The Mighty Lions of Islam: Empire of the Turks

**IronMonkey** · 01-05-2007, 08:11

@econ21- Thanks for consolidating my story. Being able to edit posts would really be cool, so I appreciate your efforts.

Happy New Year!

**Beefeater** · 01-05-2007, 10:46

Very atmospheric!

**Andres** · 01-05-2007, 11:02

Great work Ironmonkey !

I love those pictures. Very, very nice.

**IronMonkey** · 01-06-2007, 03:10

@ econ21 Thanks a million! Being able to edit posts will be a great help.

@ Beefeater & AndresTheCunning Thanks for reading and your kind comments.

**IronMonkey** · 01-06-2007, 03:51

Part: III The Further Conquest of Anatolia

...Under directive from the Sultan and his newly appointed Caliph, Baraka, Salih al Alai, the Scorpion of Mosul, the high commander of the Sultans eastern armies has arrayed a mighty force of Seljuk warriors and Mujahadeens (volunteers) to seize Baghdad.

Bedouin warriors race out of the desert to join the Jihad!

...Salih is elated in his undertaking and feels the Sultan must hold him in high regard to bestow on him such a heroic mission.

...Salih's forces travel east to Baghdad and lay siege to the walled city. As the siege equipment was being deployed the effeminate, slothful pigs of Baghdad charged the line and were nearly slaughtered wholesale before reaching the front line. As the Turkish infantry gave chase, enemy calvary charged out of the gates at the Turks, crushing some of their own routing men in their foolish move, the Arab Calvary was then impaled on the Saracen spears, dying to a man. The Sultans brave warriors quickly rushed in and captured the gate and then moved to capture the city, slaughtering the betrayers of Sharia.

The Seljuk forces obliterate the unorganized Defenders!

The indolent emir of Baghdad is captured by Salih's bodyguard.

...after capturing the city, Salih ordered his accountants to take stock of the treasury which contained piles of gold and silver coins, strings of pearls, gold and silver cups, Damascun blades and armor, rubies, diamonds, ivory tusks, exotic animal skins , furs and the finest Persian rugs. The greatest prize in the treasury was the sword of the prophet Muhammad a most glorious find. Most of the loot (including the prophet's sword) was sent west to Iconium for the Sultan's growing treasury. Salih had the treacherous emir of Baghdad drug through the streets behind a horse and then exiled in the dessert where he slipped from memory for ever more.
...Salih remained in Baghdad for one year, where he saw to the construction of of various buildings including a Mosque, council chambers and improvements to the surrounding fields.

... Sultan Jalal was joyous when he received word in Iconium about the success of the Jihad. Baghdad is a marvelous and profitable addition to his growing empire given its location on trade routes stretching far east to the lands of the Persians and beyond. Jalal summoned Salih to Iconium where he bestowed the holy sword of Muhammad to him for his victory.

... Jalal and his war council have decided that the settlement of Edessa near the Euphrates river will be brought into the Empire's fold. Jalal has his generals prepare for the march to Edessa.

The Sultan's archers at Edessa

...The Sultan's son and heir, Prince Mustafa has been training a new type of solider (Ottoman Infantry) in his fortress "The Stone Talon" perched high in Caesarea. This new warrior is highly trained with a bow and the sword and will pepper the Sultan's enemy with arrows and then close to Finnish the unlucky foe. Two units of (Ottoman) these new warriors will be sent south to join the Sultans army for the siege of Edessa. Mustafa knows that if his new soldiers perform well in Edessa the Sultan will surely trust his son and his progressive military ideas in the future.

Capture of the Gates!

...the gates of Edessa were destroyed in short order by the Turkish battering ram. The Sultans archers let loose with a murderous hail of arrows disheartening any defenders attempting to guard the breech. The infantry rushed through the gates and after a short skirmish managed to break the defenders back, the routing dogs were butchered as they tried to get to the square. Edessa is now part of the Sultan's domain!

The Sultan's Bowmen Infantry (Ottoman infantry) shoot it out with the Edesssan Archers!

...Jalal had the streets cleared of the dead and laborers repaired the damaged gates. Jalal took mercy on the survivors and spared their lives on grounds they swore strict obedience to the Sultan and his Emirs.

...Jalal and his army spent 6 months in Edessa resting and refitting. Jalal then marched on his next target, Aleppo a small outpost to the south west of Edessa.