Cuāuhtemōc
Banned
Hey it's your timeline. I'm just guessing what Jerusalem's moves would be. It's one of my favorite current TLs.
The lucky marriage - Alternate history of the Capetian Dynasty
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Thanks and please continue to guess and provide feedbacks. Beleive me, they are greatly appreciated!
I am writing now (well I stopped for today as tomorrow is a day too) about the decision of entering in the war and stuff...
We cannot stay out of this war!
Thursday, 2 December 1283, Venice
The Great Council of the Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia was convoked by Pietro Gradenigo, the young new Doge, to decide upon a very important matter of the state. The Mongols states were in war and they requested Venice to participate in the war on their each side. Despite all the efforts to stay out of the war, the Republic was forced now to choose a side. But which? That was the question that the Council should answer. The time was pressing and the decision should be taken today.
“Grandi Signori e amicis”, said the Doge to the assembly, “it seems that we cannot stay out of the war which raged in the Orient. Our efforts to stay neutral and profit by trading with all the parts had failed and each side requested our intervention. But this intervention means to not trade anymore with the other parts and, maybe, even to fight them if necessary”.
The grand patricians of the Republic were displeased. That will translate in a diminution of trade and loss in profit. That will hurt. One of the notable members, Giovany Contarini, which came from a family with long traditions of occupying the Doge’s seat, took a stand.
“I am disappointed by the efficiency of our diplomats. This situation should have never happened. If…”
The sharp remark was a direct attack to the Doge himself, which he considered to be unfitted for the throne, too young and too un-experienced.
“Seigniore Contarini”, stop him Lorenzo Dandolo, another important member of the Council and another one from a family which had provided many rulers of the Republic, “Should I remember you that most of those ambassadors you blame today were nominated by your own father, the illustrious Doge Jacopo Contarini?”
“Signori, Signori”, intervened Reniero Tiepolo, “please, do not start again. The facts are done, we cannot change them. But we can now use them and decide in this crucial matter. We need to choose a side and that side need to be the victorious one”
Reniero accentuated his last words. Indeed, these were the concerns of all. More important than to participate in this war was that the chosen side shall be the victorious one. Therefore, the Bujek request was quickly discarded and it remained the Baltu’s and Abaqa’s ones. Venice had recent disputes with the Red Horde which had allowed Marseille to trade, breaking their total monopoly with the Mongols. Moreover, Baltu’s position now was not the best positioned to win the war.
The situation was put to vote. Abaqa sort out victorious. In the vote pool. Indeed, he was the best placed and had the best odds to win the war. Several days later, Pietro Gradenigo sent a fleet of 43 armed galleys to the Orient. It was commanded by his own brother, Alexandro Gradenigo.
The Doge and all the Venetian notables praised God that the war will remain a local one, fought only in Syria and the trade will not so badly disrupted. Especially now, when the relations with the other Christian states start slowly to normalize and less and less intermediaries are needed to sell all that spices and silk.
***
Sunday, 19 December 1283, Jerusalem
In the last Sunday before the Christmas, the Grand Lords of the Kingdom of Jerusalem had gathered in the Great Hall of the royal palace for an extraordinary séance of the Haute Court, immediately after the lunch following the mass. Together with King Louis II, they need to finally decide on which side Jerusalem shall enter. The question was simple. The Mongol States were slaughtering each other and they requested help from the Crusader Kingdom. The Court should decide on which side they will enter.
The vote was consultative, as the King had the last word and his decision was final. However, King Louis do not wanted to take such an important decision by himself alone and needed the support of the entire realm. The tradition of ruling by consent was long entrenched in Jerusalem politics and, with very few exceptions, Louis respect it.
“Mes Sires, mes Seigneurs”, said King Louis to the assembly of the Barons and grand nobles in the opening session, “we gather here to decide in this crucial matter for our Kingdom. One thing is certain, we cannot stay out of this war! But the question is who shall we support?”
But if the question was simple, the answer, on the other hand, was far from simple or easy. Jerusalem was technical vassal of the Great Khan and pay each year tribute to Karakorum… or almost each year. However, the new Khan, Yesüder, was young and inexperienced and his rule was not accepted by everybody as another pretender, Temür from Ogödeite clan, had raised to challenge him, therefore his power projection and influence was cvasi null… The different khanates had practically broke free and there was no way to bring them back into the fold.
Each belligerent Khan requested Jerusalem participation, considering themselves as the inheritors of the vassalage owned to the Grand Khan. Refusing one, means automatically that Jerusalem do not consider this transfer of vassalage legal or valid, therefore led to war against him. However, as each one knew that Jerusalem could choose anyone of them, they try to sweeten the choice by offering gains and spoils for participation on their side. To hamper the choice even further, the situation on military, strategical, religious, commercial and political fields were all very… complicated.
Bujeck promises a lot but the prospects to fight with and for him were not so pleasing. He was despised by everybody and he was just being defeated by Abaqa outside of Damascus. Now, his army was made up mostly from his disloyal vassals, mercenaries and other troops of dubious loyalty and quality. One more defeat and his Khanate will crumble like a house of cards. But he offered everything south of Damascus, except the city itself and, with some careful negotiations, more can be obtained. Maybe the entire Orontes valley, a region convoyed by King Louis II for long time.
Baltu had requested help for fighting Abaqa, al-Zahir and Bujeck out of Syria. If were not the claims of Red Horde for suzerainty over Jerusalem, the countless border disputes and the transgression of the frontiers (in both ways), we can say that the relations between Jerusalem and Cairo were excellent. They had some common commercial interests and Baltu was favorably to Christians and hostile to Muslim. But the version of Christianity he favored was not the right, Catholic one, but one considered a heresy. The Copts were not in communion with Rome, not even with Constantinople and many considered them being Monophysites.
Nevertheless, Baltu’s military and strategical position was the most desperately of all of three. Syria was rebelled and, except several fortified positions and isolated locations, was lost or overrun by either Bujek or Abaqa, while Egypt itself was in rebellion and have a significant Ayyubid army foraying in the country. His victory outside Cairo was a close run and do not led to the enemy expelling from the country. Al-Zahir or the rebels, controlled a good chunk of the countryside and many towns south of Cairo were out of control. Even with Jerusalem intervention, the war might still be lost for him. If Jerusalem enter in war on his side, then he will be forced to face both Bujek and Abaqa alone… till Baltu will deal with al-Zahir. The prospects to face alone the mighty of the Mongols, even if they are fighting each other’s, were quite terrifying.
Moreover, Baltu’s offer was considered quite meager. He was ready to offer only several disputed frontiers, a free passage to the port of Al-Aqaba for Jerusalem merchants and the suzerainty over Antioch and Aleppo as spoils of war. But Antioch and Aleppo were the fief of Bohemond VI of Antioch, King of Cilician Armenia and Louis’s own brother in law. The two had signed an alliance and, while Bohemond was now fighting for Bujeck as his vassal, Louis do not intended to fight him, nor to take lands from him.
After negotiations, the maximum concessions Baltu was ready to give (other than already mentioned) were the suzerainty over the towns of Hama and Hims, with the Orontes valley as well as a large chunk of land in the north from Malatia in the Taurus Mountains down to the Euphrates Valley which once belonged to the county of Edessa.
Abaqa… the last Mongol Khan which requested Jerusalem help was the most powerful between the three. He had the bigger army and, after Damask he was in the best position of winning Syria. His offer was less generous but not worthless. Baalbek, Hama and Hims with the Orontes valley and a strip of land down to al-Aqaba, with the provision to allow free passage to Sinai for any Ilkanate army or merchants if requested. The port of al-Aqaba was something that Jerusalem once had and wanted badly, but something that the Red Horde will never freely surrendering it. The port was a door for the commerce with India and, while was of little value for the Ilkhanate, it was of a tremendously importance for a small Kingdom like Jerusalem.
But the alliance with Abaqa was hard to swallow. The guy was Muslim and declared himself to be “Protector of the Muslims” living in the Red Horde. If his father had anti Muslim politics and pro-Christian ones, he was only tolerant toward the Christians. Maybe his successor will fully go rampage against the Christians. To make things worse, Abaqa slaughtered Christians and Muslims alike and he seemed to not care so much of the signed treaties or the given word. At the end of the day, he might do not respect the treaty at all and, once victorious, he could turn against Jerusalem with all his forces and will succeed what Saladin had tried. It was not the kind of neighbour you will want to have…
Moreover, the war was still not won. While he controlled a third of Syria, Bujeck invasion of Mesopotamia could still be very devastating. Furthermore, there were signs that his meddling in Georgia to remove King Alexandre and his mother Teodora and replace them with his puppet George, had brought more bad than good, as the Golden Horde was very pissed and it was a matter of time till Ulacqi will try to wash his defeat against the Black Horde with an attack against the undefended backside of the Ilkhanate. And the Golden Horde was not the only enemy Abaqa had gathered…
Al-Zahir’s offer was quickly discarded as he had now real chances to throw the Mongols out of Syria, even if he could manage to conquer Egypt. Nobody sane in the entire kingdom will want to side with him… After all, he was the direct heir of Saladin and the Ayyubid Caliphate was the dismay of all Crusader states.
So, in terms of territorial gains, Bujek offer was the most tempting. In terms of religion, Baltu seems to be the most inclined to favor the Christians, even if in theological grounds there are disputes. In term of long term strategy, it will be beneficial to have a friendly Egypt which will shelter Jerusalem against the Ilkanate which most probably will turn into a militant Muslim power. Maybe a superpower if Abaqa sort out victorious. In terms of military reality, Abaqa seems to be the winner. If they will join him, the foes against they should fight were small, mostly rebels as neither Bujeck, nor Baltu, nor al-Zahir seemed to be capable to attack Jerusalem. At least in short terms.
After fierce discussions and debates, as each option had its partisans, the lords passed to votes. The alliance with Bujeck had received very few votes therefore the real battle was between the camp which supported the Ilkhanate alliance and the one which supported the Red Horde. Some Barons preferred to abstain themselves to vote.
Despite all these, the vote was not conclusive as the two camp were at equality and each side was convinced that they had the best reason to support their views. It seemed that the King had to decide… but the king himself was in doubt. Choosing the right side was very important and it will not be good for Jerusalem to finish the war in the losing camp. He do not wanted to have all the weight of such decision. One thought grind his minds… in a recent letter from his sister, the Queen of Cilicia-Antioch, there was a codified message. It seems that Baldwin was secretly negotiating with Abaqa to betray Bujek. Baldwin do not believe that Bujek will be on the winning side and he do not wanted to be on his side when it will happens… therefore, he makes openings to the Ilkhan to change sides. Baldwin’s army was smaller but his defection might spark a chain reaction among other vassals and Bujeck will find himself alone to face the might of his enemy.
Finally, taking in consideration all these, Louis decided to go with Abaqa. This decision cause a great consternation among the supporters of an alliance with Red Horde. They were convinced that Jerusalem will head to its own demise by making alliance with the Devil. The most dramatic scene, immortalized word by word in the chronicles by Louis own Chancellor, was when the 72 years old John of Ibelin, Lord of Arsuf, raised from his chair and marched in the centre of the hall, holding a great discourse.
“Mon Roi et mon Seigneur, I always served you loyally. And your father before you. You all know, Mesires, that I never put my own interests over the ones of the Kingdom. But now, my Lord King, you're about to make a great mistake siding with the Persian Khan. I have four boys and six nephews. I give you all of them, with all my men, to fight and die for you. But I pray for a defeat. Because it will be better for our country to be defeated by Baltu, rather than be victorious alongside of a vindictive and vicious Abaqa. He is the devil incarnated. Once he will get read of his cousins and uncle, he will reap Jerusalem apart and he will crush us like a bug, having no remorse to tear down these walls and desecrate the Holy Sepulcher!”
The speech was received with a glacial silence from all the sides. They were all knew, deep in their hearts, that he was right. But half of them do not agree that the right way was to oppose him.
“Messire d’Ibelin”, responded the King, “I bow in front of your age and wisdom. Your analyses is correct and indeed, Abaqa Khan is not a worldly man. But sometimes, we need to become brother with the devil until we pass the bridge rather than try to stop him, as with or without us, he will cross the bridge. But we…, we cannot afford to remain on the wrong side of the river.”
John smiled.
“Yes, my Lord King, I know that in the popular believes we can become the devil’s brother to cross that dam bridge, but what we forget is that each time when we are with the devil on the bridge he push us in the waters…”
Ibelin’s words do not changed the final decision but they hanged over the heads of Louis for the following years. In a tragic twist of the events, all his four sons and six nephews will die for their country and king in that war.
***
Wednesday, 4 January 1284, Saray
Ulacqi sort out of his tent and meet his main captains and generals gathered outside, in the snow. They have returned victoriously from the raid against several Russian principalities which had shown some proves of disobedience. He had not joined them because of a wound he had gotten during a duel with a Bashkir chieftain, rebelled against him in the previous year. The raid was successful and brought back a decent plunder and many slaves. Baltu Khan will be pleased with this transport… Only that the Venetians had not shown up yet.
This successful campaign alleviate somehow the disappointment of the tribes after the one against Nogai. The year of 1283 was hard for him, seeing his authority highly contested, with his Russians allies and vassals in disarray and being forced to placate the tribes which had lost many warriors for little spoils. Fortunately, his uncle Talabuga become the bleeder valve for all these tensions after his failed assassination attempt. His accomplices were all put to death and all the blame for the defeat and the loss of the plunder fall upon his shoulders. His dead shoulders…
But now the wound had healed and the tribes were more or less back in line. Now it was the time of revenge. It was the time to strike back into Black Horde to prevent Nogai subduing the Ruthenians in Galicia. However, with the news of Bujeck defeat in Syria and Abaqa stuck in a three way war, there was now a better alternative. Georgia must be brought back under his authority. That bastard George, installed by Abaqa as King to serve as his obedient slave, must be removed. His head shall be in a pike in Saray! And both Bujeck and Abaqa shall pay for this betrayal. They had meddled in his internal affairs when he was weak. But now he was strong again!
Ulacqi throw a look at Constantin, the pretender of to the throne of Georgia and son of the previous king which sat in front of him. He was prostrated in the snow waiting his good grace. The Khan make a sign to get up. The two looks crossed for a moment, till the Prince throw his eyes into the ground bowing his head. Ulacqi see hate mixed with desperation and fear in his eyes. Good… He shall be afraid. He do not care if the lad hate him, as long as he fear him. But he do not liked the desperation. He himself had many moments of great difficulties when everything seems to go wrong, but he had never filled desperate. Desperation is not good… It leads sometime to bad decisions and more often to unpredictable actions.
“The time has come”, said the Khan to his generals. “We will departure tomorrow morning. The weather is favorable and nobody will expect us. We cannot stay out of this war but we will get back what it belong to us and even more. We will punish the treason and the cheating. Ride with me and we will be victorious!”
The audience responded with an anemic “Hurray!” They do not shared the same enthusiasm with the Khan. The prospect to fight both the Blue Horde and the Ilkanate when the Black Horde could strike back do not seems the most brilliant plan.
Several weeks later, some 35 to 40.000 riders crossed the frontier in Georgia, meeting other several thousand loyalist Georgians. It seems that some Georgians do not agree to have George as King of Georgia, a King bowed to Isfahan.
Tiblisi was captured… and sacked for the fourth time in less than 4 years, and a new King was crowned. Constantin was King again, King over a huge pile of rubble and ash. The other King, George, had retreated with a hand of loyalists in the mountains somewhere at the frontier with the Ilkhanate. After Tüdan, the Mongol general which had install him king, had gone to counter Bujeck's invasion of Mesopotamia, he was left to govern the country with less than 2.000 men and even those of a very dubious quality. The rest of his soldiers, the best 4.000 of them, were taken to serve in Abaqa’s army and his wars. Therefore he was an easy pray for Ulacqi and his might army. He even do not try to oppose him, preferring to flee rather than stay and stupidly fight only for loose or die. Some hard-core opponents of Constantin’s return staid and fought… and lost… and die.
***
Monday, 17 January 1284, Samarqand
Baraq had returned in haste from Karakorum. He was busy with the uprising of Temür against Yesüder Khan, extorting more power for himself by playing both parties. But when he had heard about the war in the west, he decided to let all the business and go for a certain kill. The occasion was perfect. It could not be better! With Abaqa stuck in Syria fighting three or four enemies, His back was wide opened. He urged Köchü, the Khan of the White Horde to stop everything he do and join him for this fight.
Köchü do not appear with his troops but he could not lose any more time. The war could end before the spring. He could not stay out of this war. What the hell this idiot do? Surely he was busy to hunt wild goats in the wildness!
His army, 50.000 strong, was mobilized and ready to strike. They wait only his signal. Baraq jump on his horse and start moving through the ranks.
“My brave warriors, the time has come to smash our enemies. That filthy snake, Abaqa, has ashamed himself, has ashamed the name of his father and of his forefathers and the entire of our race by rebelling against our Great Khan!”
The soldiers, mounted themselves, approve him by raising their spears.
“He disgrace himself”, continued Baraq. “Instead fighting the foreigners and expanding the Empire to fulfill the sacred mission left to us by our illustrious grandfather Genghis Khan, he attacked our cousin and friend Baltu Khan. He attacked his lands, wanting to steal them from him. But not in just war, nor in a manhood fight but by stabbing him in the back when he was dealing with rebelliousness in his lands and a foreign invasion. Baltu fought for bringing more land under the Mongol rule but was stopped by Abaqa's treason! Abaqa, which I will not call him Khan anymore, had betrayed the legacy of the Greatest Khan had ever lived, Genghis Khan, he betrayed our Great Khan Yesüder and nevertheless, he betrayed all and each of us!”
The soldiers rumored, approving by shaking their heads, while the horses neighed cause of the tumult.
“Our duty command us to not stay out of this war! To look passively at this offense and be accomplice to it. The Great Khan had mandated us to punish that rebel Abaqa, to strip him from his lands and titles and to bring him in Karakorum for the trial. The justice is in our side and Tengri will give us victory! To War!”
“To War!” Thousand voices responded in unison.
As in one voice, the soldiers shouted the name of Baraq and start hitting their lances to their saddles and shields. The entire army put in the movement.
***
Friday, 28 January 1284, Ordubazar
Köchü Khan was surrounded by his generals and his councilors in his great tent. The recent hunting was exhausting but very successful. Hunting during the winter in the great Siberian taiga was not an easy task, however could be a very productive one. Aside the game meat which was salted and smoked and aside hundreds of precious fur, they brought back also several hundred captives from the tribes living in those forests. Tough men, excellent slaves!
Now, Köchü need to decide upon another sort of hunting. His ally, Baraq Khan had requested his help to invade the Ilkhanate. But Abaqa was not his enemy… Abaqa was in war with his enemy! That do not make him a friend, but why should he fought to increase Baraq’s power? Maybe one day, the Chagatai Horde might get ideas to bring the White Horde under its thumb… On the other hand, such campaign will provide an immense plunder and riches.
Köchü was not a great general himself. He had never fought a real battle in his all life. His battlefield was the diplomacy and his weapons were intrigues and plots. But now, the time had come.
“Brave warriors, we cannot stay out of this war! Plunder and glory is waiting for us!”
The message was well received by the audience. They were ready for a war. A real war! But their men were not yet ready… They need rest and refit. They need time spend with their wives and concubines. It will take several weeks till they could gather and march again.
But once they will get moving, the gods in the sky could not stop them!
***
Saturday, 12 February 1284, Tbilisi
With the conquest of Georgia, Ulacqi needed to decide which shall be the next target. Constantin, which still had supporters in the country, will be left to pacify it. Of course, as per the vassalage agreement, he will lend 2.000 horsemen for any further campaigns, but the question was were?
Witch Bujek lost somewhere in the sands of Mesopotamia, Anatolia looks very sweet and tempting. Or maybe Trebizond? Bujeck’s vassal? Or shall he attack the Ilkhanate now when they are struggle with another invasion?
That morning, a messenger arrived from Saray with two important news. First of it, Nogai had pillaged Galicia but he was forced to turn back, being unable to take any significant town. It seemed to be just a cavalry punishing raid, with relatively small numbers and no infantry. Ulacqi could breathe with ease now. It was less than he was afraid to happen.
The second news was also a good one. Baraq Khan had captured Buhara and Kat and all the right bank of Amu Darya. The war between Chagatai Horde and the Ilkhanate had started. Ulacqi could not suffer his distant cousin cause of his support for the White Horde, but today… today he love him!
It seems that Baraq either could not stay out of this war. Abaqa is screwed! Ulacqi decided then to go south-east and invade Azerbaijan, pointing to Tabriz.
***
Tuesday, 29 February 1284, Delhi
A messenger had arrived and meet Khan Dorji in his palace. He seemed to be of noble birth and was accompanied by several riders for escort. They were foreigners… but still Mongols. The palace guards have never seen those colors. After an entire hour alone with the Khan, an hour which gives chills to the guards fearing assassination, the doors opened and that foreign guy sort out. Gods be pleased, the Khan was safe! His insistence to meet alone, without any other members, was something that the commander of the Guard do not pleased. His father, Great Kublai, never had such confidence in anybody!
Next day, Dorji Khan gives the orders to mobilization of his army. Neither he, could not stay out of this war…
***
By the spring of 1284, the Cousins War spammed three continents.
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Damn, I forgot the Venitians! I hope htey will finally have the fate they deserve for helping Mongols.
Deleted member 97083
Fascinating timeline you've created here. A lot has changed in the almost 100 years since the POD, but it's all so believable and really feels like the Middle Ages.
One suggestion--you should re-upload the images in this timeline as attachments or to an image hosting site, so that they don't disappear if the filenames on the original sites change. It could take a while to edit the posts, but I've noticed a lot of older TLs here have broken hotlinks.
One suggestion--you should re-upload the images in this timeline as attachments or to an image hosting site, so that they don't disappear if the filenames on the original sites change. It could take a while to edit the posts, but I've noticed a lot of older TLs here have broken hotlinks.
Hi,
I'm very flattered by your consideration. It means much to me. And I'm very pleased you find my thread interesting and, nevertheless, plausible. I've tried hard to keep the realism at much as possible. If the story start (and remain) very European/French/Capetian centered, from 1240 the House of Borjin occupy the second place in it. I must confess that I wasn't initially a such great fan of the Mongols and their story remain more or less between the same parameters I fixed from the start. However, I never imagined that I will pay so much attention to them and become somehow attached...
So, thanks again and please fill free to comment and give any feedback. It will be much appreciated.
PS: Concerning the images, all of them (except the one are mentioned coming directly from other sites) are attachments. My "dream" is that one day, I will use this storyline as skeleton for writing a novel or such...
I haven't mentioned... the discourse of John of Ibelin, lord of Arsuf, was inspired from the one of a Romanian politician - P.P. Carp - which was a "Germanophile" and promoted the Romanian entrance in WWI on the side of Central Powers. He was convinced that this was the only way Romania can escape from Russian expansionism and pan-slavism.
During the Crown Council in 1916, when it was adopted the decision of the entrance in the war on the side of Antanta, he had said:
PS: EDIT - added some verbs in the discourse...
During the Crown Council in 1916, when it was adopted the decision of the entrance in the war on the side of Antanta, he had said:
"I have three sons, I give them to your Majesty to fight and die. And I will pray to God that the Romanian army to be beaten ... for only thus Romania can be saved! "
Source: http://adevarul.ro/cultura/istorie/...ta-moara-1_57bf222e5ab6550cb816e0f0/index.pdf (sadly, it's just in Romanian).
PS: EDIT - added some verbs in the discourse...
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Well, I'm disappointed by Louis' choice, but I understand why he did and that he is right in his way. Still, that doesn't exclude that Jerusalem acts passively.
Baltu isn't yet over and the apparition on Aqaba's rears of several invaders could surely prevent him from pushing into Egypt and give Baltu a reprieve.
Baltu isn't yet over and the apparition on Aqaba's rears of several invaders could surely prevent him from pushing into Egypt and give Baltu a reprieve.
Hi,
Louis II took the decision he considered being the righteous one, considering the infos he had. Take in consideration that the Venetians had make the same choice. He couldn't knew that Acqaba will be attacked by other khans. He wanted to preserve his kingdom and manpower from destruction of a war against a very superior force.
Cuāuhtemōc
Banned
I'm surprised Venice wouldn't take the opportunity to abuse the Red Horde's weakness and seize Alexandria and a few other port cities. On the other hand, given the brave defense that the Egyptians made at the walls of Cairo against the Ayyubids, expanding the war beyond involving themselves in Syria would be a fool's errand.
The Venetians trade in Egypt in 2 main ports. Alexandria and Damieta. In Alexandria they have a big merchant quarter (as they had in Constantinople ) were they auto govern themselves after Venetian law.
The Venetians choose Aqaba but do not have any interest to escalate the war or provoke Baltu. They hope that the storm pass and do businesses again. Till then, they will do what Abaqa said : to not trade with the Red Horde (nor slaves, nor grain, nor spices).
Edit: next chapter will be about the war.
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Hi Guys,
I realized that I've misspelled the name of the Ilkhanide ruler... It is Abaqa Khan and not Aqaba... Aqaba is a port-city in the Red Sea controlled by the Red Horde and disputed with Jerusalem and Ayyubids.
So, I have corrected it... Sory again... Abaqa means "paternal uncle" in Mongolian and it was OTL name of the son and heir of Hulagu... Being born in 1234, there is no reason to change it as, by then, the butterflies do not yet massively affects Asia.
Thanks!
PS: the next chapter will be ready by mid-week.
I realized that I've misspelled the name of the Ilkhanide ruler... It is Abaqa Khan and not Aqaba... Aqaba is a port-city in the Red Sea controlled by the Red Horde and disputed with Jerusalem and Ayyubids.
So, I have corrected it... Sory again... Abaqa means "paternal uncle" in Mongolian and it was OTL name of the son and heir of Hulagu... Being born in 1234, there is no reason to change it as, by then, the butterflies do not yet massively affects Asia.
Thanks!
PS: the next chapter will be ready by mid-week.
The tastes of the first victories
January 1284 – Transjordan
Nearly 30 years had passed since Jerusalem was in danger of annihilation by the Mongol Hordes led by the fearsome Khan Güyük the Lame. That day it was saved by a miracle from God and by the blade of an Ismaili assassin. God's ways are sometime tangled!
But now, 30 years later, another big Mongol army was at the borders or Jerusalem. But this time was different. This time, those Mongols were allies. At the end of January 1284, Abaqa Khan and 32.000 of his men arrived in the Jordan valley to meet King Louis II of Jerusalem which was busy to besiege the fortress of As-Salt. The fortress was situated on a hilly plateau on the left side of the Jordan River and was still occupied by Red Horde loyalists, being of a tremendous strategical importance as it controlled the entire eastern side of the Jordan. King Louis had immediately start besieging it after the announcement of the alliance with Abaqa and the subsequent declaration of war against Baltu.
When the Ilkhanate army arrived, the town was already captured by the Christians. And looted. Abaqa asked for 3/4 of the loot and Louis conformed. The Christians swallowed their pride and greed and return the requested share of the plunder… They could not afford to upset their mighty “ally”. After a short ceremony of greetings, and after leaving behind a mixed garrison, the two armies combined moved to Amman, an important city controlled this time by Muslim rebels. Louis wanted to keep Al-Salt for himself as there were his men which capture it but Aqaba insisted to leave behind a garrison of 100 Mongols. Moreover, Louis payed homage to Abaqa and recognize him as his overlord. For easiness, they kept the same conditions as the vassalage to the Great Khan.
The city of Amman was heavily fortified but also overcrowded with peasants fleeing in the face of the enemy. The defenders were highly motivated to resist but they lacked enough weapons and food supplies to feed them all. Many of them were armed with improvised weapons or weapons recovered from the Red Horde garrison or sent them by the Caliph.
The enemy army, now numbering more than 40.000 men, surrounded the city and start to besieging it. Both Abaqa and Louis had engineer corps, with war machines and all the logistic to carry a proper siege. Gunpowder weapons were also used, especially in form of hand-grenades, fire-lances and a sort of primitive guns. It was not the first time when the Crusaders seen or used such weapons, but it was the first time when they were used on this scale.
The city was stormed after less than 2 weeks of siege, when the walls were breached. The massacre that followed was terrible. It seems that Abaqa Khan filled insulted by the commander of the city when he requested the surrender. He presented himself as “protector of the Muslims” but the commander of the rebels responded arrogantly, denying him both the title and the surrender, while also throwing doubts on the veracity of his faith and conversion... Therefore, the Khan order to his troops to not spare anyone inside. The Christians too participated in the loot and in the massacre without a slight of remorse, but the following scene will hunt most of them for manny years to come.
When the Khan and the King of Jerusalem make their triumphal entrance in the city, mounted on superb white horses, rows after rows of pikes, each one carrying a head, were aligned on both sides of the road. The Khan ordered the creation of a “welcoming crowd” and his soldiers chopped the heads of the defenders and civilians which do not had the luck to be enslaved and aligning them up on each side of the parading road. King Louis and his vassals looked with wrench to the strings of thousands of pikes… Maybe Abaqa wanted to transmit a message not only to other rebels and enemies which will resist him, but to his new allies and subjects too. Maybe all this horrific spectacle was created for the Christian eyes…
It seems a bad start of the war for King Louis… Behind them, on black horses, ride their sons and heirs – Arghun and Louis.
***
January 1284 – Alexandria
Baltu Khan was in rage. The filthy Jerusalemites had chosen Abaqa Khan and together they are now overrunning Syria. Maybe even threatening Egypt himself. Another invasion could be catastrophic now when half of the country was in rebellion and the Ayyubids troops are still roaming freely on the countryside. He was decided to expel all the Franks from Egypt and, once he will stabilize the country, he will deal with Jerusalem once and for all! Baltu had summoned Gerard de la Rove, the leader of the Marseilles mission, to report him Marseille stand. He kneed that the Marseilles had a preferential treatment in the Kingdom of Jerusalem and he suspect them to collaborate against him. They might be their spies!
Gilbert de la Rove entered in the royal palace fearing both his life and the fate of the trading mission. He was there to make business and not war… The Khan launched a triad of accusations and threats and inform him that they have three days do leave Egypt once and for all! They should be thankful to not have them all hanged or thrown in a prison. Anyone which will be found after the deadline, will be executed on the spot. The trading mission was small and do not had the privilege of having a dedicate quarter. Now, in the port of Alexandria, there were only 5 to 6 galleys from Marseille and this was an unusual high number. As comparison, the Venetian ships were at any given time at least twice as numerous, and the main shipping of slaves from the Black Sea had not yet arrived… When that convoy will arrive, there will be tens of Venetian ships in the harbour. Baltu Khan was magnanimous to offer them the possibility to trade directly with Egypt, breaking the Venetian monopoly. But now, evryting seems to be lost. And it was for the stupidity of the King of Jerusalem!
Very concerned, Gilbert de la Rove, returned to his headquarters. There, he meet the captain of “Albatross”, the ship which had just anchored in the port. They were coming from Malta and had important news. Very important ones! The Venetians had chosen to join Abaqa Khan and a war fleet was already refitting in Candia. Moreover, the spies had informed that there will be no slave convoy this year and instead of slave fleet it will be a war fleet which will arrive in Alexandria… Abaqa had forbidden the Venetians to trade which his enemies and maybe even ask them to strike against Egypt. The news were of crucial importance and the captain swore that they were all true. Gilbert de la Rove ordered all the ships to be prepared for leaving and for fight if needed and go directly to the Khan palace. It was already late in the evening… The guards do not let him entering.
Next day, before the sunrise, Gilbert was standing in the front of the Palace’ doors. He requested once again a meeting with the Khan. But the Khan had already left the city and joined the army. Finally, he was received by a high dignitary and he tell him the news, asking him to revoke the expulsion order. The greatest question was, do the Venetians in Alexandria knew about it? Probably yes. The minister left him without an answer and send couriers to the Khan. Gilbert returned to his home without having any news… the next two days were the longest days of his life. He saw troops entering in the city and closing the streets. A curfew was decreed and nobody was allowed to sort out. Several hours before the end of the ultimatum for leaving the city, an officer arrived to his house. He was accompanied by 20 soldiers and ask him to follow them.
In his road to the Khan Palace, Gilbert pass next to the Venetian quarter. It was surrounded by soldiers and a big crowd. He fill the tension in the air. Baltu Khan receive him and informed that the banishment was revoked but Marseille’s ships are requisitioned by him to fight his enemies if needed. De la Rove do not knew if it was a good news or a bad news… he was escorted back and provisions were made to board the ships.
Baltu had asked the Venetians about the war decision but they tried to win time… justifying that they do not received any official answer from Venice. There were only some rumors, most probably false. They assure him that they do not intend to provoke any war against the Republic and the Red Horde, they were not there to fight. They were astonished that the Khan had found it so quickly, as they too were fresh of this information. The Doge had promised to send help…
But the things start to degenerate. Someone had spread the news on the street that the Venetians are now allied with the enemy and they are practically in war. A huge crowd, most of it made up by Copts, gathered in the streets and surrounded the Venetian quarter, asking them for surrender. The Mongol Guards do not left a finger and the blood start to flow. Full of paranoia and seeing enemies everywhere, the Coptic dominated crowd attacked the Venetians. The Venetians on their turn believed that all it was an orchestrated action by Baltu Khan who wanted their death as revenge against siding with Abaqa Khan. Their quarter was surrounded by a fortified wall and therefore not accessible from exterior. When the gates were forced, the crossbowmen from the towers start to shoot the crowd. It was war!
Seeing what happens, Baltu Khan sent an officer with the request of surrender, guaranteeing their lives but the Venetians feared a trick. Maybe it was a trick. A war fleet will coming in their help so all they can do was to resist for several days. But after only two days, the army brought catapults and more troops. Together, with the increasing paranoiac crowd, they stormed the place. Several Venetian ships tried to broke through the blockade in the port but they were intercepted by many ships, some locals, some improvised barges and several galleys from Marseille. All of them were full of Mongol archers. But the Venetians were prepared. They forced their escape and successfully brake through. Not without loses, as several galleys were sank or captured.
The fugitives meet the war fleet in the high sea and tell them what had happened. Hundreds of their compatriots were captured or killed. Alexandro Gradenigo, the commander of the fleet, do not wanted to let it without a response. But there was no way to go now in Alexandria, as the city was packed with troops and prepared for an attack. Therefore, the Venetians pillaged several small town and villages across the Delta, even making raids well up on the Nile.
Sadly for Graderingo, the Mongols were fasts… They ambushed the Venetians while doing one such punitive raid and deliver them a harsh defeat. More than 1.400 Venetians were killed or captured and up to 18 galleys were lost. Gradenigo turn back to Crete, with grave concerns for his fate… he was instructed to not provoke the Khan of Egypt and avoid any engagement. His mission was to evacuate the Alexandrine quarter and make a show of strength.
***
Thursday, 3 February 1284 – North of Tikrit
Six tied and knelled down men were aligned in one row in front of the victorious Khan, which sat on a high wooden platform, especially constructed for him.
Bujeck still fill the taste of the victory. Each time when he opened his mouth he fill the salted taste of the blood coming from his still bleeding gingiva. He had lost his last teeth. Even the victory tasted better when he was young… The missing toothache was not his only thing which remember him the victory… he barely fill his back having terrible pains each time when he turned an inch.
The day before, Bujeck had won a crushing and miraculously victory against the Ilkhanide army led by Tüdan, capturing many of his enemies. Only the darkness saved the remains of the army and the road to Tikrit and Bagdad were now opened and free. But this was only the second miracle happened day before. The first, and perhaps the greatest one, was the fact that Bujeck was still alive after being hit by a mace and thrown from the saddle.
Now, from the height of the wooden platform he had it build, and well dizzy from the huge quantity of alcohol he ingested to have his pains cool down, Bujeck Khan looked down to the 6 tied men which were kneeling in front of him. The man in the middle was Tüdan Baghatur, the commander of the army which He had defeated. Next to him were two other Mongols, a Georgian, an Armenian and a Turk. All of them, except the Armenian, were captured Ilkhanid generals.
The Armenian one was Peter Oshin, Lord of Tarsus and Baron of Saône, Seneschal of the Kingdom of Armenian Cilicia and one of the closest advisers of King Bohemond of Antioch-Cilicia. He was the leader of vassal Armenian army which had joined Bujeck in his campaign. But before the battle, the Armenians had changed the side and joined the Ilkhanids. Sadly for them, Bujeck still managed to defeat them against all odds and captured several hundreds of them and their commander. The soldiers were already executed and their leaders waited now the Khan decision… He was from noble birth, tracing his lineage to the kings of Armenia and even to the Emperor of the Romans, while his family had a huge fortune, lands and titles. He worth more than his weight in gold. He was not guilty of treason, he had just follow the orders of his master, the King of Armenia and Prince of Antioch. He was the one which shall give account of his treason, not him.
Peter was certain that he will be ransomed. But then he heard the Khan speaking something to the Mongol general… He refused, spiting in front of him. Then the Khan start coughing, crashing blood. He then shouted something to his soldiers. And pointed his whip toward him… and those soldiers come and grab him and drag him toward a huge pot in his left. He did not see the pot when he was brought there... Then he understood. And start to yell. God no!
The Georgian followed… He start screaming and struggling to escape, praising for mercy. But the Khan was implacable. The Georgians, with Ilkhanate help, had exiled their “rightful” King Alexandre, Bujeck’s own vassal. Now, they had raised their weapons against their “true” overlord and therefore they are all traitors. No death was good enough for a traitor!
The next one was the Turk. The commander of the Seljukid auxiliary corps. He praised Allah to give him strength to be brave and die quickly. But it’s one to be brave in front of death and another to be brave when you are boiled alive…
The Khan soldiers brought more firewood, soaked with inflammable resins.
Bujeck Khan do not know the word mercy. Not that day. He ordered all six to be boiled alive. If the punishment was considered just in the case of the first one, the treacherous Armenian which changed the side, or barely acceptable, in the case of the Georgian one, in the other cases everybody was shocked by its injustice.
Even the most loyal and committed Mongols soldiers and officers of the Blue Horde were disgusted about this. Tüdan, the one which was executed last, was a loyal general of his master. And a brave warrior. The fact that Bujeck had initially ask them to join him and swore allegiance to him, request refused by all, it was nothing than a perfidious trick. They were true to their words given to their master. Honorable men which were murdered in a very un-honorable way. This was not a way to die for a warrior!
The victory had indeed a very sour taste… and an even grimmer smell…
***
Mid-February 1284 – Amman
After the conquest of the city, the Mongol-Christian army took several days to rest and refit. But they do not had too much time to enjoy the new facilities… bad news were flooding from north and east. Fast couriers brought Abaqa Khan the news that Bujeck had defeated the northern army led by Tüdan and sacked Tikrit and he was now dangerously approaching Bagdad. The Khan decide to go as fast as possible back to Mesopotamia and finish that old dog, once and for all.
But this was not the only bad news… One day later, another one brought him the news that the Chagataid army which invaded from the east had defeated the Army of the Orient, while his best general, Samagar, left in charge of the army, was now dead. The command of the eastern army was assumed by his lieutenant, Bolad. Aqaba had taken in consideration the possibility to have being attacked by Baraq Khan while he was busy in the west, therefore he had left an army strong enough in the east. Moreover, at the first sign of war with Chagatai horde, he had dispatched quick couriers to Delhi for asking his cousin Dorji Khan for help. Heaving his headquarter in Buhara, Samagar’s mission was to guard his eastern frontier and prevent a full-scale invasion. But it seems that he had fallen from his horse during a ride and broke his neck soon after the invasion.
His successor, Bolad, was an intelligent man, very organized and prudent. He excelled in logistic and administration but he had no scrap of the required charisma. He lacked the authority and also the strategical mastermind his predecessor had. While the soldiers obey to him, as it was customary for all the Mongol armies during that period, they do not fill inspired by him, nor seems to have the confidence that he was up to the task.
Bolad was outmanoeuvred by more experienced and more talented Baraq Khan and was defeated in several skirmishes along the borders. Fearing to be surrounded, he preferred to retreat on the left bank of Amu Darya, leaving to its fate the right one. The soldiers see this manoeuvre as lechery and the moral broke down. The Ilkhanate army of the Orient was not the most experienced one, nor was it made up in majority from Mongol troops, but from a mixed of Mongolic, Turkic and Iranian troops and levies, all very susceptible to moral crumbling.
Buhara and Kat fall shortly after, as well as the entire region right of the River. But Baraq seems not very rash to cross it, still waiting for Köchü Khan of the White Horde and his promised 20.000 horsemen. He loose precious time and a great opportunity to overrun the entire Persia. Bolad try to re-organize the troops and overwhelm his overlord with pledge for help.
But now Abaqa was busiest with a more immediate threat. Bujeck’s victory in Mesopotamia was incredible destructive and threatened the connection lines to Isfahan. Once he heard about the defeat, he had immediately moved back to counter him but not alone. He expressly requested King Louis to accompany him with entire of his army. This was not what Louis wanted and imagined when accepted the alliance. But now… he had little room of maneuver. Louis tried to shirk of such engagement but the maximum he could obtain was to have the number of troop’s decreased to 8.500 men from the 13.000 he had with him. He motivated it with the necessity to keep strong garrison on his southern border against possible Red Horde attacks or rebels raids.
In the same time, Louis ordered to the Marshal of the Kingdom, Balian of Ibelin, Lord of Beirut, to gather a 5 to 6.000 strong force in Jerusalem and use it as a strategical reserve in case of an Egyptian or Ayyubid attack or, if the occasion is opened, to be used it as a striking force to capture strategic points along the border.
The combining armies start their 700 miles long march back to Bagdad with a speed that the Christians found it very hard to endure. While they stopped to Damask, Abaqa found also about Ulacqi invasion and the fact that Tabriz could be lost… the war grow bigger and bigger to the horror of both Khan and King. Abaqa speed it up his army heading to Euphrates on the shortest road, while also keeping a continuously flow of orders and commands. The Khan was in his 50’s but a life of campaigning and excesses of all kinds start to take its toll.
***
Wednesday, 1st March 1284 – Mesopotamia
It was barely the beginning of March but the heat has abruptly jumped to insupportable levels. The army was tiered and wanted to stop for resting, but the Khan hurried them further. They must to cross the small rivulet which meandered through the plain. The scouts were already informed that no enemy is on the other side, therefore the vanguard start crossing. The water was not deep, barely reaching the horses chests at its deepest place. Countless of horses jumped in the river, rejoicing of the coolness of the water. They were all sweating. Some of them stopped to drink but the water become quickly a flowing slime by the multitude of horses which trampled the mud.
After the vanguard had crossed and secured the other side, the Khan and several of his bodyguards approached the river for traversing it themselves. The Khan rode alone, followed several feet back by his guards. He was dressed in heavy armour and his horse the same. The guards looked to the Khan approaching to the muddy bank. It seems to be a banal crossing, but the foremost legs of the horse begin sinking in the mud, stopping the horse. The Khan, hurried to cross, hit him powerful with his spurs. The horse jumped, yanking sharply and throwing the fat rider in the water.
The Khan fall under the horse legs, yanking him on his turn with the reins. The horse reacted with a strong hitch, freeing himself and crossing on the other side in gallop. Everything happened in a fraction of second, the guards remaining perplexed. The Khan was still on the water, drowning by the weight of the armour. They jumped from the horses and approached to him… It was too late. The Khan was dead. Now, the real cause of death was hard to be establish… Maybe he drowned, being unable to get out from the water cause of the armour. Or maybe he was hit by the horse hoof, turn unconscious and he sank in the mud. Or maybe he suffered a heart stroke when he had fall in the water, being overheat by the sun. Or who knows?…The Khan was very old, very fat, with a very precarious health, he had serious back problems and certainly he was, if not drunk, at least well boozy by the alcohol. Maybe it was the predestined day when the gods call him back to them…
Regardless the facts, the outcome was the same… He was dead for good.
***
Friday, 10 March 1284 – Mesopotamia
The lkhanide-Jerusalemite army arrived to Euphrates and stopped for rest before crossing. Abaqa Khan had already sent scouts on the other side to check if the enemy was approaching. But instead of information about Bujeck army, its strength and location, they brought back an astonishing news… The enemy army was no more! It has vanished. Abaqa feared a trick… but deserters were captured and a clear image begun to take shape. The Khan had drown himself on the outskirts of Baghdad, while crossing a small affluent of Euphrates and his army had vanished. Some deserted, others returned back to Anatolia as soon as possible, especially his Greek vassals. Bujeck’s heir, Köke, tried in vain to keep the army on the field but everybody were more concerned about what will happens with their homes.
Abaqa Khan could not believe his luck! After the defeat and the following sack of Tikrit, he was afraid that he had badly underestimated his enemy… But that victory was his swan song. Now Anatolia will soon plunge in chaos and will be easy to be ripped apart. He need to get read of that annoying Ulacqi and the victory will be his.
But once again, his happiness was of short duration. Only several days later two bad news catch him. The first one, was about the Golden Horde. Tabriz was lost and a vast region was pillaged and burned to ashes. The second one, even worse, was from the Far East. Baraq Khan has once again outmaneuvered Bolad. He had crossed Amu Daria and invaded Khorasan, defeating Bolad in detail and conquering a huge swath of land up to the great city of Merv. The Turkmens were feeling abandoned and some tribes change their sides, while other decided to resist by themselves. If Merv will fall, everything from Caspian Sea to India might be lost. Something need to be done and quickly.
Not wasting time, Abaqa sent his son Arghun with 16.000 men to take command of the eastern army. They were one Mongol elite tumen and 6.000 auxiliary, most of them of Turkic origin, all of them of very good quality. He wanted to send with him also 1.000 Frankish knights but… he change his mind when he take in consideration the speed. The Franks were so slow when they moved. Well, slow when he compared with Mongol troops. But he still order his new acquired vassal to send his son and heir, Louis, with a small bodyguard unit to accompany Arghun. Abaqa wanted to prepare the future. Louis shall become use to obey his future master! Orders were issued that other contingents will gather on the road to Merv, so at his arrival, his relief army to be almost double.
Abaqa Khan continue with the rest of his army the road north, to Tabriz. He wanted to catch that fox of Ulacqi before he can do even a greater damage. But Ulacqi was to not be found. The scouts inform him that the Golden Horde army was no more in Tabriz region but retreat westward after they found about the news of Bujeck death. It seems that Ulacqi had invaded Anatolia, wanting to take advantage of the chaos.
The Ilkhan, nicknamed “The Thunder” in his youth for the speed he moved, always taking his enemy by surprise and being able to anticipate their moves, seems now to be out of shape. It seems that something was bring him bad luck. His enemies were a step in front of him!
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The Ilkhanate is definitely in for a bad time. I can already see the time when King Louis will change sides.
The Blue Horde in Anatolia is toast, without an army. I would see Nicaea seizing upon the opportunity to grab land before the Ilkhanate arrives.
I don't remember very well the Ayyubid situation but they're likely to be overwhelmed by the Ilkhanids or the Red Horde long before the war ends.
I wasn't surprised by the Marseillais entry in the war. Now will the French and Arlésiens support them ? Always worth asking for the local traders.
The Blue Horde in Anatolia is toast, without an army. I would see Nicaea seizing upon the opportunity to grab land before the Ilkhanate arrives.
I don't remember very well the Ayyubid situation but they're likely to be overwhelmed by the Ilkhanids or the Red Horde long before the war ends.
I wasn't surprised by the Marseillais entry in the war. Now will the French and Arlésiens support them ? Always worth asking for the local traders.
I didn't exactly understood what happened with Marseillais but that they managed in fine to keep their privileges after siding with the Red Horde.
Now, the implications of that could go as far as western Europe maybe if Venetians come to start a war with Marseille on this occasion. That wouldn't be a suprise since they would likely jump at any opportunity to get rid of competition and reestablish a monopoly on trade with Asia. However, since France is the patron of Marseille, this could ignite as well a war in Italy : I'm sure Venice hasn't forgotten about Genoa.
Speaking of Genoa, I don't remember what happened to it after the sack.
To return on King Louis switching sides, I would point at Prince Louis' situation as a virtual hostage. At this point, the less Jerusalem can do is standing down, fullfilling Abaqa eventual request for levies and garrison duties to secure the Syrian flank, although it's likely Jerusalem uses the opportunity to expand into territories formally given by Ilkhans to it within the region, with the possibility of playing a double game by helping indirectly Baltu Khan (ie through intermediaries such as Marseille let's say) to be in good position within any post war settlement.
Now, the implications of that could go as far as western Europe maybe if Venetians come to start a war with Marseille on this occasion. That wouldn't be a suprise since they would likely jump at any opportunity to get rid of competition and reestablish a monopoly on trade with Asia. However, since France is the patron of Marseille, this could ignite as well a war in Italy : I'm sure Venice hasn't forgotten about Genoa.
Speaking of Genoa, I don't remember what happened to it after the sack.
To return on King Louis switching sides, I would point at Prince Louis' situation as a virtual hostage. At this point, the less Jerusalem can do is standing down, fullfilling Abaqa eventual request for levies and garrison duties to secure the Syrian flank, although it's likely Jerusalem uses the opportunity to expand into territories formally given by Ilkhans to it within the region, with the possibility of playing a double game by helping indirectly Baltu Khan (ie through intermediaries such as Marseille let's say) to be in good position within any post war settlement.
Cuāuhtemōc
Banned
I think any chance for a political reconciliation with the Red Horde is out the window. King Louis decided his fate by aligning with the Ilkhan; if the latter suspects treachery on the part of the former's part, he'll witness his final moments being boiled alive and realize his kingdom will be fucked once Abaqa sends word to the Mongol garrisons stationed in Syria and Transjordan. He should be thankful that the Red Horde is still reeling from the invasion by the Caliph's hordes or else Baltu Khan or his wife would've sent an army to capture and sack Jerusalem. Then again, I'm wary of Baltu pissing off Marseille and more importantly its French patron.
Crusades are still a thing. Doubt the Red Horde khan would welcome the chance of the Capets pooling their realms' forces together and send an expedition to conquer Egypt.
Crusades are still a thing. Doubt the Red Horde khan would welcome the chance of the Capets pooling their realms' forces together and send an expedition to conquer Egypt.
Yah, the Blue Horde is toasted. Bujeck is dead and his heir... is contested. The army had vanished, the vassals practically broke free or gravitated to Ilkhanate.
Marseille do not chose to joined the war... They had just informed Baltu about Venetians choice in the hope of keeping their rights. However Baltu requisitioned the galleys without asking their permissions.
Genoa is rebuilding. It is still strong and focused more on securing Corsica and Sardinia.
Yes, after the war, Marseille it will be in a good position in the Red Horde. With little luck, Jerusalem might expand his territory.
Now, Jerusalem and the Red Horde are not on friendly terms but... there is a reason behind it.
You will see why. True, prince Louis is virtually an hostage. Any sign of disobedience from his father and Abaqa will throw Louis' head in a pike. Jerusalem is now between a rock and a hard place...
Hi guys,
I will try to have a ne chapter ready for tomorrow... You will gone meet a young princesse named Mariama and her lovely dowry.
I will try to have a ne chapter ready for tomorrow... You will gone meet a young princesse named Mariama and her lovely dowry.
The unexpected ally
"It is customary for a mother in law to despite her daughter in law and vice versa. But some of them push this to a state of art..."
Excerpt from "Reflections", Rashid-al-Din Hamadani [*]
Beginning of September 1284
Princess Mariama throws a glance to her maid in honor and best friend while she saw the strange man approaching in gallop from the nearby fortress. More he approached, more intrigued was she. He was really strange… She have never seen somebody with similar traces and similar cloths…
“Does HE will be the same?”whispered her to Aiaza, which return her a mysterious smile.
It was the first time when the girls travelled so far north. It was the first time when Mariama had left the lands of her father to fulfil her duty and destiny… To marry a foreign king and bring friendship between the two countries. She already fill the burden of her duty.
“What if he do not like me? What if… I will not be able to bore children?” ask her the same girl which was barely one year older than she but similarly confused. However, Aiaza tried her best to reassure her and keep a confident air.
“My dear, look behind you. Even if he will not like you, he will like the 18.000 warriors your father sent to his father. And don’t worry about children, your own mother had 14! You will have at least a couple of them.”
“My dear, look behind you. Even if he will not like you, he will like the 18.000 warriors your father sent to his father. And don’t worry about children, your own mother had 14! You will have at least a couple of them.”
The horsemen had already arrived to their place and start speaking with her uncle, which was also the commander of the entire expedition. After a short talk, the stranger bowed to their direction and turn his horse to the citadel, while his uncle ordered the general advance.
Princess Mariama (right) and her friend Aiaza (left) before leaving Makuria
The Aswan garrison was watching with mixed feelings the thousand upon thousand black warriors approaching their town. In one hand they felt released as for the nearly one and a half year they were practically isolated at the border, surrounded by rebels and hostile population. With very little help from Cairo, they had resisted against all odds against all the assaults, more grace of the disorganization of the enemies rather to their strength. On the other hand, they felt frustrated to let their former enemies to enter in their fortress. The commander Amudai, a true born Mongol, had fought for many years against the Nubians raiders and bandits and other Bedouin tribes residing on the southern border. Now, he welcome them in his town…
The procession entered through the massive gates flanked by high towers. Once inside the town, the princes and her entourage was conducted to the citadel, where they will stay a couple of days till the travel down river will be organized.
***
Princess Mariama of Makuria was the daughter of King Sanko the Great (or the Ilustious), the second great king in line. Sanko followed his older brother David after a short war against one of his cousins, Murtashkar, which had challenged his rule. If David had strengthen and reformed the kingdom, creating a powerful army, his brother had make good use of these, crushing the rebellion of Banu Kanz tribe in the north and annexing the Kingdom of Alodia in the south. He managed all these not only because of the strength of his army, but also because the international conjuncture had indirectly help him.
Firstly, the conquest of Egypt by the Mongols had shifted the focus of Cairo from the southern border to securing Syria in one side and protecting against the Bedouin tribes in the other side. Moreover, if the former Ayyubid interventions in Makuria’s internal affairs had stopped, the process of Islamization of the northern side had increased cause of the numerous tribes which migrated from Egypt running from the Mongols. This created a great pressure in the former kingdom of Nobatia, as the Muslim population, both converted or migrated, do not accepted the rule of Christians and Makurians. King David tried to repress them, encouraging southern populations to move north as well as oppressing the Muslims, forcing them to pay additional taxes and forbidding them many rights. Nobatian region, which extended from the first cataract of Nile till the third one, was still majority Christian but the Arabisation and Islamization of the locals were very high.
When Sanko ascended to the throne, the northern tribes sided with Murtashkar which was sympathetic to Islam and promise them to convert himself. This alignment caused the doom of both Murtashkar which saw his support in the south collapsing, and of the Muslim tribes which found themselves alone supporting the wrong candidate. Sanko crushed the rebellion and slaughtered many of his opponents, forcing them to run north of the frontier in the Mongol controlled border region. Do not wanting to worsening the cvasi-inexistent relations with Cairo, nor to draw the Mongol attention to the south, Sanko opted do not pursued them north. However they become a constant source of problems and rebellions, offering safe haven for any of his opponents. Moreover, the tribes used to frequently raid deep in the southern border, creating a virtually a no-man land which prevented both trade and any real and constant connection with Egypt.
The second major external conjuncture, was the dynastical crisis in Ethiopia, which practically paralysed the country for more than 20 years. Ethiopia was ruled by the Zagwe dynasty which had significantly strengthen the country and patronized the trade, the urban development, the culture, the arts and, especially, the Orthodox Ethiopian Church. They build many churches and promoted the urban life, their rulers being very close to the Church, three of them even becoming saints.
However, the Zagwe Emperors were native from the Agew (a Cushitic speaking) population, and were contested by the Amhara and Tigrai (Semitic speaking) populations, therefore lacking a strong legitimacy and being regarded as usurpers by a part of population. This led to a long rebellion against Emperor Nakuto which lacked a clear successor. After his death, the ascension of his successor, his nephew Yetbarak, triggered a wide scale rebellion led by Yekuno Amlak from Amhara tribes which self-declared successor of the old line of Axumite kings, tracing therefore his lineage up to King Solomon of Israel and the Queen of Saba. After many years of internal strife, Yekuno Amlak was killed in an epic battle by Yetbarak, in a one to one combat as the legend stated. The death of his rival in 1268[1], offer a small period of calm to the emperor. But this do not lasted. Another raise of Amhara and Tigrai tribes was put down even harder and the rebellions continued to plague the country nearly an entire decade. Only at the end of the 70s, the Emperor could finally saw his throne secured and his country stabilized. He start a process of economical redressing and rebuilt of a country devastated by such a long civil war. Ethiopia start to pay attention of the events around its frontiers for the first time in several decades.
The third and perhaps the most important event which allowed the conquest of Alodia by Mankuria, was the collapse of the central power and the split of Alodia in about 9 or 10 rival principalities which practically ignored the orders from Soba.
Safe from a possible Ethiopian intervention and having his northern neighbor focused on far away theaters, King Sanko of Mankuria invaded Alodia laying claims to the Alodian throne. From 300 years, the two kingdoms were governed by the same family, even being united from time to times.
Sanko picked the principalities one by one, some by conquest, other by diplomacy. In 1274, King Ador of Alodia was alone in his capital of Soba, confronting the huge enemy army. But he do not give up, but resisted heroically for more than seven months of siege. When finally the city was taken by starvation, he goes down in an epical fight. King Sanko pay homage to his rival, and distant cousin, praising his courage and determination, but this do not prevent him to install his own government in Soba and annex Alodia into his Kingdom.
By 1280, Makuria had become a big country, covering the entire old region of Nubia, from the first cataract and Egyptian border in the north down to Ethiopian border in the south and from the Red Sea in the east to Kurdufan in the west. King Sanko start calling himself Emperor of Nubia. But he also start being concern of an Ethiopian revival. The relations between Makuria and Ethiopia were usually friendly but the countries do not bordered each other. Now, things might change. Therefore, he search for allies.
In the beginning of 1284, a Makurian embassy made up by both clerical and lay members, arrived in Alexandria to meet both the Khan and the Patriarch. King Sanko proposed a military alliance while asking some… minor concessions. First of all, his recognition as King/Emperor of all Nubia. Secondly, he wanted to establish a defense treaty, so both parts will engage to help the other if is attacked by an external force. Thirdly, he wanted to have the Banu Kanz tribe and their Nubian allies on the Red Horde territory destroyed once and for all. Fourthly, he wanted that a Metropolitan of all Nubia to be established which will not be named by the Patriarch of Alexandria, but elected by the Nubian Bishops as it was the case of . This final request will make the Nubian Church autocephalous and was something that will be very hard to obtain from the Patriarch Cyril... Fifthly, a trade agreement will be signed, with concessions for the merchants from both sides. In return, King Sanko offered 15.000 warriors to be used as the Khan pleased till the war against the “hated Muslims invaders and rebels“ will end. The alliance shall be sealed by the marriage of one of his daughter with the prince Asutai. A lavish dowry will be paid in form of gold, precious stones, ivory, ostrich feathers and precious fours. King Sanko wanted the marriage for two main reasons: to be sure that the alliance will be kept after his death and to increase his status by marring into the Khan family.
Baltu, on the other hand, wanted a true Mongol bride for his son. One Mongolian prices from the court of the Great Khan. However, this generalized war among the Mongol hordes pushed to an indefinite perspective any such marriage prospects. Moreover, his military situation was desperate one, especially now after the Jerusalem and the Venetians joined Abaqa Khan. The news that a second Jerusalemite army, under the command of Balian of Ibelin, Lord of Beirut, will moved south to attack the port of Aqaba, finally convince him that he need allies. If Jerusalem capture Aqaba, it could not only raid the Red Sea coast preventing the yet little trade with India, Ethiopia and Yemen, but also will cut him from Syria. Syria will be lost without a secure road to north. And those dam Crusaders know how to fortify a place… Two months later, Baltu will found that the town of Aqaba was put under the siege by 5.000 Christians but the garrison resisted well.
The other provisions requested by the Makurian King were more acceptable for him. The destruction of Banu Kanz tribe could only be beneficial, as they were very rebellious and do not recognize his rule, transforming the border region into a nightmare to control. His focuses was now on the north and east, therefore a southern alliance could only be beneficial, especially now when he was very short on friends. He do not care about religious aspects and if Sanko wanted to be name Emperor or Great King of all Nubia, let him do so.
However, the biggest opponent of such marriage was Queen Talida which hoped a Coptic Egyptian match for her son and was now horrified by a Nubian one. She tried to convince Patriarch Cyril to not agree of the requested condition but Baltu Khan offered the Patriarch something he could not refuse. He agree to have Prince Asutai converted to Coptic Christianity. Many years had past since an Alexandrin Patriarch had any real leverage of the Nubian or Ethiopian Churches and, without a strong will from the ruler of Egypt to enforce it, there were no hopes to recover it. Using both the stick and the carrot, Baltu Khan obtained what he wanted from both the Patriarch and the Nubian delegation, even an increase of the number of Nubian soldiers.
Queen Talida was simply informed of the agreement.
***
The royal marriage was celebrated at the end of 1284 in Cairo, after the Nubian army cleared their path to north, in junction with the other Red Horde forces. The festivities of both marriage and Asutai baptism were lavishly celebrated. Mariama found Asutai having less Asiatic traits, looking more as his mother, and being curious of her. Their first night was not exceptional, but in time the two grew closer. However, Mariama also found that she has an enemy at the palace. Her mother in law. The Queen do not hide her displeasure for the marriage and did not make any efforts of showing her any signs of acceptance. Mariama on her turn treat her with the same coldness as she was treated, focusing on becoming pleasant to her husband. It seems that a silent war for the heart of the young prince had just brought up.
The Nubians won the respect of the Mongols when they prove themselves being not only skilful archers and ferocious fighters, but when they prove to be equally ruthless in treating with their enemies. The Banu Kanz tribe was decimated and their power destroyed. Many villages were razed and thousands were enslaved, with the women being taken as sexual slaves while the men to be sold on the slave markets. The long march to north was pointed by countless skirmishes and fights as well as by countless massacres. The black horde become quickly feared by rebels, with towns preferring to submit to Mongol officials at the first sight of those ferocious black warriors.
Baltu and his new allies used the entire 1285 to clear the resistance in Egypt, defeating in detail both the rebels and Al-Zahir. After he was trapped on the banks of the Red Sea, the Caliph was forced to retreat back to Hedjaz fearing a retaliation invasion from the Mongols. But without his army… Not able to pull a Moses, he abandoned his remaining forces and took a simple boat. But an invasion of Hedjaz proper was far away on the objectives list of the Khan. He wanted to recover the lost Syria and punish Jerusalem for siding with his enemy.
In the spring of 1286, Baltu Khan gathered all his forces to invade Syria. However, he was forced to release most of the Nubian contingent due to the fact that their own country was now in war. The Blemmeyes tribes, which laid on the eastern side of Makuria up to the Red Sea, had being submitted by King David. However they had now rebelled and rejected the authority of Sanko. The Makurian King invaded their lands once again but his army was not enough to quell them. He need his best men back. Baltu Khan kept 6.000 of the most fearsome of them as a crack force for the new campaign.
***
The Nubians had a long tradition in fighting for Egypt or against it. During the Fatimid era, they were 50.000 Nubian soldiers fighting for the Caliph, but during the Ayyubid area, the relations worsened and there were many clashes on the border. Now, it seemed that the old good days will be back. Moreover, the future Khan of Egypt will be a Christian one, married to a Christian Nubian princess and the relations between the two countries will flourish. The newly elected Nubian Metropolitan, Moses I, will invite many monks and erudite from Egypt to open monasteries and seminaries in Makuria. King Sanko will built a new and lavish cathedral in Dongola and will create a great seminary to train future priests. While the northern neighbor start to become more stable, the trade become to flow. The Makurians could once again massively export slaves, chattel, gold, furs and ivory and import luxury and manufactured goods, textiles and grain.
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Sources
Photo: http://freevst.x10.mx/sahara/sudan/ethnography/sudan 01.jpg
"The Zagwe period re-interpreted: post-Aksumite Ethiopian urban culture" by Tekeste Negash
"The history of the Nile region", by Muriel Mirak-Weissbach, EIR Volume 22, Number 24, June 9, 1995 from http://www.larouchepub.com/eiw/public/1995/eirv22n24-19950609/eirv22n24-19950609.pdf
"Languages and scripts in the Kingdom of Alwa" by Alexandros TSAKOS, Humboldt University (Berlin, Germany)
Wikipedia
[1] In OTL it was Yetbarak which was killed in battle. ITTL the Zagwe dynasty continue to rule Ethiopia.
[*] it's made up but awarded to Rashid-al-Din Hamadani for story plausibility
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Cuāuhtemōc
Banned
Sweet update. Hope the Khan's Nubian troops put the fear of god into the Jerusalemites.
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