Internal politics have exploded in the Sultanate of Rum. What had once been a strong sub-state of the greater Seljuk Empire has degenerated into a complete mess after nearly one hundred years of petty infighting. With the Successors of the Roman empire occupied in Helles with numerous civil wars, one would have though the conquest of the empire was assured. Yet the continued decadence of the Sultan's dynasty, the continued tolerance of foreign merchants and a series of failed expansions wars has seen the quick decline of the once formidable Seljuks. In the chaos that was the fourth Seljuk succession crisis, The Beylerbey of Armenia succeeded from Rum. They were quickly followed by the Beylerbey of Armenia Minor.

The two successor states of Armenia are bitter enemies, with Armenia Greater being ruled by Duke Baytas I of Armenia. Baytas is the son of Duke Tekin of Trebizond, and grandson of Beylerbey Ali I, who united the three great duchies of eastern Armenia together to create the greatest army in Anatolia. Baytas is a great warrior but an unproven commander. His is a realm that has weathered great hardship and always come out stronger because of it, and his army is without a doubt one of the best in Anatolia thanks to the efforts of his grandfather.


Armenia Minor, meanwhile, is ruled by Kaiqobad I. Whereas Baytas is a native Armenian, Kaiqobad is Turkish. Whereas Baytas is a great warrior, Kaiqobad is first and foremost an administrator. And perhaps most importantly, whereas Baytas has inherited his great realm from the men who built it, Kaiqobad has built his realm through nothing but the fires of his own ambition. At the age of 67, he is practically a living ancient of the medieval world, ruling his now free realm from his capital Melitene with an iron fist.

Kaiqobad came to power in 1110 AD after the assassination of both his grandfather in 1109, and his father the very next year. A wild conspiracy against Kaiqobad's father is to blame for both of their deaths, one which points back to the first wife of Sultan Suleyman I of Rum as the mastermind. Mesud I, father of Kaiqobad, had been gathering power for decades. Biding his time, waiting for the right moment to act and expand his personal demesne beyond that which had been granted by the Sultan. Though he achieved initial success in securing control of several new counties, his plans were put to a sudden stop by the assassin's blade. Kaiqobad swore revenge upon the grave of his father, leading a ruthless campaign of consolidation and intrigue among the other commanders and vassals of the sultan. While the Sultan was campaigning against restless vassals and rebellious brothers, Kaiqobad began his work. He first took revenge on the wife of the sultan, building a conspiracy against her and having her poisoned at a banquet held to honor visiting dignitaries.

Next was the conquest of Armenia minor and crowing himself Beylerbey of Armenia Minor. He was incredibly efficient in removing anyone who might've been a threat to his power. Rewarding those who served him well on the battlefield and destroying anyone who happened to stand in his way, Kaiqobad built a powerful web of alliances within the Rum Sultanate. He even clashed with Ali of Trebizond in a great battle outside his capital. The two powers fought while still technically vassals of the sultan over numerous disputed claims. Both sides claimed they had legal right, and both sides refused to back down. The ensuring war would ensure bad blood between the two dynasties for at least the next ten years, despite no side being able to claim victory. When Armenia succeeded from Rum two years later, having grown much too powerful for the weakened Sultanate to control, Kaiqobad was quick to follow. Curiously. It's said that Ali I died under mysterious circumstances just weeks after his realm broke away from Rum...

Even with all of central Anatolia, Kaiqobad's ambition is not satisfied. The weakened Sultanate to his west desperately struggles in another succession crisis, and the grandson of his greatest rival, Baytas, rules to his east. If the Turkish administrator had it his way, he'd see all of Anatolia beneath his command. A united, stronger sultanate than the failing Rummites. Unfortunately, already in his 60s, it seems his greatest enemy may be time.

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