Entry #3: Birinqilk Tatalgin Qirim (The Ascendancy of Crimea)
POD: Fire Of Moscow in 1571 kills Ivan the Terrible’s family. Ivan the Terrible’s body never found.
In May 1571, the 120,000-strong Crimean and Turkish army led by Khan Devlet I Giray, bypassed the Serpukov fortifications on the Oka River, crossed the Ugra River and rounded the flank of the 6,000 strong Russian army. The sentry troops of the Russians were crushed by the Crimeans. Not having forces to stop the invasion, the Russian army receded to Moscow. The rural Russian population fled to the capital placing a burden on the city.
The Crimean army devastated unprotected towns and villages around Moscow, and then set fire to the suburbs of the capital. Due to a strong wind, the fire quickly expanded. The towns people, chased by fire and refugees, rushed to northern gate of the capital. At the gate and in the narrow streets, there was a crush. The army, having mixed up with refugees, lost order, and general prince Belsky died in a fire. Within three hours, Moscow burnt out completely. With the Crimean army battlelust up they took the city to further destroy it. Ivan the Terrible's family were found dead inside the stables from severe burns and smoke inhalation. Ivan the Terrible himself was never found or heard of again. The Ottomans placed into slavery 190,000 Russians. Contemporaries counted up to 150,000 victims of the invasion in 1571. Papal ambassador Possevin testified of the devastation: he counted in 1580 no more than 10,000 inhabitants of Moscow, although in 1520 the Moscow population was about 35,000.
After burning Moscow, Devlet I Giray, supported by the Ottoman Empire, developed the plan of the idea of rebuilding Moscow as a city of Crimeans. The next year, the army and slaves brought up from the Ottoman Empire began rebuilding the city. The remaining Russian inhabitants were kicked out of the city into the wilderness beyond to start small farming villages.
In 1852 the Polish led Armies of the Baltic invaded the Crimea Khanate. While the Armies of the Baltic won numerous battles in the first years of the war, the entrance of the Persian Empire on the side of Crimea and the Ottomans, eventually weakened them so much a call for peace was made. It was 1859 by the time all hostilities ended and a treaty was passed. Ironically, while the war was over the populous of Crimea was so disrupted and starving that a uprising took place in the capital. The Khan and his family were murdered by the followers of Şahin Ahmet, known as the Ascendant, before he announced that Crimea was to enter a new age and took rulership of the country.
The Ascendancy has ruled the country with a heavy hand ever since. While some good has come from their rule such as religious freedom* and equality for women, the totalitarian theocracy has continually been blamed for the deaths of millions over the past 150 years. Their extreme zealotry, militantism, and being one of the global super powers to possess nuclear weapons**, along with the Franco-Italian Empire and the Industrailist Republic of the Ind***, has only enhanced the fear that the rest of the world holds for them.
DESCRIPTION:
The flag below is from the Battle of Giza during the Great Eurasiatic War. It can be found in the Museum of Culture in Sarai.
-The golden field represents all of the peoples and lands that the Golden Horde and Crimea has ever held.
-The blue color is the color of the Ascendancy.
-The black color is the darkness that all God’s children must journey through to reach Him.
-The symbol in the middle is an alternate evolution of the same Tamga that the Golden Horde and Crimea used in OTL. Where it was originally used as a stamp or brand for cattle ownership, the Ascendancy uses it as the symbol of the peoples’ enslavement to Allah.
-The crescent in the black wedge represents the ever watchful Eye of Allah. It is also representative of the Islamic religion. The two oblong crescents**** that are part of the Tamga represent Chritianity and Judaism.
-The flag is edged with golden silk which represents the holy embrace of Allah.
-The three tin bells at the lead edge of the flag each represent the three Abrahamic faiths, similar to the cresents.
* Three Moderate powers also possess Nuclear Weapons: Kingdom of Ayutthaya, Dai Nippon Teikoku, & the Confederation Ireland, Scotland, and England (CISE)
** Religious freedom does not necessarily mean actual freedom. The Ascendants believe that Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are all ways to God. Yet, if anyone breaks the laws of their own religion, they are seen as blasphemers and in collusion with evil forces, prompting swift and deadly action. (see Chapter 17 – Secret Police, the Eyes of Allah)
*** Also known as the I.R.I., but most other nations use the derogative term, “the Eeries”.
**** While the crescents are not the symbols that Christianity and Judaism themselves esteem, the Ascendancy sees the two religions as slightly obtuse, older ways to Allah. Hence, for any governmental symbology the two oblong crescents, not quite as perfect as the Islamic crescent.
