Persia: Year 1100

Trends & Forces:
Second half of 11th century saw increase in religious antagonisms, not only expressed in Jihads and Crusades, territories overran by Khazars a century ago became a hotbed or religious and ethic conflicts where Old Gods competed against Christianity and each other.


Persia
Second half of Bahram's life was consumed by fighting revolts that plagued the Empire. Situation did not improved until Bahram's grandson - Khashayar, became new ruler of Taid Empire.

Control over vast Persian domain begun to require much more careful understanding of internal political system - with Khashayar's ascendent to the throne, wide range of administrative reforms were put in place, finally fully embracing Imperial form of control over the empire.

In matters of foreign politics, Taid Empire remained mostly docile, focusing on defending against Umayyad initiated Jihad which failed, once again, due to Abbasid's boycott of the religious war. 

Muslim World
With Abbasid Caliphate strongly focused on restoring internal order, Islam remained on defence in the east during the period. Few years after successful Crusade against Aquitania, Umayyad Caliphate regained control over the lost territory, only to focus papal wroth on itself again, losing Aquitania, this time for good, in another, 4th Crusade against Aquitania.

Shia Alhoceimid dynasty faced a major defeat with Longobardian rulers claimed Africa for their own, managing to defend the beachhead and quickly expand it - creating a Catholic divide separating Islamic world in two.

In last years of the century, Islam begun a major counter-offensive, with Umayyads taking control of Brittany and parts of Austrasian domain in northern France, and Shia Alhoceimid calling for Jihad against Roman-controlled Sicily.


Roman Empire
In 1060 Pterotos family lead a rebellion against Ooryphas dynasty, which ruled Roman Empire since the year 938.
Internally weak and divided Constantinople not only failed to expand their borders, but also ignored the opportunity to expand Orthodox faith into fractured central and eastern Europe.

Time will tell, if Romans are capable of projecting power, as their control over Sicily was challenged by Abbasid Caliphate.


Western Europe
Rapid fall of Aquitania to the Islam, after it's restoration to the Christian fold came as a surprise to all Western rulers. Despite that, another Crusade to claim south of France begun almost instantly.
Lasting over 15 years conflict, while victorious, exhausted European monarchs.

Kingdom of Italy faced a series of revolts and uprisings and the crown of the kingdom, which remained in the hands of Roderissingi family since earily 900s, was claimed by Faroaldingi family for almost two decades, with restoration of Roderissingi bloodline in year 1097.

Kingdoms of France and Germany remained mostly inactive during the Crusade, with only Austriasia claiming new domains, both in the central Germany and in former Bavarian kingdom - which never fully returned to it's glory after the Khazar invasion.


British Isles
Crusades spent the power of Ango-Saxon kingdoms to their fullest. Northumbria became a German domain, with only city of York keeping it's independence and Wales fracturing into small duchess. Wessex, while still holding on to London, lost Kent to the French and Sussex to Scotland, which after long and fruitless conflict with Ireland turned its gaze south for new gains. 


Pagan Faiths
After decades of subjugation to Tengri and Catholic faiths, German and Slavic people rose their banners, perhaps for the last time in history, claiming kingship of few independent domains in Europe - most powerful of them being the kingdom of Denmark.

Central Europe remains, during the 11th century, a deeply divided region, with old Slavic inhabitants sharing it with newly arrival steppe people. With downfall of Khaganat of Khazaria a nomad state of Bashtwid begun rising to power. Unlike their predecessor however, Bashtwid Khagan is a newly converted Sunni Muslim.
Deeper in the east of the steppe however, nomadic Salaghurid and feudal Khotan people became devout Buddists.

Persia: Year 1050

Persia
Taid Empire grew in size under the rule of Esfandiar and his son Bahram, as the Caliphate entered a serious dynastic crisis - calming much of the most important cultural sites of Middle East between Tigris and Euphrates.
Persian rulers begun to seek alliance with Romans, as borders of both states grew closer during the dark chapter of Muslim Caliphate.


Muslim World
In the first half of the 11th century, series of events led to massive disruption within the Islamic world; first of which being a long conflict over the Abbasid Caliphate succession after death of Mahdi II in 996.
Leadership of the Caliphate was claimed by his brother, Aram, who had to deal with a wide part of Muslim leadership displeased with the Caliphate policy. Lasting 8 years civil war ended with victory of the rebels, and replacement of Aram with Azam of the Tabghach clan.
During those years, Caliphate became subject of audacious attacks by the Persians, including fall of Bagdad.
In the year 1019 Shia Muslim declared Jihad against Persia to reclaim the city. Religious differences prevented their Sunni brothers from joining the conflict - including Persian greatest enemy - Caliphate of Abbasid, now called, properly, Caliphate of Tabghach.
After weeks of marching from Shia controlled Africa, armies of Jihad found themselves ill-matched against awaiting them Persian counterparts, and while conflict lasted till 1025 after initial failed invasion, Shia couldn't threaten Taid Empire in any way.

Jihad however was renewed just two years later, this time called by Sunni leaders - surprisingly however, Caliph of Tabghach refused to take part in the religious war, forcing the weight of the conflict on Umayyad Caliphate and smaller Egyptian Emirates.

Few months after Umayyad forces left Iberia, 3rd Crusade for Aquitania was called by the Pope, forcing Andalusians to fight on two fronts. Jihad not only failed, but cost Umayyads control over Aquitaine, which became, once again, a Christian-controlled part of Europe.
Claim on Bagdad had to be abandoned, for now.

In 1035 new civil war begun in the Caliphate, installing, anew, member of the Abbasid family as the Caliph.

By the end of the first half of the 11th century, Islam was weakened both in the West and East.. it is difficult to comprehend by outsiders - for the first time in a 400 years of history, a holy place of Muslim faith was claimed by the infidels.


Roman Empire
Using weakness of it's Muslim nemesis, Roman Empire had time to expand their Balkan domain, claiming small gains in Italy along the way. Despite internal conflicts, Ooryphas family remained on the throne in Constantinople, guaranteeing stability and prosperity to the Empire.

Western Europe
With German and Slavic states in Europe being destroyed by unstable Khazar Empire, Western Europe could focus on fighting the Muslim threat in France. Reclaimed by the Crusade in 1031 Aquitania became a domain of an Italian republican government, led by Merchant Doges.
Reclaimed Christian domain separated Umayyed Iberia from their other provinces in France, beginning process of reconquista: for the first time in over 250 years tide of Islamic faith was turned.

With Khazarian Empire falling apart and many nomadic tribes settling in newly conquered provinces, Pope begun energetic campaign of christianisation of the new arrivals.
Word of God quickly penetrated deep in the nomadic society, gaining a lot of support from more progressive horse lords, who after invading Europe saw benefits of the western civilisation.

British Isles
Wessex, Northumbria and - now controlled by France - centre of England remained separated from the events on the continent. Slowly consuming smaller duchess, three great power prepare themselves to clam the crown of England.

Unification of Ireland.


Pagan Faiths
Many German and Slavic Pagans turned to Christianity after their kingdoms were destroyed by Tengri invaders.
Fractured by the Khazaria states, begun rebuilding as the unstable Khaganate became disunified after the invasion. Slavic Behemians and Germanic Silesians became most successful of the new centres of power in the unstable region.

However damage done to both Slavic and Germanic faiths seems unrecoverable, especially with almost complete fall of Scandinavia into Christian domain.

Persia: Year 1000

Introduction: The Plague

In the last decade of the 10th century, the Hindu Plague ravaged the known world. Starting in the year 991 in India, it took almost two years to consume whole subcontinent, before spreading west - to the land of Persians and Muslims alike.

In July 993 it reached borders of Roman provinces and by January 994 the Hindu Plague was first seen in Constantinople and in south Italy. By May the same year it reached Rome and by the end of the year reached Alps and spread through African province.

In May 995 Hindu Plague was present in all ports across Mediterranean Sea  and quickly spreading inland in Andalusia, Africa, Balkans and Aquitania.
By the end of the year, expansion of the Plague to the north slowed down - as open conflict between Islam and Christianity limited contact between Catholic Eastern Francia and Muslims to the west, however in early December numerous cases were discovered both in Austrasia, Bavaria and south England.

By May 996 Hindu Plague reached Scotland and first cases were seen in Denmark. By July Ireland fell to the Plague and in September it reached Sweden and Pagan Germans and Slavs.

Over winter the sickness spread across Poland and southern Scandinavia and by September 997 it was seen across Finland, whole Central and most of the Eastern Europe.

That was the final reach of the Hindu Plague, as lands not yet infected were too scarcely populated and urbanised to allow spread of the disease.

Image presents probably greatest size of infected territories from the year 996, when Hindu Plague was taking lives everywhere between Persian Gulf and Scottish Hinterlands, consuming all great nations of the classical world.


Second major theme of the period for the European theatre was the invasion of Khazars into the Central Europe, catching Slavs, Germans and Christians unaware.

Persia

Kavadh II ruled Persia until 974, keeping his realm prosperus and leaving in peace with his Muslim neighbours - he tried, with little success spread his domain north, to the Steppe, however with little success. During his reign the bufor state of Zunbil between Persian and Hindu domain was finally absorbed by it's neighbours - east of Caucasus Indicus became part of Hindu domain, west - Persian.

In early years of Shahanshah Hormizd's rule, son of Kavadh II, he managed to secure ancient city of Susa from the Abbasids, during a major revolt consuming the Muslim domain. Shadow of the metropolis it once was, it marked approach of Taid Empire to the ancient cradle of Babylon.

Hormizd, just like his son, died during Hindu Plague, leaving kingdom to a young prince Esfandiar.

Muslim World

In the 2nd part of 10th century four distinct Muslim states crystallised themselves between Levant and Iberia:

• Beduin Abbasid Caliphate
• Egyptian Muhallabid Sultanate
• Berber Alhocemid Sultanate (ruling African province)
• and Andalusian Umayyad Caliphate.

Four states spent a lot of power fighting one another for supremacy of the Muslim world, with more ire introduced by the fact, Alhocemid dynasty turned itself to Shia faith.
With time, Abassids and Alhocemids begun overcoming Muhallabid Sultanate, but conflict is still far from over.

Abbasids all but forgo, for now, destroying their Roman nemesis, but Umayyad Caliphate endured a long and bloody Crusade, lasting for over a decade and ending with exhaustion of both sides - caused mostly by the spread of the Hindu Plague, than anything else.

Plague consumed: Badshah Mahdi I of Abbasid Caliphate and Sultan Mahmud of the Muhallabid Sultanate.

Roman Empire
Under Ooryphas dynasty, Roman Empire stabilised itself, but without any significant gains on any border - only major victory was subjugation of Bulgars living at the western shores of the Black Sea.  Initially successful christianization of steppe nomads quickly turned out to be short-lived, as pagans return to their Tengi believes within few short years.


Western Europe
Conflict with Islam and Saxons was a major theme of the Christian effort in Europe. In Crusade begun in 983 against Umayyad Caliphate in Aquitania. For 15 years rulers of Europe dominated the battlefields of south France, but couldn't secure victory in the Crusade. Exhausted by years of fighting, invasion of their eastern borders and Hindu Plague, Catholic rulers abandoned the Crusade.

Among Christian kingdoms, Italy remained the most powerful state, with Austrasia slowly growing in power and territory, competing with far less powerful kingdoms of France and Germany.

In late 980s eastern border of the Christian domain was violently assaulted by invading Khazars, who swept over their Slavic and Germanic foes, pushing far beyond Elbe and almost reaching the Rhine river.

Bavaria suffered greatly both by the invasion itself, and stream of Slavic refugees invading their border in mass, fleeing from the nomad armies.

British Isles

Northumbria, united with Welsh Deheubarth kingdom, became one of the three major powers in England, controlling north and east of the island.

Wessex, empowered by their control of London, managed to spread their influence across southern England, taking control of Kent and Canterbury.

East Anglia, which became domain of German Kingdom, took over last pockets of Merican resistance, settling itself in the centre of the Island.

Ireland, is almost united under Pictish Cait family, ruling their kingdom from Dubhlinn.

Pagan Faiths


Scandinavia became a new Catholic stronghold, with only few provinces remaining faithful to the Old Gods. Event that sent all non-christian states of Europe into downfall was sudden invasion of Khazar nomads. Almost complete disintegration of Suomenusko and Romuva faiths, fall almost all Slavic and Germanic states under Tengri invasion, changed the landscape of Pagan faiths forever.

Khazars, from the very start, were unable to keep control over their domain, fighting among each other, as well as with their rebellious subjects, leaving future of the region - and religions existing there under question.

One thing however was evident to be truth - Central Europe was retarded from any cultural and civilisation advancement for many years to come, until new stable duchess and kingdoms may arise.

Persia: Year 950

Persia:
First half of the 10th century marked period of stagnation in the Taid Empire.
Stabilisation of the Abbasid Caliphate marked end of Persian expansion to the west, and turning focus to the east, where Hindu faith, dominating the subcontinent begun pushing back through Indus.


Islamic World:
Abbasid Caliphate spent last five decades duelling with Romans in the north, and Muhallabits to the south - enjoying relative peace on their Persian border. Neither conflict brought resolution to the conflicts between great powers, but Caliphate clearly shown ability to project power.

Umayyad Caliphate finally broke through the Christian defences in France, taking control of Aquitania and quickly imposing Islamic law in the region.


Roman Empire:
Constantinopol, not without trouble, begun slow process of christianisation of nomadic tribes of the steppe north of the Black Sea. Roman conflict with the Caliphate turned to stalemate, with each conflict ending with only minor border adjustments.


Western Europe:
In the year 912 Pope Hadrianus formed the First Crusade against Muslim controlled Aquitania.
Planning to unite all Christian kings in a swift action that would push Umayyad Caliphate out of their newly gained possession, Pope called all believers to unite against the crescent moon.
Bloody conflict lasted for five years, ending without success - South of France for better or worse became a Muslim domain.

Second Crusade, called in 947 against Saxons lasted even shorter - after Pope Gregorius IV himself was captured by the pagans, the religious war died out, marking weakness of Christian faith at the battlefield.

Newly crystallised state - Austrasia took control of the Central France after the failure of First Crusade, ruled by descendant of Carolingian dynasty - King Payen de Montferrat - strongest Christian state in France became new bulwark of Christandom.

Carling dynasty became in power in a small East Frankish duchy squeezed between Austrasia and Saxony.
Hope fot Catholic faith came from recent rapid christianization of Scandinavian tribes, which, until then, supported their Saxon allies to the south, now however quickly changing sides.

British Isles:
Northumbria and Wessex begun systematic conquest of Mercia, with latter taking control of Londinium from Essex. There is yet no sure victor to the English crown, but the amount of contenders seems to grow smaller.


Pagan Faiths:
Rapid christianisation of Swedes, caught Saxons by surprise. They became the last major Germanic kingdom left in Europe, and despite their military might, their list of allies grew shorter quickly.

Polish slavs managed to regain their independence and carrying victories against their Bavarian neighbours, but without ability to form a strong, unified country.

Tengri faith, while still dominating The Steppe, was introduced to a new foe in the form of Orthodox Christianity, which begun spreading across khans and their court.

Parsia: Year 900

Persia:

Yazdegard the Cruel - as he was known late in his life, held the growing Persian domain in an iron grip. While his personal life was shroud in mystery of the highest order, it was suspected he colluded with the dark powers, ensuring his rule met no opposition.

Earlier years of his kingship saw renewed hostilities with weakened Abbasid Caliphate, but also expansion to the East. Persian troops established foothold on the Indian side of Indus and a Zoroastrian kingdom of Zunbil followed Taid's example, waging war on their Hindu neighbour.

In the year 873 he formed a proto-empire emulating former Sassanid dynasty and calling himself Shahanshah - meaning, King of Kings.
Yazdegard perished in 890, when the kingdom fell to the hands of his oldest son - Kavadh 'The Wise'.
Kavadh faced rebellion in early years of his rule, lead by nobles to afraid of his father to raise against him, only with greatest difficulty new Shah managed to restore order in his realm.
His years as a ruler saw decline of Zunbil kingdom, which exhausted itself by means of invading India, and was slowly incorporated into Persian domain as a result.

Muslim World:

Only under stern control of Hussayn I grandson - Hussayn II - Abbasid Caliphate managed to stop their rapid decline. Hussayn became new leader of the Caliphate soon after his birth, with his father - Mukhatar, being murdered at the age of 27. Led by a wise council, young Badshah reached maturity and saw his domain restored to some order.

Damage however, was already done - African provinces were in separation from the Caliphate for many years now, some claiming independence ( Muhallabi Sultanate in Egipt) or falling under influence of Umayyad Caliphate (African provinces).
Hussayn II managed to stop creeping Persian conquest and defeat Roman invasion of Muslim territories.

Umayyad Caliphate failed to spread Islam in Francia, but managed to secure their Iberian and African holds over the years.


Roman Empire:
Stability of the Roman domain was in question for most of the century, with Basileus Leon V (810-872) Basilissa Eudoxia (843-885) and Leon VI (874-) fighting within the borders of Roman Empire more, than outside of it. Poorly prepared invasion of Middle East was completely unsuccessful, fully showing the lack of capability of projecting power.

Western Europe:
Francia continued to divide into smaller and less powerful states. Only thanks to Charles the Hammer of Middle Francia, the Islamic faith didn't spread into heartlands of France.

Italy kept strong involvement in French affairs, as sons of Desiderius II split his father's domain into two kingdoms - Gislari formed kingdom of France, while Aimeric kept control over Italia.

Italian influence stopped spread of Germanic warlords across Eastern Germania, however Kingdom of Bavaria took great losses keeping Pagans out of their land.


British Isles:

Little difference in status quo - despite often wars between Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Wessex, Mercia and Northumbria.


Pagan Faiths:

Germanic pagans, stopped by the Catholic alliance, lost their momentum of conquest, dealing with heavy fighting with their Slavic subjects and neighbours, who in turn, struggle with their Tengri rivals across eastern and southern Europe.
While still powerful, pagan faiths seem to slowly fall behind more advanced and organised states.

Persia: Year 850

Persia:
Death of Homayd in the year 804 left Taid Shahdom in the hands of his grandson - Darius The Holy, who ruled Persian domain until 826, dealing with minor rebellions and increasing size of the kingdom thanks to weakness of Abbasid Caliphate.
His son, Akkadin 'The Holy' was murdered in unclear circumstance in the year 834, starting period of inner struggle for control over the large state. Loyalist faction supporting young prince Yazdegard finally triumphed in the year 843, but even they were shocked by the newly ascended ruler's policy.

With his father murdered and youth spent struggling for his domain, Yazdegard begun his kingship with a great purge of everyone who was even remotely connected to the rebellious lords. All prisoners caught during the years of civil war were executed - and everyone who opposed the new ruler was either killed or imprisoned.

In foreign policy, Yazdegard continued plans of his father, expanding west, and for the first time since the fall of Sassanids, challenging the Caliphate directly (with moderate success).


Muslim World:
Abbasid Caliphate continued to lose it's position as the centre of Muslim world. In 813 Harun al-Rashid became the new Caliph who restored peace to the core of the Muslim provinces, but neither him nor his son could stop the slow decline of their empire.
Harun's grandson - Hussayn, who replaced his father, killed in a rebellion in the year 843 must carefully plan his moves, as both - Romans in the West and Persian in the East grow bolder, and African provinces seem exist in constant defiance against Abbasids and Allah himself.

Umayyad Caliphate managed to establish foothold past Pyrenees as far north as Loire. Their hold on Iberia however, isn't still complete, with decadent houses and christian subjects keeping Umayyad Caliph Abbad on his toes.


Roman Empire:
Struggling through the period of internal uproar, Roman Empire tries to reclaim grip on Asia Minor and Levant from the hands of Muslims, with mixed effect. Their efforts are diminished by a strong presence of recently settled nomads north of their Balkan provinces.



Western Europe: 
Carolingian Dynasty:
Eudes, grandson of Charles 'The Witch Hunter' saw his domain of Middle Francia invaded by Saxon pagans. His kingdom was decimated and he himself died of wounds in 829. His son, Charles III struggles to hold back the embolden Saxon horde with the help of Italian allies.

Other grandson of Charles, Andre, remains alive, his kingdom however, saw fall even greater than his brother's - invaded by both Muslims and Scandinavian Vikings. Half of his remaining domain was claimed by his Italian allies, while he himself became ruler of Burgundy.

Italy: King Desiderius II son of Adlechis not only kept his kingdom safe, but forced his Christian allies of Carolingian dynasty to relinquish most of their remaining domains to him. He is now the most powerful Catholic ruler in Europe, followed by Bavarian dynasty of Agiolfings - resisting Saxon incursion from the north.


British Isles:
Kingdom of Scotland rules the north unchallenged, slowly expanding their interest toward Ireland, while England is split between Northumbria, Mercia and emerging petty kingdom of Wessex.


Pagan Faiths:
Saxons, under wise leadership of Diederik (770-828) and his son Theoderic III not only managed to defeat Christian defenders of East Francia, but also dominate their eastern Slavic neighbours, reducing kingdom of Poland to few vassal duchess.
Controlling all of Scandinavia and large portions of Central Europe Germanic pagans seem undefeated. But to the east another pagan people control even greater territory:
From Avaria all the way to Gulf of Finland and far east to the steppes of central Asia Tengri people control great, even if empty, domain, with Khagans of Kiev, Khazaria and Uyghur leading in size and number of warriors.

Persia: Year 800

Persia:

Almost 50 years of control over Taid Shahdom under Homayd lead to a creation of a strong, kingdom embracing old Persian culture and customs with capital in Nishapur - city founded by Shapur the Great, second ruler of the Sassanid Empire - trying to connect new line of rulers to the old king of kings dynasty.

Homayd balanced his policy of not upsetting his Abbasid Caliphate superiors while conquering local satrapies and supporting internal conflict in the Caliphate at the same time.

Civil war within the Caliphate that lasted between 764 and 768 gave Homayd perfect chance to increase the size of his Shahdom to the west, expanding his control between Amol at the shores of Caspian Sea and Siraf at the Persian Gulf.

At the same time, a strong Zoroastrian influence in eastern provinces lead to subjugation of minor kingdoms to the west of Indus - protecting Taid Shadom from the east.

At year 800 Taid Shahdom reclaimed much of the eastern provinces of ancient Persia and gathering most of the remaining Zoroatustrians under its rule.


Muslim World:
Loss of control over eastern Persia was difficult, but unavoidable effect of inner fighting within Abbasid Caliphate. Rebellions, decadence and religious upheaval lead to severe weakening of the Caliphate.
Umayyad Caliphate however, quickly delt with remaining Christian kingdom in Iberia - Asturias - and begun pushing north, over the Pyrenees into Christian Francia.

Roman Empire:
Enjoying period of peace at it's eastern border, Roman Emperors reclaimed part of their Balkan domain, while keeping hold of their remote outposts across Black and Mediterranean seas.

Western Europe:
Karoling Dynasty - with death of Charles the Witch Hunter during civil war in 782 marked end of the rapid growth of his domain.
His kingdom split between his two sons - Charles II of Middle Francia and Chlodomer of West Francia - had to face infidels on both fronts.

Germanic Saxons wouldn't give up their believes and fought against Charles' efforts to expand Christendom. While Chlodomer, a sinful man himself, had to face a incursion of Islam into his domain.

Son of Charles the II, Eudes, took throne of Middle Francia in 798, while Andre 'The Bold' took throne after mysterious death of Chlodomer in 796. Both young rulers usher the Frankish nation to the next century.

Italy - after death of Desiderius I his oldest son - Adelchis - became the ruler of Italia. Under his reign, the kingdom enjoyed peace and prosperity.

British Isles:
Kingdom of Pictland dominates north of the island, with Mercia holding claim over centre of the island.

Pagan Faiths:
Neither Norse, Slavic or Tengri faiths bowed down before Christianom.
Saxons bravely resist attempts of Frankish Catholics while Tengri nomads expand their hold on southern Europe, stopping Orthodox church from expanding north.
Slavs, Romuva and Suomenusko have next to no direct contact with Latin or Greek world and faith.

Most Scandinavia is united by King Sigurdr Ring.
Slavic states of Obotritia, Moravia, Poland, Yatvingia and Severia are created.
Bulgars, Avars and Magyar people worship Tengri.

Prologue: Persian Past

Since Ahura Mazda created Gayomard, one civilisation after another grew to promniance in the world. From first Sumerian rulers of Ur, through Akkadian, Babylonian and Assyrian Empires Through Median Kingdom, Achaemenids  Seleucid, Parthian and Sassanid dynasties....

What was, is and will be Persia existed as a centre of culture, science and power between Northern Steppes, Western Barbarians and Eastern Mountains.

For over a millenium, Persians of good morals followed the teachings of Zoroaster, who taught about the struggle between asa (truth) and druj (lie) and Ahura Mazda, the one who is asa, the one with 101 names.

Since the rule of Kavadh (473-531), Sassanid Empire engaged Romans in a wars over the once Persian domain. His son, Khrosrow (531-579) and grandson - Hormizd (579-590) fought against Constantinople's rulers.

Khrosrow II (590-628) launched the invasion against Romans, in 602, which lead to a failed siege of the western capital in 626. Both empires, tired by their titanic struggle sued for peace in 628.

Sassanid Empire fell into chaos, with different factions promoting their pretenders to the throne after Khrosrow death. Over the course of 4 years, 10 claimants were dethroned, leaving the shattered colo-sus open for invasion.

Followers of Muhammad, Prophet of Allah, invaded Sassanid Empire in the first year of Yazdegerd's rule - 633.

Asking Arabs, to explain their hostility to his domain, young king heard from one of the emissaries that "Allah commanded us, by the mouth of His Prophet, to extend the dominion of Islam over all nations."

Rashidun Caliphate, crated after Prophet's death in 622, begun conquest of disorganised Persian Empire, dealing great defeats to the Sassanid armies. For his whole reign Yazdegard fought the Muslim threat.

After disastrous defeat in battle of Nahavand however, the empire collapsed and Yazdegard became a fugitive in his own country. Slain in the year 651, last ruler of the Sassanid Persia marked the fall of the once mighty empire, to the young Caliphate.

Muslim armies, with similar ease, defeated Roman forces, invading Levant and Egipt, forming the core of new, Islamic world.

While believers of Zoroaster were considered "People of the Book" their treatment grew worse with each decade by their Muslim overlords. One of them, Emir Homayd (749-804) ruling Taid Emirate, as a vassal of Abbasid Caliphate became interested in teachings of Zoroaster.

Him and his descendants would be the first step to restoration of Zoroastrianism and arrival of the prophesied Saoshyant - The One Who Bring Benefits, to the ancient people of Persia.