Monday, 30 October 2017

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.




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