ChivTW Preview: The Jihad
When the christian armies conquered jerusalem the muslim world responded with their own Holy War. Time to preview the factions that will take part of this war: The Jihad.
THE JIHAD
INTRODUCTION
History of Egypt
Egypt was ruled by the Fatimid Caliphate - a Ismaili Shiite dynasty - from A.D. 909 to 1171. Under the Fatimids, Egypt became the center of an empire that included at its peak North Africa, Sicily, Palestine, Syria, the Red Sea coast of Africa, the Yemen, and the Hejaz. It flourished and developed an extensive trade network in both the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean which eventually determined the economic course of Egypt during the High Middle Ages.
After about 1060 Fatimid territory shrunk until it consisted only of Egypt. On the assasination of the last Fatimid caliph in 1130, Saladin joined Egypt to the Abbasid Caliphate and Egypt returned to the Sunni branch of Islam, bringing the Fatimid dynasty to an end. Saladin founded the Ayyubid dynasty, which would last until 1250 when Turanshah, the last Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt, was murdered and replaced by his Mamluk slave-general Aibek.
History of the Turkish
The Seljuk Turks were a major branch of the Oghuz Turks and a dynasty that ruled parts of Central Asia and the Middle East from the 11th to 14th centuries. The Seljuks migrated from the north Iranian provinces in Central Asia into mainland Iran formerly known as Persia.
The Seljuk Turks are regarded as the ancestors of the Western Turks, the present-day inhabitants of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan. The Seljuk played a major role in medieval history by creating a barrier to Europe against the Mongol invaders from the East, defending the Islamic world against Crusaders from the West, and conquering large parts of the Byzantine Empire.
When Malik Shah died in 1092 the empire split, as his brother and four sons quarrelled over the apportioning of the empire among themselves. In 1118, the third son Ahmed Sanjar, unsatisfied by his portion of the inheritance, took over the empire. His brothers did not recognize his claim to the throne and Mahmud II proclaimed himself Sultan and established a capital in Baghdad. Ahmed Sanjar was captured and held captive by Turkish nomads from 1153 to 1156 and died the following year.
Despite several attempts to reunite the Seljuks in the centuries following Malik Shah's death, the Crusades prevented them from regaining their former empire. For a brief period, Toğrül III, was the Sultan of all Seljuk except for Anatolia. In 1194 Toğrül was defeated by the Shah of Khwarezm, and the Seljuk finally collapsed. Of the former Seljuk Empire, only the Sultanate of Rüm in Anatolia remained. As the dynasty declined in the middle of the 13th century, the Mongols invaded Anatolia in the 1260s and divided it into small emirates called the Anatolian beyliks, which in turn were later conquered by the Ottomans.
The EGYPTIANS
Ghulam Bodyguards
Ghulam - the word means slave - cavalry are the best available to the Sultan and form his bodyguard. In heavy mail and armed with lances, they are at least as good as other heavy cavalry.
Ghazi Cavalry
Ghazi are fanatical warriors who think nothing of facing tremendous odds. Wild and brave, they can be difficult to restrain. In an attack, they can charge into an enemy force, as their axes do terrible damage. However being lightly armoured a determent opponent can do serious damage to these impetious warriors.
Bedouin Camel Warriors
The Bedouin are hardy warriors but sometimes a little undisciplined when fighting as a group. Their shock value against troops unused to camels is considerable particularly when charging, but they are vulnerable to spearmen in the same way as other cavalry. Horses usually hate the smell of camels.
Saracen Infantry
The bulk of muslim armies is made up with saracen infantry. These men carry shields and sabers and often wear good lammelar armour. Their religious zeal makes them quite effective attacking units, packing more punch then the slower, more heavily armoured western infantry.
Arab Infantry
These light auxilias from the arabian deserts are armed with nothing but a small shield and spear. They do not stand up to heavy cavalry or infantry but can swarm and destroy lighter cavalry units with relative ease.
Nubian Spearmen
Nubian spearmen is a slightly misleading title. These men come from all over Africa, having made their way north and ended up in the Sultan’s military service. They carry the same kind of equipment as other spearmen, but they are often more able and disciplined.
The TURKS
Ghulam Cavalry
Ghulam Cavalry are useful heavy attacking units for any desert general. With mail armour and light lances, they can charge into an attack and can fight well against other cavalry, but need to take care when engaging spearmen. Against missile troops, their best option is a swift attack.
Light Cavalry
Lightly armoured and riding good arab horses these light cavalry units are perfect for hit & run attacks, or chasing enemies of the battlefield.
Seljuk Horse Archers
The seljuk army relies on its vast quantities of horse archers. They ride fast arab mounts capable of outrunning almost all other cavalry units.
Ghazi Infantry
Ghazi are fanatical warriors who think nothing of facing tremendous odds. Wild and brave, they can be difficult to restrain. In an attack, they can smash into an enemy force, as their axes do terrible damage. On defence they can rashly counterattack and therefore weaken a strong position.
Saracen Archers
The composite bows used by the muslim archers are of a much higher quality then those of their western equals. A higher effective ranged and faster rate of fire make them superior in the skirmishes that usualy open a battle.
Naptha Throwers
Naptha is a fiery mixture of chemicals that is very difficult to put out. Contained in throwable grenades (ceramic pots) that burst open on contact naptha is dangerous and it is possible for the thrower to set fire to himself rather than a target!
SIGNATURE BANNERS
OLDER PREVIEWS
A list with links to the previous previews, in case you missed any:
Poland, Kiev & Novgorod
Cilician Armenia
The Reconquista
Historical Battles
Campaignmap & Rebels
Castles & Sieges
Northern Europe
The Byzantine Empire
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