BC Mongols look excessive. I really like The Khawrmazm (sp?) Shah units combo of shield walling javelins, good lancers and archers, and alright persian spears. but 1204, it is getting late to attack and crush the Iraqis in order to provide another financial core once Samarkand is rubbed out, and it will take too long to get most of those units into mass-production. the best thing about this faction is the excellent title of Shah.
Abbasids have the necessary spears in numbers, but their bows and cavlry are rather poor.
perhaps Jerusalem? it does start with its back to the.... well, caught between the devil and the deep blue sea ....