From “History of the Apostolic Church” by Afshin Khorrami
Following the overthrow of the Arab king Abdul-Yasu, Arslan(known thenceforth as “Arslan the Liberator”) was declared Shah of Persia. Five years later, he would become Khagan of the Western Turkic Khaganate following the death of his father. Meanwhile, Abdul-Yasu had established himself in Betica, never truly forgetting when his domain stretched from the Indus to the Atlantic. Ultimately, he would die just two years after losing his empire to alcohol poisoning, having developed something of a drinking habit as a coping mechanism. He would be succeeded by his son Majid I, who sought to avenge his father’s defeat. Just a year after ascending to the throne, Majid set out with his army to retake the holy city of Jerusalem from the Persian heretics. Majid’s justification was that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre had been made an Apostolic church on Arslan’s orders, having been previously been transformed from an Apostolic church to an Ebionite one by Abu Yusuf. Majid and his army traveled through North Africa, which had been taken over by Berber tribes in the aftermath of the fall of his father’s empire[1], and began gathering supporters to join in his quest to retake the Holy Land.
Eventually, Majid made it into Egypt, which had previously been conquered by Arslan but which was majority Ebionite. Majid was greeted as a liberator by the locals, quickly retaking all of Egypt and making his son Abdul-Masih the King of Egypt[2]. From there, Majid’s now massive force of Arabs, Berbers, Beticans, and Egyptians crossed into Palestine, where they were met by Arslan’s equally great army of Persians, Syrians, and Turks. The ensuing Battle of Mount Sinai resulted in Arslan’s defeat, and Majid’s forces progressed through the Holy Land, eventually reaching Jerusalem[3]. The Battle of Jerusalem would be one of the greatest in history. Arslan’s forces fought valiantly to defend the holy city, and Majid’s fought fanatically to defend it. The battle raged for days, with Apostolic and Ebionite forces fighting amidst the tight streets. The city was devastated by the end of the battle, which only ceased when Majid was killed by an unknown Persian soldier. Abdul-Masih, devastated by the death of his father, retreated and prepared to defend Egypt from Arslan’s inevitable attempt at reconquest. Arslan’s forces quickly retook Egypt, and Abdul-Masih was forced to flee back to Betica, where he was crowned king. For now, Arslan had triumphed, but Abdul-Masih waited patiently for the Khagan to show any sign of weakness, when he would avenge his father’s death and bring his father’s dream to fruition. This would eventually happen, in the Second War of the Holy Sepulchre.
[1]The Berbers by this point are still largely pagan, but are in the process of converting to Ebionitism
[2]Majid has no delusions of reconquering his father’s empire, merely retaking the Holy Land for Ebionitism, and so feels content placing a puppet on the Egyptian throne rather than ruling Egyot from Spain
[3]Part of the reason for Majid’s success is that he has the support of the mostly Ebionite locals. We’re he to try to invade Mesopotamia or Persia, he’d most likely be less successful
