Al-Angalia: The Islamic Kingdom of England
- Thread starter Flocculencio
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Hendryk
Banned
In TTL it seems likely that the Rus will follow the lead of their Scandinavian neighbors and convert to Islam. If that's the case Christendom may well end up entirely surrounded by the Crescent.
On the whole Caliphate of Al-Angalia question maybe they could follow the example of the the Spanish Ummyads. They started out as an Emirate, only becoming a Caliphate later on.
Emirate of Al-Angalia??
Emirate of Al-Angalia??
I agree
. I think it's the most possible and plausible way for Al Anglia to become a Caliphate.
Alfred would be "Malik" (king) of Al-Angalia, as would the king of Scotland and (probably) the High-King of Ireland. The various princes of Wales and the lesser-royalty/nobility of Ireland would be Emirs.
Flocculencio
Donor
Alright, let's fast-forward a bit
in the 13th C, the Alfredi world receives a massive blow as the Alfredi lands of the Rus fall to the Golden Horde. While the embattled lords of Christendom fear this new enemy, they are somewhat reassured by the fact that the Mongol nobility is mostly Christian (albeit Nestorian) and try to make as many alliances with them as possible. The Mongols respond with a faint disinterest and proceed to start digesting their conquests.
Meanwhile, the occupation of Rus served to constrict one of the important trade routes to the East from the Alfredi world. Now, more of the Oriental trade would have to go through the Mediterranean, held by the hostile Christians and the somewhat unfriendly Sunni.
This spurred a desire to avoid the hostile routes by finding a way around Africa. Though most of the exploratory voyages carried out in the 13th and 14th Cs were doomed to failure, they did serve to enhance the naval skills of Alfredi sailors. Furthermore, the Canary Islands and Madeira were discovered and colonised- the main economic activity here was the cultivation of sugar cane to provide sugar and rum to the Alfredi world.
in the 13th C, the Alfredi world receives a massive blow as the Alfredi lands of the Rus fall to the Golden Horde. While the embattled lords of Christendom fear this new enemy, they are somewhat reassured by the fact that the Mongol nobility is mostly Christian (albeit Nestorian) and try to make as many alliances with them as possible. The Mongols respond with a faint disinterest and proceed to start digesting their conquests.
Meanwhile, the occupation of Rus served to constrict one of the important trade routes to the East from the Alfredi world. Now, more of the Oriental trade would have to go through the Mediterranean, held by the hostile Christians and the somewhat unfriendly Sunni.
This spurred a desire to avoid the hostile routes by finding a way around Africa. Though most of the exploratory voyages carried out in the 13th and 14th Cs were doomed to failure, they did serve to enhance the naval skills of Alfredi sailors. Furthermore, the Canary Islands and Madeira were discovered and colonised- the main economic activity here was the cultivation of sugar cane to provide sugar and rum to the Alfredi world.
Alcuin
Banned
Unless, of course, the Turks do NOT convert to Islam. Besides, St Vladimir (or his equivalent) might still choose Orthodoxy because the Emperor might still offer him a daughter.
We are talking about Muslim Vikings also. Since there is/will be no Danelaw in England, the Norse have got to go somewhere.
Therefore:
Vinlandi Jihad!
P.S. What would a Muslim Wales, Scotland and Ireland be called?
Perhaps:
- Wales: al-Cambryya
- Scotland: al-Caledonyya
- Ireland: al-Hibernyya
Likely still Wales, Scotland and Ireland, at least internally, since the population still speaks English (and the northern English dialects, in Scotland). How is the demographic and linguistic situation working out? The culture of Islamo-Saxon England seemed at first to be still rather Germanic, given its success amongst the Vikings (see how Jesus had to be portrayed to convert the English; he was portrayed as a grim Germanic hero, esp. in poems like the Dream of the Rood, and with Muhammad a very successful warrior that work is already more or less complete), which would suggest the presence of a rather familiar Germanic culture in the converted lands. Maybe the language of England at present is Middle English, with Arabic loanwords replacing the French? Or is the lack of a completely foreign nobility limiting the linguistic influence, creating a much more Germanic Middle English (with the same vowel shifts and simplification of declension and such)? Or perhaps with even more Scandanavian influence than it does now, given the close links Scandanavia and Britain have due to their religious ties?
Also, this has a lot of potential for an artistic history of this world - perhaps a young writer who flunked out of the madrassa penning a seminal Scandanavio-English work about a group of pilgrims who tell stories to each other on their way to Mecca
Good update Flocc.
heehee.
Also, this has a lot of potential for an artistic history of this world - perhaps a young writer who flunked out of the madrassa penning a seminal Scandanavio-English work about a group of pilgrims who tell stories to each other on their way to Mecca
heehee.
Flocculencio
Donor
Also, this has a lot of potential for an artistic history of this world - perhaps a young writer who flunked out of the madrassa penning a seminal Scandanavio-English work about a group of pilgrims who tell stories to each other on their way to Mecca
Johari Chaucer?
Flocculencio
Donor
The expansion of Alfredi influence down the West African coast led to growing stress between the Alfredi and the Sunni- while the Sunni Sahelian kingdoms controlled the West African interior, the peoples of the coast tended to convert to Alfredi Islam. Adding to this tension, Zamiq ibn Khalid, a fierce Sunni warlord seized power in Al-Andalus, founding the Zamiqi Caliphate. Zamiq was fiercely opposed to the naval dominance of Al-Anglia and began taking steps against English and other Alfredi merchants. This increasing tension led to an unprecedented diplomatic move on the part of the Alfredi Caliph, Muhammad Harald IV ibn Harulf of Al-Anglia.
Portugal was one of the few regions of Iberia where the Reconquista had proceeded much as it did in OTL and the Portugese kings were willing to be much more pragmatic than their Frankish counterparts when dealing with the Alfredi. In 1358, Afonso III and Harald IV conferred in a historical meeting on the island of Madeira and signed the Treaty of Madeira, swearing friendship between their kingdoms. Afonso pledged that Alfredi merchants would be allowed to trade in Portugal under the same conditions as Christians. Furthermore he agreed to allow the Alfredi freedom to practice their religion on the condition that they paid an extra tax and did not engage in active proselytization, in effect giving them dhimmi status. This treaty made Portugese coastal towns booming entrepot ports for trade between Christian Europe and the Alfredi sphere. Sugar from the Canaries formed the backbone of this trade.
Portugal was one of the few regions of Iberia where the Reconquista had proceeded much as it did in OTL and the Portugese kings were willing to be much more pragmatic than their Frankish counterparts when dealing with the Alfredi. In 1358, Afonso III and Harald IV conferred in a historical meeting on the island of Madeira and signed the Treaty of Madeira, swearing friendship between their kingdoms. Afonso pledged that Alfredi merchants would be allowed to trade in Portugal under the same conditions as Christians. Furthermore he agreed to allow the Alfredi freedom to practice their religion on the condition that they paid an extra tax and did not engage in active proselytization, in effect giving them dhimmi status. This treaty made Portugese coastal towns booming entrepot ports for trade between Christian Europe and the Alfredi sphere. Sugar from the Canaries formed the backbone of this trade.
Flocculencio
Donor
Linguistically and culturally it will be a lot more Germanic/Scandinavian than OTL. However, as you say, there'll still be plenty of Arabic loanwords as, although there's no foreign nobility, Arabic is still the language of the Quran and of learning.
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