My curvy sword at your throat you son of a dog of the female persuasion!

[Sheogorath]

What relations did you have with the egyptians, i know you were allied but what was their feeling towards you? if the AI has poor relations with you and your next door why wouldnt it attack?

Maybe you had good relations and this is just a case of silly AI but if they dont like you much and they have no enemies nearby... well no point in an alliance that stunts your expansion.

And as for backstabbing muslims have you seen what the catholic factions get up to?, they're constantly kicking the stuffing out of each other while the popes back is turned!

My relations had just gone down to 'Good' on that turn because they moved that stack into my territory.

The alliance was hardly stunting my growth, the Greeks hardly stood a chance against my raiding tactics, I managed to take all three cities in Turkey within ten turns, using two armies, about half the size of the Byzantine forces.
I admit, Ive exploited the passive AI bug a bit, but not a whole lot. Actually, it kind of gives the AI an advantage to sit around and get shot up by my horse archers. Their men dont die tired ;)

[Aquitaine]

Remember that, in 1099, when the First Crusade arrived in Jerusalem, it was actually held by the Egyptians (who had held it for most of the previous few centuries) as they had *just* finished taking it back from the Turks. The Egyptians had not treated the Christians all that poorly, at least, relative to the Turks -- it was the reports of brutality against Christians (disembowelment, leaving rotting dog carcasses in the temples, abducting women) that was one of the things which enabled Urban II to rouse the Europeans so successfully at Clermont.

Sort of a bum deal for the Egyptians, as they'd been more or less OK with religious diversity in Jerusalem (as Mohammed had been himself). They finally take it back only be slaughtered by the likes of Godfrey of Boullion and Raymond of Toulouse.

So by no means was it all smiles and cooperation between the muslim factions.

[Woozie]

I'm playing as the Egyptians and me and the Turks have been friends for 30 turns now.

[Emperor Aurelius]

Aye the Christians did take Jeruseleam in an murderous rage. However, this behavior was relatively common back then. I had nothing to do with Christians being more brutal than Muslims.
Also remember that North Africa and the Middle East were at one point completely Christian until the Muslims had unjustly attacked out of Saudi Arabia. The Muslims had been attacking Christians for centuries and kinda had the crusades coming to them. No offense but its the truth.

[Burakius]

Aye the Christians did take Jeruseleam in an murderous rage. However, this behavior was relatively common back then. I had nothing to do with Christians being more brutal than Muslims.
Also remember that North Africa and the Middle East were at one point completely Christian until the Muslims had unjustly attacked out of Saudi Arabia. The Muslims had been attacking Christians for centuries and kinda had the crusades coming to them. No offense but its the truth.

Islam was spread through africa. And the Romans + Spaniards were supressing them. Its logical that you fight against a supressor?

[Emperor Aurelius]

Ah but why were they suppressing them?

For example look at how the Muslims poured out of Asia Minor and conquered Egypt,Palestine, Syria and more. Carthage and Africafell a decade later. The Persian Empire fell next. Spain was conquered. And after that an Muslim army marched into France but was defeated at the battle of Tours...

[zarkis]

@Sheogorath

Here are the faction standings for the beginning of the campaign in your area.

faction_standings moors, -0.2 sicily
faction_standings moors, -0.8 spain, portugal
faction_standings moors, -0.6 slave
faction_standings byzantium, -0.2 hungary, venice
faction_standings byzantium, -0.4 sicily
faction_standings byzantium, -0.8 turks
faction_standings byzantium, -0.6 slave
faction_standings turks, -0.6 egypt
faction_standings turks, -0.8 byzantium
faction_standings egypt, -0.6 turks
faction_standings egypt, -0.6 slave

CA made Egypt and Turkey 'natural' enemies. You would need a lot of diplomatic activities to get a better relationship with Egypt, and make them start a war with the Moors instead of fighting you to expand their empire.

[Bakma]

Ah but why were they suppressing them?

For example look at how the Muslims poured out of Asia Minor and conquered Egypt,Palestine, Syria and more. Carthage and Africafell a decade later. The Persian Empire fell next. Spain was conquered. And after that an Muslim army marched into France but was defeated at the battle of Tours...

The first muslims came from arabia. The Turks came from central asia. Sorry but i can't understand why you say that the muslims came from anatolia.

[iwantmyaccountdeleted]

@ backstabbing in Europe

When you have perfect relation with the Papal states, you can breathe down every faction's neck and the pope will *suddenly realise* that half the map is painted your colours.

@ Jerusaleum. I prefer to take out the Egyptian power base in Egypt first before going for the big jewel. A land sea push across the top of Africa works a treat. Playing as Spanish, i have so many Knights of Santiago ancilliaries and so many other crusading ancillaries that I have found it hard to get a character with dread :D.