided to celebrate this by going on a pilgrimage to Holy Jerusalem. As age caught up with him, he knew that he might have no other chances to do so. Appointing his pregnant wife as regent, he set out for the Holy Land.

http://i.imgur.com/UzsCtrn.jpg

The journey took him through the lands of the heathens and the size and power of them troubled Michael somewhat, for he knew that Makuria was not yet ready to stand up against them. Added to the strain of the journey was the constant rain, an occurrence rare in his native lands. It made travel difficult, but King Michael persevered, as was taught in the Holy Book.

Along the route he came across some fellow pilgrims, hungry and out of food. Having experienced his own trials upon the journey, he sympathised with them and shared his food, limited as it was. It was not the miracle of the fish and loaves but there was enough to feed all.

At last Michael reached Jerusalem, only for the strain of the journey to catch up with his aging body. He fell ill, but even so, he pressed on to see the Holy Sites. If the journey had taught him one thing, it was that only through faith could the infidel hordes be defeated.

http://i.imgur.com/QBJIrCV.jpg

The return home was a slower, more relaxed journey, but even so it was a number of months before King Michael recovered from his illness.

Early 792 saw the birth of King Michael and Queen Gorandoukht's ninth child and seventh son, whom they named Petros.

http://i.imgur.com/6U9FiMu.jpg

It was on December 7, 792 that one of the blackest days struck King Michael's reign. His beloved daughter Miriam died in childbirth aged just 18 years of age. Her son, a gifted child named Makarios, survived, but it did little to assuage King Michael's grief. Fragments of a poem called The Lament still survive from that time, a poem which some say was written by King Micahel himself at the loss of his daughter.


The Rose of the Desert has withered
and all has turned to sand.
Food is but ash in my mouth
and the finest wine has no taste.

Weep O Nubia.

http://i.imgur.com/R0rSPW1.jpg
Just days after the loss, and still grieving, Count Matthias of Nubia approached the King with evidence he claimed showed a traitor in the realm. Perceiving that the evidence was falsified, the King had Count Matthias thrown into jail though a week later he realised the harshness of the action, brought on by his daughter's death, and allowed Count Matthias to ransom his freedom.

Michael pushed on with his religious studies during the whole time, seeking solace for his loss in the Holy Book, and delving deeper into it.

http://i.imgur.com/muQGh8Y.jpg

Almost a year after Miriam's death, Duke Daniachew of Gojjam came of age and agreed to carry through with the betrothal to Princess Douriko, despite her adulterous affair. The prestige of marrying into the family of the powerful King of Makuria seemed to trump that. Douriko packed up and headed to the mountains of Ethiopia, but left her bastard daughter behind in the court of King Michael.

April 794 saw another of the King's sons come of age, Prince Petrou. To him Michael granted the county of Dotawo on the border with Egypt.

Early 795 saw the death of the King's spymaster, Leon, of natural causes. Michael saw this as an opportunity to deal with Count Epiphanios, who by that stage had ten known kids by six different women. Appointing him as the new Spymaster, Michael then sent him off to Constantinople to spy out the lands and send back words on technologies of use to Makuria. The King's first Spymaster had vanished without trace on a similar mission, and Michael hoped that perhaps the same would happen to Epiphanois, if the Lord willed it.

May 795 saw another of the King's sons, Raphelkouda, reach legal age. Profoundly influenced by his Biblical studies, Michael had his son take Holy Vows as a monk. That it helped lessen the chances of troubled for hie heir was n added bonus.

Late in the year, the king's illegitimate granddaughter, Agathe, reached an age that an education could start. The king, caring deeply for her, and wishing to give her the best opportunities he could, asked his son and her uncle, Petrou, to be her guardian. He also sought out a marriage arrangement for her, one to give her a chance in life away from the stigma of her birth. He settled upon Duke Ogbai of Berbera, a vassal of the King of Abyssinia, still only a boy himself. It would be years before the marriage occurred, but it would give Agathe status.

A couple of years passed quietly in the kingdom, during which King Michael restored the old title of King of Nubia, become King Michael Hadaatar, King of Makuria and Nubia. The new kingdom consisted of the lands within the unformed Ducky of Blemmyia, while Makuria encompassed the Duchies of Alodia, Nobatia and Makuria.

Early 796 saw King Michael's religious leanings steer him towards a new goal. He summoned forth his council and spoke to them, saying thus; “For too long has the holy site of Aksum been in the hands of a man known for his cruelty, as was his father before him. Shall we let this be? Shall we let the blood of innocent men be spilled by the likes of these around the Ark of the Covenant? I say it shall not be. We must claim this region for ourselves, and be the guardians of it from evil men.”

Chancellor Athanasios quickly set to work to establish a claim on the Duchy of Aksum from the King of Abyssinia.

While waiting for the prince to complete his work, a pagan came to the court to talk about matters of faith. Upon hearing the man's words, Michael had him tossed into prison, an act that Prince Raphaelkouda, who had taken the vows of a monk, approved of.

http://i.imgur.com/OIGNMEe.jpg

Michael's religious studies were further interrupted when the Court Chaplain Bishop Mouses for a third time succumbed to Monophysite heresy. Once more he was thrown into prison. Before he could repent, Prince Athanasios announced he had been successful in his mission and Michael went to war, leaving the bishop to ponder his immortal soul in jail for the duration of the war.

Over 2500 men of Makuria marched up into the highlands of Ethiopia to claim Axum. Abyssinia was, at the time, weakened by a serious uprising of the southern Dukes, and the Makurians were unopposed as they marches to Axum and began to besiege it.

http://i.imgur.com/RWyK3Z8.jpg

All was not well at home though. For the first time in King Michael's reign, an uprising took place. Count Zakharias of Kosti took the opportunity of the war to attempt to claim back the Duchy of Alodia from Prince Athanasios. Aided by his brothers and by his father-in-law, Count Matthias, Zacharias's rebellion was doomed to failure.

Further tragedy struck the King when word came in December of 798 that his Douriko, his remaining daughter, had died aged 26 after a period of illness. King Michael halted the army and spent the day in prayers and fasting upon hearing the word of his daughter's death.

http://i.imgur.com/UCwfFcW.jpg

There are some who claim that this war for Axum was Makuria's first, if unofficial, holy war. King Michael's action did little to dissuade that, for he read the bible every day and led the soldiers of the army in prayers, hymns and services, so much so that Michael was becoming known as something of a religious scholar, one of the nations foremost experts in faith.

http://i.imgur.com/jifEPzd.jpg

Despite the early quietness of the campaign, with the end of the southern rebellion in Abyssinia, the Abyssinian king was able to regroup and bring troops to try and oust the invaders. The two sides met first in the bloody battle of Kassala, in Makurian territory, where over two thousand men were slain in heavy fighting. The losses were heaviest amongst the Abyssianians and broke the back of the resistance. A series of smaller clashes followed, but by February of 800 the King of Abyssinia had to concede and King Michael took possession of the Duchy of Axum.

http://i.imgur.com/OCW0dYL.jpg

It was during this period of campaigning that sad news was brought to the King. Makarios Alwa, the son of his dead daughter Mariam, had died age 7 of Pneumonia.

The war had claimed the lives of 1262 Makruian soldiers. The exact number is well known, for King Michael raised a series of stellae at Axum, on which were inscribed the names of every Makurian soldier who had died. Losses among the Abyssians are less well know but were thought to total around 3000.

King Michael took the Duchy of Axum for his own. To his son Panigos, he gave the county of Aydhab, while the Duchy of Nobatia was granted to Prince Petrou, the guardian of Agathe.

Another son, Mena, came of age in late 800, and he joined his elder brother Raphaelkouda as a monk.

The year 801 saw further use of the King's religious studies. Count Epiphanios the Leecher, while studying in Constantinople, had embraced the Orthodox faith. In a series of letters, the King was able to persuade Epiphanios of the errors of his way, to which he did. It is unknown what would have happened if Epiphanios was still in Makuria at the time.

http://i.imgur.com/rHKrVSz.jpg

On November the 7th, 801, aged 68, the King engaged in his normal evening activities of reading the Bible and praying. Retiring to bed, he passed away peacefully during the night.

http://i.imgur.com/xWh1rEX.jpg

Afterword: King Michael's 32 year reign had seen Makuria turn from a small, insignificant petty kingdom into the power of eastern Africa, more than tripling in size and with a growing economy. On the word stage it still remained very much a minnow, ripe for the picking should any eyes turn upon it. As for Michael himself, in latter years he was held up as the very model of a virtuous Christian King, and not long after his death he was being called St. Michael, the Father of Makuria.



Apart from a small rump of Muslim Shirazid, Abyssinia had claimed most of Somalia. The Shirazid were allied with the powerful Arwadid to the north, which for the time safeguarded them. The two nations had launched an attack on the tiny Nestorian nation of Sanaa, but the King of Sanaa was married to the sister of the Abyssinian king. While he had not taken up arms to defend the Nestorians, her other two brothers had.

http://i.imgur.com/e7dza1P.jpg

The Caliphate had suffered only a few minor internal issued during Michael's reign, allowing it to continue its expansion. While the young 24 year old Caliph al-Mahdi was a known seducer of women, his decadence was not yet a issue and the Caliphate remained stable.

At 23, Baileus Theophylaktos had inheited an Empire on the other hand that had been rent by religious and civil strife, one that had seen an entire duchy at the heart of the Empire break away and few gains made anywhere else.

http://i.imgur.com/uZv3JzE.jpg

The power in the west was West Francia. When King Karlomen of Middle Francia had died of natural causes aged 20, his brother King Karl the Just had inherited it and reunified the nation. King Karl died aged 44 in battle in 786, and his elected heir was Pepin the Seducer, the son of King Karlomen. Still aged just 33, many wonder where Pepin will take the nation.

http://i.imgur.com/camSqMV.jpg

The Saxons had managed to forge a powerful nation, taking Danmark and pushing north into Scandanavia. The 31 year old Grand Chief Wilbrand was unsuccessfully two invasions, from the Norse and the Pommeranians which threatened to break apart Saxony.

http://i.imgur.com/B1yVfU8.jpg

At just 23, High Chief Gosciwuj of Greater Poland had already earned the name of Lionheart for his deeds in unifying the Polish people into one nation and had already turned his sights south towards the Bulgarians.

http://i.imgur.com/E0g0oLB.jpg

Of the major powers in the world, only the Khagan of Khazaria, Tabar the Wise, was one of the few elder statesmen. At 61 he had expanded the Khazaria nomads both east and west, pushing the borders right to Poland.

http://i.imgur.com/jbxBHyA.jpg

Alone in a sea of pagans, Kiev stood out. Its High Chieftess had converted to Catholicism and persuaded about half the country to follow her. She had been married to the King of Serbia and her son still sat on the throne. Now 51, blinded, invalided and fighting two loosing wars, it seemed that the first foray of Catholicism into the lands of the pagans was doomed to fail.


I tried to choose reactions to events based on the traits of Michael. For a lot of the time he was trusting, patient and just. Only in his later life did he loose his patience and become zealous. Had this happened early then he might not have been so forgiving to Bishop Mouses and Count Epiphanios.

I do find it amusing that most of the main players on the world stage at the time Athanasios came to the throne are young men. If they have decent length reigns, they could be in power a while and it may have interesting results.

[SilverLeaf167]

Shouldn't you be able to form the Kingdom of Nubia by now? Or is it just a matter of money?

[Cristo Meyers]

Shouldn't you be able to form the Kingdom of Nubia by now? Or is it just a matter of money?

I think he's already formed a custom kingdom:


The taking of a third duchy enabled Michael to establish a true Kingdom, no longer King of a Petty Kingdom. With added power and prestige to his name, the last three independent Nubian lords of Suakin, Trinkatat and Hayya quickly agreed to become vassals of Michael, bringing all of Nubia into his family.

Keep it up! The maps really help with visualizing what's going on. I'll be watching with great interest, no matter what happens.:smallwink:

[Corvus]

Shouldn't you be able to form the Kingdom of Nubia by now? Or is it just a matter of money?

I could have done so early on, but doing so would mean no longer having the much more awesome Makurian Coat of Arms. So I formed a custom Makurian kingdom with the first three duchies and later on formed a rump Kingdom of Nubia from the remaining duchy.

Which also means that later on when I usurp the Kingdom of Abyssinia, I have the three kingdoms needed to form the Empire of Makuria without having to go and invade the Caliphate to take Egypt to form the Abyssinian Empire.

I hadn't realised that at the time - I was just wanting to keep the coat of arms and later noticed that.

[SilverLeaf167]

Oh, right, you did mention it... Kingdoms and Duchies with the same name confuse me, okay? :smalltongue:
I don't think I've ever actually formed a custom Kingdom or Empire, so I tend to forget the mechanic even exists.

[Artanis]

Oh, right, you did mention it... Kingdoms and Duchies with the same name confuse me, okay? :smalltongue:
I don't think I've ever actually formed a custom Kingdom or Empire, so I tend to forget the mechanic even exists.

Not surprising, since there are quite a few areas where it isn't really relevant. Between needing to be independent, many kingdoms/empires having relatively small numbers of sub-titles, and the fact that getting there in the first place requiring being pretty strong anyways, you usually have to go pretty far of your way not to be able to form a "regular" one first.

[Corvus]

Normally that is the case - this is one of the exceptions. To create the Abyssinian Empire requires the kingdoms of Nubia, Abyssinia AND Egypt. Which in normally cases, barring spectacular collapses of the Caliphate, is tricky to say the least.

This way I can form an empire without having to conquer Egypt.

[Corvus]

Next turn is coming - it is just taking a little longer than expected to finish. Only 17 years have taken place in game, but it has been near constant warfare the entire time - luckily not against the great green blob. East Africa (and parts of the Arabian peninsular) have been awash with the blood of thousands.

[Rockphed]

But are you watering the soil of your enemies with their blood? Inquiring minds want to know...

[Corvus]

The watering has been going on everywhere to everyone. I'm just finishing up Athanasios' rule but trying to recap near 30 years of constant fighting going on around Makuria can be a little slow.

Good news is that the Caliphate hasn't looked at Makuria. They've had issues of their own.

[Corvus]

And here is the reign of the next King, Athanasios, 35 years of war and bloodshed. Again it is a little long - need to work on that.

Most of the action takes place in Abyssinia, Saana and Oman, so the following maps may help with events.




Abyssinia
http://i.imgur.com/ct7Qanh.jpg

Sanaa
http://i.imgur.com/iv0vjqt.jpg

Oman
http://i.imgur.com/oDTjzFk.jpg

No one who attended the great feast to mark the coronation of King Athanasios Hadaatar could imagine it would be almost the only respite for the 35 years of near constant war that followed, or the horrors of countless thousands slain across east Africa and southern Arabia.

King Athanasios was 30 years old when he assumed the thrones of Makuria and Nubia. While in some ways a lot like his father in thought and deed, he had much to live up to and the kingdom was not without problems. The army had not recovered from the war against Abyssinian and remained at half strength. His heir was a daughter, disappointing his vassals. The girl, at 13 years, was also a bit of a disappointment to her father, despite his best efforts at raising her. The charitable would call her patient – the rest that she plotted. Cynical, devious and shy, she did not get on well with others, traits ill suited to rule.

http://i.imgur.com/PhF9Rmk.jpg

A campaign of viscous rumours had been circulated about him, and while his brother Michael remained a close ally, the other vassals had mixed reactions. The Lords of Blemmyia were neutral to mildly supportive, bar the Count of Trinkitat, who was a firm supporter. The vassals in the Duchy of Nobatia were less supportive. His father in law, Count Matthias of Nubia, had issues due to being called into the war against Count Zakharias. His brothers, Panigiros, Count of Aydah and Petrou, Duke of Nobatia, had a number of issues due to succession rules, a female heir, title claims and more, while the Count of Nobatia had a number of personality clashes with the king. While there was no immediate danger of a revolt, Athanasios knew he had to work to improve his standings with his vassals.

Athanasios called for a great feast, one on which he spent plenty, on lavish food, dancers and conjurers and the best wine available. When all had gathered, he began announcing changes he would be making. The imprisoned Count Zakharias of Kosti was pardoned – after paying a ransom, the revenue from which would cover the costs of the feast. Honourary titles were bestowed upon many, mostly his own family to prevent succession issues. His old title of Duke of Alodia, he gifted to his brother, the Marshal of Makuria, Prince Michael II, while the newly created title of Duke of Blemmyia was gifted to the loyal Count Panigiros of Trinkitat.

The feast was a great success, bar an incident when the Baroness Shinasha cut the throat of a servant. Seeking to set a proper example, King Athanasis had her arrested and then ransomed.

http://i.imgur.com/WN1BpRE.jpg

It was in early 802 when an opportunity arose, one that commenced the long and endless succession of wars to follow. The muslim ruler of Zeila was at war with the Nestorians of Socotra, supporting his ally the Emir Of Sanaa. Spies reported that his troops were few in number, less than 300, and after a short period of deliberation, Athanasios declared a holy war for the county, despite his own army not being yet recovered fully from his father's war for Axum.

With less than a thousand men, the Makurian army marched, yet that was over four time what the muslims could muster. By November of that year the enemy force had been crushed and siege work started. It took until early in 804 for the siege to finally succeed and for Zeila to be occupied. To his youngest brother, Petros, Athanasios assigned the newly won lands.

http://i.imgur.com/G3uPD81.jpg

While the Makurians returned to peace, war had broken out within Abyssinia with a peasants uprising. Then after just two months peace, an internal dispute broke out within the Duchy of Blemmyia. For the time Athanasios ignored such minor concerns, unaware of what they were the foretaste of. His wife had announced a pregnancy, and Athanasios hoped it was the son he sought. The Blemmyian war had barely started when Count Papasinen of Suakin died of depression, ending the war.

Athanasios' hopes for a son were dashed when his wife bore a third daughter for him, a weak child named Nouddl. Late 805 saw another pregnancy announced as Athanasios watched on as the war in Abyssinia continued and the Arwadid of southern Arabia suffer an invasion of their lands by a claimant. The Caliphate was also facing two serious threats, from a major Shia uprising in Baluchistan and a rival Prince making a play for the whole Caliphate.

http://i.imgur.com/5kuWYu1.jpg

December of 805 saw the Arwadid facing an uprising by the Azd Umanid, whose Emirate of Oman they had taken, and also the long awaited marriage of his illegitimate half-sister Agathe to Duke Ogbai of Berbera. The Azd Umanid were eventually successful, retaking large parts of the region.

http://i.imgur.com/sIqXFv8.jpg

In February of 806, King Athanasios made a fateful decision, to declare a Holy War for Sanaa. With a slight numerical edge in troops, and with the Caliphate hopefully too busy with internal divisions to help, the possibility of taking the rich duchy with its access to the Silk Road was too much of a gamble not to take. Just a month after war was declared, King Athanasios received the son and heir he desired, named Marturophorous. The Makurian armies began to assemble in Abyssinian Tadjoura, ready to make the crossing. Numbering over 2600, they were puzzled by the actions of the Arwadid, who didn't contest their crossing and kept their smaller armies separated. As the Makurians commenced siege work, word came that the old Caliph had been overthrown, and the new one had turned his sight on the Khazaria.

http://i.imgur.com/DtZV3du.jpg

As the boredom of the siege of Aden dragged on, a moment of respite led to the pregnancy of the Queen again. The child who would be born of that pregnancy, a daughter who would be named Pelagia, would be destined for great things. By August of 807 and with the keep at Aden finally taken, King Athanasios led his army north into Taizz, to take the battle to the muslims. Outnumbered two to one, the enemy stood little chance. Returning to the siege work, Aden was fully taken and the enemy forced to surrender in May of 808, a spectacular victory for King Athanasios.

http://i.imgur.com/i35ok5S.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/lJ0ioUL.jpg

Such was the power and wealth that the new duchy would grant its owner, all the lords of the realm were soon clamouring for it. Whoever held it would be a major power in the realm, even to challenging the might of the King. King Athanasios considered holding onto it himself, but that would require giving up either the Duchy of Makuria or the Duchy of Axum, an action he was loathed to do. In the end he decided on a third option – he established the Merchant Republic of Sanaa under Grand Mayor Helias Amarar. Soon trade posts began to pop up along the coast of the Red Sea.

http://i.imgur.com/yd0K5CB.jpg

The war convinced Athanasios to establish a small force of professional soldiers to act as the King's Personal Guard. 300 Nubian Archers formed it, an elite force ready to back up the levies when needed.

The fighting across Abyssinia had come to an end as the revolt was put down, and with his new force of soldiers at hand, Athanasios decided to press the claim of Count Epiphanios on the county of Gondar in Abyssinia in February of 810. Two weeks into the mustering of the troops, the King's 5 year old daughter Nouddl died after a period of illness. King Athanasios threw himself into the war as a result, leading almost 2200 troops into Abyssinia.

http://i.imgur.com/pxmhlnh.jpg

As if to make up for the loss of their daughter, the Queen became pregnant again as the Makurian troops began to siege the holdings in Gondar. When a 2000 strong Abyssinia force invaded Axum, Athanasios took his army to face them down. In a bloody battle, 770 Makurians and 1430 Abyssinian were slain and all that remained was to finish off the stragglers and to finish the war.

http://i.imgur.com/fM6nDUB.jpg

Even as the war ground on, in February of 811, Chancellor Mena Hadaatar, the King's brother, staked a claim on the county of Assab, and the Queen announced the birth of another daughter, named Dourika.

http://i.imgur.com/Mx5eCzl.jpg

Then a major revolt broke out within Abyssinia, the first of a series of ongoing civil wars for the throne. Athanasios was on the verge of wrapping up his war when Count Epiphanios was found dead at age 60, apparently murdered and the claim on Gondar died with him. It was hard to know who wanted him dead more – the Abyssinian King, his wife or the husbands of the women he had seduced.

Almost before the body had a chance to cool down, Athanasios declared war on Abyssinia again, to press his own claim on the county of Assab. As his army marched into Abyssinia again, another revolt broke out for the Abyssinian throne. Facing off against two ongoing revolts and the Makurian army, the Abyssinian King, Mamo the Cruel, was in a hopeless situation. It took until February of 814 for Mamo to admit defeat against Athanasios, even as the three way civil war raged on. Athanasios gifted the newly acquired land to Zacharias Amarrar, and gave him his daughter Eudosia as a wife.

http://i.imgur.com/YieSR05.jpg

King Athanasios was not yet done with Abyssinia, taking advantage of its weakened state. He sided with Azur the Cruel, brother of Mamo the Cruel, leading the Makurian army into the Abyssinian mountains yet again.

In August of 814, the Abbasid Caliphate was rocked by a massive revolt that sprung to life in the Bedoiun and Levantine heart of the Empire. Athanasios rejoiced, as it meant the Caliphate was too be occupied with internal fighting for some time, and while doing so Makuria was out of its sight.

Not all muslims were blind to Makuria at the time, though. In November of 814, Emir Is'mail II of the Azd Umanid, whose war had so weakened the Arwadid and allowed Athanasios to claim Sanaa, declared a Holy War for Sanaa, to reclaim it for Islam. The Azd Umanid were the strongest enemy that Athanasios had faced to that time, able to raise over 4000 warriors.


Even as he drew his troops together, news came from Abyssinia that Rema Armah had overthrown Mamo the Cruel and taken the throne. It did not stop Azur the Cruel's revolt and so the civil war continued on, though for the time without Makurian interference.

February of 815 saw another tragedy strike the King with the passing due to poor health of his 26 year old daughter Nonne.

http://i.imgur.com/nP07in3.jpg

By mid 815, the Makurian army had assembled and marched into Sanaa, 3400 strong. Reports came that the enemy were in Kathiri with 4200 men. The Makurians were full of confidence as they approached the enemy in the deserts outside of the city of Qana in September of 815. They were well led, had a numerical edge in archers and had never before suffered defeat in a major battle. As the forces engaged, it quickly became apparent they had badly underestimated their foe and the battle turned into a disaster. Over 3000 Makurians perished to just 1200 Azd Umanaids, almost loosing Sanaa in a single battle.

http://i.imgur.com/AA58Vog.jpg

While shock swept over Makuria at news of the defeat, Athanosios knew he had to act fast to save the Merchant Republic. Scraping together ever soldier he could find, a mere 1500 men, he then drew heavily on the reserve gold he had accumulated to hire the Nubian and Abyssinian mercenary bands, adding another 4500 men to his cause. The gold needed to pay their wages would swiftly run out and so he had to hurry, marching back to Sanaa again.

As his 6000 men closed in on the 3000 muslims, another faction emerged in the ongoing Abyssinian civil war, led by Assefa the Noble. The resulting clash against the Azd Umanids reversed the previous results and this time it is the muslims who are massacred, sent fleeing into their own lands. The Makurians gave chase, eager to finish them off.

While marching, to relieve their boredom, the nobles of the army engaged in a friendly spear throwing contest. Unfortunately, whether by accident or driven by jealousy, one throw struck Prince Michael II, Duke of Alodia and Marshal of the Realm, leaving him maimed. The eventual winner was another of the King's brothers, the monk Mena. It was perhaps this victory over the king that spurred into action his later ambitions.

http://i.imgur.com/9uZFK2Q.jpg

The smaller force of Azd Umanids were slain and Athanasios was prepared to press and siege their holdings on when word came in January of 817 that the Sunni of Zeila had launched an uprising, 1900 strong. By this stage, funds were starting to run low and so the mercenaries were dismissed. Athanasios turned the army around to deal with the Sunni rebels, giving the Azd Umanids a minor respite. The first clash goes as expected, routing the poorly equipped rebels, but as Athanasios pursused, a missive arrives in October of 817 with dire news. The King's own brother, Mena, had fled to Abyssinia, and had started to raise an army to challenge for the throne.

http://i.imgur.com/F6lhmFh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gtiVlwW.jpg

Almost continuously at war for 8 years and now with 4 wars to fight, many men would have panicked. Not so Athanasios. He quickly finished off the Sunni rebels, executed their leader and turned his battered army back to face the Azd Umanids again. Outside of Mocha, his 1800 men clashed with 1400 enemies. Only just does he win, loosing 1500 of his men to 750 of the foe, a pyrrhic victory at best. The battered army reinforces with a levy from Sanaa and pursued again against the blood soaked sands.

http://i.imgur.com/Hbkd423.jpg

As 818 drew to a close, Prince Michael II succumbed to complications from the injuries sustained from the javelin contest. He was succeeded as both Duke of Alodia and Marshal of Makuria by his son, Michael III.

Right at the end of the year, realising that he can't win the war against Emir Is'mail II before Prince Mena launches his attack, and with both sides battered from the bloodshed through the deserts, a white peace was agreed to. It is merely a respite, for both know that it is only a temporary truce at best. Athanasios stands down his army, giving it a chance to recover ready for Mena, leaving the Abyssinian civil war to grind on without him for the time.

October 819 saw Mena at last ready, with 1800 men behind him. Athanasios' army had recovered to a degree, numbering 2400. Before the sides met, Athanasios pulled off a major coup, betrothing his daughter Pelagia to Anthimos Isauros, heir to the throne of the Byzantium Empire. With such a powerful ally, Athanasios felt less worried about the Caliphate, even if they weren't still engaged in the ongoing revolt, which seemed to have bogged down into a stalemate.

The battle of Matara in early 820 saw Mena's forces crushed and by February the war was over, with Mena captured. Unable to execute his own brother, Athanasios instead banished him, confiscating almost 500 gold, around 4 years worth of income for the King. The money was put to good use, funding the establishment of a new city in the county of Makuria.

http://i.imgur.com/Hih7cSA.jpg

Late in 820, Gorandoukht, the King's 67 year old mother, died peacefully of old age and was laid to rest beside her husband.

http://i.imgur.com/4kr7mXQ.jpg

Allowing the Abyssinian civil war to run on for a while, Athanasios gave his army a time of respite to rebuild. In early 822, the King's son and heir, Marturophorous, came of age. While a skilled diplomat, like his father and grandfather, in all other fields he was lacking. To help cover some of those weakness, the King arranged a marriage with a young noblewoman, Abrihet Shamuman.

http://i.imgur.com/3rULQby.jpg
A typical day in Abyssinia

http://i.imgur.com/TxwRX7d.jpg

By mid 822, Ayzur the Cruel had usurped the throne of Abyssinia and yet the civil war dragged on as the other faction vying for the crown still fought on. Athanasios took advantage of the ongoing turmoil to push Count Zacharias of Assab's claim on the County of Asayita.

As Athanasios marched the Makurian army into Abyssinia yet again, Grand Mayor Helias the just of the Merchant Republic of Sanaa started his own war, this for the island of Socotra, de jure part of his realm. Able to raise over 5000 men, the invasion was a formidable one.

It took two years of campaigning in Abyssinia for Asayita to be brought into the Makurian realm. The Makurians were not yet done with Abyssinia though, as Duke Enoch the Chaste of Blemmyia staged his own invasion to claim the County of Tigrinya. As the year came to an end, Grand Mayor Helias succeeded in his invasion of Socotra, strengthening the Merchant Republic.

http://i.imgur.com/lhGmhkG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/XXrqTKu.jpg

A half of year of peace for Athanasios began to drag on him and in the first week of 825 he declared holy war on the Ibadi Emir Shujah of the Azd Umanid Emirate for control of Oman. The boy ruler was the son of the former Emir Is'mail II.

It took many months for the armies of Makuria to assemble and start their advance. While they were doing so, Princess Pelagia came of age and married the young Basileus Anthimos of the Byzantium Empire, who had inherited the throne after the mysterious death of his father. Then a grandson was born to him, Dioskoros, son of his heir Marturophoros.

http://i.imgur.com/MQuSTps.jpg

Athanasios started pushing into Azd Umanid lands even as his chancellor secured a claim on Tadjoura, the taking of which would link up all Makurian holdings. A truce till held between Makuria and Abyssinia and so the claim wasn't immediately pressed.

While Athanasios took Azd Umanid holdings, their army marched northwards around the deserts to invade Sanaa behind him. Under the command of the formidable warrior Bishop Hoassi, the Makurians advanced upon them, and in the second battle of Qana, reversed the results of the first. Four times as many muslins were lost as Makurians and the young Emir was left with no choice but to capitulate. The war ended in January of 828, with the newly formed Duchy of Oman being gifted to Prince Marturophoros.

http://i.imgur.com/mWUIr4f.jpg

Four months later, the peace in Makuria was shattered by the news that once more Prince Mena was pressing his claim on Makuria from within Abyssinia. As the Makurians prepared to meet him once more, Duke Enoch succeeded in wresting Tigrinya from Abyssinia. With that, for the first time since 810, fighting ceased in Abyssinia. At around the same time, a granddaughter was born, Basillike, heir to the Byzantium Empire.

The long years of campaigning, the many battles and deaths and the impending attack by his brother began to weigh heavily on Athanasios. The pressure of it all began to stress the aging king.

http://i.imgur.com/A7Qgi2J.jpg

When Mena did arrive, he had 4300 men with him, a far larger army than the previous time. Once again led by Bishop Hoassi, the 4000 Makurian soldiers met them at the battle of Dokasnd thrashed the enemy, slaying 3500 men for the loss of just 600. The invasion collapsed, Mena was captured and then banished once again with 500 gold once more added to the Makurian coffers. Just a few months later Mena died in exile, aged 46, of natural causes.

http://i.imgur.com/eb5pcww.jpg

His brother's death did not lift Athanasios's stress, and so he returned to what he knew best – war. With the truce with King Azur the Cruel expired, Athanasios pressed his claim on Tadjoura. The battle of Berenice destroyed the Abyssinia army, but on the very verge of victory, in Feburary of 836, the king passed away while still campaigning, aged 64.

http://i.imgur.com/MJg3Nh7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Ajvromy.jpg

The Kingdom of Makuria at the time of King Athanasios' death.

http://i.imgur.com/xnS4qZm.jpg



Maps of the world situation and notes on events will follow soon

[Corvus]

I hadn't planned on having Athanasios spend most of his life in the saddle campaigning. He was a diplomat after all. It just sort of snowballed into that. Of course, being zealous meant he kind of did have to attack the infidels, especially with the opportunities that presented themselves. The long term plan for Makuria was to take Sanaa and Oman - I just hadn't expected it so soon.

Zeila was out of the way and weak, Sanaa wakened by war with the Azd Umanids and at the stage the Caliphate was in turmoil and unable to help, while the Azd Umanid's were Ibadi, which also meant no help from the Caliphate, even if only the leadership as Ibadi and most inhabitants were still Sunni.

The whole Abyssinian civil war, which I should call the War of the Three Brothers, kept on going for near two decades. When the old King, known as the Cruel died, one of his sons took over. However his other two brothers, Azur the Cruel and Mamo the Cruel (noticed a trend in this family?), disputed it. First Mamo usurped the throne, then the first brother and then Azur. Azur still holds it (for now) as Mamo died comatose in bed while the first brother died in Azur's dungeons. It all probably got a bit prolonged with my meddling, constantly attacking to take claims and destroying the armies which ever king reigned at the time.

Marrying off a daughter to the Byzantium Emperor was too good an opportunity to pass up. I actually had the option of making the offspring count as my dynasty through matrilineal marriage, but it seemed ludicrous that such an offer would be made. I was the king of a low level power, they the Emperor of one of the great powers around and they would hand the throne to my dynasty? It seemed way too gamey.

The Byzantines have been remarkably passive in game so far. They'd done pretty much nothing all game until the time of Athanasios' son-in-law, when they joined in with the Poles and Serbians in dismembering Bulgaria.

There was another bit of ludicrousness that happened - the magically disappearing Shia Caliphate uprising. The Shia rose up in Baluchistan with 25,000 men at the same time a half-cousin (or some such, it is hard to keep track of the family of the Caliphate), launched an attack to take over the Caliphate. The Shia reached 95% war score at the time the usurper hit 100%, which meant a new Caliph and the uprising simply vanished. All a bit illogical, but that is how the rules of the game are written.

[Corvus]

http://i.imgur.com/BZvUJ2w.jpg

The Caliphate continues to grow, but not all is as rosy as it seems. The new Caliph is suffering a heavy defeat in an attempted invasion of India and his decadence is getting into the mid 80% range. Byzantium has been oddly placid, at least until Athanasios' son-in-law took over. He helped destroy Bulgaria and is in the middle of an invasion of the Emirate of Armenia.

http://i.imgur.com/lwCakAC.jpg

West Francia has held together, expanding slightly eastward and weathering a few internal revolts. The latest seems a bit more serious.

http://i.imgur.com/y0vQ9zv.jpg

Khazaria still dominates a large part of the Steppes, pushing all the way to the border of Poland. Kiev somehow survived in part, a feudal Catholic state in a sea of tribal and nomadic pagans.

http://i.imgur.com/45tSvmX.jpg

Ignore the name - Bulgaria is actually a Polish led state. The Polish high chief usurped the title. Old Bulgaria ceased to be after it was partitioned between Poland, Serbia and Byzantium.

http://i.imgur.com/0XNYdHY.jpg

The Umayyads have slowly chewed through Spain and North Africa with little trouble to date. The Franks and muslims have so far avoided conflict, though that can't last.

http://i.imgur.com/b5v7O57.jpg

The far eastern steppes are dominated by the Uyghur. One Khaghan has settled down to form the Kingdom of Khiva and has recently converted to Orthodoxy, but no one else, not even his wife and his heir, have followed suit.

[SilverLeaf167]

I'm mesmerized by the Abbasids' name on the map. So massive... so long... so straight... so... horizontal... Almost worth letting them blob, I say.
Uyghur ain't bad either.

*focusing on the essentials*

[Rockphed]

I'm mesmerized by the Abbasids' name on the map. So massive... so long... so straight... so... horizontal... Almost worth letting them blob, I say.
Uyghur ain't bad either.

*focusing on the essentials*

I could have sworn the Caliphate was plagued by internal problems. How are they still massively massive?

[Corvus]

To date, no one external has threatened the Caliphate (and who could blame them), and all internal problems have either been small, and easily crushed, or had not threatened to break the Caliphate up. The first big one was over central authority, I think, and after about a decade or so a white truce was agreed to. The second one was a mix of a shia uprising (which failed due to weird game mechanics) and a cousin seeking to take over as Caliph. He succeeded, but until he took over Abassid's had done a remarkable job of keeping decadence low.

[Rockphed]

To date, no one external has threatened the Caliphate (and who could blame them), and all internal problems have either been small, and easily crushed, or had not threatened to break the Caliphate up. The first big one was over central authority, I think, and after about a decade or so a white truce was agreed to. The second one was a mix of a shia uprising (which failed due to weird game mechanics) and a cousin seeking to take over as Caliph. He succeeded, but until he took over Abassid's had done a remarkable job of keeping decadence low.

I don't suppose that plotting to off the non-decadent members of their dynasty is a good way to get their decadence up. More's the pity; everything in CKII is better with some deliberate offing of enemies.

[Corvus]

A shorter reign this time, with less action going on.




Upon the death of Athanasois, his son, Marturophoros, was almost relcutant to take up the throne. He knew he was not the man his father had been, or his grandfather. While he had inherited their skill at diplomacy, unlike them he was poor to mediocre at the other skills of statesmanship, relying instead on his wife and councillors to guide him through them. Yet if he did not, then there was the potential for strife.

http://i.imgur.com/OPSf0Hi.jpg

He had barely know his father, a man who had spent most of his life away fighting wars, and as such had not been taught statescraft, instead learning it on the job. His own sons, while he was around for, he had others tutor, as his father had done for him.

Seeking to stave off poor opinions that arose in some parts, he set to work on the business of running the kingdom, for that was how he saw it. His entire reign was devoted to the growth of the kingdom. Unable to manage his old Duchy of Oman, as well as the Duchies of Makuria and Axum, he gifted it to his sons, to be ruled over by regents until they came of age. The youngest, Gabriel, became Count of Mahr, Masanfial became Count of Dhofar and Tirsakouni became Count of Muscat and Duke of Oman. His eldest son, and heir, Dioskoros, came with him to Makuria.

Distribution of councillor positions and lesser titles did some work towards alleviating some options, but nevertheless, the first factions began to appear, jockeying for independence or the crown. They never reached a point where they could succeed, but they never went away through the whole of Marturophoros' reign.

His father's war in Abyssinia was quickly dealt with, taking the county of Tadjoura, and allowing the usurpation of the Duchy of Afar. The county and duchy both were gifted to a promising young nobleman, Ephanne. With that done, the King turned away from war and towards the growth of the nation.

In late August of 837, word came to the King of momentous events taking place in the realm of his neighbour, the Abbasid's. The pious muslim population had started to rise up against the decadence of the Caliph, Shaiban.

A month late, his 13 year old daughter, Theodorake, came to him. After weeks of deep prayers, she had come to the conclusion she wished to become a nun. King Marturophoros could see no reason not to allow it, and so Theodorake joined a convent attached to the Church of St. Michael.

http://i.imgur.com/mqHI0IE.jpg

In mid 838, the King's wife, Abrihet, died aged 37 of pneumonia. After a short period of mourning, Marturophoros looked for a new wife. In the end he chose a Greek woman, Xene Rentakes, noted for his management of money and business.

http://i.imgur.com/bwcecr5.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/OHtRhM2.jpg

To celebrate the new wedding, and to encourage his vassals, the King ordered a great feast to be held. His cousin, Duke Michael III of Alodia and Marshal of the Realm, was given the honour of hunting for the boars to provide for the feast, and entertainers were hired. The feast proved a mighty success, increasing respect for the King.

http://i.imgur.com/C8qtsHU.jpg

All was not well with the King though, for in mid 839, the pressure of running the realm began to take its toll. He had trouble sleeping and stress took a hold of him, a condition that never relented for the rest of his reign.

http://i.imgur.com/MX4yryJ.jpg

Later in the year, the King's Steward, his uncle Prince Petros, hit upon an idea to set up a trade route to foreign lands. Needing to get away for a while, King Marturophoros agreed, purchasing a boat for the journey. A group of priests offered to help fund it in return for being allowed to come. The King agreed and in November of 839, they sailed eastwards, reaching the lands of the Maharaja Srivikrama of Rashtrakuta. The King presented the Maharaja with a gift of a dozen of the finest Makurian horses, which were highly valued by the Maharaja. Religious disputes by the priests that accompanied him, and Prince Petros' manners at the a feast provided did sour the trip towards the end, causing King Marturophoros' stress to flare up and render him ill. Financially, the trip exceeded expectations and a new trade route opened up, seeing wealth flow into the kingdom.

http://i.imgur.com/pgdn4Au.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WGJFc9Z.jpg

Upon returning home, King Marturophoros decided to convalesce in the palace gardens, only to find them overgrown and neglected during his trip. Taking up a shovel, the King personally vowed to make a real garden, complete with a hedge maze. The king spent freely on the endeavour, adding statues of his family, a large fountain that drew waters from the Nile, and even a pavilion. It took him half a year of labour and hundreds of gold, but the end result was a magnificent display, reminiscent of his grandfather's great edifice, the Tower of St. Michael.

http://i.imgur.com/9SnzZHE.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/6hf6dp3.jpg

More opportunity for growth came with artisans approaching, asking for state investment in workshops in Atbara and Makuria, part of which he funded.

http://i.imgur.com/2WAae08.jpg

The end of 841 was the decadence revolt in the Caliphate finally overthrow Caliph Shaiban, promptly shattering the once mighty Caliphate. Numerous successor states sprung up, promptly falling to squabbling amongst themselves. Watching with detachment as he began the work of upgrading the castle towns through out his holdings, King Marturophoros was notified that his heir, Dioskoros, had come of age, and had become a skilled warrior. The King arranged a marriage for him, finding him a wife from Greece as well, a young woman called Eupraxia of Portici who was skilled in diplomacy and stewardship, areas his son lacked in.

http://i.imgur.com/W04gd6R.jpg

In late 842, his Marshal, Duke Michael III, approached him. Pointing out the disunity within the lands of the Muslims, he urged the King to press the de jure claim on the county of Sanaa, the lands of which would be added to the Merchant Republic, and through which even more gold would flow to the crown. Realising that it was good for the business of the realm, the King agreed, and the armies of Makuria were called up and were soon marching.

The first major battle was in June of 843, when the 4100 man Makurian army clashed with 2600 Hashimids, a result that was never in doubt. While seige work began in Sanaa, his son, Dioskoros, sent word that his wife had born a son, whom they had named Marturophoros.

http://i.imgur.com/lvvrNPj.jpg

The Sunni of Tadjoura, seeing their brethren in Sanaa under attack, took the opportunity to rise up against Makurian rule. The King ordered the armies around for the time to deal with the uprising and quickly crushed it. Such was the slaughter inflicted upon the muslims that Patriarch Aaron of Makuria had little trouble in convincing those that remained to convert.

http://i.imgur.com/XjynSWP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/wWDxxvA.jpg

Turning the armies around, the King returned to the long siege works at Sanaa. From overseas came the word that not all the Islamic nations were under threat. The powerful Umayyad had invaded Francia and occupied a part of it, though a counter invasion and two internal uprisings were threatening their new holdings.

http://i.imgur.com/3eXBjgu.jpg

It was not until late 846, almost four years after the war began that King Marturophoros triumphed and all de jure lands of the Merchant Republic of Sanaa were now under Makurian rule.

http://i.imgur.com/Td4reWE.jpg

A year later, King Ayzur II the Cruel of Abyssinia died, leaving the throne in the hands of his son, Negasi. Once more Duke Michael III urged the king to war, to press the claim for Semien, the taking of which would allow the usurpation of another Duchy. More lands meant more wealth and power, and so, once more, the King went along with the idea.

Sadly, just as had happened with his father, on the verge of victory in Abyssia, King Marturophoros passed away aged just 42, taken by the stress that had plagued him for so long.

http://i.imgur.com/QhQfcqC.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ZxNk4RI.jpg

[Rockphed]

I don't know if you missed it, but what are the stats of your next ruler?

[Corvus]

I normally put them in at the start of the next update - if it is easier, I could add it to the end of the previous reign when they take over.

From memory, he is a great warrior, good schemer and terrible at everything else.

He has been leading Makuria to the verge of greatness. Unfortunately, once he goes things may fall apart.

Bad news, his heir is terrible.

Good news, he died.

Bad news, his heir is even worse. I think his best stat is about an 8 and his traits are appalling.

[Rockphed]

Remember, "Losing is !!FUN!!"

[Corvus]

I thought this was CK2, not Dwarf Fortress :)

I was wrong about the heir - his best stat is actually only a 7, and his only good trait is kind....

[Corvus]

http://i.imgur.com/KGKirWm.jpg


Byzantium, as ever, remains unchanged. The once powerful Abbasid Caliphate is gone, replaced by the Qadirid Caliphate, and many smaller realms. The Qadirid is still dangerous though, and the many ties between the various muslim nations still make it the second most powerful nation around, after the Byzantine. Given their more aggressive nature, they are probably more dangerous.

http://i.imgur.com/PeHJ5no.jpg

The Khazar are still slowly growing, pushing further into eastern Europe. There is a major religious schism taking place among the Khazari. At one point the Khagan adopted Sunni Islam and it spread through many of his followers, only to be replaced shortly after by a traditional Tengri Khagan. While most leaders are Tengri, most of the populace are Sunni and neither faith seems to be coming to dominance.

http://i.imgur.com/Ur7LOco.jpg

Surprisingly Bulgaria/Poland and Lithuania have held together despite their tribal natures. The Poles have began to convert to Catholicism, leaving the Slavic faith on the ropes. They should fare better than the first slavic nation to adopt Catholicism, Kiev, which was destroyed by the Khazar, even if the populace have refused to recant their faith.

http://i.imgur.com/Xz46CS5.jpg

West Francia is locked in a struggle with the Umayyad for control of the lands in the south they lost in a holy war. Meanwhile in the east, the Germans have broken free and formed Alemannia.

[Corvus]

Next update is coming soon, but it may require splitting up. A 52 year reign kind of does that. Lots happening, including wars, a murder or three and an African army marching where they have probably never marched before.

[Corvus]

King Dioskoros was a man born for war. Even while he was the Duke of Oman, his father, Marturophoros, had shown little interest in his sons and had instead handed Dioskoros over to the Marshal of the Duchy of Oman for raising. When he assumed the throne, he kept the Marshal training his son. The Marshal raised Dioskoros on the tales of the deeds of his grandfather and great-grandfather, Athanasios and Michael, who had taken a small nation and through combat risen it to be a major power. It was little wonder then, that Dioskoros, when he came of age, was noted for being a brilliant warrior.

http://i.imgur.com/AGCyWHV.png

Dioskoros understood that combat was not just a matter of the clash of armies, but could be on a personal level. Wars could be won and lost on the matter of a knife in the dark or rumours that could break an alliance and turn friends into foes. As for the running of a realm, he paid little attention to that, relying on councillors. The realm was there to provide men and money for war.

Dioskoros was just 22 when he inherited the throne after the early death of his father, and with it he inherited his first war. He only took part in one minor battle, where a meagre Abyssinian force was outnumbered five to one, but the real threat to his rule was brewing elsewhere.

His brother, Tirsakouni the Young had been made Duke of Oman by their father, and had turned out a warrior the equal of Dioskoros, and just as ambitious. There could be room for only one of them on the throne. Tirsakouni began to agitate for independence, and was backed by the merchants of Sanaa. If allowed to fester and revolt, they would tear the richest lands out of the kingdom. This Dioskoros could not allow.

Even before he had become king, knowing that Tirsakouni would been his main rival, Dioskoros had taken to espionage to sabotage his brother, spreading rumours about him and looking for further opportunities. It did not take long. A young soldier with many vices to his name, who guarded Duke Tirsakouni as he slept, was persuaded, for a bag of gold, to remove the obstacle. Soon word came that the Duke was dead and the threat removed. Those responsible were dealt with so no word got out of the King's actions. With Tirsakouni's support for various factions within the realm began to collapse. Another brother, Masannal, content with his lot in life, was made the Duke of Oman.

http://i.imgur.com/z4FfNYn.png

http://i.imgur.com/EN6WHqT.png

While returning to the business of war, Dioskoros began to train his young son and heir, named Marturophoros, in an attempt to mould him into a warrior as well. By the end of the year the war against Abyssinia ended, with the County of Semien added to the growing Kingdom of Makuria.

King Dioskoros began to look for other opportunities for war, but before that there was the business of the kingdom to attend to. His father's focus had been on building up the business of the nation, boosting the income that came to the crown. Dioskoros devoted himself to war and started to expand the lagging military machine, overseeing a growing number of keeps, barracks, stables, training grounds and more, a process he maintained for his long reign.

In late 852, King Negasi of Abyssinia died, the aftermath of which stunned the young King. The Abyssinian's had installed an elective monarchy as their method of succession. As a holder of Abyssinian lands, even if an outsider, King Dioskoros was free to nominate himself for the role, which he had done and then promptly forgotten about, not considering that Abyssinian Duke's would offer him the crown. When they came to him, he was shocked, but readily accepted, becoming King of Abyssinia and in effect the whole of East Africa. At the time he wasn't to know it was no easy place to govern. Between minimal crown authority, and with it lack of vassal retinues and the constant warfare they waged upon each other for duchies and counties, he found himself unable to change the laws of elective monarchy, resulting in having to keep the various duke's on side as much as he could so his chosen successor would take the crown after him. The internal fighting he did not mind, being a warrior himself, only stepping in when a duke became too powerful and threatened the kingdom.

http://i.imgur.com/n9JJosA.png

When he looked into the death later on, he was to discover that King Negasi had been murdered on the orders of Count Sadiq of Sanaa, a minor muslim vassal of the Merchant Republic. Why he did so, King Dioskoros did not know, and did not care. It had gifted him the crown and was against a foreign ruler, and so he did not condemn the man but nor did he reward him either.

In late 853, King Dioskoros judged his nation ready to return to war. With the Caliphate bogged down with infighting with other muslim rulers and revolts, Dioskoros declared a holy war for the control of the rest of Oman, which at the stage was part of a revolt against the Qadirid Caliphate. Never a particular holy man, Dioskoros used religion as a means to conquest. As his armies assembled, word came to him that an Ethiopian in far off Italy named Gebereal Ramlid was raising an army to attempt to take the Kingdom of Abyssinia. Courtiers were shocked when King Dioskoros sent a missive back to the man, wishing him well in his endeavours and looking forward to the day their swords clashed. Taking just his own troops and the levies from Sanaa and Oman, Dioskoros marched his men into the rest of Oman and began to siege the holdings there. While on campaign, his wife bore to him twins, a son Philemon, and a daughter, Theodosia.

http://i.imgur.com/Dve8jxs.png

http://i.imgur.com/RJ8dUMT.png

Dioskoros had occupied most of the Omani lands without a battle taking place when Gebereal declared his war. Leaving behind just the Nubian Archer retinue as well as the Omani and Sanaa levies, Dioskoros raised the rest of his vassal levies and with his own troops prepared to meet the invader.

The march from Lombardy took some time, and it took them a year and a half to arrive. Dioskoros stood the army down for a while during the long march, during which time unexpected news arrived - his wife inherited the Barony of Portici in Byzantine lands in the south of Italy. When the enemy finally arrived, Dioskoros raised his army again, around 5000 in number, and backed then up with 2500 mercenaries of the Abyssinian Band. In the mountains of Suakin the armies met, and though 2000 Makurian soldiers were lost, the enemy was wiped out to the last.

http://i.imgur.com/4dlwlJJ.png

Gebereal Ramlid was banished, forfeiting 500 gold in the process. Some pressed for his execution, though Dioskoros was of another mind. The man had tested his claim in the field of battle and Diokoros saw no honour or glory in executing a worthy opponent.

By mid 858, almost five years after the war for Oman had commenced, the enemy finally capitulated, leaving all of the de jure Duchy of Oman in the hands of Dioskoros' brother. It also put the crossing across the Strait of Hormuz in Makurian hands.

http://i.imgur.com/NhjWwLH.png

Back in Abyssinia, one of the Dukes, Semere of Damot had become too powerful, controlling two and a half duchies and being the preferred candidate for the election of the Abyssinian crown. Dioskoros hatched a scheme to revoke the county of Wag from him. The Duke refused and raised arms, putting 1700 men into the field. Using just his own troops, Dioskoros led his men personally to a crushing victory, destroying the enemy army for the loss of less than 500 men. The revolt soon ended, with the County taken and the Duke imprisoned.

http://i.imgur.com/iDWLQey.png

Wag was given to the King's heir, who had come of age during the war. Despite the King's best efforts, Prince Marturophoros could barely tell one end of a sword from the other, and despite being a kind, humble and patient man, he was not the heir Dioskoros had hoped for.

Duke Semere had his Duchy of Afar stripped from him, and was left to rot in the dungeons, to die there less than a year later.

To celebrate his great victory, the King organised the first tournament to be held in Makuria's history. Despite the maiming of Theodosios Alwa, sonof the Count of Nobatia, the tournament was a grand success, the eventual winner being Papasinen Amarrar, the Marshal of Suakin,

http://i.imgur.com/lXg1RRP.png


From the north came news that the Khagan of Khazaria had defeated Serbia and had settled in the lands, calling it Birlad. He soon abandoned his nomadic Tengri ways to become a feudal Catholic, with the Queen of Serbia one of his vassals.

It was towards the end of 861 that King Dioskoros was alerted to the fact his vassal, Grand Mayor Abraam of Sanaa, had launched a reckless holy war for Medina on Emir Murad of the Hashimid Emirate. As much as he encouraged his vassals to go to war to push their claims, attempting to take the centres of muslim faith was not the smartest move.

http://i.imgur.com/2DZsiRd.png

To prepare for any attacks that may have resulted, King Dioskoros set up a war game to practice the defence of the realm. Overseeing the role of the defender, the King is soon triumphant, using the high ground to his advantage. He knew that every advantage would be needed if the muslims turn his way though.

http://i.imgur.com/AdprD0F.png

Dioskoros does not sit idly by waiting for an attack though, and a few months later declares a Holy War for Kerman against Emir Qusayy the Hunter of the Banu Kinnah Emirate, across the Straits of Hormuz. With 1200 Nubian Archers now available, he soon has a force 10,000 strong assembling in Oman. As the army gathers, his wife gives birth to a daughter, Christina.

http://i.imgur.com/RsNlMza.png

Before his entire army is assembled, King Dioskoros launches an assault across the straight, into the teeth of almost 5000 enemy. The fighting is hard, with the king himself taking wounds, and despite around 2000 Makurian dead, they drive off the enemy. As the siege work at Hormuz is under way, word comes that Grand Mayor Abraam has lost his holy war, having his holdings sacked by muslims. Dioskoros hopes it is a valuable lesson for the Merchant Republic, and that the muslims don't get ideas from it.

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The Banu Kinnah do not stand alone, and a number of neighbouring muslims states join in the fight to defend it. The largest of these is Zurbil Shahdom, under Shah Enusirwan. In the lands of Bam, his 6000 men meet with 6600 Makurians. It is a hard fought battle, with 2500 Makruians and 5500 muslims slain, but it decides the war. After such heavy losses, the Emirate capitulates.

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Barely has the war ended when news comes that once again Gebereal Ramlid seeking to raise a force to take Abyssinia. Leaving behind his Nubian Archers to garrison the newly captured lands, Dioskoros returns home to prepare for the round two with the adventurer. The newly crated Duchy of Kerman is entrusted to his second son, Philemon.

The success in his holy wars sees the Coptic Pope pronounce King Dioskoros a Paragon of Virtue, much to the amusement of the king and those who know him.

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In mid 868, Gebereal begins his long march from Lombardy again. Dioskoros takes the time waiting for him by overseeing more construction, and the birth of a son, named Eliezer. Gebereal's army is smaller than the previos one, just 4400 strong. Dioskoros raises 7700 men, not needing to resort to mercenaries as in the previous invasion. Makurian losses are light and once more Dioskoros is victorious, and once more he banishes Gebereal after seizing vast amounts of gold.

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Not even waiting for the blood of the slain to cool, Dioskoros sets his sights on his next target, the small realm of Jask, just east of Hormuz. Ruled by Marzoban Gostasp, it is the only independent Zoroastrian nation in existence. Despite being able to raise 3000 men, against 10,000 hardened Makurian warriors they are swept away and by the end of 871 the county is taken.

With Jask taken, another opportunity opened up further eastwards in 874. The Sadaddin Emirate had its armies crushed in a failed war, which left it vulnerable. Using just the Nubian Archers and troops from Kerman, Oman and the Merchant Republic, Dioskoros prepared to invade.

Even before the invasion began, word arrived that the infirm, but brave, Gebereal Ramlid was proposing a third invasion of Abyssinia. Many shook their heads at the leniency Dioskoros had shown the man that allowed him to keep coming back. Then came word of a Monophysite uprising in Dotawo, in the Duchy of Nobatia. Almost 5000 rebels had risen in the name of their heresy, but they proved little match against the armies of the king and by March of 876 the revolt had been put down.

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By July, the small army campaigning in the Sadaddin Emirate had succeeded in their holy war, further expanding the kingdom along the coast.

While waiting for the arrival of Gebereal, a threat emerged from within Abyssinia. Duchess Makeda of Damot had taken control of the Duchy of Afar, and her power was growing, once more threatening the succession of the crown of Abyssinia. A little plotting later, a poisoned glass of wine, and the threat was dealt with.

October 877 saw Gebereal make his appearance, and at Aydhab his 5000 men clashed with 8000 Makurians. Dioskoros had sat the battle out, allowing other generals to show their wares, and as a result losses were uncharacteristically high, with almost 3500 Makurians slain for a similar number of the enemy, but the battle saw Gebereal captures for a third time, and for a third time mercy was shown to him. When pushed on this by his councillors, King Dioskoros pointed out 1500 gold had been added to the treasury of Makuria as a result of the invasions, and that he admired the man's tenacity in the face of the odds.

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The beginning of 878 was greeted by some sad news for the king, with the death of his son, Philemon, Duke of Kerman, after a period of illness. His newborn baby, named Christina after her aunt, was named the new Duchess of Kerman. Now 1500 strong, the Nubian Archers kept a guard on the baby and her lands.

Dioskoros looked around the fragmented realms of Persia near his newly acquired lands and judged them ripe for further conquest. The main concern he had was all were Sunni nations, and holy war against one would drag others in. While he did not doubt he could defeat a coalition of the local rulers, as he had previous, if the Qadirid got involved it would change the outcome. So he set his chancellor to work on producing a claim on the Midhhalbid Emirate. In late 878, documents were produced, ones that few believed were actually real, but it was enough for Dioskoros. With just his personal levy and retinue behind him, he invaded the lands of Emir Isa. The smaller enemy army fled, but he hunted them down and in the mountains defeated them, coming to master the terrain. As his old mentor had often told him, you took the high ground and let the enemy come to you.

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By the beginning of 883, after four years of campaigning, the Emir finally surrendered, and Dioskoros claimed the entire Duchy of Sistan, enabling him to be able to create the Kingdom of Baluchistan. The muslim rulers were deposed and in their place kinsmen were appointed.

In late 884, Dioskoros declared war on Emir Talib of the Banu Kinanah Emirate, a de jure part of Baluchistan. As he did so, word arrived that Berihun Solomonid, kin to the former Abyssinian kings was gathering men among the Greeks to press claim on Abyssinia. The Emir surrendered after 18 months, adding to Dioskoros' growing realm, and he turned hist attention to the coming attack. Before it came, though, his wife, the Baroness Eupraxia of Portici died a natural death aged 62. Searching for a new wife, the 60 year old king settled on a 16 year old Frenchwoman, Euphrosine Baugulson, a strapping young woman noted for her exceptional business skills.


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As Berihun started his march, his brother, Yohannas Solomonid, also began gathering men. Berihun could only muster 6000 men, and by the time they arrived almost 10000 Makurians greeted them, routing them at the Egyptian border in late 887. As was usual, the invader was banished and his assets seized. Less than a year later, Berihun was at it again, this time in India.

Unlike his brother, when Yohannas Solomonid began hid march, he possessed a more serious threat, with over 10000 men at his command. Dioskoros responded with the hiring of Abyssinian mercenaries to bring his forces to almost 12500 in number. At the battle of Jebel Adda in Dotawo, the forces met. Despite their numbers, the invaders proved no match, loosing 9000 men to only 1200 Makurians.

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Dioskoros celebrated the victory and news his new wife had given birth to a physically robust young son, Leon.

A year later, the Makurian army was dealing with 6000 invaders in Berbera, Berihun second attempt. It was no more successful than the first, though during the course of the fighting, the 67 year old king was wounded twice.

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He did not let such things slow him down, but not all were as blessed as he. Just months after the victory over Berihun, Prince Marturophoros died at age 48 of natural causes. While he would not have likely made a great king, he would have done a decent job, more so than his eldest son and the new heir, Dioskoros II.

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Giving no thought to the young heir, the now healed king threw himself back into war, heading north with 12000 men to crush a Sunni and Buddhist uprising that had broken out in Baluchistan. In a series of battles the rebels were crushed, during the course of which the King, leading from the front, but on display a stirring show of bravery.

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As the year 895 drew to an end, King Dioskoros judged the time right to pronounce that no longer was he King of Makuria, but Emperor of Makuria, ruler of a vast nation.

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Despite his age, and the opportunity to rest on his laurels, pressing de jure claims on Armail against the Maharaja Vachhal the Great of Pratihara. Two years of campaigning saw the land taken, and yet Dioskoros felt he had one more war in him, a holy war against Sauvira, pushing into India as Alexander the Great had. The Hindu Maharaja Jojalla of Sindh had no armies left to speak of, but it would have been to no avail, for Dioskoros put together the largest army Makuria had ever seen, more than 17000 strong.

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As the armies swept through Sindh, the King's niece, Duchess Christina of Kerman launched her own holy war, against Sheik Abdul-Gafur of Brijand. From all across the Empire, Princes, Dukes and Counts answered her call to arms.

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Once more the vexxing issue of Abyssinia raised its head, with the threat of loosing control of it upon his death. While it would remain in the Empire, he hoped to keep it in the family. Deciding to give his young grandson a taste of rulership, he granted to him the Kingdom to govern.

Towards the end of the year 900, Dioskoros had won his war for Sauvira, and with it he ended his long years of campaigning. Returning home, the now 74 year old Emperor emulated the deeds of his revered ancestor and embarked on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Upon arriving, he was filled for the first time with a zeal for his faith, yet within three days it had passed.

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Less than two months after arriving home, the aged Emperor peacefully passed away, leaving a might realm behind to one ill suited to rule it.

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There were few left alive within Makuria who remembered a time when Emperor Dioskoros had not ruled over them, and his passing was met with great mourning. He had ruled the realm well to the best of his talents but what he would most be remembered for was the unprecedented growth of the Realm. In later days he would be called the Lion of Africa, though to the muslims who he repeatedly crushed, he was the Scourge. He had taken the economic base left to him by his father and produced a military machine that was one of the powers of the world. At the time of his death, he could raise an army three times the size as when he had inherited, formed around a core of 2700 Nubian Archers.


The Empire at the time of the death of King Dioskoros.

http://i.imgur.com/7PXXKHr.png


I tried to keep this one shorter, and cut out a lot of events that didn't really fit the narrative as much – the continuous infighting in Abyssinia, children's events, the odd birth or death and stuff like that. Still turned out long, but so did the reign.

Dioskoros turned out to be one of those rulers who just refuses to die. He didn't have any health bonuses and yet, despite taking 4 or 5 wounds in battle, he kept on going. And going.

I did get lucky with him inheriting the scheming focus against his brother, and the event to have him murdered, and inheriting the crown of Abyssinia. What the Abyssinia lords were thinking I do not know. The problem is it came with minimal crown authority so the infighting raged there the entire time. And an elective monarchy. Abyssinia is a bit different in that it requires high crown authority to institute primogeniture succession. It also meant my plan to install Nubian Dukes as I slowly conquered the place failed – all are still Ethiopians.

Those events left the kingdom in tact and a warrior in need of a place to fight. The Caliphate and Egypt were far too tough, and liable to join forces as they had been doing against other minor muslim realms, so it just left heading north into Persia. A long reign meant a lot of campaigning time and so the kingdom turned into an Empire.

The next reign is going to be far different, with an incompetent ruler for the first time...

[SilverLeaf167]

Not a bad resumé for a single King Emperor! :smallbiggrin:

So, what next? Nicer borders? A bigger name? A second empire? Or will you be too busy just keeping this one together?

[Corvus]

I've got a few ideas of where I want the Empire to go. Nothing too grand as taking over the world would be a bit boring (especially if I go on to EUIV). It may involve establishing relatives in independent realms in certain areas and see where they go from there.

What I do want to do is find a proper way of writing these things up. I think I'm coming across to dry, too much on facts and figures and not enough on narrative. And I must remember to take more screenshots that are useful.

[Flickerdart]

Do you have all your holy places under control yet? That seems like a good goal. Can't be a proper Miaphysite without reinstating the Coptic Pope!

[Cristo Meyers]

Dioskoros turned out to be one of those rulers who just refuses to die. He didn't have any health bonuses and yet, despite taking 4 or 5 wounds in battle, he kept on going. And going.


All knew him as King Dioskoros "It's just a flesh wound!" Hadaatar.

[Corvus]

Do you have all your holy places under control yet? That seems like a good goal. Can't be a proper Miaphysite without reinstating the Coptic Pope!

Unfortunately for the Miaphysites, that is one of the harder challenges in the game. They at least start off reformed, with two of their holy places in their control. One in Axum (so, yes, in later starting periods the Jews start out controlling one of the Miaphysites holy places), and the other somewhere in the Duchy of Makuria I can't remember right now.

The other three are Alexandria, Jerusalem and Antioch. Getting to them is a bit tough, what with the great green blob in the way, and even then some of them are desired by other religions.

[Corvus]

Upon the ascent of Dioskoros II, to the throne of Makuria, few had high hopes for the nation, or for the Emperor. As a man, he was a far cry from his illustrious forebears, and many doubted that he could keep the realm together. He had some middling diplomatic potential if set his mind to it, but for the most he didn't. A coward, with a temper to boot, he neither had ambition or pride, instead preferring to let matters ride. All that he cared about was gold and the obtaining it. Such a weak man was he perceived to be that his own wife openly flaunted her adulterous affair with a mere count and the child she had born of that union.

http://i.imgur.com/FzJwMHw.png

Thus was the man that was crowned Emperor in the Cathedral of St Michael.

While still a man to avoid conflict, with the crown came power, and he quickly arranged for a divorce from his wife Abrihet. To celebrate this, and his new title, he took up carousing, an event that would be a staple of his early years of power. His private banquets were hardly minor affairs, for he invited all and sundry, and when he was not banqueting, he was feasting or holding fairs, and once even a tournament.

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As the Emperor enjoyed himself, his councillors were busy trying to keep the realm together, especially his Chancellor, who spent years on the road, travelling from one vassal to another to beg them to overlook the Emperor's foibles, and to remember the glory of Makuria and the Hadaatar line.

With his marriage annulled, Dioskoros II sought out a new wife, and like a number of his ancestors, chose a Greek woman, or at least had her chosen for him. Theoktiste of Leuca was a woman her husband to be was not; brave, ambitious and skilled with words and numbers.

http://i.imgur.com/KVnLanQ.png

The growth of the realm continued, though without the oversight of the Emperor. Duchess Christina of Kerman won her war, adding to her lands, the first of a number of holy wars conducted by the Emperor's vassals as they sought to continue the deeds of his grandfather, Dioskioros I, even if he wouldn't.

The Emperor's perilous standing was shaken further a mere two months after his wedding, when his new wife was caught having an affair with Duke Kifle of Gojjam. Once more the Emperor requested, and was granted, a divorce and his unfaithful wife was shipped back home to Greece, her reputation in ruins.

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After the failure of his council to provide him a suitable wife, he went looking for one himself, and found her in a most unlikely place – in his own palace. Euphrosine was the widow of his grandfather. Dioskoros was descended from an early wife of his grandfather and thus not related to her, though such a union was liable to cause nightmares for those keeping the royal lineage mapped.

As the marriage and the partying went on, cracks were beginning to emerge in the Empire, with a powerful independence movement fermenting in the north, centred on Kerman and Baluchistan in the north. Part of the problem centred on the Emperor holding more land than his wife and council could properly manage. Such was his lust for gold that he had refused to give up the lands, until his council gave him an ultimatum – either give up some personal holdings or lose half the empire. The Emperor backed down and gave the County of Gondar to his eldest son Marturophoros.

http://i.imgur.com/0zJSYed.png

Other external threats brewed while the Emperor went back to his parties. The Emperor's cousin, Yohannas Solomonid, a man that Dioskoros I had banished, had appeared in Bohemia, bent on reclaiming his family's Abyssinian crown. Shortly there after, another claimant, Prochoros Hadaatar, a kinsman of the Emperor, raised his standard in the Byzantine Empire, bent on overthrowing the young Emperor. Dioskoros II ignored the threats, relying on the council and the army his grandfather had built to deal with it. During this period, a son was born to the Emperor, Kuriakos, a half-brother to his own great-uncles.

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When they came to march, Yohannas set forth with over 10,000 men, and Prochoros with 6,500. In an unprecedented move in the history of Makuria, Dioskoros sent out the army to met them but himself staid home in his palace. Never before had a ruler of Makuria not marched with the army, even if they had not personally led it.

16,000 Makurians gathered in northern Nobatia, and in those lands they met the approaching foe, who, co-ordinated or not, arrived on the heels of one another. The fighting was fierce across the deserts, with over 3000 Makurians lost before the foe was defeated. The two defeated foes were brought before Dioskoros, who was uncertain as to how to treat them. He did not wish to banish them, as his grandfather would have done, for fear they would return, and nor did he want to execute them and spread discontent through the realm. In the end he had them locked away and left there until they died.

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When it was pointed out that his lack of presence at the battles had seen grumbling raised among the army, the Emperor sought to atone for it by holding a grand tournament to fate the army and honour those lost. Contenders came from far and wide to take part. The eventual winner was the Emperor's own son and heir, Prince Yohannas, Count of Armail on the Indian Frontier. A formidable warrior and inspiring leader, there was never-the-less a disturbing aspect of the young prince's character that was becoming remarked upon, that being his tendency to speak in tongue and pitch into fits. The more superstitious and the priests spoke of possession in hushed tones, least words of their remarks get back to the Emperor.

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As the revels continued, the parties and feasts and fairs, his vassals came to know Dioskoros II better, and realise that there was more to him than first appeared. Indeed, Dioskoros II himself began to change, realising there was more to life than simply the acquisition of gold, and beginning to understand, and related to his subjects better. This improved character was marked by his skill at games as much as his sociable nature. Peace and prosperity came upon the heartlands of Makuria, barely troubled by the outside world. To the north, the two great Sunni powers, the Muhallabid Sultanate and the Qadirid Calpihate went to war, while on the northern frontier, holy wars sprung up to expand the realm, but for most Makurians, these were far off events.

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The Emperor came to an understanding that his leadership of the nation had been lacking over the first six years of his reign, and began to seek ways to improve it. He reorganised the realm, handing out the Kingdom of Baluchistan to his son Prince Yohannas to oversee, and the Kingdom of Abyssinia to another son, Prince Marturophoros. Putting aside his carousing ways, Emperor Dioskoros II turned to the noble pursuit of hunting. Despite his tendency to flee from lions, stags, bears, boars and rabbits at the first hint of danger, often to the derision of those who saw it, he stuck at the task. He was aided in this by a hunting hound gifted to him by Bishop Senouthios, a dog that the Emperor personally raised and trained and who he called Faithful. The hound went everywhere with the Emperor, and all paintings of him from that time include the hound.

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Despite taking up hunting and pursuing it seriously, the feasts and fairs that marked the early part of the Emperor's reign continued and the realm became a merry place, safe from harm. Few now had any reservations about the Emperor, even if he ruled in a manner different to his forebears.

The preceding years passed quietly, at least within Makuria, for the most. A minor Hindu uprising took place in the sixteenth year of his reign, at around the same time that Euphrosine Baugulfson, the Emperor's third wife died a natural death, aged 46. Euphrosine had proved a stabilising influence, and loyal one, on the Emperor. For the Emperor's forth wife, he sought further afield, marrying a Breton woman, Elena verch Bledros, a woman gifted in most fields, especially stewardship.

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Change was afoot outside Makuria though. The Muhallabid who had ruled Egypt for many years, overthrown by a Shia uprising, one that ushered in a new Caliphate and shifted the balance of power to the north.

Three times during the reign of the Emperor a White Lion was spotted in Makuria, and each time the Emperor set off personally to hunt for it. Despite catching a glimpse of it the first two times, it was only on the third hunt that he cornered the great beast. Yet, as the Emperor prepared for the kill he hesitated. Was not the lion the symbol of his house? And if he should wound it and not slay it, would not the beast turn upon him? And so he let the beast go, and returned home a changed man. Not long after, his faithful hound, who had been with him for many years, reached the end of his life. The Emperor mourned his friend and gave him a proper funeral.

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Eighteen years had passed since Dioskoros II had assumed power, and now 50, he sought out a quieter past time. He began collecting a large library of books, delving into the writings of the ancients. Among the writings of the Romans he uncovered forgotten knowledge. He also thought of his legacy. Unlike his forebears, who had built the Great Tower of Makuria and the elaborate gardens of the palace, he too started a construction, though one of lesser statue. On a hilltop a way out from the palace, he had an observatory constructed, and there he began a study of the heavens.


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It was while he was studying the heavens, in the twentieth year of his reign, that an even that was to have a profound impact on the realm, and his ruler over it, took place. Grand Mayor Birel the Magnanimous of the Sanaa Merchant Republic, declared a Holy War for Medina on Emir Mansur I of the Hashimid Emirate. Even without the aid of Allies, the Grand Mayor could raise an army far larger than the Hashimids. This event marked the start of a renewed series of holy wars, for not long afterwards the Catholic Pope declared the First Crusade, aimed at France. While most Frenchmen were loyal Catholics, their king had succumbed to Lollard heresy. The first of the Catholic Holy Orders emerged, ready to take part in the Crusade. Renewed holy wars also started on the Persian and Indian frontiers of Makuria.

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As all this swirled around, Dioskoros II continued his studies of the stars, approaching a startling conclusion. Before he could confirm it, a letter arrived from the Coptic Pope Zacharias, demanding an end to the studies. It is uncertain as to the exact cause of Dioskoros' response, whether lack of sleep or eagerness to see his studies through, but a sudden truth crystalised for him. He was not Dioskoros the Scholar, Dioskoros the Hunter or Socialiser. He was Dioskoros, Second of that name, Emperor of Makuria, one of the mightiest nations of the world and he did not need to fear anyone any more. Politely he informed the Coptic Pope of his intentions to continue his research.

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Before long his findings were without doubt. The sun did not circle the Earth, as long taught, but it was in fact the other way around. A man who sought to make a name for himself would have released those findings, but not so Dioskoros II. He now knew who he was, and did not need to seek acclaim. He knew as well that releasing them would provoke turmoil in the church, and he need them strong for what was to come.

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Shelving the findings, he came down from the observatory, gathered his armies and declared war upon the Shia Caliph Mansur, a holy war for Aswan. As his army, 17,500 strong gathered and marched, news came from the Grand Mayor – his holy war had been successful and now the two holiest sites in Islam – Mecca and Medina – were in Makurian hands. What was more, their capture enabled Dioskoros II to form the Kingdom of Arabia, gifting it to Duke Masannal the Apostle of Oman.

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The muslims were appalled at the loss of their holy sites, calling for renewed jihad, and establishing the Bektashi Order, a mystical Holy Order. From the cold north came word from the Fylkir of the reformed Germanic faith that it was to be the days of Great Holy Wars ahead, and to aid it the Jomsviking were established.

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The Shia were slow to react, with large parts of Aswan and Buhairya occupied before an army of ten and a half thousand arrived. The Battle of Buhairya was bloody, with almost 4000 Makurians slain, but the Shia were routed and Aswan was lost to them.

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Dioskoros II took Aswan for his own and passed the Duchy of Axum to his son Kuriakos. Since the time of St. Michael, Axum had been the personal holding of the rulers of Makuria, but no more.

The renewed holy wars along the Indian border had succeeded in enlarging the realm, enabling the Emperor to create the Kingdom of Sindh. The man responsible for the victory, Prince Leon the Just, was rewarded with the crown of Sindh.

In the aftermath of the remarkable victory in Aswan, Dioskiros took to poetry. To his surprise, many were impressed with his works, and they were spread far and wide through the realm, adding to the humble Emperor's growing reputation.

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Tragedy followed soon after, for the Emperor's firstborn son, Yohannas, King of Baluchistan, had succumbed to the lunacy that had taken him, leaving his only child, Christina, as Queen.

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Another war soon followed, as Dioskoros sought to make up for a misspent youth and to carry out his duties as ruler of Makuria as his forebears had. Declaring war upon the Maharaja Ranaka II of the Chawda Kingdom in India, he sent eleven and a half thousand men to the war. In the fields of Morvi, in Dhamalpur, his force was attacked by over 13000 warriors. The battle ebbed and flowed, with heavy losses on both sides, before finally the Makurians triumphed, if at a heavy price. Two thirds of the Makurians were dead, as it was for the Chawda. The battle decided the war and soon Dioskoros had annexed the Duchy of Anartta.

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http://i.imgur.com/8KMAMeS.png

http://i.imgur.com/tgIEXd9.png

A brief lull settled upon the Empire as Dioskoros II bid his time. He had one goal in mind, and finally, ten years after the capture of Aswan, he could attempt to fulfil it. Once more he declared war on the Shia, this time for Alexandria itself and the seat of the Coptic Pope. 25,000 Makurian warriors answered the call to arms, the mightiest army ever assembled by Makuria. Splitting into two forces, they marched into the Shia Caiphate. One army, under Dioskoros himself, marched to engage a smaller enemy army. The Battle of Leuke Kome saw the Shia smashed, loosing seven men for every Makurian slain.

http://i.imgur.com/Ib3ZLuh.png

http://i.imgur.com/lNhqvcl.png

With their army gone and holdings falling one by one, it was only a matter of time before Alexandria fell.

On the 5th of April, 940, three centuries after the infidel occupied it, Emperor Dioskoros led his victorious army into Alexandria, there to be met by the Coptic Pope. There he was proclaimed Liberator of Alexandria and news of his victory spread swiftly though Makuria.

Barely a month later, on May 8, 940, the 71 year old Emperor past away, and with him ended a remarkable chapter in the history of Makuria.

http://i.imgur.com/RFuFJRC.png

http://i.imgur.com/9Ijo20X.png


Makuria at the time of the death of Dioskoros II

http://i.imgur.com/l37rAjd.png



That was a totally unexpected reign, and my favourite so far. I had fully expected uprisings and even for the realm to split as, given Dioskoros' craven nature, he was likely to give in rather than fight. Turns out hardcore partying tends to unify a realm. The fortuitous turn of events that saw him improve, loosing greedy and gaining gregarious and others turned him into an actual diplomat and triggered a change in the man, at least in a narrative sense. Flipping from craven to brave in one go just made the character that much more awesome.

Sanaa declaring war on Medina forced my hand – there was little chance they would loose, what with the infighting raging through the muslim world, and the Shia-Sunni schism. Taking Alexandria just before his death and advancing the Miaphysite faith right before his death really made the character.

I tried for a much more narrative driven style for this turn, even up to some minor changing of event orders to tell a better story.



http://i.imgur.com/shdCxHW.png

Byzantium has actually grown a little, but only through the actions of some vassals who tired of the inaction of the Empire and decided to join in the carve up of the shattered muslim middle east. The muslims have not been able to stabilise, rent by infighting. What the loss of Medina and Mecca will do to them will be interesting to see.

http://i.imgur.com/tp0SRdF.png

Khazaria remains strong, even at one point having subjugated Poland. A series of massive revolts saw them loose most of Eastern Europe but since then they have clawed back most of it. The Tengri-Sunni schism has almost ended. Tengri has all but disappeared, though for a while a few pockets of Orthodoxy sprung up followed by a major Catholic uptake before Sunni Islam reasserted its dominance.

http://i.imgur.com/6LqBb7i.png

Europe is a fractured, infighting mess. Heretical France is back as well. The Papal appointed king died not long after taking over and the French lords re-elected the old Lollard royal family again. Of interest is Provence, which has been converted to the reformed Germanic faith after a conquest.

http://i.imgur.com/oZ3Du2w.png

Western Islam is growing strong again. A new dynasty took over, crushing the breakaway states, both Christian and Islamic, in Hispania and North Africa, forging a very powerful nation.



In the annals of the rulers of Makuria, few attract as much interest as Dioskoros II, favoured of storytellers and priests alike. For the storytellers, the tales of his wild adventures in his revels are legendary, if somewhat exaggerated, for historians can find no reference to their accounts of his exploits, and nor can they find any hint of scandals. Yet it does not stop them, and the public are always clamouring for more. The priests focus less on that aspect of his life, except to point out from what low levels he came, but prefer to spend time on his period as a hunter, and specifically, his pursuit of the fabled White Lion of Makuria. Among theological circles, there is much debate as to whether the lion was real, and if he was, then he was an aspect of Christ Himself, or a mere allegory, but both point to it being a spiritual hunt by the Emperor who, unknowingly, yearned for more than he was, and that his fated encounter was the turning point in his character. Once more, historians point out that his remarkable change of character occurred after this event, and was more to do with his studies and dispute with the Coptic Pope.

What most find intriguing about the man was that, unlike his revered ancestors, he was an ordinary man, and yet he made something of himself. His poetry is still widely read, and regarded, and his astronomical studies, which have recently come to light, shed a new insight on a man who would shun personal glory and instead think of the good and stability of the realm by keeping his astonishing findings a secret.

Most of all he is renowned as the Liberator of Alexandria, a man who, in the final month of his life, freed the Coptic Pope and Alexandria from the grasp of the infidel.

From such a humble start to a glorious final chapter in his life, Dioskoros II is one of the truly remarkable figures of Makurian history.

[OnceAKing]

I had to sign up to say that the story of Diaskoros II was excellent.

Narratively it was the best story. I personally favor the first Diaskoros since he was like the classic Caesar/Alexander like type leader. So it followed like an epic. Where as this one is more of a nuanced story.

A scholar, a scientist, a Crusader and conqueror, a hunter, a poet, a socialite, and most importantly an Emperor.


2 things we have to take note of. #1 This empire has to be the size of Rome's peak am I right?

#2 This is like the second Nubian dynasty over Egypt.

[SilverLeaf167]

Variety is indeed the soul of storytelling :smallbiggrin:

Don't worry about changing the order of events; it's quite literally undetectable for us anyway, and much better than going "And thus he marched into Rome (also a merchant showed up) and had a chat with the Pope (while his brother...) AND THEN"
Narrative coherence is God.

[mythmonster2]

It seems like Makuria is starting to reach snowball status, especially with no Abbasids around to contest it. Do you have any plans to counteract this?

[Corvus]

Thanks :)

Its a long way short of Rome at its height. I don't have plans to try and make it that big though, not unless things go crazy.

As for the snowballing, yeah, my vassals are doing a good job at helping it along. I hadn't expected the Caliphate to fragment so badly, and to go on doing so. I thought they might stabilise and still be a major threat for the future.

I do have some plans about the way forward though.

[Artanis]

Whose empire shield is that wedged in against Bavaria's southeast corner? It kinda looks like Francia's, which begs the question of how the hell they wound up over THERE :smallconfused:

[super dark33]

Whose empire shield is that wedged in against Bavaria's southeast corner? It kinda looks like Francia's, which begs the question of how the hell they wound up over THERE :smallconfused:

Its a horde shield, for a settled horde.

[Corvus]

The Khazaria have gone a little crazy, as you may have noticed. Another one has settled down in the turn being played currently.

The first took over Serbia (which included a big chunk of Bulgaria). The new realm, Birland, turned Catholic and still exists. The second one settled out in Central Asia, adopting Manichean of all things. That realm has fallen, split up between various Sunni neighbours. The third one settled what is called Greater Moravia, half of which was taken from Birland's Bulgarian holdings, and the other half from Poland. It is a Sunni realm.

Despite all this, Khazaria is still holding together, even with all the religious schisming going on. So far we've had Tengri, Manichean, Orthodox, Catholic and Sunni faiths present within the horde.

[Corvus]

Next turn has been complete - now to write it up.

Some highlights to whet the appetite; a hugely successful Germanic Great Holy War resulting in a massive Svithjod Empire; a vassalised foreign head of religion; inept ai choosing of guardians results in a terrible heir; Miaphysitism introduced to the pagans; the Kingdom of God.

[OrcusMcP]

Next turn has been complete - now to write it up.

Some highlights to whet the appetite; a hugely successful Germanic Great Holy War resulting in a massive Svithjod Empire; a vassalised foreign head of religion; inept ai choosing of guardians results in a terrible heir; Miaphysitism introduced to the pagans; the Kingdom of God.

Okay, now you're just teasing us. :smallwink:

[Corvus]

Marturophoros II had never expected to be Emperor. It was always presumed that his older brother would reign, even when the first signs of madness began to show up. History had plenty of examples of mad kings and rulers. So Marturophoros concentrated on raising his family, two sons and six daughters, and ruling his holdings.

When his older brother succumbed to his madness, he suddenly found himself as the heir. After much soul searching, he came to the belief that it was for a reason, that God wanted him to rule and from that day on he devoted himself to God, to the study of the Bible and the Faith.

While not a particularly zealous man, he was devout, noted for being a quiet, kind and generous man – for the most. He did have a dark side, his own personal demon as he called it, one that he struggled with all his life, seeking to keep it in check with prayers and fasting, but still at times a lying schemer emerged, and worse, his subjects never knew from day to day which man they would be faced with.

http://i.imgur.com/UnZCSry.png

While he had inherited a strong Empire, it was one he feared the entire muslim world would soon be coming for given their recent losses. With no allies, it would stand alone, and only through trust in God did he see that the nation stood a chance. Even so, he began to set in place a series of betrothals that would aid the Empire in the future, betrothing sisters and daughters across Europe, the highlight of which was his daughter, Iesousyko, to the young heir to the Byzantium Empire, Staurakios Isauros. It would take near fourteen years for that alliance to be cemented, and much could happen in the meantime.

http://i.imgur.com/ZhWSlrW.png

The first sign of the troubles he perceived were coming emerged barely two months into his reign when Sunni rebels erupted in his own holdings in Egypt. Troops were brought in to crush the rebellion before it spread.

http://i.imgur.com/tHJuCqt.png

http://i.imgur.com/rAlp5eh.png

As the last of the rebels were being defeated, the miracle he had prayed for came. Camp fever swept through northern Egypt, and while it had claimed the life of his brother, Thadeosi, Duke of Alexandria, it also struck down the Shia Caliph, leaving a 10 year old boy as Caliph, one with barely an army to his name.

http://i.imgur.com/Aqtz7hG.png

Marturophoros saw it as opportunity from God and swiftly declared a Holy War for Cairo, the seat of the Caliphate. 13,000 Makurian soldiers swept in the Caliphate, meeting no resistance. It was not until most of Cairo was occupied that a small enemy army appeared, outnumbered four to one. Marturophoros proceeded to crush it, then a second slightly larger army that also emerged. Unable to resist any longer, the Caliphate surrendered, just as Duke Petros of Kerman started his own Holy War, against the Zubil Shahdom.

http://i.imgur.com/9147fTV.png

http://i.imgur.com/uRdGK2e.png

http://i.imgur.com/oKF2IhW.png

http://i.imgur.com/WBDdV68.png

Marturophoros proceeded to annex not just the Duchy of Cairo, but to claim the entire de jure realm of the Kingdom of Egypt. He had not expected the results that followed, for the Caliphate disintegrated, leaving a rump Shia Caliphate as his vassal, part of which included the Holy City of Jerusalem.

http://i.imgur.com/zaMXimj.png

http://i.imgur.com/qbVAasK.png


When news was brought to the Emperor of this fact, he sat for a time in shocked silence before falling to his knees to praise God for the victory provided.

The Kingdom of Egypt was given to his son, Iordanes, who had succeeded to the Duchy of Alexandria after the death of his uncle. Jerusalem itself was handed over to the Coptic Pope to rule, while the Caliph had most of his vassals stripped until he was left with just the county of Jaffa.

1http://i.imgur.com/x7qs5vC.png

The shattering of the Shia Caliphate had left a lot of independent Shia rulers, individually weak. Marturophoros II saw this as an ideal opportunity to secure the safety of Jerusalem, which was an enclave in the heart of the muslim world. First the Jabirid Emirate was attacked, with the aim of securing the rest of Egypt. While the armies gathered, word came from Jerusalem that the heathen inhabitants had converted to the Miaphysite faith, and once more the Emperor praised God for the miracle provided.

http://i.imgur.com/Mf1ssYi.png

http://i.imgur.com/4IfFnGB.png

The Shia Caliph was determined not to remain quite, declaring that the time of Jihad was at hand, urging the faithful to march on Anatolia, in the Byzantium Empire. No one who heard the news could fathom it, for it was doomed to failure even before it started. If the Caliph had intended for it to cause divisions between Byzantium and Makuria, it failed to do so.

http://i.imgur.com/lhQdNFk.png

With 17000 men, the Emperor chewed his way through Jabirid. It was his example of faith that caused the formation of a new Holy Order, the Order of Saint Anthony, warriors dedicated to God and the Miaphysite faith.

http://i.imgur.com/rjly53N.png

With the blessings of God obvious to behold, Marturophoros sought so spread the message of the faith to the pagans, sending missionaries off to west Africa, and to cold lands of the north. Sometimes the missionaries were imprisoned when they arrived, but others were welcomed for a time before being asked to leave. Only in the small Slavic nation of Bohemia did they remain for a time, and that was a tree that only bore fruit after a long while.

http://i.imgur.com/k4r89MA.png

http://i.imgur.com/tpEkfmb.png

The Holy War for Damietta reached its only logical conclusion, and Maturophoros gifted a barony in each of its three counties to the Order of St Anthony, strengthening their cause.

http://i.imgur.com/yAxR6K3.png

Word also came from Duke Petros that he had won his own Holy War. The new Duchy of Zabulistan was his reward, doubling his lands. The mission in Bohemia had also ended, with the High Chief banishing the Bishop, but not before he had had success. The Chief of Litomerice, a vassal of the High Chief, had converted, as had some of his household, including his priest.

http://i.imgur.com/maaCm8P.png

http://i.imgur.com/scO1rkf.png

Further proof of the Lord's blessings upon his endeavours came to the Emperor when Bishop Masannal of Taizz announced that the population of Mecca had converted, and as an act of their faith they tore down the old holy places of their former religion.

http://i.imgur.com/7CSDG11.png

Marturophoros pushed on, declaring a Holy War for Sinai against Emir Husam of the Tabghach Emirate. Piece by piece, the old Shia Caliphate was being swallowed up.


Holy Wars were erupted everywhere, but few were more significant than the one that occurred while Marturophoros II commenced his. The Fylkir of the Germanic faith had announced Great Holy War, this one for France itself. While France was but a shell of its former self, it was still a notable prize to be contending for.

http://i.imgur.com/UlVulBG.png

Ignoring the squabbling of far off lands, the Emperor marched into Sinai, taking only 14,000 men. The Tabghach were also soon forced to surrender, and all that stood between linking up the lands of Egypt and the holdings around Jerusalem was the small Shia Isaid Emirate. A Holy War for Ascalon was declared, with the tiny armies of the Emirate swept aside by the veteran Makurian forces.

http://i.imgur.com/z69pSn8.png

http://i.imgur.com/W7kmNn1.png

As the Emirate crumbled so to did France, with the Great Holy War succeeding, forging a mighty Svithjod Empire, though one still tribal in nature.

http://i.imgur.com/gS9oRxY.png

http://i.imgur.com/NVE8vQ5.png

Ascalon, as expected, capitulated to the Emperor, linking up his holdings. Another Holy War had also succeeded, on the same day, with King Dionisios of Arabia, a vassal of the Emperor, expanding his holdings into the former Caliphate.

http://i.imgur.com/nnZNSjm.png

http://i.imgur.com/IgUJq4P.png

The Shia nations barely existed any more, and just one more stood between the Emperor and his ultimate goal. Emir Ghalib of Oultrejourdan was the next to feel the force of Makuria in a Holy War, and within half a year it too had fallen.

http://i.imgur.com/0qFPAMz.png

The Emperor praised God greatly for the string of victories He had bestowed upon the nation, and announced the creation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the holdings, bar for Jaffa, still in the hands of the vassalised Caliph, and Jerusalem, under the rulership of the Coptic Pope, were to be given over to the Order of St Anthony. Who better, he proclaimed, than the Holy Warriors of God to defend the Holy Kingdom of Jerusalem?

http://i.imgur.com/S92VdxC.png



The Emperor himself embarked on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to see the Holy City that he had liberated. It was on that journey that he fell in with a holy knight also making the pilgrimage, Hrodgaud Varbertingi, a Catholic from Lombardy. Despite their religious and social differences, the two men became friends.

http://i.imgur.com/b8NHYLe.png

http://i.imgur.com/vhXNyTY.png

http://i.imgur.com/k6edws6.png

Returning from his pilgrimage a changed man, the Emperor was overjoyed to hear that in far of Bohemia, the people of Litomerice had taken up the Miaphysite faith.

http://i.imgur.com/x4DZT3Q.png

The Catholic Pope, concerned by the loss of France, called for a Crusade to take it back, hoping to repeat the success of the first Crusade for France.

http://i.imgur.com/7JkDGTp.png

Marturophoros, now growing old, and with Jerusalem secure, settled in to enjoy his last years. A minor Shia uprising occurred in Gizeh, but it fared no better than other ones. Once more the missionaries went out in numbers, and once more only in Bohemia did they meet success, with the High Chief himself, Premysl Kounic II, following his vassal in converting to the faith.

http://i.imgur.com/auTsqQi.png

http://i.imgur.com/kFaSkLA.png

The Emperor delved deeply into the studies of the faith, while in Medina, the native population embraced Miaphysitism. He also did his best to convince his friend, Hrodgaud, to convert, but to no avail, though the pair remained friends.

http://i.imgur.com/u8MjAh9.png

http://i.imgur.com/L0Vtr3z.png

On October 24th, 957, aged 64, the Emperor died in his sleep, to be succeeded by his son, Dioskoros III, leaving behind an Empire grown mighty in strength and prestige and faith.

http://i.imgur.com/9UfkHhe.png

http://i.imgur.com/x4uK9sS.png

Makuria at the time of the death of Emperor Marturophoros II, its faith and peoples.

http://i.imgur.com/l56mkZu.png

http://i.imgur.com/ajaIw2R.png

http://i.imgur.com/i049Pth.png



The game can take unexpected turns at times - the vassalisation and taking of Jerusalem I had not expected. At times I just don't understand how the game decides on what to give you when an enemy surrenders or you usurp his titles. Still the shattering of the Shia enabled Makuria and the Miaphysite faith to grow stronger yet.

Oddly, though, the most dominant faith at the moment is Germanic, followed by Orthodox and Miaphysite. Catholic, Sunni and especially Shia are struggling. I tried for the first time to spread Miaphysitism to the pagans, with only one minor success. Even with 90-95 religions authority and throwing waves of bishops at them, they refused to convert. I think it may be because they are coded to prefer to convert to certain religions over others.

Sadly Miaphysitism is a bit limit in game - can't go on crusades, mend schisms or any of the other fun stuff.

Having the Shia Calpih as an impotent vassal was highly amusing though, at least until he started to cause trouble.




http://i.imgur.com/0tbCvxt.png

The Byzantiums have continued their ever so slow increase in size. Despite loosing much ground, the lands of the former Caliphate remain dangerous, especially in unison, and especially if they get aid from the other major Sunni powers still out there.

http://i.imgur.com/ZFXOLi3.png

The Balashkid of Hispania have consolidated their hold on their lands and are the most powerful muslim nation around.

http://i.imgur.com/IbM5y7A.png

The Khazaria are the other great Sunni power, though for a time there their religious schisming saw Catholicism dominant. It seems each new Khagan has a different religion than the last, and whatever he is comes to the forefront, only to diminish when he dies.

http://i.imgur.com/uEaJCPQ.png

Svithjod dominates western Europe, which, as usual, remains a fragmented mess of minor powers squabbling amongst themselves.

[Rockphed]

The green dent in your realm is one of those "taking this power on is a bit beyond us just now" nations, isn't it? Too bad, our name would look pretty running from the Nile to the Indus.

[OrcusMcP]

The pagans are also coded to be more resistant to conversion prior to 1000.

[Corvus]

The green dent in your realm is one of those "taking this power on is a bit beyond us just now" nations, isn't it? Too bad, our name would look pretty running from the Nile to the Indus.

I keep on meaning to do so, but things always keep cropping up, like the Shia and their collapse. I could take on Shaybanid and win, it is just they can call in a lot of friends - Syria, Baghdad, Zunbil, Muhullabid, and Khazaria. It'd be painful for certain. Hence picking on the much weaker Shia.




The pagans are also coded to be more resistant to conversion prior to 1000.

I knew they were hard coded with preferences for certain religions - not about the pre-1000 thing. As it stands there won't be many pagans left pre-1000 I don't think.

[Corvus]

Having to wait to usurp a title until the owner isn't at war can get annoying - I've got two waiting to go, but the owners are tied down in a 25 year and still going war thats been a stalemate for most of the time. The warscore has barely moved in over a decade. I'm up to my third ruler waiting to claim the titles...

[super dark33]

I once could declare another war on a person i could usurp a title of to just take the rest of his lands because he was at a VERY long war.

[Corvus]

Sorry about the lack of updates of late - between sickness, family visiting, a 1st birthday to arrange and various other things, there hasn't been a lot of time. Hopefully I can get back to it soon.

[Artanis]

's cool. An LP can take a lot of work, doubly so for a game with Paradox levels of player freedom :smallsmile:

[Corvus]

This is for an event a couple of rulers along. The fourth actually. I will get the others written up soon I promise.

Lords of Makuria, an opportunity has arisen, one with great potential but also much risk.

One of our kinsmen, a man called Enoch, married a reformed germanic anglo-saxon baroness in the Danmark ruled part of England. How he came to be there we do not known. Enoch is no mere baron though. On his mother's side he is the grandson of the last white Basileus. As all know, since then the Eastern Romans have been ruled by three 'Black Emperors' who, while culturally Greek and religiously Orthodox, physically they appear Nubian, the result of the close marriage ties between Byzantine and Makuria. On his father's side, he is the great-grandson of a Lithuanian King and a Makurian Emperor.

Being the husband of a mere baroness is not in this man's blood, and he has raised a host to claim Byzantine for himself. 23000 men have answered his call, though that is only half the army that the Basileus can raise.

Our own armies are nearly as much as both combined, though given the size of our Empire, it could take some time to assemble them.

We could aid Enoch and place a Miaphysite Nubian upon the throne of Byzantine, breaking two centuries of ties and friendship with the Byzantine ruling family. It would be a bloody affair, the largest clash of armies the world has seen, and no guaranteed thing despite our numerical advantage. If we got involved, it would open us up to attack from the muslim hordes just waiting to call for jihad again.

And even if we placed Enoch on the throne, trouble lies ahead, for his son, though a Hadaatar, is anglo-saxon reformed Germanic like his mother, and we may simply place a pagan upon the throne with no easy means to displace him, handing the second greatest power in the world to the heathens and destroying a close friendship in the process.

Lords of Makuria, what should we do?

[Artanis]

Help the invasion, manuresplosion the pagan son :smallamused:

[SilverLeaf167]

If we are to send thousands of brave Makurian warriors - dozens of thousands, even - to die for another man's claim, we must first be absolutely certain of the immediate consequences. As long as that heathen boy still breathes, all our efforts may be in vain or even make things worse. Only upon the confirmation of his assured demise, or at least conversion, will I agree to field my own levies.

[Rockphed]

A young boy growing up in the squallid halls of a pagan might mistake them for splendor, but he will surely see the light, both literally and figuratively, once he has visited Byzantium. Let us back Enoch's bid for the throne! When he rules in Byzantium, surely the muslims will be too afraid to do anything but quake on their camels waiting for our sword of vengeance and justice to descend upon them.

[Corvus]

Lords of Makuria, while I do not doubt that we could triumph militarily, looking further into the situation would have me believe that supporting Enoch would not be in our best interests. At 45, he has not had a child in 12 years, and only the one pagan son. Next in line is his childless 65 year old brother, currently imprisoned by his French baroness wife. After that, and I am not sure how, are a number of reformed Soumenousko Severian tribal pagans. If we back Enoch, we would most certainly be handing Byzantine over to one group of pagans.

There is another option - Prince Sebastinios. The third son of the former Basilieus and brother of the current, he has lived in our court for a number of years, having been married to our daughter, with their three current children counting as our dynasty. A gifted diplomat, kind, patient, gregarious and temperate, he is also utterly loyal to the Emperor and amiably to convert to Miaphyistism, and through him we would get a Nubian Miaphysite Hadaatar on the throne, and keep them there.

It would mean breaking long standing ties with the Byzantine Empire to do so. Should we let Enoch run his course and then push for Sebastinios, or should we maintain the status quo?

[Artanis]

Indeed, we should put Sebastianos on the throne. To minimize losses, we can even attack at the same time as Enoch, letting his host and the Byzantine army kill each other (as they would do anyways regardless of our course of action) and then mopping up the winner.

I still say we should manuresplosion Enoch's son regardless of what we do though.

[Rockphed]

Indeed, we should put Sebastianos on the throne. To minimize losses, we can even attack at the same time as Enoch, letting his host and the Byzantine army kill each other (as they would do anyways regardless of our course of action) and then mopping up the winner.

I still say we should manuresplosion Enoch's son regardless of what we do though.

Well, if he comes of age before anything happens, we might be able to convince him to come to our court. Then we force convert him and send him to his father in Byzantium.

[Corvus]

Dioskoros III had been born with an apparent chip on his shoulder. He seemed perpetually angry, whether it be zealous anger, the anger of pride and ambition fuelling him, or the wrothful pride of a bully. Bearing the name Dioskoros did not help. It was a name with a crippling reputation to live up to.

http://i.imgur.com/LunBFev.png

While not a warrior or diplomat, he was a steward and set about governing the Empire while looking for a means to make his name.

His eldest son, Gennatios, he betrothed to a Bavarian princess, Emma, while his second son, Stephanos, was betrothed to a German duchess, Hedwig. Gennatios was also made the King of Abyssinia.

There were problems in the realm though, led by the Shia Caliph. He was pushing for independence, and was backed by the powerful King of Arabia. Dioskoros did not understand his father's leniency towards the infidel vassal, and swiftly revoked his holdings. Muzaffaraddin refused, but a lone county against the might of the Empire stood no chance. With Muzaffaraddin the Terrible imprisoned, the independence movement collapsed. The former Caliph was thrown into a deep hole and left to rot.

http://i.imgur.com/b0RqwnQ.png

http://i.imgur.com/OyqBAxw.png

http://i.imgur.com/GQgoCXQ.png

http://i.imgur.com/qkYWlUu.png

http://i.imgur.com/J4tXlR2.png

Dioskoros celebrated by taking a trip to Samarkand, to establish trade relations with Shah Takhsich. Religious differences soured the trip at times, but a deal was struck in the end.

http://i.imgur.com/mlAQucs.png

http://i.imgur.com/wW3gMEj.png

http://i.imgur.com/7LNccqk.png



On returning, Dioskoros found another independence movement brewing, led by the Coptic Pope. The Emperor responded by resorting to bribes, the first but not last time he did so.

Only one Shia ruler remained, the young Sheikh Aram of Amman. Seeing an easy victory, Dioskoros sent the troops in, conquered the county, and handed it over to his third son, Thoma.


http://i.imgur.com/l5chxnj.png

http://i.imgur.com/y6x5gIX.png

With only Sunni left, the fighting to come would be harder, yet Dioskoros had a goal in sight, and started by attacking Badshad Isa the Bold in a holy war for Galilee. The Badshah was bogged down in two internal wars, and so Dioskoros saw his chance and took it. Over 30,000 Makurians invaded, fighting two small battles while besieging holdings.

http://i.imgur.com/3rlbxxl.png


Back at the palace in Makuria, Dioskoros woke one day and looked out, seeing the fabled gardens of his ancestor and the state they had become. While his men fought, he began work on repairing the gardens. Large amounts of gold was spent on repairs, on new statues, fountains, plants and a pavilion.

http://i.imgur.com/gOk0C6e.png

http://i.imgur.com/E4LCbbX.png

The war proved successful, but elsewhere, the Crusade for France failed, leaving it in pagan hands. The Sunni Caliph, seeing the shrinking hold islam had on its former holdings, sought to renew the faith. Caught between two mighty powers, they needed a stirring victory and new lands, and turned their gaze north, to Armenia, declaring a jihad against the Byzantine Empire, the weaker of the two powers.

http://i.imgur.com/d1MAn91.png

http://i.imgur.com/SaZoKgH.png

http://i.imgur.com/mp1aYQj.png

With the Sunni distracted, Dioskoros took advantage, declaring a holy war for Damascus on Emir Shaiban of Syria. Officially, the stated aim was to aid the Basileus defend against the Jihad, but at its heart was conquest of more land. It was thought the Syrians had few troops in the south, and so a confident Makurian army headed north, split into three main forces.

That confidence led to tragedy when a force of almost eleven thousand Syrians ambushed the smallest Makurian column, of almost eight and a half thousand men. While almost a third of the Syrians were killed in the bitter fighting of the Battle of Shabib, they succeeded in wiping out almost the entire Makurian force.


http://i.imgur.com/XTcJo9q.png

http://i.imgur.com/1zW6m3D.png

Heavy though the losses had been, the Makurians could afford them whereas the Syrians couldn't. A second force of over eleven thousand Makurians descended upon the Syrians, defeating them heavily. Not only had Syrians resistance been wiped out but it denied the jihad sizeable body of soldiers.

http://i.imgur.com/DwULYVd.png

Despite these losses, the Syrians regroup and raised more forces, combining with their allies to bring another eleven thousand men to the field. There was no repeating of the early mistakes and over twenty thousand Makurians soldiers met them in the bloody battle of Shabakah which left over eighteen thousand men as casualties.

http://i.imgur.com/BcqCbeX.png

A series of smaller battles raged across Syria as the Syrians kept trying to resist, unsuccessfully.

http://i.imgur.com/7BLgu2E.png


Emperor Dioskoros' oversight of the war was interrupted on October 31, 966, when news came to him that his heir, Prince Gennatios, had been murdered, on the orders of Prince Stephanos, his second son.

http://i.imgur.com/I9x14Tg.png

Dioskoros III was outraged by this and had his son arrested immediately. He was on the verge of having him executed when cooler heads prevailed, pointing out that his relationship with his vassals was precarious enough, and killing his own son would cause a major hit on their opinions of him, traitor on not. The Emperor vowed that Stephanos would never hold the throne, and had him tossed into the pit, where the bones of the former Shia Calpih mouldered, never to be released.

http://i.imgur.com/Xsqjo4S.png

The murder of Gennatios had other repercussions, as the inheritance laws of Abyssinia saw the Kingship pass out of the royal family for the first time since it had been claimed. Even as the war against Syria ended with the Battle of Mafraq, Dioskoros III plotted to get the throne of Abyssinia back for his family. Kingdom Viceroyalty laws were enacted, but couldn't yet be used.

http://i.imgur.com/UtG6Kp0.png

http://i.imgur.com/iedMoh6.png

The Sunni Jihad for Armenia came to a pitiful end after a string of defeats. It had been hampered by the absence of the three main Sunni powers. The Hispania Sunni, the most powerful Sunni nation, never joined in, nor did the Sunni of Khazaria, despite bordering Byzantine. The Shaybanid, still ruling the Arabian Empire, only joined in too late when the war was all but over.

http://i.imgur.com/7OtkNxj.png

The Shaybanid had been weakened, though, during the later part of the Jihad, and Dioskoros III took advantage, declaring war upon them for the part of Damascus that they held. Meanwhile, off in Miaphysite Bohemia, the Duke had taken up the cause and declared a holy war on the Sunni Khan Papacyz the Cruel of Moravia.

http://i.imgur.com/gHWLcdK.png


The war itself did not take long, for at the battle of Montfort, a minor skirmish between 6000 Makurians and 2000 Shaybanid, the Badshah of the Shaybanid fell into Makurian captivity, resulting in a swift surrender. Meanwhile, in Bohemia, the Miaphysite faith emerged triumphant as well.

http://i.imgur.com/jKYWeoH.png

http://i.imgur.com/szzbjmE.png

http://i.imgur.com/hR6xSLW.png

http://i.imgur.com/hy4sis8.png

Back in Abyssinia, things were happening. First King Gebereal was slain by a bowman, then his successor, King Ogbae, met his end through poisoned wine, both deaths going unsolved. Even with this, the Kingship remained outside of the Emperor's control. In the end he simply stripped the title from the latest king, Dawit of Gojjam, and appointed his aged uncle, Kuriakos of Axum, as the viceroyal ruler of Abysinnia.

http://i.imgur.com/H1znxCo.png

http://i.imgur.com/3prlinQ.png

The Grandmaster of the Order of Saint Anthony also died, at the hands of a snake, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem returned to Dioskoros III, and a new viceroyalty was established there.

http://i.imgur.com/k9xcFsE.png

Seeking to allay the grumblings of his vassals, Dioskoros III calls for a grand tournament to be held. A major independence movement centred around the King of Arabia has sprung up, and worse was to follow. Waking up late one night, the Emperor found an assassin in his bedchambers, ready to strike. The Emperor managed to escape, those involved captured and forced to reveal their employer – Prince Atoberhan of Abyssinia, the Duke of Gondar. The Duke was swiftly arrested, but refused to say why he plotted to kill the Emperor. Prince Stephanos soon had company down in the pit, the Duke being left there to die as well.

http://i.imgur.com/EO7knhh.png

http://i.imgur.com/dLDcdyL.png

http://i.imgur.com/sI3vzIY.png

The Tournament continued, and though one participant died, one was wounded and two were maimed, including the King of Egypt, it was well received. Seeking to paper over the cracks in the Empire, Dioskoros III then calls for a fabulous feast and this, as well as further bribes, saw the independence movement fade away.

http://i.imgur.com/OeAnNTf.png

http://i.imgur.com/2fxLLxw.png

Off in Afghanistan, Duke Masannal of Zabulistan declared a Holy War on the Shah of Zunbil for Kabulstan. Eager warriors soon flood in from throughout the vassals of the Empire to aid the cause.

http://i.imgur.com/5wKU6sl.png

Almost ten years after being tossed into the pit, Prince Stephanos died, with his younger brother now heir. To atone for the stain upon the family's honour, the Emperor declares a holy war for Syria. The Emir of Syria was incapable, relying upon a regent, and so the Emperor saw it as an easy target. Unlike the previous war against the Syrians, there are few battles, and these one sided. The Syrians soon sue for peace even before the war was complete, adding to the realm.

http://i.imgur.com/ifWnAzR.png

http://i.imgur.com/HsNMQJY.png

http://i.imgur.com/EPHd9vl.png

From Bohemia, word came of trouble for the Miaphysite Duchy, as the powerful Sunni nation of Plock had declared war upon them. Dioskoros III was not about to allow the duchy to fall, and so offered to join the war. 17,000 warriors were set marching across Europe to Bohemia. Many died along the long march. As the first 10,000 neared Bohemia, a force of 11,000 attacked them, being comprised mostly of light cavalry and horse archers. The Makurian force was in danger of being destroyed when the other 7000 soldiers joined in the battle and swung it back in the favour of the Empire. While the enemy were defeated, it had come at a heavy cost, with over 9000 Makurians lost. The main threat to Bohemia had been defeated though and all that remained was the mopping up. Over ten and a half thousand Makurian warriors had perished in foreign lands, but the Miaphysite faith remained secure in Bohemia.

http://i.imgur.com/Q0EJmi5.png

http://i.imgur.com/M8aC6Zr.png

The holy war over in Zabulistan had also ended in victory. Though Duke Masannal had died before it had ended, his young son saw it to the end, or at least his regents did.

http://i.imgur.com/2a4tTMd.png

The aging Dioskoros III saw at last his opportunity to make his name, once more declaring a Holy War on the Badshah of Shaybanid, this time for Antioch itself, the last holy site of the Miaphysite faith not within Makurian hands. Once more, the Emperor chose his moment when the Badshah was already bogged down in tow other wars, unable to properly resist. Even as he went to war, trouble sprung up within Makuria, with Sunni rebels emerging in one place and a peasant revolt in another. The Emperor left local forces to deal with them while directing the war effort against the Shaybanid.

Off in Danmark, a curious thing had occurred. The Danish king had converted to the Orthodox faith, an act his fellow norsemen did not agree with. The Fylkir of the Germanic faith declared a Great Holy War against Danmark to reclaim it for the faith.

http://i.imgur.com/I5jmlg4.png

Change was happening with the Byzantine Empire as well. The old Basileus had passed away, and a new Basileus was crowned. Belisarios was the first Black Emperor, his mother having been Dioskoros' sister. The infusion of Hadaatar blood into the Isauros family saw a change from the placid Empire, with Belisarios immediately declaring a holy war against Syria. While the Byzantines crushed Syria, the Makurians crushed Antioch. A messy number of wars raged across the lands of northern Syria, with numerous rebels and other participants in the wars there.

http://i.imgur.com/yxQQxQU.png

http://i.imgur.com/cCrWd21.png

The Byzantine war ended first before the Badshah saw the writing on the wall and also capitulated. Antioch was now controlled by Makuria. Emperor Dioskoros III, now known as the Apostle, formed the Kingdom of Syria from the newly acquired lands.

http://i.imgur.com/NzMpCUL.png

Over in Danmark, the Germanic faith had emerged triumphant and the Orthodox faith was driven out.

http://i.imgur.com/kLE7c6z.png

The Basilieus, not content with the victory over the Syrians, turned his eyes upon the Khazaria next, aiming to liberate Aghbania from them.

http://i.imgur.com/LmAGeUW.png

Not to be outdone by his nephew, Dioskoros focused on a new target – the Sultanate of Baghdad. The Sultan was involved in a war alongside the Shaybanid against the Zunbil, one that had been running for 17 years with no end in sight.

Before the troops had even began marching, Dioskoros III caught pneumonia and less than a month later, on January 22, 990, aged 62, he died.

http://i.imgur.com/nBgJezH.png

http://i.imgur.com/XghmlT2.png

http://i.imgur.com/uCj4Xnq.png

Dioskoros III is known in the annals of history as the lesser Dioskoros, a description that would have filled him with chagrin. Though the capture of Antioch was accounted to his credit, the foes he battled were seen as lesser enemies, and Dioskoros never went to war with them except when they were already weakened or already involved in other wars. He is most remembered for the events surrounding his sons and for the folly that was the Bohemian expedition. While the nation was saved for a time, future events were to show that the loss of so many men were unnecessary.

[Artanis]

Deus In Kaelo*, that is a LOT of red icons. I mean, I've seen worse than 3 Sins + 0 Virtues + Craven on a ruler, but never on a player-controlled one :smalleek:

Honest question: is it just bad luck, or are you deliberately educating them for RP and/or narrative effect to spice up the LP a bit? I suppose it could get a little boring to have nothing but Just, Ambitious, three-Virtue rulers over and over when telling a centuries-spanning story...



*Translation: "God In Heaven".

[Corvus]

This is another fine graduate of the AI school for education of grandchildren. I try to give my heir a good education (while other children, siblings, nieces/nephews etc are used to prop up loyalty), but when they come of age they tend to hang around the palace whining about not having any land. So I give them some and then no longer have any say over how my heir's heir is educate, which results in rulers like that.

In other positive news, I realised I hadn't seen the Karlings for a while. So I went and had a look and found out they had gone extinct. Not sure who did it, but the fact they seem to have far more daughters than sons probably didn't help. The rulers of my dynasty also seem to have a lot more daughters as well, for some reason.

[Corvus]

The new Emperor of Makuria, Thoma Hadaatar, was regarded by all who knew him as a pleasant man – kind, charitable and gregarious, a competent warrior, and a man of zealous faith. He had also in his youth been something of a playboy, with numerous affairs, one of which had sadly left him poxed.

http://i.imgur.com/jOHUO1v.png

Upon taking the throne, and inheriting a war, Thoma put his womanising behind him, and concentrated upon the stewardship of the Empire, and the war effort. 17000 Makurians were in action across Baghdad, fighting a series of minor battles.

http://i.imgur.com/7VsvT9T.png

Barely a year into his reign, with the war concluded, Thoma's condition worsened into a great pox, and he knew his days were numbered, yet that did not stop his efforts to guide the Empire in readiness for the crowning of his son.

http://i.imgur.com/RE6pEkF.png

Another reminder of his past also emerged, with an illegitimate son presented to him. Thoma swiftly legitimised the boy, Iesous, even though his daughter and two other sons were less than happy with it.

http://i.imgur.com/lMOaBPs.png

Thoma threw himself into governing the Empire, and indeed became noted for his ambitions, for his fairness, diligence and justness. His impending doom began to weigh upon him though, and soon depression set in.

http://i.imgur.com/gtuduYl.png

http://i.imgur.com/uZDK8oV.png

http://i.imgur.com/peo3Jjm.png

http://i.imgur.com/LUa1EBt.png

http://i.imgur.com/wKIo5DO.png

Just before the pox killed him, aged only 42, on November 8, 995, word came of another crusade for France against the Germanics. The throne passed to Thoma's 14 year old son, Chael, a troubled child plagued by fits, but one who destiny lay upon.

http://i.imgur.com/0o6i9hL.png

http://i.imgur.com/IHJSVBt.png

http://i.imgur.com/YYAlLAp.png

Thoma is forever remembered as the Emperor who could have been, a man with all the traits of a great man about him cruelly cut down by the curse of a misspent youth. As such, he is a favourite for those who spin fanciful tales of alternate histories, though the successes of his son, a truly remarkable Emperor, make the deeds of Thoma in those stories seem fanciful in the extreme.

http://i.imgur.com/OZR8RJX.png

[Rockphed]

Destroy the Shaybanids! Let the name "Makuria" be written from the Nile to the Indus!

[Corvus]

The next update may take a while as it lasts a while and a lot happens. But as a teaser...

Chael, a name that echoes down through history. Chael the Great. The Second Alexander. The Wolf of Makuria. A Emperor with few rivals, but a man with dark demons. The fits and the voices. The temptations from the devil. And the moon-madness that plagued most of his reign...

[Valley]

Posting to Watch. And also see what happens to the Byzantine Empire (or Empire of the Greeks) and what happens to India (or what your Empire does to it) :smallbiggrin:.

[Corvus]

Sorry for the lack of updates - I will get back to posting them soon. Life just got in the way for a bit.

As for Byzantium, interesting things happen with it. Not so much with India.

Oh, and the Mongols have appeared.

[Rockphed]

Sorry for the lack of updates - I will get back to posting them soon. Life just got in the way for a bit.

As for Byzantium, interesting things happen with it. Not so much with India.

Oh, and the Mongols have appeared.

Like actual Mongol Mongols? I thought they showed up around 1215.

[Corvus]

Yup, the Mongols. I've played a bit ahead of where the posting is up to. But (shortly) will come the next update.

[Corvus]

Emperor Chael was a youth of only 14 when his father died, a reckless, and some would say troubled, boy. Brave and proud, he had a temper to match, a deceitful nature, and worse, many said that he was possessed, subject to fits and babbling in strange tongues.

http://i.imgur.com/ZlJ1rfI.png

His regents and councillors tried their best to keep the boy out of the public eye, as if to hide his flaws. They sought out a wife for him, choosing one from Byzantine, the 15 year old Strategitissa Helene Botaneiates of Cilicia.

http://i.imgur.com/AtqfiU2.png

They couldn't hide him forever, and at the great feast to mark his coronation, Emperor Chael made an indelible mark on his subjects. The Bishop Theodote attacked a servant over spilt wine and, clergy or not, the Emperor ordered him imprisoned, gaining the name of a just man.

Upon coming of age, the Emperor had already earned the reputation of a brilliant strategist. His first action after marrying Helene was to call out his rival, Eliezer Hadaatar. History does not recount what drove the two men apart, but the Emperor challenged him to a duel, one that the older Eliezer accepted.

http://i.imgur.com/2MblHiB.png

If Eliezer expected the Emperor's youth to count against him, he was sorely mistaken, for Chael fought as one possessed, and swiftly he wounded Eliezer, ending the fight.

http://i.imgur.com/HOCzywD.png

With the duel over with, Emperor Chael turned to what he felt he had been born for – war. The full account of his battles and wars takes up many volumes, and are best read elsewhere. Having started to study the history of Alexander the Great, Chael sought to emulate him and headed east, aiming to connect the holdings in Syria with those in Persia.

For most of the battles throughout Syria, Baghdad and Persia he relied on the Imperial forces, now almost 10,000 men strong, only on occasions calling up local levies to flesh out the forces needed.

His first target was the minor Sultan Sadiq of Mosul, who still held the title of Baghdad, despite all of the de jure kingdom of Baghdad being occupied by Makuria.

http://i.imgur.com/MKXGiTF.png

As he went to war, the Crusade for France came to an end, with the Germanics being driven out by the Catholics. Elsewhere, the powerful Badhsah of the Balashkid who ruled Spain went to war with the boy Basileus of Byzantine for control of the Mallorcas. Anthemios was the second of the Black Emperor's of Byzantine.

http://i.imgur.com/hR4LV2W.png

http://i.imgur.com/o2AzmRb.png

During the campaigning, Chael's first child was born, a girl called Pelagia. A few months later the Sultan surrendered Mosul, and immediately the Emperor turned on his next target, Sheik Faisal of Kurdistan. Other, minor Sunni powers came to the defence of Kurdistan, and this Chael remembered. Kurdistan also quickly fell, but as they did, peasants rose up in Bostra in nearby Syria. Chael marched his armies from Kurdistan to deal with them swiftly. The leader of the revolt, Abdul-Wahab, a lowborn Bedouin, was not executed as many expected, but instead sent to join the Holy Order of St. Anthony.

http://i.imgur.com/LQMAo2j.png

http://i.imgur.com/urkaJwd.png

http://i.imgur.com/OsjwFfW.png

http://i.imgur.com/8ulzarp.png

http://i.imgur.com/RK1ON7A.png

More war followed, as Chael returned to his eastward push, this time into the lands of Emir Shamir of the Aligoodarzid Emirate. As he took to the field, his wife gave birth to their first-born son, and heir, Helias. 22,000 Makurian warriors destroyed a number of minor armies on their way to occupying the lands. Chael's already formidable military skills improved during the campaigning, becoming a student of strategy and also becoming expert at battling in the flat lands.

http://i.imgur.com/PFJUv5B.png

http://i.imgur.com/qL2gts7.png

http://i.imgur.com/BTxQEar.png

The Emir was forced to surrender and once more Chael went to war, this time against three minor foes at once; Sheik Mahmud of Hamadan, once part of the Aligoodarzid Emirate, Sheik Khaireddin of Rayy, a member of the once powerful Abbasid dynasty, and Sheik Bahram of Dulafid. Given all three were going to fight in defence of each other, Chael felt it wise to take out all three together. Chael's insights while campaigning saw him become Adept at Strategy.

http://i.imgur.com/Yo3HTge.png

http://i.imgur.com/NzSAPIc.png

The armies of the muslim rulers could only put up feeble resistance to the superior Makurian forces and soon armies camped on all three of their countries, taking their holdings one by one. First Dulafid, then Rayy and finally Hamadan were forced to submit. The new holdings split the Shaybanid in two parts.

It was against the Shaybanid that Chael next turned, targeting the Tigris region of Mesopotamia. The Badshah could raise a larger army than the former victims of Chael, but far below what it had been at its height. A 7000 man force was swiftly dispatched as other Makurian forces took Shaybanid holdings along the Tigris. Before the war could end, though, the Badshah was overthrown, resulting in an end to the conflict and some minor fragmenting of the holdings of the former Badshah.

http://i.imgur.com/WbJu8jg.png

http://i.imgur.com/dm0cgsi.png

Chael went back to war for Tigris, not being put off by a change of Badshah. The new Badshah, Abdullah the Conqueror went to battle full of confidence, but in the first clash of the war, his army was destroyed and he himself dragged off as a prisoner before Chael, swiftly ending the war.

http://i.imgur.com/6VQSM5P.png

http://i.imgur.com/ynnzjhB.png

Chael continued on with his crushing ways, this time aiming for the lands of Fars against Emir Azam of the Emirate of Fars. It was at this stage that the courtiers notices strange happening around their Emperor begin, of a growing restlessness that grew as the moon did. This behaviour reached a climax at the arrival of the full moon. Whispers began to spread of the king's affliction, that he was a werewolf. Some even claimed to have seen a man answering to the description of the Emperor killing a cow under the influence of the full moon, a rumour that was swiftly denied.

http://i.imgur.com/RGpxZAX.png

It was also at this time that men took to calling Chael 'The Great', in mix out of fear, in admiration for his battle prowess, for his military exploits and for his habit to likening himself to Alexander whose exploits he sought to replicate.

http://i.imgur.com/2UICKAz.png

While campaigning in Fars, Chael noted that Basra had broken away from the Abdullahid, though for the time he occupied himself with the Fars and another peasant uprising. Within a month of each other, the two wars were ended.

http://i.imgur.com/pb6mqRe.png

Another war followed, this time against the lowly Sheik Isa of Qom, and once that was done, Chael turned to the Sunni Caliph, Mansur II, for control of Basra.

http://i.imgur.com/qT9vQWY.png

http://i.imgur.com/8ZoQeqH.png

While the war was going on, the Emperor's Chaplain arrived in Timbuktu, to continue the long tradition of sending missionaries to West Africa.

http://i.imgur.com/B8VG8VD.png

The situation for the Abdullahid deteriorated as yet more lands broke away from their rule, and leaving more targets for the Emperor. Even his subjects took part in devouring the remnant of the once powerful muslim nation. Over in France, the Germanics once more tried to retake the lands declaring another Great Holy War.

http://i.imgur.com/MQlew2D.png

http://i.imgur.com/Q2UDxXm.png

http://i.imgur.com/FXfAi0j.png

Basra fell, as expected, and Chael pressed de jure claim against Sheik Mubarak the Quareller of Kermanshah, one of those that had broken away from the Abdullahid. During this period of campaigning, Helene, the Emperor's wife, died aged 40 after a period of illness. The following day, long awaited news came from West Africa – Mansa Kassei of Mali had embraced the Miaphysite faith.

http://i.imgur.com/f20XpDu.png

http://i.imgur.com/sY9m8h8.png

http://i.imgur.com/nBDSqhF.png

Finishing off the latest war, Chael sought out another wife, selecting Liutperga de Gonzaga, a Lomardi woman of fine character. After only a month and a half of marriage, Chael went back to war again, this time against Emir Abdul-Gafur of the Tamimi Emirate. The Emirs forces were crushed in a series of battles and three Makruian armies set about besieging holdings. A little over a year after it started, the war was won.

http://i.imgur.com/2ifqNxD.png

http://i.imgur.com/AU81MRM.png

The last victory enabled Chael to reform the ancient kingdom of Persia, and yet he was not satisfied. What Alexander had done, her sought to outdo.

http://i.imgur.com/iz9msk5.png

The truce with the Badshah had expired and so Chael turned on him again, claiming the rest of Nefoud. Meanwhile off in France, the Catholics held off the Germanics, enabling the much fought over lands to have some peace for a while.

http://i.imgur.com/xLmuysg.png

Chael's second wife, Liutperga, died in April of 1024, giving birth to a son, Masannal. After a three week period of mourning, Chael sent to Lombardy for another wife, a young genius named Theodelinda Roderissingi.

http://i.imgur.com/xfL3eDF.png

http://i.imgur.com/VpTVlPH.png

The war for Nefoud took three and a half years to bring to a conclusion and to celebrate the conquest Chael organised a great tournament. During the course of it, two guests was killed, two were maimed and three wounded.

http://i.imgur.com/gENDhS1.png

http://i.imgur.com/v6wCoOy.png

More war followed, this time aimed for the remnants of Zunbil, at the same time as his subject Viceroy Ioannou of Persia was at war with them. Together the two wars extinguished the last of the Zunbil nation, and with it Chael claimed all of the lands of Afghanistan, adding another Kingdom to the growing collection of the Empire.

http://i.imgur.com/aCU3lTm.png

http://i.imgur.com/M7EUvct.png

Not even stopping for a rest, Chael focused next on Shah Sasan the Proud of Sogdiana, aiming to take Khiva. The Pope also had his eyes on fresh conquests, looking to take Aquitaine from the muslims.

http://i.imgur.com/O9kKIoT.png

http://i.imgur.com/XTINmmC.png

As with previous wars, the Makurians swept through the meagre defences of the enemy and began their sieges, but in this war the Shah had an ally – the mighty Khagan Busir of Khazaria. Yet before any Khazaria hordes could be seen, the war was over.

http://i.imgur.com/miB5Nt3.png

http://i.imgur.com/33YEjp2.png

With truces preventing further action against the remaining muslim nations, Chael sought to go better than even Alexander did and push into India. His first target was Maharaja Vakpatiraja of Rajputana, seeking to expand the current Makurian holdings in the region and link then up by land. The war was short, as in the first battle of the campaign the Maharaja was captured, forcing him to surrender Stravani to Chael.

http://i.imgur.com/Dr5rnH8.png

http://i.imgur.com/IloyUSJ.png

http://i.imgur.com/lEwZkeM.png

Maharaja Jayavaraha of Chawda followed, a powerful nation with many allies. Chael sent in two forces, one 12,000 strong which he commanded, and another 11,400 strong, commanded by his son and heir, Helias. This second force came into contact with 8,500 Indian warriors, including 76 war elephants. The Makurians were confident, having the numerical advantage, but the battle swiftly turned into a disaster. The Battle of Jhalod was one of Makuria's worst defeats, with over 10,000 lost to a mere 3000 Indians.

http://i.imgur.com/pMgJ1Er.png

http://i.imgur.com/duYiwFK.png

The Pope too saw defeat, having to call off the Crusade for Aquitaine.

http://i.imgur.com/I8k4zMj.png

Chael brought in fresh troops to replace those lost, and hunted down the Chawda army that had likewise been reinforced. The Battle of Girnar saw 25,000 Makurians face off with 21,000 Indians, who now had 180 war elephants. Losses were heavy on both sides, numbering 8000 Makurians and 12,000 Indians but Chael emerged triumphant, even capturing the Grandmaster of one of the Indian Holy Orders. Gurjara Mandala fell to Chael not long after.

http://i.imgur.com/3XX3vhO.png

http://i.imgur.com/yIMQzlJ.png

Off in Africa, the Shia put in a return, while the Balashkid of Hispania again went to war with the Byzantines over Mallorca. Chael betrothed his young daughter, Ioustina, to Prince Loukas of Byzantine, heir to the Throne.

http://i.imgur.com/U1EJkR3.png

A couple of years of peace chafed at Chael and he soon returned to war, moping up part of what remained of the Abdullahid Empire, taking Damman from them.

http://i.imgur.com/irtE8Mj.png

Sailing back to India with his retinue, he went to war with Maharaja Mangalesi the Wise of Maharastra for the coastal lands of Konkana. As he fought in India, word came that the new Shia Caliph in Africa declared a jihad for Egypt. He swiftly wrapped up the Indian campaign, taking the lands he sought, and returned back to the new war.

http://i.imgur.com/oEoTKrE.png

http://i.imgur.com/mJOCaLn.png

Before he could get involved, a Makurian force on the border with Africa, 11,500 strong, was attacked by 11,000 Shia and was routed, loosing 3 men for every muslim slain. The army of the Caliph had little chance to celebrate, for within a month, a second army of 15,000 Makurians utterly crushed them, while more and more Makurian warriors arrived from the corners of the Empire.

http://i.imgur.com/6nOKAEp.png

http://i.imgur.com/DDnfRGh.png

The Miaphysite faith was on the march elsewhere, as the Duke of Bosnia, who had married a Hadaatar, converted unexpectedly.

http://i.imgur.com/EZVDuZe.png

With the war against the Shia going well, Chael turned his eye elsewhere, back to Sogdiana and sent his retinue to claim Samarakand from Shah Sasan. Once more the Khazaria promised to aid them, though before they could be of any assistance, Shah Sasan was captured and the war ended, followed not long after by the failure of the Jihad.


http://i.imgur.com/xjbQKJh.png

http://i.imgur.com/fozZku4.png

http://i.imgur.com/VYQc8yS.png

Not content with fighting the Shia Caliph, he then attacked the Sunni Caliph, Radhi of the Abbasid, for control of Azerbaijan. The once powerful dynasty could barely mount a resistance before surrendering.

http://i.imgur.com/Nrb2mhY.png

Over in Hispania, the Kingdom of Lombardy had invaded and succeeded in capturing part of it, an unexpected turn of events given the power of the muslim Hispanic Empire.

http://i.imgur.com/kbCee4Z.png

Not to be outdone, Chael sailed back to India, and invaded the Maldives, with 14,400 men storming the beaches and crushing the enemy, taking Thakur Chogaganga prisoner and ending the war with minimal losses.

http://i.imgur.com/2CLdBPZ.png

http://i.imgur.com/G7T56oG.png

From the Maldives, it was back to the mainland of India and a war for the rest of Chera Nadu against Maharaja Narasanayaka of Andhra.

http://i.imgur.com/ykjZPBf.png

In the north, Prince Masannal of Khiva had claimed Dihistan. With it, Chael had claimed enough land to take the title of Emperor of Persia.

http://i.imgur.com/pfVKiTD.png

Chael was busy in India, fighting a couple of major battles. The second, the Battle of Udupi, saw Chael lead his 14,400 man retinue against a much larger India force, 24,000 strong. In one of his most memorable victories, over 19,000 Indians were lost against 5,000 of his own men. With such a crushing defeat, the Maharaja surrendered.

http://i.imgur.com/v75Ah24.png

Chael returned back to Makuria in triumph, a place he has seen infrequently during his long reign of over 50 years.

The triumph was short lived, for not long after he began to hear voices whispering to him, and it soon became apparent that it was the work of Satan. Putting aside his warring ways, Chael turned to the church for guidance, seeking relief from the voices in prayer, meditation and religious contemplation.

http://i.imgur.com/lrKizQr.png

http://i.imgur.com/AeBWhRS.png

The voices remained and so he went on Pilgrimage, to Aksum where the Ark of the Covenant lay. As he prayed in the churches there, the voices whispered to him to proclaim himself a god before the masses. Chael fought the urge, returning home a troubled man. He began to lose interest in work or his appearance, gaining the reputation as a lazy, slothful man.

http://i.imgur.com/otMJ8dj.png

http://i.imgur.com/3QPyV72.png

http://i.imgur.com/4XS0Hwr.png

More blasphemous words followed, telling him that the Bible was but lies and Chael began to be stressed by fighting the whispers. Others were not so troubled in their faith, as in the cold north the Suomenusko reformed their faith.

http://i.imgur.com/EcCMPC8.png

http://i.imgur.com/qfNX6mg.png


Worse was to follow for the Emperor, as the whispers in the night revealed a hidden desire for other men, further straining relations with the church. Shortly after a blood red comet appeared in the skies, an omen some said, or a warning to the Emperor from God others pronounced.

http://i.imgur.com/AzID0ik.png

http://i.imgur.com/RD3Gulc.png

Within half a year of the comet, the Emperor's son and heir, King Helias the Wise of Mesopotamia died aged 54 after a period of illness. Helias' son, Leontios, became the new heir.

http://i.imgur.com/IFqMBSl.png

After their defeat in their Jihad, the Shia had been conquered by the Sunni from Hispania, and the Sunni Caliph deemed it the right time to declare Jihad for Persia. Barely had he done so than the old Balashkid Empire disintegrated into numerous factions. The Umayyad even made a return. The Sunni were far more of a threat than the Shia had been though, and so Chael called for aid from Basileus Anthemios the Just.

http://i.imgur.com/yiRicxB.png

http://i.imgur.com/kMErkoV.png



With the war barely started, and with the troops starting to assemble, Chael passed away on 23 August 1056, aged 74. A great warrior, he had expanded the Empire to become the major power of the know world, with lands that surpassed even Alexander's conquests. Most but serious historians ignore the mental problems of his latter days, instead seeing him as a mighty ruler, the equal of the great Dioskoros.

His foucs was entirely on pushing back the borders of Makuria, with little concern for what happened elsewhere. When a Catholic battled for the Duchy of Bohemia, he did not get involved and soon the Miaphysite duchy had been claimed Catholicism, bar for one breakaway County. Even with that loss, the Miaphysite faith was far stronger than when he had come to the throne, with Mali also staunchly Miaphysite.

http://i.imgur.com/1j779Bo.png

http://i.imgur.com/wKXavNA.png





http://i.imgur.com/HruQ0Gi.png

http://i.imgur.com/Ck8497z.png

http://i.imgur.com/jeS0jUq.png

[Artanis]

Deus In Kaelo, that's a lot of blobbing :smalleek:

Random comments:
-So...many...captures. I'm lucky to capture that many enemy rulers in several centuries, much less during a single ruler's lifetime.
-I am disproportionately amused by the fact that the Byzantine Empire is basically identical in the before and after shots. The only change was what, losing two counties in the Balkans while gaining the two next to them? :smalltongue:
-Can we get a screenshot of the Independent Nations ledger page, sorted by army size?

[Corvus]

I wasn't expecting him to live so long when I started his conquering ways - he didn't even get so much a scratch through all the battles. At the end of the reign I began thinking that maybe the Empire was a little too large, a problem that gets rectified in later turns. There were a number of minor wars and vassal conquests that I didn't cover either the vassals were busy with de jure claims all over the place.

The number of captures was unusually high. I think it was more than all the years previous and since combined.

The Byzantines have been unusually passive in this game. They just sit there, very occasionally going to war. They haven't had much in the way of internal disputes either. Things do change a little further down the line, but that is for another update.

I'll have to load up an old save and grab a copy of the army sizes. Makuria does have the largest but after Chael's death it falls a bit.

[Corvus]

http://i.imgur.com/i0EzbaD.png

[Corvus]

Apologies again for taking so long to update the AAR. Right now I'm going through computer difficulties with constant lockups and even boot failures. Lucky it is still under warranty and that I've backed up all files so hopefully when it is fixed or replaced I can continue on.



As so often happened through Makurian history, the new Emperor, Leontios, inherited a war upon the death of his predecessor. While a brave man, Leontios was not a warrior, but a diplomat, yet there could be no diplomacy in the face of a jihad.

(I seem to have misplaced the screenshot of his stats when he took over.)

Leontios marshalled his armies, sending 58,000 men into Egypt to battle the invaders and calling in the aid of the Byzantine Basileus.

http://i.imgur.com/wEQbOy1.png

One small enemy army was defeated but no more immediately followed. In the meantime Leontios asked for, and received, a divorce from his wife Ouareno, known as the Unfaithful for her adulterous ways. Replacing her was a young Frenchwoman, Etiennette de Battenburg, a woman gifted with stewardship despite her youth. With her, Etiennette brought a young dog which she gifted to the Emperor.

http://i.imgur.com/ojgL6ew.png

http://i.imgur.com/i0N2zvz.png

Word came of trouble in the far north, with the Germanics launching a Great Holy War on the cold realm of Suomi.

http://i.imgur.com/ZG6L2C7.png

After a year of little action in the Jihad, enemy forces began to appear in the north, coming down through Azerbaijan. Forces were repositioned to deal with them and a series of minor battles took place. In the meantime Etiennette had presented the Emperor with twin daughters. He had another daughter with his previous wife but no sons. His vassals were concerned by the lack of a male heir but they put it aside while the jihad against them continued.

http://i.imgur.com/30yAoOk.png

While the war dragged on, Leontios enjoyed heading out on hunts, and when word came of a re-emergence of the legendary White Lion, he sought to track it down.

http://i.imgur.com/ifWyzou.png

His eldest daughter, Eirena, came of age and was matrilineally betrothed to a Prince of Byzantine, Sebastianos, an event that in time was to profoundly reshape the world. He was the sixth child, and third son, of the previous Basileus.

http://i.imgur.com/1Y9aHEz.png

Shortly after the marriage, Etiennette presented Leontios with the long awaited son. The child was given the name of Leontios after his father.

http://i.imgur.com/My3KEhC.png

Six years into Leontios' reign the jihad was finally abandoned and the Emperor became known as Leontios the Hammer. Leontios celebrated the victory by organised a grant tournament to celebrate.

http://i.imgur.com/67Jzqzy.png

http://i.imgur.com/9IBgNBG.png


Holy wars still troubled the world, with the Pope calling for another Crusade, this time aimed at Saxony. Makuria enjoyed a period of peace though, bar for some minor border skirmishes in the east initiated by vassals.

http://i.imgur.com/hmLX9NB.png

The sheer size of the Empire caused Leontios some trouble. He knew that it was beyond one man to rule effectively, and that calling up troops from one side to aid the other took many months. As a result he initiated a bold plan. Masannal of Khiva and Iacob of Hamadan were granted their independence, resulting in two strong, allied realms to protect the north of Makuria.

http://i.imgur.com/CdIwatp.png

The years of peace continued, with Leontios taking up falconry to occupy his time. The peace came to an end in 1064 when rumours of trouble came out of Arabia. The King of Arabia, also called Leontios, had succumbed to the foul Monophysite heresy and was revoking the titles of those who remained true to the faith until a revolt broke out, led by one Count who refused the demand.

http://i.imgur.com/BdNixSM.png

The Emperor had to step in and in turn demanded the crown from King Leontios of Arabia. The King refused and raised a rebellion that took in all of Arabia. Over 50,000 Makurian warriors were sent in to crush the revolt. During the revolt, King Leontios died after a period of illness, leaving the revolt in the hands of his 4 year old son, Sotinkouda. The boy remained true to the Miaphysite faith, rendering moot the initial reason for the revolt but the war was not so easily called off. It continued on for half a year more until the boy-king surrendered. Leontios promptly freed Sotinkouda and allowed him to retain the crown.

http://i.imgur.com/TI0YlHn.png

http://i.imgur.com/953nImU.png

http://i.imgur.com/sU5ta9Q.png

http://i.imgur.com/giV0izi.png

http://i.imgur.com/DXJVsUe.png

http://i.imgur.com/5MTCryI.png

With their jihad for Persia having failed, the Sunni Caliph called for a new jihad, this one against Suomi, which was to succeed, led by the King of Poland, a Khazari Sunni. Barely had they done so than the Soumenusko called for a Great Holy War for Finland.

http://i.imgur.com/Exw07jb.png

http://i.imgur.com/72Y9lup.png

March of 1067 saw an event that prompted much debate among the councillors of the Emperor. A distant kinsman of the Emperor, a man by the name of Enoch, had married an Anglo-Saxon Baroness in England. While a formidable warrior, he held little power and sought to change this. He also held a claim on the Byzantine Empire, and this he sought to press, raising 23,000 soldiers to his cause. This fell well short of the number of soldiers that the Basilieus could raise. Only with the aid of the Emperor could Enoch hope to succeed. Many in the council pressed Leontios to join the war but in the end he decided not to, instead aiding King Massanal of Khiva in a vicious civil war ripping his kingdom apart.


http://i.imgur.com/G3FHWyk.png

Over in Saxony, the Pope's Crusade was successful, with the King of Burgundy granted rulership of the newly claimed lands.

http://i.imgur.com/my3q9qY.png

As The Emperor's soldiers battled in Khiva, Enoch's claim on Byzantine came to its inevitable conclusion, with the defeat of the invading forces.

http://i.imgur.com/ucWF0kU.png

It was then that the Emperor revealed his intentions for Byzantine. Prince Sebastianos had converted to Miaphysitism at Leontios' request and now Leontios pressed his claim upon Byzantine, a war, which if successful, would place the Emperor's grandson upon the throne of Byzantine. Into the war he also called the King of Hamadan and of Khiva. Masannal of Khiva, the Emperor's Uncle, had embraced the local Ugyhur culture and now styled himself as Khan of Khiva.

http://i.imgur.com/AI11jU4.png

http://i.imgur.com/pWAstzW.png

http://i.imgur.com/Y3ih2Be.png

http://i.imgur.com/RBNt1gW.png

Five months after the war began, with little more activity than the gathering of the army, Leontios was striken by the Great Pox, which some saw as a curse from God for his breaking of the alliance with Byzantine. It did little to stop the war, with 70,000 Makurian warriors in 4 armies invading Byzantine.

http://i.imgur.com/fQ3IDyo.png

http://i.imgur.com/0F0bSs9.png

A year into the war came the first, and only, battle, at a place called Corduene. 22,000 Makurians faced off against 16,600 Byzantines. Losses were heavy on both sides, totalling 9,000 Makurians and almost 15,000 Byzantines.

http://i.imgur.com/jEW6oRi.png

It would take another year of sieges before the war reached its conclusion with the surrender of the Basileus. 30 year old Sebastianos took the throne, the last Isauros to sit upon it, for his heirs were counted as Hadaatar.

http://i.imgur.com/u02Hvvx.png

http://i.imgur.com/1oserKC.png

The new Basileus' first decision was to go to war, pressing a holy war for Derbent and calling Leontios into it, which he willingly agreed to.

http://i.imgur.com/oo1SkdO.png

In May of 1074 came news that caused the Emperor great grief. The King of Hamadan had invaded Khiva, shattering the Emperor's dreams of a prosperous, united region of Hadaatar realms. It was perhaps this news that five days later saw the Emperor descend into madness. It manifested as a belief that he, like his grandfather, Chael the Great, was a werewolf. More than once his guards found him on the balcony, naked and howling at the moon.

http://i.imgur.com/eGcuHPD.png

http://i.imgur.com/WVV4w5P.png

http://i.imgur.com/xqCmTlE.png

Not only poxed and mad, the Emperor became stressed as well, cracking under the pressure.

http://i.imgur.com/1pZAQhj.png

Barely four years into his reign of Basileus, Sebastianos died of severe stress, and Leontios' grandson, Enoch, became the first Hadaatar Basileus. Unfortunately the 14 year old was an imbecile, yet despite that handicap he tried his best and began the conversion of Byzantine away from the Orthodox faith to Miaphysitism.

http://i.imgur.com/584PQbz.png

http://i.imgur.com/WmX356V.png

http://i.imgur.com/tr0QN3c.png

A number of revolts broke out against Enoch. Leontios could not sit idly by while Byzantine fell into conflict and led his armies in to restore order. In the Battle of Dzegh, where a small force of rebels was attacked by a larger Makurian army, the aging Emperor was wounded.

http://i.imgur.com/J5XUfO9.png

http://i.imgur.com/vQMBQU3.png

http://i.imgur.com/n90dJkL.png

He was still suffering from the wounds when on April 29, 1078, upon the eve of victory against the rebels, he died and was succeed by his son, Leontios II. It was reported that he died of the pox but it was widely known he was an unwell man, both physically and mentally, and most suspect it was a combination of complications of his conditions that led to his demise.

Leontios' rule was marked by being the first Hadaatar ruler to have a smaller realm on his death than when he took the crown following the release of Hamadan and Khiva as independent nations. While many, in hindsight, point out the errors in the manner he handled it, they applauded the ideal behind it as event he Romans realised their empire was too large and split it. All this was outweighed by a monumental shift in the geopolitical situation with Leontios placing a Miaphysite Hadaatar on the throne of Byzantine, an even that would echo on down the centuries.

http://i.imgur.com/ehnNBCM.png

http://i.imgur.com/5X31yTz.png

http://i.imgur.com/1DTCmXT.png

[SilverLeaf167]

Buffer states, ho!

Poor Suomi, but I'm sure the sisu of the Finns will weather the storm! (Pics please?)

Nice to see this continue, and I hope you get your computer in working order too.

[Corvus]

No pics of the region sorry. At least I can't find any in the backed up files.

I do know what was going on in that region at the time though. Parts of northern Sweden and Finland were a three way contest between reformed Germanic, reformed Suomenusko and Islam. The Germanics held most of Scandinavia and were also clashing with the Catholics in northern Europe and in Britain. They had, briefly, captured Rome and Carthage and established short lived kingdoms there.

The Suomenusko are not organised as they are many smaller states but they are strong. They control large parts of Finland, Russia and Eastern Europe and oddly are being ignored there by the Khazar. It is looking increasingly like they will be the second most powerful religion after Miaphysitism when we get to the end of the game.

The Khazar are Sunni and control most of the steppes and also parts of eastern Europe. Poland is now a sunni Khazar state after one of the Khagan conquered it and settled down. It is the Polish Khazar who are involved in the wars in Finland.

[Corvus]

Sorry about the rather long delay in posting updates - I've actually played through to the end but haven't had as much time to write the AAR. I've started doing so again and hope to do regular updates from now on.


The ascension of Leontios II to the throne of Makuria was looked upon favourably by most in Makuria. While only still young, and yet to marry, he was regarded as a virtuous and just man, being kind, humble and patient. If he did have a flaw, it was a somewhat reticent nature, which only increased around women. Having seen what the rulership of the Empire had done to his father, the worry of it had started to affect him as well, leading to bouts of stress.

http://i.imgur.com/FIzCveF.png

He understood his duty though, and married soon after, choosing for his wife a young German woman Helen von Nurnburg, noted for her skill at stewardship.

http://i.imgur.com/lLkjTDz.png

Almost immediately upon assuming the throne, he was drawn back into the ongoing civil struggles in Byzantine, supporting his nephew, Enoch.

http://i.imgur.com/pdNaZOb.png

The Hamadan-Khivan war came to an end, with Hamadan carving out a large part of Khiva.

http://i.imgur.com/6RuiXhq.png

Within half a year the civil wars within Byzantine came to an end, followed shortly after by the arrival of the Emperor's first child, a daughter named Petronia.

http://i.imgur.com/PvxK3mE.png

http://i.imgur.com/lrAHREe.png

http://i.imgur.com/1PLQOTr.png

There followed a period of peace in the Empire, marked by revels and feasts, while in Byzantine the new Miaphysite faith slowly began to replace the Orthodox faith. Even the old, deposed Basilieus accepted Miaphysitism.

http://i.imgur.com/DwztYad.png

http://i.imgur.com/vFmTayr.png

http://i.imgur.com/QcBrRbR.png

Over in Bohemia, a new Duchess inherited the country, one who had remained true to the Miaphysite faith even while many had embraced Catholicism. Leontios betrothed his sister, Nilesa, to the Duchess' son and heir in a matrilineal arrangement, aiming to add the Duchy to the Hadaatar dynasty.

http://i.imgur.com/83y4NlB.png

http://i.imgur.com/WXAlB6b.png

Enoch of Byzantine attacked Serbia in a De Jure war, calling in Leontios again despite vastly outnumbering the small nation. Leontios joined in out of loyalty to the family though raised no troops for it. Instead he looked westwards, to North Africa, were the jihads had come from. Staking a claim on Cyrenica he also called Enoch into the war.

http://i.imgur.com/FNaDR6W.png

http://i.imgur.com/lNdE1Tl.png

The Serbian De Jure war was swiftly wrapped up, while in North Africa, Makurian soldiers began occupying land with out sighting any enemy soldiers for over a year and a half. When 8000 enemy soldiers did arrive, they were crushed by a force over three times their size, with Badshah Nasr the Kind captured, the act of which swiftly wrapped up the war.

http://i.imgur.com/iGsHDdu.png

Within half a year the Emperor had embarked upon a new adventure. Masannal, the Khan of Khiva, had attacked the Khazar over a scrap of desert, a war he had begun to loose. Leontios II offered to join him. Never before had the Makurians faced off against horse-warriors and they were unaware of the difficulties that they would encounter and of the losses that were to come.



The first Makurian army of over 23,000 headed north into Khiva, and soon attacked a much smaller 13,000 Khazari army that was occupying Khivan lands. The Makurians emerged triumphant, with losses of around 5000 Makurians and 7000 Khazar.

http://i.imgur.com/oDYpO7E.png

http://i.imgur.com/fdX7ibj.png

News came from Byzantine that the young Basileus was facing more trouble, with the Orthodox Patriarch leading a revolt to install an elective monarchy on the Empire. News out of Makuria was more positive, with a son, Tophena, born to the Emperor, an heir to the throne.

http://i.imgur.com/2bss9hJ.png

Fighting continued on in Khiva, with a battle at Urgench. 14,500 Makurians were attacked by a larger Khazar army of 21,000 horsemen. Swarmed by a deluge of arrows, the Makurians were destroyed, with less than a thousand men escaping. Fresh troops were raised to head north again, with Leontios unwilling to admit defeat. This army, of 13,600, was to fare no better, wiped out by a smaller 10,750 man Khazar force. With this second, heavy defeat, the war ended in defeat for Khiva.

http://i.imgur.com/RTasWRQ.png

http://i.imgur.com/zYjM2n5.png


There was troubling news as well from elsewhere, with an adventurer named Thomas gathering men to lead an attack on Makuria. Another civil war had broken out in Byzantine and once more Leontios was drawn into it by ties of blood.

http://i.imgur.com/zzVmCFf.png

Even while fighting that war, Thomas de Mortemart, a Frenchman with almost 30,000 followers, began his march. Before he could arrive, he was slain by a bowman, sent by unknown hands, and the invasion collapsed.

http://i.imgur.com/Bitqpk4.png

Empress Helen had been content at first to remain quiet in the background, but as the years passes she became more and more caught up in court intrigues, even advising Leontios, awakening the ambitions of the Emperor. It would have been best if he had not listened to them, for many marked that point as where the troubles of his reign began.

http://i.imgur.com/3gLowJq.png

Driven by this, Leontios attacked the new Badshah of Balshkid, pushing west again into Tripolitania. A son was born during the war, named Leontios like his father and grandfather, the second in line to the throne. The war did progress smoothly at first until once more the Badshah was overthrown in revolt and the war came to a premature end.

http://i.imgur.com/72LiJ5b.png


The young heir of the Ducky of Bohemia came of age, and Leontios proposed a marriage between him and his sister Nilesa, one that was matrilineal to bring Bohemia into the Hadaatar fold. Another sister, Petronia, was matrilineally married to one of the younger sons of the King of Lombardy. Leontios' ambitions were now eyeing off thrones around Europe.

http://i.imgur.com/G5AWe7x.png

http://i.imgur.com/fm0VIpQ.png

It was not just in Europe but in India his ambitions ran. After a short de jure war against Maharani Lakshmi the Unfaithful of Andhra, he turned his focus on the northern half of Lanka. A couple of minor battles saw the small Lankan army crushed and the lands of Sinhala annexed.

http://i.imgur.com/6LL3UM0.png

http://i.imgur.com/aARuZuR.png


It was followed by still more wars, this time against Maharaja Subhatavarman of Chawda to expand the Makurian holdings in Western India. The first battle of the war saw a small 7000 man Makurian force, on the way to joint he main army, ambushed by 17,000 Indians and wiped out to the last man. The victorious Indians were soon themselves attacked by a larger Makurian army and mostly destroyed. In the subsequent mopping up battles, the Emperor soon proved his bravery. The war soon reached its inevitable conclusion, with another Indian duchy added to the Empire.

http://i.imgur.com/4f8fu8x.png

http://i.imgur.com/ebjUvjt.png

http://i.imgur.com/d8yRpeO.png


There were problems in Byzantine though, for Enoch, bowing to pressure from his vassals, had instituted an elective line of succession. While his son, Matthaios, remained favoured to follow his father, the throne could easily slip from the Hadaatar dynasty at any stage.

Europe saw renewed religious fighting, with the High Priest of the Suomenusko calling for a Great Holy War to drive the muslims from Finland and the Pope calling for a Crusade against the Germanics in Saxony.

http://i.imgur.com/hZU7hth.png

http://i.imgur.com/tuzoicK.png



Towards the end of 1099, Emperor Enoch of Byzantine died after a period of illness, leaving his ten year old son, Matthaios, on the throne and in a shaky position.

http://i.imgur.com/lfl4vUL.png

Upon the coming of age of Tophena, the heir to the throne, it was discovered that he was a homosexual. The threat of dynastic dispute should it become widely known, or should he fail to have children, was a very real concern yet Leontios remained untroubled, his eyes focused elsewhere.

http://i.imgur.com/rct8P8t.png

Leontios' ambitions were soon reaching new heights, as he became embroiled in a conflict in far off Bohemia, sending a 16,000 man army to aided the Miaphysite Duchess against Germanic aggression in the form of a Pomeranian invasion. The tales of the last expedition send there and the terrible losses suffered by the troops were well ingrained in Makurian culture, and all hoped that it would not suffer a similar fate. It proved unfounded, as the Makurains linked up with 4000 Bohemian and crushed the main enemy force of 9000 men.

http://i.imgur.com/S0VxRTQ.png

From far off Finland came word that the Suomenusko had emerged victorious, retaking their lands from the muslims. The Catholics were also victorious in their crusade, with the lands of Saxony added to Burgundy. It was not to be the end of the troubles for the followers of the Germanic religion, for King Thierry IV of Germany captured Paderborn and ordered the burning of the holy tree of Irminsul.

http://i.imgur.com/OgBNmiK.png

http://i.imgur.com/fzVTsb1.png

http://i.imgur.com/yNxExrF.png


The curse of rulership soon settled upon Leontios though, and his health began to suffer under the stress of managing the great Empire, as it had done to many of his ancestors. It was not to be the end of his troubles. Two years later he body began to give up on him, reducing him to infirmity.

http://i.imgur.com/jjTtoS4.png

Despite this, he tried to push on with reforms to the realm, striving to impose absolute crown authority over it. He could not get the required approval from his vassals, and his mind gave way as well, rending him incapable.

http://i.imgur.com/ibUKsfF.png

Most felt that soon a new Emperor would reign over them and that Leontios' would soon pass, but four months later, as in in answer to prayers, the darkness passed, or so it seemed. It soon became apparent that something much worse had transpired, for the Emperor was mad, just as his father had been. People began to talk of the Byzantine Curse, of how the Emperors were being punished by God for their betrayal of their Byzantine allies by attacking them and placing one of their own upon the throne.

http://i.imgur.com/owaaelg.png

The Emperor's madness took on a disturbing twist when he offered to join the King of Khiva in a war against the Khazar. 28,000 soldiers were soon on the march to battle the horse warriors. He was not alone in sending troops, for both Byzantine and Hamadan joined the war.

The first battle saw 24,000 Makurians face off against almost 10,000 Khazar, and despite the victory, loses were fairly even, with 4,800 Makurians and 5500 Khazar lost.

On the 26th of March, 1111, the Emperor's wife died, and as her replacement, he chose a young Baloch woman, Vitasake kice Kalyanamokse.

http://i.imgur.com/lJ3KH8A.png

The initial victory saw a rise in morale among the Makurian solders and warriors, as they felt that they had gotten a handle on how to fight against the horsemen. At the battle of Bekdas they put it to full effect. Under the command of the brilliant Grandmaster Theodote of the Order of St Anthony, 14,000 Makurians clashed with 12,000 Khazar and soundly defeated them, with twice as many Khazar lost, 8700 to 4400.

http://i.imgur.com/BtZ6GG7.png

Leontios' pride in these victories resulted in a bizarre new law being passed. The Hole in the Wall act was met with confusion all around, and more than a little concern.

http://i.imgur.com/hsoeRKW.png

Even the new Empress found Leontios' moods impossible to handle, and she sought comfort elsewhere which resulted in a child. Believing the child not to be his, Leontios hired a spy to find out the truth, which was that a mere Count, Michael 'the Lewd' of Tabuk, a notorious seducer, was the father. Rather than face public humiliation, Leontios kept the news quiet.


Only a few weeks after the child was born, a boy named Masannal, the Empress died of pneumonia, aged just 22. Not wishing to risk a repeat of her infidelity, when Leontios took another wife, he chose one known to be homosexual, a 27 year old Nubian woman called Hemene Ioannesid. Surprisingly, she was soon to bear the Emperor twins, a boy Petrou and a girl Keudonia.

http://i.imgur.com/hHq2zIr.png

http://i.imgur.com/F1hwCbu.png




The war against the Khazar continued to drag on with more battles and heavy losses on both sides and yet Leontios would not give up, continuing to funnel troops north from all corners of the Empire. It took over seven years in all before the Khazar admitted defeat, and losses had been staggering. An estimated 50,000 allied troops had been killed in the fighting over a scrap of desert, and many more Khazar. King Angelos of Khiva was not long to enjoy his spoils, for two weeks later he died, leaving his young 2 year old daughter as Queen. Leontios arranged a betrothal between her and Masannal in an effort to rid himself of the boy.

http://i.imgur.com/1kR3nSr.png

A number of years of peace followed, during which time, surprisingly, the Empress bore him two more children, Leontios took up falconry and he agreed to aid the Byzantines to fend off an adventurer, though sent no actual troops. In the end, the peace grew boring and he sent his armies west, declaring a Holy War for Tripolitania against the Shia Caliph. The war did not take long, for the Shia could not muster an army to impede the Makurian host.

http://i.imgur.com/eOkXhAh.png

http://i.imgur.com/vLRtCyb.png

While his armies marched, an old wound remained – Count Michael. Despite many years having passed since, Leontios still had not forgiven and began plotting his demise. Mercenaries were hired to ambush him, and despite succeeding, Leontios' part became known. He cared little, for he preferred people to know what would happen should they cross him.

http://i.imgur.com/CBv2ujk.png

Leontios' westward march continued, laying de jure claim on Djerba against Sultan Sa'd of Seville. The Shia Caliph, smarting from his recent losses, took the opportunity to declare a Jihad for Africa. A series of minor clashes took place across North Africa as soon all the Shia and Sunni nations of North Africa and Hispania became involved. It took a number of years but first Sultan Sa'd and then Caliph Adam were defeated.

http://i.imgur.com/iZ63zIF.png

http://i.imgur.com/zQ2lalf.png

http://i.imgur.com/wOqGYXn.png

http://i.imgur.com/hMdJaG9.png

425

Taking advantage of their weakened stare, Leontios promptly turned around and declared a Holy War for Tunis against the Caliph. The Makurians barely paused as they overran a tiny Shia force on their march to the capital. Upon the capture of the capital and much of the surrounding lands, the Caliph surrendered.

From the north came unexpected news. The once powerful Khazar nation had disintegrated into a number of smaller, fragmented nations and revolts were spring up elsewhere.

http://i.imgur.com/giZA6St.png


On September 22, 1128, Leontios passed away of natural causes. While early on he had been a great king, the later part of his reign became troubled with erratic behaviour and bloody wars.

http://i.imgur.com/w3w5L8o.png

http://i.imgur.com/S3yAesj.png




http://i.imgur.com/Qc7wafS.png

[SilverLeaf167]

Glad to see this return! :smallbiggrin:

[Corvus]

In a bid to finish this write up any time soon given my current limited time the entries will be a bit more succinct. Not quite cliff notes short but not as wordy as previous.


Tophena was well advanced in years when he came to the throne, already 43 years of age. As a man he was a decent scholar and diplomat without being outstanding. While he had managed to have three children, despite his preference for men, all of them were daughters, making the first Makurian Empress seem a real possibility.

http://i.imgur.com/mmyrxOf.png

Tophena's first order was to hold a grand tournament while he concentrated on ensuring good relations between his seven surviving siblings and his own children.

Trouble was soon at hand, for one of his vassals, Duchess Maria of Stravani, accused the powerful King Theodoros of Baghdad or promoting heresy. As Theodoros was also the leader of a powerful independence movement, Tophena was inclined to believe her and ordered the arrest of Theodoros. The King fled the attempt and raised his flag in rebellion. The rebellion was to be short lived, as before any fighting could take place, Theodoros died after a period of illness.

http://i.imgur.com/s4DDL5R.png

http://i.imgur.com/hkjghwy.png

http://i.imgur.com/crk67Gi.png

The Byzantine Curse that had troubled the Dynasty seemed not yet to be done. Princess Sophia, the heir to the throne, had borne her first child, a son named Menankouda. The child was inbred, despite his parents only being distantly related, promising a rough time ahead for the ruling family should he survive and ascend to the throne.

http://i.imgur.com/6oDFqST.png


Not all was bad news, for out of Khiva came the unexpected. A civil war had been raging there for a while, one that Tophena paid little attention to until it was concluded. The victorious faction deposed the former Queen and placed upon the throne one called Hoassi, who was also a vassal of Tophena, returning the troubled kingdom to the Empire.

http://i.imgur.com/QNxW3Rl.png

http://i.imgur.com/vcIpgDy.png


Four years into the reign of Tophena came news hoped for but seldom through possible – the Empress bore a son who was also named Tophena. A new male heir eased much of the tension throughout the Empire. Some even spoke of the Byzantine Curse having been broken at last.

http://i.imgur.com/b4ZahNa.png

In England, the conflict between Catholics and Germanics continued, with a Crusade called to reclaim the lands held by King Svend of Danmark, while the Suomenusko pushed forward with a Great Holy War of their own, this time for Sweden. On all fronts the once mighty Germanic faith was reeling and being forced back.

http://i.imgur.com/EQL4H0H.png

http://i.imgur.com/35alueo.png

As if sensing the time was right, Tophena embarked on his own holy war, against the Shia Sultan Meq'wran for the region of Kabylia, west of Tunis.

http://i.imgur.com/hBSChNr.png

The Crusade was successful, and the powerful King Adhemar of Lombardy was rewarded with the captured lands in England. Much to the consternation of his Italian subjects, he decreed that henceforth the throne of England would be his primary title.

http://i.imgur.com/G9WHmy2.png

Tophena's African adventures ended with the capture of the Shia lands. Two and a half years later it was followed by the southern half of Lanka when he went to war with Maharaja Vikramabahu II of Lamakanna.

http://i.imgur.com/VNmLzqf.png

http://i.imgur.com/ysRVI3t.png

Even as he began that war, merchants came to him with troubling news. Regular fighting along the silk road both to the north of the Himalayas and south in Indian lands was disrupting trade, and with it profits and taxes. Tophena henceforth decreed that it was necessary that Makuria control all the Silk Road to prevent this, making a start in the north against Count Buqa of Kashgar.

http://i.imgur.com/IrPd6vU.png


The Suomenusko advance into Sweden failed even as Tophena wiped out Kashgar resistance and took the lands.

http://i.imgur.com/AKc0XoP.png

King Adhemar's Italian subjects, chafing under being called English, had launched a major revolt against him, reforming Lombardy in much of what had been former Lombardy, though Adhemar clung to fragments pockets of land, while retaining his English and Spanish holdings.

http://i.imgur.com/MbILgG7.png

The campaign for the Silk Road continued on in the north as Khan Begluk of Altishahr was the next to feel the weight of the Emperor's armies.

http://i.imgur.com/k1eNOT1.png

Early 1149 saw the death of Basileus Pelagios, aged only 31. The electors overlooked his five young children and instead chose as the new Basileus Konstas of the Botaneiates dynasty, the same dynasty who had provided a wife to the legendary Emperor Chael. Many saw this as the fulfilment of the Byzantine Curse, with the usurper Hadaatar dynasty deprived of the throne.

http://i.imgur.com/6fIj1Ui.png

http://i.imgur.com/un06ilD.png

Age had crept up on Tophena and on April 26, 1152, aged 67, he died after a short period of illness.

http://i.imgur.com/nAX9oeR.png

http://i.imgur.com/qeS44Yw.png

[Corvus]

Born in his father's later years, Tophena II was only a young man when crowned Emperor. While married, he was yet to have heirs and was, at best, an average steward.

http://i.imgur.com/6oGXJAV.png

He inherited a sprawling Empire which had reached new heights in size of land and power.

http://i.imgur.com/apeeFjt.png

Four months into his reign, his wife bore a son, the new heir, also called Tophena.

http://i.imgur.com/EOa0ez1.png

To celebrate the birth, Tophena II usurped the title of King of Africa, which was gifted to Duke Kuriakos the Cruel.

http://i.imgur.com/AyyKNKp.png

Attempting to reignite their faith, the Germanics declared a Great Holy War for Burgundy.

http://i.imgur.com/KRcbpkN.png

Tophena II carried on with his father's wishes and continued on with the conquest of the Silk Road, warring with Khan Kotyan II of Altishahr north of the Himalayas.

http://i.imgur.com/ixxi8qH.png

Barely had it started though when Tophena II died aged just 24 after a five year reign, struck down by illness, leaving behind a 4 year old son as Emperor of Makuria.

http://i.imgur.com/osKwGtd.png

Tophena II is often referred to as the forgotten emperor. Not only did he reign only for a short time, nothing major occurred during it, and sandwiched in between the mad emperors he was not that memorable.

[OrcusMcP]

Can a boy hold everything together? Will the Empire split? :smallbiggrin:

[Corvus]

If it had been a post-Conclave patch, that would have been a guarantee.

Actually, if I had been playing post-Conclave from the start I doubt that it would be possible to reach the heights Makuria has at all - would have trigged far too many defensive alliances.

[Corvus]

Tophena III, too young to understand his position, was content to let others rule, unaware of the many powerful factions building up in the realm.

http://i.imgur.com/Soi84MB.png

http://i.imgur.com/S2FkUNb.png

Scheming led to the replacement of the regent appointed by his father and the usurpation of major tiles. The war in Altishar was fought and won without his knowledge.

http://i.imgur.com/puzRkp7.png

http://i.imgur.com/bX19A6G.png

http://i.imgur.com/AiInLuW.png

A guardian was chosen for him, Prince Philotheos of the Order of St Anthony. The Prince proved a harsh task master, keeping the young Emperor from indulgence.

http://i.imgur.com/prvt7bx.png

http://i.imgur.com/ewzk5aO.png

http://i.imgur.com/zGAgfj0.png

Another change in regency occurred while he was still growing up.

http://i.imgur.com/ilD9q5m.png

Over in Eire, a Miaphysite Irishman inherited the throne from his Catholic father. Unbeknown to any, this was to be the start of a long period of Irish troubles that was to draw in the Makurians on more than one occasion.

http://i.imgur.com/9e8RgFa.png

The influence of Philotheos led to Tophena III becoming a dutiful cleric. While a reasonable diplomat and scholar, he did not shine in any area as some of his ancestors had. He devoted himself to scholarship.

http://i.imgur.com/ywlIZCB.png


For a wife he took the Catholic Queen Catherine of France, a vassal of the Emperor of Francia.

http://i.imgur.com/9J7AnzI.png

Taking up where his father and grandfather had left off, he went to war with Altishar. All of Althishar was soon added to the realm, resulting in the creation of the Kingdom of Khotan.

http://i.imgur.com/5MMuApi.png

Over in Eire, Cruinnmael's Catholic brother overthrew him. However as a celibate man with no heirs, the throne would revert back to Cruinnmael upon his death. He would not come to take the throne back though as revolt after revolt saw the throne change hands many times.

http://i.imgur.com/E0DQWnB.png

Not long after Tophena III's heir was born, a son named Raphael.

http://i.imgur.com/1hJeY5O.png

To celebrate, he began construction of an observatory to aid his scholarly studies.

http://i.imgur.com/X9iAzJo.png

In the far north a new war started, for Kumul, to complete control of the Silk Road in that region. Little resistance was able to be put up.

http://i.imgur.com/ojTy6mi.png

The Suomensko started a Great Holy War for Norge. The outcome was that the Sons of Kavela were to come to control all of Norge.

http://i.imgur.com/yVADhZR.png

http://i.imgur.com/FWDw84A.png
While studying in the observatory, Tophena III became convinced something strange was out there. His studies led him to an odd old scholar in the Arabian Desert who sold him a book called the Necronomicon. Unfortunately reading it was to drive him mad, just one more in a line of lunatic Emperors.

http://i.imgur.com/bx4hGDC.png

http://i.imgur.com/rgzvRSe.png

http://i.imgur.com/dh7mHts.png

http://i.imgur.com/fQ9PvdL.png

To Tophena III, the madness seemed to him to be clarity and he hit upon an idea he was astounded none had thought of before – he would outlaw violence in the Empire. All scratched their heads and many ignored it, including his own wife. Even when rebels rose up he would not fight them. Instead it fell to local troops to deal with it.

http://i.imgur.com/TYSqWTb.png

http://i.imgur.com/eYT4XJp.png

In another act of clarity, he appointed his horse, Glitterhoof, as Chancellor of Makuria.

http://i.imgur.com/UZ4T6SU.png

The Cessation of Violence act was followed by the The Pants Act, outlawing them. In the hot lands of the Empire it was not so much a concern.

http://i.imgur.com/kDzHOfN.png
A wild party one night led to tragedy, when the Emperor accidentally was set on fire, leaving him badly maimed. The event was to be repeated a few years later when the Emperor was again set on fire, leaving him wounded.

http://i.imgur.com/ZZdIhzV.png

http://i.imgur.com/Cikxuec.png

In 1190, a strange turn of events came about. Tophena III's second born son, Bartholomaios, had become a monk, as well as being homosexual. Somehow though he fathered a son with a serving maid, an event which greatly amused the mad Emperor. A couple of years later the act was to be repeated, leaving many scratching their heads and wondering if the Prince wasn't covering for someone else.

http://i.imgur.com/BIJyMS3.png

http://i.imgur.com/7QuRO8c.png

On 28 Feb 1193, the Emperor's wife, Catherine the Just, Queen of France died, leaving Raphael, the heir to the Empire as King of France, a subject, for the time, of the Emperor of Francia.
http://i.imgur.com/mqV42ri.png

http://i.imgur.com/Lg11KD2.png

Tophena III married again, this time to the daughter of a baron, Theodorake Emmanouelid.

http://i.imgur.com/E44OPno.png

Makuria remained quiet as all around her wars swirled, with revolts and invasions across Europe. Tophena III remained pleased that his no violence edict was keeping the nation safe, even if at times some minor nobles ignored it. He decided to take up reading of poetry but soon became depressed by it all.

http://i.imgur.com/Z0vGsUL.png

Shortly after, on August 8, 1195, the maimed, depressed, lunatic Tophena III died. Whispers spoke of suicide, having been talked into it by a cursed book though royal officials denied it. After a string of mad emperor's, everyone was simply hopeful that the next one, Raphael I, would prove to be a sane Emperor.

http://i.imgur.com/4jRV1UV.png

This was the first and last time I used the suicide option. Depressed, maimed, wounded, a lunatic and more, he wasn't in good shape. To top it off, the no violence edict was causing not much to happen and if a civil war had broke out he would instantly have surrendered. And given his age, he could have stuck around for decades which may have made things boring for a long time.



The core lands of Makuria.

http://i.imgur.com/UzX1CV5.png

Makurian lands in the west, as well as the current stare of Europe.

http://i.imgur.com/FV7F8ys.png

[Artanis]

Wow, that is some SERIOUS border gore in Europe :smalleek:

[Corvus]

Its probably worse over in the Finland/Russia region and never got better. Actually, I don't think there has been a game which I haven't seen border gore going on.

The England/Lombady situation is pretty bad though. At one point most of England had been taken over by the Norse. A successful crusade saw it awarded to the King of Lombardy, to go with his Italian and Spanish holdings. He promptly declared the kingdom of England as his new title and immediately saw a revolt in Italy, which he lost, fracturing his nation into two border-goreific nations.

[super dark33]

Exploit glitterhoof! Become a horse emperor!

[Corvus]

Upon Raphael's ascent to the throne, he brought with him the vast holdings that he had inherited from his mother in France. These he passed on to his younger brother, Kollouthos. Raphael himself set his eye on becoming a Paragon of Virtue to distinguish himself from his mad father. Word came that his father's library had also been raided, resulting in the deaths of two servants and the theft of an old Arabian book.

https://i.imgur.com/6gdkZXQ.png

After a long period of inactivity, the Makurian armies were soon back in action, pushing west through north Africa against the old muslim foes, against Badshah Utman of the Umayyad Empire, this time for a de jure claim rather than a holy war.


Despite their weakened state, the Umayyad could still call on large armies, and at the battle of Akaoudj, over sixteen and a half thousand of them were met by twenty thousand Makurians. Superior numbers and technology saw the Umayyad routed, though over a third of the Makurians were also lost in bitter fighting. After such a heavy defeat, the war was soon won.

https://i.imgur.com/NTSveZy.png

https://i.imgur.com/srhT2wV.png

Raphael's victory was soon soured by news from spies that his wife, the Empress Cotani had been unfaithful and become pregnant to Count Dauid 'the Seducer' of Mohadavaska, a man old enough to be her father. Raphael kept the news quiet out of shame, but it sparked a desire for revenge, one that was to have consequences.

https://i.imgur.com/3ZsNhJI.png

If his wife was unfaithful, then he would too. His eye focused on Princess Sichelgaita, the 17 year old daughter of the King of Lombardy. Even as he did this, his reputation for virtue was such that he was pronounced Raphael the Holy.

https://i.imgur.com/M7qY8Cr.png

https://i.imgur.com/mwJlnmW.png

While his attempts at seduction continued, he continued to push his armies through the minor muslim nations in North Africa, his aim being to take all of North Africa from Islam.

Raphael's efforts with Sichelgaita soon were to pay off. Having succeeded, he abandoned her and set his sight on more dangerous prey – Princess Romane, the 16 year old daughter of the Byzantine Basileus. Before his attempt was to succeed, the old Basileus died and her older brother Philippos came to power. Raphael decided not to continue to pursue Romane, and instead focused on Romaylia, the 16 year old wife of Philippos himself. Philippos was soon to find out about it and a fierce rivalry emerged between the rulers of the two most powerful nations of the known world.

https://i.imgur.com/PkSC9UT.png

https://i.imgur.com/vIaZZ49.png

https://i.imgur.com/Oeb23HF.png

https://i.imgur.com/Q5l2Nyk.png


Raphael didn't give up and continued to pursue Romaylia until he succeeded, before once more abandoning his prey. Word was soon to arrive that the affair had resulted in a child, and that Philippos knew that his first child was not actually his. The son, whom Philippos refused to acknowledge, was named Basileios. Raphael, though, did, as much to spite Philippos as anything else.

https://i.imgur.com/CsFPDKS.png

https://i.imgur.com/qWwbzNS.png

https://i.imgur.com/8fL1X4Q.png

https://i.imgur.com/mRgMT5o.png

With one Empress on his belt, he focused on another one, the 22 year old Empress Nunzia of Francia.

https://i.imgur.com/6Glud8Y.png


Hamadan continued to fall apart with Makurian border lord taking out parts of it and revolts seeing other parts return to Makurian. It came to a point where Raphael could usurp the title of the Kingdom of Hamadan, which he did. The remaining lands fell apart into minor titles, the nobility of which were all too eager to return to Makuria as vassals.

https://i.imgur.com/rdUPW7Y.png

https://i.imgur.com/49UeD7w.png


The bitter rivalry between Makuria and Byzantine soon reached a head on May 27, 1207, when Raphael invaded for no other reason that to continue to humiliate Philippos and his family, who had usurped the throne from the Hadaatar dynasty. Almost 70,000 Makurian warriors initially swarmed into the Byzantine empire.

https://i.imgur.com/hQDz1f5.png

https://i.imgur.com/gk7o1HA.png

In six bloody battles, almost 90,000 men were lost, around half of which came from each nation, lost over a matter of pride between two Emperors. Both sides had victories and losses though the Byzantines could not match Makuria in the size and technology of their armies.

https://i.imgur.com/DLTL2kU.png

https://i.imgur.com/TtVBFme.png

https://i.imgur.com/xOoEECc.png


To take his mind off the war, Raphael seduced a young scullery maid, with the aim to make her a spy. However the attempt was to have consequences, for he was to contract the Lover's Pox from it.

https://i.imgur.com/ETngwnX.png

As Makurian armies began to occupy large parts of the Byzantine frontier, the war came to an end, with Philippos imprisoned by Raphael.

https://i.imgur.com/rxZWMEV.png

Raphael celebrated by seducing the Frankish Empress and once more abandoning her.

https://i.imgur.com/IHRnZKb.png

Raphael had become tired of the game though, and instead turned to focusing on his family, to bring them together for the good of the Empire.

https://i.imgur.com/M8OWE5d.png

In January of 1212 came word out of the east that huge hordes of horsemen had emerged, bearing the name of Mongols. Khagan Tenujin focused his armies on the Tarmacid of Uyghur, for which Raphael gave thanks. After having read the reports on the problems with the Khazari in the past, taking on large hordes of horsemen led by a military genius was not something he wished for.

https://i.imgur.com/F3u0qDa.png

https://i.imgur.com/XzgFFTd.png

Raphael left them to their devices while he returned to North Africa. Despite the heavy losses Makuria had taken in Byzantine, it had more than enough men to deal with the muslims there. The war did not last long, with Raphael taking Fes, pushing almost to the Atlantic. With enough holdings in Africa and Mauretania, Raphael was able to create the title of Arabian Empire, even if it no longer had any de jure land in Arabia.

https://i.imgur.com/yvhsPe0.png

https://i.imgur.com/94vnkh1.png

Not content with the humiliation of the Basileus, Raphael saw another opportunity, this time against the Emperor of Francia. A de jure claim existed on Paris, the Frankish capital, and Raphael pressed it. The Frankish Emperor called the King of Lombardy into the war, drawing Raphael into a larger war than he had expected. As one Makurian force occupied Paris, Frankish forces occupied various Makurian holdings. The war was decided in the twin battles of Montpellier though, on the Frankish-Lombardy border. The first was a minor clash, though it saw Duke Agilulf III of Ivrea captured. The second was a major battle, with almost 26,000 Franks and Lombardians taking on 22,000 Makurians. The enemy had not been able to co-ordinate their forces and so were fed into battle piecemeal, loosing almost 21,000 men to 7,200 Makurians. After such a heavy loss, and with Paris occupied, the Frankish Emperor surrendered.

https://i.imgur.com/5kE7xiN.png

https://i.imgur.com/mTztJUz.png

https://i.imgur.com/oafLeSv.png

https://i.imgur.com/jVqbAGj.png

https://i.imgur.com/zKMErkX.png

https://i.imgur.com/8GE8Zfm.png

Basileus Philippos had by this stage languished imprisoned for 10 years. Rapahel went to him and told him that he was being released, just so Raphael could declare war on him, overthrow him, and place Philippos' sister Theophano on the throne. Theophano had married a Hadaatar, which meant that she would be the last Botaneiates to rule Byzantine and when she died once more the Hadaatar would rule. Even as he arrived home, 84,000 Makurians were heading into Byzantine.

https://i.imgur.com/28Llt3Y.png

https://i.imgur.com/4j8J1fe.png

https://i.imgur.com/QCstm7t.png

https://i.imgur.com/mLkRgpE.png

The war proved much less bloody than the previous and after a series of crushing victories, it was over in just over two years. The 51 year old Theophano took the throne, with Soizuros Hadaatar next in line.

https://i.imgur.com/C7bmZqQ.png

https://i.imgur.com/SASwwaT.png

https://i.imgur.com/nIPTwo6.png

https://i.imgur.com/eFpSvJ7.png

In 1225, Raphael’s bastard son by his affair with Philippos' wife approached him, petitioned to be recognised as a legitimate heir. Raphael was quick to do so. He was not able to enjoy it for long as less than two years later, aged just 20, he died of illness.

https://i.imgur.com/Lds8sq1.png

https://i.imgur.com/RwS7Hwc.png

Basilissa Theophano died in 1230, and her son, Soizuros Hadaatar, beame the new ruler of Byzantine. Barely three weeks later the Mongols declared war on the Byzantines, invading Taurica. Not willing to see his hard work undone, Raphael joined Soizuros in the war.

https://i.imgur.com/pTCsHzG.png

https://i.imgur.com/rowfB1h.png

https://i.imgur.com/BOjYPqM.png

The first clash took place far from Byzantine, north of Khotan, where over 15,000 Mongols were attacked by almost 21,000 Makurians. Losses were heavy on both sides but the Makurians in the end routed the horse warriors.

The victorious army quickly retreated when it spotted a larger Mongol army, almost 60,000 men in size. It was watched as it continued westwards, headed for Taurica. There at trap was set for them.

https://i.imgur.com/qedVmwi.png

https://i.imgur.com/9RXgpat.png

https://i.imgur.com/Q1G0Edx.png

A small army of 10,000 Makurian and Byzantine soldiers waited in Lower Don. As the Mongols took the bait and charged the smaller force with 40,000 men, the main Makurian army, numbering 55,000 in size, landed from the transports that waited offshore in the Sea of Azov, catching the Mongols by surprise. The Mongols tried to reinforce the battle with a second force, but in the end they were crushed. Taganrog marked one of the bloodiest battles known to history. Over 23,000 Makurians and Greeks were lost, while almost 34,000 Mongols also perished. After two crushing defeats the Mongols called off the invasion.

https://i.imgur.com/Wqsy05N.png

https://i.imgur.com/VQYKSQk.png

https://i.imgur.com/McCIJoz.png

Peace for Makuria lasted less than three years. Norse raiders from Danmark operating out of Holland had been attacking Makuria's French holdings and Raphael decided to destroy their base of operations. The action was swift and decisive, quickly taking the lands and adding them to Makuria.

https://i.imgur.com/xRYLpvd.png

https://i.imgur.com/kiyYRSJ.png


As he reached his 70th year, Raphael 'the Holy' turned his thoughts to contemplation and theology, regrets for early years perhaps motivating it, even undertaking a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A year later his wife, Cotani de Voghera, died a natural death. Despite their early differences, they had stuck together and even came to love each other. Raphael took it hard and did not remarry.

https://i.imgur.com/qAdXK9q.png

https://i.imgur.com/Bjto734.png

https://i.imgur.com/XsOtTfS.png

The following six years Raphael spent reading the scriptures and Makuria had a time of peace again before, aged 77, Raphael passed away.

https://i.imgur.com/lJiAuO0.png

https://i.imgur.com/bpZAxle.png

https://i.imgur.com/j9CyFbt.png

https://i.imgur.com/pNmHqgr.png




https://i.imgur.com/nQ08oFW.png

https://i.imgur.com/1YIRGcP.png

https://i.imgur.com/jTeDBKq.png

https://i.imgur.com/pmJMq9a.png

[Corvus]

Bit of a delay between updates there sorry. After this there are just 7 more Emperors to go, but the last post should have been the largest one left.

[The Great Wyrm]

Ah, the joy of the Seduction focus . . .

[Corvus]

Ah, the joy of the Seduction focus . . .


First (and last) time I used that focus. I'm glad I can turn it off now as I was getting rather sick of every single wife of my Emperor's getting seduced by one of the countless AI characters who took it as their focus.

[Rockphed]

First (and last) time I used that focus. I'm glad I can turn it off now as I was getting rather sick of every single wife of my Emperor's getting seduced by one of the countless AI characters who took it as their focus.

Does that mess with Ironman? When I saw that result of way of life, I didn't want to get that expansion anymore.

[Corvus]

Does that mess with Ironman? When I saw that result of way of life, I didn't want to get that expansion anymore.

Not sure if it does - I know a lot of the things you can change don't. Its the big things like direct assassination, turning off adventures that do.

I don't play ironman anyway (though I should give it a go some time). The game won't let me for some reason. I think it needs a repair as it seems to think I've modded something and the only thing I have was the settings to run the game after the latest windows patch broke all Paradox games for me.