View Full Version : The Almohad Kaliphate (story thread)
This thread extracts the story posts from the VI Almohad campaign, which took place here:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=26209
It was played on expert and was a domination game.
Kukrikhan adminstered the game.
Sinan played the first reign. He posted many gloriously screenshots, the links for most unfortunately are now broken. The ones that remain give you a taste of the grandeur of the set.
Al Hijri 506.
The court of Khalipha Yusuf I is assembled to lead the Al Muwahhidun Khaliphate.
The age of Islam is high, the new religion has charged forth from the sands of Arabia and is taking the world by storm. The warriors of the new faith fear only the wrath of their Lord. The children of the Faith charged with religious zeal have formed Islamic societies unrivalled to what the Romans called the barbarians of the north. Christendom is slow to awake to the emerging power of the world of Islam. Gradually the Christian societies are building up their people to wage war on Islam. The Islamic world has excelled on the social, economic and scientific fields. There is no society in the Mediteranean and in Europe which is as culturally blessed as the country of the Muwahhidun. Scholars from across the world travel to the states of Cordoba and Granada to study at the universities, to educate themselves in earthly disciplines. Many of these never return as they see a dark age in comparison in their own northern european lands. Many of these never return and themselves become followers of the Faith.
http://www.newview.org/BeckyAndCarol/sevilla.jpg
These people feel that there is in Islam no concept identical to theirs of religion. Islam is a comprehensive cultural system cast as a seamless unity, which compasses the great questions that treat of eternity to the minutiae of daily life, and is defined in part by the binding and changeless word of God, revealed to the Messengers, and in part by those words and actions of the Messenger that were inspired by God. This definition is contained in the Shariah (Path to life-giving water), a body of law that is constituted of the Qur'an (Recitation), or Koran, which records the revealed words of God; the Sunnah (Tradition), which consists of the Messenger's sayings (Qawli), deeds (Faili) and tacit approvals (Taqriri) that were inspired by God; Ijma (Consensus), which records opinions representing the consensus of the Companions of the Messenger; and the Qiyas (Analogy), a method of analogical reasoning. Nothing remotely comparable to this is found anywhere in the recorded history of the world; an entire way of life presented in, essentially, abstract form, as a coherent body of law, by one man, realized through his force of personality and qualities of military, political and spiritual leadership, and set by him on a course that carried it to world ascendancy.
http://www.thechessdrum.net/65thSquare/photos/Moorish_Art.jpg
http://www.nrcsa.com/nh_df/7652/7652photogallery/7652largephotos/moorish_arch.jpg
http://www.thechessdrum.net/65thSquare/photos/Moors_Chess.gif
http://www.thechessdrum.net/65thSquare/photos/Moorish_Warrior.jpg
With the Berber conquest of central Hispania, a civilization was born which cradled Christian, Jewish and Islamic peoples. While Christians moved north to speed away from the tide, others moved into the Khalipahte and onto the Middle East where they found a new life unheard and unseen in their own lands. In the Khaliphate the three great rivals of the house of God, the Christian, the Jew, the Muslim share the same streets and neighbourhoods. They enjoy the same high standards of living, stroll in the same magnificent parks and gardens. Study in the same great universities and enjoy the same blossoming of civillization.
This is the aspect of convivencia, that living together well that has been the emblem of Muwahhid Spain. How will the future judge our civillisation ? If we read the prose, and the poetry, it produces, listen to the music, watch the dance, admire the architecture, it is truly a golden age, men and women of the three great faiths combined and mingle their talents and sensibilities to create something unique in European culture.
Alas. The peace shall not last long, as the fire of war brews ever closer. The Pope has asked for the people of Christendom to rise against the Muslim world. The Khalipha and his council are holding a war meeting. The Muwahiddun wish for peace but recognise that Christendom has vast arrays of weaponry and manpower ready to help the Aragonese and Spanish Kings conquer this land of ours. The council stands united. We must be the first to wage war, we must be the first to strike before the balance of military might shifty from our favor. The Khalipha signs letters to tribal and military chiefs, and to civil administrators. The gates of Cordoba open to a fury of horsemen as messengers burst through the gatesm carrying the message of war throughout the land. The tribes of North Africa are assembled and move toewards the battlefield of Iberia. The Khalipha shall be know in history as Yusuf I Al Muntasir El Hispania, the Liberator/Protector of Spain.
The Khalipha also lays out his plans for reuniting the Muslim world. The Miuslim world must be united.
As the Khalipha is the successor to the Prophetm there can be only one.
At the council, Amirs are appointed as heads of each region.
1088: The borders are closed and troop training and recruitment begins.
1089: An Heir matures Prince Yusuf II.
1090: An Heir matures Prince Ali I.
1092: A mosque is built in Codoba, marking the status of the province as the capitol the the Muwahhidun Khaliphate.
1093: Final battle preparations are underway. The war is hours near. Two main strike forces are assembled. One led by the Khalifa himslef, the other led by Prince Yusuf II. The plan of attack is to strike both the main Spanish provinces simultaneously. This is to maximise the inital impact of the attack, and thrives on the element of surprise. The two strike armies are know as Teer (Arrow displyed by the green) and Khanjar (Dagger, displayed by red), led by the Khalipha and Prince Yusuf respectively. Prince Ali's standard can be seen amidst the Khanjar.
The timing is crucial as the Spanish King is reported on campaign against the Navarre rebels. As such he should not be able to intervene in the initial battles personally. An Emissary (blue arrow) is dispatched to Navarre to ensure that the Spanish King is indeed in Navarre with a large force as spies indicate.
The Spainish provinces must be attacked simultaneoously also becuase of the rebel threat from east and west. The independence minded Portuguese may take advantage of the war to invade Cordoba from the west. While El Cid, the legendary commander may intervene from Valencia.
The Khalipha surveys the troops, closely and issues final instructions. The men and the nation realise that the Muwahhidun must be treacherous and merciless, faced with a willing foe. The Khalipha addresses the troops arrayed outside the city of Cordoba.
Our very existence is threatened, our way of life, our society are the targets of the enemy. Our principles and all that we have worked for lie at the mercy of the enemy. God has instructed us in the Recitation, we must defend our nation and our society. We must destroy those who wish to destroy us, and slay them where they stand. We shall not fail and we shall not waiver from the task before us. March brave warriors, show the enemy no mercy, take no prisoners. May God be with you.
With this closing sentence the fields echoed with the sound of swords being unsheathed, and with war cries of God is Great. The women and children atop the city walls cheered as their husbands, fathers, brothers marched to meet the enemy. Many of the families do not expect to see their loved ones return.
It is my belief that the Khalipha did not wish to issue an order to kill all prisoners. However I believe he understands the necessity of annihiliating our enemy as an example. Our forces are outnumbered and under supplied we must not allow any enemy soldiers to return to face us on the field a second time. Victory must be swift and decisive.
The First Battle for Leon
The Kahlipha's army crosses the border under the bright rays of the Iberian sun. The army is composed largely of North African tribals. Squadrons of Berber, camel mounted tribesmen flank the Khalipha's Ghulams. The Spanish force consists largely of light cavalry. The Muslim army takes a defensive position deploying 5 battalions of Cabiyle archers. The men grow impetous. The Spaniards take the bait, thinking to destroy the desert archers, and advance from all sides upon the steadfast Muwahid. On the command of the Khalipha a messenger sounds the horn. The battlefield awakens to the shouts of the battalion commanders: Make ready Take Aim Lead to target Fire Fire Fire In one volley half the advancing light cavalry is decimated. The Berbers move forward to charge the remaining cavalry. The Spanish withdraw up a hill and await the inevitable camel charge. Once the Berber Camel squadrons arrive at the hill, led by the Khaliph, the Spainish light cavalry breaks and routs retreating into Leon Fort.
The Battle for Castille
Prince Yusuf marches into Castille. The Spanish do not have as many light cavalrymen, since most of these forces were eliminated in Leon. The Muwahid are outnumbered 4 to 1. The Spaniards do have 2-3 squadrons of light cavalry. Prince Ali senses the danger that the enemy may use numerical superiority to attack. He orders the army to march on a small hill. The Muwahiddun take up a defensive position and Prince Ali marches forward, bravely inciting the enemy to chase him. As the enemy light cavalry approches the Prince they are destroyed by a hail of arrows. Prince Yusuf charges out from behind the archers and the 2 Princes with 20 Ghulam engage the Spanish Javelinmen, routing the enemy. The enemy general springs an ambush from a forest at the foot of the hill. The two Princes continue to harass the enemy further away while Almohad Urban Militia engage the ambush force. The Spanish spearmen and urban militia prove no match for the Muwahid. The army regroups and rests before mounting a final assualt on the main enemy force. As the army approaches the enemy charge down to engage but to no avail. They stand no chance and withdraw with whatever men they have left. Castille is taken, the enemy remain besieged in their forts.
1094:
Rebellion in Navarre
Meanwhile in Navarre the people of the province rebel against their Spanish masters. The Spanish King is now engaged in suppressing an insurrection.
Assault on Leon Fort
The peasants break open the gate, and destroy portions of the fort's walls. The rest of the army forms outside the gates. Once again the archers devastate the enemy cavalry. The attack is launched through a breach in the east wall. The Khalipha charges through the main gate. While another attack is launched from a breach in the west wall. The Khalipha's bodyguards attack and kill the enemy general. Leon is secured.
1096: The Aragonese send an emissary with a treacherous offer of alliance. The Khalipha rejects the offer outright. The Emissary is given a message to take to his King: war is immiment and cannot be averted, by any means other than a complete non aggression pact signed by the Crusading nations. Followed by free trade and traffic rights between the Crusading nations and the Khaliphate.
Loyalist Rebellion in Castille
The population remains defiant in this province and rebels. The loyalists are supported by Spanish forces moving in from Navarre. The Khalipha issues orders to prepare for an assualt on the mountainous region of Navarre.
The desert archers form closely to darken the sky with arrows. The enemy take heavy casualties from missile fire. Almohad Urban Militia start a flanking maneuver from the east, while Militia Sargents begin flanking from the west. A squadron of Saharan Cavalry rushes past the flankers and beings a wide encirclement. The first company of Militia Sargents clashed with enemy attackers. While Almohad Urban Militia cut through the enemy spearmen. Lastly, the Berbers and Ghulams are called into action. The Khalipha himself leads the Ghulams.
The enemy army is doomed. Some of our soldiers pity them but remind themselves that their enemy does not want peace, but the riches of their lands, and the subjugation of their families. The unit leaders instruct the buglers to sound the final assualt. As the horns blow the unit commanders reissue orders to execute any enemy soldiers still alive on the field or those who attempt to surrender. In my heart I chant a silent prayer for them, for their salvation, may God grant us His mercy. The enemy has nowhere to run as our cavalry close in from the rear.
I sit beneath an olive tree, surveying the field below us, thinking how this battle and this war is changing us. My thoughts are interupted as I see a lone horseman riding towards our camp at full gallop. Before I can stand to my feet a platoon of Saharan Cavalrymen canter past me and towards the approaching horseman. Peering through the telescope at a nearby position, I distinguish him as a Nubian, from his strong composure and magnificent build. These men are chosen as long distance riders for their physical strength and endurance. He is escorted through the field by our men. I rush to the Khalipha's tent to hear of the news. The Nubian reads out a message from the commander of Cyrenacia Fort: The Egyptians have been spotted massing in the desert in what are clear preparations for an invasion. The Khalipha is presented with a scroll detailing the situation in the Eastern Sahara.
The Khalifa studies the map carefully, and writes a reply to the desert commander with his own hand. Prepare the tribes for battle. Send your most trusted diplomat to negociate a peace. Await no further instructions, maintain the peace if possible. Should the Egyptians threaten you further, your objective is Al-Cairah (Cairo). March to their capitol and once seized, set up a defence in the Sinai. Your forces will be reinforced as soon as our armies reach the borders of the French. The Nubian bows and with a change of horse, gallops away to his destination.
1098: The legendary El Cid joins our forces.
The council of war meets to discuss the progress of the campaign. So far our attack has met some resisitance, but the Spanish have failed to hold any ground and are essentially finished. The final plans are laid out for the attack on Navarre and Aragon. Our trusted Emissary is dispatched to Portugal in order to convince the Portuguese leader to join us.
Castille becomes the headquarters and supply base. Valancia will be reinforced, our forces prepare to move into Navarre & Aragon. We have entered the final stage of the Iberian Campaign.
The Battle for Valencia
Our forces move into Valencia to support El Cid. King Sancho of the Aragonese sends a force in an attempt to stop us.
The enemy sets up a small defence ahead of the bridge. The main enemy force stays further behind in case the bridge falls. Our troops under El Cid march to meet the enemy at the bridge.
A unit of enemy Royal Knights guards the bridge. Although I cannot see from this distance whose banner the unit flies, I am certain that this unit is led by an Aragonese Prince. The Royal Knights are a formidable opponent and must never be underestimated. I can distinguish from here, various battle colors, indicating that this is a veteran elite unit which has fought battles before.
However fierce the enemy knights may be in hand to hand combat. They will stand no chance once our archers open fire. The brave knights stand fast as they begun to get cut down by a hail of arrows. One of our Berber squadrons ventures to close to the bridge and suffers casualties from the enemy archers, before pulling back to safety. Meanwhile our men watch in amazememt. The last of the enemy knights falls. It appears they decided to stand under fire and die defending the bridge. May God grant them peace.
Our archers now train their fire on enemy militiamen, destroying an entire unit before El Cid leads the charge across the bridge. His squadron suffers some casualties to the enemy before crossing. El Cid is the first to engage an enemy soldier. The rest of our men surge forward to cross the bridge, encouraged by the general's spirit.The enemy King realises the futility of the fight and withdraws from battle. Our light cavalry dash to intercept whatever stragllers of the enemy may be left behind. The battle is over. One of our Berber sqaudron lost many men. Valencia is ours.
1100: The Portuguese join us.
The Khalifa leads an attack into Navarre to finish the Spanish, while El Cid crosses the border into Aragon. The Portuguese are reinforced from Leon.
An Italian fleet is sighted off the coast in the Gulf of Valencia. This is not a merchant fleet and adequate resources are left behind in Valencia to ensure that any enemy raid can be effectively repulsed.
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The Battle for Navarre
As we go into battle we realise that this is the last hold of the Spanish in Iberia, this brutal war shall soon be over. We shall soon be able to return home to our families. In this battle like in all the rest against the Spaniards we shall be relying on our archers defeating the agile enemy light cavalrymen from a distance.
We encounter the enemy at the entry to a pass into Navarre. The Spanish Jinette squadrons fan out. We are severly disadvantaged in mobility. The Khalipha orders a retreat, and we set up a defensive position. Before our men have finished assembly, we face the first Spanish strike. A furious fight begins as our militiamen attempt to hold off the enemy cavalry. Our Ghulams begin a flanking maneuver while our archers pin down enemy reinforcements.
Our Ghulams complete the flanking maneuver.The enemy horsemen are surrounded on three sides, but fight bravely to the death. The first enemy attack is defeated. Our forces reform to face another squadron of Jinettes. Archers let loose. The Spanish King dispatches a Prince to intervene, in vain. Before the Prince arrives with reinforcements our archers devastate the enemy horsemen.
We reform to face the enemy reinforcements. The Spanish Prince charges into battle valiantly. Our militaimen hold down the Prince and his knights. The Spanish King leads a 3rd wave in order to save his son. It is an effort too late, once again our Ghulams race to outflank the incoming enemy formation. Our archers open fire on the furthest enemy troops to minimise our own losses to friendly fire.
The Spanish army breaks. The Prince is killed, the Spanish King flees from the battlefield along with the remnants of his army. We reform once again and march trough the pass, confidently towards the Navarre capitol. The Spaniards are crushed and no longer pose any significant threat.
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The Battle for Aragon
This was by far the most difficult and tiring battle of the Iberian campaign. the Aragonese King displayed a sound knowledge of the tactics of deception. El Cid himself was caught off guard and had to fight for his life. 2 squadrons of Berber sacrificed themselves this day to save their general's life.
We met the enemy on a river with two bridges. The enemy deployed 2 units of archers on the west bridge. While his main force straddled the east bridge.
Enemy forces on the west bridge used as bait. Our mounted units led by El Cid divert to the west bridge. While our main force of militiamen marches for the east bridge.
El Cid leads the charge across the west bridge, with 2 squadrons of Spanish Jinettes. The enemy King now redirects most of his main force to the west bridge, in a cunning move to trap our commander.
El Cid is forced to beat a hurried retreat over the bridge. The Berbers show their true valor by charging across the bridge to hold the enemy while their esteemed general evades the enemy attack. The green arrows show the movement of allied troops, while the red show those of the enemy (in this screenshot).
Meanwhile our forces launch an all out assault on the east bridge. An enemy Prince leads the counterattck on the east bridge.He is quickly overwhelmed by our militia. Once the Prince is killed the remaining enemy force withdraw westward, chased by our militiamen.
On the west bridge, the battle has been reduced to a personal combat between King Sancho of the Aragonese, and El Cid. 2 Berber tribesmen support El Cid as he fights the enemy King in hand to hand combat. King Sancho falls under El Cid's lance, to the resounding cheers of our men. An enemy militia unit which was attempting to save King Sancho is trapped by a militia of our own. El Cid, though fatigued from the long combat and the sole survivor of his unit, charges into battle once again.
The enemy army is completely destroyed as it attempts to escape from the battlefield. The Aragonese Kingdom is eliminated and the Iberian campaign is complete. We all breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to returning home.
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1101-->1112
The campaign for the Iberiand peninsula thus ends in victory. We return to our capital amongst cheers of joy welcomed as heroes by our people. The Khalipha is revered by the people, even the Christians and the Jews. As he has brought an end to the division of Hispania. The people call him Yusuf I Al Muntasir El Hispania.
The Holy Roman Emperor sends an emissary with a proposal of alliance which is accepted by the Khalipha. The Germans are also a Crusading nation and their swords shall certainly turn against us in the future. I believe that the Khalipha senses the end of his reign and wishes to pass a secure and stable kingdom for the young and valiant Yusuf II. The English King also sends a proposal of alliance, which out leader accepts as well. The English are a Crusader nation, as such we must accept that we shall have to eventually deal them the same fate as the other Crusaders. We cannot be at peace with an enemy who plots under the guise of an alliance. Nevertheless in the interests of rebuilding the country and providing some rest to our troops we preserve the peace.
We have no navy as yet. Algeria & Tunisia have been marked for naval production. The infrastructure is already being built to produce a navy capable of controlling the Mediterranean. In the sea the Byzantines, Italians and Sicilians have much power. The Italians have raided our territories 3 times. Twice they failed but on one occasion we were unable to repulse their raid, and Valencia was briefly lost to the enemy. The Khalipha organised a successful counter attack.
Another Prince came of age before the Khalipha's passing. Prince Ibrahim.
The strength of the Italians meant that they could even raid as far south as Morrocco. Naturally their attempts were in vain and the Berbers chased them back into the sea.
Today Yusuf I has past away, and I write this final paragraph before I take my leave from court. His reign has been glorious. Though there has been terrible bloodshed, we are now feared by the Crusader nations. The entire nation is in mourning of the Khalipha's passing. Khalipha Yusuf the Second has ascended the throne. He is a great man and much respected by his friends and foes alike. He has a huge burden of responsibility as he must ensure that the Muwahhidun Khaliphate continues to grow as the most cultured and civillised society in the Western world. There are many threats to the nation. Internally the church continues to gain an uneasy influence amongst it's followers. Although most Christians are very happy under the rule of the Muwahhidun, there are some extremists who wish to overthrow the state and wage war gainst the Muslims, much like their Crusader counterparts further north and across the Gulf of Valencia. The Muslims too are becoming more extreme, in a resposne to the Crusader threat fanatical sects are forming to launch Jihad against the Crusaders.
The Egyptians have been kept in check by a massing of popular support against them by the people of the Eastern Sahara. There are reports that up to 20 squadrons of Saharan tribesmen can be raised at a moments notice to repulse any Egyptian endeavor.
As for myslef I will leave the court as my master is gone. Yusuf the Second has been like my own child and I have sought to help him wherever I can. I have sought to impart on him all the knowledge of this life that I posses. I trust in him and believe that he will take the necessary actions to preserve our blossoming civilisation. I am increasingly drawn to a branch of Islam, that I know little of but have heard much about.
The history of the origin of Sufism records that during the lifetime of the Prophet Mohammed, centuries ago, there was a group of pious individuals from different nations who, guided by the Laws of Islam, sought for the direct experience of the Divine. Companions of the Prophet, they were people of principles practicing certain disciplines and meditations for the sake of purification, the realization of Divine love, and the understanding of reality. They were the Lovers of God who sought union with Him through losing the limited self in His Divinity (fana), and remaining alive in that Reality (bagha).
These individuals met on the platform, or suffe, of the mosque where Prophet Mohammed used to pray in Medina, Arabia. They would meet there almost everyday to discuss the ways to inner knowledge, the truths of revelation, and the meanings of the verses of the Koran. Thus the platform of that mosque in Medina became the first gathering place of one of the most influential groups in the history of mankind's spiritual civilization. They were called ahle suffe, the People of the Platform.
These individuals cultivated the seed of a school of spiritual practice based on knowledge of the self, and thus free of the trappings of tradition and superstition, a knowledge of the inner heart apart from the customary beliefs of their contemporary society as well as those of future civilizations. It is from this group that all the schools of Sufism that have ever existed owe their origin, for by pursuing the path of unsullied inner knowledge they were the founders of Sufism, and the binding link between its subsequent developments.
I will be leaving for Jebel Al Tareq (Gibraltar) with some of our warriors who like me wish to further our education and give thanks to our Lord for our success in battle. At dusk our dhow shall sail to the Seljuk state. There we will visit Konya to study at the school of the Dervish. Thereafter I Intend to travel to Baghdad (Gift of God), to visit this ancient city and learn from her people. From there I shall cross the desert alone to Damashq (Damascus). After praying at the Al Quds and the tomb of Jesus in Palestine I shall turn east once again through the sands of Arabia towards the trader's city on the Persian Gulf. From there I shall return to India from where my ancestors came. Should life permit I shall return to the service of my home in Iberia.
Allah-e-Imanet (I go as I came, a possesion in the hands of God).
Monk was the second king, Khalipha Yusuf II.
A famous italian historian walks the grounds of the palace in morroco. He has been granted permission to look upon the records from the years 1113-1131, or otherwise known as the reign of Yusuf II. The historian enters the great library and begins his search. Surprisingly he can find nothing on Yusuf II except a vague refrence in the history of Yusuf I. He was said to lead the armies of the Kalipha with great ferocity and showed no fear. He searches even more, piling book upon book looking for anything. Then finaly, late one june evening he finds a small book. it apears to have been hidden away and forgoten, he picks it up and blows the dust off it. The cover is of a red cloth and much has been torn over the years. he sits down with the book,takes out his slightly stained reading glasses and opens the book.
On the first page was inscribed in arabic;
This is the record of the Kalipha Yusuf II written to his decendants.
The old man laughed with joy and turned the page.the following is what the old man read and turned over the The historical comunity
If you are reading this then i myself have most likely died. My name is Yusuf II, when my father died in 1113 i was charged with the task of succeding him. as i came to find he was a great leader to manadge not only the Tribes of africa, but to defeat the Spanish and Aragonese to claim the Iberian penisilar. this document outlines my greatest achievments for any future refrence, i pray they may be of some use.
the old man reading smiled as if he had found gold, he continued reading to find a complete account of the Kalipha's reign and life.
First entry
the year is now 1114. I never before imagined how vulnerable our positions are in spain. i must do somthing about this before it gets out of hand, last month i ordered that we raise taxes in all provences to help fund a new build of off not only forts but military forces. i began work on forts in castile and portugal, i also assumed command of the army in cordoba
Second Entry 1115
I now understand what my father ment when late one night he reguarded to the italians as 'infidelic dogs of the earth'. they have invaded Leon, the small garison there was taken completly by surprise, there was around 200 men there and they all lost their lives. enraged by this the people, islamic and christian alike, called for action, i began gathering the nececary men to counter their raid.
Third entry, 1116
Unbeleivable Why does father test me with such hardships? The italians have invaded and taken Tunisia i am rallying a Jihad to capture the Provence but it will take another year for it to be ready. I went ahead and launched a counter attack in castile and drove the italians back into the sea, those who were captured were executed on the spot.
forth entry, 1116
With all these happenings i had myself a good laugh with my servants. i began to talk with an ivisible person and carried out a conversation with them, i could hardly keep a straight face when they witnessed this. although i told them i was only having fun with them, there were some who didnt beleive me, but i dont care what they say.
fith entry, 1117
the Jihad was finaly ready to retake our lost lands. i ordered them to depart at once, as soon as they arrived on the feild the italians atemped to flee. however realizing they were traped they began to put up a fight. although their efforts were in vein they fought bravely, i must comend the general of their army. since he fought so well i decided to ransom him back to his king, it is my wish to face him on the feild of combat myself one day.
battle of Tunisia ended with 200 casualties on our side and about 300 on theirs, the exact numbers are not known.
sixth entry, 1118
it had to happen in all his arrogence the italian king along with his son invaded castile from the ocean, what he didnt count on was facing myself with the 400 militia men raised in the previous years. the battle was a short one. i took care of him myself and killed his son, when his own flesh and blood fell in combat the king ran for his own pathetic life, after chasing him for several Kilometers we captureds him and killed his bodyguard. i ransomed him back to his own kingdom for 5 thousand florins, with these a began construction on castles in Castile and one in Aragon.
The old man closed the book and stood up. it was late and he had to rest for now. he took the book with him and retired to his room.[i]
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/MnkYus2VV.jpg
The old man awoke from his sleep. a month had passed and he was back in Italy in his home. he had not been able to read any of the Book since his trip so when he finaly sat down and put on his glasses he was so excited he could barly hold the book without trembling
1119
Well things seem to have calmed down with the italians, after that failed invasion they seem to have dissapeared from our shores, my guess is a war with the French but i cannot be sure.
1123
Wow it has been 4 years since i wrote in this old book. i feel that i have neglected it, however that has been my reign as of late. nothing is going on and no excitement what-soever.
1125
War almost broke out in the East this year. a misunderstanding almost lead to all out war with the Egyptians. i was able to convince them that in no way are we spying on them, however i assued that that any agression would be met and delt with swift justice. they soon backed out and recalled their troops from the border
1127
I have become ill. it is nothing to worry about, the italians retuirned this year, we were able to figtht them off with little casualties. i manadged to secure a cease-fire for the time being. how long it will last i cannot tell.
1128
My illness is growing worse by the years passing. fortunatly all threats to our mighty state have been delt with and i am confident that it will stay this way for my time on earth.
1130
I was wrong, for the last year i have spent fighting the Italians, their raiding is becoming a headache. even though they wewre repelled i sence that an all out war will come soon enough between our two nations. Allah be with us if that ever happens
The old man closes the book as there is no more writen, he expects that the Khalipha died in 1131. he feels sorry he did not have the time to read the rest at an earlier time but many things have been in his life. The old man stands upa nd exits his house, he goes to the Museum and turns the book in there.
on the back pages he discovers this small picture
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/1131Monk.jpg
he smiles and leaves...
Maniac was the third player, Khalipha Umar:
Umar slowly ran his hand along the beautiful surface of the leather cover of his soon to be diary. Since he inherited the throne from his father Umar decided to keep notes on important things that happen throughout the years of his rules. Before his death he’d give it to his son so he would learn from his father’s achievements and mistakes.
Year 1131
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/1131start.JPG
This year my great fathers, Allah bless him, died from an illness and now I am the new Kalifah of our glorious Almohad Kaliphate. I held a meeting with all the high officials of the Kaliphate to decide further plans. Here’s what I have planned for the future:
1) Build a powerful navy.
2) Conquer and butcher the insolent Italians.
3) Raise taxes so I can build a world famous harem...errr...empire.
4) Improve faith and happiness of the people
5) Improve economy. Improve Farmlands.
One of the men at the council mentioned my chin looked strange, damn him.
6) Get someone to kill Lord Iraf.
7) Grow a beard. [Do not shave]
I have started work on these things immediately. Also I’ve been busy in the harem but none of the women got pregnant. Allah, give me strength.
Year 1132
Still no child.
Things to do:
1) Check if those darn women aren’t secretly using birth control herbs.
Year 1133
Still no child
Things to do:
1) Send someone to check out those potency raising mushrooms.
Year 1134
I still have no heir The mushrooms didn’t help, although after three dozes Allah himself visited me and took me to fly around with him. That was great fun and honor.
Is it because my ancestors were some inbred perverts that I can’t have children?
Things to do:
1) Try out the weigh balls on my “little elephant”.
2) Get more of those mushrooms.
Year 1135
Still no child and those weighs are giving me horrible pain. Good news is my economical plans are going well and people aren’t worried about high taxes, nor is our army slacking off.
Year 1136
I need a kid. Really. Pretty please.
Things to do:
1) Get a plantation of the mushrooms in my palace.
2) Fly around with Allah again.
Year 1137
French Bishops are gathering in Navarre and Aragon. I ordered some assassins trained to get rid of them. Those heathens aren’t only blabbering about that god of theirs; they are also spreading word that the great mushrooms are addictive and should not be used.
Things to do:
1) Kill the French Bishops
2) Rename the mushrooms to Umarian Mushrooms and encourage their growth and distribution.
Year 1138
Still no heir. Some mad tribal shaman visited me and said he knew a ritual called “Unfreeze” which would help me get a child. I finished my lunch of Umarian Mushrooms and agreed to try it, what followed is better left undocumented.
Year 1139
Thank you, Allah I finally have a son I instantly ordered a shipment of treasure sent to the shaman.
On another note our navy is slowly growing.
Year 1140
We have several trained assassins and the mission to purge the French spies has started successfully.
Our ships started easily sinking the rotten Italian boats floating near the shores of our lands.
Year 1141
I sent an emissary to the Egyptians with an offer of alliance but the insolent fool rejected the offer.
Things to do:
1) Ban Umarian Mushroom export to Egypt
Year 1142
All the plans are going smoothly but slowly.
Year 1143
People of the Kaliphate truly acknowledge the work I’ve done for our glorious lands.
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/1143Umar.jpg
Year 1144-5
News reached me that the Sicilians are no more.
I sent an offer of alliance to the French (obviously making a trap for them) but they didn’t fall for it.
Year 1146-7
I have two sons now
Things to do:
1) Send another gift to the shaman.
Year 1148
The Italians have declared peace with us and sent an emissary begging for an alliance. My spies have reported that the idiots are having a civil war. This makes our upcoming sea assault easier. I had the emissary kicked out of my palace and sent an assassin after his pathetic head.
Year 1149
Our navy has gotten strong and is guarding most shores of our lands. The ships have also reached Italian lands and are preparing to sink their patrolling fleets so our armies can land on shore.
The Hungarians offered an alliance but since they were allies of the Italians I quickly refused.
A third son of mine was born (have to love that shamanistic magic).
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/1149shores.jpg
Year 1150
The Italian fleet is wide scattered and persistent but we’re quickly wearing it down.
Year 1151
The coward Italian Doge has died in his bed and left his sons for us to slaughter.
Yet another child of mine is born.
Things to do:
1) Send a big shipment of Umarian Mushrooms to the shaman.
Year 1152-3
The Italian fleet was finally reduced to almost nothing and our armies are preparing to attack.
Year 1154
We have launched a massive offensive, landing our armies in Genoa, Tuscany and Corsica.
The defenders in Genoa and Corsica cowardly entrenched themselves in their forts. The defenders of Tuscany with their arrived reinforcements decided to show some courage.
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/TuscDploy1154.jpg
An excerpt from the Almohad general’s diary:
“Soft wind gently brushed against my weather-beaten cheeks as I looked at the horizon, where the Italian army, superior in numbers to ours, took position on a hill. Expecting them to take advantage of numbers I ordered my soldiers to take a defensive position but the Italians started marching away. Waiting for a bit I realized they were too cowardly to attack so slowly I started moving my army forward. The steps of the soldiers merged with the gusts of wind to form a peaceful melody...a silence against the storm.
My eyes caught view of the enemy general and his unit of spearmen. Their spears were polished, their eyes - filled with arrogance, but I knew they didn’t have the determination and courage of my soldiers. The rest of the rival army took position near a forest, in a beautiful valley covered in lush grass. I slowly pressed my soldiers onward keeping aware of any traps and stopping occasionally to let the men rest. We were nearing the enemy general and there was still no sight of traps, it seems the fool underestimated himself. Our Berber warriors peppered his unit with arrows, bringing at least two dozen of the Italians down. The militiamen then stormed forth and engulfed the enemy, drowning the Italians in their own crimson blood and making the survivors of the unit flee in terror which could be easily heard in their screams which were louder than the sound of cutting flesh, crushing bones and beating metal against metal. As per orders of our Great Kalifah every captured foe was to be slain immediately.
The rest of the Italians stayed in their place, oblivious to the death of their general. I quickly regrouped my soldiers and positioned them on a hill overlooking the valley. The Italians turned to face us, even from the distance I could see fear in their eyes. The heathens finally realized that their general was dead. With a bit of maneuvering, to keep the enemy out of the forest, my soldiers charged downhill, raising a cloud of dust and cleaving through the enemy ranks like a scythe through a meadow. It rained that day in the green valley...No, not in water but in the fairest liquid ever – blood. Tuscany was ours...”
[Replay]
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/TuscVic1154.jpg
My oldest son, Ismail, has grown up to be a good prince and I’ll be glad to give over my rule of the Kaliphate to him when time comes (As well as my giant harem and the mushroom plantations).
Year 1155
The small fort in Corsica would have held for a long time so I ordered it stormed and every defender slain. The assault was successful and the fort was taken with minimal casualties.
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/CorsiDeply1155.jpg
[Replay]
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/CorsiVicCastl1155.jpg
The Italians sent in their soldiers to retake Genoa and our troops suffered a shameful defeat.
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/GenoaDploy1155.jpg
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/GeneoDft1155.jpg
Year 1156
Loyalist rebellions arose in Corsica and Tuscany and I ordered reinforcements sent to help defend our newly conquered provinces.
My son, Yusuf, has matured. Yet another fine member of the royal family.
Year 1157
The feeble rebel army in Corsica was easily squashed by our professional and much bigger army.
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/CorsiInvsDeply1157.jpg
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/1157Corsica2.jpg
The battle in Tuscany was the biggest in my reign. The battle was long, energy draining and bloody with the victor unclear for awhile. But in the end our soldiers emerged victorious with two dead Italians for every Almohad soldier who died defending the name of Allah that day.
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/TuscDploy1157.jpg
[Replay]
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/TuscnyVic1157.jpg
Year 1158
The year was spent strengthening our holdings in the Apennine peninsula and preparing to crush the Italians. My health is not what it used to be though and I am afraid my dream of conquering the Apennine peninsula will have to be accomplished by my son, Ismail. I trust he will do that.
Year 1159
I feel I don’t have many days left to live. My last order was the re-conquering of Genoa which is now in hands of the tiny army of Italian rebels. It seems the Doge is still having internal problems.
The battle was easily won but the small unit of enemy militiamen surprised us by their fighting prowess and took down a fair amount of soldiers.
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/ReInvGenoa1159.jpg
[Replay]
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/VictryGenoa1159.jpg
I write this as I feel the shadow of death lurking behind the corner (or is it from that Umarian Mushroom treatment?). Ismail, my son, I entrust our glorious Kaliphate into your hands and only ask you to defeat the rest of the Italians. May Allah be with you and aid you in your reign.
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/UmarI_56_1159.jpghttps://jimcee.homestead.com/files/EoRmini1159.jpg
Mount Suribachi was the fourth player, Khalipha Ismail I. His write-up become interspersed with that of the fifth player, econ21, Kalipha Muhammad I . The stories are presented here in their original interweaved form, rather than being reordered as chronological.
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Mount Suribachi:
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/Almo1195.jpg
In Ismael's 55th year Pope Urban III re-appeared with c. 6000 men. Defeated the army in Naples, but Ismael wasn't able to stem the tide in Rome and was forced back into the castle. The next year my whole empire went crazy. My loyalty plummeted everywhere. many provinces had loyalty 0%, no matter how low the taxes or how many troops there were stationed there. The only explanation for this that I can think of is that my King was trapped in a castle.
In 2 desparate do or die battles the Papacy were defeated and Ismael died at the end of that turn. Loyalty is back to normal empire wide, but the kingdom is left with peasant rebellions in Portugal, Granada, Morocco & Northumbria. And Christian rebellions in Rhodes, Crete, Wales, Mercia & Scotland.
Did I mention that the Italians re-appeared in Algeria with 5000 men that turn as well?
Still, everywhere else is at peace.
Son - avoid war with Byz at all costs, as trade with them is our biggest source of income. The Poles have been allied to them for decades, so be careful of attacking them. Byz has only just allied with Egypt after a brutal 20 year war in Anatolia which saw no major territory change hands...WW1 in the 12th Century http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif
Concentrate on developing our lands and armies - try and get Swabian Swordsmen, they are devastating, and Swiss Pikemen as the Elmos are seriously lacking in anti-cav units. However, you have an experienced army and some top generals. I would go through all the governers as well and check their V & Vs, something I've not done since the start of my reign. Of course you are your own man, my son, and you will rule your kingdom as you see fit http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif I'm just one more daddy trying to pass on what he (thinks he) knows.
Ismael has only one wish of you. Destroy the Irish. Ireland was the scene of a humiliating Almohad defeat early in my reign and I was planning to lead a death or glory charge there in my 56th year. It wasn't to be, the Pope had other plans.
Avenge our peoples humiliation there my son, it is all I ask of you.
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econ21:
The new Kalipha ran up the stairs, adrenaline coursing through his veins. “Allah, you have guided me to this moment”, he thought, “now I will repay your trust”. He reached the top of the stairs. “Stop”, he told himself, forcing a halt, “Walk, don’t run.” He approached the entrance to the Council chamber at what he hoped was a more sedate pace, although the great doors were thrown open before him with a haste he did not recall from his father’s time.
Faces turned towards him as he entered the grand hall. Inside, gathered around a large map of the known world, were his father’s most trusted advisors and generals. Scanning the old men, Muhammad observed a mixture of anxiety and curiosity. The apprehension was predictable given the turmoil that had marked Muhammad’s ascension to the throne. But Muhammad had not anticipated the open expressions of interest on the faces of his Council; interest in how he, the new Kalipha, would respond to the chaos in the kingdom.
“Gentlemen” he began in a loud, clear voice, “I am indebted to you all for coming at such short notice. You helped guide my father from the Pyrnees to the Elbe. Various malcontents seek to undo that work. In Allah’s name, our people have brought down all the great Catholic kingdoms. A few rebellions will not prove much of a challenge to them, especially with your continued guidance. Qadi al-Quda, summarise the reports from the provinces”
The Qadi al-Quda, grey and wizen, shuffled through the pile of parchments in front of him. “As your highness has said, various malcontents. Two main areas of unrest – the resurgent Italians in Algeria, with 3800 men; and in the British Isles, with rebellions in all provinces bar Wessex with an estimated total of 4500 rebels. Minor uprisings also reported in Portugal, Granada, Morocco, Crete and Rhodes.”
“Thank you, Qadi al-Quda” said Muhammad, moving rapidly on. “The first order of business is to try to forestall any future such disloyalty in the provinces. Grand Vizier, you are to give all provincial governors authority to set taxes at sufficiently low rates to guarantee the loyalty of their subjects. We have better things to do than to second guess our governors.”
“As you command” said the hawk-faced Grand Vizier, oozing scepticism and ill-concealed displeasure at such a great loss of his power.
“Grand Vizier – we have amassed a formidable warchest; some 180,000 gold pieces. Now would be a good time to spend some of it. All provinces not committed to naval construction must immediately levy contingents of troops. What can we expect?”
“Your highness, I regret that, with a few exceptions, only the Ibernian and African provinces can train warriors worthy of your armies. The others can mainly offer only urban militia or peasants, if they can muster any forces.”
Muhammad suppressed his irritation. The lack of training facilities in the kingdom’s more recent conquests was probably more a reflection of the destruction of conquest and the backwardness of the conquered than the laxity of the Grand Vizier. Still, it seemed that the Grand Vizier, and indeed the Muhammad’s father, had been somewhat complacent in ordering the prioritisation of great castles, agricultural improvements and merchant houses.
“Grand Vizier, raise whatever forces you can – even levy the peasants if need be. Also, hire any mercenaries offering their services. We will not lose a kingdom for the want of a few blades. But in future, ALL provinces must be capable of producing well-trained forces – either Almohad urban militia, Muwahid foot or archers. We must not be caught unprepared a second time. Oh, and allocate some of our conquered provinces to horse breeding. We may not be able to trust Catholic-born warriors with steeds, but we must be able to replace them with our own Faris or Ghulam cavalry.” The fact that, outside of North Africa, only Rome was capable of training mounted warriors had been one of Muhammad’s most disturbing discoveries on assuming the kaliphate. Another had been the neglect of metalsmiths despite the kingdom’s generous endowment of iron-mines.
“Vizier of the Army” Muhammad turned his attention to the grizzled warrior stood closest to the map. “Empty all provinces without a land border or enemy insurgent of their garrisons. Leave only a skeleton force in each. If there are more or less than 100 men in each uncontested province, I will be wanting an explanation.”
“As you command, my Kalipha”, the old warrior bowed. “And they should be deployed to …?”
“The first priority is to forestall any attempt by existing factions to exploit our troubles. As my father instructed me, Byzantium is both our greatest trading partner and worst potential enemy. We meet them at the borders of Venice. What is the strength of our garrison there compared to theirs in Croatia?”
The Vizier of the Army uttered a dry, uncomfortable cough. “We have 120 men in Venice; estimate their army in Croatia numbers in excess of 2000.”
“That leaves us a rather tempting target, don’t you think? Make reinforcing Venice our first priority, followed by our other border provinces – especially Libya, our frontier with Egypt.”
“But there are armies already in the field against us” cried the Vizier of the Army in frustration. “Must we spend all our energies fighting shadows and phantoms?”
“Indeed not, my trusted sword-arm, you are right as always. After reinforcing our border garrisons to your satisfaction, you are to take all available men and allocate them to each of the ten contested provinces. I personally we lead our forces against the Italians in Algeria. I expect we will be outnumbered in most battles, so we must rely on quality. Make sure each province has sufficient archers and horse. The Almohad urban militia will be the backbone of our defence but their numbers are few. Order all militia company captains that they are to deploy only two deep. Tell every militiaman that their own fate, the fate of their comrades, their armies, their country and indeed the fate of the true faith all stands or falls on the skill of their swordsmanship.”
“Now, gentlemen, let us get to work and hope that next year we meet in less interesting times”, and, with that, the Kalipha dismissed the Council.
Almost as an afterthought, he called back the Qadi al-Quada, instructing him to send emissaries offering alliances to all factions except the Italians. But in his heart, he expected little of these overtures. The Almohad Kaliphate stood alone and now, with the exit of the old men from the Council chamber, the Kalipha himself felt a thrill of solitude.
==========================================================
Mount Suribachi:
When in 1160 Ismail became Kalipha of the Alomhad Empire, no one could have predicted the profound impact this 21-year-old would have on Europe. He had no outstanding qualities that marked him out as the great ruler that he would become. A promising general - one to keep an eye on, but no more. Able to read and write, with a rudimentary grasp of arithmetic, but certainly no scholar. Nor was he a man of profound religious beliefs, indeed in his youth the Alims used to whisper that whilst he knew about the existence of mosques, he knew not what they were for. He did however display great natural ability at personal combat and was regarded as a great warrior. His temperament was generally pleasant, though he was prone to occasional outbursts of anger, but no more so than would be expected from any young King carrying the burden of responsibility for a whole empire. There was but one trait from his early life that provided a clue as to how his reign would develop. All those who knew him - family, friends, advisors, and comrades - knew that he was somewhat irritable, quick to anger and slow to forget a grudge. If the Catholic Kings and princes of Western Europe had born this fact in mind, perhaps they would not have sown the wind, and reaped the whirlwind.
Upon his accession, Ismail found his kingdom to be one of great, but as yet largely untapped potential. The treasury turned over an annual profit of around 2500 florins and the royal coffers contained nearly 3000 florins. By the end of his reign, that annual profit was to be increased 10 fold and over 150,000 florins were stored in the treasury. In large part that was due to the reforms Ismail instigated. The fledgling navy started by his forefathers were up to that point used mainly in a defensive role around the East Coast of the Iberian Peninsula, defending against incursions by the Italians who had fought an on-off war with the Almohads for years. As the Italians were pushed back and eventually defeated, Ismail ordered his fleets to roam far from home and establish trading routes everywhere they could. Within 30 years the whole of the known world was accessible to the Almohads, from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Goods from all across the Almohad empire were sold in far away places, their import and export duties swelling the coffers - wax and olive oil from Portugal, saltfish from Northumbria, glassware and silk from Venice combining to make the Almohad empire the richest of the age. Ismail also set about improving his empires infrastructure in order that his merchants might make more profits and thereby pay yet more taxes, building trading posts and by the end of his reign encouraging the merchants guilds that were starting to spring up. He appointed new governors in many territories, based not, as was so often the case in those times, on nobility of birth, but on merit alone. Thus many able men of comparatively humble backgrounds found themselves ruling whole provinces in Ismails name. On the whole, these men ruled ably and well, and their wisdom and discernment further increased the profitability of their lands. They also owed their high position to Ismail and as such were very loyal to him, unlike perhaps those of more noble birth who would be much more likely to intrigue against the Kalipha.
To the North & East the French and Egyptians kept large standing armies on their borders with the Almohads. These tied down large numbers of soldiers in defensive positions, but the intelligence Ismail received persuaded him (certainly early in his reign) that they did not intend to attack him directly, so he was able to concentrate his attentions on his one enemy - the Italians.
For years the Italians had been launching raids on Aragon, Valencia and Cordoba, but Ismails father, Umar I had managed to drive the Italians back onto the defensive. By 1160 Ismail found Corsica in Almohad hands and with a foothold on the Italian peninsula - Genoa and Tuscany were occupied by Ismails armies with the castles at Genoa and Florence under siege. By 1162 both castles had fallen, and there followed several years of consolidation as Ismail secured his position as King and worked to improve the loyalty of his subjects - by civic improvements where he could, and where he couldn't, by the stationing of enough troops to make sure no-one dared to try anything funny. By 1165 he was confident enough to order his younger brother, Prince Yusuf to attack Venice to the North East.
Yusuf was an interesting character, 2 years younger than Ismail, he was on the face of things, a more impressive man - cleverer, a better general with a more fearsome reputation, a more devout Muslim (although compared to Ismail, this wasn't saying much). However, even at this early stage of his life there were rumours about his habit of sleeping in his tent with only young slave boys for company, but it was many years before his preference for young men rather than young women became common knowledge. When it did, it was only the fact that his brother the Kalipha was not a truly devout Muslim that allowed him to keep his life. When his perversion became an open secret, he was able to maintain his high position by a combination of his very charitable giving to the poor and his fearsome reputation - partly earned on the battlefield, partly rumours of what he did to those who crossed him.
Venice was defended by Lord Corsini, perhaps the cleverest man of the age. However the love of philosophy and abstract thought does not make one a general capable of defeating a foe superior in numbers and ability. Corsini abandoned Venice and retreated to Milan with his 500 men where the Italians prepared to make a last stand against the onslaught that they knew would come sooner or later.
Before that onslaught however came 2 incidents that would dominate Ismails thinking for the rest of his life. As the war with the Italians was drawing to its conclusion, Ismail began looking around for further opportunities for expansion. With the intricate web of international alliances, he was reluctant to attack any of the larger kingdoms lest it incur the wrath of their allies. He decided that Ireland, small and lightly populated would make an ideal base for his navy which by now was reaching into the North Sea and Baltic, but was finding it increasingly hard to support its operations so far from their home ports.
So in 1167, Abdul abu Muhammed, a highly educated general with a reputation for a devious military mind led an invasion force of nearly 500 men to take the Emerald Isle. Muhammed, who had won fame as the conqueror of Corsica, led his army against 350 Irish soldiers expecting an easy victory. Fate had decided differently however and as the 2 armies closed, a javelin thrown by an Irish peasant struck him. The whole army saw him topple from his horse skewered through the chest, and as the shock swept through the army, they wavered for a moment. At that point the Irish Gallowglasses, fierce tribal warriors, charged down the small hill they stood on. Much of the Almohad army broke and ran instantly, some stayed and fought, briefly, before they too ran. Many did not run quick enough and were slaughtered. Those who ran quickly enough were able to rally themselves and some order was restored to the army. But now it was they who were on the defensive. They met the Irish attack and this time put up a slightly better fight, but it was clear the Irish were slowly winning the battle. As more and more of the Muslims fell the army suddenly broke and ran once more, this time not stopping until they had reached their ships. Of the 500 men who landed in Ireland, less than 100 survived to make it back to Granada. When these survivors, humiliated by their defeat and with a long, lonely sea voyage back home to think about the shameful lack of courage they had displayed, made it back to Islamic Spain, Ismail flew into a rage. And not without reason. The army he had sent was well led, well trained and well equipped. The death of their general should not have provoked such a shameful and cowardly flight. When an Irish emissary arrived to enquire about a ransom for the 150 Almohad prisoners they had, Ismail saw him personally in order to deliver just one line
You may kill them all.
The survivors Ismail thought about distributing as reinforcements throughout the rest of his army, but decided against it. He did not want their cowardly ways infecting the rest of his brave army, so the survivors were dismissed from the army and sent home. The shame of the Irish debacle burned long in Ismails mind and he longed and planned for the opportunity to personally destroy these Irish peasants who had so humiliated his mighty empire.
The 2nd important incident that happened in 1167 was a surprise attack by the French from Toulouse into Aragon. Over 2200 Franks marched across the border where they were met by less than 600 Almohads led by Amir abu Hassan, an outstanding general whose uncanny ability had secured victory after victory. On this day he fought a holding action, defending as long as his archers had arrows, before withdrawing to his keep in Barcelona, having lost nearly 200 men, but leaving 700 French soldiers dead on the battlefield. Although already at war with the Catholic Italians, this battle began stoking the fires of Ismails desire to destroy the Catholic west.
By 1169 Prince Yusuf was ready to begin the final phase of the Italian war. Milan was invaded with 1200 men and Doge Enrico I himself led the last 1500 soldiers Italy possessed to meet them. The battle was long and bloody, but the result was never in doubt as the Italians were relentlessly driven back. Although 300 Almohads were lost, 600 Italians died and the same number were taken prisoner, but with no money to pay their ransom met death just the same. Only 300 survived to flee back to the castle in Milan.
The following year Prince Yusuf led the assault on Milan Castle, the last bastion of Italian resistance. Led by Doge Enrico and trying to wipe away the shame of their string of defeats and retreats at Muslim hands the Italians defended fiercely and inflicted over 100 casualties on the assaulters, several units being wiped out. At the last there remained only Doge Enrico himself, sat on his horse in front of the keep, fighting off attacker after attacker, till only Prince Yusuf remained in the vicinity. The 2 then fought an epic hand to hand clash, captured so famously in the portrait by Abu Zayyan al-Mansur, the archery commander whose paintings capture so many dramatic moments from the reign of Ismail I. Eventually after several minutes of combat, with both men exhausted, Yusuf was able to fell Enrico.
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/Prince_Yusuf_fights_Doge_Enrico.jpg
Prince Yusuf fighting Doge Enrico by Abu Zayyan al-Mansur
With no heirs and no territory, the Italians were no more. The first, but not the last Catholic nation to fall to Ismail.
https://jimcee.homestead.com/files/Death_of_Doge_Enrico_drawing.jpg
The death of Doge Enrico I by Abu Zayyan al-Mansur
In the same year of 1170, the Almohads launched counterattacks against the French. The siege of Barcelona Keep was lifted, the French withdrawing without a fight, and to the northwest an attack on the lightly defended province of Anjou was unopposed, the small French army there retreating to the fort at Bordeaux. The following year the French launched a huge counterattack to lift the siege of Bordeaux - over 3200 men led by King Phillipe III attacking the 700 men of Amir Rahman. Rahman, the Censor of Genoa was possibly the best of the many fine generals at Ismails disposal. One the true greats in the history of warfare, he also had a fearsome reputation, his hands stained with the blood of innocents. Highly educated, but also a glutton, he spent vast fortunes on rare delicacies and huge feasts whilst his peasants starved. But of course, when you're outnumbered more than 4 to 1, what a general eats is not as important as how he leads. And Rahman fought a skillful rearguard action, his army (containing a large contingent of archers from the sands of Morocco) killing nearly 800 Frenchmen, capturing over a hundred more for the loss of 250 of his own men. When his archers had exhausted their arrows Rahman withdrew back to Navarre, happy to have caused the French casualties thrice that of his own.
To the east Kaliph Ismael led a force of 800 men from the freshly relieved Aragon into Toulouse. His spies and scouts had reported that Toulouse was only lightly defended, but as he advanced north, French reinforcements marched south. King Phillipe had announced a crusade against the Almohads several years previously. Pope Giovanni I had given it his blessing and over 1000 men responded to this call to wage a holy war against the heathen Muslims who threatened Catholicism. It was this crusade that Ismail met on the fields of Toulouse and which outnumbered his army by more than 2 to 1. The battle raged back and forth and swung first one way, then the other. Several times it looked like one side might break, but they always rallied. The biggest problem that Ismaels army faced were the Order Foot Soldiers. Well armoured, equipped with a shield and spear, these men were not of high enough social standing to become knights, but fought in support of them and with the hope of promotion. They also fought with a religious zeal that made them disciplined and tough warriors. They fought the battle with bravery and skill and inflicted heavy casualties on the Almohads. Eventually, when both sides had exhausted their reinforcements, the battlefield belonged to the Muslims. The French had just over 500 dead, the Almohads just under, however the Almohads had managed to capture nearly 900 French soldiers. After the battle was over, Ismael looked out over the fields and surveyed the carnage. His army had sustained 60% losses and it was a tribute to their bravery, skill and his leadership that they had persevered to win the day. He looked at the throng of French prisoners. The peasants, poorly dressed, no armour, shaking with fear, the terror visible in their eyes. And he looked at the Order Foot Soldiers, their armour no longer shiny and glinting, but dirty and dented. Their faces caked in dust, sweat and blood. But their eyes, their eyes In them was the gleam of defiance mixed with the anger at their defeat. Although they had surrendered in the hope of being ransomed to fight another day, they were clearly not afraid of their death, if Ismael should so order it. And then Ismael looked out again at the piles of dead bodies strewn around the battlefield, most of them accumulated round the places where the crusader foot soldiers had made their stands and Ismael thought I do not want to fight these men again. He turned to his surviving bodyguards and shouted
Follow me
With that he rode into the nearby town of Colomiers. Most of the inhabitants had fled in fear with news of the defeat or were locked in their houses. Ismael rode up to the local church and finding the priest ordered him to collect his entire store of bread and wine. Having done so, he took the clearly terrified priest back out to the battlefield. There he ordered the priest to deliver Holy Communion to the 900 prisoners. Though thought of as a man who was ignorant of the divine, Ismael regarded this as a last act of necessary chivalry towards a vanquished enemy before he ordered the execution of every one of the French prisoners.
The Battle of Colomiers was the turning point in Ismaels reign. Having witnessed 1st hand the potentially devastating effects of the Catholic crusades he was determined to eliminate their threat once and for all by destroying Catholic Western Europe. This desire to remove a threat coupled with his known grudge-bearing abilities was the beginning of the end of Roman Catholicism. Whether or not the threat posed by having to face those order foot soldiers again if he had ransomed them justified their slaughter is something that Islamic scholars have debated ever since. As we shall see, in the future he was perfectly happy to ransom back low quality troops and peasants, but royalty in particular, where likely to suffer a similar fate to those 900 captured Frenchmen on the bloody fields of Colomiers. Whether what he did was right or wrong, he never shook off his reputation for scant mercy the rest of his life.
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econ21:
Kalipha Muhammad I put down the journal of his father's reign unfinished. A messenger from Scotland had arrived, bearing news of the first of the ten battles that marked the year of his inauguration in 1196. Muhammad tore open the parchment and scanned it anxiously. A rebel army of 1900 men had attacked Almohad forces of 840 warriors. A wave of relief surged through the Kalipha – victory The rebels had been defeated, with the loss of only 93 Almohad warriors.
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Amir Rahman presents the new Kalipha with a great victory in the Scottish Highlands. He will return here to out-do this triumph six years later.
The flow of the battle characterised most of the encounters of this year. The Almohads had deployed on the highest hill, with a thin frontline of double-ranked Almohad militia backed by archers in loose formation and cavalry for pursuit. The first wave of the enemy was invariably the strongest and pressed home its attack despite suffering from archery fire while approaching up a steep incline. However, in no battle was the enemy ultimately able to resist the charge of the Almohad urban militia down the slope. Typically the enemy general was captured or killed in the first wave of the assault. The negative effect of this on enemy morale, combined with the high losses sustained and the inferior quality of subsequent waves of enemy, meant that the outcome of the battle was no longer in doubt.
Reflecting later on the year’s many victories, the Kalipha wondered why so often his forces had managed to defeat superior numbers. No doubt it was partly the advantage of being on the defensive, able to use archery and elevation to good effect. In large measure it was also the considerable skill of the Almohad urban militia, who had proved able to best Highland Clansmen, Feudal Sergeants and even Feudal Men-at-Arms. However, perhaps the most decisive factor was the superior leadership provided by the Almohad generals. Most Almohad armies were led by veteran generals whereas the rebel generals had yet to make much of a reputation for themselves. This factor was particularly important in Muhammad’s own encounter with the resurgent Italians, whose young Doge had no particular aptitude for command whatsoever.
Although more Almohad soldiers were engaged in the various campaigns in the British Isles, the battle of Algiers was the largest single encounter of 1196. Muhammad had mustered 1727 men, but the Italians had gathered a force of 3781 composed almost entirely of stout soldiers – Feudal Sergeants, Men-at-Arms, Mounted Crossbowmen, Mounted Sergeants and archers. Thankfully, the Italians had been surprisingly light in terms of Feudal Knights but Muhammad also was short of heavy cavalry. As in Scotland, the fate of the first wave of the assault had been decisive. The Italians approached with their heaviest infantry and in the fierce ensuing melee caused heavy casualties, but everywhere were defeated. The second wave had been frustrating with massed horsemen proving an elusive enemy, capable of inflicting damage at range thanks to a plentiful supply of crossbows. Muhammad’s foot archers provided no aid, having exhausted their arrows, and although they were withdrawn with a call for reinforcements, the fresh troops that arrived were mounted soldiers rather than archers. Various counters were attempted to the mounted crossbowmen: slow moving Almohad urban militia attempted to drive them off; mercenary Druzhina cavalry exhausted themselves in pursuit; Berber camels came off surprisingly well in a ranged duel; but no decisive counter-measure was available. Fortunately, the crossbows appeared to inflict little damage, thanks in part to the strong armour of the Almohad urban militia. Eventually, a third wave of archers and infantry approached, allowing the battle to come to a more decisive conclusion. The Italians were defeated, inflicting 301 casualties on the Almohads and giving Muhammad the reputation for being a skilled defender.
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The battle of Algiers against the resurgent Italians gives Muhammad his first opportunity as Kalipha to demonstrate his skill at defence. The piles of dead visible on the battleground are an ominous portent of the bloodiness of his reign.
The other eight battles of the year were largely unremarkable, with the exception of a chaotic encounter in Wales. Muhammad’s brother, Prince Abdulla, had led the Almohad army of 656 men against 1140 rebels. Abdulla was a great warrior and excellent general, but made a terrible error in deployment. Perhaps due to the snowstorms of the unusually severe Welsh winter, he allowed the enemy to get behind the rear of his army. With low visibility, Abdulla had strained to see the advance of the enemy although confused shouts revealed it was approaching at speed. Only at the last moment, had the Prince realised with horror that the enemy spears were within yards of the rear of his archers and that his frontline of Almohad urban militia were on the wrong side of the hill, with the enemy fast approaching their backs. Hasty orders allowed his army to turn 180 degrees to face the Welsh. Only the fighting skill of the Almohad urban militia and the belated encouragement of the Prince allowed the Almohads to prevail, with the loss of 161 men.
Elsewhere, in Northumbria, a force of 608 Almohads defeated 1420 rebels for the loss of only 54 men. Smaller victories were secured in Mercia, Granada, Morocco, Crete and Rhodes. Only in Portugal was the Kaliphate to experience the sour taste of defeat. The rebel forces there had been the weakest facing the Kaliphate – a mere 60 Murabitin, backed by 200 peasants. Muhammad had little respect for the Murabitin – what was the point of spearmen without spears? – and no respect at all for peasants in combat. Consequently, he relied on the local Christian militia to quell the rebellion. Denied archery and horse, without an experienced leader or the infamous Almohad urban militia, the Almohads had few of the ingredients that had ensured success elsewhere. The Murabitin had unleased a volley of javelins at the Christian militia, apparently seriously denting their morale, and, after a quick melee, the militia wavered and then promptly ran.
So ended the year of 1196, Muhammad’s baptism of fire. The wave of victories had a marked effect on the new Kalipha. On inheriting the throne, the prospect of so many battles had encouraged Muhammad to plan for a period of consolidation. However, the favourable outcomes led him to realise he had inherited a finely sharpened sword. To leave it sheathed was at best to waste a precious gift. At worst, it would let the sword rust and atrophy, as a generation of fine generals idled their twilight years away. Consequently, the Kaliphad planned a reign of conquest to continue his father’s work. His first targets would naturally be the rebel Portugese and the hated Irish, who had humiliated his father. However, Muhammad also sought a worthier foe. The Danes were the obvious targets for conquest, since they occupied the wealthy Scandinavian provinces and their defeat would shorten the land borders of the kingdom. Peace with the powerful Byzantines and their Polish allies was to be maintained at all costs, due to the great trading links the Almohads had forged with them. Muhammad had heard rumours of a great migration of fierce warrior peoples in the East and suspected this horde might strike down the Byzantines for him. That left the Eygptians as the remaining enemy to be dealt with in his reign. Muhammad had been impressed by the many fine warriors only available from the deserts of North Africa and the Levant: Saharan cavalry, Berber camels, Nubian spearmen and desert archers. Uniting the Islamic people under a single ruler would greatly strengthen the one true faith. It was true that his heavily armoured Almohad urban militia would suffer battling in the desert, but Muhammad was confident he could find a way around that limitation.
So, having settled on ambitious goals for his reign, Muhammad returned to his father’s journal and sought inspiration for the many trials to come.
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econ21 again:
“Where is that accursed journal?” Muhammad muttered irritably. The record of the end of his father’s reign had been worked on for more than four years and still the learned scholar responsible was unwilling to sign off on the work. The fashion for elaborate illustrations on great books, lovingly fashioned with gold leaf and exotic dyes, produced admiration and impatience in equal parts from the Kalipha. “I need it now more than ever.” Muhammad thought as he faced the second great crisis of his reign.
It was a crisis far more grim and foreboding than the many rebellions that had marked the Kalipha’s inauguration, but it had its origins in the most absurd and comic circumstances – the impregnation of an Almohad general by a phantom pachyderm. Muhammad had entrusted the garrison of Bavaria, on the border with the Kaliphate’s great rival, Byzantium, to Abdallah al-Hajj, a potentially superb military commander. However, on inquiring further into the background of the general, Muhammad had been appalled by what he had read. Al-Hajj had fled a battlefield on more than one occasion and the stresses of command had unhinged him, leading him to believe he had experienced intimate relations with an elephant. Muhammad had not hesitated to remove Al-Hajj from leadership of the Bavarian garrison, but had neglected to find a substitute with comparable command experience. The replacement, Amir Mardanish, was a good planner and efficient executive officer but lacked the outstanding ability of other leading generals in the Almohad and, more relevantly, Byzantine armies.
The oversight was perhaps forgivable, as the invasion of Scandinavia in 1199 had preoccupied Muhammad. He had personally led an army into Denmark, while simultaneously his brother, Prince Abdullah landed in Sweden, and his son (and heir) Prince Ismail landed in Norway. The operation had gone better than Muhammad could have hoped. The King of Denmark had left his native province for Sweden but that rich land had fallen to the Almohads without a fight. The king was captured in the confusion and executed by the impetuous Prince Abdullah when no ransom was forthcoming. With the death of the king, the Danish faction was eliminated. The invasion of Norway was also unopposed, with the defenders retreating to the castle. Only in Denmark was battle joined and, despite the presence of 100 royal feudal knights, it was a one sided affair. Almohad archery proved devastating and a combination of Muhawid foot and Almohad urban militia drove the Danes from the field. In retrospect, this experience had led Muhammad to over-estimate the ability of his infantry to stop heavy cavalry without the aid of spears.
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An easy conquest of Scandinavia induced Muhammad to a near fatal degree of complacency.
Note that the map is almost equally divided, orange and purple, and the presence of Byzantine vessels in all seas.
Muhammad was elated at this swift victory and inspired to plan a similar operation on a larger scale against his intended next target, the Egyptians. Four sea-born invasion forces were planned to land in the Levant coastal provinces, the soft belly of the Eyptian kingdom. However, this ambitious plan was unlikely ever to be executed, thanks to the amorous advances of an illusory elephant. When checking the strength of the garrisons on the border with Byzantine, Muhammad had focussed on the quantity of troops rather than the quality of the generals. He had not taken note of the fact that the Byzantine forces facing him were led by Lord Argyrus, one of the true greats of military command and, on the attack, superior in ability to even Muhammad himself. The Byzantine general had the knack of taking raw recruits – half-naked Slav warriors and unarmoured urban militia – and turning them into fearsome fighters. That almost half of his force consisted of kataphracts, lancers and Pronpoai Allagion made the threat posed by this great warrior even more formidable. But, in the excitement at the heady victories in Scandinavia, this threat had gone unnoticed.
And so it had come to pass, in the year 1200, that Byzantine armies totalling 1170 men had marched out of Austria and Bohemia to invade the Almohad province of Bavaria.
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Lord Argyrus, Muhammad's nemesis, launches the start of the great Byzantine-Almohad conflagration.
The painter has captured well the hawkish visage of the Byzantine general and the contrary demeanour of the doomed Mardanish.
The battle had confirmed Muhammad surmise that it was superior leadership that accounted for his many victories in the chaos of his inauguration. Amir Mardanish had deployed his force of 800 men in the customary fashion, thin lines of Almohad urban militia on a hill slope, topped by archers. However, the outcome was very different from that in Scotland, Northumbria or Algeria in 1196. Lord Argyrus had placed his massed heavy cavalry out of range to one side, while his archers engaged in an inconclusive archery duel with the Almohads. Optimistically, Mardanish had ordered his archers to hold fire once their ammunition was half gone, wanting to reserve some of it for the inevitable Byzantine cavalry charge. But the stored arrows were never used. Byzantine light infantry – Slav warriors and urban militia – charged the heavily armoured Almohad urban militia and incredibly proceeded to gut them. As the first Almohad unit began to waver, the massed heavy cavalry thundered in, riding over the Islamic swordsmen. Mardanish had only 60 spearmen, a lamentable deficiency faced with over 200 of the finest heavy cavalry in the world. The battle was lost.
One year later, Muhammad paced the walls of Roskilde castle. He had failed to heed his father’s dying request to keep peace with Byzantium at all costs. The map of the known world, half orange and half purple, was now aflame. He still had large armies trapped without ports in Ireland, Norway and Sweden. Furthermore, the war had erupted in the heart of Europe, far from any coast. Indeed the seas were brimming with Byzantine galleys and dromons. Muhammad knew now the fate of his reign. It was to be reign of blood and war that would consume thousands of brave Islamic warriors. There would be no period of consolidation, no fat years, no diplomacy and no minor expeditions. No freedom to choose or act, save the freedom to choose which fields would be soaked in blood and which Almohad towns would wail the loss of their sons. A man of no faith whatsoever, Muhammad understood now the likely sentence for his time on this earth. The hell he was to forge on this world would doubtless be recreated for him in the next and he would spend an eternity enduring the horrors of war.
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“To the Kalipha Muhammad I,
As requested, the report from the Provinces for the year ending 1201:
The war with the Byzantines in Germany: faced with our vigorous response to his unprovoked aggression, Lord Argyrus retreated from Bavaria without contesting the province. A small Byzantine foray into Tyrolia was repulsed. Alims in Hungary report the Byzantine Emperor approaching the frontier with vast armies. Our forces await your imminent arrival in Franconia.
The war at sea: as instructed, the Amir al-Bahr ordered all fleets in seas containing enemy shipping to attack. 16 Byzantine vessels reported sunk; 10 of our own lost. Byzantine naval victories have left them in uncontested command of several of our coastal waters, but lack of secure supply routes make sea-born invasions unlikely. Our supply routes are also contested, with only some sea passages between our provinces safe for troop movement.
The Libyan border: an Egyptian army of large but indeterminate size crossed the frontier. Amir abu Batis defeated the invasion, killing 1223 Egyptians for the loss of 234 of our warriors and earning a reputation as a skilled defender. Scant mercy was shown to captured invaders.
The British Isles: an English king in exile has emerged and commands large armies in Scotland and Northumbria. A major Christian rebellion has broken out in Ireland. Our forces in both areas are greatly outnumbered.
The former Papal states: a great armed host has been levied in Rome and the Papal States, with a new Pope at its head. Only minor garrisons available in Italy, except for the frontline province of Venice. The Poles have refused our offer of alliance, their leader – the self-styled “Emperor” - citing the folly of your father’s attempt to eliminate the Papacy.
Unrest reported in Portugal, Leon, Rhodes and Crete.
Awaiting instructions for the coming year,
May Allah have mercy on our Kaliphate,
Qadi al-Quda”
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Back to Mount Suribachi:
As has already been pointed out, Ismael was not a religious man, but one is inclined to think that even he must have begun to think of eternal things when less than a month after the massacre at Colomiers a violent earthquake shook Cordoba. Cordoba was then the capital of the Almohad Empire and one of the most highly developed cities in the known world. Yet when the only building destroyed was the Mosque, the people and the Alims in particular were in no doubt. Surely they said, this was Allah's way of showing his displeasure at the murder perpetrated by their Kalipha by withdrawing his blessing from Ismael. If Ismael did consider that perhaps the Almighty was showing His displeasure, he didn't consider it for very long. And as events would prove, if Allah was displeased with Ismael, then he had a funny way of showing it.
The next year, 1172, Ismael decided to start using the large profits that his trade empire was bringing in. He hired 2 armies of mercenaries and used his naval supremacy to land them in Northern France in Flanders and Normandy. King Phillipe III was concentrating all his forces at the front in the South of France and consequently had left his northern provinces lightly defended. The few troops that were stationed there to keep the peace retreated in the face of overwhelming numbers without even attempting to make a stand.
Meanwhile to the South, Phillipe was determined to lift the Muslim siege of Toulouse. Another huge army, 3000 strong and including many of the crusaders who had escaped the battle of Colomiers took on just 600 men led by Ismael himself. Arranging his army on a hillside near the village of Puylaurens, though they didn't know it, his vastly outnumbered army was about to fight one of the greatest defensive actions in history. Wave after wave after wave of French troops assaulted the Almohad line. Time and time again they were first beaten back by the infantry and archers, then driven off by the Islamic cavalry. It was whilst trying to drive off a broken attack that Ismaels youngest brother, Prince Ibrahim was killed. Only 21 and a great warrior (though with a violent proud streak) he allowed himself to be isolated from the rest of the army and was cut down, though in the confusion of the battle no-one realised until after the fighting was finished. When his body was found Ismael wept for his baby brother as only an eldest son can.
The final toll was staggering. Though outnumbered 5 to 1, and despite over half their number falling (327 dead is the figure recorded in the annals), the Almohads had killed 850 French soldiers and taken nearly 1000 more prisoner. It was a remarkable feat of valour. From then on Ismaels renown as a defensive specialist and his ability to make a skilled last stand gave great courage to his soldiers and dismayed his enemies.
1172 was truly a turning point in the war between the Almohads and the French. The loss of a large chunk of Northern France, with its income was bad enough. But it also left Prince Charles and nearly 700 men stranded in Wessex with their enemies the English to the North. The defeat at the battle of Puylaurens was devastating and it also cost the French 3000 florins, which they couldn't afford to spare, to ransom back the 1000 prisoners they so desperately needed to bolster their rapidly depleting armies. Although the French were still, for now, able to put more soldiers in the field than the Almohads, they were increasingly of poorer quality, compared to the battle hardened and well led Almohads. The French were skint, whilst the Almohads were the richest in the world, able to buy as many mercenaries as were needed to open a second front. The Almohad navy dominated the seas, enabling them to strike around the French coast at will, the French navy was reduced to just a few ships operating out of Sicily. In Sicily, as in Wessex, the French had a large army (2500 men) stranded, unable to move due to the dominance of the Almohad navy. The small French fleet did have some success though, raiding along the Gulfs of Valencia and Lions it was temporarily able to prevent Almohad reinforcements reaching Toulouse by sea, forcing them to travel by the much longer overland route. To round off the bad year for the French, King Phillipe collapsed when he heard news of the defeat at Puylaurens. He never recovered and died several weeks later, he was 56. Though renowned for his mathematical ability, he clearly didn't do his sums right when he decided to attack his powerful southern neighbours. The war that he started was the beginning of the end of France.
Even worse was to come when his successor was crowned. Only 28 and a man who liked to lead from the front, King Louis VI also liked to dance in moonbeams, paint his servants blue and suck on horseshoes. A crack-brained king is the last thing any nation needs at the best of times, even less so when it is being squeezed to destruction. Nevertheless, his reign got off to a promising start when Pope Giovanni I called for a crusade against the Almohads. Unfortunately, his call fell on largely deaf ears. The Spanish, Aragonese and Italians were already under Almohad rule. The English were allied with them and were more concerned about kicking the French out of Wessex than anything the Holy Father might say. Effectively, that left only the Holy Roman Empire, which by that time was neither Holy, Roman nor much of an Empire. Much of Northern Germany had broken away and was now comprised of lots of small Princedoms and for all his devout Catholic belief, Emperor Ferdinand I was more concerned about holding on to what he had rather than attacking his powerful Southern neighbours. Indeed the following year he managed to successfully negotiate an alliance with Ismael. Meanwhile, the Muslim advance into Europe continued as (thanks to a healthy bribe) Rainald Otterbach, King of Tyrolia, was convinced that it was better to become a vassal of the Kalipha, rather than be invaded and starve to death in Innsbruck Castle. Though a highly educated man of outstanding ability, in recent years he had become as mad as King Louis and left Ismael with the problem of who to appoint Amir. In the end, he did not appoint an official Amir for several years, leaving Otterbach to delude himself that he was ruler, until 5 years later when Ismael appointed a promising young Chief of Militia by the name of Conrad Von Kniprode,
Come 1173 the French had recovered to counterattack at the Mercenary army occupying the key (militarily as it was the gateway to the English Channel and the army trapped in Wessex, economically as it was a source of valuable trade commodities such as wool, silk and grain) province of Flanders. Although both armies were roughly equal at around 500 men, the French suffered total defeat, over 200 men killed, nearly 200 captured. Less than 200 mercenaries died, though Ismael cared not for their fate - they were not his men, nor his kin. But as long as they did the job for which they were paid, then Ismael was happy.
He was even happier when news reached him that his top general, Amir Rahman had marched back into Aquitane. Outnumbered, the French retreated to their fort in Bordeaux where Rahman laid siege to them.
East of Aquitane, Toulouse was yet again the scene of more fighting as the French tried once more to lift the siege of the keep protecting the city. Once more Ismaels army, outnumbered 800 to 300 beat them back. 400 Frenchman were killed, 250 captured, for the loss of only 130 Almohads. All told, the Almohads took 600 French prisoners that year, but in a sign that the French were becoming increasingly strapped for cash, no ransom was forthcoming, the men being left to die in captivity. But by now Ismaels army in Toulouse was getting dangerously small. Infantry in particular he was running out of, and with the hit and run tactics of the French warships in the Western Mediterranean, he was unable to bring up his reinforcements from Spain and North Africa as quickly as he would like. Another attack by the French and he knew that for all his skill as a general, without infantry he would not be able to maintain, let alone break, the siege of Toulouse.
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The climax of econ21's reign:
Kalipha Muhammad I spent the year 1204 resting in Franconia, awaiting the arrival of his armies from the British Isles. He used some of the interlude to study the latest extract of the history of his father’s reign. Reading it provided some solace to the Kalipha in his current trials. In life, communications with his father had been brief to the point of being terse. Each year, Muhammad would receive a missive such as “At war with the English, sorry you have to wait so long for your reign, son” or “Destroying the Papacy, no time to write much, the in-laws are here”. However, reading the historian’s detailed accounts of his father’s reign showed Muhammad that his own rule was not the only one marked by ceaseless, exhausting conflict. Learning of his father’s reputation for skilled last stand put his own lesser reputation for skilled defence in perspective. Above all, learning how long and hard his father had laboured over the conquest of Western Europe made Muhammad more determined than ever not to lose those hard won gains.
At the start of 1202, Muhammad had arranged another grand council meeting, similar to that arraigned immediately after his inauguration. With the Qadi al-Quda’s provincial report for 1201 in hand, Muhammad had opened the meeting with a light quip “It seems we have been here before, gentlemen.” But in truth, the crisis posed by the events of 1201 was far graver than the unrest that had greeted his coronation in 1195. To be at war with the great Byzantine Empire had been enough to throw Muhammad into a fit of depression. For hostilities to then be followed by invasion by the Egyptian Kaliphate, the second largest rival power, was another hammer blow. The resurgence of the English and a massive Irish revolt added to the sense of battling overwhelming odds. All this had perhaps been manageable, but the re-appearance of the Papacy with armies too large to be defeated had prompted despair.
On recovering his nerves, Muhammad had decided he must be flexible in the face of the many challenges. Deciding which battles were worth fighting would be as important as fighting each battle well. For some time, Muhammad debated whether to abandon the British Isles to the resurgent English. The Isles were hopelessly underdeveloped and the English could be contained by placing a large garrison in Mercia or, failing that, Flanders. However, he was reluctant to surrender his father’s conquests without a fight. Moreover, he could ill afford to perpetually garrison Mercia with the kind of army required to deterr the massive English forces gathering the in Scotland. Ireland and the Papacy were different cases. The rebels in Ireland posed little long-term threat to the Kaliphate and the fact that a port had just been completed in the province meant that it would be easy later to smuggle in emissaries to bribe the large rebel armies to join the Almohad cause. Consequently, Muhammad ordered the aged Amir Rahman, leader of the expeditionary army that had originally pacified Ireland, to debark from Ireland to Scotland, to battle the new pretender to the English throne. Other forces were mustered to make a stand against the English in Northumbria.
The Papacy was simply too strong to be defeated, but Muhammad knew that if he abandoned Rome and the Papal States without a struggle, there would be no cassus belli and at least a temporary peace could be restored. It was not his father’s way, but even as a young man, Muhammad had believed in the folly of trying to eradicate the Papacy. The Pope could stay, until the entire map of Europe was painted orange and then Muhammad’s descendants could use the destruction of the Papacy to mark the end of the great Islamic conquests. But for now, Muhammad ordered all his forces to leave the disputed areas and surrender the land to the great Christian host mustering there. “Surrender the land, Amir” Muhammad had said, “Nothing else.” Rome was perhaps the most developed province in Western Europe – the only one capable of training Faris horsemen and economically rich. The departing Almohad armies raised every building in the great city and burnt down every farm in their path. The gold plundered provided some consolation to Muhammad, but in truth, it counted as little compared to the satisfaction Muhammad gained from knowing the Pope would inherit a shattered and backward land. As predicted, hostilities with the Pontiff ended when the contested provinces were surrendered without a fight. However, the Pope flew into a rage when he discovered the devastation visited on his lands and called for all factions to crusade against the Almohads. This too gave Muhammad some bitter satisfaction “Don’t you know, priest, this is not the world of your forefathers? Where are the crusading Catholic factions that may answer your call?”
As a result of these decisions, the Almohad Kaliphate fought seven rather than ten battles in the year 1202. The greatest was in Scotland, heartland of the English resurgence. The aged Amir Rahman, favoured general of Muhammad’s father, disembarked into the highlands from crossing the Irish sea and performed a last, incomparable, service to the Kaliphate. Against English armies too large to be counted, Rahman made a stand with little over 1000 warriors. The battle was fought in the driving rain, but the same tactics that had prevailed in the same province in 1196 proved their worth again.
Rahman’s army killed 1257 men, including the pretender to the English throne, and captured 1485 for the loss of only 160 Almohad soldiers. Rahman was to pass away peacefully in his sleep a year later and Muhammad ordered the whole Kaliphate to spend a day in mourning to mark the great warrior’s passing.
In Northumbria, Amir Abu Badis made a similarly successful stand against the other part of the new English army. In numbers, the odds were more favourable – an Almohad army of 1482 fought an English force of 1772 – but the English general was every bit as accomplished a commander as Abu Badis. For this reason, Muhammad took care to praise Abu Badis for his victory (won at the cost of only 128 lives) with just as many plaudits as he lavished on Rahman.
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Amir Abu Badis offers the Kalipha a second triumph for the year 1202
The disruption to sea-lanes due to the continuing naval warfare with Byzantine had induced disloyalty throughout the provinces. Minor battles were won against rebels in Crete, Rhodes, Portugal and Leon. Only the encounter in Portugal was notable, for there, 60 loyal Murabitin infantry engaged 40 rebel Faris in a duel with a remarkable outcome. For some reason, the Faris did not attempt to keep out of range of the javelinmen and in the firefight suffered 37 dead, inflicting only 4 casualties. This encounter – unmodified by any factors such as troop quality or terrain – led Muhammad to further question his dismissal of the worth of javelinmen, a reflection already prompted by the shameful defeat of his loyalist militia by them in Portugal in 1196.
The final battle of 1202 was also the bitterest. It marked the re-appearance of Muhammad’s nemesis, Lord Argyrus, leader of the original Byzantine army that had invaded Bavaria. Argyrus this time struck at Venice.
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Lord Argyrus, Muhammad's nemesis, storms into the Venetian plains at the head of an unstoppable force of Byzantine heavy cavalry.
The Amir defending the province, Ibn Inan, had been fine general – the equal of the two generals battling in Northumbria – but he was no match for Argyrus. Moreover, Argyrus rode at the head of a mass of heavy cavalry: 80 cataphracts and 280 Lancers mixed with Pronoiai Allagion. The Almohads could find no counter to these troops. Almohad urban militia could stand like a wall against almost any infantry, but were devoured by heavy cavalry like dry straw in a plains fire. The Muhawid foot were willing but too few in numbers; what Nubian spearmen the Kaliphate had were isolated far away in North Africa. The Almohads had no heavy cavalry beyond small bodyguard units – the last hope of acquiring any soon had been lost with the destruction of the training camps in Rome, where Muhammad had hoped to raise ghulam cavalry. Knowing the challenge Ibn Inan faced, Muhammad had worked hard to devise strategies that might allow him to be victorious. In this respect, he was not helped by the terrain that marked the entry into Venice from Croatia – the Byzantines were sweeping down from the mountains onto an empty plain, devoid of any elevation or forest. However, various possibilities were considered. He wondered about ordering the army to form a kind of defensive lager or make their stand in small woods. But no stratagem appeared to offer hope of success. Lord Argyrus’s counter to the usual Almohad defensive infantry tactics was ingenious. He screened his heavy cavalry by light infantry that first engaged the Almohad foot by bow and later by sword. When both sides infantries were hopelessly confused, the Byzantine heavy cavalry would sweep in – striking turned flanks, running down archers, breaking entire formations and riding over the Islamic warriors. Given that he could devise no tactic that offered the hope of defeating the Byzantine general, Muhammad declined to offer any advice on the conduct of the battle. He left Ibn Inan to his fate and read no detailed reports of how the battle had gone, save for reading the final record: a defeat, with 1011 men lost and 745 Byzantines killed.
The year 1203 saw only two battles, although Muhammad regarded neither as worthy of the name. Almohad forces recaptured Venice; Argyrus had decided earlier to leave the province to a subordinate and that subordinate’s army left the field of battle in haste, making the encounter a bloodless victory for the Kaliphate. The second battle of the year was far from bloodless, but Muhammad thought it was marked by a bloody pointlessness that meant it should not properly be considered part of war. Emperor Romanus V led an army into Franconia, which was defended by Muhammad himself.
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Emperor Romanus V's folly
The move seemed bizarre to Muhammad, as the outnumbered invading force consisted mainly of archers and lacked the weight of heavy cavalry that had accompanied Argyrus’s earlier incursions. Moreover, Romanus, although on paper a fine commander, was nonetheless no Lord Argyrus. Muhammad had been fortunate to hire several companies of heavy spearmen – armoured spearmen and Feudal sergeants – and used these to pin the few troops of Byzantine kataphracts and lancers. The armoured spearmen were ordered to drive straight for the Emperor Romanus’s own bodyguard of kataphracts, while Muhammad maneouvred his own bodyguard to the rear of the Emperor and launched a devastating charge. In the frantic melee, Muhammad had visions of personally bringing down the Emperor and ordering scribes to capture the moment in pictures, to transmit around the world.
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Muhammad and Romanus exchange blows, before the Ghulams withdraw. Note the unit of urban militia standing idle with their axes; they will soon be called forward to carry out a grisly deed.
However, the Emperor and his bodyguard proved extremely durable while all around companies of Trebizond archers were loosing off murderous volleys. Muhammad came to his senses and decided not to risk his life in the same kind of vainglorious madness that prompted Romanus to enter Franconia so rashly. So, Muhammad ordered his ghulam cavalry bodyguard to disengage and assist the Saharan cavalry and others in running down the Byzantine archers. A company of Almohad urban militia was brought in to replace his ghulams in cutting at the rear of the Emporer’s bodyguard. Soon the heavily clad kataphracts all lay dead on the ground, but to Muhammad’s amazement, there remained a lone purple flag aloft as the Byzantine Emperor fought on furiously, cutting away at the throng of spearmen and militia that surrounded him. The spears and swords of the Almohad infantry could make little impression on the magnificent armour of the Byzantine ruler, nor could the arrows of the desert archers, although unfortunately many pierced the lesser protections of the Almohad foot. Looking back, Muhammad spotted a unit of mercenary Christian urban militia safely positioned to the rear in the shelter of a copse. Muhammad had nothing but contempt for such troops after the debacle in Portugal in 1196, when 180 of such “soldiers” had been routed by a company of Murabitin and some peasants. However, he noticed the large axes they rested on and suspected that these might be able to do what swords, spears and arrows could not. “Send those fellows in”, he ordered “Tell them, first one who brings me the Emperor’s head, wins his weight in gold”. One of the burlier urban militia claimed the prize, which Muhammad was more than willing to honour as the Byzantine army fled the field disheartened at the loss of its Emperor. Despite the uneven nature of the battle, Almohad losses were high with 315 dead for 403 Byzantines killed and 250 captured.
The war with Byzantium raged on into 1204. One Byzantine army invaded Bavaria, although unlike in 1200, this time the Almohads had the protection of a river. They drove off the invaders, killing 668 and taking 203 for the loss of 256. A second Byzantine army attacked Venice. As before, the force was strong in heavy cavalry – including 69 cataphracts, 80 pronoiai allagon of exceptional valour (gauged at level 7 by the more mathematically inclined Islamic scholars of war) and 69 lancers. However, this time the defending Almohad force was better matched. Mercenary forces had been ferried in from Libya and included 400 spearmen – including 100 Saracens – and a smattering of heavy cavalry (Druzhina and Kwarazmiams). Moreover, the command skills of the rival generals were evenly matched, the intrigue of succession having led Lord Argyrus to delegate the invasion to a lesser leader. As a result, the battle was fiercely contested.
Muhammad had decided the only way to counter-act the surprisingly effective Byzantine use of heavy cavalry was to act aggressively before they could employ their well co-ordinated tactics. Consequently, he sent orders to the general commanding his army in Venice, Muhammad ibn Yacub, to try to split up the Byzantine army by using light cavalry to distract it and to pre-empt its attack, by directing spearmen to charge the heavy cavalry. These counter-measures ultimately failed. The Almohad light cavalry were overrun, the Druzhina and Kwarazmiams slaughtered and all the spearmen killed or routed. Ultimately, the tactics failed because they called for manoeuvre and here the Byzantines had the edge; they had more cavalry troops than the Almohads had spear companies and their cavalry could ride faster than the spears could march. The main Almohad force was wiped out, with ibn Yacub himself earning the reputation of being a good runner and having doubtful courage. Reports circulated of him running screaming like a girl from the field. Nonetheless, these failed aggressive tactics were more successful than defensive ones would have been, since they had all but wiped out the Byzantine heavy cavalry. Many had been impaled on the spears of the mercenaries. Others had fallen to the arrows of the desert archers, who had been ordered to target the pronoiai allagion in particular (valour being no protection to an arrow in the throat). A unit of ghazi warriors wielding axes had managed to get around the rear of a troop of kataphracts locked in combat with spearmen and had proceeded to butcher them to a man. Moreover, the open nature of the battle meant that some Almohad archers managed to survive the first wave of combat and were available to support the second wave of the Almohad army which consisted of 180 more archers, 240 doughty Almohad urban militia and 60 Spanish javelin men. By some miracle – and, in large part, by the javelins of the Spaniards - this second wave managed to drive off the remaining Byzantine heavy cavalry and to rout the infantry coming to their support. As the battle closed, few Almohad heavy infantry remained alive and most of the foot that pursued superior numbers of Byzantines from the field were archers, now bereft of any ammunition, who wielded their swords in close formation. The Almohads lost 1202 men, killing 970 Byzantines. Although this outcome might be judged unfavourable by many, Muhammad took some satisfaction in knowing that – Allah willing – he would never have to face so many and so fine heavy cavalry. This meant that when Lord Argyrus re-appeared on the field of battle in person, he would be denied much of the mass of armoured horsemen that had proved so unstoppable in the past. Perhaps the tide was beginning to turn?
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Mount Suribachi:
The French counterattack to relieve the siege of Toulouse that Ismael worried about all through the winter of 1173 finally arrived in the spring of 1174. To face a French army of 1400, Ismael could muster less than 400 men, including less than 100 infantry, the bulk of his army now consisting of mainly archers and siege weaponry. A superb general when fighting outnumbered and with his back to the wall, Ismael was also a good enough general to know when to fight and when not to fight. Reluctantly, sullenly, with a scowl on his face, he withdrew back across the Pyrenees to Aragon. The loss of Toulouse was countered by the news that Amir Rahman had taken the fort at Bordeaux, though the 180 French defenders had fought bravely to the last, taking one Almohad warrior for every one of them that fell.
More disturbing news came from the eastern borders of his empire. The Byzantines had fought a long war with Hungary, but the Romans had finally gained the upper hand and were now slowly, inexorably driving the Hungarians back. When the Hungarians were driven out of Austria it meant that for the first time the Almohads shared a land border with a Roman empire that was starting to recapture the glory of an age that had long since passed. Ismael noted this development with concern, but no more. He wished to remain on peaceful terms with Constantinople, but for now both sides were too busy locked in bitter wars with separate enemies to give too much thought to each other.
The retreat from Toulouse, whilst made for sound military reasons was nevertheless a shock to the whole Almohad empire. Algeria was rapidly becoming the religious capital of the empire, its mosques and ribats training alims who were by now travelling throughout not only the Almohad empire, but the whole of the known world, where they were highly regarded because of their great learning. It was a rather ordinary alim by the name of Abu Thabit abu Salim who first called for a Jihad to reclaim Toulouse from the infidel French. His call was eagerly responded to by over 400 men, led by Muhammed ibn Nazar and though the men who volunteered were mainly of low quality - predominantly archers from the desert - their numbers were of great comfort to Ismael in what was in danger of turning into a war of attrition with the French.
In the Mediterranean, the small French fleet had finally been forced to withdraw to the Straits of Sicily and once more able to move his armies by sea, Ismael could quickly move his reinforcements from Spain as well as his Jihad from Algeria. Armed with these fresh troops, he launched a 2-pronged attack at the French. Leaving 180 men as a garrison, Amir Rahman took 500 men and attacked into Anjou which was lightly defended. Outnumbered and outclassed the French army retreated into Brittany where it was now cut off from the rest of France as Rahman made contact with the mercenary armies defending Normandy and Flanders.
Meanwhile Ismael marched his reinforced army North into Toulouse yet again. By now the French were only able to put 1200 men in the field, outnumbering Ismaels army by only 200. The result was yet another letting of French blood, nearly half their army dying on the battlefield, for the loss of only 170 Almohads. Most of the other half of the French army was captured and being of such low quality Ismael was happy to ransom them back for 1300 Florins (which the French had to borrow from their Byzantine allies). With yet another decisive victory under his belt, the people of the Almohad empire proclaimed Ismael as one of the greatest generals who ever lived and prompted Abu Zayyan al-Mansur to paint his famous portrait of his Kalipha in a suitably stirring, heroic pose.
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Kalipha Ismael I by Abu Zayyan al-Mansur
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econ21:
Muhammad put down the portrait of his father, noting the stoical expression and the pose that suggested a man at peace with the world. There was no hint of the mental and emotional strain that Muhammad himself had felt in the last two years of his reign. A man has only a certain number of years for war. Muhammad believed that physically he could endure at most another ten years; emotionally, he felt he had all but exhausted his taste for battle.
The previous year, 1205, had been comparatively uneventful, as Muhammad decided to consolidate his frontline in Germany, awaiting the return of the last of his main armies from the British Isles. The Pope rejected an offer of alliance - predictable, but an ominous portent for the future. Lacking other urgent priorities, Muhammad spent much of the year inspecting the records of his provincial governors, finding far more bad apples than he had emissaries to deal with them. Muhammad noticed for the first time that the annual budget was slipping into deficit – he still had a healthy war chest of around a quarter of million florins, but he realised that the rapid expansion of his armed forces was no longer sustainable. For the first time, he assigned some provinces to build farms rather than further develop their basic training facilities and no longer required every province to levy a fresh company of warriors.
The year had seen some excitement when the Byzantines had invaded Bavaria. Muhammad himself had organised the defence of a key bridge in the path of the invasion. 603 Byzantines were killed and 128 captured for the loss of 127 Almohads. A second Byzantine invasion, of Venice, had been aborted having encountered a stronger than expected garrison.
The plan to bribe the rebels in Ireland had not worked out as Muhammad had hoped – for some unfathomable reason, only one of the two emissaries had carried out their assigned task. As a result, the half of the Irish army who remained rebellious fought a fratricidal battle with the half that had converted to the true faith. Evidently, the faith of the new believers was not particularly strong since, although the day ended in a victory for those aligned to the Kaliphate, both sides were virtually eliminated.
Byzantine naval blockades of Crete and Rhodes encouraged rebellions which were easily put down, but the populations of the two islands were almost unanimous in their disloyalty to the Kaliphate. An error in under-manning the garrison in Northumbria also led to a minor rebellion.
However the present year, 1206, had seen Muhammad finally move onto the offensive. The last of the armies he had used to eliminate the resurgence of the English had now arrived in Franconia. The continued disruption at sea discouraged Muhammad from planning any bold strategic maneouvres, but there was something to be gained locally from going onto the attack. At present, he had four provinces neighbouring the Byzantine Empire; capturing Austria and Bohemia would narrow the frontline to three. Of the two potential conquests, Bohemia appeared the better first target: although home to the largest concentration of Byzantine forces, it lacked any fortification whatsoever so a field battle there would be immediately decisive. Consequently, Muhammad ordered the newly arrived army in Franconia to invade Bohemia, but travelled personally from Bavaria to command the operation.
In North Africa, battleground of the war with Egypt, the three siege engines he had ordered hauled overland from Spain had finally reached Libya after a gruelling trek along the coastal road. Attacking past the Quattara depression would add a valuable conquest without markedly widening the frontline. However, an unsettling dream had led Muhammad at the last moment to order the great commander of his forces in Libya, Amir ibn Badis, to Naples – the southern border with the Papacy. Ibn Badis was disgruntled at the prospect of not personally leading his army into Egypt but would not have long to wait before hearing the sound of battle.
The first three battles of 1206 were low key affairs. Local militia crushed the peasant rebels in Northumbria and Crete. Muhammad’s invasion of Bohemia was uncontested – the Byzantines vacated the province without a fight. However, the celebration was short-lived: Muhammad was called back to Bavaria at short notice. The conquest of Bohemia had been unopposed because most of the army there had set off for Bavaria. How Muhammad had made his way into Bohemia from Bavaria with only his personal escort and passed an invading army of 5000 Byzantines, the Kalipha could not fathom. By similar good fate, he managed the same trick twice - riding hard back to lead the defence of the south German province.
In the defence of Bavaria, Muhammad again managed to halt the Byzantines at a river, this time forded by two bridges. However, by some miracle the Byzantines were unaware of the second bridge and never approached it. The battle was one of the bloodiest Muhammad had ever seen. His hope that the costly victory in Venice in 1204 had wiped out most of the Byzantine heavy cavalry proved over-optimistic. Lord Bulgaroctonus’s force included 200 Pronoiai Allagion and Lancers. Fortunately, a bridge defence was the ideal terrain for neutralising these fine warriors. By the time the battle was half over, the bridge was knee deep in horse carcasses and wave after wave of Slav Warriors had to clamber over the dead, equine and human, in order to reach the brave Almohad militia and Muhawid foot guarding the exit.
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Slav warriors clamber over a mass of dead and dying horses to meet a similar fate at the swords of the Almohad urban militia.
Observe the second bridge unnoticed by the Byzantines and the three units of archers depleted of arrows but unable to fully withdraw.
Many of Muhammad’s losses had come from the over-exuberance of his men: each company designated to hold the bridge had been unable to resist driving the enemy back over it and thus had endured similar torments to the unfortunate attackers. Consequently, most companies with these assignments had fought until it they had been almost (and in one case, completely) eliminated. Twice Muhammad precipitously sent cavalry in pursuit over the bridge, only for them to be mauled by fast riding Byzantine reinforcements. Outnumbered with only 2000 warriors, Muhammad had endured mental torment when four of his exhausted regiments of archers ordered to withdraw had become lost in a forest. They were unable to transmit his desperate order for reinforcement and consequently, Muhammad suffered the rest of the battle with a quarter of his strength unable to be deployed on the battlefield at anyone time. Out of arrows and with only one unit of infantry remaining, the battle would have been lost but for the Byzantine’s ignorance of a second bridge. In the end, Muhammad’s men counted 1983 Roman corpses and took 412 prisoners, for the cost of 295 dead.
The invasion of Egypt did not suffer from the last minute change in command. Amir Abu Badi was rushed from Naples to lead 1373 warriors against 1924 Egyptians under Amir Mukawakkil. The Egyptians were strong in Nubian spearmen, so Abu Badi led with desert archers. The arrows were a grave threat to the unarmoured Nubians, forcing Mukawakkil to close with his assailants. Abu Badi countered with hard-fighting Almohad Urban Militia. The Almohads killed 543 Egyptians, took 183 and lost 183 of their own men. Mukawakkil retreated to a fort. Spies gleefully reported that the defeat gave him the reputation of a good runner. Some of Abu Badi’s pride at his victory was under-cut when he found that the Egyptian soldiers also regarded Mukawakkil as an unhinged loon, a fact Abu Badi decided not to share with Kalipha Muhammad.
The final battle of 1206 was one Muhammad had not planned, although it was one he feared as inevitable in his long dark nights. Pope Innocent II gathered a host of 4445 of the finest warriors in Christendom to reclaim the province of Naples. Although some strange intuition had led Muhammad to rush his best available general, Amir Ibn Badis, to the province, he had provided no other additional resources for its defence. Ibn Badis was a direct descendent of the great El Cid and, thanks to his nurturing under Kalipha Ismail, was his equal in command. Ibn Badis’s only regret about his military career was that he could not persuade the Grand Vizier to allow troops of jinettes to be trained and in silent protest, he rode unaccompanied by any bodyguard, carrying a handful of javelins. Kalipha Muhammad swore that if ever Ibn Badis discharged even one of these javelins, the general would be dismissed. This half-jocular order was given to try to restrain the general from personal danger, since the commander was unmatched in the Almohad army outside of the Kalipha’s own family. However, it did little to stop Ibn Badis always riding his Spanish horse to the crisis point of the battle, doing more damage to the enemy with his words of encouragement to the Almohad forces than he could ever hope to do with his few javelins.
The army Ibn Badis found in Naples numbered 1606 men and was well balanced, except for a deficiency in cavalry, with only one troop of Saharan warriors and another of Faris. The general applied standard Almohad infantry defences, deploying on a hill, with thin lines of Almohad urban militia ranked only two deep and supported by archers. Optimistically, Ibn Badis expected to run out of arrows before he ran out of swordsmen and so called for archers rather than heavy infantry to be given priority as his first reinforcements. This was to under-estimate the determination of the first wave of Papal forces, almost entirely feudal men-at-arms. Only Ibn Badis’ superior leadership gave the Almohad urban militia an edge in the vicious melee and allowed them to prevail. Ibn Badis skilfully deployed one of his two units of Nubian spearmen on the field to snare the Pope and his bodyguard of chivalric knights. No knight left the field alive, but Ibn Badis was careful to order the disciplined Nubians to let the Pope leave unaccosted. A Pope with a depleted army and a reputation as a good runner was far preferable to the temporary demise of the Papacy and its resurgence even stronger within a decade. Nonetheless, the Saharan cavalry and Faris launched an effective pursuit of the Papal forces, over-running five catapults in the process.
After this rebuff, the Papal generals tried a different tactic and ordered the second wave of men-at-arms to mount up and ride down the Almohad swordsmen. Although numerically weaker than the first, this second wave inflicted similar substantial casualties – even the best swordsmen being ill-suited to face armoured horsemen with heavy lances. However, again the Almohads prevailed. Their heavy infantry companies were now down to less than half strength, their double-ranks replaced by thin single lines and each soldier very tired. The last Almohad reinforcements, Nubians and Ghazis, arrived in time to help face the third wave of attack – composed of a fine mix of Catholic infantry. One unit of Ghazis impetuously charged a unit of feudal men-at-arms. Ibn Badis decided not to interfere, knowing that impetuosity added to the ferocious attack of the Ghazis and judging the Papal forces to lack staying power. The single unit of Ghazis worked terrible violence around the battlefield until the inevitable happened and they were consumed by a morass of axe wielding militia sergeants who had summoned up the courage to challenge these unarmoured fanatics. The day was now half over and Ibn Badis was already praying for darkness. Again and again, fresh Papal forces arrived on the field. They lacked the morale and critical mass to drive the depleted Almohads from the field. But always they extracted their pound of flesh from the few swordsmen holding the slopes. Eventually, Ibn Badis’s prayers were answered and the Papal forces departed the field, leaving 3068 of their dead. The Almohads buried 583 of their own.
Muhammad looked again at the portrait of his father. He knew his father had endured similar unremitting battle against the odds, from an even younger age. How had it not scarred his inner being? Muhammad tallied up his kingdom’s losses for the year – around 1100 dead, most of them the finest fighters. This was the equivalent to the loss of about eighteen companies of Almohad urban militia or Muhawid foot. Whether he could sustain the offensive in the light of these losses, Muhammad would determine on another day. It was true his various enemies had endured far worse losses – more than five times higher. But, as a thinker and man who shared no religious beliefs whatsoever, Muhammad regarded this fact as ultimately a further cause for sadness.
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To Kalipha Muhammad,
Dearest brother, many blessings on you in this time of 'Eid-ul-Fitr in the year 1208. Allah has been kind to us this year. I give thanks that the Byzantine castle you are besieging in Austria is about to fall. The perfidious priest, Innocent II, has surrendered Rome without a fight and now is cornered in the Papal States. My greatest happiness is that the Byzantine pirates are now almost destroyed. After seven years, our fleets have pursued their dromons with diminishing success. Your wise decision this year to divide our fleets and send many single patrols to hunt them down has worked brilliantly, and now there are only two Byzantine vessels still roaming the seas. Undisputed control of the seas will be one of your greatest legacies.
You wished me to report on my engagement last year with Lord Argyrus. As your forces occupied Austria unopposed, he led an army of 4300 men out of that province and into Venice, where I waited on the plains with 1900 men. Thanks to earlier victories, he lacked the weight of heavy cavalry that had made him so formiddable in the past, but still the encounter was ferocious. I deployed in the usual fashion - thin lines of Almohad urban militia backed by archers. Once again, Argyrus had trained his Slav warriors, Trebizond archers, horse archers and others to fight like demons. After fierce struggles, the first wave of the attack was beaten off but to my horror, I found it had destroyed all but one of my companies of heavy infantry. I had to face the second wave of his assault with my archers screened only by a few troops of Ghulam royal bodyguards and other miscellaneous forces. The second wave consumed this heavy cavalry screen. Thereafter the battle was an exhausting affair, with fragments of my men having to drive off endless waves of assault that fortunately lacked critical mass and conviction. In the pursuit of one wave, I was nearly captured by reinforcing infantry and only the remaining strength of my blown steed allowed me to escape. Following your instructions, after this battle we put all 1370 prisoners to the sword - a decision that has earned me the reputation of being a butcher. After the battle, we counted 3105 Byzantine dead for the loss of 792 of our finest warriors. Our scouts made one interesting observation from the battle - Lord Argyrus himself rides into battle alone and once combat begins immediately withdraws to supervise the reinforcements arriving at the field. This makes him impossible to capture in battle and an elusive foe.
All my prayers and best wishes for our success in the coming year,
Your loyal brother,
Prince Abdullah
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Deprived of a mass of heavy cavalry, Lord Argyrus's assault on Prince Abdullah ends in a bloody repulse on the Venetian plains.
Prince Abdullah will go on to win greater glory in the Levant, while Lord Argyrus will soon fall prey to encirclement in Croatia
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econ21's reign ends:
“Sit down son and listen, I am dying and don’t have much time.” Kalipha Muhammad watched with sadness and affection as Prince Ismail sat beside his bedside.
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Kalipha Muhammad I in his twilight years.
He has the haunted look of a man trapped in a merciless struggle not of his choosing.
“My reign has been one of unremitting warfare. Although I did not start most of these conflicts, I have added to their horrors by prosecuting them vigorously and offering no quarter. Yet, I have tried to keep your hands clean of blood. Now the situation is less desperate, we can perhaps afford to be more merciful.” Muhammad paused for breath, recalling how his vigorous enthusiasm on coming to the throne had turned to dismay when faced with simultaneous attack by Byzantium, Egypt and the Papacy.
“The war with the Egyptians is over. Thanks to your uncle’s brilliant drive north from Sinai, we now occupy all their lands. I expect to meet the Sultan in wherever I go next.” Muhammad cackled and coughed after he said this. Both he and his oldest son were at heart irreligious men, who in private mocked the absurdities of publicly professed faith.
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The demise of Sultan Baybars I, speared in the battle of Lesser Armenia by the lance of one of Amir Abu Badis's escort.
“The Pope? Let him rot in the Papal States. Ibn Badis – may he rest in peace - did us a great service in crushing the Papal army but an even greater one in letting the Pope escape to his castle unharmed. The Pontiff is a man of doubtful courage and a weak attacker, with a mere handful of surviving followers eking out their existence in a ravished land. Do not disturb him and leave him to rot.”
“That leaves our war with the Byzantines. I have brought you to the doors of Constantinople. Now, smash them down You recall how we encircled Lord Argyrus in Croatia? By seizing Serbia, we trapped Argyrus with an army of 3500 and destroyed it. This victory was greatly aided by those wonderful new weapons – arbalests – which cut down his Varangian Guard and Lancers from a great distance. Once I had the head of my nemesis on a pike, I was amused to hear a report of your uncle that the Lord Argyrus had a brother, a Duke of Trebizond, who is nearly his equal. I leave him for you to deal with.
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The Almohad army marches over the Croatian mountains, having finally ended the threat of the infamous Lord Argyrus.
But I digress. The Byzantine Empire has never recovered from the encirclement in Croatia, and while it will struggle as you dismember it, it will never again pose a genuine threat to our own lands. It is already falling into rebellion and did nothing to oppose our advances this year into Rum, Armenia and Constantinople itself. Keep the fleet dispersed to hunt down any vessels they attempt to launch. Five vessels patrolling separately have five chances to catch the pirates, a fleet of five ships has only one.”
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Kalipha Muhammad I bequest to his son - a shattered Byzantine Empire.
“I need to rest soon, son. There is little more to tell. Keep at peace with Poland and Novgorad. They are no threat to us and trade with them adds greatly to our coffers. Let your children or your children's children persuade them to join the Kaliphate; for now concentrate on your real enemies. You have heard to rumours of a great horde sweeping westward from the Far East. For this reason, I advise you to concentrate your campaign against the Byzantines in the land some call Turkey, avoiding the steppes north of the Black Sea. … although some have said, the bridges of Kiev would act as a very defensible gateway to the West…”
“Son, I feel I am slipping away … I inherited a great kingdom, but one lean and vulnerable to attack. I pass it on to you now, strengthened and tempered in the fire of battle. You need fear nothing … fulfil your destiny.”
Muhammad closed his eyes and fell silent. Prince Ismail, holding his father’s hand, sought for a pulse. Finding none, he gently kissed the old man’s forehead and then, walking quietly, left the room.
With an epitath from Demon of Light courtesy of the bard:
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
creeps by at this petty pace
from day to day
to the the last syllables of recorded time
and all our yesterdays have but lighted fool the way to dusty death
Out Out, brief candle
Life is but a walking shadow.
A poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot
full of sound and fury
signifying nothing
And now we conclude Mount Suribachi's narrative uninterrupted:
1176 began with something of a shock for Ismail when the Holy Roman Empire chose to attack from Provence into Milan. The HRE had previously been allies of the Almohads, but the Emperor had obviously seen the writing on the wall. Although for now Ismail had no plans to attack the Germans, it didn't take a genius to work out that once he had defeated the French (who were by now very much on the defensive) that the HRE would be next on his Catholic hit list. As such the HRE wisely chose to attack whilst the powerful Almohad armies were engaged elsewhere. Their mistake was to attack in insufficient numbers in too few areas. Instead of a surprise attack with overwhelming force, a small number of heavy cavalry where sent to attack the garrison in Milan. The small number of Muslim defenders fought smartly, choosing to retreat to a wooded hill where they could reign down arrows on the heavily armoured knights. For a short while the knights, not wishing to show cowardice in the face of the enemy, stood on the edge of the wood contemplating a charge, but in the end discretion got the better part of valour and realising that they would be chopped to pieces in the wood, they withdrew back to their castle at Marseilles. The Germanic surprise attack, so poorly executed as it was, was a complete disaster and rather than saving the Holy Roman Empire from extinction, merely hastened its demise.
As a result of the HRE breaking their treaty with the Almohads there was a shuffling of the diplomatic deck. Egypt and the English both cancelled their treaties with the Almohads, both of which were of concern to Ismail. The Egyptians with their massive army on the Almohad eastern frontier were a constant niggling doubt for Ismail, but the behaviour of the English greatly upset him. They had been allies in the fight against the common enemy, the French, but now that the French were on their knees, the English quickly forgot who it was that had broken the back of their nemesis. Ismail however, would not quickly forget this English treachery, further reinforcing his belief that all Catholics were untrustworthy. Meanwhile, the Hungarians, hard pressed by the powerful Byzantine Empire, came asking for an alliance. Ismail refused, caring little for their fate and wishing to remain on good terms with the Byzantines, the Almohads number 1 source of trade income. The only good news that year was that the independent princedom of Friesland had agreed to join the Almohad Empire - for a small financial reward of course…
By the end of 1178, the HRE was in disarray. In the face of Almohad armies the armies in Provence and Burgundy retreated into their castles without putting up a fight. Only in Switzerland did the Germans show any fighting spirit as 30 brave knights, outnumbered 7 to 1, fought to the last man on a snowy mountainside, taking over 100 Muslim souls with them.
In the south of France Toulouse castle finally fell under an assault led by Kalipha Ismael himself, though with over 100 casualties including Amir ibn Tashufun. At last Toulouse, the scene of so much blood shed. For 7 long years battle had raged back and forth over it. Thousands of men, Muslim and Catholic had died on its fields. Now at last it was finally, irrevocably, an Almohad province.
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The soldiers of the Jihad launched to reclaim it for Islam rejoiced.
In the north of France however there were tears of anguish, not of joy. The mercenary army sent to conquer Ile de France had the French locked up in Paris castle and launched their assault. The mercenaries were slaughtered. The castle was probably the most advanced fortification in the world at that time, with the exception of Constantinople's land walls of course. A full-blown castle (rather than a keep with a curtain wall, the most common fortification of the era) it had a ring wall as well as ballista and catapult towers. These latter in particular were deadly, quickly destroying the stationary Almohad siege artillery and forcing a storming of the castle by the troops whilst the walls were still standing. Of the 309 men who set out that morning, only 34 returned that night.
Ismael was shocked by this news, but as was his way, he learned from this lesson. These modern castles were tough to assault, even with the most advanced siege artillery of the time. As a consequence he ordered that improved castles be built along his borders to protect them, a chain of stone he called it.
Despite the setback at Paris, it had still been a good year for Ismail as his stranglehold on Catholic Europe tightened. Increasingly panicked by events, the Pope once more called for crusades against the Almohads, but he was running out of Catholic Kings to appeal to and soon Pope Giovanni himself would be silenced forever.
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1178 was a year of continued success for Ismael. The independent princedom of Friesland had refused Ismaels offer of vassalship and had instead chosen their independence - a choice that meant certain death. The 120 men defending Groningen castle managed to kill 150 of the attacking Almohad warriors, but the result of the battle was a foregone conclusion before it even began - victory for the Muslims.
Further south, the Holy Roman Empire continued its terminal decline as they paid for their pre-emptive attack of 2 years earlier with the loss of the forts at Dijon and Marseille, handing control of Provence and Burgandy to the Almohads. This enabled Ismael to achieve his long hoped for land link between his empires holdings in Northern Italy and Southern France. In the 2 assaults, the Germans lost over 600 men, the Almohads less than 200.
To the northwest, a famous battle was fought that year. The legendary Amir Rahman led an army of over 800 men into Brittany to do battle with 1000 Frenchmen led by King Louis VI himself. Whilst the conquest of the northwest tip of France was regarded as important, the opportunity to kill or capture the King of (what was left) of France made Rahmans eyes bulge in anticipation. As so often in this war, the battle was a disaster for the French. As their army became fragmented amongst the rolling wooded hills they were cut to ribbons by the Almohad Urban Militia and those who fled were rode down by the swift Saharan Cavalry. Amir Rahman was, as ever, sat on his speedy Spanish bred horse, javelins by his side ready to throw at any enemy who was foolish enough to try and close with him. And, as ever, he had no personal bodyguard. Speed was his best form of defence, and he used his speed to keep in touch with his units as they fought the scattered French troops. As the French army began to crumble, he noticed a single French cavalryman, trying to disengage from the Almohad lines, and then ride away down the hill. Could it be... thought Raman - and it was. King Louis himself, his bodyguards all dead, fleeing to the south. Rahman turned to order the nearest cavalry to ride him down, but they were all far away, chasing the routing French army. There was only one thing for it. Rahman spurred his horse and charged down the hill after King Louis.
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The flight of King Louis VI by Abbu Zayyan al-Mansur
The French Monarch had a good head start on Rahman and it took him a while to catch up. When he did, Rahman rained blow after blow down on Louis. But the Kings finely crafted armour resisted time after time. Rahman called on Louis to surrender, but King Louis just spurred his horse on to ride even faster. As the chase unfolded Rahman realised that he was becoming more and more separated from his army - in hostile territory chasing a heavily armoured French King...He reigned his horse in and let King Louis go. Though neither of them knew it at the, the French Kings flight would be a historic and pivotal moment in this war.
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King Louis VI madness was just one of the character flaws that led to his downfall. The war that his father had started with the Almohads had now lasted more than 10 years. 10 long years filled with one disastrous defeat after another. France was now a tiny, shrinking kingdom, its people terrified by the seemingly unstoppable Muslim onslaught. Led by a King incompetent as well as mad, Louis' flight from the battlefield pursued by the legendary Rahman was one humiliation too much for the French. Upon his return to safe territory he was murdered and a new King crowned - King Stephen I.
But even the coronation of a new King was a humiliation. For instead of being crowned in the French capital of Paris, he had to be crowned in Southern England - Paris fell in 1179 to the Almohads.
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The Fall of Paris Castle by Abu Zayyan al-Mansur
After his mercenary army was slaughtered assaulting Paris castle in 1177, Ismael had ordered the surviving mercenaries and some low quality troops to lay siege to Paris, he cared not if these troops died of cold, hunger and disease, though he would never waste his Urban Militia in starving a garrison to death. He regarded his Almohad Urban Militia as the backbone both of his army and his empire. Nor did he care for the French citizens starving inside the castle. No doubt they would rejoice at the sacking of Granada or Cordoba if the tables were turned. To the northwest Amir Rahman took Nantes castle in another bloody assault of the type Ismael was growing to increasingly dislike, the 130 defenders inflicting 160 Almohad casualties - the armies of Ismael I were not used to suffering more dead than the enemy.
As Stephen was crowned in London - an event that should have been a glorious symbol of French supremacy over their long time enemies the English - the remainder of the French Empire crumbled as several provinces declared their independence. Some did so out of the shortsighted desires of their rulers for power, some because they thought it offered them a chance to avoid the Islamic tide. They were wrong on both counts. Meanwhile, Stephen was a King of France without any lands in France, only Wessex and Sicily declaring their loyalty to the new King. Stephens only hope lay in the huge French armies, several thousand strong, on Sicily. But this army was trapped there without any transport, the French fleet lying at the bottom of the Mediterranean, sent there by Almohad warships.
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Wars are expensive business, and like any ruler, Ismael needed money to fund his large armies and to pay for the reconstruction of the cities they conquered. The small navy Ismael had inherited was now a powerful fleet, matched only by the vast Byzantine navy. Ismaels trading ships found it expensive to operate on long trade routes far from home, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea. It was with this in mind that Ismael launched an army to conquer the island of Rhodes. Small and with no great potential for farming or trade this former Byzantine stronghold was nevertheless an ideal base from which to support the operations of Almohad ships. The 200 men under Amir Ibn Ishaq conquered the independent island with little difficulty in 1180, the 40 prisoners who survived the battle being released. They had fought to defend their country and Ismael always tried to be merciful to those who he would conquer - but woe betide them if they were to subsequently rebel against him…
1181 was the year Ismael intended to once and for all finish off the French. Amir Ibn Ma'mun, a promising young general was sent to invade Wessex with one overriding goal - to kill King Stephen I of France. Ma'mun led 500 men including many mercenaries against nearly 800 French soldiers. But King Stephen survived and the Almohads fought like cowards and ran. Although 500 Frenchmen were killed that day, of the 500 Almohad warriors, 400 were killed or taken prisoner. The news of the defeat sent Ismael into a fury at the cowardice of his own troops. Luckily for Amir Ibn Ma'mun, he was killed in the battle and when Ismael received a message from the cash starved French asking for a ransom for the 200 Almohad POWs it was refused. Ismael was quite prepared to pay the ransom for troops who fought for as long as they could - he did not expect his soldiers to sacrifice themselves in battles that were already lost. But fleeing from an enemy without showing any backbone or stomach for a fight he could not forgive. How the prisoners died in the Tower of London is not known, but that they met their fate there is certain.
1181 was a bad year all round for Ismael. His attempts to induce the independent princedom of Champagne to join his empire failed - the Duke of Champagne being immune to the substantial financial rewards such a union would bring him personally. To top it all off came the news of rebellion in Swabia. When the news of the defeat of the Almohad army by the French spread, it emboldened subjugated people across Europe to throw off their Muslim yokes. Ismaels armies were not invincible people thought - he can be beaten In Swabia this new found courage found a physical expression - 1000 men (including 600 well armed and armoured Feudal Sergeants) rebelled and formed an army declaring their allegiance to Emperor Ludwig V and the Holy Roman Empire.
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The Swabian Rebellion by Abu Zayyan al-Mansur
This rebellion was dangerous and with the French isolated on Britain and Sicily, Ismael was able to ignore them for now and concentrate on driving the Germans back. So in 1182 a 2 pronged attack was launched - a spoiling attack into Franconia designed to tie down German troops there and the attack on Swabia itself. The spoiling attack was only partially successful. It did not prevent Ludwig from moving nearly 300 men to support the rebellion in Swabia, however it did massacre the 250 troops left there. Only a few of those soldiers survived and one of them was the Holy Roman Emperor himself. At one point he appeared surrounded and certain to fall, but with great courage and skill managed to fight his way out and flee from the battlefield.
The key battle that year was to the south in Swabia. Amir Yucub, a fine general led 620 Almohads against 1300 Germans. Though badly outnumbered, the Almohad armies had regularly fought against such superior numbers and prevailed and the battle hardened Muslim soldiers were confident that victory would be theirs once more this day. Indeed the Almohad Urban Militia and Desert Archers inflicted heavy casualties on the German troops in the opening stages of the battle. But then something happened that no one had foreseen. 60 Swabians, heavily armoured and carrying a giant 2-handed sword began to carve a path through the Almohad infantry.
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Swabian Swordsman by Abu Zayyan al-Mansur
Many Almohads were quickly wiped out or running for their lives in fear. Into the gap in the Almohad line the HRE infantry and cavalry poured, charging into the archers positioned behind the infantry. Nevertheless the Almohad nerve held, but the Swabian Swordsmen swung round and drove towards Amir Yacub. He was cut down so fast that the army could not believe it - the shock of their generals death at the hands of these seemingly unstoppable killing machines sent the army into a panic and they fled. A few units courage held however, maybe 200 men total. They regrouped and positioned themselves on a ridge. They fought bravely and drove off 2 German attacks - luckily for them the Swabians were on the other side of the battlefield. However they were powerless when the HRE general brought up his archers and began peppering them with arrows. Without any cavalry to drive the archers off and with the fearsome Swabian Swordsmen visible in the distance marching towards them, the survivors decided that they should retreat with their honour intact rather than die the futile death of a pincushion.
The battle of Filderstadt was a curious one. The HRE suffered 750 dead, the Almohads only 260. Yet the Germans held the day thanks to the fearsome killing power of just 60 men and the untimely death of one general. The news of this defeat came as a shock to the Almohad people and immediately upon this news, the ever fervent people of Tunisia launched a Jihad to win back Swabia for Islam
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The Jihad for Swabia by Abu Zayyan al-Mansur
If the news from the north was mixed, that in the south was decisive. Ismaels long battle against the Catholic nations was coming to its climax and now his objective was the source of his desire to exterminate Roman Catholicism -the Papacy itself. For 20 years or more Popes had been calling for Crusades against the Almohads, promising forgiveness of sins for those who took up arms against them. But if there was no Pope to bless the Crusades then there would be no crusades. The Papacy controlled the Italian peninsula and Ismaels plan was to launch a simultaneous 3-pronged attack to wipe them out. Ismael himself would lead an army in to the Papal States of northeast Italy - but the Papist army there fled south in terror at the advancing Islamic hordes, as did the army defending the holy city of Rome.
Only in Naples did the Papist armies stand and fight. Price Ali had landed 600 men by ship there and they were outnumbered 2 to 1 by the Catholic army - perhaps the reason the Catholics felt confident enough to make a stand. Holding a high ridgeline, the Almohads were forced to march uphill into the Papist infantry. The Islamic infantry steadfastly held their line long enough for their cavalry to sweep round to the rear and envelop the enemy. The result was one sided. For the loss of just 200 men, the Almohads had killed 500 and captured another 600. All of Italy now belonged to Ismael.
Pope Giovanni who had fled south from Rome hoping to find safety in Naples was quickly captured and under the strict orders of Ismael, brought before the Kalipha. On his knees before Ismael, the terrified Giovanni begged for mercy. Ismael spoke just one sentence to him, then with a nod of his head , signalled to a guard who ran the Pope through with his sword. Giovannis' naked body was displayed on a pole outside the gates of Rome, a sign hung round his neck bearing the words that Ismael had spoken to him.
Who but God alone has the power to forgive sins?
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With the Papacy eliminated, Ismael was able to concentrate once more on finishing off the French. To lead the assault on Wessex, Ismael chose Prince Muhammed, his eldest son. Muhammed was fast maturing into the finest general in the entire Almohad army, and when he became Kalipha would lead the Almohads to even greater glory, though no one knew that then. Muhammed led 500 men across the channel into England - not mercenaries of doubtful courage like the army that had fled the fields of southern England 2 years previously, but a strong balanced army of the type that had brought his father so much success the last 20 years. Against them King Stephen I of France could only field 300 tired, demoralised, worn out men. Despite the heroic efforts of Stephen who fought like a demon, once again the French lost, with only a handful of men led by King Stephen, escaping back to their castle, though they did manage to inflict 200 deaths on their Almohad enemies.
Elsewhere that year the castles at Nancy and Perrugia fell to Amir Rahman and Kalipha Ismael respectively, both for minimal losses as Ismaels grip on Western Europe choked Catholicism tighter and tighter.
In the south however the French army on Sicily which had festered and stewed without a navy to transport it back to defend their homelands finally got their chance to kill the Infidel that was so humiliatingly taking over their lands. With the conquest of Naples it meant that the only thing that separated Almohad territory from 2000 French soldiers desperate for battle was the Straight of Sicily. Lord de Coligny, Duke of Sicily ordered that every boat on the Island be requisitioned to transport his army across the straight. Leaving behind 500 men to protect the Island from a possible Almohad seaborne invasion he led 1400 men across to Naples in a flotilla of small boats.
Against this large army, Prince Ali was able to muster just under 500 men. The 2 armies met on the rolling plains outside of Naples. Outnumbered 3 to 1, Prince Ali set most of his army up on a small ridge, except for his 2 regiments of Berber Camels. The thing that worried Price Ali the most was not the numbers of French soldiers, but the 40 Knights Templar that formed part of the French army. These heavily armoured mounted Knights possessed a religious fervour that made them dangerous opponents. Lord de Coligny kept the Templars in reserve at the rear of his army as it marched towards the Almohad lines, waiting for the right moment to engage them. Ali saw this and sent his camels out round the flanks of the French army, which ignored them as a minor nuisance and carried on closing with the main Almohad lines. Once round the rear, the Berbers used their bows to shoot at the Templars, forcing them to give chase to the Camels. The Berbers retreated up a hillside, then at the right moment, turned about and charged down into the Knights. The carnage was great, and only a handful of camel riders survived, but even fewer Knights Templar were still alive. The Knights had fought bravely skillfully, but in the end, fighting uphill, weighed down in the stifling heat by their armour, with their horses panicking at the smell of the camels, the Templars ceased to exist as a fighting order.
For Prince Ali, killing 40 Knights Templar for the loss of 80 Berber Camel warriors was an acceptable price to pay. Especially when the rest of the battle went so well with the French being driven from the field of battle - for the last time as it turned out. 170 Almohads and 470 Frenchmen were dead, with another 730 prisoner. Simply in order to serve a final notice of humiliation on the French who after all had started this war more then 20 years ago, Prince Ali sent his nephew Muhammed a list of the French prisoners in order that Muhammed might ask the besieged King Stephen for a ransom for their release. Not surprisingly, no ransom was forthcoming and the prisoners troubled Prince Ali no more...
The end was now in sight for the French Empire. Once a mighty Kingdom, now it was reduced to a handful of besieged men, trapped like the prisoners they were in the Tower of London. It was Prince Muhammed, heir to the mighty Almohad Kaliphate who led the army that finally finished the French. It is not known who delivered the blow that killed King Stephen I, last king of France, only that his body was found after the fighting was over, next to the bodies of a handful of faithful bodyguards. The war that was started by his grandfather King Phillipe III in 1169, 15 long years ago had resulted in the deaths of over 9000 French soldiers on the battlefield. The number of civilians killed in sieges, starved to death, or deprived of their lands is unknown and one cannot help but feel for the people of Toulouse whose land became an annual battlefield for nearly 10 years. King Phillipe III had sown the wind, and his people reaped the whirlwind. The French had ceased to exist.
On Sicily, the news of the demise of the French Royal family produced a revolution of sorts. Before it had been conquered by the French, Sicily had been ruled by the Normans - French descendents of the Vikings. Now, the large army still there (the survivors of the battle of Naples and those lucky enough not to be sent) were unsure of who they were and who should rule them. That all changed when a distant relative of King Adam II, the last Norman king of Sicily was found. Crowned as King Adam III, the French army rallied to him, as did the local population of Sicily - both regarded him as one of them - his mother being a Sicilian, his father a Norman. 2500 Sicilians, joyous at the demise of their French overlords and terrified of the unstoppable Islamic armies a few miles away across the straits, rallied to his banner. Where King Adam found the swords, armour, shields and spears to arm all these Feudal Sergeants and Men at Arms is one of the great mysteries of history. News of this new Sicilian army reached Prince Ali as he was finishing off the last catholic resistance in Naples. Plans for a quick conquest of Sicily would have to be shelved till troops could be diverted from other fronts.
To the North Amir Rahman led 300 men into Champagne. Islamic agents had managed to bribe the garrison of the castle there to join the Almohad side. Without a castle to retreat to the 250 men protecting the small princedom were forced into the open battlefield were Rahman once more displayed his legendary generalship, dispatching their army with few losses. It was the last battle the old general ever fought. Known for his legendary appetite (some would go so far as to call him gluttonous) he choked to death on a chicken at a feast to celebrate his victory. Though he and Ismael had not spent enough time together for a bond to grow between them - they had both spent much of the last 25 years in the saddle on campaign throughout Western Europe - Ismael knew that his stature and his empires greatness owed much to the battlefield genius of Abu sa'id Rahman. A week of mourning was declared thoughout the empire, and the people mourned their general long and hard.
But the death of 1 general, no matter how legendary, could not stop the seemingly endless bloodletting of Ismaels reign. That same year Amir Mardanish led 900 men back into Swabia, 3 years after the Almohads had been defeated there by the ferocity of the Swabain Swordsmen. Against them, Emperor Ludwig V himself led 600 men. Once more the 2-handed swordsmen of Swabia ripped through the Almohad infantry, but they were defenseless against the waves of arrows launched by the hundreds of Almohad archers. The battle became very fragmented, but the Islamic archers held firm and after decimating the ranks of Swabian Swordsmen, directed their fire at the Emperor Ludwig. Though he was engaged in a melee with their own infantry, friendly fire was considered an acceptable risk in order to kill the Holy Roman Emperor. He and his bodyguards fell under the weight of hundreds and hundreds of arrows as Almohad Cavalry chased the rest of his army from the field. There were no more lands to call an Empire, Rome now belonged to Islam and there was no Pope to bestow a Holy blessing upon an Emperor. With Ludwig's death, the Holy Roman Empire was no more.
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Following the eradication of the Holy Roman Empire, Ismael was Kalipha of a vast Almohad Empire. He was creating one of the greatest empires of all time, an Empire that was coming to rival any other in history - a fact that Ismael was well aware of. His reign of war and bloodshed had begun in order to free his people from the threat of the crusading Roman Catholic nations, now Roman Catholicism was on the verge of extinction, the Christian faith being kept alive by the Orthodox Byzantine Empire to the east. Just as the map of western Europe was coloured Almohad orange, so the map of Eastern Europe was coloured in the purple of the Roman Empire. The Byzantines had managed to defeat the Turks who had caused them so much trouble, and fought a bitter 10 year border war with Egypt where little ground changed hands but men of both sides died in their tens of thousands. Yet despite this, the Empire had regained its former glory and now owned vast tracts of the East, from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The latest people to be driven back by the Roman onslaught were the Hungarians, driven back up the Dalmatian coast till finally the 2 great empires of the age, Roman and Moorish, shared a land border in northeastern Italy.
The 2 empires, Ismael knew, needed each other. Both had vast fleets of trading ships that plied the oceans between each other’s ports, swelling the coffers of each other. These vast trade revenues allowed them to pay for the giant armies with which they smote their enemies and for the vast building projects that they undertook within their empires. A war would be disastrous for them both. War would bring an end to the trade, to the prosperity. Both could easily beat any enemy they chose to fight - except each other. Ismael knew that maybe he would win a war with Rome, but the cost would be high...unbearably high, a price he was not willing to pay. But did the Emperors in Constantinople think the same way? Ismael knew the Roman Emperors to be proud, vain and arrogant, they regarded themselves as Gods Vice-regent on Earth What if they thought they could sweep away the Almohads as they had swept others away? Or what if they thought that they were next on Israelis hit list? Ismael was not prepared to take that chance. He must make peace with Byzantium. He knew that one day war would inevitably come between their 2 great empires, history taught him so - never in human history had great empires managed to peacefully co-exist...Assyria and Babylon...Babylon and Persia...Persia and Byzantium...always they had come to blows. Nevertheless, Ismael resolved to make every effort to bring about a peace treaty between the 2 great nations.
Emissaries were dispatched to Constantinople asking for an alliance. It was rejected. We do not wish war read the reply Constantine XI sent to Ismael but we require further proof of your good intentions. Perhaps a reduction of your strength along our borders would show this. Ismael, desperate for peace, ordered that the garrison in Venice be reduced from 500 to just 100 men. This reduction in strength would have consequences for the Almohad Empire, but that was in the future, after Israelis death - consequences that his son Muhammed would have to bear. But still the Byzantines rejected the Almohad overtures. So Ismael declared war on the Hungarians, now reduced to just Bohemia and Bavaria, in order to try and convince the Byzantines he was on their side (and grab some land for himself before the Byzantines got it), but still an alliance was refused. Dejected, Ismael began to lose hope of ever securing a peace treaty, though that did not stop him trying the rest of his life to secure one.
These attempts at securing a treaty with Byzantium was one of the 2 major issues that dominated Israelis thinking during the interregnum of peace from 1186 to 1188. The other was what to do about the English. They had been valuable allies against the French and whilst not inflicting defeat on the French on the field of battle, had kept large numbers of French troops tied down in Wessex. However, when the HRE had launched their surprise attack on the Almohads, the English had cancelled their alliance with Ismael to side with the Germans. And irritating a man who bore grudges as Ismael so famously did was never a wise idea. Now the debate raging in Israelis court was centred around whether to attack the English or not. Those in favour of aggression argued that they were a Roman Catholic nation and ultimately untrustable and treacherous. The Imams argued that they were infidels who needed to be converted or killed. Those against pointed out their weakness, the lack of credible threat they posed, the fact that the troops required for a campaign were needed elsewhere - in central Europe to help with the mopping up operations and on Sicily to defeat the large army there. Not invading the English would also allow the rapidly growing Almohad merchant class to carry on selling their wares to them, depleting the English coffers and swelling the Almohad ones. But in the end Ismael never forgot how the English had let him down by siding with the HRE, and he reasoned that sooner or later, he or his successors would have to fight the English. Better to do it now he thought, whilst we are strong and they are weak.
So it was that in 1188 Israelis son and heir, Prince Muhammed led an army north into Mercia. Outnumbered and outclassed the English abandoned the battlefield and retreated to their castle at Lincoln. The following year as Prince Muhammed was making preparations to assault the castle when the English King, John I, led an army of 650 men south from Northumbria to relieve the siege. Muhammed gathered 800 men and the 2 armies met outside Louth, north of Lincoln. The battle was long and bloody and for a long while the English held the upper hand. King John had gathered many nobles & royals to his army and their large numbers of heavily armoured knights caused the Almohads many problems. The Nubian Spearmen recruited from Cyrenacia and Muwahid foot soldiers were too lightly armoured to stand against these heavy cavalry charges. The day was won only because of Prince Muhammeds superior leadership. His men were well trained and very disciplined. They stood their ground despite their heavy losses enabling the Ghazis, fanatical Islamic warriors to use their speed to surround the engaged English cavalry. The knight’s armour was little use against the powerful axes carried by the Ghazis and they ended up suffering terrible losses. Only a handful of English soldiers survived to flee from the field of battle, 450 of their comrades lying dead in the Lincolnshire hills, alongside 300 Almohads. 180 Englishmen surrendered, but unfortunately for them, King John I was amongst the dead and there was no ransom money to pay for their release…
With the death of his father, the 16 year old Henry became King Henry II of England. Around the time he was being crowned King, Lincoln Castle was falling to Prince Muhammed. The final blow came in 1191 when a simultaneous 3 pronged attack was launched by sea and by land upon the remaining English held provinces of Wales, Northumbria and Scotland. Scotland and Northumbria fell with barely a whimper, but in Wales the remaining English nobility made a heroic last stand. Preferring a glorious death to life under Islamic rule they positioned themselves upon a hill and charged their horses down into the advancing Almohad army. These few Knights took many souls with them, but outnumbered, and with not enough quality infantry, English defeat was inevitable. Nearly 400 dead, split equally between both sides lay dead on the valley floor. King Henry was captured trying to flee north towards Scotland, unaware of the Almohad army that had landed there. He was captured and executed along with every other member of the English royal family. Britain belonged to the Almohad Empire.
Meanwhile in Central Europe the mopping up of the former Electorates of the Holy Roman Empire continued as Stuttgart castle finally fell to the soldiers of the Jihad who had come to win in back for Allah in 1188. To the north, Saxony fell in 1192 when Amir ibn Badis defeated Sigismund von Osterreich. Both armies were 800 strong and both suffered nearly 400 dead, but the superior morale of the Almohad armies were the difference as another 400 Germans were taken prisoner. Nevertheless, when news of the victory came to Ismael he was deeply concerned about the heavy casualties his army his suffered as once again they struggled to cope with heavily armoured knights.
For many years Ismael had watched the conflict between the Hungarians and Byzantines with interest. The Hungarians had been the land buffer between Ismael and the powerful Byzantine Empire for all of Israelis reign, but now they were on the verge of defeat as they had been driven back and back by the purple tide. Now, with their Kingdom reduced to just Bavaria and Bohemia, Ismael took advantage of the outbreak of a civil war in Hungary to attack. By doing so he hoped to firstly win some brownie points with Emperor Constantine XI, and secondly to grab what was left of Hungarian lands before the Byzantines did. In 1188 he ordered Amir Ibn Khalid with 250 men to move southwards and attack Bavaria.
Against them was Sir Andreas Andreas with just 120 men. However he cleverly stayed one step ahead of the Almohads and made a stand upon the River Danube near to the town of Burgheim. Half of his army consisted of Royal Knights and as the Almohad army tried to cross the bridge they charged and drove them off. Amir Khalid tried to rally his men on the bridge but fell under a hail of Hungarian arrows as he did so. 3 times the Almohads tried to take the bridge; 3 times they were driven back by the concentrated archer fire and the Hungarian heavy cavalry. For the loss of just 30 men the Hungarians had managed to inflict 150 casualties on the seemingly invincible Almohad army. However squeezed as they were between the 2 great empires of the age, it was to be merely a stay of execution.
In the New Year the Almohads were back, this time attacking from the west so as to avoid having to try and fight their way across the River Danube again. Abdullah al Hajj was at the head of 500 men, but the Hungarians, anticipating another Almohad attack sent reinforcements, led by the Kings brother, Prince Samuel. All together the Hungarians managed to muster nearly 900 men to defend Bavaria. To add to Abdullahs woes, that spring was a particularly cold one and snow was still falling well into April. When the 2 armies met near Furstenfeldbruck, the ground was covered in snow, the Hungarians occupied a forest at the top of a ridge and the Almohads were outnumbered nearly 2 to 1. Abdullah al Hajj knew that the correct decision was to withdraw; yet he didn’t. He had fought at the disastrous Battle of Burgheim Bridge the previous summer where he was Amir ibn Khalid’s deputy. The shame of that rout still burned fiercely within him, moreover, he was a young and promising general, and this was his chance for glory He knew of the many famous victories the Almohad armies had won during the glorious reign of Kaliph Ismael I – those victories were justly famous because so often they had been won against the odds. To withdraw now would mean being a coward. His behaviour in private had long caused many to suspect he was unbalanced, even crack-brained. His decision to attack against all the odds is perhaps further proof that he truly was an unhinged loon. And so the order was given to advance.
The Almohad army fought bravely, struggling through the deep snow towards the Hungarian positions on high, under fire from catapults and ballistas all the way. Several waves of Slav warriors, naked from the waste up despite the bitter cold, were repelled and still Abdullahs men continued to struggle their way struggle uphill. Tired, cold and outnumbered, his army unbalanced by too many archers and not enough infantry, they were unable to withstand the Hungarian cavalry charge that swept them from the snowy slopes with the ferocity of an avalanche. The casualties are unknown, only that they were high and that 79 men were taken prisoner by the Hungarians. Ismael, true to his belief that men who have fought bravely before surrendering deserve to be ransomed, paid the gold to King Jo I of Hungary to secure their release.
The defeat was so complete that it was 2 years before Ismael was able to muster enough troops in central Europe to try for a 3rd time to take Bavaria. To lead his army on an attack where a 3rd failure was unthinkable, Ismael chose Phillip von der Kniprode, a German who had not yet converted to Islam, indeed he had even fought against the Almohads as part of the Emperor Ludwigs army, but now had a new master. Once more the winter snow lingered in the foothills of Bavaria but this time it was the Almohads who had the numerical advantage, 777 (which the Christian von der Kniprode regarded as a sign of Gods blessing) against around 400 Hungarians led by King Jo I himself. For this 3rd attack the Almohads had chosen the northern invasion route again enabling the Hungarians to try and defend the Danube once more. The German general wisely chose his crossing point however, trying to force his way across the double bridges at Ingolstadt. Outnumbered and with 2 bridges to try and defend, the Hungarians were defeated, though they put up a brave fight, killing 220 Almohads but losing 280 of their own, as well as another 60 prisoners. King Jo and his brother Prince Samuel were both killed when they were trapped on one of the bridges and surrounded with no way forwards or back they fell. Bohemia had fallen the previous year to the Byzantines and with their deaths, Bavaria became part of the Almohad Empire and the Hungarian Empire was wiped out.
In the Mediterranean, the Almohadic expansion continued as elsewhere. Throughout the 1180’s the Byzantine Island of Crete had undergone a succession of revolts and rebellions as its people strove for independence from Constantinople. Finally in 1186 they succeeded and with their armies needed more elsewhere in their vast empire, the Byzantines were forced to abandon the island. For years Ismael had been looking for an opportunity to expand into the Eastern Mediterranean, mainly to provide a secure naval base from which his fleet could operate from. Crete was otherwise unimportant with no profitable trade goods or fertile land upon it - its port was its everything. In 1188 a small force was sent to secure the Island which they did with little difficulty, adding this strategically valuable island to the Empire.
Much bloodier was the fight to take Sicily. With 3000 well trained well equipped soldiers, the Sicilian army was clearly going to be no pushover. It was 4 years before an army of 2200 Islamic warriors was gathered and deemed ready to invade Sicily and at their head was Kalipha Ismael I himself accompanied by Prince Abdullah. Landing on the northern shore of the island near Cefalu, they sat and waited for the arrival of the King Adam II and his army. When he arrived the battle though tough was far easier than Ismael predicted it would be. Though he lost 650 men, he barely touched his reserves and after wave upon wave of Sicilians had crashed against his army, they had lost 1150 men and another 800 had been taken prisoner. Amongst the dead was King Adam though his son survived the retreat to the castle at Palermo where he was crowned King Adam III of Sicily.
Ismael had landed without any siege equipment, most of which was in Germany to be used against the last few independent Germanic states who would not submit voluntarily to the Almohad Empire and loath to recall them, Ismael left a sufficiently large army behind to maintain the siege of Palermo and returned to the mainland. With Palermo castle packed with hundreds and hundreds of Sicilian soldiers starvation and disease was rife and the castle fell without a fight 2 years later when the young King Adam III died of a fever. Sicily an Island ruled by so many different nations through the centuries was now back in Islamic hands (Israelis scholars reckoned that the Almohads were the 6th different Muslim people to rule Sicily).
The year of 1192 dawned with a promise of long lasting peace and prosperity for the Almohad Empire and an end to 30 years of unrelenting, unceasing, total war and brutal conquest. Quite simply there were no more enemies for Ismael to conquer. One by one he had crushed the Catholic nations threatening him– The union of Italian City states, France, Germany, England, Hungary, Sicily, even the Papal States themselves had all been subjugated. The only Catholic nations left were Poland and Denmark, but they were small and weak and posed little military threat. Without a Pope in Rome and with learned Almohad Imams residing in all their towns and cities they posed little religious threat either. Ismael could have conquered them, but he saw no point - he was tired of war. It was time to draw a line in the sand, strengthen his frontiers and build the improvements that his war weary people deserved. There would still be plenty of opportunity for conquest for his son Muhammed when he came to the throne, Ismael was sure of that, and Ismael was also sure that Muhammed would be Kalipha sooner rather than later.
For many years now, as he got older and older, Ismael had brooded about his own death. He was obsessed with the deaths of his forefathers - Yusuf I, Yusuf II and Umar had all died of illness at the age of 56. Ismael, unbelieving as he was, became convinced that this was a sign from Allah that he too would die in his bed aged 56– if he did not die on the battlefield first. He kept quoting the Jewish King, Solomon the Wise it is appointed unto man once to die. He was convinced that it was his destiny, no The will of Allah, that he should die a glorious death on the field of battle. All through the 1180s as his enemies were finished off one by one, Ismael began thinking about where it should be that he would meet his end – Ireland. Scene of a humiliating, shameful, cowardly defeat in the first years of his reign, the deep anguish and bitterness of that defeat burned like a furnace in his heart for 30 years. Now, as his last act on Earth, he planned to lead his brave warriors to a glorious victory there and die in the process of claiming the last piece of Catholic land in Western Europe for Islam.
As 1192 came, he was in no hurry. His armies were depleted and under strength, their equipment was worn out or obsolete. He ordered all regiments that were below 50% strength to be returned to their home provinces so that new recruits might replenish the ranks of his battle hardened veterans and that they might receive strong, new armour and bright swords with sharp edges to replace the dull, blunt and notched ones they now wielded. Throughout his empire he was constructing mosques and trading posts and generally improving the infrastructure of his towns and cities. His people knew it too, even in the conquered catholic provinces they were the recipients of a previously unknown prosperity and his people were loyal to him, acknowledging him as a magnificent builder.
He also took a bold, some would say foolhardy decision. For centuries Granada had been the Moorish capital in Spain, now Ismael decided to transfer to a new capital. Just as Constantine the Great had relocated the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium, so Ismael now moved his capital from Granada to Rome.
He had 3 main reasons for doing this. The first was logistical convenience. His vast Empire spread from Scotland in the north to Morocco in the south, from Portugal in the west to Venice in the east, from the Welsh valleys to the Saharan sands. Quite simply, Granada was too far from everywhere, too removed from the action. Rome whilst not the geographical centre of his empire was closer to it than Granada, but was also closer to his land borders with Egypt, Byzantium, Poland and Denmark.
The 2nd was to show supremacy over Roman Catholicism. For 1000 years the Bishop of Rome had been the head of the Earthly Christian church (though the Patriarch of Constantinople might dispute that fact). Now Rome belonged to Islam and Ismael wanted the world to know it - The Bishopric of Rome had been disbanded.
Finally there was Rome itself. Pope Giovanni had fled in such haste with his army to try and escape when Ismael invaded the Papal lands, that Rome had been left defenceless, its people throwing open the city gates and throwing themselves upon Israelis mercy. And he was merciful; the city was not sacked, or plundered or pillaged. Rome was perhaps the greatest city on Earth at that time, its monuments and galleries and especially its palaces awakening a desire in Ismael to reside there. And so he moved his court to Rome and its many palaces were given as rewards to his most faithful and successful generals and administrators such as Amir al Mansur, Count of Flanders who he appointed Grand Vizier, giving him the Chancellors palace. Settling into his new capital, ruler of a vast empire, Ismael began to relax and catch up with the 30 years of paperwork that his perpetual life campaigning had left behind.
But his plans for a peaceful few years and then a glorious death in Ireland were suddenly interrupted. Without Ismael or his spies having any prior knowledge, surviving Catholic Bishops (though Ismael had disbanded their Bishoprics) had elected a new Pope, who took the name Urban III. From all over Europe faithful Catholics had flocked to Italy to join his army and eject the heathen Muslim Kalipha from the Holy City of God. Totally out of the blue Ismael received reports of huge Papal armies marching on Rome (3800 strong) and Naples (1800 strong). The post conquest honeymoon was over. Orders where urgently sent throughout the Empire – all leave was cancelled, troops sent for retraining and re-equipping were recalled, understrength units were merged, fresh troops were raised wherever possible, mercenaries were hired. In short the entirety of Israelis realm was scoured for troops.
So it was that in 1194, Kaliph Ismael I and Pope Urban III drew up their armies outside Rome. Ismael had managed to muster 1200 troops, but he was facing 3800 devout, pious, motivated Catholics who were prepared to die for their Holy Father and his city. Nevertheless, Ismael was confident as were his men – he had faced these odds before and prevailed. Seeing that the Papal 1st wave consisted of mainly men at arms Ismael ordered his cavalry to his front line, holding his infantry in reserve. As the Papal army closed Ismael sent his cavalry charging down the hill and they smashed into the Catholic centre. But as they tried to disengage and charge again, his cavalry found themselves outnumbered. Suddenly they were being pulled from their horses…what had turned into a powerful cavalry charge turned into a static, bloody carnage with the Almohads doing most of the dying. Ismael sent his trusty Almohad Urban Militia into battle, but they were too few. Outnumbered, they couldn't engage all the Papal regiments, some of whom were now closing on his exposed archers. Ismael frantically tried to call up his reserves, but the game was up, they would not get there in time. A feeling of helplessness and failure overwhelmed Ismael as he ordered a withdrawal. Scrambling up the hillside he could see his men below him, some surrounded and fighting and falling, some running and being cut down, others surrendering and who could blame them? He, Ismael, had let them down by his overconfidence - by his poor generalship and now 400 of his finest warriors were dead. They had taken a similar number of Catholics with them, but to win this battle that was not good enough – 4 Catholics needed to die for every Muslim. He hurried with the remnants of his army back to Rome and the protection of its city walls.
To the south, Don Fieschie led 2000 men against Prince Umar and his 1100 strong army. When news of this battle was smuggled into Rome, Ismael rejoiced. Prince Umar had won a famous victory, killing 400 Catholics and taking another 1200 prisoner, every single last one of whom was executed as a warning to others would be rebels, as a punishment for their rebellion and to prevent them ever getting the chance to face the Almohads in battle again. Prince Umar now lives in history as a butcher with scant mercy, but that was a price that had to be paid for protecting the Empire from these wicked papists as far as he (and Ismael) were concerned.
Despite the shattering defeat in Naples, Pope Urban III and Catholics throughout Europe were full of joy at having defeated Ismael on the battlefield - surely they thought, it was only a matter of time before Rome was back in the hands of the one true church. Buoyed by his victory, Urban called on the faithful throughout Christendom to crusade against the Almohads promising forgiveness of sins for whoever took up the cross against them. His message had added impact with Ismael trapped within the city walls of Rome. Throughout the empire the news of his besieged status was greeted with dismay. Out of contact with the rest of his empire there was chaos, with many cities having to call out the militia to suppress revolt. But that wasn't always enough as full scale revolts broke out in Portugal, Granada, Morocco and Northumbria all of whom had their own different grievances. Even worse were the Christian rebellions against Muslim rule in Rhodes, Crete, Mercia and Scotland. But Ismael, trapped inside the Eternal City knew little of this. He just waited for the arrival of the relief force that was surely coming and then he would sally forth and defeat the Papists
What was more, his 56th birthday had just passed. Ismael had a permanent smile on his face those months under siege in Rome. He knew now that his destiny was not to die conquering Ireland. He knew now that it was Allah’s will that he should die inflicting a final and decisive defeat on the infidel Papists, who he had spent his life battling. And the thought made him smile inside.
1195 was the year Urban planned to unite Italy under Catholic rule once more. To the north he sent a small force of just 250 men to take the former Papal States from the small Almohad garrison of 180. But the 180 fought like lions, the tough Almohad Urban Militia engaging the Papal army while the speedy Murabatin Infantry ran round to the rear before unleashing volley after volley of javelins into the backs of the Catholic soldiers, 190 of whom fell for the loss of just 60 Muslims. Round 1 to the Almohads.
In Rome, word reached Ismael that relieving troops had landed at Ladispoli. As the Papal armies broke the siege to meet this new threat he and his 750 tired and hungry men marched out to rendezvous with their relief. Ismael was horrified when only 250 men met up with him Where were the rest of the troops he was expecting? No one knew. Luckily for him, half the besieging Papal army, including Pope Urban had marched south to try again and take Naples so that instead of facing 3000 men, his army 1000 strong was facing only 1600 Catholics. The violent thunderstorm that roared above the Battle of Veio was a fitting backdrop to the last battle of Kalipha Ismael I. Through the pouring rain he drove his men on and on and on. This battle was no classical tactical battle, it was a bloody slog pure and simple as men fought in the mud and the cold and the wet up and down hills and through woods and over the bodies of the fallen. And at the end 40% of Israelis men were dead – over 400 men. But so were 660 Papists and another 350 had surrendered. Round 2 to the Almohads.
To the south, following his butchery of the previous year, Prince Umar was confronted with 2000 Catholic troops led by a confident Pope Urban III. The day got off to a good start for Umar as 250 troops, meant for the relief of Rome, had landed in Southern Italy by mistake and so were absorbed into Umars army, swelling its numbers to 1260. The Battle of Capua Vetere was a violent, savage affair that swung one way, then the other. Seeing the fortunes of each side ebb and flow Umar ordered that all Papal prisoners be executed whenever there was a pause in the battle. This was a battle of survival between 2 cultures, 2 religions, it was not a place for chivalry. Chivalry would get you killed and your people and your faith exterminated. Eventually the Almohads managed to break the Catholic armies morale and began to chase them from the field. Though totally exhausted, the surviving Muslim warriors pursued their fleeing foes, the elation of victory, the joy of *survival* giving them the energy they needed.
But up ahead on a hillside there loomed 4 regiments of Mounted Sergeants at full strength, calmly sitting on their horses. As they approached them, a feeling of unease began to spread through the Almohad ranks. Why weren't these horsemen fleeing? Why were they waiting there? Then they knew. The Papal light cavalry charged the shattered, scattered Almohads, inflicting heavy casualties on men who moments before were rejoicing at still being alive. Now it was the Muslims turn to flee and be run down. Back at the original scene of battle a handful of men witnessed the turnaround in fortunes. These men were reinforcements who had been held back due to their poor quality or lack of numbers or both. Many were survivors of previous battles where they had seen most of their comrades fall around them. They had been good enough or lucky enough to escape deaths clutches then and now here they were, watching an approaching foe cutting down their fleeing brothers in arms. Seeing how flight resulted only in death strengthened their resolve. If we do not stand now, we will not stand at all shouted a lone Ghazi, clearly a veteran of many battles, as he walked up and down the thin ranks of troops – men who had not expected to see battle this day except as a last resort. And now the battle depended upon them, they were the last resort.
The first fleeing survivors approached their ranks. Stand and fight brothers Stand and fight shouted the lone Ghazi at them, but terror had control of their hearts and minds and they wildly stumbled past the few Almohads preparing to make a last stand. Then they were gone and the Papal cavalry came up the slope. The lone Ghazi became more and more frenzied as they got nearer, banging his shield, shouting oaths to Allah and exhortations to the men around him to fight or die. And then he was off, charging towards the oncoming cavalry. The dregs of the Almohad army followed him knowing if they fled they would surely die, but if they fought, they might, just might live. Now the tables were turned, it was the mounted sergeants who were overconfident and tired from chasing routing troops across the battlefield. They had not expected to meet any resistance and now here they were fighting and dying at the hands of a handful of Urban Militia, some Bulgarian Brigands and a lone, crazy Ghazi swinging his axe like a madman. And suddenly it was over, the surviving Papal cavalry was fleeing and there was no one else left to fight. The survivors collapsed to the ground in exhaustion and sorrow and pain. Tears of joy and grief and utter exhaustion ran down their dirty, sweaty, bloodied faces.
Only 300 Almohads survived the Battle of Capua Vetere out of a force of 1200 and only 20 of them were on the battlefield at the end, the others having been withdrawn earlier or having fled to save their lives. In a battle that was the closest run thing the difference was the 250 troops who as a result of a mistake by an Admiral had landed too far south and so joined Umars army rather than Ismaels. Among the dead was Prince Umar, he had fallen earlier in the battle leading a cavalry charge. His body was found under a tangled, twisted heap of horses and men, Muslim and Catholic. The lone Ghazi was also amongst the dead. No one knew his name and it was impossible to recover his body from amongst the piles of mangled and mutilated bodies - they were too great to identify. But it was his courage and leadership that inspired the ragtag remnants of the dead Prince Umars army to make one last stand. As his body was never found and no-one knew who he was the rumour quickly spread amongst the survivors that he was actually an angel sent by Allah to secure victory for his people.
The toll of Catholic dead was horrific. Papal documents showed the army that morning had a strength of 1971 men. The next day the Almohad army buried 1909 of them in the bloodstained earth of XXXX. Round 3 to the Almohads.
But what of Pope Urban III? Survivors recall seeing his flag at the start of the battle, but after that his actions are unknown, no eyewitness could recall seeing him at any point during the battle. He was later captured trying to flee to the north and executed on the spot. The Papal rebellion was over.
And what of Kalipha Ismael I? He had not met the death at the Battle of Veio that he so hoped for. He was wounded however whilst chasing fleeing Catholics through some woods when he cut his arm on branch. Whilst sounding innocuous, the wound quickly turned septic and fever set in. As he lay dying news reached him of the costly victory at Capua Vetere and he knew that his life’s work, the defeat of the Roman Catholic threat was complete. He never knew of the troubled kingdom that his son Muhammed would inherit or of the vastly depleted army with which he would have to deal with it (the brief Papal rebellion had taken the lives of some 2000 Almohad soldiers). Word of the rebellions which had broken out throughout his realm as a result of his being besieged in Rome had not reached him yet. Nor had even graver news. A huge Italian army, inspired and supported by the Papal rebellion had landed in Algeria. The Italians did not know of the Popes defeat, it occurring while they were at sea, nor did they expect it, the plan being to take advantage of Almohad weakness and strike into their heartland. But that was for another Kaliph to deal with, for Ismael passed the veil of death that year, leaving but 2 requests for his son Muhammed – to conquer Ireland and wipe away the shame of defeat there, and to maintain peace with Byzantium at all costs.
He had reigned for 35 years and his empire had expanded beyond his wildest dreams. All of Western Europe and North Africa was his. From a tiny treasury where tough choices had to be made every year as to where the money should be spent, at his death over 100,000 florins were in the treasury and money was no object to any project, no matter how vast. A great fleet patrolled the seas all around the known world and a veteran army protected the Empires vast borders. Whenever his enemies saw his banner on the field of battle they knew fear. And so the reign of Kaliph Ismael I, the Scourge of the Catholics, ended. His lifetime in the saddle bathed the blood of war and conquest was to be repeated by his 34-year-old son, the new Kalipha Muhammed I, recalled from England for his coronation. But that is another story and it is for another to tell it.
Alrowan was the next player, Khalipha Ismail II:
Ch I
The Anatolian Conquest
Praise to Allah, for his guiding hand and his blessed light, for through him, and him alone am I able to achieve all that is great in this small life. - Khalipha Ismail II in St Sophia after the fall of Constantinople 596 (1218AD)
The Fall of Constantinople
Khalipha Ismail II sat by his fathers deathbed in Castile, and swore an oath he would expand the empire so that all men would be Ruled under the banner of Mohumad, the great prophet. Only days before he had assumed the throne upon his fathers passing, and now commanded the mightiest empire the world had seen. Not only did he inherrit the Empire, he also inherrited the enemies.
The treacherous Romans with thier scheming and plotting sat in thier palaces in Constantinople, surrounded by his fathers great host, encamped and laying in wait. Many times had the great city been besieged, but her defences stood tall and withstood all assaults. When Ismail had inherrited the throne, he boarded his fastest ships for the great city. Ahead of him across the land ran his network of riders, ordering the assualt on Constantinople to begin, and that thier Khalipha would soon arrive to forsee the victory.
Hasam Abdu Mushin was the leader of the camps surrounding the great city, and it was in early August he recieved the Khalipha's message, and began what would be the final assault. For three days the siegecraft bombarded the walls of the mighty city, and by nightfall on the third day, the walls looked to be breached. Hasam signalled the end of the days bombardment and returned to camp. At his disposal he had a great division of 3500 men, most fresh, and green. The great army had been forced to divide into smaller numbers, so the borders could be held vs any raiders. In the holy land the great generals waited with thier armies to meet with Hasam and finalise the conquest.
On the morning of the fourth day, Hasam orderd the Machinery to fire again, and soon they had breahed the walls of the mighty fortress. using the infantry divisions he had prepared earier that morning, he sent them to sally into the breach, and attempt to gain a foothold within the fort. Twice they assailed. And twice they were driven back, and eventually routed off the field. The day had grown long, and Hasam returned to his camp and planned for the next days assault. This time he would take some cavalry, and attempt to run down the defenders as the sun rose. That morning, the cavalry sallied forth through the breach, only to be met by fearsome defenders, who drove back the lightly armoured arabs. Hasam was outraged, yet patient, his cavalry contingent was sorely weakend, and he would not risk another such asault.
on the 6th day of fighting, Hasam had before him a massed infatry contingent, with heavy French Crossbowmen ready to show thier loyalty to the Khalipha. Along and into the breach these men marched, fired upon by the enemy towers as they wend, but this time keeping in close formation. To thier rear were the more elite troops, ready to help when the fighting got tough. The first wave hit and broke through the breach with ease, the enemy falling back inside the walls fast, and through came the rest of the infantry. Through the day tough fighting occured, but by dundown, Hasam rode into the city, and claimed victory. On Dawn the next day, Ismail arrived, and was corronated in the great halls of St Sophia, dedicating the Church to Allah, the wise and mericful.
The Battle of Nicea
Let all rejoice For today is great indeed, truly Allah has blessed us Praise to Allah for all his goodness The power of Rome is broken, 600 years since the great prophet fled, and christendom lies in tatters - Khalipha Ismail II rejoicing on the mount in Nicea
Four years after the fall of constantinople marked a great turning point in all the world. The Muslim generals had pushed through Asia Minor, forcing the Christian armies to retreat, eventually to Nicea. There, camped in the hills was the pride of christendom, the great armies of Byzantine, More than ten thousand men, a great host indeed The Muslim pride was also there, camped in the next valley, a host of ten thousand as well, all elite troops, and led by the Khalipha and his greatest generals. The host in Constantinople and the the hosts from the east had finally converged, to create a warhost like that never seen in one thousand years.
The cleansing of the infedels began at dawn. the Khalipha giving control of his army to his greatest general, who led a great infantry division of the empires most formidable warriors. The plan was easy, to break the romans spirit early, and to force them into retreat before thier cavalry could muster. So on they marched, into the valley, and up a hill where scouts reported the enemy to be encamped. And encamped they were, in a forrest, but they ran like dogs, and found refuge with thier lord on a further hill. The holy infantry kept on its march, and soon the great armies clashed, though only the tip, as both sides had many reserves. After fierce early fighting, the enemy broke and ran, leaving the alamohad infantry to the hill, where the achers took up ranks behind to face the oncoming cavalry.
The cavalry marched up the hill, and met the great infantry horde, but they were no match as thier general lay dead, they routed. On came the mased reserves next, many slavic conscripts, which made up much of the Romans army of late. They didnt have the hreat to fight, and ran to thier masters, begging forgivness.
the slaughter was over, the enemy retreating to thier castles, to await the death and starvation there.
The empire captured a great host of the army, and mercy was shown. Thier masters did not look for them though, and so they were sent to the Khaliphas mines.
One by one over the next year, the Roman armies surrenderd thir castles, and Anatolia was liberated and delivered into the Khaliphas protection.
I know Allah watches and guides all that I do, so I must show mercy, as he has shown me mercy, and I must be just, as he is Just, and I must treat my Enemies as brothers, for they are only misguided, and are yet to see the light of Allah Khalipha Ismail II
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Unfortunately, Alrowan did not complete his story, but noted:
Ismael II lies dead
Ibrahim is ready for the task ahead
the year is 1239
Since the fall of Constantinople, the empire went through a period of strife, and as Ibrahim ascends the throne, the northern lands are secure once again, yet in the south and east the Mongol horde marches across anatolia, unchecked. With a muslim stronghold by Constantinople ready to return and slay the horde.
Demon of Light was Khalifah Ibrahim II. His write-up is not the longest of any PBM, but arguably the most memorable:
Ok children, what can you tell me about Khalifah Ibrahim II? This query sounded in a classroom full of attentive children at Ismael al-Mu'tamid Junior High School. Silence prevailed. Did anyone read the chapter you were assigned? More silence. The ever learned Salim abu Omar was not to be be deterred, however. Why don't you read for us, Abdur
Haltingly, the child began reciting the chapter. Khalifah Ibrahim II came to power during a time of great turmoil. The recent defeat at Lesser Armenia had left its stamp on the morale of the army and corruption was rampant among the ranks of his amirs. Salim abu Omar interrupted the child at this point.
Children, I can save you the trouble. Ibrahim was not a terribly interesting monarch and neither was he a good one. He reigned but 3 years, lost Moldavia and Carpathia to the Golden Horde in a series of horribly botched battles, and proved that he himself was no great general. Although he lifted the siege at Lesser Armenia, he subsequently developed an obsession with a Jihad that had been launched to take Anatolia. Despite twice meeting the enemy with superior numbers, he lost both encounters and died on the field the second time. The only thing that is to his credit is that he slew the enemy general in single combat. In times of peace, he would have made a good leader. He did initiate an extensive building program during his reign. In the times of war he ascended the throne in, however, he was a dismal failure. abu Omar said the last with a note of disappointment.
Abdur, would you please begin to read the chapter on Ibrahim's successor. It promises to be much more interesting.
And finally, The Emporer steps in to conclude the PBM. Unfortunately, the links to his many screenshots are broken.
The New Leader
In 1243 the new Kalifah, Muhammad II held a great war council of his greatest advisors and generals.
Travellers from all across our lands, near and far I bring you here today to discuss the threat of the Golden Horde
The Kalifah rolled out a large map across the vast table for all to see.
Explain to me our position.
The Kalifah saw great fear in the eyes of his men, the war had gone badly for the past few years. He could see despair in their eyes. A senior general stood up to deliver the crushing news.
The Mongols have overwhelmed us and threaten to advance towards, Bulgaria or Hungary... On the other side of the black sea the Mongols have advanced through Georgia, Rum, Trebizond, Armenia and even as far South as Syria. Our troops are comprised of hastily levied Militia but against the Mongol cavalry they cannot match them, our borders are in danger of collapse... its useless
The Kalifah stood up and looked into the man's eyes. It is not useless, these Mongol Horsemen can be beaten back... I will have no more talk of defeat, we will defeat this enemy in the Name of Allah and prove ourselves to him
I want orders to be sent forth for a massive callup for a vast army. No provice is allowed to refuse, Militia will be accepted but in fewer numbers... We need the spirit of the Ghazi warriors to strengthen our men, their axes and their courage will show our resolve back them up with Arab infantry, train more archers to use the Arbalast heavy crossbow, we need it to make a decisive impact on the field
I want lots of Cavalry to be trained, Ghulams, Faris and Saharan Cavalry. Gain the support of the Bedouin and Berber Tribesmen, I need them to help come to the greater defence of Islam
Another aide rushed in, Forgive me my Kalifah, I bring news that the warriors of the Jihad for Anatolia are still alive but their numbers are dwindling... Their amy is in Tunisia they require new recruits if they are to have any hope of victory in their struggle for the faith
Very well, I want fresh troops to be sent to join with our brothers in arms, bring in whatever troops you can manage, I want them to set sail for Anatolia as soon as possible
The Jihad went underway, the capture of Anatolia would hail the start of the great offensive... One that would mark the beginning of the end of the Golden Horde.
The Mongol War
The early years of Kalifah Muhammad's reign were mixed with both victory and defeat, and from both the young Kalifah soon discovered the limitations of his own forces, against the strengths of the enemy...
Kalifah Muhammed arrived in Constantinople, his seat of command for the eastern war.
The Kaifah approached the palace where the regent was standing. Whats the latest from the northern front?
The Regent bowed.
Grim News Lord, Armies were sent to releive the besieged garissons in Carpathia and Moldavia, however they were unable to break through the Mongol defences Carpathia fell to a Mongol assault. Moldavia held out for longer but soon they were lost as well
Many good men have been lost, but I will not allow them to die in vain... How fares the southern front?
Better, our warriors have recaptured Anatolia and advanced on Trebizond, the Bedouin and Berber tribesmen are fighting bravely in Syria with hit and run attacks, the battle is slowly going our way, with luck we may be able to encircle the Mongols in Rum.
A rider approached, My Lord, our agents report that the Byzantine enemy is assaulting the Mongols to the Northeast, most of the Mongol forces have turned south to face us, leaving their northern flank exposed Khazar has been captured by the Byzantines, they may not be able to hold it but their presence is cutting off the Southern Mongol army from reinforcement
The Kalifah smelt a great opportunity, Ride out and send our Faris along the Northern front, I need them to hit the enemy and withdraw when threatened... Open combat should best be avoided until our numbers are superior
Reinforcements are due any day, contributions from all of our territories, soon we will move to secure the North once and for all
The Expanding war
Account of the later war years of Kalipha Muhammad II, source unknown.
By 1257AD the Mongol Horde was in crisis, the Kalifah led his army north and successfully retook the Captured territories.
Victory came swift in the South, Mongol armies were surrounded in Rum there they were eliminated.
A large Mongol army retook Khazar from the Byzantines but soon the Kalifah sent an emissary to see the general, a large sum of money from the vast Almohad treasury was offered. Soon afterwards the General announced his conversion to Islam, and defected with his men. A large army containing the fearsome Mongol Heavy Cavalry, was now under the Kalifah's command.
Following on from the Capture of Khazar the victrious Caliphate forces in the South sailed across the black sea, Armies landed in Kiev, the Crimea... Ogdai Khan was besieged in the Crimea, there he was recieved by a Byzantine Emissary who sued for peace with the Horde.
It would all be too little too late, for the Golden Horde was trapped and broken. Ogdai's heir became Khan in the remaining Golden Horde province southwest of Muscovy, but he was in no position to stand against the armies of the Kaliphate.
Khan Batu soon found himself attacked by overwhelming numbers, besieged with no hope of escape the last Khan fell to the Almohads. The Golden Horde was defeated.
The Polish forces in Volhynia repulsed an attempted Kaliphate invasion the following year, so for the next two years the Kalifah ordered Faris raids into their territory to wear down Polish numbers, by the time the final attack came the enemy was in no place to resist.
The Emperor of Byzantium's armies were exhausted after years of fighting the Mongols, and soon Prince Yusuf was advancing north into Byzantine Territory, with more and more Kaliphate reinforcements arriving at every moment.
In 1261AD unrest engulfed Muscovy... making matters worse for the Byzantines, the rebels successfully captured the province.
The Byzantine Empire would fall the following year. The Pope called for Crusades in response, but it would be all for nothing and he would face an Assassins blade for opening his Mouth in opposition of the mighty Kaliphate
The Kaliphate had eliminated its enemies, only the neutral Kingdoms of Novgorod, Sicily and the troublesome Papacy remained...
The man was nearing the very end of the history book, the rise of the Great Almohad Empire had come about and now on the last few pages the accounts of the final victories of Islam were listed.
The Grasp of Destiny
1273AD Kalifah Muhammad II sent proclamations to the few remaining free Kingdoms of Europe.
I Kalifah Muhammad II, defeater of the Horde, Ruler of Europe, Demand that the kingdoms of Novgorod and Sicily forsake the failing Christian Religion and unite with the Greater Kaliphate and embrace the wisdom of Islam in all its teachings. We have defeated vast empires and now the time has come for you to join with us to form the greatest empire the world has ever seen.
I would hope that you surrender freely, know that our armies will arrive at your borders within the year, fight if you choose to fight, but you know the power of the armies of the Kaliphate... You have no hope of victory. Surrender and your people will be shown Mercy
The vast Armies of the Kaliphate were despatched to the Island of Malta, and to Novgorod in the north.
Malta fell immediately, the Sicillian king promptly decided the battle was hopeless and surrendered to the armies of the Islamic superpower, the King was executed to prevent any heirs from claiming the throne... As promised the Kaliph showed mercy to the people and spared their lives.
The Kings and princes of Novgorod for their part retreated to their castles to conduct small scale attacks on the vast army rallied against them... The Kalifah ordered them to be starved out.
The New Weaponry
By the time the kingdom of sicily fell, the superior culture and learning of the Kaliphate were shown on the battlefield for all to see.
Guns had made their way onto the battlefield, the first units of Handgunners and Mortars were produced in Iberia. At the Kalifah's orders they converged on Cordoba awaiting his arrival, soon a Jihad would march off to defeat Pope Giovanni III, and bring final victory to the armies of Islam.
The Last Jihad
Kalifah Muhammad II, appeared before the teeming masses in 1275AD.
Our armies have overcome vast Kingdoms and now thanks to the efforts of our forefathers, we are at the end of our struggle.
The time has come for the armies of the Kaliphate to march upon the Papacy for the final victory of Islam and the security of our people Today I will lead you in a Jihad, the final struggle for the faith to finish off the Catholic Crusaders forever
After the Kalifah had finished speaking, he turned the entire army to face Mecca and led them all in prayer.
The Almohad fleet sailed later in the year for the papal States... the last outpost of Christianity.
The Pope and the Kaliph
Early in 1276AD the Jihad army arrived in the Papal States, By all accounts Pope Giovanni III was defiant to the last. He was determined to go down fighting, to be worthy of rememberence. The Pope prayed long and hard for a miracle from the Lord hoping that the almighty would stretch out his hand and smite the infidel armies from the world... But God had forsaken Christendom, the Pope stood with a small force watching as thousands of men advanced over the horizon.
Battle would be joined.
It is known that Pope Giovanni chose the high ground and that Kalifah Muhammad took the unusual move of attacking uphill. Charging ahead of his Men, the Kalifah personally mowed down the small groups of enemy infantry as they ran.
Behind him came the Gunners, ready to give a first hand demonstration of Islamic learning to the Pope.
The Guns let loose their volleys at the Pope and his bodyguards. His men fell without any indication that they had been struck, for now arrow could be seen flying through the air.
The Pope's ragtag remnants could not stand the barrage of lead and retreated back to the fort of Perugia but it would offer no protection against the Almohad Horde rapidly closing ground. He fled the field.
The retreat of Pope Giovanni to Fort Perugia would bring about no change to the outcome, trapped with only 13 survivors & the Papal leadership with no hope of escape. They could only hope that the end would come quickly, and it would.
Kalifah Muhammad brought up his siege engines, A Ballista a Trebouchet, and the latest in gunpowder artillery The Mortar Cannon The barrage was devestating, the wooden fort wall was quickly breached and the fort tower itself destroyed.
Gunners advanced onwards through the breach unloading more of their fearsome death into the enemy infantry, Pope Giovanni charged into their flank killing many. Behind him a fearsom battle cry was let loose as the Kalifah personally came storming in to claim the head of his enemy.
The Pope fell to the Kalifah's blade, his body was hung up upon the tattered remains of Fort Perugia where it would remain as a remainder to the ultimate failiures of Christianity.
1277AD The Kallifah was now 55, but his empire stretched from North Africa and Spain to the far reaches of Russia, Britain and Arabia.
All were united under a single banner, the banner of the Mighty Kalifah.
Closing the last page the man saw a small phrase the summed up the enormity of the victory of all the Kalifahs... And the greatness they they had brought to the world
On the Western fringes of Islam a mighty Empire was born, its armies swept across the world taking many lands, yet greatness is measured in more than just armies and wealth. In an age of fear and bigotry the new rulers brought a spirit of tolerance extending to each man the freedom to worship as he will, asking in return only obedience to God.
All Tremble before the power of the Kalifah's armies, yet they also marvel at the glories of his realm. Its Architecture, Gardens and above all its Science and Learning.
The Kalifah has brought a taste of Paradise to those on earth...
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