alternatehistory.com

Greater Middle East 1260-1300

1256: Assassins not destroyed. They continue to play a more or less important role in the Middle East.
Being Ismailites, the Sunni Muslims are their worst enemies.

1261: Nikaia attacks Morea, hurts the allied states of Sicily and Epiros (similar as OTL), but can't establish itself permanently in Mistra.

1262: Ayyubid sidelines still reigning in Syria who fear the raising power of the Mamluks and Rum-Seljuks appeal to the Choresm Shah (and power behind the Caliph, we remember) for protection. Thus, Choresm's sphere of influence now borders the Mediterranean.

1263: France under Louis IX plans a crusade as retail for the lost cities in
Palestine, but Charles of Anjou is busy in Italy.

1265: Rum-Seljuks attack Nikaia, threaten the capital. This time they're content to get some areas (i.e. they don't want the whole empire). Genoa gets the Aegean islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos, which Nikaia can't defend alone.

1268: The little crusader states of Antiochia and Tripolis (in Lebanon, not in Libya) conquered by Syrian and Choresmian troops.

1270: Seventh Crusade. France attacks Tunesia, without success.

1272: Charles of Anjou conquers the area of Albania.

1273: Baldwin II. dies. His son Philip of Courtenay becomes last Latin Emperor.

1276: Finally, Constantinople's conquered by Nikaia (some defenders changed sides, after receiving a big bribe).
The Latin Emperor flees to Athens. He becomes dependent of the mighty dukes of Athens and Achaia.
Nikaia's energy and power isn't sufficient for further attacks on Epiros and other Crusader states.
Emperor Michael has to start talks with the west about a reunification of the churches.

1277: Charles of Anjou conquers Akko, makes himself new king of Jerusalem. This comes in a very unfortunate moment for the crusaders...

1278: Achaia acquired by Charles of Anjou.

1279: Michael VIII. Palaiologos dies.

1281: Last Crusader states in Palestine conquered by the Muslims. Teutonic Order moves headquarters from Akko to Venice.

1283: Philip of Courtenay dies.

1284: Rum-Seljuks attack East Roman Empire and conquer Brussa, Nicomedia and Nikaia. (IOTL the Ottomans took eleven years for that, but they were one of many little princedoms in Anatolia. The Rum-Seljuks, OTOH, already own most of Anatolia...)

1285: Charles of Anjou dies.

1286: King Otakar has decided to go on a crusade against the Muslims, after the pope promised him to crown him Holy Roman Emperor. But while he always fought valiantly against the pagans in Prussia and Lithuania, which gave him the epiphet of "the Iron king", he's not so lucky now. Having reached Constantinople with his army, he dies. The crusade is cancelled, and the chance to rekindle actual interest in it is lost.

1287: Catholic and Greek Orthodox church officially reunited, as a last resort. Actually, many Byzantines don't like this idea at all - as they say, they prefer the Sultan's turban to the cardinal's hat.

1290: Aragon and Egypt make an alliance - the first important alliance between a Christian and a Muslim state.

1292: West of Lesser Armenia conquered by the Rum-Seljuks.

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