Ah-Rilah: A Tale of the Great Voyages

الرحلة

A'Rilah: A Tale of the Great Voyages

Al-Andalus, 889

"Emir! Emir!" the eunuch cried. "What?" growled Abdullah ibn Muhammad. "Didn't you see me meditating?"

"Begging your pardon, sir, I meant not to infringe upon your faith. But there's a man here to see you. He wouldn't tell me what it is, but he said it's very important."

"Oh, very well. Send him in." Probably it was some affair of state. The sultan wasn't too fond of those. Didn't those fools see that it was the afterlife that counted, not the tedium of ruling a kingdom? That was what governors were for. Never mind the fact that they had taken power in everywhere but Cordoba. That was their right. But he supposed he would hear this man. It couldn't hurt, and they needn't listen to him.

The eunuch bellowed, "Announcing Khashkhash Ibn Saeed Ibn Aswad, the famed navigator!" He opened the door. Inside came a little man, with a wisp of a beard. He did not seem old, but he gave off the impression of being so. "Your majesty," he said, bowing his head the slightest bit. He ushered a large group of men, some Nubians, some Arabs, some Maghrebi, to carry a large bundle into the room. It was to big to properly deduce what was contained within, but the thing it carried was certainly cylindrical. The sultan was, at least, amused. He'd see this fellow, for a while.

"What's in there?" asked the sultan. "I shall tell you, your eminence. I am a traveler, a trader, you see. That is my profession. And I had ideas of exploring." The sultan tried to remember his geography. "Well, to the east, there's," and he paused, "Roum, the Abbasids, of course, Siin, and I don't know what else." The navigator smiled kindly, if a bit irritatedly. "Not east, m'eminence. West."

The sultan was confused. "West? I suppose logic would dictate there to be something there, but what?" Ibn Aswad, nodded, pleased. "Yes, exactly. It would be preposterous for it to be otherwise. Well, I mounted an expedition west." The sultan was awed. "What?" The navigator smiled. "Yes, an expedition. I call it Ard Majoohla, but that's a placeholder. I'll come up with something better than 'the unknown territory.'"

"Did you bring anything back?" asked the sultan.

"Well, it's funny you should ask...." said ibn Aswad. He snapped his fingers, and the porters behind him unwrapped their cargo. Straining, they just barely were able to place it back down. It was a massive, garishly painted totem, depicting some kind of man, perhaps a warrior, wearing a bizarre sort of armor, and a feathered headdress. "What is that?" asked the sultan. "I honestly have no idea. But the people who live there-"

"WHAT? There are people there?" The navigator nodded sheepishly. "And there is this, too." Each of the porters opened up another satchel, smaller, filled with silver, and laid it on the floor.

The eunuch said, "Khashkhash, would you mind going back?"

"Not at all."

************************

Hello! This is a new TL of mine, in which America is discovered in 889 by the fellow you just read about, Khashkhash ibn Aswad. (He'll be called Ibn Aswad for continuity's sake.) The only real historical background for him is the writings of Al-Masudi, a historian of the era, which might be fictional, but for the purposes of this TL, it won't be. So come, comment, and relax, and watch America colonized six centuries early.
 
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It's good to see another Al-Andalus timeline, definitely subscribed and I'll be following with interest. The late 9th century Cordoba is definitely a difficult place to wank and really get a stable government because of people like Umar ibn Hafsun, but I'm sure you've got your ideas sorted already.
 
Why thank you. I think I need to do more research, to be sure, but I think that in Muhammad (known to be an incompetent) will be *cough* disposed of soon as Majoohlan colonization kicks off.

BTW, good names for American places ITTL?
 
Why thank you. I think I need to do more research, to be sure, but I think that in Muhammad (known to be an incompetent) will be *cough* disposed of soon as Majoohlan colonization kicks off.

BTW, good names for American places ITTL?

I would definitely consider sending revolting fief leaders to the New World, as rebellions were abundant in the Emirate of Cordoba, and get in the Great Abd-Ar-Rahman III in as soon as possible, then you've got some great potential.

I assume the Idrisids or their ITTL analogue will also be very interested in colonisation/exploration.
 
I would definitely consider sending revolting fief leaders to the New World, as rebellions were abundant in the Emirate of Cordoba, and get in the Great Abd-Ar-Rahman III in as soon as possible, then you've got some great potential.

I assume the Idrisids or their ITTL analogue will also be very interested in colonisation/exploration.

Oh, yes. Very. The Europeans will be a bit later, though. The Vikings, maybe not so much.
 
PART ONE:
In which are contained Chronicles of the First Ventures, the Long Rebellion (wherein is reported the Deeds of the Deplorable Umar ibn Hafsun), of How the Idrisids Schemed; and in which an Emir Passes



From the Kitab Qadim W'alealam Aljadid W'tarikhiha

(The Book of the Old World and the New, and Their Histories) by al-Umari (AH 699-785)

Edited and translated by Muhammad ibn Alric, al-Eiaar Press, 1390 printing:

(Editor's Note: The Kitab Qadim is one of the best documents of the settling of Algharbia, but it can prove confusing to the modern reader. In addition, al-Umari (PBUH), its author, was not exactly allowed to write exactly the truth of history, and so, in an effort to give a more nuanced view to the reader, I have used brackets to elucidate passages that might not be altogether clear, and to provide historical context.)

The world is a very different place since the First Great Voyage. I write this book here in al-Aswadya, and the great western sun shines on me, and I write with the glorious benefit of the basima [printing press] beside me, which I can use to spread these words and others. Our world is one of peace, plenty, knowledge, and faith, but the Dar al-Islam was not always thus. When ibn Aswad discovered this most holy of lands, the future of al-Andalus was not certain. The emir of that day and age, Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Umawi was, truth be told, an incompetent, fond of little more than meditation and hunting. He could also be brutal; he ordered his son to slay his brother. While his piety is commendable, this wrathful sort was not the man that one would want to rule an empire on two continents. Thankfully, he was convinced into seeing ibn Aswad, and he allowed the navigator to begin the Second Great Voyage, the beginning of the Muslim foothold in al-Anawaq, the greater of the two western lands. But in the land of Cordoba, all was not well...

As I have said before, the emir was weak. Indeed, it is said that he ruled naught save Cordoba itself. He was constantly attacked by Umar ibn Hafsun (fie upon him and his descendants, seven and sevenfold!) a local warlord who had a substantial holding in the south of the country. He and al-Umawi (PBUH) often warred, as did the emir with other insurgents...

Now, it came to pass that each of the early Great Voyages took approximately two years. Thus, the effects of each took two years to influence events back home. So it was that during the Second Great Voyage, [in the year 277] the emir of Cordoba and Umar ibn Hafsun warred. By the grace of Allah, Hafsun was defeated in the Battle of Polei, which repelled the rebel from a number of cities. However, he retook them shortly thereafter.

Soon after this victory, ibn Aswad returned to Cordoba. At that time, the discoveries were kept a secret, so as not to attract competition, and to prevent panic. He brought with him more fabulous wealth, a number of slaves from the new world, and an ornate map of previously unexplored parts of Ard Majoohla, which he since discovered to be two connected landmasses, which he had since renamed to the Alaradi Algharbia [the two Western lands; often referred to as Algharbia in the text, and in the modern day], the upper of which he named al-Anawaq (for that was what the native peoples called it) and the lower Al-eazima [the bent]...

543px-Piri_reis_world_map_01.jpg

[Unfortunately, the original map made is lost.
This is the closest version we have to the original, which, oddly enough, includes almost none of al-Anawaq.]

The slaves that ibn Aswad brought with him were of a sort that none in Cordoba had ever seen. They are (for they are, by no means, gone) of a middling height, very warlike, and dark in complexion, but not as dark as those of Sudan; more as those of Egypt are. They have very straight, dark hair, and when they were discovered, they had no metal tools, only stone and wood. But they were still the children of Allah. One of them was even a convert to the faith. He was called Lut, for he said that he had lived in iniquity, as Lot had, and he spoke Arabic, as well as you would please. It is said that he later came to be a favorite of the next emir, and the Caliph, Abd-ar-Rahman III...

The final bounty of the Second Great Voyage was more of a tactical one: a foothold had been established in al-Anawaq. It was not much; a city, and very little else. The men that ibn Aswad had taken with him had named the possession al-Aswadya, in his honor. To govern the city, the emir sent two of sons, al-Mutarrif and al-Asi (peace be upon them both) who the emir suspected of traitorousness. His eldest son, Muhammed ibn Abd Allah, had fallen tragically ill and perished earlier that year. [In light of fact, Abd Allah had been murdered, and with his father's consent, by his own brother, al-Mutarrif. He is best known as the father of Abd-ar-Rahman III, the "Magnificent."] With 150 soldiers, armed to the teeth, Lut, the translator and guide, and a historian, by name al-Masudi, the Third Great Voyage began...

In Cordoba, meanwhile, it was mostly a blur of fighting and dying, in equal measure, for both the emir and Hafsun. Two more Great Voyages came and went, each time a bit more knowledge about Algharbia, gold and silver, and territory. By the embarkation of the Third, the discovery of the new lands was no longer secret. Maps of Algharbia could be found in Cordoba's bookshops. There was not, though, exactly a ready stream of colonists. Ultimately, the policy of sending prisoners and the dhimmi to Algharbia was agreed upon. However, this policy was not really fulfilled in the reign of al-Umawi.

The silver came to good use for hiring mercenaries to fight and die for the emir in the war against Umar ibn Hafsun. In 285, he converted to Christianity; a major tactical mistake, for it lost him much of his constituency. He remained a threat to the emirate, but his attempted alliance with the king of Léon fell through. However, despite Hafsun's failings, the realm was still in a state of chaos. The Muladi, the Iberian Muslims, had rebelled, forming their own emirates. There was Ubayd'Allah ibn Umayya ibn Shaliya (fie upon him!) in Shumantan, and Daysam ibn Ishaq in Murcia and Lurqa, and all kind of traitorous wretches...

By 288, much of lower al-Anawaq was subjugated. By this time, it mostly a military land, but still a well developed one, with mosques, and shops, and temples of any kind. However, the news of Algharbia had spread, to the neighboring realm of the insidious Idrisids. They began their first expedition this year. Their ship was ill-prepared, to say the least, and they washed up somewhere they knew not. It was an island, they found, and they named it al-Iyiti, after the name the natives gave it, but their expedition failed; the last known record of them is in 293.

In 298, al-Umawi was again at war with Hafsun. Having allied with the traitorous Banu Qasi clan, rulers of the upper Ebro valley, he forced a humiliating peace on the emir. The year afterwards, another war broke out, only this one sadly took the emir's life. His chosen successor was Abd ar-Rahman III. His coronation was planned without incident.
 
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Things are beginning to look interesting...

Any idea of the number of settlers in America?

Things are shaping up nicely, I like it so far :D.

Yes, interesting concept lol.

EDIT: I also like the title. If you would like help with the tl just message me.

Thanks!

John: The Arabic is frankly atrocious, so I may take you up on that offer.

Kurt: As far as the number of settlers in America, maybe 200, or thereabouts, right now. Most are soldiers, but during the reign of Abd-ar-Rahman III, it'll be a lot more, since he is way more competent than poor old Al-Umawi.
 
Thanks!

John: The Arabic is frankly atrocious, so I may take you up on that offer.

Kurt: As far as the number of settlers in America, maybe 200, or thereabouts, right now. Most are soldiers, but during the reign of Abd-ar-Rahman III, it'll be a lot more, since he is way more competent than poor old Al-Umawi.


Sure thing. How will you incorporate MesoAmerica and such, in all honesty I am interested in where this heads.
 
Sure thing. How will you incorporate MesoAmerica and such, in all honesty I am interested in where this heads.

Well, during this time period, Mesoamerica was dominated by the Toltecs, a Nahua people. However, their society (which really could barely have defeated the Muslims, who had steel and whatnot, while they just had stone) was in a great decline at this point, and archaeologists still don't know why.

But back to Ah-Rilah. Mesoamerica will be the colonial hub of the empire. It's the jewel of al-Anawaq (derived from a Nahuatl word), and will be one of the most populated areas in the world.

BTW, if you're interested, al-Aswadya is OTL Veracruz.
 
Amazing tl, watign to see more, pretty original idea and yeah the impact in the americas will be like something never done before
 
Amazing tl, watign to see more, pretty original idea and yeah the impact in the americas will be like something never done before

Thank you very much. Unfortunately, it's not an entirely original idea. There's another "TL" on the althistory wikis with the same POD, but it's really poorly executed; they might have researched.
 
Are the ships that the Andalusis used capable of such long voyages at this time? Also what's the state of the effect of disease spreading at this time in the new world?
 
Are the ships that the Andalusis used capable of such long voyages at this time? Also what's the state of the effect of disease spreading at this time in the new world?

I'm fairly sure that they could have traveled. Disease is pretty bad in al-Anawaq; maybe not as bad as IOTL, but still apocalyptic.
 
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