Prologue: Chapter 16
Muslim World
September 2, 743 - Dimasriq
After expelling the Byzantines from Damascus, Sulayman while resting securely in the newly reconquered city, he undergoes an assassination attempt, with pro-Caliph officers attempting to stab him while they debated about what way to take now, but being stopped by guards who arrived with the screams of the general who managed to deflect the stab. Then, indignant at the attitude probably taken from the Caliph (which he himself already knew that did not like him), Sulayman declares the secession of Damascus, yes, the glorious capital of the Umayyad Caliphate, after declaring: "The oppression caused by these lords is finished in this city, today is Damascus, tomorrow will be all of Islam, may Allah protect us in this mission of freedom!" The people celebrate, well, it is they who freed them from the byzantines who said this, because it would not be true?
In the following days, Sulayman discreetly uses his great connections and support throughout the caliphate to offer the throne to the Abbasids of Abu al-'Abbās, descendants by right of Muhammad by Abdullah ibn al-'Abbās. Abbās accepts at the first opportunity, and begins his long-planned uprising.
An uprising of loyalist troops to the umayyads happens within the Sulayman army, yet it is quickly stifled by the intelligence of Sulayman, and because of the lack of leadership for the troops.
October 5, 743 - al-ʾIskandariyya
The Caliph had scarcely awakened from his sleep, when an emissary comes screaming at the gates of Alexandria, he expects good news, such as Sulayman's success and death in Damascus, but they were waiting for him much worse news.
"Lord, bad news, VERY bad news." says the emissary.
"What?" asks the confused Caliph
"Sulayman rebelled and one called Abbās also began to revolt in Jibāl! The last one have shown to have enough support among the Mawālī. The situation is not good."
The Caliph climbs the stairs quickly after the news, and asks for a man to come with him, the same goes with him until the highest room.
The Caliph quickly writes a letter and hands it to the man, right after saying "Deliver this crap to Mecca, we need all possible arab troops."
"What happened my lord?" asks the man, confused.
"Rebellions my dear, two of them, i need you to deliver this letter as faster as possible." explains the rushed Caliph.
The man quickly took the letter and ran down the stairs, the Caliph could see through the window the same, taking a horse and rushing out of the city. The Third Fitna begins.
The Betrayal of the Caliph and the Start of the Abassid Revolution
September 2, 743 - Dimasriq
After expelling the Byzantines from Damascus, Sulayman while resting securely in the newly reconquered city, he undergoes an assassination attempt, with pro-Caliph officers attempting to stab him while they debated about what way to take now, but being stopped by guards who arrived with the screams of the general who managed to deflect the stab. Then, indignant at the attitude probably taken from the Caliph (which he himself already knew that did not like him), Sulayman declares the secession of Damascus, yes, the glorious capital of the Umayyad Caliphate, after declaring: "The oppression caused by these lords is finished in this city, today is Damascus, tomorrow will be all of Islam, may Allah protect us in this mission of freedom!" The people celebrate, well, it is they who freed them from the byzantines who said this, because it would not be true?
In the following days, Sulayman discreetly uses his great connections and support throughout the caliphate to offer the throne to the Abbasids of Abu al-'Abbās, descendants by right of Muhammad by Abdullah ibn al-'Abbās. Abbās accepts at the first opportunity, and begins his long-planned uprising.
An uprising of loyalist troops to the umayyads happens within the Sulayman army, yet it is quickly stifled by the intelligence of Sulayman, and because of the lack of leadership for the troops.
October 5, 743 - al-ʾIskandariyya
The Caliph had scarcely awakened from his sleep, when an emissary comes screaming at the gates of Alexandria, he expects good news, such as Sulayman's success and death in Damascus, but they were waiting for him much worse news.
"Lord, bad news, VERY bad news." says the emissary.
"What?" asks the confused Caliph
"Sulayman rebelled and one called Abbās also began to revolt in Jibāl! The last one have shown to have enough support among the Mawālī. The situation is not good."
The Caliph climbs the stairs quickly after the news, and asks for a man to come with him, the same goes with him until the highest room.
The Caliph quickly writes a letter and hands it to the man, right after saying "Deliver this crap to Mecca, we need all possible arab troops."
"What happened my lord?" asks the man, confused.
"Rebellions my dear, two of them, i need you to deliver this letter as faster as possible." explains the rushed Caliph.
The man quickly took the letter and ran down the stairs, the Caliph could see through the window the same, taking a horse and rushing out of the city. The Third Fitna begins.