Persia: Year 1220

Persia
Smerdis, son of Shapur the Just reached age of 16 in late 1200, becoming new Shahanshah of the Persian Empire. Under his rule the Empire enjoyed, so far, a time of prosperity and calm. Now, at the age of 35, Smerdis faces Shia Jihad against his western provinces.
Weak and distant Shia Emirs pose little threat to the stability of the Empire, but the conflict will force Persians to focus troops in the west to repel the invasion.

Muslim World
Sa'saddin V 'The Usurper' took throne from Samir II after a massive Abbasid revolt. Sa'saddin, himself member of the Abbasid clan continued the expand the Caliphate north. He also used weakness of Roman Empire to claim few provinces in Asia Minor.

Roman Empire
As expected, Catholic Khazar Empress was not the ruler Greek Orthodox nobility would accept. Lasting for almost a decade civil war put on the throne Anastasios III Mouzalon.
While old and without male heirs, new Basileus was the neutral choice for most factions opposing hostile, catholic takeover.
As an effect of the civil war, weakened Roman army couldn't defend against Muslim invasion and Trapezous was taken by the Abbasid Caliphate.

In the west, Umayyad Caliphate experienced series of defeats in the Crusade against France, eventually losing the war. As an indirect result of the conflict, Umayyad clan lost almost all influence in Muslim Spain - continuing fragmentation of Islamic domains in the region.

Western Europe
Successful crusade for France became a catalyst of important changes on the continent.
Ealdhun, king of Germany, Italy, France and Africa was crowned the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1209
With fragmented territories and weak infrastructure, newly born empire isn't capable of projecting power yet - but the unification of power will have a lasting effect on the shape of Western Europe.

Austrasia - now directly in competition with HRE over the hegemony in the Catholic Europe will probably, sooner or later, challenge the Empire or submit to it.

Central Europe
Pomeranians, Silesians and Teutons still dominate the region, but newly settled Gamer Khazars formed a new state south of Silesia, forming a new centre of power, replacing the disorganised Kingdom of Bavaria. In the east old Khazaria expanded it's influence from Lake Onega all the way to Vistula. Farther east, Khaganate of Bultan controlled great majority of steppe all the way to the Mongolian Empire, which came under the direct control of Khagan Temujin.

British Isles
England, separated from the HRE but still controlled by the Iceling dynasty, managed to retake Surrey from the Swedish occupation.

Ireland, after a period of civil war came under the control of Breton 'de St Pol de Leon' dynasty.


Pagan Faiths
Last two decides saw eventual fall of Germanic and Slavic faiths across Europe, with few minor chiefdoms still controlling insignificant pieces of land in the east.
Rapidly advancing Buddhism and re-surging Tengri faith  extinguished last hopes of the old european religions to survive to the east of ever-expanding Christian faith.