Post Archive
Region: The Roleplay Chessboard
Executive Chairman Senghor
Excellent this is my first trip outside of Africa, let us depart.
Antillian, Indonesian United Democracy
*They would arrive at the royal
A Royal guardsmen would open the door for the Chairmen, and escort him to the palace. Over 20 other royal guardsmen would greet the chairmen on there walk to the palace front door. Once entering through the double door into the palace Shah Mohammed would greet the Chairmen and extend his hand forward for a hand shake.
Shah Mohammed
I thank you for coming all this way to Tehran, I am honored by your arrival.
Indonesian United Democracy
Chairman Senghor
Senghor extends his hand shaking the Shahs hand The honor is all mine, I was happy to make Tehran the first city I travel to outside of Africa, during my Chairmanship. I hope our talks may be fruitful today.
Antillian, Indonesian United Democracy
Mao Zedong: As far as China is concerned, we see two potential routes for a pipeline: one through the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the other through Pakistan, a nation that has generally been friendly towards China. However, considering that it is your nation whose oilfields will be being accessed, I invite you to suggest what you think would be the optimal course of action here.
Antillian, Indonesian United Democracy
The two men would enter a meeting room.
Shah Mohammed
Im glad you could make it Mr. Chairmen, I believe there is much to be gained from Mutual cooperation between our two states.
Indonesian United Democracy
Shah Mohammed
A pipeline through the soviet union could definitely be a good opportunity to foster good relations between the three of our nations, however a route through Pakistan would be a much smaller route to take. However i do not find Pakistan to be the most stable of nations. So if the soviet Union is willing, would set up a route through the soviet union.
Indonesian United Democracy
[list][list][list][list] THE ETHIOPIAN EMPIRE
የኢትዮጵያ ኢምፓየር
𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟒 | 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐚, 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚 [/list]_________
| INVITATION TO SUMMIT |[/list][/list]
Ethiopia will host a meeting about on African unity, all Invited nations are welcome. The Meeting will be held in Addis Ababa, September of 1964, at the Imperial Palace. The meeting will include talks on African peace, economics and stability, and a possible international African origination. Groups will be made to determine the fate of the possible origination.
Antillian, Otsla, Czabalkia, Zanbala Prz, Teymour
The Executive Chairman sits down in the meeting room
Executive Chairman Senghor
As much as I appreciate the pleasantries let us get down to business, and move onto why you invited me here today.
Antillian
Shah Mohammed
Of course. I invited you here because you and me share the same goal of staying neutral from east west politics. I think that If you and I started a new global movement a third party faction. A movement that dismisses ideological divides, and promotes cooperation between all states. But I think it can start with us. I would also like to discuss opening up free trade between our two states.
Executive Chairman Senghor
The creation of a third great alliance to protect and maintain the neutrality of the world is most beneficial to the WAF, much of the world doesn't like us.
Antillian
Mao Zedong: Considering that there is no representative of the USSR present here today, I think we ought perhaps to assume a favourable response considering China's good relations with the USSR and what the Soviets might themselves have to gain from such a venture. I propose therefore that we move on to other matters - would Iran be interested in receiving Chinese equipment for its oilfields to replace your existing British equipment; which, I hear, is rather obsolete by now?
Antillian
Shah Mohammed
Yes, while we are working on modernizing our oil fields with our own equipment, Chinese equipment would definitely speed up the process.
Mao Zedong:Then we are agreed? China will begin supplying you with refinery and drilling equipment in addition to constructing the pipeline project, and in return we will receive payment in the form of oil - say 10 million barrels annually?
Antillian
Shah Mohammed
Yes this sounds like acceptable terms, do you know how expensive the pipeline will be?
Mao Zedong: We estimate that it should cost approximately $80 million over a time span of 5 years till completion, a figure which China is willing to provide in full.
Shah Mohammed
I see, well I assure you I have no quarrels with your nation. So where would you like to begin in establishing this alliance. Is there others that share our goals that you know of?
Executive Chairman Senghor
We could always begin sending out feelers across Africa and South America and Southeast Asia to find if there is any interest in such a non-aligned faction.
Antillian, -Ethiopian Empire
Shah Mohammed
I agree I believe Africa will be a good place to start as they have been exploited for so long, that I believe they will want to join a faction that looks out for there best interests.
-Ethiopian Empire
Shah Mohammed I would like to split the bill in half, I would like my nation to be involved in it as it will bring my more jobs to my nation.
[list]𝓖𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓸𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓡𝓮𝓼𝓹𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓮[/list]
His excellency, President Kairu Mũhoro M'kwam, will gladly attend the African summit. As it is seen as a grand opportunity for the African nations to converge and discuss pressing matters all over the continent. Viva la Africa!
-Ethiopian Empire
[list]JULY 1962
KHAN YUNIS, REPUBLIC OF PALESTINE MIDDLE EAST[/list]
[list][list][sub][pre]!دولة قوية و عادلة
Strong & Just Nation!
BLOOD FOR BLOOD - THOSE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T THROW STONES[/pre][/sub]
[/list][/list]
[list][list][sub]The status quo in Palestine, established by the 1949 armistice, is not advantageous to us. So we have decided to alter that reality through military means wrote Minister of Defence Sa'ad Al-Shezly in his personal diary on July 11th 1962. He had written this following a critical meeting in West Cairo Airbase between President Jamal Abdel Nasser, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (or Rahkanma) Ahmad Ismail Ali, Chief of Staff of the Army Abdel Al-Munim Riyadh, Chief of Staff of the Airforce Kamal Hassan Ali, Chief of Staff of the Navy Hamad Al-Khaza'al, Foreign Minister Abbas Sohliyeh, Minister of Interior Mohammed Najib and Abdel Salim Arif from the National Salvation Council in Baghdad. A planned and deliberate Israeli military attack, which took part on July 10th on three airfields on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, had witnessed the lost of up to 29 aircraft, the entire former-Jordanian air force, and severe damages to the targeted air infrastructure. Nasser, who received news of the attack en route from Washington DC to London via a phone call from the Rahkanma, was livid. As Al-Shezly would write, "he [the President] was visibly frustrated and at many points became excessively enraged. Enraged at the attack but more so at the fact it had occurred while he was still outside the country. He was very anxious that this was the beginning of a full scale military assault, so he yelled loudly and repeatedly over the phone: 'Tell me everything! Tell me everything!'. Sohliyeh then called London and said that the summit will need to be postponed under unforeseen emergency circumstances. We all remained still and in utter silence for the next few hours, as the plane was directed to land at Cairo West Airfield. Nasser paced up and down the aircraft with a sweaty red face and with a sour expression, sometimes he would break his silent range by shouting 'Ben-Gurion you son of fifty jackals!' We all were very angry and disturbed at the news, but it was in Nasser's nature as an outspoken man to make it very clear to everyone. This ended when we received a phone call again from the Rahkanma telling us that the military leaders were waiting at the airbase for us and had prepared to discuss a response to the attack. When Nasser heard the news he said 'good, tell them I want Ben-Gurion's head on my desk' and then sat angrily in silence for the remaining three hours of the flight." The meeting began at 8:00 AM Cairo Time, exactly 11 hours and 30 minutes after the last of the Israeli aircraft returned into friendly airspace following the completion of their mission. The meeting began with an extensive review of the situation through an analysis of the reported damages, radar data, the timeline of the events of July 10th 1962 and the distress signals sent from the targeted airfields. This briefing lasted several hours during which according to Al-Shezly, Nasser became calmer, he listened attentively and spoke little during the whole thing. Then, the Rahkanma Ahmad Ismail Ali and the Chief of Staff of the Army Abdel Al-Munim Riyadh presented a jointly-authored strategic report to the meeting, from which to guide its decisions. [/sub][/list][/list]
[list][sub]STRATEGIC REPORT ON THE JULY 10TH ATTACK & THE NECESSITY OF A MILITARY RESPONSE[/sub]
[sub]FROM THE OFFICE OF THE RAHKANMA[/sub]
[sub]JULY 11TH 1962[/sub]
[sub]Surprise is key to the Israeli military strategy. They are aware that they are facing armies with superior mobilization and military capabilities, and therefore cannot be complacent. This is why during the 1949 Palestine War, the Zionist paramilitaries seized key areas and infrastructure in the Palestine and expelled the Arab inhabitants of the coastal cities prior to any collective Arab response. The attack which was perpetrated against the Mashriqi air force on July 10th, signifies a significant shift in Israeli military strategy and security policy. In the past, the Israeli military would penetrate beyond the 1949 armistice borders in retaliation to real or perceived Arab attacks. The events of July 10th however, demonstrate a new Israeli willingness to take advantage of internal political instability in order to secure military victories and objectives. The attack was unlike any other in the past. It mainly included airpower and was directed against the nucleus of a military structure, in opposition to the less important individual targets of previous incursions.[/sub]
[sub]Therefore there is a looming fear that this operation is part of a wider Israeli military action, to take advantage of the success of the anti-Qasem movement, and seize more territory through a concentrated military effort. Israel will be emboldened to seize portions of the west bank of the Jordan River and possibly even as far as the eastern bank. Unless they are faced with an overwhelming armed response. If we do not act in a concentrated and deliberate manner, we will be seen as weak, and political opponents both inside and outside the United Arab Republic will take advantage of such. This cannot be allowed to happen. Israel cannot be allowed to acquire future Soviet or (communist) Chinese military technologies or further consolidate its occupation via Jewish immigration. This possibility must be destroyed through Arab military force and retaliation. Politically, the liquidation of Israel and the crushing of the Zionist ideological backbone has been a paramount goal of the Arab leadership and its basis for existence.[/sub]
[sub]In the wake of this preemptive attack, we can accomplish this goal under the guise of self defence. We do not know if Israel is anticipating a full Arab military response, but the possibility should not be ignored, considering the boldness of the July 10th attack, preparations for such must occur. Nonetheless, we cannot wait for Israel to follow up this action with further aggressive unilateral operations. That policy will only serve to embolden the Israeli political and military leadership and set the stage for more severe aggression in the future. It will also be a public admission that we are not capable of resisting such actions and give the impression of weakness. With this considered, we call for a total military attack against Israel, to punish it for its aggressions, destroy its capabilities and change the territorial situation towards our interests.[/sub]
[sub]COSIGNED: AHMED ISMA'IL ALI & ABDEL AL-MUNIM RIYADH[/sub][/list]
[list][list][sub]President Nasser then asked to be excused from the meeting to make a decision, walking laps outside the building. After around 30 minutes, he had returned to the office, refrained from taking his seat, stood before everyone and said we must go to war. The order was therefore given. Do whatever you see necessary as commanders of the army to accomplish the task Nasser added. Before withdrawing into a separate room to write a public address regarding the surprise attack and his decision to respond militarily. This occurred alongside the military planning of the remaining officials, to identify weaknesses in the Israeli defence in order to exploit them. They identified that Israeli air detection facilities were focused on monitoring the airspace of the Sinai Peninsula and the banks of the Jordan River. Furthermore, it was also predicted that this system was presently fixed facing in the direction of the Jordan River, to support the July 10th attack and possibly await any retaliation. From a planning standpoint, this was a logical step, as Israeli commanders anticipated that the Arab air force would attack through the direction of these locations, as they had in the first Palestine War. This notion, held by the enemy commanders, was reinforced by the fact that the most critical Arab air bases were located in or around these areas, such as the Nile Valley. In view of this, a surprise air assault mirroring Israel's own actions would need to be conducted to cripple the enemy air force on the ground. However, the Arab aircraft would need to evade enemy detection by: flying at a low altitude, well below the lowest point that Israeli radar systems could monitor. And furthermore, instead of using the anticipated Sinai route, fly northwards across international waters in the Mediterranean Sea and then approach Israel via the flat Levantine coastal plain in a 'hook' trajectory. The coastal plain would also assist in maintaining a consistent low flying altitude, due to the lack of dramatic terrain changes or formations, such as mountains, which were more prevalent in the Sinai Peninsula and Jordan River area. There was also a hope that the combination of the subpar Arab performance in the first Palestine War and the events of July 10th, would give the enemy commanders a sense of overconfidence in the ability of their army, which would therefore create a deluded decision making climate based on overconfident notions of Israeli military 'superiority' even 'invincibility'. Defence Minister Al-Shezly would elevate this point in his diary writings, by stating, "we deliberately wanted to catch them [the Israelis] off balance and use the perception of their victories for our gain. We wanted the Israeli public, government and army to say, 'what are your armies and aircraft doing here, didn't we destroy them on July 10th and 1949?' The scale and speed of the air attack was deliberately designed to shock and awe the enemy, to render them paralyzed both psychologically and physically. This is because our plans broke with the historical trends of Arab retreat in the face of Zionist force and triumphs. And once the occupying regime understands the reality of the misery of their situation they instigated on July 10th, its commanders, population and leadership shall be overpowered with fear and regret."[/sub]
[sub]At 7:30 PM on July 11th, the office of the Rahmanka, ordered the United Arab Airforce to commence maintenance and fuel checkups, begin the arming of aircraft and all other personnel related preparations. So that nine selected air wings may begin combat operations against Israeli airfields, and standby assets could be called upon if needed. This process was scheduled to end at 2:30 AM on July 13th, in preparation for the beginning of the air attack at 8:15 AM, during sunrise. These air wings included:[/sub][/list][/list]
[list]
[sub]1st Nasr Air wing | CAIRO WEST AIRBASE
Squadron Nasr-1 | 12 x Sud Aviation Vautour
Squadron Nasr-2 | 12 x Gloster Javelin interceptors
Squadron Nasr-3 | 12 x Hawker Hunter jet fighters
Squadron Nasr-4 | 5 x FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II
Squadron Nasr-5 | 5 x North American F-86D "Sabre Dog"[/sub]
[sub]2nd Saqr Air wing | CAIRO AIRBASE
Squadron Saqr-1 | 12 x Sud Aviation Vautour
Squadron Saqr-2 | 12 x Gloster Javelin interceptors
Squadron Saqr-3 | 12 x Hawker Hunter jet fighters
Squadron Saqr-4 | 5 x FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II
Squadron Saqr-5 | 5 x North American F-86D "Sabre Dog"[/sub]
[sub]3rd Ramah Air wing | HELWAN AIRBASE
Squadron Ramah-1 | 12 x Sud Aviation Vautour
Squadron Ramah-2 | 12 x Gloster Javelin interceptors
Squadron Ramah-3 | 12 x Hawker Hunter jet fighters
Squadron Ramah-4 | 3 x Avro Vulcan Bombers[/sub]
[sub]4th Sayf Air wing | KIBRIT AIRBASE
Squadron Sayf-1 | 12 x Sud Aviation Vautour
Squadron Sayf-2 | 5 x FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II[/sub]
[sub]5th Yameen Air wing | AL-MAZA AIRBASE
Squadron Yameen-1 | 12 x Sud Aviation Vautour
Squadron Yameen-2 | 12 x Gloster Javelin interceptors
Squadron Yameen-3 | 12 x Hawker Hunter jet fighters
Squadron Yameen-4 | 3 x Avro Vulcan Bombers[/sub]
[sub]6th Ibn Walid Air wing | FAYID AIRBASE
Squadron Ibn Walid-1 | 12 x Hawker Hunter jet fighters
Squadron Ibn Walid-2 | 10 x Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress[/sub]
[sub]7th Hafizullah Air wing | AL-MANSURAH AIRBASE
Squadron Hafizullah-1 | 5 x Douglas C-47 Skytrain (140 Paratroopers | 4th Paratrooper Battalion)[/sub]
[sub]8th Aziz Air wing | INSHAS AIRBASE
Squadron Aziz-1 | 8 x Blackburn B01 Beverley (560 Paratroopers | 3rd Paratrooper Battalion)[/sub]
[sub]9th Badr Air wing | BIR AL-JIFJAFA AIRBASE
Squadron Badr-1 | 12 x North American P-51 Mustang[/sub][/list]
[list][list][sub]A total of 234 aircraft was to be used in the attack, including 12 transport aircraft to conduct paratrooper landings . Arab military command specified that many of these aircraft be outfitted with a mixture of white phosphorus and napalm munitions. Al-Shezly outlined the reasoning behind this decision, by writing, "the enemy army relies heavily on its reservists. Reservists are civilians with military training and they live amongst Israeli society, until they are summoned on the eve of war by the high command. Our reasoning for using napalm and white phosphorus munitions against population centres, was to kill off these reservists, or severely injure them so they could not be used by the enemy army. Both these munitions are corrosive to the skin, they burn, choke and stick to everything with their chemicals, I have no doubts it will be effective. Civilians of course, bare the brunt of this, as they always do in urban warfare. But this is an unavoidable consequence. If we can injure enough reserve personnel and civilians, we can overcrowd the enemy hospitals and deplete their medical supplies. So we can deny such resources for Israeli soldiers injured in the field. This will give us another advantage over them in the long term. While also furthering the traumatization and demoralization of the [Israeli] society. We felt great pride and joy in discussing these factors, we believed it was a religious duty to avenge [the massacres against Arabs at] Dier Yassin and elsewhere by doing this." The remainder of the interceptors were equipped with standard munitions and rockets. The preemptive air attack, dubbed Operation Shams Al-Arab (or Arab Sun), was to be conducted in four separate waves. In the first wave, the planes were scheduled for precise staggered departure times, from 7:15 to 7:30 AM, to ensure they arrived collectively over the Levantine Coastal Plain at about 8:15 AM during the breakfast hours of the Israeli personnel. They would then destroy enemy assets and infrastructure at their assigned locations and return to base for a 7-minute period of refuelling, and commence another cycle of attack. Once the Israeli army in the sky was liquidated, the fourth run, composed of the heavy bomber runs, would occur once, and paratrooper formations would be deployed. Also on July 11th, a parallel effort of mobilization was occurring beyond the United Arab Airforce, at the level of the United Arab Navy and United Arab Navy. Abdel Al-Munim Riyadh, in conjunction with other military figures, called upon the following divisions to begin preparations to lead in the operation against Israel: [/sub][/list][/list]
[list]
[sub]1st Zelzal (Earthquake) Infantry Division | AL-ARISH
Total of 25,000 personnel, 5,000 per Brigade[/sub]
[sub]17th Ra'ad (Thunder) Infantry Division | RA'AS AL-NEQB
Total of 25,000 personnel, 5,000 per Brigade[/sub]
[sub]40th Bunduqiyeh (Rifle) Infantry Division | KHAN YUNIS
Total of 25,000 personnel, 5,000 per Brigade[/sub]
[sub]6th Nasr (Victory) Division | PORT SA'ID
Total of 25,000 personnel, 5,000 per Brigade[/sub]
[sub]1st Taj (Crown) Armoured Division (Cairo) | ABU AGHEYLAH
Total of 15,000 personnel, 3,000 personnel and 50 Centurion MBT's per Brigade
[/sub]
[sub]3rd Falasteen (Palestine) Armoured Division | GAZA
Total of 15,000 personnel, 3,000 personnel and 50 Centurion MBT's per Brigade
[/sub]
[sub]1st Armoured Support Brigade | AL-KUSEIMAH
Total of 5,000 personnel, 1,000 personnel and 20 AMX-13s & 1 M50 Ontos per Brigade
[/sub]
[sub]2nd Armoured Support Brigade | RAFAH
Total of 5,000 personnel, 1,000 personnel and 20 AMX-13s & 1 M50 Ontos per Brigade
[/sub]
[sub]2nd Artillery Division | SHEIKH ZUWEID
Total of 15,000 personnel, 1,000 personnel and 40 Ordnance QF 25-pounders, 10 M41 Gorillas, 7 M43 Howitzer Motor Carriages per Brigade[/sub]
[sub]3rd Artillery Division | RA'AS AL-NEQB
Total of 15,000 personnel, 1,000 personnel and 40 Ordnance QF 25-pounders, 10 M41 Gorillas, 7 M43 Howitzer Motor Carriages per Brigade[/sub]
[sub]2nd Artillery Division | AL-ARISH
Total of 5,000 personnel, 1,000 personnel and 40 Ordnance QF 25-pounders, 10 M41 Gorillas, 7 M43 Howitzer Motor Carriages per Brigade[/sub]
[sub]3rd Artillery Division | GAZA
Total of 5,000 personnel, 1,000 personnel and 40 Ordnance QF 25-pounders, 10 M41 Gorillas, 7 M43 Howitzer Motor Carriages per Brigade[/sub]
[sub]3rd Paratrooper Battalion | INSHAS AIRBASE
Total of 1,000 personnel[/sub]
[sub]4th Paratrooper Battalion | AL-MANSURAH AIRBASE
Total of 1,000 personnel[/sub][/list]
[list][list][sub]This land-based attack, called Operation 'Nebūkhadhnasr' (Nebuchadnezzar), after the Babylonian King who exiled the Israelites from Judea and destroyed Solomon's Temple, was to compose of 182,000 personnel, 700 tanks and 3,420 individual pieces of artillery. This force was assigned its battle orders from July 11th and July 12th, during which a gradual deployment on the West Bank of the Suez Canal was undertaken, as to not give any prolonged exposure time on the Israeli-UAR border prior to the last hours until the beginning of the attack. Those units which were already deployed in the region before the decision to retaliate against Israel was taken, remained in their forward positions. Elements of the Sinai Desert Patrol, alongside a company of Bedouins who had been displaced into Sinai by Operation Yoav, were dispatched to conduct night reconnaissance on the border at 12:35 PM. The 100-strong force, dressed in Bedouin clothing not military uniform, infiltrated into Israeli-held territory between the Al-Auja Zone and the settlement of Ayn Al-Meghara, in gradual stages and in groups of 10. The personnel discovered that the Israeli Defence Forces had not increased its deployment levels in the area, or alongside the strategic road from Al-Auja to Beersheba via Bir Asluj. When they returned into Sinai, the forces commander informed the regional military leadership, who passed on the information to Cairo in a status report stating according to our observations, the Israelis have not initiated a deployment beyond past levels. We know that the Israeli border patrol, facing Sinai, is enforced by small elements of the Negev Brigade, which is likely based at Beersheba, but this is known information. This tells us that the Zionists, despite attacking on the 10th, are not ready for any sort of conventional war. Therefore, the commanders in Gaza have come to the unanimous conclusion that the June 10th attack was conducted to give the illusion of Israeli strength to hide the opposite reality of their desperation. The news boosted the morale of the highest echelons of Arab commanders and the political leadership, with the realization that the preemptive strikes had been a terrible miscalculation on behalf of the Israeli military and political leadership. In the late afternoon hours of June 12th, the Ministry of Defence issued guidebooks, an important document to every officer, pilot and soldier, reminding them of past orders, relating to the plan of action, the starting locations, objectives, the contents of their carrier bags and other critical last minute information. The contents of the handbook borrowed extensively from the exercises and training. the personnel had undergone for the past several years, simulating a conflict with the Israelis. Then in the last move towards war, all units were sent to their starting positions, beginning from 12:00 PM, so that the darkness of night would conceal this final buildup until the morning of July 13th. Several hours later at 7:05 AM, over telephone, President Nasser gave the coded order "Khaybīr, Khaybīr, Khaybīr", referring to the battle between the Prophet Mohammed and the Jews of Khaybar Oasis in 628 CE, triggering Operation Shams Al-Arab. 7:10 AM, airfields across the Nile Valley are brought to life, as pilots rush out from the barracks towards their aircraft. They swiftly get in and begin the journey towards their assigned targets as part of the first wave. At 7:15, Major General Mohammed Fawzi, who is overseeing the land formations, and his field commanders are notified of the beginning of the air assault, they are told to prepare to commence an attack in the coming hours. The Arab aircraft wanted to render the runways useless as soon as possible, to prevent aircraft from taking off and turn them into sitting ducks. Their training had studied the problem since 1957. While conventional wisdom said that bombing attacks must be directed at the junctions of runways, in order to hit as many runways as possible, the armed forces concluded that there was little chance of hitting a runway junction in practice. They therefore required that each runway be hit separately and massively. Therefore the final strategy was to target the base runway first, then the base infrastructure to disable radar and air-defence instalments as well as the pilot barracks, and finally the individual aircraft. This meant that even if the attack failed to accomplish its latter objectives, the destroyed runway would still prevent the deployment of enemy assets, grounding their airforce.[/sub][/list][/list]
[list]
[sub]CUTTING OF COMMUNICATIONS | 7:22 AM[/sub]
[sub]By 7:22 AM, 9th Badr Air wing had entered Israeli airspace from north of Eilat. The goal of the air wings squadron of 12 North American P-51 Mustangs was not the destruction of enemy aircraft, but to break communication lines between any Israeli force on the border and High Command. The P-51 Mustangs were specifically instructed to cut telephone and telegraph wires using their wings in extreme low level runs. The pilots had been hand-picked for the operation from a pool of some of the most experienced and best personnel of the United Arab Airforce, who had the opportunity to train in the United States. This was undertaken with the understanding that the cover of darkness was quickly diminishing, and soon the Arab buildup in Sinai would be uncovered by local enemy forces. With a broken communication system however, their ability to call for reinforcements or alert the Israeli Ministry of Defence to the threat would be neutralized, if not severely delayed.[/sub]
[sub]ATTACK ON TEL-NOF AIRBASE | 8:20 AM[/sub]
[sub]The overarching strategy was to first attack the largest and most important airfields. To take full advantage of the element of surprise to maximize damage. Tel-Nof Airbase, was one such target, as one of the three principle airfields of the IDF. The airbase, located south of Jaffa at Rehovot, was reached by the 1st Nasr Air wing flying from the Cairo West Airbase, as part of the first wave. The runway was immediately targeted by 5 out of twelve-strong squadron of Sud Aviation Vautours, each with 8,800lb of bombs. The attack caused a large trail gashes along the runway junctions. While the remainder of the Vautors dropped napalm tanks on the barracks and living quarters of the pilots. This direct strike caused numerous casualties to the Israeli ranks, with even more pilots being killed in the ensuing napalm flames. Radar equipment was also struck in this fashion, with the sheer heat of this chemical munitions, burning through and melting the delicate electrical works, disabling the Radar. As the Vautor squadron withdrew to circle around, another squadron of Hawker Hunter jet fighters arrived and struck at any exposed stationary aircraft. They destroyed a 2 squadrons of Soviet Mig-21s totalling 20 planes, a squadron of 18 French Vautour IIs, 15 Dassault IVs and 10 Dassault Ouragans. A collection of North American F-86D "Sabre Dogs and FMA IAe 33 Pulqui IIs, totaling 10 aircraft, then struck the aircraft barracks and the storage quarters for aircraft munitions. In total 63 enemy aircraft, around 5 squadrons, were destroyed over the course of the attack, from 8:20 until 8:29 AM. The Soviet-made air defence equipment, present at the airbase, which included the modern S-75 Dvina, S-25 Berkut and P-12 Yeinsei radar proved hopeless at countering the Arab aircraft. As they flew below the point of radar detection. These sophisticated systems were destroyed in the first minutes of the attack, alongside a collection of AZP-S 60, 37mm 61-K, ZSU-57-2 and ZU-23-2 systems. [/sub]
[sub]ATTACK ON RAMAT DAVID AIRBASE | 8:30 AM[/sub]
[sub]As Tel-Nof was in the grips of a surprise attack, the 2nd Saqr Air wing began another campaign against Ramat David Airbase from 8:30 AM. Two squadrons, each numbering 15 Mirage IIIs and stored in the hangars, were struck by Avro Vulcan bombers after they had attacked the physical runway. In this attack, a rare direct hit on the runway junctions was sufficiently struck. Immobile aircraft exposed on the runway, limited to squadrons of 15 Dassault IVs, 15 Dassault Ouragans and three 10-plane squadrons of Dassault Mystère IVs, were swiftly destroyed by the nimble Hawker Hunter jet fighters and Vautours. North American F-86Ds specifically targeted the base communication infrastructure such as radar infrastructure, control towers and immobile formations of anti-air guns situated on both ends of the base. Israeli pilots scattered out from their barracks in the first few minutes of the attack to be welcomed by scenes of mauled aircraft and a shattered runway. They had no choice but to resist with hand-held weapons and the remains of older Soviet anti-air guns. Downing 5 Pulqui jets during their dive sequence against the runway. Seeing this, the commander of the Arab squadrons withdrew from the attack, feigning retreat. They departed for an interval of five minutes, giving time for the enemy pilots to rush outside to the runway and expose themselves. A squadron of 12 Vautours then returned, to initiate a shower a white phosphorus on the airfield, which burnt through the congregation of personnel as they hopelessly searched for a working aircraft from which to launch some counter response in the air. Due to the junction strike, the Arab aircraft had managed to disable both runways at Ramat David simultaneously in the first minute of the attack. Thereby denying the facility to any future Israeli usage. By the end of the attack at 8:49, a total of 60 Israeli aircraft had been destroyed, meaning that entire Israeli squadrons had evaporated in a matter of minutes. The white phosphorus bombs had spread their flammable poison across the axis of the runways, as the burning husk of aircraft hangers and charred pilot corpses reflected the sheer brutality and severity of the Arab onslaught.[/sub]
[sub]ATTACK ON HATZOR AIRBASE | 8:35 AM[/sub]
[sub]Hatzor Airbase was the southernmost target of the first wave and was the responsibility of the 3rd Yameena Air wing. Therefore, it was decided to strike Hatzor before the other two air bases included in the first wave, as part of the wider deception strategy built on Israeli assumptions of an air attack from Sinai. Therefore, the Arab aircraft approached from a northward direction, after turning into Israeli airspace from the Mediterranean Sea. The attack mirrored that of Tel-Nof, beginning with the bombardment of the airfield, followed by precise strikes against individual aircraft and then the remaining communication systems and infrastructure. 3 Dassault IVs and 20 Fouga CM.170 Magisters, were liquidated, alongside 10 Spitfires which served the role of a trainer aircraft. The aircraft of the 101st Squadron of the Israeli Defence Forces, the first squadron in the history of the institution, was also turned into a heap of burning twisted metal and shattered glass, in what would constitute a major propaganda victory for the United Arab Republic. The 101st Squadron had scored the first Israeli ever air victories on the 3r of June 1948 with the downing of a pair of Egyptian C-47 bombers. Furthermore, it had become infamous amongst the Arab militaries for its effectiveness, such as during the Battle of Al-Faluja, which Nasser himself partook in. The news of the liquidation of the squadron was swiftly sent to Cairo and the remainder of the United Arab Armed Forces, being welcomed as a boost of morale. The squadrons 15 Dassault Ouragans and 3 Mystère IVs were sufficiently struck in their hangers, during the last minutes of the 25 minute attack. This brought Israeli losses at Hatzor at 51 aircraft. [/sub][/list]
[list][list][sub]The first wave of Operation Shams Al-Arab, which had lasted for just below an hour had accomplished the destruction of 173 enemy aircraft, large casualties against Israeli base personnel and pilots as well as the destruction of important radar and air-defence infrastructure. The three most critical air installations to the Israelis at Tel-Nof, Hatzor and Ramat David, had been attacked in succession, rendering them sufficiently destroyed. As the 3 air wings arrived back to base to be refuelled and rearmed, crossing over the east bank of the Jordan River and Red Sea, they were encouraged to drop all spare ammunition over Isreali urban centres. The cities of Rohovot, Tiberias and Beersheba were all targeted in a shower of napalm and white phosphorus munitions, which initiated large fires. By 9:22 AM, Rahkanma Ahmad Ismail Ali, told President Jamal Abdel Nasser that the Israeli air force has ceased to exist. The news of the success was given to the military-political leadership during a meeting between the heads of the United Arab Armed Forces and the Mazar in Cairo. It was then decided to unveil the state of hostilities to the Arab public through a Presidential Address. From the Ministry of Defence and via a televised address, President Nasser broke the news of the June 10th Israeli attack and the state of war to the world. [/sub][/list][/list]
[list][sub]"My dear compatriots and comrades, on June 10th, our Arab nation was exposed to the most grave and shameful of acts! Our brethren in the liberated Arab Mashriq had been preemptively attacked by the Zionist airforce, who conducted a sinister blow against the eastern bank of the Jordan River. Verily, the tears of the Arabs which are shed for those slain martyrs, who perished resisting the opponent, shall become a blazing flame! We do not have the power to prevent the enemy regime from indulging in its own tyrannical designs, or that they will not commit aggression against us. We do not have the power to prevent the murder of the innocent Arabs in occupied Palestine, but we have the power to set a high price for our blood, a price that will be too high for the Zionist colonialists, the Zionist militias and the Zionist regime to withstand. We will not permit them to attack us with impunity as they had in the era of Arab disunity and ignorance. We have prepared for the day that the shameful 1949 armistice may fail and that force must be answered by force! This surprise attack by the enemy, unveils the truth of their calculating brutality and their desire to insult the sovereignty and security of the Arab people! As we look at this evidence of the Zionist regime at work, let every man, woman and child in the United Arab Republic realize what kind of a beast must be removed! In the land of the Arab nation, exemplary unity and purpose will back up our armies in the field, the whole Republic is fighting a murderous force, which kills for the joy of killing! In an attempt to subdue the Arab people, the army of the aggressor has only shown the world the true barbarism of what the Zionist ideology stands for. How can any one accept living next to a regime, who are enslaved to such a bloody and rotten ideology? How can a regime which delights in such futile destruction of life and property, ever hope to call itself a part of human civilization?"[/sub]
[sub]"Therefore it is a duty upon every steadfast agent of Arabism, to avenge the humiliations of the first Palestine War and the recent attack. The anger of the Arab nation, and the weight of our collective power, shall crush the Zionist barrack in Palestine! This regime must be liquidated through military means! I have ordered the United Arab Armed Forces to commit to such a mission. We hold close to the truth, victory is from god and conquest is nearing (Quran 61:13), which we shall inscribe on the banner of this brave Arab army as it advances faithfully. The holy much on which the Arab nation insists, shall inflict upon the enemy a great humiliation! It shall avenge the blood split in Palestine from those that they slew, it shall bring peace to the yearning souls of those martyrs! Those martyrs who had been tormented by the failures of the disunited Arab governments. For the cause of our people and our insistence on the sovereignty of the nation, we shall inflict a swift and decisive action upon the enemy army, to demonstrate that the Arabs shall stand and fight! Our sand has been ignited with the power of our persistence, our will to fight as a unified state and the anger we feel towards the aggressors. We must go along a path covered with the blood of our fallen. We have no other alternative. For us, this is a matter of life or death, a matter of living or existing. We have to be prepared, as soldiers, citizens and leaders to win through the challenges which await the total liberation of Palestine. We will not abandon Palestine, we will not abandon a single letter from its name, we will never relinquish the sanctities of our country in Palestine!"[/sub]
[sub]"It is clear that the enemy is plotting to export its colonialism and wickedness beyond the lands plundered in 1949. We must prevent this outcome using all means available. All our military capabilities which we have been building since the 1949 humiliation shall be used to push the Zionists into the sea! There is no Arab hesitation towards the final defeat and liquidation of the enemy combatants, who threaten us and whose sole purpose is to shatter us. There is no doubt that this is their goal. We have all held witness to the massacres of Dier Yassin and Qibya, the destruction of the communities in Al-Hamma and in Beit Jala, the death marches of Lydda and Ramlah and of the hundreds of thousands expelled from their property by the colonizers. While the Arab nation was weak and divided and penetrated by traitors and opportunists and could not guarantee justice during the time of these atrocities, that has passed. The United Arab Republic has replaced the corruption of the old governments and the Arab army has replaced the weakness of its predecessors! We have no doubts of our ability to teach the enemy militants a historical lesson. To extract from them revenge and end their threatening actions against the United Arab Republic and the Arab nation. To the Zionist invaders, who have basked in the past weakness and division of the Arab civilization blood for blood!"[/sub][/list]
[list]- JAMAL ABDEL NASSER[/list]
[list][list][sub]In response to the announcement, Sawt Al-Arab (Voice of the Arabs) Radio, the largest of its kind in the United Arab Republic, interrupted its usual transmission schedule to cover the event of war. Stating in support of the action that the Arab masses simmer with joy at the news of the opening of war. It is the dream of every Arab that the Zionist cancer is pushed into the [Mediterranean] sea! Oh, Jamal [Abdel Nasser], you liberator and unifier of our nation, all the Arabs are behind you! The statement was reflective of the jubilant attitude the Arab public generally held towards war, as it satisfied a very deep psychological longing amongst the Arab public, to redeem the humiliating defeat of the 1949 Palestine War. By 9:30 the air wings arrived in succession at their respective bases, 4 minutes after their counterparts assigned to the second phase began their departure.[/sub][/list][/list]
[list][sub]ATTACK ON EILAT ARFIELD | 9:37 AM[/sub]
[sub]By 9:37 AM the 6th Ibn Walid Air wing from Fayid Airbase on the western side of the Suez Canal, reached Israels only Red Sea Port at Eilat. 90% of Israels oil and fuel imports came through this port, making it a crucial strategic target for Operation 'Shams Al-Arab'. The two squadrons of 12 Hawker Hunter jet fighters and 10 Boeing B-17s opened with a salvo of fire against the airstrip. The Arab aircraft managed to swiftly destroy all the Israeli air assets on the ground, as they were exposed in the open, which amounted to 15 Spitfires, 5 Nord Noratlas transport planes and 5 PBY Catalinas. The B-17 bombers were tasked with disabling the port docks as well as destroying the defensive trenches and strong points facing Taba, that were erected after the 1949 Armistice. This was in preparation for the planned land operation to seize the Eilat and link up with the Mashriqi border at Al-Aqaba. All 25 enemy aircraft were destroyed, alongside the oil refinery and the communications system of the port.[/sub]
[sub]ATTACK ON HATZERIM AIRBASE | 9:48 AM[/sub]
[sub]At 9:48 the 5th Yameen Air wing from Al-Maza Airbase reached Hatzerim Airfield, located close to the urban centre of Beersheba, which had been previously struck by napalm around an hour earlier. The twelve Sud Aviation Vautours proved exceptionally capable at destroying the runway, using a payload of 6,000 to 8,000 pound bombs, that created a series of huge gashes deep into the asphalt. The nimble Gloster Javelin interceptors were able to score precise hits against individual aircraft on the ground, destroying 5 Fouga Magisters, 3 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 5 PBY Catalinas, 3 P-51 Mustangs, 8 Dassault Ouragans and a trainer squadron of Spitfires numbering 10 aircraft. 3 Avro Vulcan bombers, each carrying 21 bombs, up to 1,000 pounds in payload, conducted a precise strike on the radar facilities of the airbase, using napalm munitions to cause fast-spreading fires to further the damage from the initial impact. The main building complex, aircraft munitions storage, and pilot barracks of the facility were also struck with white phosphorus, to render the airfield completely inoperable and neutralize more Israeli personnel. The fires caused a rupture in the fuel storage building, enabling it to spread across the adjacent runway as the fuel coated that surface. A total of 32 enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground over the course of several minutes, and as the Arab aircraft circled around the parameter Hatzerim, the fixed anti-air guns proved easy pickings. By 10:00 AM the attack ended, signalling the conclusion of the second phase.[/sub][/list]
[list][list][sub]The deception tactics used by Arab military planners to avert the eyes of the enemy radar, undoubtedly influenced the outcome of these engagements. Israeli pilots and officers at the scene of the attack had no prior warnings as a result, and did not possess orders to engage enemy aircraft. Furthermore, although it was unknown at the time of the attack, the pilots who conducted the June 10th attack did not inform the political leadership, on the basis that doing such was wasting precious time on politics. Therefore, when this attack was uncovered to the Office of the Prime Minister, the Israeli military command was preoccupied with the political repercussions for the officers and did not prepare extensively for war. This explained the vulnerable positioning of their aircraft, which made them easy targets. Arab effectiveness and motivation to accomplish their mission also stemmed from a longing to settle the score with the Israelis, and the abundance of napalm and white phosphorus munitions that they utilized. This was especially effective at striking barracks and building complexes, as to preoccupy the Israeli personnel inside with immediate survival, rather than responding to the Arab attack. This inability to act was exacerbated by the failure of the Soviet-made anti air equipment, designed with the most advanced Soviet technological knowhow. However these systems were countered by simply flying at a lower altitude than their radars could sufficiently detect. The inability of a swift Israeli response, combined with the extensive size of Arab air wings, extended the period of time that strikes could be conducted against the airfields and stationary aircraft. Which intensified the overall effectiveness of Operation 'Shams Al-Arab'. By the end of the second wave, a total of 231 Israeli aircraft had been destroyed. By comparison only 5 Pulquis had been lost due to some enemy soldiers who were at the right place at the right time. Before June 13th, the enemy airforce had numbered 246 aircraft, now it had been reduced in a mere 1 hour and 28 minutes by 94%. Furthermore, the most core airfields to the Israelis had been destroyed, heaps of their most capable air defence equipment had gone with them, as well as untold numbers of experienced pilots. This undoubtedly elevates Operation Shams Al-Arab one of the most effective and spectacular surprise operations in the history of air warfare. Its success had certainly shook both the Israeli army and Arab commanders. So much so that the remaining 3rd and 4th waves were called off, and the authorization for the beginning of land operations on the same day, was swiftly sent to Major General Mohammed Fawzi.[/sub][/list][/list]
Arcanda, Teujira, Zanbala Prz, Gaia Major
Iran denounces The UAR
Fallowing the surprise attack on the state of Israel by the UAR The state of Iran has denounced this vile act that goes against the armistice. It brings instability to the region, and quite frankly is clearly an attempt by the UAR to force its will on those it sees as lesser. Iran for the time being will cut all diplomatic ties with the UAR and will evacuate the Iranian embassy in Cairo.
Teujira, Teymour
Teymour, Malian Imperial Federation
[list][sup]JULY 1962[/sup]
THE SOVIET RESPONSE TO THE ILLEGAL WAR IN ISRAEL[/list]
___
[sup]MOSCOW, RUSSIAN SFSR, USSR[/sup]
___
| Last decade, the Soviet Union stood against the UAR, it warned the world of the threat it posed to peace and rescinded its recognition of it,
No one listened besides already existing Soviet allies. The world assumed it was Soviet bluster, with no truth to it. How wrong they were. Now
the United Arab Republic is beginning an illegal war to conquer Israel and "throw the Jews into the sea", if the world wouldn't act the Soviet Union
would. Mikoyan would sit in his office with cameras facing him, recording for all the world to see, recording what might be one of the most infamous
speeches in history if things took a turn for the worst.|
[list] | General Secretary Anastas Mikoyan: "People of the Soviet Union, The current events in Israel are shocking. Within this week
the United Arab Republic has begun an all out attack against the nation of Israel. This war has no basis in international law, nothing
can justify what can only be described as a war of outright conquest and genocide. In 1958 we took a stand against the United Arab
Republic, and called them out for what they truly are, the new fascists of the 20th Century, and Mr. Nasser is surely the new Adolf Hitler.
No international action was taken back then, nothing was done in the United Nations." | [/list]
The heat of the recording lights was making him uncomfortable. Luckily it wouldn't be picked up by any of the cameras, luckily it would not
be a very long speech. He looked back down at the speech paper on his desk, and looked back up. He hated this part of the speech, the threats.
He had to read it but that didn't make him enjoy it.
[list] | General Secretary Anastas Mikoyan: "We call out to the International Community to unite together against this illegal war, that the
UN take drastic actions now to avert disaster. However, in the likely event that the United Nations does not act to stop this illegal war of
conquest in its tracks, the Soviet Union will, and our response will be much, much more decisive. If the United Arab Republic sends but a
single arab soldier into Israel, if it does not end its illegal war the Soviet Union will intervene in this conflict unilaterally. I am ready to
authorise the use of Atomic weaponry on both civilian and military targets to achieve a swift victory against the United Arab Republic."
"In 1944, We discovered the first concentration camps in the Great Patriotic War, in Lublin, Poland. we were horrified to our cores at the
discovery and pledged to not stop until every camp was liberated. We will not sit back and watch as a Second Holocaust begins, I and the
entire Union will stop at nothing to prevent the horrors we witnessed that day from occurring once more. From this day until the last the
Soviet Union stands with Israel and echoes their pledge: Never Again! Thank you citizens of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Israel
and the entire world, goodnight. | [/list]
___
| "Proletarii vsekh stran, soyedinyaytes'!" |
___
Arcanda, Zanbala Prz, East Germany Ddr, Teymour, Gaia Major, Malian Imperial Federation, -Ethiopian Empire, Indonesian United Democracy
Executive Chairman Senghor
What shall the terms of our non-aligned faction be? I believe promoting economic and military cooperation between the nations of the developing world, and, as well as promoting an anti-imperialist and pacifistic agenda would be of our best interest.
Antillian, Teymour
Shah Mohammed
I agree, together a global non aligned alliance could bring about a strong defensive alliance that could bring about an end to the imperialism faced by both sides of the global table.
Executive Chairman Senghor
Well is there anything else you wish to discuss? Or shall we sign a formal treaty, and ill be on my way?
Antillian
Foreign Ministry of the People's Republic of China
Given the unpardonable invasion of Israel by the UAR, the PRC has seen fit to extend an invitation to Israel to join the SCO as a full member, in order to lay deterrence against the UAR's attempt to wipe Israel off the map. China cables a request to the USSR as well, to gauge whether they would be willing to admit the Israelis into the Warsaw Pact.
Xaverium, Teujira, Antillian, Zanbala Prz, Malian Imperial Federation, -Ethiopian Empire
China commends the sentiments of the Soviet Union and announces its preparedness to support any invasion of the UAR materially and financially.
Xaverium, Teujira, Antillian, Zanbala Prz, Malian Imperial Federation
Shah Mohammed
Yes let us sighn a treaty and be complete with this fruitful meeting
Malian Imperial Federation
Official Report from the Socialist Republic of Romania
September 1964, Bucharest
Romania's diplomatic and economic ideas
16th september 1964, Bucharest. The summer has faded away, the leaves are starting to fall of the many trees Bucharest has, From morning to midnight you can hear the bulldozers, tractors, trucks that are working on the new Capital of the Romanian people. In a quiet room of the Central Commitee of the PCR, guarded by 10 Securitate agents, our most beloved son of the people, Comrade Rotaru, who's ideas enlighten the Romanian society, is calling the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vasile Drăgușin, to tell him, that Romania wants to open relations with more non alligned countries.
"Tovarășe Drăgușin! Alo? Deci, aș vrea să subliniez, că, România este în mare nevoie de o industrie, petrochimică. Doresc de asemenea ca, Comitetul Central al Partidului Comunist Romîn, să decid prin ordinul meu, și a Mari Adunări Naționale, să încercăm, să deschidem relații calde cu următoarele Țări: Republica Democrată Populară Coreea, India, Vietnam, Pakistan și Iran. Vreau de asemenea, ca in Iran, să deschidem nu numai relații calde politic, dar și economic, avînd în vedere, România și nevoia ei cît mai mare de Petrol, am încerca să vorbim cu Tovarășul lider al Iranului, Shah Mohammed, să stabilim o dată de întîlnire mutuala a celor două Țări, pentru a putea să stabilim un import cît mai ieftin de Petrol"
"Comrade Drăgușin! Hello? So, I would like to emphasize that Romania is in great need of a petrochemical industry. I also want the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party to decide by my order, and of the Great National Assembly, Let's try to open warm relations with the following countries: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Vietnam, Pakistan and Iran, and I want, in Iran, to open not only warm political relations, but also economic ones, given, Romania and its greatest need for oil, we would try to talk to Iran's leading comrade, Shah Mohammed, to set a date for a mutual meeting of the two countries, in order to establish a cheaper import of oil."
Comrade Drăgușin agrees with the actions of the dear Leader, and in the following days meetings of the Communist party and the Grand National Assembly will be held to discuss the need of Romania's willingness to purchase technological licenses for the following Oil Refineries that the Government has planned to construct, and the will to meet with more leaders of the world.
Our dear leader has also spoken today at a speech in Bucharest, about the illegal actions of the United Arab Republic, and the illegal war against the Israelis:
"Dragi Tovarăși, și Prieteni, cetățeni ai Republicii Socialiste România. Dores în primul rînd, să vă adresez dumneavoastră, toți care s-au adunat la această importantă adunare, un călduros salut Revoluționar, cu prilejul susțineri voastre față de Partidul Comunist Romîn, și voința voastră pentru a apăra Patria noastră, de Spioni Sovietici și occidentali. Problema noastră în lume acum, este căci războaiele ne așteaptă oricînd. De exemplu, decizia noastră de a condemna public, fără frică, invazia trupelor Arabe în țara Evreilor. Este o acțiune imperialistă și jegoasă, pe care occidentali o susțin rușinos. Trebuie să acționăm contra oricine, care îndrăznește să ne vorbească de urît, și care ne amenință. Imperialismul este o armă mai periculoasă decît Bombele Nucleare. De aceea trebuie să acționăm, contra oricine ne amenință. Mai bine murim în Luptă, cu glorie deplină, decît să fim sclavi iarăși în vechiul 'nost pămînt!"
"Dear Comrades, and Friends, citizens of the Socialist Republic of Romania. First of all, I would like to address to you, all those who gathered at this important assembly, a warm Revolutionary greeting, on the occasion of your support for the Romanian Communist Party, and Your will to defend our country from Soviet and Western spies Our problem in the world now is that wars are waiting for us at all times, for example, our decision to publicly condemn, without fear, the invasion of Arab troops in the land of the Jews. "We must act against anyone who dares to speak ugly to us and who threatens us. Imperialism is a more dangerous weapon than Nuclear Bombs. That is why we must act against anyone who threatens us." "It is better to die in battle, with full glory, than to be slaves again in our old land!"
Xaverium, Teujira, Antillian, East Germany Ddr, Teymour, Malian Imperial Federation, Austreylia, Indonesian United Democracy
[list][list]FRANCE DENOUNCES ISRAELI ATTACK ON U.A.R.
[pre]7 November 1964 - Paris, France, French Union[/pre][/list][/list]
| The French Union has denounced the State of Israel's attack on the United Arab Republic as 'baseless, without merit, and in defiance of international law'. French President Charles de Gaulle, who has long sought to maintain peace between Israel and the United Arab Republic, has ordered the withdrawal of diplomatic officials from Israel 'for a time' as the situation deteriorates. In response to threats of Soviet aggression to the United Arab Republic, President Charles de Gaulle confirmed that France will stand behind her defense agreements with the United Arab Republic, and will respond to any Soviet aggression against the Arab State in kind. However, France will not provide any direct aid towards the United Arab Republic as they pursue retaliatory measures against Israeli aggression, but will push for the solution of the conflict through peaceful means, offering to host both Arab President Nasser(Teymour) and Israeli Prime Minister Ben Gurion(Otsla) in Algiers to negotiate a ceasefire and settlement. |
[list][list][list]' I will not tolerate the destruction of the Middle East over a singular airstrike. Hopefully, General-Secretary Mikoyan stays his aggressive hand so that the civilized peoples of the world may work out a solution through the pen and not the sword. In the meantime, I duly await the arrival of Nasser and Ben-Gurion to attend peace talks. ' - Charles de Gaulle, President of France[/list][/list][/list]
Xaverium, Teujira, Antillian, Teymour, Malian Imperial Federation, Austreylia, -Ethiopian Empire, Indonesian United Democracy
Peru Tribune
"Your Reliable Source of Peruvian News since 1921."
November 15th, 1964
Peru Condemns Israel
[list]Peru has officially condemned the unsanctioned attack by Israel, against the United Arab Republic. As a part of this condemnation, all Peruvian recognition of Israel is rescinded. While Peru is too far from the middle east to meaningfully support the United Arab Republic, the Peruvian government will give whatever support it can. Some actions that Peruvian companies have been doing is to send purchase offers to companies in Israel to purchase the Israeli companies for values under their estimated value. The companies, if the purchase offer is accepted, would either seek to cooperate with the United Arab Republic and seek to operate in land seen as part of the UAR, or to take everything of value from those purchased companies overseas to Peru. In addition, in contrast to that, the Peruvian government is offering sanctuary to any Israeli citizen, offering them the ability to flee to Peru. In addition, any Israeli who is fleeing from Israel during this conflict may purchase citizenship in Peru for 5,000 Sol. In addition, any Israeli may take a loan to get that money.[/list]
Peru Seeks Dollars
[list]The Central Bank of Peru is seeking to purchase United Currency in large numbers in order to provide the Peruvian government more financial leverage in critical infrastructure projects currently ongoing in Peru. In exchange, the Peruvian government is willing to provide Peruvian Bonds and resources. In addition, the Peruvian government is also willing to do the same for the currencies of any other interested government. This move was not entirely unexpected, as the Peruvian government is trying to raise a massive amount of money for infrastructure projects. The government has decided to specifically seek out United States Dollars for as Peru seeks to get itself into closer relations with the United States government.[/list]
Lima Subway Network Under Construction
[list]The Lima City government in conjunction to the Peruvian government has commenced construction on a subway system in order to make transit between areas within Lima, Peru easier and faster. This subway system will consist of a number of different lines that shall enable many people to travel throughout the capital city without needing to resort to long car rides. Once completed, experts expect a large amount of current traffic and congestion in the city streets will be replaced by commuters using the subway system for travel instead. The budget and subway routes have not yet been published, but many expect it to be a large amount. In addition, the city is currently debating what price, if any, the subway transit fees would be.[/list]
Teujira, Teymour, Malian Imperial Federation, Austreylia, -Ethiopian Empire
[list][list] THE ETHIOPIAN EMPIRE
የኢትዮጵያ ኢምፓየር[/list][/list]
ADDIS ABABA -|The Negus and other Ethiopian officials or VIPs awaits at the Palace, the royal gates are open, Ethiopians all over Addis Ababa await for African leaders to land on the Haile Selassie Airport, or the A4 Highway, the Addis Ababa Train Station, or the Mawassa Port. The meeting will take place at the Negus' vast Palace Hall, tables and a stage was set up. |
OOC: The African Unity meeting officially begins now, all of you may come by road, train, sea, or air, the main thing is that you must remember that the meeting starts now and at the Ethiopian National Palace, and if you want to do a motorcade, that is available, but only in Addis Ababa. The Stage will be used at the beginning of the meeting for anyone that is willing to give a speech. Any other questions? then DM or Telegram me.
Socialist Democratic Republic Romania, Zanbala Prz, Teymour, Austreylia
[[I]President Menzies has condemned the Israeli attack on the United Arab Republic. In a brief speech made to the National Assembly, President Menzies reaffirmed Australia's support for the United Arab Republic and for peace in the Arab world. The speech was met with unanimous applause from both government and opposition members.[/I]]
Teymour
[list][list][list][list] THE ETHIOPIAN EMPIRE
የኢትዮጵያ ኢምፓየር
_________
|CROWN PRINCE CONDEMNDS ISRALI ATTACK WHILE PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE SUPPORT UAR|[/list][/list]
The Crown Prince of Ethiopia has condemned the United Arab Republic on the attacks on the Israeli. In speech at the Gondar Palace, where Ethiopian Beta Jews, Ethiopian Orthodox priests, and other local Ethiopians has gathered to hear his short speech. "Arab Troops have attacked the rightful holy land of the Jews, This will not be Ignored by the coptic church and beta Jews of Ethiopia. The Arabs want the thirst for expansion and the total destruction into the Holy land. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! The Israeli will not be under the pharaoh's boot again! We Pray for protection among the Israeli troops and people May they be secure who love you! God will lead the way, the End times are near my Ethiopian people's repent for your sins." While the Crown Prince and the Coptic Church (Orthodox Tewahedo Church) support Israel, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and the Minister of Defense support the UAR as they both quote "The Israeli nation has done unjustified attacks on the UAR".
Otsla, Zanbala Prz, Teymour, Austreylia
[list][list][pre]GONGO IS HERE[/pre][/list][/list]
Haile Selassie Airport, hitting down on the strip the Gongolese Air Service touches down after a lengthy journey. The Douglas DC-3 with the Gongolese air roundel at its side comes to a stop and the airfield workers quickly get to work attaching the staircase to the door. The President of the Federal Republic of Gongo, Kairu Mũhoro M'kwam, exits the plan waving at the crowd and giving his signature toothy smile. After greeting and meeting the Ethiopian entourage, President Kairu is escorted to the Royal Palace to meet his fellow leaders.
Teymour, Austreylia, -Ethiopian Empire
Executive Chairman Senghor arrives with a small entourage, dressed in a cheap suit and avoids mingling with other leaders too much in the public eye.
Zanbala Prz, Austreylia, -Ethiopian Empire
1965
A View from Inside: Thomas Sankara, Age 16
| For almost 5 years now, young Thomas had been staying in Timbuktu, the old capital of the Malian Imperial Federation.
|He had witnessed the rise and fall, the strength, and horror of fascist ideology. Men dragged away from their homes and pressed into the service of the military, or even into slavery on some far off building project. He recalled one night laying in bed and hearing the door of his neighbor kicked in, the neighbors had a disabled child, and he heard the child being dragged out while his parents cried and screamed. The father tried to stop the soldiers, and they butchered the whole family. His teacher, a proud nationalist, and fascist had been dragged away and shot in the streets after claims of disloyalty. This was how fascism treated their own, Sankara mused.
|Yet, he had seen the failures of anarchism, when the monarch died with a selfish throw from his window. Sankara saw the anarchy that descended upon the city when food and water ran out, and people prowled the streets, eating cats, dogs, and mice. Idealistic men had preached the salvation of anarchism, but idealism rarely survives in the real world.
|Then, the West African Federation came, it held out its hand offering freedom, worker democracy, and syndicalism. All the reactionaries, and fascists rioted in the streets as the Federation brought peace and freedom. Soon Thomas would be 17, and he planned to go to the military and political science academies in Ouagadougou, near his home. Thomas finally had found a system to believe in, and he would fight to protect it.
Otsla, Zanbala Prz, Teymour, -Ethiopian Empire
https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1533597 my application for Poland I have interests with Cold War RolePlay and soviet puppet states because I have mostly RolePlay countrys in nato
Zanbala Prz
Were currently voting on it my guy :)
Ooc: Stop, most than likely he is elstala.
Peru Tribune
"Your Reliable Source of Peruvian News since 1921."
May 15th, 1965
Bolivian Rebels Dispersed
[list]The Peruvian government has announced that the guerrilla groups, formed my the remnants of the Bolivian military that escaped after the surrender of Bolivia to Peru, have been mostly dispersed. The Peruvian military has spent the past two years hunting down and eliminating the guerrilla forces. The rebel forces have recently just suffered major blows, as coordinated strikes on discovered rebel strongholds led to most of the rebels being killed and the rest being scattered. The military has now transitioned into clean-up operations in order to catch any remaining rebels. While some rebel forces may remain, the government is confident that the rebel problem is effectively solved for the time being. The Peruvian government has taken this achievement as a sign that the relations with the former Bolivians can now be healed.[/list]
Peru-Bolivian Federation Charter Signed
[list]The Charter of the Peruvian-Bolivian Federation has been officially signed and establishes a new united government, consisting of Peru, Eastern Bolivia, and Western Bolivia. This charter seeks to unite the people of Peru and the former nation of Bolivia. The focus of this new nation is the liberty and freedom of the people under a democratic-republican capitalist meritocracy. This new government shall ensure that all of the people have their voices heard. There are 34 states, 25 in the Republic of Peru and 9 in the combined Republics of Eastern and Western Bolivia. The new government, which shall be referred, in shorthand, as the Federation. The Federation has already begun changing document headers and signage to reflect the government change. The government has also began preparing to modify existing military protocols to reflect the new government's status.[/list]
Otsla
Is the vote finished
Post self-deleted by The Reunified German Reich.
HI I have just joined is there anything I should know
Czabalkia
Yes. Please join our Discord for further info.
https://discord.gg/xQGQvxYZ
[list][list]REGNU DI SICILIA - GREAT TITAN OF THE MEDITERANNEAN
[pre]1 January, Anno Domini 1200 - Palermo, Val Di Mazara, Kingdom of Sicily[/pre][/list][/list]
| Since the Saracen Invasions of Southern Italy nearly four hundred years ago, the island of Sicily and the southern mainland have been at the very frontier of Christendom. However, despite Muslim subjugation until as recently as 110 years ago, the Sicilian Kingdom has solidified itself into one of the most prosperous, powerful, and potent powers of the Mediterranean region, a multicultural state blending Italian, Norman, Sicilian, and Arab cultures, languages, customs, beliefs, and knowledge into a super-state at the crossroads of the Mediterranean world where Near East meets West not only in times of war, but in times of peace, bringing untold trade, technology, and art with them. |
| The Kingdom, at the turn of the Century, is not without its faults, to be sure. King Frederick, the ruling sovereign of the Realm, has only just celebrated his fifth birthday on the 26th of December in the Royal Palace at Palermo. The young boy - having taking the Crown of Sicily in 1198 upon the death of his father - has ruled nothing, with a Regency running the Realm's affairs, first under his Mother, Queen Constance, and now under Pope Innocent III. Additionally, as King of the Romans since 1196, Frederick is the de jure heir to the throne of the Holy Roman Empire, a claim contested by his uncle, Philip of Swabia. While Pope Innocent III continues to reign in his name over the Kingdom, the boy spends his days learning the arts of statecraft and chivalry under his tutor, Cencio Savelli. |
| Frederick is far from being of age to rule his Kingdom, or to properly serve as the King of the Romans, and since the establishment of the Regency, the various Barons and Feudal Lords of his Sicilian holdings have begun to directly disobey the orders of Palermo, governing independently of the royal capital. Corruption and near anarchy are rampant throughout the Kingdom, and the glorious days of King Roger II seem far behind. Having lost their holdings in Africa to the Almohad Saracens some decades ago, and with baronial revolts all but commonplace, the future of Sicily at this pivotal time is at a crossroads. |
[list][list][list][list][list][list]ANIMUS TUUS DOMINUS[/list][/list][/list][/list][/list][/list]
Arcanda, Val Verde-, Shamalistan, Gaia Major, Malian Imperial Federation, Zabrowka
Post self-deleted by Gaia Major.
[pre]Year of the Earth Goat
January | 1200 CE [/pre]
[sub]Dragon Pavilion, Palace Complex, Imperial Capital of Kaifeng
[/sub]
荣耀给天子!
[sub]Glory to the Son of Heaven![/sub]
|China stands tall among the community of nations, its people - not without reason - convinced of their position as citizens of the world's mightiest empire. The long-beleaguered Song Dynasty appears to have reclaimed the elusive Mandate of Heaven, with victories over the Jin and Xi-Xia restoring, for the first time in several centuries, Han dominion over all of China: something that has not been seen since the days of the Tang many centuries ago.|
|Amid this atmosphere of newfound prosperity and power, lies an Emperor whose insatiable thirst for expansion has driven the Great Song's recent military conquests: Ningzong. Born into an empire besieged from all directions, he directed the ship of the Chinese state to heights of glory that have been notably missing from its recent past. His ambition and militarism have fueled what has been labeled the Song Restoration: but there are fears that he might soon stretch too far. As it stands, however, China is today a nation of nearly 200 million souls, prosperous, mighty and at the forefront of technological innovation. With the reunification of China, there is talk of expeditions being sent to the barbarian kingdoms in order to secure Chinese dominion over the storied Silk Roads: stories have risen of new powers in the lands to the far West, vying for power and dominion over the white devils.|
|Dark tidings have come forth to the imperial capital of Kaifeng from the sandy steppe to the north - stories of a ruthless, cruel conqueror, who has united the warlike people of Mongolia under a single banner and has prepared for a war of conquest against the Middle Kingdom. They call him Temujin - Khan of Khans. No stranger to the threats posed to Chinese civilisation by the steppe marauders to the north, Emperor Ningzong proclaims the mobilisation of the Imperial Armies to mount a defence of the frontier regions in the north, should these unwashed barbarians take the ill-advised decision to mount an assault on the lands of the Son of Heaven.|
|Far south in the mist-shrouded hills of deep China, come tales of a radically different variety: tales of labourers and industrialists who amid the furious, sooty flames of their new coal-fired forges have been ruminating and innovating, developing new methods of vast mass production, producing wares of steel and iron to cater to the ever-larger Chinese populace. What does this mean for China - an abandonment of the old ways or a much darker future? Perhaps it is only time that will tell.|
|A storm brews to the Northeast amid all this din, as the unruly vassal of Goryeo makes its own attempts to secure its independence from the Chinese vassal system. A flurry of messengers have run between the two empires, making frantic attempts to stave off war. But with diplomatic negotiation yielding practically no result, it seems unlikely that a war of subjugation can be avoided any longer. China waits with bated breath, amid all the dark clouds brewing on the horizon, and steels itself to smash to the earth those who dare oppose it.|
Arcanda, Teujira, Val Verde-, Otsla, Shamalistan, Czabalkia, Teymour, Malian Imperial Federation, Indril
ok thanks
[list][sup]JANUARY 1ST 1200 AD[/sup]
THE KINGDOM OF ENGLAND IN ANNO DOMINI 1200 [/list]
___
[sup]The Court of King Richard, City of Chinon, County of Touraine, The Kingdom of England.[/sup]
___
| It is the year 1200 in the Kingdom of England and it is lead by King Richard "the Lionheart". A man who up until recently spent a combined six entire months in his realm of which he has ruled for 11 years. Most of his reign was spent in the holy land, fighting in the third crusade against his rival Saladin. However after news of his brother gearing up to seize the throne he negotiated an end to the conflict and left to go to his kingdom, which hit some snags as he was captured by the Holy Roman Empire at the suggestion of Richard's brother John and the French King, as john planned to take the crown while Richard was in prison. He however got back to his kingdom after paying a ridiculous sum of 150,000 marks or 100,000 pounds of silver. |
| Richard forgave John when he returned and even named him his heir although it was a temporary arrangement to appease him, John also knew this despite not being told. After that Richard focused on pushing back the french invasion that had begun as Prince John revolted. In the end John would push the french out of Normandy (which they had nearly overrun entirely) and captured the entire french archive of financial audits and documents as he pushed the french out of not just Normandy but the other lands they were attempting to invade in the south. |
| Soon after in 1199 King Richard was sieging Châlus Chabrol, to put down a small localized revolt when a loose crossbow bolt struck him on the head, luckily it was a glancing blow and only gave him a mild concussion but the fact he came that close to death terrified Richard. He went on to sack Châlus Chabrol entirely, recovering a small recently discovered treasury full of roman gold there. After successfully taking the castle he had every one of the defenders put to death. Richard was not a very forgiving fellow. |
| After his near death experience he began giving more attention to securing his French lands, as well as devoting slightly more attention to England than before. However the most important thing he did was reinstate his 13 year old nephew Arthur of Brittany as his heir and began teaching him the few things he knew about statecraft as well as putting him under the tutelage of trusted advisors appointed by Richard. He would also consider making Arthur the Prince-Regent of his English territories at a later date. These actions, preparing Prince Arthur for leadership of the Kingdom would plunge the realm in chaos. |
___________________
| "Dieu et mon droit" |
___________________
Val Verde-, Otsla, Teymour, Gaia Major, Malian Imperial Federation, Zabrowka, Indril
[pre]Battle for Oslo
March | 1200 CE [/pre]
[sub]Oslo, Occupied Bagler Lands[/sub]
| King Sverre of Norway spent the winter in Oslo, a land formerly possessed by the Baglers during the previous year. During that winter, he had used his authority to call on more soldiers to be sent to Oslo to aide in the securing of the formerly Bagler lands. The occupation by King Sverre was not appreciated by many of the locals, who preferred the pretender king that was backed by the Archbishop. While spreading rumors and lies about the Baglers and the backers of the Baglers, many of the peasants who supported the Baglers rose up in defiance of the rightful king. This culminated in a battle on the 6th of March. This battle between the battle-hardened troops of King Sverre and the unorganized and untrained peasants. The peasants were soundly defeated and executed. King Sverre decided to set up permanent fortifications in Oslo in order to secure it against attempts by the Baglers to reclaim it. The new fortification would also serve as a way to control the surrounding areas still favoring the pretender king. |
| In order to punish those who support the Baglers, King Sverre made a new declaration. He declared that all lands and property belonging to the Baglers and those who support the Baglers, now belong to the king and shall be redistributed to those loyal to the king. He even stripped all titles of nobility and all aristocratic privileges from the Baglers and those supporting the baglers. He even declared that all baglers and those supporting the Baglers lose all inheritance and they and their progeny shall be ineligible for the Crown or any title of nobility. |
| King Sverre, seeing if the Baglers would take the bait, had messengers 'leak' out rumors that King Sverre left to return to Bergen and that only a small contengent of soldiers were left behind in Oslo. In the mean time, he sent a letter to the Pope asking for help and for advice on a quick resolution to the Baglers. The letter to the Pope contained many lies and rumors with the intention of making the Archbishop supported Baglers appear to be without morals or Church values. One topic within the letter was asking for the Pope to appoint a new Archbishop. The letter even accuses the Archbishop and the pretender king of performing evil pegan rituals. |
Teujira, Val Verde-, Shamalistan, Czabalkia, Teymour, Gaia Major, Malian Imperial Federation, Zabrowka, Indril
hi ill frequently leave and come back to this region ,i have to regions to be soooo
The Sultanate of Rum Born after Suleiman ibn Qutulmish conquered Iznik and declared himself sultan, and survivor against more than one crusade had recently a crisis of rulership in the 90s after Suleiman the second went against his brother kai Chosrau the first and took overruling the sultanate. even after taking over, he is not safe a sudden death could mean the fall of his family lineage from the throne but he is certain that his reign will bring back the strength of the sultanate of rum he has prepared an invasion of Erzurum to finally end the beylik of the saltukiden. But that's not all he has grand ambitions to one day have even Constantinople itself under his control. But this sultanate is much more than just a state it's a mix of Turko-Persian and greek-roman culture which brings fourth beautiful art mosques and more. while the greek influence is mainly limited to the aristocracy and their sway over land and office where even they need to learn Persian. But one of the strongest figures of all is the vizir which controls more than one divan which organizes certain offices of military postal offices and accounting departments while the sultan is away on a campaign and taking the direction in civil-military and religious affairs.
Of course, the different noble factions will have a great say on what will happen but the tactic of divide and conquer will always work out since even the byzantine aristocracy has grudges against each other.
the Seljuk Aristocracy
The Seljuk aristocracy is the majority even though they do sometimes have less wealth compared to the Byzantine aristocracy they do have an impressive lifestyle and control large swats of land. they do scabble over succession in their families but the strongest one is the family of the sultan itself in sheer wealth. But the scabble over the throne left many different factions
like the danischmende who rival the sultanate of rum and may back the fallen sultan against the current one if the situation allows it since their family got incorporated into the Selkuj empire
in the year 1178 after Kilic Arslan, the second conquered Malatya feelings of revenge may still linger.
The Greek Aristocracy
This group of aristocracy sees it as their duty to defend Christianity even while serving this empire and some do still have family living in the byzantine empire but they only serve minor roles in the government their lands are in the outskirts of the empire but they are highly valued since they can speak Persian and greek meaning they can help organize and administer the lands more directly also ready and command more troops for war and their loyalty is rewarded. some houses still try to weaken the state but with good jobs and money to spend most are satisfied.
Roma invicta
Teujira, Val Verde-, Otsla, Czabalkia, Teymour, Gaia Major, Malian Imperial Federation, Indril
Era: Joshkar I Year: 3
Scouting Missions
|Biran stood quietly, his shield and spear resting against his arm while he waited. The whole village had come out in celebration, he had just turned 16 years, and received his first markings. A simple marking it said his family's sigil along his back. Now he would attempt to strike out and gain honor for himself by being sent on a scouting mission to the North. He would be part of a small scouting party, each member is given a special task. He had been trained and molded to fight, he would serve as an auxiliary guard as it was his first mission. Accompanying the group were several griots, and map makers writing on animal skins.
|Biran shivered with anticipation, the local sangomas danced around them, shouting praises and throwing water upon their heads as an offering to the Gods, to bless their journey. King Joshkar I Nixsum stepped to the group, placing a hand upon each of their heads and saying a silent prayer. He had spent the first 2 years of his reign consolidating and now he would strike out to expand the Kingdoms' borders. Biran and his group left the village and began their trek north.
Redemption is Rising as the Shadows Build Upon West Africa
Teujira, Val Verde-, Otsla, Czabalkia, Teymour, Indril
[list][list]THE COMING OF A NEW REGENT
[pre]Spring, Anno Domini 1200 - Palermo, Val Di Mazara, Kingdom of Sicily[/pre][/list][/list]
| In the grand Palazzo dei Normanni, the winds of change are blowing fiercely. |
| It had come with the death of Henry VI, King of Sicily and Emperor of the Romans, in 1197. With his death, the historically centralized Kingdom has fallen into a state of baronial dominance, with the vassals holding preeminent power over the Royal Court in Palermo. Especially in the mainland, farthest away from the Norman Palace, the various Barons, Dukes, and other feudal lords have all but established themselves as independent rules of their various holdings, in defiance of Palermo. Henry VI, having placed Sicily under the control of the House of Hohenstaufen in 1194, has left only a young heir, Prince Frederick, no older than a small child and equally incapable as one. Though under the tutelage of many of Europe's finest theological and intellectual thinkers, the regency under Pope Innocent III has proven incapable of governing the country through the central government, presenting an opportunity to fortuitous noblemen looking to stake their claim in Sicily. |
| Enter Philip, Duke of Swabia and King of Germany. A fellow member of the House of Hohenstaufen and Frederick I's uncle, the lesser Duke has had his own fair share of dynastic disputes, namely the dispute over the throne of Roman Emperor between himself and Otto of Brunswick, grandson of English King Henry II, and claimant to the various thrones of the Roman Empire. Seeing in Sicily an opportunity to extend his influence while he continues to contest the throne of the Holy Roman Empire, Philip of Swabia has concocted a plan to all but pacify the Sicilian Kingdom. With Philip's permission, one of his Imperial Officers, Markward von Annweiler, has sailed to Sicily with a handful of men intent on taking Palermo and claiming the regency for himself. A trusted official within Philip's court, Markward's capture of Palermo and institution of a regency under him will secure Philip's domination of the much prized throne of Sicily and allow him to expand his influence to the south of the Papacy, a bitter enemy of the Roman Empire. |
| Markward's fleet, consisting of Genoese war galleys and feudal imperial knights, arrive in Sicily in the late spring of the Year of our Lord 1200. Desperately unprepared to really defend from this force, the feudal lords of the island more or less allow the invading force to land unopposed, seeing no reason to get involved in the dynastic squabbles between a man and his uncle. Markward, leading the force of a few thousand mounted knights, unloads his men off the ships on a beach in western Sicily. Slowly but surely, as the men make up camp, Markward prepares a long list of feudal duchies and barons which will need to be forced to submit to his regency before he can make his way to Palermo and seize the young King Frederick. However, with the Pope in Rome and with no real means of enforcing his Regency, Markward's conquest of Sicily will be an easy one. |
Teujira, Val Verde-, Otsla, Teymour, Malian Imperial Federation, Indril
LA VANITÀ VENEZIANA VENETA VANITAS EST[/B]
[sub]11001200 AD | VeneziaCostantinopoli[/sub]
[AN OVERVIEW OF VENETIAN VANITY AND ARROGANCE]
[I]Since the days of the First Crusade in 1096, Venetian vanity alone has driven it's infamous war machine of plunder, conquest, and glory leading to the eventual construction of Venice's large National Arsenal in 1104 and since then the Papalcy has called upon La Serenissima and her opportunistic Doge more than once for military support during the Holy conflicts. The Arsenal allowed the Republic to build newer, more formidable fleets which supported expansion into the eastern Mediterranean and the Adriatic. The expansion of maritime mercantile exchange from Venice throughout the late 11th and early 12th Century eventually would contribute greatly to the notion of 'Venetian vanity', as well the dominance of overseas business affairs. Particularly, the Republic had secured large-scale trading concessions from Byzantine Emperor, Alexios I Komnenos. Subsequent extensions of these privileges and Byzantium's own naval impotence at the time resulted in a virtual maritime monopoly and stranglehold over the Empire by the Venetians.
In effort to reduce this influence, Manuel I Komnenos, the grandson of Alexios I Komnenos, concluded similar deals with Genoa, Pisa, and Amalfi, all rival city-states of Venice, with eventually all four cities being allowed to establish their own respective quarters in northern Constantinople, towards the Golden Horn. The predominance of Western merchants, especially those considered "Latin" by any means caused socio-political upheaval as big exporters tied to the landed aristocracy increasingly amassed large estates and accelerated the decline of native merchants. Coupled with the arrogance associated with the Westerners and the religious differences between the two sides, who viewed each other as schismatics, this fueled popular resentment across the Empire, among middle and lower classes both in the cities and countryside alike.
By the mid-late 12th Century, a series of treacherous schemes were mounted back and forth between the varying Genoese, Pisan, and Venetian merchant guilds to destabilize one another's influences in Constantinople. One example in 1162, the Pisans together with a few Venetians orchestrated a devastating raid on the Genoese quarter of the city, causing widespread damages. Subsequently, Emperor Manuel had a vast quantity of Pisans and Genoese expelled from the city, allowing the Venetians to take their right place on top with unopposed operation for nearly a decade. Fatefully, in 1171, a Venetian scheme against the reemerging rival guilds of merchants in Constantinople led to yet another attack on the Genoese quarter, it nearly being entirely destroyed. Challenged by this "Venetian Arrogance", Manuel I Komnenos decreed a mass arrest of all Venetians across the Byzantine realm, in addition to the seizure of all properties thereafter. Doge Michiel summoned his board of high councillors, the sapienti, for a meeting. They overwhelmingly urged the Doge to proceed with caution as many of the reports they received from Byzantium were fantastical, and they deemed it wise to first ascertain if many of these facts were true, and then assess the damage, with the Doge agreeing with this course of action. However, as Doge Michiel began to lay out his plans to attempt to solve the issue diplomatically, a convoy of 20 Venetian vessels, a few lucky stragglers who had managed to escape the arrests, arrived in the Venetian lagoon. They told great stories of the Byzantines' betrayal, and, as citizens began to pour out of their houses to listen to the stories, the sailors were able to stir up the rancor of the populace, effectively motivating them to seek revenge. The people gathered outside of the Ducal Palace, urging the Doge to undertake a retaliatory strike against the Byzantines. Michiel had little choice, and, against his and the sapienti's better judgment, he set out for war.
La Serenissima dispatched her famed and prided 120 galley fleet to Byzantium's Aegean shores with vengeance upon their hearts. However, the strength of Imperial Byzantine forces proved too concentrated, alongside unfavorable windage and weather conditions, Doge Michiel and Emperor Manuel accepted mutual negotiation pleas for their own reasons. The Emperor dragged the talks out intentionally through the Winter, leaving the Venetian Fleet moored at Chios awaiting the outcome of the negotiations with angst, up until an outbreak of the Black Death began spreading across the vessles and now faced against 150 Byzantine ships, forced the subsequent withdrawal of the Venetian Navy from the Aegean.
Bitterly, La Serenissima de Venezia and the Byzantine Empire still remained at war, though Venice employed a new strategem of avoiding direct confrontation, all while simultaneously sponsoring of Serb uprisings, and besieging Ancona, the last Byzantine stronghold on the mainland, and signing a treaty with the Norman Kingdom of Sicily. Meanwhile, the Genoese and Pisans profited from the dispute with Venice, and by the time of Manuel I Komnenos' death in 1180, it is estimated that up to 60,000 Latins live in Constantinople. In the wake of Manuel's passing, his widow, the Latin princess Maria of Antioch, acted as regent to her infant son Alexios II Komnenos. Her regency was notorious for the favoritism shown to Latin merchants and the big aristocratic land-owners, ultimately being overthrown two years later in Aprilis 1182, by Manuel's cousin, Andronikos I Komnenos, invited back to the Empire from exile by porphyrogenita Maria Komnene, Manuel's eldest daughter. The celebrations and jeers of Andronikos' return soon turned to a violent mob enacting it's revenge on the long-resented Latins, what ensued soon thereafter however, was a massacre on wide-scale proportion both by Imperial Authorities and Greek civilians alike who scorched homes, slaughtered children, and ravaged mothers like mindless creatures. Even Latin patients lying in hospital beds were murdered, all while houses, churches, and charities were looted. Latin clergymen received special attention, and Cardinal John, the papal legate, was beheaded and his head was dragged through the streets by the tail of a dog. Andronikos allowed the massacre to proceed unchecked, having managed to incite the anti-Latin sentiment of the City on the grounds that the Empress Maria and the protosebastos, Alexios Komnenos, her advisor and lover, had bought the Latin support by promising them the chance of plundering the city. In the aftermath of the savagery, the bulk of the Latin community, Eustathius of Thessalonica, was wiped out or forced to flee. The Genoese and Pisan communities especially were decimated, and some 4,000 survivors were sold as slaves to the Sultanate of Rûm.
The Republic was embarrassed and humiliated, and many of her vassals began taking advantages of the situation, with the Dalmatian city of Zara successfully rebelling against Venetian rule only a year later in 1183. The city then put itself under the dual protection of the papacy and Emeric, King of Hungary. The Dalmatians separated from Hungary by a treaty in 1199, and they paid Hungary with a portion of Macedonia. Shortly after his election as pope in 1198, Pope Innocent III published several papal encyclicals calling for the invasion and recapture of the Holy Land from the Muslims. His plan to accomplish this differed from the earlier ultimately unsuccessful Second and Third crusades in several ways. Instead of the secular nobles who led the earlier crusades, this one would be, in theory, completely under papal control. Innocent's plan also called for the invading armies to travel to Egypt by sea and seize the Nile Delta, which would then be used as a base from which to invade Palestine. His call was at first poorly received among the ruling families of Europe, but by 1200, an army of approximately 35,000 was formed. Therein, Pope Innocent III entered into negotiations with the Most Serene Republic of Venice to construct a Fleet of warships and horse transports for the Crusader forces. The Pope and Doge Enrico Dandolo came to a generous stipulation of 94,000 Marks to be paid to La Serenissima in installments, alongside the calling of a war council to be held in Soissons within a year to begin the planning and annoint a leader for the expedition. Subsequently, the agreement between the Venetians and the Crusaders had set the date for the arrival of the host in Venezia before the end of Aprilis 1202, in order to provide for an ideal departure in time for a summer crossing at the end of Iunius.
[spoiler=|VENETIAN VANITY AND THE FOURTH CRUSADE|]
Lux Lumen[/spoiler]
Teujira, Otsla, Czabalkia, Teymour, Malian Imperial Federation, Indril
Era: Joshkar I Year: 3
The Scouting Party: Part 2
|Biran and his party returned tired and overjoyed to be home. The whole village of Yalenzhou came to celebrate the safe return of the men. Feasts were held beasts were slaughtered and sacrificed to the Gods. Late into the night the village feasted and partied, gathering around the fire and watching the dances of the medicine men. Slowly as the fires died in the night people returned to their huts to sleep, leaving a few men by the fires.
| Among these men was King Joshkar I, he asked the men about their journey, and looked over the maps scribbled upon animal skins by the Griots during the journeys. The local tribes which had called themselves Wakore, and spoke a language similar to Jasumaan. The tribal villages had been rather friendly to the scouts, and Griots offering gifts, and friendship. It was assumed that with a strong show of force, maybe the capture of the largest village in the area, could easily subjugate the disorganized and docile Wakore.
|Even before the return of the party, King Joshkar had begun sending out requests for soldiers. Petitioning members of the Gbara for their support, with the return of the scouting party, Joshkar would wait until the end of the rainy season before marching north at the head of an army of a few hundred, to a thousand men. They would be fighting the largest concentration of Wakore near a Lake they called Sélingué. The tribes will disorganized would outnumber the veteran and hardened soldiers of Joshkar. The campaign would soon begin, and the rise or fall of Jasumaa was at stake.
Teujira, Val Verde-, Otsla, Indril, Jasumaa
Post by Elysua suppressed by Val Verde-.
Western Siberia
9:51 standard Pacific
Era: 4th year of khanate (present)
The hunt
Bat Erdene gazed down at his fresh kill an old and sickly musk deer Hey Gantulga why dont you come over Ive found us our next meal! His friend came over to inspect the carcass and began to prepare to bring it home. It had been a hard winter that year and if the merchants are to be trusted the eastern khanate had begun its march through the forest towards the distant mountain rim of the world (the Ural Mountains). we should get ready to head back home gantulga said Okay just give me some time Bat Erdene replied.
After skinning the deer they began to move east towards their village, but as they did so they heard in the distance something that made his blood freeze. A loud cry could be heard Mam Please stay calm we arent hear to hurt anyone, Unless you dont want to be under the rule of our khan Khatun another voice replied as the entered the small clearing of trees the village was located in Stop strangers who are you and please drop your weapons we are here only to invite your people to join their eastern kin. As the man uttered these words an arrow caught his neck and he collapsed...
1 day later in the capital
Have we gotten any news from the expeditions yet Khatun asked no, we havent even gotten a peep from any of the groups or any letters from the confederation yet Khatun smiled well we can only assume that they have been ambushed, prepare my task force. I will set out tomorrow if the confederacy wont take our offer then we will take it ourselves.
Jasumaa
Sultanat of rum
The year 1200AD
Imperial palace
Sultan Suleiman the second thought about the Red moon eclipse that happened this year, He remembered it vividly His court and religious advisors tried to find its meaning. He stared into the Red apple in his hand he remembered what his advisors said his realm was in a state where its fate will soon be decided. He thought long and hard about this fate and why such a thing would happen to him now but deep down he knew why the Pope and the Byzantines these people always were the natural enemies of the Seljuks, the Byzantines wanted to push out the Seljuks out of their lands and the popes calling crusades against the middle east and to recapture the holy lands. He knew that another crusade was likely against him what he also knew is that whenever the pope commanded a crusade thousands of peasants would plunder the kingdoms on their way. He needed to prepare and secure his power as best as possible and better his defenses. And so he made up his mind and got ready to implement what he thought would be needed to do to survive another crusade. Of course, he knew he still had a few years long enough to horde resources and reinforce old defenses. Of course, he wanted to show the Georgians that the sultanate was far from over and wanted to go east and annex the saltukids but that would anger them since the state pays tribute to the Georgians it would surely mean war. but he had an idea he didnt thought war was not happening but he would make it happen in a favorable position. The Plan in his head started to take form.
ROMA INVICTA
Teujira, Val Verde-, Otsla, Czabalkia, Teymour, Indril, Jasumaa
Sultanat of rum
The year is 1200AD
On the way to mengujekid
This principality of the mengujekids is weird since both family lineages accept the rum. Emperor as their leader but there is one great difference
This principality is still semi-autonomous. and the man who rides with elite noble cavalry by his side knows that this province finally needs to be under sultan rule and much more than that he also needs to get rid of the local aristocracy so a loyal leader can be put into their place it is gonna take some time but the cavalry which is their too quell the rebellion that is gonna rise up in the vassal state is gonna link up with the personal guards of the once rival sultan Kaykhusraw the first. Soon they will be able to go be at their destination at the 4th cycle of this year. the road is long but this mission of securing this state is important to get ready against the Georgian crusader state and not only that every brother that owned a province will soon have the sultan's advisors visiting and inspecting them to find out the possibility of a conspiracy faster and put them under more sultan control. But first, the mengujekids need to be taken, the state of the mengujekids doesn't even worry about the cavalry they think it's just the nobles going hunting with a brother of the sultan but this is so much more than this quietly the sultan has limited news for the state and prepared this and while it may take half a year to get to there when he secures the state he can work on his bigger projects. The sultan also sends a letter to the noble aristocrats with the cavalry that they either have the option of subjugation and live or death and the purging of their names of the historical records to point at the state and say "look they rebelled against rum and nobody even knows their sultan anymore "
But this mission was extremely secret since the mangujekids needed to be brought down to their knees without a fight to make it look like for the peasants that everything is fine and not give them any ideas to rebel against them with their local aristocrat and duke.
So they started to ride faster to not fall behind.
But who are these people? They are aristocrats nobles and dukes loyal to the king and his cause of centralizing the state. But there is one who is the leader of this fighting force Yusuf içlar at 27 years old he was still a titan on the battlefield strong imposing 1.9meters of pure strength that's why they took him for this mission but to say that he was only taken for his looks and strength is not true at all. He was somebody who when most people saw an unsolvable problem he saw unlimited glory that could be achieved. He was known for desperate cavalry charges into enemy lines as well as being able to stay calm under high pressure. He was born into a noble family not famously rich but good enough to live well. He had two brothers and a sister who got married to another noble family. His childhood was packed with needing to learn everything from math to writing to sword fighting and while his brother showed themselves to be good statesmen his talent was in sword fighting. First having a job as a statesman he then helped in the many wars at a young age.
He was loyal to the bone for the sultan even supporting him against Sultan Kaykhusraw the first
And as he rode on his horse watching the Sun fall to the ground he wondered how the next few coming days will be.
Roma Invicta
Val Verde-, Otsla, Czabalkia, Teymour, Indril
Post self-deleted by The Reunified German Reich.
Post self-deleted by Jasumaa.
Post self-deleted by Elysua.
Sultanat of Rum
The year is 1200 AD
Arriving at the meeting point
Yusuf iclar and his cavalry finally arrived at the old sultan's small palace where he has everything someone could want. They ride before the Palace and dismount the many servants quickly take the horses to the fields to let them rest and eat. The nobles and Yusuf are being brought into the palace the first room is beautiful decorated with the finest metals and when going straight leads to the Sultan's garden the left and right are corridors that lead to the many different rooms from tightly packed places sleep for servants to a kitchen. but both corridors lead to the resting places of Kaykhusraw the first. But the servants told them that he was currently not here but was sorting out a problem with two local rival aristocrats who argued over who had the rights to a river that flowed through both of their territories. Needless to say, it somehow escalated into the two nobles trying to let their farmers fight for them to win the rights to the river through trial by combat. Yusuf of course had no problem with this he said: as long as we are on time and do not fail I see no problems taking a break.
The servant replied: perfect we prepared your meals for today follow me so I can bring you and you're men to their rooms.
The servant showed them the way and Yusuf now finally started to look at the person before him more clearly it was a young man of small stature with a black beard. After following him for a while he halted at a corridor and said: there are your rooms. You can pick whatever room you like now if you excuse me I need to help somewhere else. the man went away with fast and small steps to attend duties elsewhere.
While these men rested and ate to regain strength for their coming task kaykhrushraw
Was at the same time dealing with the two minor noble houses after he stopped the farmers from fighting each other and defused the situation Wich in his mind only children would ever be able to produce the declared the river free for everybody wanting to use it. That made the minor nobles named kara and haciv very angry but going against one of the sultan's brothers was an idea they even saw was not gonna go well. So after finally settling that problem and stopping his subjects from killing each other, he started to ride back to his Palace. It was getting late tomorrow he and his guards would finally march into mengujekid territory and he couldn't wait to do it.
Roma Invicta
Teujira, Antillian, Otsla, Waclia, Czabalkia, Teymour, Indril
[pre]Second Battle for Oslo
November | 1200 CE [/pre]
[sub]Oslo[/sub]
| King Sverre of Norway spent the year in Oslo, shoring up its defenses, while also beating back Bagler forces, repeatedly. King Sverre got the upper hand really early on in the battle, as he used his forces to surprise the Bagler forces, who though King Sverre left for Bergen early in the year. The Baglers were unable to get another foothold in Norway for the rest of the year. Meanwhile, the Baglers sent all the forces they could to Norway to try to overrun the Defenses at Oslo, which at this time were mostly wood fortifications. King Sverre had a number of Trebuchets built inside of the fortifications at Oslo as a means of long distance warfare to keep enemy forces away from the inner walls of the fortifications. While most of the fortifications were wood, King Sverre was having a new castle built in Oslo, not only as a means of solidifying his hold over the area, but also with the intention of eventually moving his Capital to Oslo, as it was a more central location from which he could enact his future plans for Scandinavia. |
| King Sverre sought to solidify his rule for future generations. To do this, he negotiated an alliance with the Kingdom of England, through the use of a marriage contract. The contract was to be between Prince Arthur of England and Christina of Norway. This marriage contract would both solidify an alliance between the Kingdoms of England and Norway, but it would also ensure the legacy of King Richards continues. Included in this contract was the awarding of the symbolic title of Slektning, which while not having any actual fiefdom or authority with it, both is a hereditary title showing a blood relation with the royal family of Norway and allows the titled family a single estate in the capital city of Norway. While the future of Norway was uncertain, King Sverre believed that this arranged marriage would allow the continuation of his dynasty with the support of the Kingdom of England. |
Teujira, Otsla, Miwok-, Teymour, Indril, Jasumaa
Post self-deleted by The Dixie Armed Republic.
Post by The Dixie Armed Republic suppressed by a moderator.
good riddance
[list][list]I AM KING JOHN I: HEAR THIS NAME AND KNOW I RULE IN CHRIST'S NAME
[pre]1200 A.D. - Awassa, Aethiopic Kingdom[/pre][/list][/list]
| For the better part of five decades, the Christian Warlord Iohannes of Abaya has led his forces to victory after victory, forging a theocratic Kingdom for himself within the mountains of southern Aethiopia. Marching under the banner of the cross, King Iohannes I has not only established a Kingdom stretching from Gambela in the west to the Bale Mountains in the East, but has established himself as a heroic and almost mythical figure in Christian Europe, seen as an icon of the defense of Christianity against Pagans and Saracens beyond Europe's frontiers. Though variously attested to as being a Persian, Indian, or even Turkic Nestorian Christian, the actual Iohannes I Presbyter lives in a luxurious stone palace within the Royal Capital of Awassa, constructed under the supervision of his long-time right-hand, the architect Tewodros of Nekemte. Serving doubly as a Church and a Palace, the Palace of Awassa serves as a visible representation of King John's fiersome might within his Kingdom. |
| John's conquests across southern Aethiopia have taken their toll on the monarch - now in his early 80s, John has overseen over fifty years of battles against native Pagans and Arabo-Somali Muslims to the northeast and south. A victorious leader in battle, the elder monarch spends all of his time not on campaign within the Chapel of the Royal Palace of Awassa, praying to God and meditating the Gospels. When on campaign, John's armies march under a banner depicting the Cross, wield large spears fashioned in the image of the Cross, and bear shields with artistic depictions of scenes from within the New Testament such as the Gospels and Revelations. A man thoroughly dedicated to his religion and the perfection of the art of war, King John's knowledge of all things in these fields is immense and, despite his physical age, he retains the sprightly mind of the young conqueror he once was. |
| With death soon to surely approach the monarch, John's mortality has really begun to set in. His Kingdom, though already large, has left much to be desired by the warlord himself. His armies, larger than ever now, stand ready for further conquest. There is much to still be done in what little may remain of John's life . . . and perhaps, the elderly Warrior-King may go on one last campaign. |
Teujira, Otsla, Czabalkia, Miwok-, Teymour, Indril, Jasumaa
[list][sup]JANUARY 1ST 1200 AD[/sup]
THE HOLY EMPIRE OF VOLGA-BULGARIA[/list]
[sup]The Antipapal Court of Bartholomew Svinos, The Holy Empire of Volga-Bulgaria[/sup]
In 1198, the current leader of the Bogomil Order of Knights, Bartholomew Svinos, declared himself an antipope, and urged Bogomils to support him in his claim. Thousands fled to Volga to join the cause, uniting to back who they saw as the rightful religious leader. The population almost doubled, as Bogomils made the long pilgrimage to Volga, as they saw it as their holy destiny being fulfilled, and they finally had a homeland of their own.
Worried by the heresy and growing size of the independent region in Volga-Bulgaria, with thousands of Bogomils flocking to this new land, the local ruler, the Emir, sent forth an army to suppress them. Believing them to be no more than rabble, a peasants revolt at worst, he thought it would be over quickly and bloodily. Indeed, vastly outnumbering the Bogomil knights, it should have, by all expectations, been an easy victory. But they'd missed two key things.
The first was that they underestimated the valour and zeal of the Bogomils, who, believing it to be a holy war, fought to the last breath of the last man. From across the land, they answered the call, swelling the numbers of Volga to unprecedented sizes. They fought tooth and claw to protect what they now perceived as the Holy Land.
Second was the brilliant and ruthless mind of Bartholomew, who knew he couldn't win a direct battle with such superior forces. Instead, he employed guerilla tactics. With cavalry, they would strike at the flanks, then retreat, strike at the heels and retreat. Archers hidden in the rocks or long grass or trees would loose volleys of arrows into their midst, then slink away in the shadows. The Volgan troops learned to fear every corner and every nook and cranny. The constant paranoia and fear was almost worse than the actual battles. When they came across a village, they would have no idea who was part of the Bogomil army or who was an innocent bystander, and many times the Volgan army put whole towns to the blade, and burned it to the ground, just to be certain.
Eventually, though, worn down by the constant harrying, the Volgan army fractured. At that point, the main bulk of the Bogomil army swept in and cleaned up the remnants, easily defeating the exhausted and splintered Volgan forces. It was a massacre, and became known as the Day of Red Snow, as the ground was so stained with Volgan blood that it smoked in the freezing air. The victorious army captured the Prince and heir to the throne, who was leading the enemy forces, and tortured him for several days, until he swore allegiance to the Bogomil faith. Then they gouged out his eyes, cut off his hands, and ripped out his tongue, before sending him back to his father as an example. The Emir raged, and mourned for his son, but it worked. They had broken his spirit, his will to fight, and at last, in the Bogomils minds, they had won their crusade. The Volgan army surrendered, and just days later the Emir, with no other options, ceded power and abdicated. The crown was broken, and the antipope Bartholomew was set up in it's stead, and the Bogomils had their homeland.
Teujira, Otsla, Shamalistan, Czabalkia, Miwok-, Teymour, The Reunified German Reich, Jasumaa
Era: Joshkar I Year: 3-4
The Shadow Strikes North
|King Joshkar and his army of 500 Kingsguard, 750 elite banners, and 4,000 serf soldiers marched north for Lake Selingue. It was hoped that they would find a battle with the largest village of the Wakore.
|On the path to Lake Selingue, several small villages came into contact with Joshkars forces, seeing his large army, many small villages swore fealty, allowing some of their meager surplus goods to go to the army. Some men even joined Joshkar in his march, lured by promises of land, and power. Several smaller villages also refused to swear fealty to King Joshkar, he set their towns alight and enslaved those who resisted, stealing their food and supplies before moving on.
| Finally, King Joshkar would reach Lake Selingue and would encounter the strongest of the villages in the region. King Joshkars army would number around 7,500 soldiers with the incorporation of the other tribes tributes. While across from him was Petty King of the Kalana who's army numbered an estimated 10-12,000. Knowing his army was better trained but undermanned Joshkar organized his army into smaller tightly packed formations. The spearmen would guard in front with should and spear, while archers would lay volleys of poison-tipped arrows from behind the shield wall with a final short sword infantry following behind. These smaller formations would allow faster maneuvering around the bulky Wakore army formation.
|Battle of Kalanga
The Battle of Kalanga began shortly before the end of the 3rd Year of King Joshkar, the armies massed against each other, before the battle began, King Joshkar divided his army into hinges, which upon given signal would break away from normal formation and envelop the enemy upon their sides. He left his less experienced men in the central crux of the army. He would leave the left and right flanks under the control of his brothers Joshkir, and Jozhargo. Joshkar himself would take up position behind the central crux, to rally and keep order among the less well disciplined tribals, and serfs. In the battle itself the central thrust would begin to fall back under enemy attack, this would allow the hinges to swing around the flanks and entrap the enemy. The King of the Kalanga himself would be struck by a poisoned arrow and would fall on the battlefield, with the remaining soldiers that could, falling back.
|Several thousand enemy soldiers had been captured in the battle, it was then King Joshkar offered them a choice. Swear off their old gods, Islam or otherwise and obey the Gods of Jasumaa, or die. Several hundred would refuse with Joshkar ordering their impalement through their own spears. He had the medicine men accompanying, build a shrine to the God of Death, and void Lankolo. The war was not over; however as surrounding villages would need to be brought into heel.
Teujira, Otsla, Miwok-, Indril
[list]MARCH 1200
BAGHDAD, ABBASID CALIPHATE MIDDLE EAST[/list]
[list][list][sub][pre]نَصْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ
Victory From Allah & Imminent Conquest
IN THE ISLAMIC EAST[/pre][/sub]
[/list][/list]
[list][list][sub]From the oasis of Khwarazm, south of the Aral Sea and at the mouth of Amu Darya River, the House of Anushtegin had dethroned the once mighty Seljukshahs from their Persian and Khorasani domains. As the Anushtegins had once acted as loyal governors for the Seljuks, it could certainly be seen as ironic, that they supplanted their former master, Toghrul III, in battle and had him murdered. The man behind this, called Ala Al-Din Tekish; Ala Al-Din meaning the nobility of faith in Arabic, and Tekish meaning the one who strikes in battle in his native Kipchak Turkic, had been supported by Caliph Al-Nasser Li-Din Allah. A shrewd and calculating politician, this Abbasid Caliph, much like Tekish, was looking to assert his independence from the Seljuks. When latter assumed custodianship over Seljuk Persia, the Abbasids, now reduced to just the rulers of Mesopotamia but still the spiritual leaders of Islam, seized the moment to end 250 years of foreign tutelage. Caliph Al-Nasser's alliance with Tekish had paid off. For the first time since 1055 CE, he was the first Caliph with actual power, and was therefore elevated to more than a figurehead. For the Abbasids, taking advantage of Khorasani political infighting was not a new trend or strategy. In fact, they were the ones who had once embraced Seljuk conquest, against the Shia Iranian Buyids who had once ruled over Baghdad, much to the humiliation of the Caliphs. What was different is that Tekish never thrusted forward into Mesopotamia, and in fact, granted the former Seljuk-ruled regions of Bilad Al-Jibal and Arabistan to the trusteeship of Al-Nasser, in a sign of good faith. In 1195 CE, a year after defeating Shah Toghrul, the Caliph sent his favourite daughter, Asma Bint Zumurrud, to be married to the Khwarazmshah. It was a political marriage, solidifying the Caliphs recognition of Tekish as ruler of the Islamic East and giving him the highest level of legitimacy in the Sunni World. For Al-Nasser, he wanted the Shahdom and the Caliphate to merge through their son, and bring the vast wealth and strength of Khwarazm into the Abbasid fold. Yet all the most intricate plans have a way of falling apart, and that came with the sudden death of Ala Al-Din Tekish in 1200 CE. The son he had with Asma, Atsiz Ibn Tekish, named after a previous Khwarazmshah, was too young to assume effective leadership. Therefore the state was handed over to another son of Tekish, who was not of any Abbasid blood, Mohammed, who was enthroned as Shah Mohammed II.[/sub]
[sub]The new Shah was not keen on his younger brother being his designated successor. So he exiled the 5-year old prince to the Abbasid Court in Baghdad, away from the capital Urgench. The Caliph took in the young boy, and contained his anger in order to maintain the alliance with Mohammed. Atsiz was quickly given a royal education from the Caliphs personal tutors, in Islamic theology, philosophy, science and all the other fields explored in the Islamic Golden Age. This exposure to the cosmopolitan city of Baghdad and the Abbasid Court, would surely impact his future as a possible leader. Al-Nasser Li-Din Allah placed Atsiz Ibn Tekish under the custodianship of the Baghdadi scholar, Taj Al-Din Al-Shirazi, whose family had originally hailed from the city of Shiraz in Fars. Al-Shirazi began to teach Atsiz the Arabic and then Persian languages. Atsizs family had adopted Persian as their lingua franca to bridge the lingual division's between the numerous Turkic tribes of their homeland, such as the Chighil, Bekdili and Kankalis. He also introduced the religious school of Sufism to the young prince, which had been promoted by Al-Nasser and his predecessor Al-Mustadi as an instrument to control the warrior Ayyarun class of Baghdad. As a sign of continuing his relationship with the Abbasid government and Caliphate, Shah Mohammed II allowed for the exchange of ambassadors and permitted Islamic missionaries from Mesopotamia to conduct operations in the Shahdom. They targeted those Oghuz tribes around the Caspian Sea, which had retained a considerable element of Tengrism in their Islamic practices. This was unlike the Muslims in major urban cities in the Khwarazm oasis, such as Kath and Urgench, which were more orthodox in their religious principles, expressions and traditions. For the Shah, conversions were a tool for rural political consolidation. And for the Caliphate, a source of prestige and legitimacy, but more importantly a source of soldiers. As some Oghuz were promised a salary in exchange for travelling back to Mesopotamia from Khorosan. This was undertaken in the context of reviving Abbasid military strength, which had been supplanted by years of Buyid and then Seljuk rule. The military strength of the Turks had been acutely recognized at the Battles of Manzikert and Dundunaqin, however it had always been beyond the true authority of Baghdad, something Al-Nasser wished to change.[/sub][/list][/list]
Teujira, Otsla, Zanbala Prz, Miwok-, Indril, Jasumaa
The sultanate of rum
Its the year 596 the 14th day of the month of
Rabi Al-Awwal
Its the end for the sultan of the mengujek
He tried to negotiate with a diplomat with the cavalry. They let the diplomat back to the sultan Then he tried giving them his riches to stop them from comming for him. This time the only thing coming back was the head of the diplomat on an altar with the horsemen they went into his throne room the head handed to him. They explained to him it was either death or giving up his titles and land. He choose the latter. But just after a few days he had accepted those terms he rallied his forces and fought against the troops in his country he just agreed to buy time and the loyalists in the state helped him. While he promised the farmers more. Land and riches both sides now went to war a thing that the sultan didn't want to happen.
The first and last battle happend on a field near the border the farmers outnumbered the troops of the sultan 1:2 but they were not trained in fact most used household items to fight against the trained and fighting equipment having nobles but with the fear of a man with his life on the line he charged the farmers and him against the troops of the sultan where he promptly got shot in the head. After seeing their leader die the rest of the peasents barely even wanted to fight anymore and surrenders and with that suleiman reached his goal of conquering the puppet state.
Roma Invicta
Teujira, Otsla, Zanbala Prz, Teymour, Indril, Jasumaa
So sorry about last time, here is the new application
The kingdom of Aksum
Claim: Ethiopia, Kenya and Tasmania.
History: Aksum was an important trading port and capital of the region with the Aksum empire existing during the 4th century. It was converted to Christianity when King Ezana was converted by Frumentius a Greek missionary.
In the setting the Kingdom of Aksum is a small Christianised country ruled by king Aaron it has ties with the southern Nile region and major ports along its northern coast.
Government: Monarchy
Gaia Major
[list][sup]JUNE 12TH 1201 AD[/sup]
THE HOLY EMPIRE OF VOLGA-BULGARIA[/list]
[sup]The Antipapal Court of Bartholomew Svinos, The City of Bulgha, The Holy Empire of Volga-Bulgaria[/sup]
Laughter and cheers echo through the streets, as vendors and peddlers sell their wares to the brightly dressed people. The Summer Fair has come round again. Originally a pagan celebration, representing the end of the hardship of winter, it has now been adopted by the Bogomils living there, as a festival to celebrate the beauty of God's creation, and mourn the loss of His son. For the normally austere and devoted people of the area, it is a time to indulge and let out some of the stress of daily hardships. Wine flows like water, and everybody is having a good time. The children play, the women huddle together, gossiping and giggling like youngsters, and the men loudly make obscene and crude jokes, engage in arm wresting, or brawl in the mud. Later, there will be archery contests, quarterstaff duels and fencing, each for a prize of a royal 100 Lev, followed by a circus of fire-eaters, jugglers, wild beast shows and stilt-walkers.
After the festivities have died down, Bartholomew rides into the town. Cheers ring out from the crowds, and they have to be forced back at swordpoint by his honour guard of knights. Multitudes of grasping hands reach out, desperately hoping to brush the cloak of the messenger of God on this earth. One man gets through and actually manages to touch the antipope himself, before being thrown bodily to the ground. Even so, he stares at his hand in wonder, and lets out a cry of pure elation. Before the horse, ferns and exotic palm leaves are laid down, providing a soft carpet to plod into the city centre on.
Upon arrival, Bartholomew climbs onto a platform set up in the town square. Thousands of people flocked below him, to hear his words of wisdom. Readjusting his hat, he launched into a speech, explaining how they were God's chosen people, and had at last reached the Promised Land, drawing cheers from the masses below. He explained that although there were enemies out there, God would protect them, his true people, the Bogomils. More cheers. Yet, as he paused for breath, his vision tunneled. One man wasn't cheering. He was fiddling with some kind of wooden contraption in his hand. Frowning, he continued his speech.
"Never again shall we face oppression. We are a free people, and a strong people. We are...." That was as far as he got, before his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, his throat constricted, preventing him talking. He realised what the man was holding. A crossbow. It seemed like their eyes locked, the man returning a cold stare at him. Bartholomew tried to move, but his muscles had turned to stone. So this was it. This was how he would die. Here, right now, like this. He closed his eyes.
A crossbow twanged.
The wet thunk of a crossbow bolt hitting a person's chest.
The crowd roared.
It was all over.
Bartholomew opened his eyes. Below, the man lay on his back, blood staining his yellow tunic. A crossbow bolt protruded from his chest. Next to Bartholomew, a city guardsman was just lowering his crossbow. The man's face wore a surprised expression on his face, as if unable to comprehend what had just happened. He jerked and shuddered once, blood spilling from his mouth. Then he lay still.
The knights and city guards rushed in to disperse the gathered crowd. Most people fled the scene naturally, and the few that remained were forced away. The antipope returned to his quarters, shaken, but unharmed. He got to work writing up a Holy Decree immediately.
[sup]
By Order of the Pope Bartholomew Svinos, On this Holy Day of the 12th of June in the Year 1201 Anno Domini:
[list]
[*]All Catholics are to be arrested for heresy, treason, and attempted assassination. They will be permitted amnesty if they declare themselves instead subject to a year and a day of penance and conversion to the true faith of Bogomilism.
[*]Any person found to be a Catholic shall be subject to hanging, then drawn and quartered, as is the punishment inscribed in the law for such heresy.
[*]To commemorate this great day, which reveals to us God's protection and greatness, we will construct a temple to his name, The Cathedral of Bolgha. All will come and marvel at it, a sight to compare to the ancient wonders of Egypt and Rome.
[*]To fund this, a new tax shall be introduced, known as the Temple Tax. 5% of all property and savings shall belong to the Bogomil Church, for use in the construction of this monument for the ages.
[*]This temple shall be built in the City Square of Bolgha, in acknowledgement of the holy site where God saved his messenger on earth.
Signed,
Pope Bartholomew I
[/sup]
[/list]
The decree was signed, and nailed to the noticeboard of every town in the country. It was spread far and wide by messengers on horseback, and while there was some grumbling and complaints about the tax, nothing more serious came of it than a few harsh words and blows between the tax collectors and a few rowdy peasants. Overwhelmingly, people were thankful for the deliverance of Bartholomew from death by the hand of God, that they were willing to sacrifice their hard earned savings in exchange. Most Catholics fled, but the few that remained were tortured cruelly, before being executed. However, eventually, the country settled down, and the Cathedral began construction. Peace returned at last to Volga-Bulgaria.
Teujira, Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Zanbala Prz, Gaia Major
[list][list]TO WAR! ALL HOLY MEN, PICK UP YOUR ARMS!
Gənbo 1194 / April 1202 - Awassa, Aethiopic Kingdom[/list][/list]
| The war banner has once again been raised over the royal palace of King John I. With its rise, a signal has been sent to royal couriers within the palace and the surrounding community to quickly begin dispatching the call to arms to local lords. Tediously proscribed by King John to the couriers, the call to arms is as such: |
[list]'In Christ's Name,
[list]The time has come for us, men of the Faith of the Lord God and of Christ the Savior, to once again bear our arms in defense of the faith. The Saracens to our northeast have, since my coronation as Great King, continued to provoke war against the Kingdom and our faith. I have seen fit to raise an Army under the royal War Banner to put an end, at last, to their continual provocations. I demand, as Great King of this Kingdom, that all the nobles who rule unto me to raise their armies and muster at Nazareth on Ganna of next year. There on that day we shall celebrate and pray, and then begin our campaign into the lands of the Saracens. I shall personally lead our armies after they are mustered, as Great King. All who do not heed my call to arms shall be punished for their failure to appease their Lord, and their Lord's Lord.[/list][/list]
| The royal couriers quickly spread across the Kingdom on foot and on horseback. Within three month's time, the Call to Arms will have been reached and heeded by all the noblemen of the country. Within the few months between then and the Ethiopian Christmas, the noblemen will have raised their levies, assembled their personal retinue, and be on the march to Nazareth, a small village on the northern fringes of the Kingdom. King John, for his part, will also assemble his personal retinue and his best officers, and bring with him the royal guard to accompany him on this campaign. Consisting of 500 veteran troops from King John's campaigns in the 1180s, the Royal Guard are highly trained spearmen more than capable of turning the tide of battle and ensuring the safety of the warrior-king. |
Teujira, Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Zanbala Prz, Gaia Major, -Ethiopian Empire, Indril
[list][sup]1957[/sup]
Goloborod'ko V. A. "The origin of Dike Pole Cossacks. Part one: Kiewian Tsardom[/list]
The first mention of Free People of Dike Pole can be found in the historical document "Letter to Kiewian Knyaz", also known as "Declaration of free territory of Dike Pole". This historical event is depicted in the famous picture of I.E. Repin, titled "Slobojane write a letter to Kiewian
Knyaz", although this painting's historical accuracy can be doubted.
This letter stated that Dike Pole will stay free from the influence of both Khans and Tsars, and any man or woman is welcome to seek shelter there, no matter who they were before. This declaration angered Vsevolod Big Nest and ultimately led to a military campaign of 1200. Kiewian forces advanced to Zaporizka Sich, while Slobojane were escaping combat for as long as possible, delaying the enemys advance and attempting to secure an alliance with Cumanian Khans. The siege of the Zaporpzie fortress dragged from mid-autumn to New Years Eve, until the Cumanian reinforcements of Khan Konchak broke the siege. Vsevolod was wounded and suffered devastating losses, leading to a peace treaty.
Since then Zaporizie Sich became the center of authority in the Dike Pole region. Although before it was considered that Zaporozka Sich was built in 1199, right before the infamous letter, modern-day archeological data provides reasons to believe that the initial fortress was constructed as early as 1185.
Teujira, Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Zanbala Prz, Teymour, Gaia Major, -Ethiopian Empire, Indril
[list][sup]JANUARY 1ST 1201 AD[/sup]
THE COMING WAR [/list]
___
[sup]The Kingdom of England[/sup]
___
| Prince John "Lackland" Plantagenet would be furious at the news arriving at his court in Dublin. He was expecting Arthur to be named King Richard's Heir certainly but not this soon and certainly not immediately surrounding him by Richard's hand picked advisors. Richard even arranged a betrothal between Arthur and one of King Sverre of Norway's daughters; Christina of Norway. Now there was the potential for The Kingdom of Norway to come to the aid of King Richard in John's future bid for the throne. This wouldn't do, things were progressing too fast for John's liking so he now had to act quickly to prepare his war. His first act would be to sail to the capital of the Kingdom of Gwynedd, Abergwyngregyn to meet with Prince Llywelyn the Great. Llywelyn's Kingdom had been quite reduced in size in the past few years and only consisted of the Northern portion of Wales. John knew exactly what would get Llywelyn's attention at the meeting. He would promise to recognize Llywelyn as the Prince of Wales and all his children thereafter, and promise him the return of the entirety of Wales if he would join the war on John's side. Prince John was right, it did get Llywelyn's attention although he didn't entirely trust John of course but he agreed to his secret deal and planned to act the moment a letter was sent to Prince Llywelyn's court. His next act would be to travel around England to rally the barons to his cause. He would use a simple but effective reason, King Richard bankrupted the kingdom several times over to fund his wars, and violated the rights of his vassals multitudes of time to pay for it all, especially his capture and ransom by Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, where he had to pay the equivalent of three times the kingdom's usual revenue to pay for it all. His meeting with the Barons was effective as many of them supported them, but however every single time he tried to get more powerful vassals to side against Richard none would. Perhaps it signified something but John didn't know why they wouldn't. Perhaps they were afraid of what the King would do if they failed? His last actions would be to sail to France first and then Scotland after to promise them what usually was when civil wars occured, for France John would promise to give France the Duchy of Normandy, and pay tribute to the French king as any vassal would, and just like that King Philippe Augustus sided with John yet again. for the Scots he would promise to give them the Duchies of Cumbria and Northumbria, they were much less receptive and told him they'd let him know if they were for his proposal. This was in essence a polite way of saying no. |
| Prince Arthur of Brittany wasn't exactly the enthusiastic about the new betrothal, or being the official heir of the Kingdom again when he was given the news. He wasn't complaining he was just perhaps a bit too apathetic or disinterested in it all. However, King Richard was focused on turning that disinterested apathy into something that could actually benefit the kingdom, as well as William Marshall. The two would become Arthur's main martial trainers, teaching him how to become a suitable fighter as would befit a King. His training would start with Stamina, Endurance and Strength training of various types, as well as beginner swordsmanship and fencing and gradually go on from there. Many of Richard's more trustworthy vassals would be selected for teaching Arthur on administration of the Kingdom. Richard would try his best to mold the apathetic boy into someone that is at least marginally better than Prince John at leading. However Arthur would have a lot on his plate when he becomes King, trying to pick up the pieces of the mess Richard left. |
___________________
| "Dieu et mon droit" |
Val Verde-, Otsla, Zanbala Prz, Miwok-, Gaia Major, -Ethiopian Empire, Indril
IL TRATTATO DI VENEZIA TRACTATUS DE VENETIA[/B]
[sub]1201 AD | Venezia, Veneto, La Serenissima[/sub]
[I]The War Council of the proposed Fourth Crusade took the cross and elected the 22 year-old Theobald III, Count of Champagne, as leader of the expeditionary Crusader army he personally organized at a Summer tournament within his castle grounds at Écry-sur-Aisne in 1199. The Count's untimely death in 1201 however, comes at a poor time in the planning and staging of the Crusade. In his place, Boniface I, Marquess of Montferrat, stands as his timely and politically convenient replacement to lead the Crusading Army. Shortly before his demise, however, Thibaud III of Champagne, along with Baldwin IX of Flanders, and Hugh of Saint-Pol entered into contractual agreement with the elder and blind Doge, Enrico Dandolo, regarding the transport of the Army of the Fourth Crusade. Pope Innocent III confirmed the Treaty alongside both parties, committing the Venetian Arsenal to provide the Crusader forces with adequate vessels and provisions for some 4,500 Knights, an equal number of horses, 9,000 squires, 20,000 infantrymen and their respective equipments. The total of Crusaders the Republic agreed to transport is between 33,500-35,000, an ambitious range, though La Serenissima gave itself one full year to build the vessels required, an estimated 50 war galleys and 450 transports, in addition to the training of their crewmen, all while halting local commercial activity in preparation.
Per the Treaty of Venice, ratified by Pope Innocent III, the Crusade is to be ready to set sail by late Iunius 1203 and make directly for the Ayyubid capital, Cairo. The majority of the men bound for glory with the Crusade originate from areas of France, including Blois, Champagne, Amiens, Saint-Pol, the Île-de-France, and Burgundy. Additionally, Flanders, Montferrat, and the Holy Roman Empire contributed substantial contingents to the Crusade, including men serving under Martin of Pairis and Bishop Conrad of Halberstadt. Elected as expeditionary leader of the Fourth Crusade at the second War Council in Soissons, Boniface I, the Marquess of Montferrat was an experienced soldier and presided over one of the most prestigious courts of chivalric culture and troubador song. The Crusade was a chance to reassert the reputation of his dynasty as the Marquess ages 51 this year.
[spoiler=|THE VENETIAN VANITY AND THE FOURTH CRUSADE|]
[/spoiler]
Teujira, Valijun, Otsla, Grand Indochina, Zanbala Prz, Gaia Major, -Ethiopian Empire, Indril
1201
Capitalizing on Previous Victories
|Caliph Muhammad adopted a regime from his father that was extremely unstable. His father had defeated a Christian invasion at the Battle of Alaracos against an army of 300,000 Christian crusaders. This provided the Iberian portion of the Caliphate a temporary reprieve. In the East however the Caliphs decision to pull away resources had led to the loss of much of Tunisia to the Banu Ghaniya.
| Caliph Muhammad al-Nasir intended to continue his fathers legacy to solidify his holdings in Iberia. Against the advice from his Grand Viziers, and court, he suspended religious persecution against Jews and Christians. This caused unrest among many Moors in the court, and in North Africa who saw the new Caliph as weak.
| In North Africa more and more power was delegated to regional authorities as the Caliph increasingly focused on the situation in Iberia. The Hafsid family would be granted control over the remaining portion of Tunisia. In the Algerian region the Zayyanid Family would be granted expanded power and autonomy from the Caliphate. It was hoped by delegating authority and autonomy the two powerful families could push back the Banu Ghaniya, and keep the regions loyal. The removal of several moors from Iberian and North African positions of power would continue to inflame tensions between the Caliph and the Moorish nobility.
| Caliph Muhammad al-Nasir began mobilizing his armies and banners once again, as whispers of a crusade in the east began to materialize. 250,000 soldiers would begin mobilizing. The caliph began preparing for a great Cordoban Jihad, to restore lands previously held by the Caliphate of Cordoba. The start of this Jihad was planned for the 1203.
Teujira, Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Zanbala Prz, Teymour, Gaia Major, Indril
Post by Indonesian United Democracy suppressed by Val Verde-.
[pre]Battle for Tonsberg
August | 1201 CE [/pre]
[sub]Tonsberg[/sub]
| King Sverre of Norway finally raised enough troops to attack the last Bagler stronghold in Tonsberg. The Tonsberg fortress, atop a plateau, was the last true stronghold of the Baglers in Norway. King Sverre sent a large number of levies with siege weapons. In order to take the fortress, King Sverre ordered a siege of Tonsberg Fortress. He also ordered wood walls to be built around Tonsberg fortress to both prevent enemies from reinforcing the castle and to give King Sverre's forces a battlement to protect themselves from enemy attack. King Sverre estimated that the siege would take about six months. King Sverre, himself decided against attending the siege, preferring to remain in Oslo to oversee the construction of his new castle. King Sverre decided to send a letter requesting that the Bagler leaders meet for negotiations. King Sverre felt that the war is going in such a way that he could use negotiations to force the Baglers to cease fighting without any major concessions. King Sverre planned to give the pretender a worthless title. He anticipated that the Baglers may wait out the current battle before responding, so it had enough time to plan out the worthless title he would give the pretender. King Sverre also entertained the notion of using the negoiations to kill the pretender and the Bagler leaders, but he figured that it may be too much trouble to do so. |
| King Sverre heard of the Fourth Crusade being planned. He quickly sent letters to Venice and Boniface I, Marquess of Montferrat, stating that Norway shall be interested in providing soldiers and money to the Crusade. In the letter, King Sverre offered to send two Jarls and their personal armies, along with levies to increase the number of forces contributed. King Sverre neglected to mention in the letter that those two Jarls lost favor with the King, and that Sverre was planning to use the Crusades to have those Jarls prove their worth. The Letter also mentioned that King Sverre was willing to also provide 5,000 Marks worth of silver and shall have its forces pay for its own supplies and ships. King Sverre had commissioned a number of Longships to be built in order to transport the soldiers, supplies, and silver to Venice for the Crusades.|
Teujira, Valijun, Val Verde-, Zanbala Prz, Teymour, Gaia Major, Indril
The sultanate of rum
it's the 24 of Shawwal and the year of 597
The army of the sultanate of rum is no small force indeed it can mobilize 10thausends of people from different standing. And can truly be a lethal weapon but after the conquest of the small state of the mengujek, it has the chance to become soo much more than that. Of course, after the sack men had to be paid and so on but it was a minor cost to the gains made. With this money, he had great plans for the building of new routes and defenses to the buying of War material. But he had one great plan. Now with the freed-up territory, all nobles and all lands had been revoked of the people living there now he could try his plan. An administration rather a council picked only from the most loyal to the sultan the council would try to administer the state more effectively if this plan was a success he could bring his brothers more in line and tie their decisions to a council. The new territory would be split into three pieces each with its council. Who tries to administer the region effectively set up a system where a city pays its taxes to a house with government loyal people there that would then learn what to do with it. And a new small military guard collecting it from the more spread out places from house to house. The councils could also suggest how to use the tax money collected to better streets and roads or to build new roads. Third, there would be an office keeping track of things like roads tax payments and what problems the province might have, and how the religious sides are looking. The sultan looked for the Republik of Rome in inspiration and had hoped that this would bring his brothers inline once he had seen if it truly worked to stop another civil war. He knew his empire was still strong but cracks began to show if he fell that would be the end of the Seljuks in history so he would rather implement councils to see how it worked and worry his aristocrats rather than let his kingdom stagnate and perish. And so after the councils had been established and what power they had it was time for the implementation.
And another thing about the land was that it was split up into better states to administer
And more lands were given to the peasants who still had a slight grudge against the sultan to repay them. And now with a newly made. Council and a few reforms in the Roman Republik image it was time to see if the
Sultans of rum could survive with this new. Path or if it should have stuck to the old ways
ROMA INVICTA
Teujira, Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Grand Indochina, Zanbala Prz, Gaia Major, Indril
[list][sup]OCTOBER 21ST 1201 AD[/sup]
THE HOLY EMPIRE OF VOLGA-BULGARIA[/list]
[sup]The Antipapal Court of Bartholomew Svinos, The City of Bulgha, The Holy Empire of Volga-Bulgaria[/sup]
It has been several months since the Holy Decree, which made following Catholicism treason, a crime punishable by death. Those suspected of being a Catholic face being hung, drawn and quartered, a gruesome and painful death. Hundreds have suffered this fate, with hundreds more being torn apart by mobs who blame them for the attempted assassination of the antipope Bartholomew Svinos I. Many see the persecution as a rough kind of justice for the Bogomils own treatment in the prior centuries. Many Catholic priests and worshippers have fled, fearing for their lives. Others attempt to hide in caves or underground cellars of those that would harbour them despite the dangers.
The Grand Cathedral of Bolgha has begun construction. The detailed schematics have been drawn up, featuring intricate carvings of scenes from the Bible, with elaborate artwork and images, and stained glass windows. The entire project will likely take ten to fifteen years, depending on the cost of the resources and the specifics of the building. Despite this, Bartholomew remains adamant that it is completed, claiming it will show the dedication and wealth of the country. It is to be funded in part by the introduction of a new Temple Tax.
The nation is currently relatively prosperous due to its fortunate position in trading with and between the Arabic, Scandinavian and Avar traders. There has been much business recently from traders heading East down the River Volga, allowing it to fund not just the new Cathedral, but other infrastructure projects, such as renovating the outdated weaponry in the army, and providing extra training to the troops. In addition, Bartholomew I has issued a statement, making it mandatory for all towns of over 1000 people to maintain a local defence force of at least 100 archers, to be called upon in the event of a crisis. In a recent speech, he has condemned the Khazarian Khanate for being aggressive for the alleged murder of Bogomils in the area. In response he has demanded that Volga-Bulgaria be paid compensation of 100 000 Levs, to be paid in gold. Tensions have increased and Bartholomew has issued an ultimatum: pay the money by the New Year or face the wrath of the Bogomils. As of yet, there has been no reply.
Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Grand Indochina, Waclia, Teymour, Gaia Major
[list][list]OUR SAVIOR CHRIST WILL SHOW US VICTORY IN BATTLE
[pre]Ṭərr 1195 / January 1202 - Nazareth, Aethiopic Kingdom[/pre][/list][/list]
| After more than half a year of preparing the troops, King John has finally mustered his army in the village of Nazareth, one of the northernmost settlements before the borders of the Aethiopic Kingdom reach those of the Shewans, the Damotians, and the Darawoans. For decades since his conquests of the settlements and villages along the border areas, the Shewans and their tributaries have harassed the borders of King John's Kingdom, and assaulted Christians and Christianity within the land of their Sultanates and Islamic Kingdoms. Now, with his army assembled, King John stands ready to contest the Shewans in a final war, possibly the most important he will have fought since his victory against the Chenchans that resulted in his crowning as Talaku Nigusi. |
| King John's Army, as mustered on the eve of Ethiopian Christmas, is the largest ever assembled by the warrior-king in his entire sixty year reign as King: at the front, 15,000 Gasha Spearmen, citizen-soldiers forming frontline of his infantry forces throughout most of his campaigns; a further 3,000 Loniginīnya(ሎንግኒኛ) Spearmen - professional Gasha veterans with experience throughout multiple campaigns serving as elite infantry; 8,000 Swordsmen armed with light Yedoro igiri swords and small, square leather hide shields; 2,200 Yetasere cavalry riders; 650 Adera cavalry, veteran Loniginyan spearmen mounted on horseback; and lastly, 500 of the King's Royal Guard, the most elite of the Loniginyan Spearmen. Comprising of nearly 10% of the Aethiopic Kingdom's entire population, King John's Army is one of the biggest ever assembled in Sub-Saharan Africa in history. With it, he will bring his rule and the rule of the Tewahedo Orthodox Church to the Sultanate of Shewa and their vassals, completing his conquests, or lead it to its own defeat. |
| After celebrating Ganna while encamped at Nazareth, the Holy Army of God and Jesus the Christ makes quick work of packing up their supplies, rounding up the slaves, and setting off on the road north. To march directly into Shewan territory and attempt a pitched battle with the forces of the Sultanate so immediately would surely lead the Holy Army, consisting of many untrained and unprofessional feudal warriors, to collapse at the face of such a mighty foe. Instead, in order to warm up his army and begin starving the Shewans of resources, King John directs his army northeast, into the Kingdom of Damot. Before he will march on Shewa, he shall conquer and subjugate Damot, Shewa's most powerful tributary. |
Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Grand Indochina, Czabalkia, Gaia Major, Indril, Jasumaa
MUSIC TO SET THE MOOD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9kUpQ1GpOk
[list][sup]JANUARY 1ST 1201[/sup]
THE PAGAN BALTIC IN THE YEAR 1201[/list]
___
[sup] Vilnius, The Court of Grand Duke Algimantas of Lietuva[/sup]
___
| It was storming in Lietuva at midnight when Algimantas Palemonaitis, the Grand Duke of the Lietuvos Had a dream that would forever change the course of his life. He was high in the sky, looking at the Baltic lands below, the lands of the Prūsai, lietuviai, letigaliečiai, Estai, the various tribes and kingdoms in full view, as well as the wild landscape Algimantas' religion venerates. From the Southwest a mighty Auroch with fur soaked red with blood would rampage from Southwestern lands of Lithuania up to the border with the Lettigallians, killing all in its path. From the west a colossal two-headed Golden Eagle would fly across the lands of the Samogitians and the coastal lands of the Lettigallians, destroying all cities and towns in its path, and demolishing the forests and groves with pride in its twisted heart. From the Northeast a massive blood drenched Russian bear would march across the lands of the Estonians and Lettligallians, flattening all in its path, with nothing left living after it halts. |
| Then everything would flash bright, burning white and three men would be standing in a field, with nothing in sight but fire and nothingness, the ground charred black and grey with soot and ash. One of the men was wearing a suit of armor with A black cross on a white field, and an Great helm with great wings attached to the side of it. The other man was wearing armor in the Russian style but with a orthodox cross painted on the front of the armor. They both seemed to be fighting together against a Ragged man covered in furs, carrying a shied with a tree drawn crudely across it and wearing a helmet with antler horns attached to it. The two Christian knights overpowered the fur covered man and killed him, mutilating his body until it wasn't recognizable anymore. |
[list]The Great Duke woke up in a sweat, breathing heavily. It was still storming heavily outside, thunder and lightning danced across the sky. As he walked out of his bedroom into the empty hall that was still lit by candles, he noticed the light around the candles was bending and twisting in ways that surely are impossible, however he paid it no mind. Suddenly Lightning shot across the sky onto the ground outside the hall. Algimantas rushed outside to see a man standing at the spot that the lightning struck, wearing chainmail armor, a great bear pelt cloak and holding an axe wreathed with lightning. This was Perkūnas, God of Thunder and Lightning. However something was off about him, he didn't look real, as if it were just an illusion and not something actually there. In fact he seemed to be half transparent[/list]
[list]Grand Duke of Lietuva Algimantas Palemonaitis: "....Perkūnas?"[/list]
[list]The illusion said nothing and stood there silently, not even the lightning on the axe was making any noise. Algimantas reached his hand out to touch the axe but his hand passed straight through it.[/list]
[list]Grand Duke of Lietuva Algimantas Palemonaitis: "I know what I have to do now. Thank you for revealing this truth to me Great One"[/list]
[list]suddenly a loud crunching noise was heard from the Duke's left, as if someone were there.[/list]
[list]Random Noble: "Excuse me lord but who are you talking to?"[/list]
[list]Algimantas thought about the question and how absurd it seemed for what seemed like minutes but was only a few seconds and turned back to find Perkūnas gone, not even the crater the lightning struck was there. He went back into his hall and slept. Tomorrow he would begin planning his invasion.[/list]
___________________
| "tvirtai stovintis prie netikėjusius" |
___________________
[spoiler=Explanation for those that need it.](of course Perkūnas wasn't actually there if my insinuation wasn't enough. The Grand Duke was only hallucinating.)[/spoiler]
Val Verde-, Otsla, Grand Indochina, Waclia, Czabalkia, Gaia Major, Indril, Jasumaa, Kiewan Rus
[list][sup]1957[/sup]
Goloborod'ko V. A. "The origin of Dike Pole Cossacks. Part two: Cuman Khahanate[/list]
Khan Konchak deceased a year later. Unfortunately, history doesn't remember the exact causes of his death. His heir, Khan Yuri Konchakovich was keener on befriending Grand Knyaz Vsevolod Big Nest and mending the old wounds. This has eventually lead to an unsuccessful raid in the summer of 1202.
Cuman host tried to cross Seversky Donets, but they were quickly met by Dikopolske Army under command of Ataman Yuri Pats, presumably a man of west Slavic origin. As the story goes, after a swift exchange of arrows, Cuman forces decided to retreat. There is no accurate information about the strength of both sides in this battle. Different sources declare the Cuman strength to be anywhere in between 2.000 and 40.000 cavalrymen. Dikoposki sources are more reliable. They tell us about a host of 1 to 10 thousand men.
After the invaders were fended off, Pats has ordered the construction of a new fortress in this place. Named Severukska Sich (Russian: Severianska Krepost, Cumanian: Izum Niklik). Bogdan Glinski, a local Severiane tribesman, was appointed as Koshevoi Ataman of the newly founded fortress. In the autumn of 1202, after a successful raid, Pats has invented a new title, Hetman, which was a title for a supreme leader of all Koshs, and elected as one immediately.
During his reign, Glinkski disobeyed Zaporozie's orders numerous times and challenged the Hetman's authority. In the next few years, Sevrukska Sich has built a significant fleet of 60 mobile Chaika vessels, that were tasked with patrolling the Severski Donets river.
Bogdan was supportive of Cuman migration into his lands and even participated in several joint raids into Kiewian lands. Soon Cuman people became welcomed guests in the Wild Fields, and they eventually settled here, integrating into local culture. This tradition of close relations between Cuman and Severiane has lead to a formation of a new culture- Sevruki, that inhabits Slobojanshina today. Bogdan also was quite supportive of urbanization, which leads to a construction of a town named Izum around the fortress. Archeologist V.A. Kuchkin presumes that its populace was at least 2 to 3 thousand by the 1220s. Which is a significant amount for a regional city, and far beyond the number of townsfolk in Zaporozie, the capital of Vojsko Dikopolske. On top of that, Izum was the biggest city with the Cumans majority at that time.
Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Grand Indochina, Waclia, Gaia Major, Indril, Jasumaa
[pre]Civil War Ends
May | 1202 CE [/pre]
[sub]Oslo, Construction Site[/sub]
| King Sverre of Norway awaited the arrival of the enemy to the negotiations. After the Baglers' crushing defeat at Tonsberg, the Bagler leaders agreed to a meeting for negotiations. The Baglers brought what was left of their army with the intent of taking out King Sverre, not knowing that King Sverre was planning the same thing against the Bagler leaders. Most of Sverre's forces were in hiding in the surrounding area as a means to make Sverre's forces look much smaller than what he actually had with him. Inge Magnusson was followed by his greatest supporters in the meeting. The meeting itself took place inside a small stone building, rear a bell tower. |
As they entered the building, Inge Magnusson asked, "Why are we meeting out here next to this bell tower, as opposed to your castle, which is clearly over then?" He was clearly pointing to the castle visible in the distance.
Sverre replied, "The site of this meeting was chosen specifically because, while I do have a small castle over there, I am having a much larger castle being built here. More specifically, just north of us. We are currently standing in what would be the courtyard of a fortress within the castle walls. Lunch should be starting soon, so, please wait for the food, I am sure you may be hungry by now."
| Soon, a bell rang from the bell tower, which Sverre stated indicated lunch time for the peasant workers. Unknown to the Bagler leaders, it was actually the signal to Sverre's forces to surround and eliminate the Bagler armies. Ballista were used to sink Bagler ships in the harbor and to take out groups of Bagler soldiers, archers fired vast numbers of arrows upon the Bagler soldiers waiting near the negotiation site, and heavy cavalry rode into the Bagler soldiers. Norwegian levies, carrying sword and shield, ran towards the Bagler soldiers, while Norwegian Pikemen began marching from behind the tree line. The sounds of the battle, unheard by those in the building due to the thick walls. The battle was a slaughter, as what first appeared as a near 1:1 ratio of troops on each side, quickly became a battle where King Sverre's forces outnumbered the Bagler forces 10:1. The battle took four hours, while the Balger leaders and King Sverre were in intense negotiation. King Sverre made sure to drag out the time the negotiations would take with food and drink. A person soon ran into the building and spoke into King Sverre's ear. |
King Sverre then stood up and said, "Well, it looks like we ran out of time. While we were negotiating, my forces have engaged and wiped out the Bagler armies you brought...and since you all were so kind as to all show up, I will be executing you all for Treason against the Crown, except for you, Inge Magnusson. You still have some value to the Crown." King Sverre's guards, then killed the Bagler leaders, and took Inge Magnusson into the dungeons of his castle.
| Word soon spread about the Bagler defeat and the solidification of King Sverres unquestionable status as sole King of Norway. King Sverre actually decided to place Inge Magnusson into house arrest until he knew what to do with Inge Magnusson, his second cousin, one time removed. Sverre was thinking of either marrying him off to some foreign ruler or one of Sverre's loyal nobles. Sverre wanted to prevent future rebellion, but he did not want to eliminate his relative unless he really needed to. Sverre decided to switch his focus to the upcoming crusades that are in the works. He commissioned a few hundred Longships of various types and raise levies in order to prepare and well train soldiers for the upcoming Crusades. |
Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Grand Indochina, Waclia, Gaia Major, Indril, Jasumaa
Post self-deleted by Jasumaa.
[list][list]BATTLE OF BASONA WERANA
[pre]12-13 April 1202 - Basona Werana, Kingdom of Damot[/pre][/list][/list]
| The Holy Army of King John has, after nearly two months of marching, finally been faced with its first pitched battle on its new campaign. The nearly 30,000-strong force, opposed on the other side of the battlefield by an army of 15,000 led by the King of Damot, has long anticipated a battle since the call to arms nearly a year ago and, now standing only half a mile from their enemy, are ready to fight. The enemy force, nearly half as small as King John's army, represents the near full military might of the aging, collapsed Kingdom, long a tributary vassal of the Sultanate of Shewa. To defeat the Kingdom of Damot here, on a field south of the Jamma River, would allow the Holy Army to march directly into the Damotians' capital city and force their subjugation, making it a client state of Prester John's Aethiopic Kingdom rather than the Sultanate. |
| After performing early morning rituals, John's army quickly begins to snap into their formations. In the center, 15,000 Gasha Spearmen form the first line of infantry, with more hardened Longinian Spearmen on their flanks. Behind the spearmen, forming the reserve, are his swordsmen, and behind his swordsmen, auxiliary spear throwers. Sword-wielding cavalrymen stand farther out on the flanks, while King John, mounted members of his Royal Guard, and the squadrons of Adera Cavalrymen take a position far off on the left flank of the battlefield, ready to charge in at a moment's notice. Opposing them is a similarly organized force of swordsmen and cavalry, appearing miniscule to King John and the other cavalrymen looking on from their elevated position in comparison to his own army. |
| The battle begins in earnest. Wasting no time, and seeking to seize the momentum early, the Damotian army makes its move, pressing the assault against the center line of the Aethiopic Army. The Damotian spearmen, weilding spears of slightly longer length than their Aethiopic Gasha counterparts, make a measured advance towards the Aethiopic line, a much more calm march than a frenzied charge. After some minutes of marching, the Damotian and Aethiopic spearmen find themselves bitterly locked in a clash, with the front row of both lines trying desperately to avoid taking spears directly to their own faces. In order to entrap the Damotian center, the Longinian spearmen on the flanks of the Aethiopic line quickly begin to surround the flanks of the Damotian line, surrounding them in a wall of spears. It is an easy picking for the Aethiopic Spearmen as the Damotian's 8,000 spearmen are mercilessly slaughtered on all sides. In the madness, the Damotian cavalry charge forth, slamming into the backs of the exposed Longinian Spearmen - to counter this charge, King John orders his own cavalry to charge forth, engaging in a frenzied brawl with the Damotian cavalry and their own elite spearmen. |
| The Damotian King and his personal retinue, watching from behind his men's rank, attempts to lead his remaining cavalry to the east, near King John's own position, to smash through the back of the Gasha spearmen. In a quick shout, John orders his retinue and the Adera Cavalry to make a headlong charge to meet the Damotian King and his retinue. Just slightly east of the main melee, the two Kings clash, engaging in their own fight. King John sustains a minor wound to his right arm, but continues the fight. The veteran Adera cavalry are able to easily best the Damotian cavalry and, after a mere hour of fighting, the King of Damot falls, mortally wounded with a spear thrusted through his stomach. |
| With their King dead, the morale of the Damotians begin to falter. However, surrounded by the Aethiopians, there is little they can do besides be slaughtered in the field of battle. King John, giving orders through his noblemen, demands no quarter be given to 'the slaves of the Muslims' and that all hostile combatants be slaughtered. At the end of the carnage, only a thousand Damotians escape, running across the Jamma River north towards their homes. In the end, at a loss of only nearly two thousand of his own men, the entire Damotian army had been slaughtered, leaving their capital open for sacking. |
| In the night, King John orders some of his own cavalry to cross the river and pursue what little remains of the fleeing Damotian army. His own cavalrymen eventually come across around half of the remaining Damotian army, encamped along a lake further north. Here, they are slaughtered, and a head of one of the men brought back to King John as proof of the killings. Satisfied, he orders the next day to be spent praying by all of his men in thanks for their victory, before capturing and sacking Damot in the following days. With Damot collapsed and their treasury sacked, the road to Shewa will lie clear. |
Val Verde-, Otsla, Gaia Major, -Ethiopian Empire, Indril, Romisches Imperium
MUSIC TO SET THE MOOD:
https://youtu.be/8tilKaOINmE?t=0
[list][sup]THE WINTER, SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1201[/sup]
UNITING THE TRIBES: THE YOTVINGIAI AND THE NORTH[/list]
___
[sup] All over Lithuania and Latvia[/sup]
___
| Grand Duke Algimantas had spent days sitting inside examining the prophecy that came to him in his dreams over and over and over. going over every single minute detail he could, as well as gathering as many shamans as he could, asking them how to decipher what is surely a prophecy sent by Dievas himself. From what he and the others could gather it was not a Prophecy of what WILL be but what COULD be. That if Prusa, Lietuva, Curonia, Semigallia and Lettigallia do not unite they will be subjugated by the surrounding states and the old beliefs will die out completely. This would be a difficult but not impossible task for the 41 year old Grand Duke of Lithuania but not an impossible one. The first target would be the Yotvingiai, lead by one of the more famous and ambitious dukes in the area: Duke Butvydas of Suvalkija. He was born in the usual warrior castes that ruled baltic societies but outside the old dynasty that ruled the Yotvingiai, instead born to a near insignificant minor house, but earned his fame when he seized the Duchy in a 2 year long war the old dynasty had near-bankrupted the dukedom and Butvydas seized the opportunity and started a revolt against their rule. After proving his strength in multiple battles the already rebelling vassals rallied to his cause and he successfully seized control. Legends said he never lost a battle against his foes in that war and was protected by the gods. Luckily Butvydas had an honorable respect for fellow men of the sword and would likely accept a duel offered by Algimantas. |
| Grand Duke Algimantas knew he could manipulate this honor to his advantage so he rid for many days to the capital of his territory: Dainava, to the wooden hill-fort where Duke Butvydas resides. The Small fortification stood at the crossing of two rivers, with a forest behind it. There in the fort he would meet with the duke to tell of the prophecy the gods showed to him in his dreams, and its meaning. He would then tell him the meaning of why he is here. Grand Duke Algimantas seeks to unite all the tribes of the baltic into one Great Kingdom to withstand the coming onslaughts, and offered Duke Butvydas to kneel right there and submit to avoid any bloodshed. He respectfully denied and then Grand Duke Algimantas officially challenged him to an honorable duel, if Duke Butvydas of Suvalkija wins Grand Duke Algimantas promises to never seek the lands of the Yotvingiai again, but if Grand Duke Algimantas wins then Duke Butvydas has to submit. Instantly his eyes lit up like fires and agreed to the duel. The two would go out into the the yard of the fort where there was a designated dueling area. Their armor was the typical armor most of Europe used, A gambeson with a short sleeved chainmail hauberk over it, a padded chainmail coif protecting the neck and a pointed metal cap. Grand Duke Algimantas was carrying a two handed battle-axe with no shield and Duke Butvydas was wielding A shield with his sigil emblazoned on it, and a sword. The duel started and for an hour perhaps they were just probing each others defenses. Testing each other to see how they responded to blows and attacks. Then once they knew their opponent the real fighting began, and for what seemed like hours they fought, neither gaining the upper hand or severely injuring the other. They seemed to be near perfect equals in battle. Later legends would say the Duel at Dainava Castle started at sundown and only concluded when the both men noticed the rising sun but it would never be truly clear how long that duel lasted. What was known for certain is that they fought each other to a standstill and Butvydas of Suvalkija, the Duke of the Yotvingiai kneeled in front of the Grand Duke Algimantas and pledged eternal allegiance to him despite not losing the duel, as he was in awe of this opponent turned ally's martial abilities.|
| With his peaceful integration of the Yotvingiai Grand Duke Algimantas would focus on the subjugation on the Semigallian and Lettigalian tribes. The first target would be the Semigallian Duke Viestards of Tervete. There were numerous reports of Duke Viestards being allies with the Livonian christians despite being a Pagan himself. He had made numerous raids on Lietuvos lands before and using both his alliance with infidels and repeated raids into Lietuva as a casus beli, Grand Duke Algimantas raised his armies, newly bolstered by Duke Butvydas' allegiance they marched into the lands of Duke Viestards and besieged the wooden castle of Tervete. Viestards sent all the troops he could to stop the Lietuvos army but they were significantly outmatched in men, and their commanders were significantly more experienced than they were. His army was crushed outside the walls of the city and set the walls ablaze. The city was then sacked and Viestards was killed within Tervete. Thus the lands of Duke Viestards were transferred to Grand Duke Algimantas, and would later on be given to a new loyal Semigallian vassal of his choosing. Next would be the Duke of the Selonians Atvars VI. His chiefdom was in alliance with Lietuva and luckily Atvars himself was friends with Algimantas so all he had to do was send his army to Selonia and request Duke Atvars submit to Lietuva. Atvars was not a very strong warrior, instead he was an honest scholar and holy man which the Grand Duke could use to his advantage. All he had to do was explain his vision and meeting with Perkunas and explain what his mission was and Duke Atvars VI was sure to submit. But he didn't just submit when Algimantas' story was revealed to him, he requested to be one of Algimantas' primary religious advisors to assist with his Gods given mission.|
| The final territories to be subsumed into Lietuva were to be the Principality of Jersika and the Dukedom of Talavi. Prince Visvaldis Sirkants was the man in control of Jersika and would be Algimantas' first real challenge since he started this war. By now news had spread of Algimantas' holy mission and how he was on the warpath and Prince Visvaldis wasn't the type of man to be caught off guard. His Principality, despite being smaller than Lietuva was no pushover and Visvaldis himself was an accomplished warrior. Many, many battles would occur in Jersika and not all of them were ones Algimantas won. He had to use every trick in the book he AND Butvydas knew to subjugate Jersika. The final battle that decided the fate of the war would be fought outside Jersika Castle itself. It would be a pitched battle that lasted hours and hours, and was a very bloody affair. Eventually Grand Duke Algimantas one out of sheer numbers and a few tricks during the battle but it was a battle won "by the skin of his teeth", as it were. After defeating the army outside the castle they would begin seiging it and after breaking down the gate with a battering ram, and setting fire to the wooden walls the castle was breached and Prince Visvaldis Sirkants was captured and forced to hand over his land to Algimantas. The Grand Duke would have the Prince sent to Vilnius but he would escape capture and never be seen again. The disappearance of the Prince of Jersika would later on become a famous mystery among the people of Lietuva. |
| The last hurdle Algimantas needed to face in the north was the Dukedom of Talavi. Luckily it wouldn't be a very difficult affair as Duke Tālivaldis' vassals were already revolting against him. Duke Tālivaldis had made the mistake of converting to Orthodox Christianity without telling any of his vassals, all of which were staunch pagans. Once news arrived of Algimantas' holy mission to unite the region against a coming christian invasion the vassals of Tālivaldis had already made up their minds. They were going to submit to the Grand Duke as long as he helped them get rid of Tālivaldis, and put the leader of the revolt, a certain noble named Druvārs Kresliņ in control of the Duke's former territories he would submit as a loyal vassal of the Grand Duke of Lietuva. the Grand Duke accepted and the new allies began the war against Tālivaldis in earnest. After defeating Tālivaldis' smaller army in an ambush battle a long drawn out siege of the stone castle of Talavi would begin. They would eventually win but only after two months of attacking the castle and starving it of supplies. Tālivaldis surrendered to Algimantas and accepted his terms. He would then be sent to Vilnius as a prisoner, and this time the prisoner didn't escape. They learned from last time and didnt want their important prisoner escaping this time. A good portion of the Baltic had now been unified under the leadership of Grand Duke Algimantas Palemonaitis, however the Curonians and Prussians were still standing and wouldn't go down without a fight.|
___________________
| "tvirtai stovintis prie netikėjusius" |
___________________
Val Verde-, Otsla, Gaia Major, Indril, Romisches Imperium
The sultanate of Rum
the year 599 the month is Safar the 26th
A Grand assembly has been called to establish the new administration for the territory of the mengujek people the new administration has been only made legitim by the word of the sultan and lacks basic support from the aristocracy which had family members disowned. of course they got reinstated in former lands as servants of the state but that wasn't even close to the reinstating of their imperial possessions and since the sultan felt the noose slowly tightening around his neck he called the grand assembly of aristocratic families and servants of the state to appease them which was shown to the simple peasant more of a festival for the conquest but in the imperial palace a heated debate was happening, with troops marching and banners waving the sultan himself was stuck with aristocrats leaders of the faiths and loyalists both being infuriated complaining propping him up or beating his mental defenses down. and as the nobles and many more complained the sultan took a breath and went to a window he looked into the skies and what he saw was the spirit of Romulus looking down at him from the skies. the sultan totally shocked at this seeing it as a sign from God to continue his path. the thing he saw was actually just an illusion through his declining mental health and being in a room with 30 people and arguing all day. and so he went back to his throne room the entire mass of people either complaining or watching the sultan and seeing him go back to his throne. And with the mental strength of an approved mentally ill person by God himself, the sultan could not feel better he went back to his throne with long steps. He sat down and with a crazy look in his eyes he addressed the entire room: "my dear noble fighters and hocas i trust that God has given me and my life the mission to bring us back to greatness Our old empire has fallen but I believe that I will through this new administration bring the west the word of Allah and rebuild our empire to the east as it once stood through this discussion of the complete abolition of this not even weeks old administration i fear that we will make a grave mistake so if you truly want this beautiful state of being protected by non-believers and the word of god to ring through the western world how dare you try to split us and work against us how dare somebody instead of trying to improve the state and show everyone the word of Allah" and after this speech, many were undecided the highly ranked religious officials less since they had initially supported the sultan to find new ways to spread Islam to the provinces faster.
and as we see the first day of this assembly die down serious talks begin to form about he states the aristocracy against the sultan and the religious officials as judges how will it go?
Roma Invicta
Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Czabalkia, Gaia Major, Indril
[list][list]𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐘
ʜɪꜱ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛᴇᴍÜᴊɪɴ![/list][/list]
[sup]In the vast lands of Central Asia, the law of the steppe rules supreme, the strong will take what they want and the weak will plot their revenge. This is the world into which the young Temüjin is birthed. Son to a powerful general, Yesugei Bagatur, and his mother Hoelun. As he was born, Temüjin held a blood clot as big as a knucklebone in his right hand. The Shaman interpreted this as a sign that Temüjin would one day become a great warrior, how the poor unwary would come to know in the future. Temüjin comes from a noble family, his father Bagtar being a respected general who has fought in many battles and increased the wealth and land of his clan. Like all Mongol children, the young Temüjin is taught to ride and hunt. Essential skills needed to survive in the brutal steppe as constant violence was a fact of life for the Mongols. Amongst his clan, Temüjin would eventually come to befriend a fellow clan member named Jamukha. They are like brothers, even going as far as to exchange arrows, a sign of brotherhood for the Mongols. But the bond they share will one day come to haunt the future Khan. Neither knows that they are destined to become bitter enemies. Temüjin enjoys a carefree childhood but when he grows to the age of nine, his father takes him to find a bride. Bagatur would eventually arrange for Temüjin to live with the family of his future wife Börte of the tribe Khongirad, as the custom of the Mongols. Börte father accepts the proposal and welcomes the young Temüjin amongst his family. The two children are kindred spirits as they connect during their time spent together in those carefree days, neither knowing of the adversity they will face in the future. But soon a messenger would bring a message that would change young Temüjin's life forever. While heading home, his father ran into the neighboring Tatars, who had long been Mongol enemies, and they offered him food that poisoned him. The boy must return to his clan. Temüjin will return to an uncertain fate, without his father his family has no protection, they have been abandoned by their clan, left to fend for themselves. However, Hoelun was a woman of great courage. With a stick in hand, she used it to dig roots from the earth to feed her children. Temüjin family once wealthy now has nothing, in their desperation conflict between Temüjin and his older half-brother Begter, begins to brew. Begter being the eldest male began to exercise power in the family and would eventually have the right to claim Hoelun as a wife. Over time the conflict escalates, in time it turns violent. Temüjin comes to see the conflict as a war with only one certain end, as the second oldest he will settle the score with Begter. One day, while Begter sat in a clearing watching the family horses grazing, Temüjin and his brother Khasar crept up from behind, drawing their arrows to shoot. Upon noticing them, Begter exclaimed, "How could you treat me like dirt in your eye!? Like something that's keeping the food from your mouth? How could you do this, when there is no one to fight but our own shadows!?". Temüjin and Khasar without reply shot Begter, killing him with two arrows. They were scolded by their mother Hoelun for what they had done, but Temüjin and Khasar showed no remorse for what had been done.[/sup]
[sup]Temüjin and his family are constantly hunted by his father's old enemies. Enemies eager to capture or kill their rival's eldest son. Despite their best efforts, Temüjin is captured during a raid around 1177, and enslaved, reportedly with a cangue to further humiliate him. They bring him to their own camp to live his life as a slave. He is humiliated and ridiculed, forced to serve his tormentors. But even amongst the camp, there was one guard who believed in the shaman's prophecy, that Temüjin would one day become a great leader. But the tormentors were determined to break his will. During the night he is lashed to a yurt and guarded but Temüjin life will not be the life of a slave. Temüjin makes his escape at night with the help of the guard who hid him in a river crevice. Temüjin would escape but after the escape, the life of Temüjin during that period is a mystery as he wandered around from place to place. Eventually meeting Jelme and Bo'orchu join forces with him. They and the guard's son Chilaun eventually became generals of Genghis Khan. During this time, Temüjin would grow up observing the tough political climate, which included tribal warfare, thievery, raids, corruption, and revenge between confederations, compounded by interference from abroad from the Chinese Song Empire. Something Temüjin would never forget or forgive. Temüjin would also take to learning important knowledge from his mother Hoelun taught him many lessons, especially the need for strong alliances to ensure stability to prepare for the various struggles the young Temüjin would face on his path to glory. His youth behind him Temüjin emerges as an imposing young man, he commands a small army of Mongol warriors. After years of searching, he finds his betrothed child bride Börte and makes her his wife, but knows he will need much more to survive. Temüjin needs allies, and he seeks the favor of Toghrul Khan, leader of the Keraites and once a close friend of his father. After much discussion and consideration, Toghrul gives his blessing to Temüjin and permission to reunite his clan and even raise an army. Eager and enterprising young men are drawn to Temüjin's camp, and trained as warriors. Learning new unusual tactics such as firing their arrows at their enemies while riding away at full gallop, it's a maneuver that will grant them many victories in future conquests. To keep his warriors loyal, Temüjin promises future raids and riches in the coming wars that they will face in the future.[/sup]
[sup]Temüjin's path seemed filled with nothing but victories as he slowly gained influence and power thanks to his service to Toghrul. But Temüjin was about to suffer one of his greatest losses when not long after his wedding to Börte, three Merkits attacked their family camp at dawn and kidnapped Börte. Temüjin would have to choose between his wife and mother, as the camp did not have enough horses for everyone. She was given to one of the Merkits warriors as a spoil of war. Temüjin was so deeply distressed by the abduction of his wife and remarked that his "bed was made empty" and his "breast was torn apart". It will take 9 long months for Temüjin to track Börte. With the help of his lord Toghrul and his long-ago blood brother Jamukha. Together they would finally track down the camp of the Merkits and Temüjin would show no mercy to the Merkits. The raid on the Merkits is quick and decisive, killing the warriors and taking their wives and daughters as war trophies. An account from that day,[/sup]
[pre]As the pillaging and plundering went on, Temüjin moved among the people that were hurriedly escaping, calling, Börte, Börte! And so he came upon her, for Lady Börte was among those fleeing people. She heard the voice of Temüjin and, recognizing it, she got off the cart and came running towards him. Although it was still night, Lady Börte and Qoaqčin both recognized Temüjins reins and tether and grabbed them. It was moonlight; he looked at them, recognized Lady Börte, and they fell into each others arms. -The Secret History of the Mongols[/pre]
[sup]For those long nine months, Börte was held captive, and not long after the rescue, she gave birth to Jochi. It was without a doubt that this child was not Temüjin's legitimate child because her captor took her as a "wife" and could have possibly impregnated her. But despite this, declares the boy to be his own and officially takes him into the family. Börte would birth three more sons, Chagatai (1183), Ögedei (1186), and Tolui (1191). Börte was also the mother to several daughters, Kua Ujin Bekhi, Alakhai Bekhi, Alaltun, Checheikhen, Tümelün, and Tolai. Temüjin and Jamukha stayed together for a while after the battle, rekindling the friendship they had once had. But suspicions and jealousy begin taking root, and at one point Temüjin sent an embassy to the Khadagin and Salji'ut to try to win them over against the Taichiud. In 1193, Temüjin and Jamukha split when retainers of the two camps clashed over horse thievery. Temüjin took with him 41 tribal leaders and 10,000 men from Jamukha, he was later elected khan by his followers in the following days. The Taichiud became frightened by Temüjin's power and joined Jamukha against Temüjin. Determined to end his former friend, in 1193, Jamukha assembled 30,000 men and attacked Temüjin's camp. Both forces were evenly matched and the battle was fierce but was Temüjin forced to retreat to a defensible pass called Jerene near the Onon River. Jamukha while victorious would lose at the end, as his cruel behavior alienated many amongst his ranks after he boiled prisoners alive. Many would defect to Temüjin and the tables turned as with less than 20,000 men at his side, Jamukha was no longer able to challenge Temüjin on the upper Kherlen River and retreated further east. With the defeat of his former friend, Temüjin would launch several campaigns over the years against many foes like the Tartars, Naimans, and the Jurkins. By 1200 AD, Temüjin is a war hero, more and more men join him, fighting at his side earns them rich rewards. But much trial and tribulation remain as Temüjin must face the Tartars again to finish what he started, and face his blood brother Jamukha who will not stop until Temüjin is no more.[/sup]
Valijun, Val Verde-, Czabalkia, Gaia Major, Indril
LA DIVERSIONE: L'ASSEDIO DI ZARA DISTINENDAE IN: PUGNA AUTEM ZARA[/B]
[sub]Aprilis 1202November 1202 | Venezia, Veneto, La SerenissimaZara, Sclavonia[/sub]
As per the agreements at the Council in Soissons held in Iunius of 1201, the Army of the Crusade and it's hosts would arrive in Venice by Aprilis 1202, with many of the Crusaders opting to sail from other ports, most notably Flanders, Marseille, and Genoa, though by mid-Maius, the Crusader Army had arrived in a bulk of Cogs bearing various sigils and heraldry from across Europe. Awaiting them in the breakwaters of the Venetian Arsenal, 50 War galleys and 450 transports accounting for both horses and infantry. The force of Crusaders that arrived however, was staggeringly low 12,000 men, in comparison to the ambitious projections originally contrived by the Pope and Count Thibaud III during the ratification of the Treaty of Venice in 1201. The product of this unforeseen circumstance was presented as an even worsening situation all together as the Crusade not only found itself incapable of fully manning and powering the Venetian Fleet with such few numbers. Lines of ships lay drawn up in dockyards, while others sat bobbing and bumping at anchor, ready to sail. Yet the shortfall of holy warriors condemned dozens of these vessels to ghostly inactivity.
The moneylenders of Venice effectively neutered the Crusade and all of it's original ambitions as even the pledges of personal wealth from the Marquess of Montferrat, Boniface I and other nobility involved. Gold and silver vessels, jugs, plates and cutlery were all handed over and transported to Dandolos palace to help pay the debt. Even still, the Crusade only came up with 51,000 Marks of Silver out of the 90,000 Marks owed to La Serenissima for constructing such a monumental fleet within a minimal amount of time. This massive, rapid construction of vessels proved so much an effort, the Republic was forced even to stall and curtail it's very own domestic shipping, commercial activity to support this effort bounded contractually by the Treaty. The aging and blinded Doge, Enrico Dandolo, called the Sapienti to session and deliberated over what to do with the Crusader Army that failed to withhold it's end of the agreement, one at which that forced the Most Serene Republic not only to forfeit it's very own maritime mercantile profits for the year, but with an ever fluctuating population of roughly 60,000-100,000, Venezia was simultaneously now faced with an obligation to call a popular levy of some 14,000-20,000 Venetians to service in order to make up the lack of manpower necessary to power the full might of the Fleet. Such responsibility only further exacerbated the strain on Venezia's economy. After summoning the leadership of the Crusade, the Doge took action.
[List][sub]"Lords, you have used us ill, for as soon as your messengers made the bargain with me I commanded through all my land that no trader should go trading, but that all should help prepare this navy. So they have waited ever since and have not made any money for a year and a half past. Instead, they have lost a great deal, and therefore, we wish, my men and I, that you should pay us the money you owe us. And if you do not do so, then know that you shall not depart from this island before we are paid, nor shall you find anyone to bring you anything to eat or to drink."
Doge Enrico Dandolo[/sub][/list]
As a result, the stakes, leadership, ambitions, and goals of the Fourth Crusade had now been entirely shifted. The Doge called the Marquess of Montferrat and other leaders of the Crusade before him and the Sapienti to offer the Army an ultimatum, sail to the eastern shores for the Adriatic and restore Venetian rule in the coastal cities of Muggia, Trieste, Pula, and especially Zadar (Zara), all of which have rebelled against the Republic with vigor throughout the last 20 years, and if not, the Crusader Fleet would subsequently remain moored in the harbor until the debt could otherwise be repaid. Control of Zara had long been an aim of the Venezia and this presented too excellent an opportunity to assert authority. The doge decided that payment of the debt should be suspended and subsequently, God permitting, the Crusaders would be able to win the money they owed by right of conquest.
As the Papal legate to the Crusade, Cardinal Peter of Capua, endorsed the move as necessary to prevent the crusade's utter failure, the stipulations were deemed appropriate by a majority of the Crusading Army, however, some of the crusaders, meanwhile, had yet to come to terms with the prospect of a campaign at Zara and the longer they considered it, the more unpopular an idea it became. Despite losing even more manpower, the Crusade began boarding it's ships, some 50 amphibious transports, 100 horse carriers and 60 war galleys. Individually, each transport is crewed by 100 men and can hold up to 600 infantrymen, while the horse carriers feature not only specially designed slings to carry their cargo of horses, but additionally a fold-out ramp below the waterline that could be opened to allow mounted knights to charge directly onto shore. Even the war galleys were sophisticated and of specialized design, featuring metal-tipped rams fixtured on the bow above the waterline for defense against enemy vessels and even carried hundreds of siege weapons.
Eager to Winter his fleet in Zara, Enrico Dandolo left harbor at first light on the morning of 1 October, with the Crusaders in tow seven days later on 8 October. The Doge's Fleet sailed steadfastly to the Adriatic coast with an ultimatum for Muggia, Trieste, and Pula. There, behind the might of some 10,000 Venetian men-at-arms, the rebellious local governments would ultimately succumb to the superimposing of Venetian will without bloodshed, subsequently accepting the terms of the strict ultimatum, as if any alternative was presented. Unlike in Istria, Dandolo knew that intimidation alone would not be enough a factor to bring down the years of insurrection and a pledge of protection by King Emeric of Hungary for Zara. Similarly, this would not stall the inevitable fate of the city as it would serve an example for other coastal locale under Venetian rule across Dalmatia, the Doge himself was arriving in force to personally oversee their destruction.
[List][sub]On the eve of the feast of Saint Martin, they arrived before Zara in Sclavonia and saw the city fortified with lofty walls and tall towers; you would have sought a finer, stronger, more impressive city in vain. And when the pilgrims saw it they were greatly astounded and said to one another, "How could such a city be taken by force, unless God Himself brought it about?"
Chronicles of the Crusades[/sub][/list]
In nearly a month's time, on the eve of 11 November, the combined Fleet arrived as the tall triangular-sailed masts of the War Galleys poked through the horizon, as word ran south from Istria of the impending Fleet, the city's defenders were given a brief time to prepare, two boom chains were layered across the mouth of the harbor in anticipation. Fortunately for the Crusader Fleet, a strong northern wind favored the assault by sea, as hundreds of lantern-lit vessels descend on the port with gaining speeds. The shouts of the oarsmen and the relentless, driving beat of the war drums out at sea could be heard from the city walls, even from the aging hewn stone battlements of nearby Ostrovica Fortress. Banners and tapestries bearing the Holy Cross were displayed with vigor by the defenders, trying to gain on the good faith of their fellow Christians and display their loyalty to the Church. However, their efforts were woefully in vain. Their insurrection was about to come to a bitter end. With a dazzling array of flags and pennons fluttering in the autumn breeze, the navy engulfed the distance between themselves and the city in almost no time at all as the Doge's own vermilion galley spearheaded the assault, swiftly entering the mouth of the harbor and effortlessly broke clean through both of the layered chain booms, to the bewilderment of the already demoralized city defenders, knowing now they were up against a seemingly unstoppable force. They merely watched from the highest towers of the wall defenses, as the horse and infantry transports stormed the beachhead just beyond the city walls less than a mile from the main gate only to begin dispatching Knights and their mounts with precision timing. Only, they found not a soul awaiting to contest their blades upon the cold shore, almost as if they had merely conducted a synchronized mock-landing upon friendly beaches.
As mounted chevaliers and their squires secured the wide swathe of beach and the port without contest, the Venetian and Crusade leadership moored at harbor as the force made several camps just beyond Zara's walls in preparation for what was intended. The Venetian crewmen offloaded more than 300 siege engines, including petraries, mangonels, and scaling ladders, delivering them to various forward siege encampments strategically pitched across a broad section of the city's walled defense. As the siege is planned and strategized by various noble European leaders beneath a samite canopy at the largest forward encampment, alas a vessel enters Zara by sea bearing urgent news from the West, from Rome, Abbot Peter of Lucedio conveys the agonizingly clear will of Pope Innocent in a letter addressed to the leaders of the Fourth Crusade. On behalf of the Pope, Guy of Vaux-de-Cernay read the letter aloud before fellow members of the Crusade, and in it the Pope specifically forbids the invasion of a Christian city by God's pilgrims, on the threat of excommunication. A scratch force assembled underneath the banner of Simon de Montfort, including Robert de Boves, Guy of Vaux-de-Cernay, and their retinues, all of whom, among others, refused to participate in the siege and camped further away from the city.
Despite the clear stance of the Papalcy, and after several back-and-forth attempts at ending, subverting the plan through peace and sabotage, the siege commenced on the morning of 13 November as Zara bought itself nearly two full days by stalling the attempted peace negotiations. Before the Zarans knew it, scaling ladders were being racked up the city walls from all sides by Knights of the Holy Crusade, climbing the walls, swords in hand. From the battlements above, the defenders swiped at the scaling enemy with bill-guisarme polearms, slashing throats open and dissevering unarmored forearms clean through. After losing limbs, their screaming bodies fell back from the ladders at the peak of the city walls, piling into corpse pits below. Longswords, shortswords, battle-axes, cleavers, maces all clanked and resounded against one another intertwining with sounds of gargling blood and the outcries of the dying. Petrary siege engines hurled flaming stone into the city, wreaking devastation as the missiles flattened several buildings and encouraged large, uncontrollable flames to overtake portions of the city. This sparked several imminent emergencies within Zara, serving only to deteriorate the defense's position. Despite these pyrrhic advantages, the corpses only began to mount at the base of the wall. As that first day of the siege turned to night, early that morning of 14 November, forces of the Crusade adjusted their approach and deployed several wooden siege towers in effort to counter the Zaran's deadly effectiveness with the bill-guisarme against the scaling ladders.
https://youtu.be/v3b_2gber78
More than an hour before dawn, a long, dark, drawn out, and isolated war horn sounded the triumphant advance of the menacing wooden towers and wheeled battering rams powered along by several siege trains, or a collective of siege engines together with their necessary soldiers, sappers, ammunition, and transport vehicles. The battering rams, constructed with arrow-protective housing for their crews, moved alongside the 135ft tall wooden towers, their summits fortified with archers, wheeling dauntingly toward the defenders on the battlements like several bulwarks moving in synchrony, though some falling behind and others swiftly gaining land. As the Crusader's siege towers moved into range, the archers within unleashed their initial volleys upon the defense to devastating effect, countless men fell to their knees strewn with arrows, others plummeted to the ground below and added to the troves of corpses that had accumulated. After brief reloading periods, more arrows pelted the Zaran defenders, only this time they were better prepared and fared far better than the effect of the first volley, despite being unable to return fire. While the siege towers kept the focus walled defenses, the battering ram went work on the main gate, heave after heave, the horned Ram figurehead pounded the gates as a few arrows rained down from above, to no effect. The main gate wouldn't budge though the batterers heaved tirelessly, a long, patient process, waiting to hear that first crack, that first sign the doors were starting to erode from the ramming. All while, on the other side of the city gate, a score of Zarans clung forebodingly to their weapons, pooling around the entrance ready to defend it with all they had.
Despite the trifecta of siege engines employed against, traditional attempts at scaling the walls dragged on for three more days, becoming ever more evident that battering the gates or climbing into the city would continue to be costly and ineffective. Though, at long last, the leadership of the Holy Crusade decided to employ one of the most effective, yet also the most dangerous and complex of siege tactics, the mine. The engineers got quick to work on the mine as the battle still raged at the peak of Zara's walls above them. The work of establishing the siege mine involved the construction of a series of underground galleries running towards the walls, with the passages dug out and supported by wooden shafts. Marshy land or extensive water defences afford some protection against the mine, though Zara's firmer conditions amply allowed the operation. Once the mine was judged to be under the walls, the end of the shaft was stuffed with brushwood, among other inflammable materials, and the scaling ladders were suddenly disembarked from the walls. To the defense, this was nearly unexplainable, aside from the heavy casualties they had inflicted on the Crusaders over the course of five exhausting days, some men cheered prematurely, though others understood it couldn't have be a sign of anything positive.
https://youtu.be/wEEbU-C8ZEM
Some 40 meters below them, where the mine galleries end mere feet beneath the stone wall, the combustibles had been ignited, causing first a searing blaze that weakened the barrier's supports and compromised the integrity of the stone foundation. Within minutes, a massive explosion undid the wall sending stone, wood, dirt, and hundreds of bodies into the air all while simultaneously bringing down both the tunnel and the wall above it, leaving a gaping crack of a chasm for the Crusaders to pour in through, at long last. After the wall came crashing down and before the dust could even settle, a second, deeper war horn was sounded off above the screeches and chants of charging infantrymen. Before the war horn signaling could subside, Knights and Squires of the Holy Crusade, alongside heavy Venetian Knights in chainmail hauberk were stormed through the gap in the wall, only to be met by a hearty force of defenders directly upon the other side. However, not all the defenders were seasoned men, or even men-at-arms, for that matter, as almost every Zaran, civilian and not, was called to her defence. Even prisoners, some with no combat experience, were released into defensive service underneath the local City Bailiff. These inherent limitations displayed inherent problems at the hands of the far more experienced and well-armored Knights of the Crusade, the local resistance hardly stood a chance and many were dispatched with relative ease as the Crusader's forced their way even deeper inside Zara's outer bailey. Hundreds were slaughtered in the ensuing defense as now, the Crusade took little, if no casualties at all, pushing it's way through and eventually, the Zarans lost control over the main gate and was subsequently opened to allow the transport of mangonel anti-personnel projectile launchers into the city with ease. There were no more walls or protections beyond this point, Zara had fallen, even if the defenders didn't want to believe it. In a haste, those that could retreated up the mountain to the hewn stone Fortress of Ostrovica, the so-called, "Key to the City of Zara".
From 18 November, those that took the mountain path to the Fortress were yet again doomed to besiegement. Up there, the forces were strewn, highly disorganized, wounded, commanderless, and limited on supplies. The Crusade would never risk scaling the mountain up after them when it didn't have to and instead, the force waited it out in the city below divvying up the spoils of their swift conquest, ransacking homes and estates for anything they could. All while the survivors remained trapped in Ostrovica Fortress, Frankish and Venetian contingents belonging to the Crusade erupted into widespread, and seemingly unchecked violence all over the city due to disagreements about the distribution of the plunders, after the brawls were quelled, some 100 or more laid deceased in that aftermath. Any civilians who survived and had remained in the city were robbed or ravaged by the depraved present on any battlefield. After nearly a week, the forces that had assembled at Ostrovica Fortress finally surrendered to the Holy Army of the Fourth Crusade on the evening of 24 November. As Zara officially fell beyond that day, the expedition was obliged to pause. Dandolo pointed out the practicalities of the sailing season, as winter was upon the Crusading host and it was impossible to continue any further. In any case, Zara was a wealthy city that could provide the supplies the expedition needed. The Doges men took the half of the city nearest the harbor and the French the other part, each group commandeering the finest houses for it's leading men.
[spoiler=THE VENETIAN VANITY AND THE FOURTH CRUSADE][/spoiler]
Valijun, Otsla, Czabalkia, The Reunified German Reich, Gaia Major, Indril, Romisches Imperium
The sultanate of Rum
The Meclis-i Umumî
The year is 599
After the first few days of negativity and arguments to disband the assembly closely both sides approach each other in a careful dance of power. Both sides saw a way to turn this situation around the nobles demanded
That the nobles are reinstated the Sultan agreed but their actions would be at least in the new territory chained to a court. The sultans at the same time got the nobles to agree to make a new law based on the Quran. It was given to the sultan's advisers as a task it was going to be a law book not only for this region but it would be a single book that could be used to administer the state. And things like the collecting of taxes would still be conducted through the aristocrats but things like the postal office and the examining of the province was a project to work on for the entire country.
And as the days go by the palace is full of the last banquet that the sultan gave for the aristocrats. The last few things need to be spoken upon the last few bad relations between brothers mended.
A few hundred years later
The world had completely changed but what didn't change was that artifacts and history were still interesting for humanity. And in the old territory of the sultanate of rum artifacts were found and displayed. An archaeologist and historian were currently presenting artifacts to the crowd. With a voice of a young man, the 25-year-old with glasses and a small beard continued to explain his findings. "So after numerous searches, we found the remains of ruins and these things have never been found before so first of all the sultan at the time Suleiman the second also known as the reformer or Suleiman the mad had a mental illness that deteriorated as he became older but he was also an avid admirer of the roman republic and imperial Rome and tried to learn of it and what he knew about it he saw the main problem at the forefront as a religious issue that it wasn't Muslim and through that, a failed state he dreamed of an Islamic rebirth of Rome which of course was wrong but this madness of him depicting himself in pictures as the true ruler ofer Rome and this blatant fantasy and justification of romes fall. Didn't only let him just sponsor the arts but he reformed the state and gave it stable postal office courts and a written down law code as well as reshuffling the territory fairer in conquered territories. The lawbook was originally for the newly annexed mengujek part but after Suleiman died through mysterious means his son and the court slowly spread its use through the 1220 -the 1240s the some was based on Islamic law. But also ruled the courts and it's function. The courts would function that the ruling aristocrat could put something to vote on then the court made up of Statesmen and local other aristocrats would vote on it with restrictions and also loyal sultan voters in the courts. when something was decided on it got slowly implemented. Projects to rebuild or build new things usually taking until the collection of taxes
The ruling also was also checked on its religious righteousness by hocas who could sometimes even recite the entire Quran.
But there were also laws for.......and....then....."
And so he showed his findings to the world of a world long forgotten of crazy sultan's and Islamic law
Roma invicta
Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Czabalkia, Gaia Major, Indril, Romisches Imperium
[list][sup]JUNE 15TH 1203 AD[/sup]
THE HOLY EMPIRE OF VOLGA-BULGARIA[/list]
[sup]The Antipapal Court of Bartholomew Svinos, The City of Bulgha, The Holy Empire of Volga-Bulgaria[/sup]
It is clear that the Khazarian Khanate has reached it's low point. They hastily scraped together the ransom in order to appease Volga-Bulgaria. Ransacking the treasury, they still came short of the 100 000 Levs in gold asked for. Seeking to protect his country from the hordes of Bogomils ready to wreak vengeance on the "heretics", the Qağan Bek launched a pre-emptive strike. As was the custom of the Khazarian army, they fought to the death, for if they returned in defeat, they would be tortured and killed horribly. They knew also that they could expect no mercy at the hands of the fanatical Bogomil troops, driven by zeal.
At first it seemed the Qağan Bek had made the right choice. The Khazarian army marched into Volga-Bulgaria and met little resistance. But it seemed too quiet, too calm. Sending scouts ahead, he prepared for battle. He was sure that they were using the pass ahead in the mountains to bottleneck their forces, but the scouts reported only a few straggling peasants armed with rusty spears and scythes. Overeager, and not thinking clearly, he rushed forward thinking it an easy win. He forgot why he had wanted to pay up the ransom in the first place, the power and religious zeal of the Bogomil army. It became too clear what was the plan when they charged straight ahead into the trap. The peasants, concealed in the rocks, sent down an avalanche of rocks and heavy snow down on the enemy. In the confusion, the Volga-Bulgarian cavalry swept in, taking out a large amount of the Khazarian army, before retreating. Wounded, stranded, and surrounded by hostile forces, many more of the Khazarians perished in the mountains and wilderness. It was an utter defeat. But the word of the Qağan Bek was absolute. No retreat, no surrender, on pain of death. The rest struggled on, barely able to deal with the recent town militias, newly formed by order of the antipope. At long last, the shattered army gave a death rattle at the Battle of Tarwin's Gap, where the last of the Khazarian army clashed with the bulk of the Bogomil army. They fought to the last man, and although they were outnumbered six to one, they fought valiantly. Finally, with no other choice, the Qağan Bek grudgingly offered peace, offering large tracts of land in compensation, as well as the ransom first demanded. The War of the Ransom was over at last.
Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Gaia Major, Romisches Imperium
[pre]A New Era
October | 1203 CE [/pre]
[sub]Oslo[/sub]
| King Sverre stood on a temporary wooden tower, looking over the construction site that was the site of the future Castle of Oslo. His temporary castle, which he named Sverre Keep, lied in the northeast part of the city. He planned to have the Great Armory directly east of the planned citadel. The University of Oslo would be directly west of the citadel. The Great Prison would be situated, south of the Citadel, within its own bailey. King Sverre planned to have the entire sity within the castle walls. His grand plan was to make Oslo Castle, the most fortified city in the north. While he planned his castle, a different and beneficial development was underway...|
| The King of Sweden, Sverker II, exiled his sons, who have recently decided to attempt a coup against him. The coup failed that they were forced to flee to the Kingdom of Norway. King Sverre was convinced by his wife, who herself was a princess from Sweden, to allow them to say in Norway. King Sverre introduced the exiled princes to the Birkebeiners, who had a large part in King Sverre's own rise to power in Norway. King Sverre had realized the potential of the situation. As his children have a link to the Swedish throne, he knew that if he could get a loyal follower on the Swedish throne, he could effectively join the two kingdoms into a larger political entity that would also allow him to conquer the sparsely populated frontiers to the north of Norway and Sweden on the Scandinavian peninsula. As a result of this, he began hiring military advisors and tutors to teach the princes strategy and to teach them how to effectively fight in a war. King Sverre knew that if he just sent in his armies without the princes, the local Swedish population would likely rise up and revolt against him. He needed those princes in order for there to be a 'friendly' and recognizable Swedish face running Sweden as its King, while he consolidates the country into Norway. |
| King Sverre talked to the princes and planned for the future invasion in a few years. He discussed what forces they would need and not only offered the soldiers and mercenaries, but also top-tier equipment usually only available to the personal forces of the nobility. In order to ensure that the situation does not backfire, the personal guard he 'graciously' gave to them was loyal to King Sverre and would eliminate the princes if they tried to take advantage of his 'generosity' and go against him. Sverre ordered new uniforms and armor portraying the Swedish coat of arms and in Swedish colors to increase the portrayed legitimacy of the exiled princes. |
Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Gaia Major, Indril, Romisches Imperium
[list][sup]1957[/sup]
Goloborod'ko V. A. "The origin of Dike Pole Cossacks. Part three: Life in the Great Steppe[/list]
Early cossack society concentrated around sporadic raids and military campaigns into surrounding lands. This led to the destabilization of the region, and lack of urban development. During their raids, cossacks primarily targeted towns keeps and cities. The concentration of wealth in the Wild Fields has boosted the region's development and its overall population. This era saw an increase in autonomy for both Knyazes and Khans. They started to act more and more freely, other than staying loyal to Kiew or Grand Khan. The death of Vsevolod Big Nest often marks the "beginning of an end" for Kiewian Rus, and the end for Vladimir dominance of Rus affairs. In the future, all this will be one of the primary reasons for the birth of Sevrukian, Belorus, and Ukrainian cultures.
Life for an ordinary steppe person was not easy. Unlike the Cumans that lived here before, Cossacks dwelled in small communities, working in the fields. Every April-June men, and rarely even women, departed to local fortresses (Siches). There, a Kurenoi Ataman was elected by a simple hand-raising method. Hetman, if we are talking about Zaporozie Sich. Kosh Commander had an ultimate saying over any issue in the Warband, and Hetman's authority was valid all over the steppe. There are cases when Hetman had the final word over challenging court cases, just like in Marusia Churai legend. A Warband of cossacks chose a target and departed for a raid, on sources or by the Dnepr River. Usually, they returned in late autumn, splitting all the loot equally and heading back to their villages. Cossack families always were wealthier and had huge authority in their homes. For them serving as a soldier in the host was somewhat of a coming-of-age ritual. Sometimes old and retired cossacks returned to the host to serve as squad commanders, bringing their sons and grandsons to fulfill the regular roles. Cumans, dwellers of Kiewian Rus, Byzantines, Bulgarians, and even Turkish settlements encountered raiding parties of various sizes. Although it never grew to the extent of nordic raiding parties in the Viking age.
Valijun, Val Verde-, Otsla, Gaia Major, Romisches Imperium
Assembled with Dot's Region Saver.
Written by Refuge Isle.