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.