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.
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