Collaborative timeline: Dunes of the Desert, a Timeline without Islam

[Tomislav Addai]

In the early 9th century, Yuqubid Egypt was on the offensive. Not only has it conquerred the Palestiniant coast from Gaza all the way to Mount Carmel, but also they have managed to vassalize the newly emerged Kingdom of Israel.

Egypt ruled by an Arab dynasty would naturally orient itself towards the Erythrean (or Red) Sea, as the easern Mediterranean itself has been turned into a Rhomaic lake.

Egypt sought to gain control over the trade with India, which has conducted through the Straits of Bab-el Mandeb. Egyptians would therefore seek to expand into the Hejaz, or more particularly the Hijazi coast, known also as Tihamah. That was demonstrated by a campaign which captured the coastal city of Jedda in the 830s.

As some of our followers may have seen, Egypt is not labelled as having a feudal society, but is labelled as having a „Hierocratic“ society; that means that besides the King, the two most important institutions in the country are the Church and the bureaucracy.

The Coptic Church has by the first hal of the ninth century become the most important institution in the country, owning vast swathes of agricultural land in the Nile valley and the Delta. Given the strong place of the Church in the Egyptian state, religious minorities viewed as heretic (meaning mostly Gnostics) would be openly persecuted, while in the cities of Cairo , Alexandria or Damietta, you could get a more of a multicultural feel. Alexandria and Damietta, as well as some coastal settlements in the western part of the Delta would still host a Melkite community, known as the Alexandrian Greeks. Mizraim (Egyptian) Jews could be found in the cities of Alexandria and Cairo.

By the mid-ninth century the Arab vernacular would disappear from the streets of the cities in Egypt, as they would have been largely assimilated into the Coptic populace. The only exception of this would be the region Bani Suef.

As mentionned further uptext, Gnostic communities would be exposed to persecution in this period. Surviving at least until 800AD, there would have been Sethians in the Upper Egypt in places like Nag Hammadi, and the Basilideans of the central Nile Delta. It appears that around two-thirds of the Sethians would accept Coptic Christianity, while the remaing third would be dispersed, heading to places outside of Egyptian dominance: to the Kharga oasis and then to the Tebou mountains; Nile-upstream into the Nubian lands or into the Beja coast.

The Basilideans would see their numbers dwindle and retreat into the marshy environment, careful not to be spotted by their Christian neighbours; however some of them would migrate into Mesopotamia, where they appear to integrate easily into the Mandean community.

Devoid of its feudal organization, Egypt would employ a significant number of Armenian and Nubian soldiers as mercenaries, who would have settled in their distinct neighbourhoods; other foriegn mercenaries would include Berber and Arab tribesmen as well.

However, the Egyptian realm ran into a crisis by the mid 840s. In 844, the King died childless, and two of his nephews contested the throne.

Boutros was the son of the kings elder sister and was supported more openly by the townsfolk; Shenouti was the son of the kings younger brother and supported in the Upper Egypt.While the bureaucracy supported Boutros, Shenouti was favoured by the Church. One statement by the Coptic Pope would pathe Shenouti the path to the coronation cermony... or not?

For there was a general called Vahram of Alexandria, son of an Armenia father and a Melkite mother, who participated in the Palestinian campaign an had great popularity among the soldiers, especially the Armenian and partially also the Berber and Arab troops. After Boutros was assassinated, Vahram earned the sympathy of the townsfolk; winning Lower and Central Egypt, as well as Cyrenaica, which also formed part of the realm. Shenouti would continue to rule Upper Egypt until 849, with his realm gradually shrinking, as Vahram knew that Shenouti would have been cut off, and forced to depend on Nubians...

Nubia was by this time divided into two realms, known by their names as Dotawo, and Alwa; to outsiders ,they were known as Makuria and Alodia. The Nubian region has always been an appendix to Egypt ever since the times of the Pharaohs, and Nubian culture would be greatly influenced by what was happenning downstream.

Although Nubia belonged to the Coptic Orthodox Church , for some reason Greek was used as a liturgical language; Nubian has been written in Coptic letters.

Makuria was situated further north, and had previously conquered the relam of Naatio or Migitin Goul , lying between it and Egypt. Makuria had regular contact with Egypt, and its society was organized in something what resembles to a feudal system, with some sort of aristocracy over there.

Alodia on the other hand lay further upstream ,and contact with Egypt was scarcer. Its tribal society was gradually adapting to become a little more organized.

Further west are the Fur people, residing the Darfur region. They are coming into contact with Nubia and Kanem due to caravan routes passing through their territory, connecting Lake Tchad to Nubia. East of the Nubian region are the Beja, organized in a chiefdom, and still practicing the Old Egyptian religion, although a Coptic bishopric has already been established in Suakin, and hopes to extend the Coptic religion (and dominance) over the people.

As for Vahram, he sought to diminish the power of the clergy ,mainly by giving city rights to urban communities. In his reign, he welcommed some 100 000 Greek settlers, who would install themselves on the Mediterranean coast. Vahram sought to turn Egypts southeastern orientation to a northwestern one; opening the country towards the Mediterranean. He would plant forests in the newly acquired lands of western Palestine, from which there would be wood to build a reasonable navy for the realm.

So far, we have ommitted the region of Cyrenaica, yet there is not much to speak of – the area remains populated by Cyrenaic-Greek speaking people on the coasts, the desert hinterlands populated by Berber tribesmen.

 

[Tomislav Addai]

When looking at the history of the Erythrean or Red Sea basin, one must not make the mistake of seeing the water as a divide, a barrier that would alienate those on the Ethiopian and on the Arabian coast. It was actually more the contrary: a highway for communication and trade, which would bring peoples together and see an exchange of products and ideas, forming a cultural unity.

In some alternate scenarios, where the Arabian peninsula itself, as well as neighbouring parts of the world be unified into a distinctly monotheistic theocratic empire (1), that might have been the case, but as of right now, the notion of “North Africa” as a cultural area is pretty-much non-existent, for Mawritain has more in common with Hispania, and Egypt is culturally much closer to the Nubian nations, to Ethiopia and even Yemen.

The western parts of the Arab Peninsula could be geographically and culturally divided into four regions by now:

· Midian (and Nabatia)

· Timamah

· Hejaz

· Asir and Jizan.

The lands of Midian were organized into competing city states around oases such as Tamyam and Tabouk, and had become a refuge for the Ebionitic Church. The Ebionites, a Judeo-Christian group had found refuge once more to the southeast of Israel. However despite a rather progressive spread of the Ebionitic Church during the 8th century, by the 9th century, one can observe a general decline of the Ebionites. This was caused by increased contact and exposure to more influential centers of civilization, following Monophysite Christianity.

It began with the Egyptian conquest of several cities on the Timamah coast, such as Jedda; it was followed by Himyaritic unification of the southern parts of Arabia, during the second half of the 9th century, when Himyar conquers the regions to its north as far as Mecca, and exchanging the Ebionitic form for Miaphysite once more. Himyar also secured its eastern border, conquering the realms of Hadhramawt, leaving solely the region of Dhofar independent. Himyar had by this time greatly profited from incense trade, and its geographic position, lying on the main trade route between Egypt and the Indian coast in Kerala.

From Himyar, Miaphysite Christianity would spread into its conquered territories, and Ebionitism and Rahmanism were supressed; a large number would indeed accept the Miaphysite Christianity, yet others would rather convert to Judaism, which was tolerated, or emigrate to the unified Emirate of Hejaz….

Wait, when did that happen? Well by the end of the 8th century, there were two rival city-states, Khaybar and Mecca, right? And we said Mecca got conquered by Himyar, right?

So in the early 9th century, Yathrib would conquer its neighbours to the northwest in Tabouk and Tayma, and integrate these lands into their kingdom based in Yathrib (2)

Further inland is the plateau region of al-Yamamah. As mentioned in the previous update, the sheikhs and emirs would have already been Christian, yet their tribesmen would have at best heard of al-Masih (3). This was changed when a Syriac archdiocese was established in Jaww al-Yamamah in the mid-ninth century, aiming to establish Christendom among the Beduin populace.

This was true for most tribes in the interior of the Peninsula, yet the Banu Tamim have embraced Manicheism.

Manicheism remained deeply rooted also among the al-Abna, the Persian-descended population of Himyar, now integrated into the local populace, who would inhabit the coastal cities, and be an urban class of artisans, traders and merchants.

As for Axum, also known as Ethiopia or Habesh, the realm remains rather stable during the ninth century (4). It would continue to control much of the northern Ethiopian Highland – the provinces of Gojjam, Begmender, Wello, Tigray, Asseb, as well as the entirety of the region known also as Eritrea. Axum would maintain control also over the Afar Triangle, a lowland, but arid area surrounding Djibouti.

In its close vicinity, Axum would witness the emergence of Zeila, a coastal Somali city-state, founded most probably under Himyarite influence (although, due to excavations of early Manichean temples, it has become now thought that it was indeed founded by al-Abna merchants). Zeila had the oldest Manichean temples in the entire Horn of Africa region.

Zeila, however, wasn’t the sole coastal city in the region of the Horn of Africa. The entire peninsula had been populated by a Cushitic people known as the the Somalis, who have had trade contact with the ancient Egyptians, as well as the Romans.

The southern coast of the Gulf of Aden was home to numerous local city states, west to east: Malao, Mundus, and Mosylon.

On the coast of the Indian Ocean, there were several other states, Tave, Oponi, Sarapion (5) and Nikon. The last two would have colonies established by the Himyaritic kingdom as trade depots; with small colonies of Manichean Abna in Nikon and Miaphysites in Sarapion.

However, the majority of the Horn of Africa remained organized into clan societies, and the Somalians would continue to practise their ancestral religion, known as Waaq, which is the name of God among the Cushitic peoples; it was a rather Monotheistic religious system.

Off the tip of the Horn of Africa is an island called Socotra, or natively Suqutra. Geographers would fail to agree, whether the island belongs to the Asian or African continent; its inhabitants were totally ignorant of the dispute, and would rather take advantage of their position as possibly the last supply station on the route to India. The Suqutri emirate would not only use the trade to develop their very own island, but they would establish merchant colonies on the northern Somali coast, especially in Mosylon , which was the easternmost of the cities there, and on the Hadhrami coast,in Mahra and Dhofar in the late ninth century.


(1) The Rashidun, Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates

(2) Medina.

(3) Arabic for Christ

(4) In contrast to OTL, where the coastal-centred state weakens due to hostile Caliphate next-door, and needs to retreat inlands

(5) At the site of OTL Mogadisho

 

[Tomislav Addai]

The Mihranids dominating the Persian area would witness the rise of a major rival in their very own domain. In the neighbouring realm of Khorasan, centerred around the cities of Merv and Herat, howevera new dynasty arose. The Kouroshids (1) , named by their founder Kourosh of Abivard, would taikeover the realm of Khorasan in the 820s. During the next two decades, Kourosh would wage war upon Mihranid Persia and conquer practically the eastern half of their empire. Kourosh would conquer not only Parthia, but also Segestan, Kerman and the southern foothills of the Elborz mountains as far as Rayy.

After having defeated the Mihranids, Kourosh would head eastwards, subduing Khwarezm on the lower Oxus and the Tokhari lands on the upper Oxus. The city-states in the Middle Oxus acknowledged his suzerainty, and thus his realm would stretch from Ferghana to Ray, and from the Aral Sea to the Straits of Hormuz.

This empire was far from being something, which could even distantly be called a nation-state. In it there were Nestorian Oghuz Turks and Manichean Khwarezmis, Zoroastrain Persians and Nestorian Khorasanis, Buddhist Tokharians and Zunist Balochis, Manichean Parthians and Buddhist peoples of the Hindukush...

Kourosh himself was a Manichean, but he cared little for religious differences. He actually cared little for anything... except being remebered in the annals of history as a great conqueror, and this is what he aimed for.

His treasury would be filled from profit gained by controlling a large potion of the Silk Road, from Ferghana to Rayy.

His successor Dawud would continue his expansionist policy in conquerind Kabul, subduing the tribes of Makran, and dividing the realm into districts around the towns. No larger provinces were created in order to prevent any possible rebellion.

However, this did not prevent the downfall of the dynasty in 870s. The Kouroshids were overthrown by lad from Segestan, called Radman, conquerred the Zunbil dynasty in Zabulistan. With the Kouroshid empire experiencing a succession crisis and war, Radman (2) took advantage of the chaos and managed to consolidste the power in the region around Zaranj and take over the southern parts of the Kouroshid empire. From there, he would expand eastwards, taking the claimants and pretenders of the Kouroshid throne one by one, until extablishing a border on the Oxus. To the west, in the 890s, his heir would manage to overthrow the Mihranids, thus uniting Iran once more.

As for the western reaches of the Iranian plateau, the region of Media was integrated into the Bavundid dominion; the Bavundids have been ruling the lands between the southern Caspian shore and the Elborz mountains.

The Zagros remains under the control of local Kurdish and Luri tribal chiefdoms; nothing changes much over there.

So, if we are to look at the larger picture, the Iranian plateau once more has descended to the path of warlordism, and the defeat of the Mihranids means also the defeat of the idea of a continuation to Sassanid legacy. The Iranian intermezzo, 2.0 is here.

As for the southern shore of the Persian Gulf, the Beth Qatriye region was conquered by Sawad under king Giwarkis in the mid-ninth century. This wasnt a surprise, for the region has already been an appendix of Mesopotamia for quite some time.

But it is the region on the northeastern end of the Arab peninsula that interests us. The region of Mazoun has been populated by three religious communities: the Mazdakis, the Manicheans and the Nestorians (3). In 876, the Mazdakis overthrew the existing Satrap, and took power. At first the top Mazdaki clerics would consolidate power in their own hands, in order to change the political landscape to their image.

The Mazdakis were a sect which could be described as proto-socialist (4), or egalitarian. Mazdak has been viewed in Persia as a heretic, an enemy of orthodox Zoroastrianism. The Mazdaki ideas have been added by Sunpadh, a Persian theologian from the Karenid House.

While being concerned with cleanliness and purification, and avoiding unnecessary harm, however on the other side their morality would be in its result hedonistic, under the condition that it doesnt harm anyone. Therefore, Mazoun would soon have become a synonym to drunkedness and lust.

The Mazdakis would go away with monarchical power altogether. They would establish a utopian egalitarian republic, and would take care of the poor by possibly the first system of an organized welfare state.

(1) Somewhat inspired by the OTL Tahirid dynasty

(2) Inspired by the founder of the Saffarid dynasty,

(3) Perhaps Mazdakis as parallel to Ibadhis. And combining elements of Qarmatianism

(4) Using OTL terminology; who knows what socialism would mean in this timeline?

 

[Tomislav Addai]

Geography


The Indian Subcontinent has been considered to be a world in itself by many. Separated by a mountain wall of the Himalayas from Tibet to its north, the region shaped like a squashed diamond has been seen as distinct from the rest of Asia.

The size of the Indian Subcontinent is huge; comparable to that of the Middle East and Arabia put together, or that of the entirety of the West Roman Empire. However, unlike the aforementioned likely-sized megaregions, India in its entirety is a hospitable environment, with a climate allowing dense population.

It is a land of contrasts, with environments varying from the Thar Desert in the west to the mountainous jungle in the east in the Arakanese Mountains; from the low-lying delta of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra at the Gulf of Bengal, to the foothills of the Himalayas.

This Subcontinent has relatively clear geographic boundaries. Undisputedly, the snow-capped and ice-capped peaks of the Himalaya range over 8000 meters high make a clear border with the more arid regions in the Tibetan Plateau, which are on leeward side of the mountains; the mountain jungle in the east hinders any meaningful land route to Burma except a narrow coastal corridor. The only direction, to which India is open, is the northwest. Generally it is held, that the geographic borders of the Subcontinent end at the western end of the Indus river basin, although Persian shahs and Alexander the Great would claim the entirety of the Indus basin as theirs.

The arid corridor from the region of Kabulistan and possibly Zabulistan to a certain degree is the only land invasion route to India; this has been the base of Alexander’s campaign in India. The coastal region of Makran can be effectively ignored, for it is a thinly populated tribal area, with a hostile environment, preventing any large-scale military invasion.

Of course, the Konkani and Malabar coasts are open to cultural exchange and trade further westwards across the Sea of Mazoun, to trade with the areas of the Persian Gulf and with Egypt and the Mediterranean, as has been happening since antiquity with Mesopotamia, or more recently with the Romans in the case of the Malabar. The population of the littoral may however sleep in peace, for none of the countries across the sea were powerful and populous enough to launch a maritime invasion of the coast, for India is simply too populous and too large to invade.

The northern half of India is dominated by the fertile Indo-Gangetic plain, an agricultural region with a dense population and the heartland of the Indian civilization. As one continues southwards, it continues uphill into the Deccan plateau in the southern part of the Subcontinent, bordered by the slopes of the Western and Eastern Ghats, which separate the plateau from the coastal areas. The Western Ghats are steeper and higher than the eastern ones; as a result, the entirety of the Deccan plateau is drained by rivers heading east, which cut through the Eastern Ghats.

Languages

From the linguistic point of view, there would have been several linguistic families spread out across the Subcontinent.

The northern half of the Subcontinent would have been dominated by the Indo-Aryan speakers. The Indo-Aryan languages form the easternmost branch of the Indo-European language family, and appear to have entered India via the arid corridor from the regions to the south of the Hindukush.

The earliest known language of the Indo-Aryan stock is Vedic, which would have thrived in the region until around 500 BC. At that point in time, its role as the ceremonial language would be replaced by Sanskrit.

The grammar of Classical Sanskrit was described by an early Indian scholar named Panini, who lived around the fifth century BC. Sanskrit would continue to play a role similar to that of Classical Syria, Koiné and Latin in the Mediterranean, as a classical, liturgical and intellectual language for the Indian Subcontinent for the centuries to come.

In contrast to the Sanskrit (literally “excellent, distinguished speech”) were the Prakrits, which were vernacular varieties, which would have been patronized by kings and nobles, and utilized by poets. The Prakrits would develop in what is labelled as the Middle Aryan period, roughly between 600 Bc and 1000 AD.

Of cultural significance were especially two forms, which would become used as liturgical languages. The Gandhari language, stemming from the region around the Upper Indus Valley, would become a liturgical language for Buddhist canon. Pali or Magadhan Prakrit, developing in the eastern regions of India, would be the tongue of various Hindu hymns, as well as used by Theravada Buddhists. Ardhamagadhi spoken in the region of Uttar Pradesh would be used by the Jains in their religious literature

As time would go on, the dialects would diverge even further from the Sanskrit and Prakrit forms into the so-called apabhrámsa, meaning corrupt, or incorrect language. Notable was especially the variety spoken in the east, called Abahatta or Magadhi, which would be spoken in the regions of Bengal and Assam and roundabout.

The second most widely distributed language family was the Dravidian one. Dravidian languages are spoken in southern India, mainly to the Deccan plateau. The most prominent of these languages would have been Tamil, now in the phase called “Middle Tamil” by linguists. Other written Dravidian languages would include Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam, which had already diverged significantly from Tamil for some three centuries.

The autochthonous hunter-gatherer populations of India would have spoken languages of the Austroasiatic stock. This language family is also distributed in Southeast Asia, especially by the Mon and Khmer languages. Most of its speakers were assimilated into either Indo-Aryan or Dravidian populations; yet pockets of speakers of the Munda branch have persisted in places like the Gondwana region or the Santali region on the borders between Bengal and Bihar. Belonging to another branch of Austroasiatic languages are the Khasi people of Meghalayana of northeast India

The foothills of the Himalayas have been inhabited by speakers of the Sino-Tibetan languages, living in places live Bhutan, or Arunachal Pradesh.

Religions
The native religious traditions of the Subcontinent are referred to as the Indian religions. While having considerable influences on one another, one can distinguish two, or rather let´s say three different traditions of religious thought

The first tradition stemmed from the original Indo-European religion of the invading Indo-Aryans. This early form is known as the Vedic religion, or Vedic Brahmanism. The word Brahman itself is the Hindu concept of the absolute. These two terms are sometimes distinguished, with Vedism denoting the pre-contact and Brahmanism to the post contact phase of the religion with the Indus Valley civilization.

The early Brahmanism would evolve into Hinduism and Vedanta a rather philosophical tradition speculating on the implicatives of the Upanishads, which were a set of speculative and philosophical texts.

Contact with the movements within the shramanic tradition, as well as interaction with foreign invaders would result in the rise of a number of schools within the Vedantic philosophy, most notably: Yoga, Dvaita, Advait ,and Bhakti.

The Bhakti movement was based around a resurgence of the worship of traditional gods, regardless of the social status of the believer involved. The movements were mostly centered on the incarnations of Vishnu and Shiva.

Thus by this time, Hinduism was divided into four major branches: Shaivism (around Shiva), Vaishnavism(around Vishnu), Bhakti and the rather esoteric tradition of Tantrism.

The second tradition is called the śramana, meaning ascetic. The most prominent religious traditions stemming from the Shramana tradition are Jainism and Buddhism. The lesser known Shramana traditions include Ajivika, Ajnana and Charvaka. The proponents of the shramana movement were wandering ascetics, challenging the practise of rituals of orthodox Vedic religion.

Concept found within all of the Shramana traditions are Samsara (cycle of life and death, that is, reincarnation), moksha (liberation from the cycle of reincarnation

There have been six major Shramanic movements preceding that of Buddhism:

1. Purana Kassapa taught amoralism, climing there is no such thing as a good or bad deed.

2. Makkhali Gosala founded the Ajivika movement. This showed a fatalistic philosophy denying the concept of free will. However, they believed in a soul

3. Ajita Kesakambali founded the Charvaka school, being a pure materialist.

4. Pakudha Kaccayana was a proponent of atomism in Indian philosophy, and thought that there are seven basic elements in the universe.

5. Mahavira was the founder of Jainism. Jainism taught five moral principles: ahimsa(non-violence), satya(truthfulness), asteya(non-stealing) and aparigarha(non-attachment)

6. Sanjaya Bellathiputta was founder of the Ajňana movement, believing in absolute agnosticism

Ultimately, there remained the religious traditions older than the Vedic or Shramanic thought: the traditions of the indigenous peoples, which manifested themselves as Sarnaism among the Austroasiatic peoples, Donyipolo and Sanamism in the regions of arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, respectively.

Caste System
To understand the notion of caste system is the very basic in understanding the society in India. The social stratification in India resulted in the creation of a rather rigid system, composed of four major castes or classes in the society. The original term denoting the notion of caste in India is varna. Unlike feudal Europe, which would have considered three estates, the Indian varna system had four, as well as effectively a fifth caste composed of people who were outside the system.

The topmost caste were the Brahmins or the priestly caste; the Kshatriyas would be something like the nobility, the rulers, the state administration and the warriors, then you would have a caste of people involved in economic activity, that is traders, artisans, merchants and farmers, who would have been called the Vaishyas, and ultimately you would have a worker caste called the shudras.

Not all people were, however, part of the caste system. The people outside of the caste system (avarna) were either tribal indigenous groups, or Dalits, known as untouchables.

One would be born into a caste, and that would define very much the profession he was able to do, the quarter where one could live in and the scope of people whom one could marry. Normally, the upper castes would not come into contact with the lower ones.

 

[Tomislav Addai]

Southern India


From the political point of view, there would have been a multitude of dynasties spread out across the Subcontinent.

The Pandya dynasty was continuing to dominate the Tamil areas. The Tamil areas would remain starkly Hinduist, favouring the Shaivite and Vaishnavite denominations. The Pandya kingdom was known for its export of pearls.

The northern portions of the Tamil Nadu would have been ruled by the originally Sanskrit Pallava dynasty; during the last decade of the ninth century, however, they were overthrown by a local Tamil dynasty known as the Cholas. The Cholas were a zealous Shaivist Hindu dynasty, busy building temples and would later have a lasting impact on the culture of the region

Further northwards, where the eastern coast bends from a vertical to a diagonal line on the map, was the realm of Vengi Nadu, ruled by the Eastern Chalukyas. The society in this country was based around the instituton of the caste system, with Brahmins holding influential positions in government and state service, the Kshatriya (nobility) being the ruling class, then a wealthy merchant class and the shudra would be the peasants and levies. Shaivite Hinduism would be the dominant form of religion, followed by Vaishite Hinduism. There would be also Buddhist and Jainist communiites in the country; the former in decline the latter still remaining vibrant. Although both disregarded the notion of a caste system, they would ultimately accept it.

Continuing along the coast we arrive to the realm of Kalinga in Andhra Pradesh and coastal Odisha. The rulers were at first Buddhists, later converting to Shaivism. Their rule saw a conversion from Mahaynana to Vajrayana Buddhism in the region, and there were numerous Buddhist pilgrimage sites, such as Ratnagiri and Nalanda

Eastern Odisha was home to the Somavamshi dynasty; and under their rule the region saw a return from Buddhism to Brahmanism.

Now moving inland, that is, westwards, are the lands ruled by the Bana dynasty. These include the Odishan hinterland and the state of Chhatisgarh. The area has been known as Gondwana; being at the northeastern end of the Deccan plateau meant that the society in this region had remained largely tribal.

Now heading west is the vast realm ruled by the Rashtrakuta dynasty, dominating the western half of the Deccan plateau, with the Narmada River forming more-less their northern border; their area being synonymous to the combined linguistic areas of the Marathi and Kannada languages.

The Rashtrakuta dynasty were probably of native Kannada origin, although this has been debated quite recently. This is reinforced by the fact that Kannada as spoken at court, although Sanskrit would have also been used.

The realm of the Rashrakuta was home to followers of Jainism, Vaishnavaism, Shaivism, Buddhism and Christianity.

The dynasty would have practised a policy of religious tolerance; it is assumed, however, that the ruling dynasty was inclined to Jainism. The majority of their scholars were Jains, and the core region, Karnataka had a Jainist majority. Numerous Jainist temples would have been built under the dynasty.

The kings would nevertheless also invoke and worship Hindu deities. One of the largest Hindu temples was built in the Ellora caves.

Buddhism was in decline in the region, retreating to enclaves such as Balligavi and Dambal.

While the Rashtrakuta were a hereditary monarchy, succession was not from father to eldest son. The heir would be chosen according to his abilities from among the members of the dynasty.

The vast realm would grow a variety of crops. Cotton would be grown in the northernmost regions; the Konkani coast would grow betel leaves, coconuts, rice and olives. Further inland, you could get tropical wood and incense. The minerals of the Deccan plateau provided copper and diamond deposits.

The Rashtrakuta kingdom was involved in westward trade, with Mesopotamia, Mazoun, Himyar, Egypt and the Mediterranean. You could even get Italian wine in the realm.

To the south of the Rashtrakuta was the Western Ganga kingdom, in southern Karnataka. While the kings were in majority patrons of all faiths in the region, that is Jainism, Shaivism, Brahmanism and Shaivnaism, the kings themselves were Jains, and Jainism would be the preferred religion, although southern India would lack the idea of religious zeal, familiar to the monotheist religions of the Occident.

Ultimately in the southwestern corner, on the Malabar Coast, was the realm of Keralaputra ruled by the Chera dynasty. The realm participated greatly in trade with the “Yavanas” or the Mediterranean world, mainly by exporting spices. This route also resulted in the establishment of Jewish and Christian communities. It is thought that the first group of Christians in the area was convert by the apostle Thomas, after whom the St. Thomas Christians are named. This community would be included under the jurisdiction of the Church of the East, also known as the Nestorian Church.

The arrival of Apostle Thomas roughly coincided with the time of the arrival of the first Brahmins to the region, who have followed already established Buddhist and Jain monks and preachers. The followers of Dravidian religion would gradually dwindle, as they would be converted to some of the more organized religions (1)

Across the strait, the Annarudhapura kingdom would rule the island of Ceylon. The kingdom would be Buddhist, with a strong position of the clergy. The kings would sponsor the Theravada school of Buddhism, and actively stopping the spread of the Mahayana denomination. Important was also the presence of the Tooth Relic of Buddha on the island.

Within the kingdom there would have been also followers of Hinduism, facing persecution from time to time, as well as a small community of Jains

The main agricultural product would have been rice, harvested in two seasons. The kingdom would export gems, spices, pearls and elephants. Cloth would have been imported from China and Eastern India, while wine, ceramics, silk would have been the major imports.

To the west of Ceylon lies a chain of coral atolls, known as the Maldives. The population there would have followed Buddhism, mainly the Theravada branch, but were also open to Mahayana and Vajrayana influences. Moreover, there seem to have been Hindu traditions continuing to lie on on the archipelago.

The vast majority of the Dhivehi were distantly related to the Sinhala of Ceylon, however, the population of some atolls, mainly Giraavaru, shows traits similar to the Dravidian peoples of southern India.

Northern India
The peninsula of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar is located in the Indian state of Gujarat; with some imagination, one can say that it is a mini-India, with the tip cut off. This area has been home to numerous statelets lasting throughout the ninth century, such as the Saindhava on the western coast, the Cara in the northwest and the remnant of the Chalukyas on the southern coast.

However, the dominating force in Gujarat, but not only Gujarat, but in all of the northern India became the Gurjara Pratihara Empire. Having defeated the Pala Empire on the middle and lower Ganges River, the Gurjara-Pratihara would now dominate the entire Ganges basin.

The Ganges Basin was by then populated by Mahayana, and to a lesser extent Tantric Buddhists. The university city of Nalanda was a major centre of education and knowledge throughout the Buddhist world. The region was known to be a home to many scholars. The Hindu traditions in the Ganges valley did not vanish completely; on the contrary, the area was the places where the epics of Mahabhrata and Ramayana were composed.

The lower Brahmaputra valley, that is, the region of Assam was organized as the Kamarupa kingdom. This was the easternmnost Indo-Aryan realm, which was mostly Hindu.

Further west was the area which would later come to be known as Bhutan. Populated by the Sino-Tibetan people, this region on the Himalayan foothills would not be yet unified into a single entity. Rather there would have numerous petty states, the most prominent of them being the Kingdom of Bhumthang. While keeping true to the ancient Bon traditions, the ideas of Buddhism, mainly the Mahayana sect would spread into the region. The people of Bhutan would go on to creat new sect , such as the Nyingmapa.

Even less could be said about the developments in Nepal. It may well be presumed that the realm was also predominantly Buddhist, as were the other realms in northern India.

Now heading far westwards into the Indus (or Sindh) valley (2). In the upper regions is the region known as Punjab. The area has been a mainly Buddhist region in the antiquity, known as Gandhara. However, gradually as dynasties changed and foreign invaders would take control of the region, Hinduism began gaining the upper ground. The Kabul Shahi dynasty now ruling over the entirety of Punjab was a Hindu one; however there was still significant Buddhist presence in the region.

The lower reaches of the Indus valley came under the rule of a Hindu Brahman dynasty. While the royalty themselves practised Brahminism, the majority populace would have been Buddhists. The Buddhist culture in the Indus valley showed influences not only from Hinduism, but also from Zoroastrianism and Greek philosophy (since the Indo-Greek kingdoms in the area).

(1) Nestorian presence in Kerala will be much larger than in OTL

(2) This will be quite tricky. Lets see what can be done out of this.

 

[Tomislav Addai]

As had been mentioned in the previous posts, Sogdiana in this period would have remained a federation of city states, under the suzerainty of various foreign rulers.

While the Sogdian city states would have placed themselves under the suzerainty of the Kouroshids, the newly emerging Radmanid Empire towards the end of the century would fail to subjugate the area.

Therefore, the remained Kouroshids would have tried to hold on to the regions of Sogdia, Ferghana and Khwarezm. Out of the pretenders, Bindu, who was a brother-in-law of the “true heir” managed to become the new ruler.

Thus one speaks of the rise of the Binduid dynasty, although technically they were a continuation of the Kouroshids. However, historians prefer to divide the two phases, for the Binduid phase saw a geopolitical and cultural change. Geopolitically, the empire was confined to Transoxania that is to Sogdiana, northern Bactria, Khwarezm and Ferghana. The royal court would accept this shift and Sogdian would become the language spoken at court.

From the linguistic point of view, Sogdian would predominate in the Binduid realm, being the prestige, liturgical and religious language of the region. Therefore, it would displace Khwarezmian and to a lesser extent Tukhari Bactrian in the southeast, especially in the urban and transitional regions. Khwarezmian, would however remain as a vernacular in the lower and middle Oxus valley; furthermore Bactrian would continue to be used especially by the Buddhists of the upper reaces of the valley in the region of Tukharistan.

Sogdiana would have become a major centre of civilization, of literature, science and education in the region. At this time, Sogdiana would have become the centre of the Manichean community worldwide. The Manicheans of Central Asia would view their western coreligionists as rather lax, and would call themselves Denawar, that is, believers. The importance of Sogdia as the core of the Manichean community became reflected by the Archegos or Qahna, or the Manichean Pope if you wish, when he relocated to Samarqand in the late ninth century.

While by the late ninth century, the religions were largely equal in Sogdia itself with 30% Manicheans, 25% Nestorians, 15% Zoroastrians, 12% Buddhists, 8% Syriac and 5% Jewish, with the remaining 5% being practitioners of other faiths, the situation would have changed during the ninth century.

Sogdian coins had some Chinese influences
As by the end of the century, he distribution of religion has changed within the Binduid realm somewhat. Manichean grows to almost a half of the population, according to some estimates around 45%. The proportion of Buddhists amounts to almost half of that, with some 21% possibly – this is caused by the addition of the Tukhari valleys on the Upper Oxus. The third most numerous religion in the realm is Nestorianism, having sunken to a mere 16%. Zoroastrianism decreased even more dramatically to some 8%; this was caused by quite a significant portion of Zorastrians converting to Manicheism, or to a great number of mixed marriages. Smaller parts of the population would go on to practise Judaism (3%), Tengriism and Jacobite Syriac Christianity (2% each), while the remainder would be immigrant faiths

Sogdian silk
Although the country was a monarchy, the lower levels of the state administration would not have been administered hereditarily. The topmost divisions, the satrapies, would have been governed a satrap chosen by the monarch. Those by turn would be divided into city-circuits or districts, which would have been administered in the form of a merchant republic. The region of Tokharistan would have been an exception to this pattern, as the satrapy itself would be divided into the counties of Saghaniyan, Kubadhiyan, Khuttal and Badakhshan, which would be ruled by the aristocracy.

The immediate eastern or northeastern neighbour of the Binduid Empire was the Karakhanid or Karluk Khanate. This realm could be found in the Zhetysu and the Balkash basin; and has managed to unify the disunited clans and tribes in the region.

While linguistically similar (all belonging to the Turkic linguistic family), this steppe empire had been religiously diverse; with some tribes like the Chigils being Nestorian Christians, while other tribes such as the Turgesh and the Yagma being Manichean. While many of the khans were Tengri, in practise there would have been much religious syncretism going on, as the Chigils were Nestorians and the Turgesh were mostly Manicheans. In the 870s, the Karluk khan had accepted baptism at the cathedral of Taraz and proclaimed it to be the state religion. This would have been largely accepted by the Tengriists, who would however not want to let go of their old faith, but the Manicheans would not at all tolerate this.

This would result in the Turgesh and Yagma revolting and overthrowing the Khagan. The new Khagan would be a Manicheist zealot himself and would seek to enforce Manicheism on his subjects.

To the southeast of the Karakhanid realm was the Tarim Basin, and the western reahes of the area were still independent as the Kingdom of Khotan; a largely Buddhist, Saka-speaking realm, using Gandhari Prakrit as a ceremonial language. Other realms in the area were the Saka kingdoms of Shule and Shanshan.

The northern parts of the Tarim basin, but also in the Dzungar basin was the Kingdom of Qocho. This was found after the dispersal of the Uyghurs and the fall of the Uyghur Khanate, which had dominated the Eastern Steppe.

Buddhist monks in Qocho
The Uyghur Khanate had been overthrown by the Yenisei Kirghyz, together with the Chinese imperial army. The ethnic Uyghur were dispersed; some would head south, eastablishing the Ganzhou Uyghur Kingdom in Gansu corridor; others would move westwards to the Tarim and Dzungar basin; to the area known to the Chinese as the Xinjiang.

The Uyghurs of Ganzhou would become to be known as the Yugur; they would live at the foothills of the Qilian Mountains, and practise mostly Manicheism, but also Buddhism.

The Yenisey Kirghyz would fail to form a unified empire; instead, each of the tribes, be they Kirghyz, Naiman, Kerait or Tatars would enjoy independence from one another.

Uyghur Khagan
But let us return to the fate of the Kingdom of Qocho. The Turkic Uyghur incomers would live side by side with local Arsian peoples. The Uyghurs in Qocho would have encountered a more advanced Buddhist civilization; and they would gradually abandon their own script, and adapt the alphabet of the local peoples, which would become known as the Old Uyghur Script. Chinese influences would be quite strong in the region; and Chinese language would be regarded as a prestige language, therefore also the Uyghur script would be written vertically under Chinese influence.

Manichean Uyghur Elect
The Manichean religion of the incomers was met with the Buddhist religion of the locals. This was complemented by Nestorian monks, who would have travelled along the Silk Road, building monasteries and schools, hospitals and churches and gaining followers. Despite a strong Buddhist presence, it was eventually contact along the Silk Road with Sogdians, who have been the decisive factor in retaining the Manichean identity of the Kingdom.

To the north of the Kingdom of Qocho remained the lands of the Nestorian Basmyls, who were guarding the Dzungar Gate, which is actually the most distant point from any ocean in the world.

Further westwards we have the Kimek-Cuman Confederation, also known simply as Cumania. Located between the Ob, Irtysh, Ural Rivers and Lake Balkash, this steppe empire roughly corresponds to the area which our readers may identify as Kazakhstan.

The Kimek-Cuman Confederation consisted of seven principal tribes. Two of them were of course the Kimek and the Cumans. Then we have the Bayandur, the Lanikaz, the Arjad, the Yamak and Tatars (sic).

Although founded by the Kimek, better known are the Cumans, also under the names as Kipchak or Polovtsian (to Slavic historians) people. The Kimek peoples inhabiting the eastern parts of the realm would have adopted Manicheism; the gross majority of the Kipchaks and the Cumans would however, remain Tengri.

The Kangar union on the Lower Jaxartes would have ceased to exist; its tribes would have migrated westwards to become knowns as the Pechenges, its lands being divided between the Karakhanids and the Oghuz Yagbus.

The Oghuz Yagbu State as a Turkic Nestorian realm continued to exist to the east of the Caspian Sea, also incorporating the lower Jaxartes regions as well. Its capital would have been transferred to the city of Yangikent on the lower Jaxartes.

The word Yagbu in itself meant an elected chief; that is that the leader of the entire confederation was to have been selected from among the leaders of the individual tribes or clans.

Looking now at the Western Steppe one can witness a weakening of Khazaria. The Khazars have lost practically all of their land east of the Itil River to the incoming Pechenegs; who would have held the lands between the Ural and the lower Itil Rivers.

However, we will stop here with the historical narrative; the Western Steppe would see some interesting developments and would interact with the European neighbours, so it will be the focus of some later update.

Rather, I shall use this space to explain the basics of Manicheism to the reader°,°as the religion has been mentioned quite often further above.

Manichaeism is one of the world’s major religions, originating in Mesopotamia. Mani himself originally belong to the Elcesaites, a Judeo-Christian sect. The religion itself could be either classified either as a Mazdan or Iranian religion, or be classified as a Gnostic religion; this could have been true in the early centuries of its existence; however in the ninth century, Manichaeism would have had much more followers than all the other Gnostic denominations put together.

Manichaism can be seen as the first rather successful attempt on creating a syncretic religion. Many himself admitted taking influences from Christianity, Zoroastrism and Buddhism; however the teachings of Jesus Christ, Zoroaster and Gautama Buddha were declared incomplete and the ultimate religion was to be the “Religion of Light”.

Left to right: Mani, Zoroaster, Buddha and Jesus
As for the basics, Manicheans believe in a Dualistic worldview. There is a realm of Light and a realm of Darkness; those being in constant struggle. This is an idea present in Zoroastrism as well. The material world would be considered evil, and the spiritual one the good one. Therefore, each person should seek to favour the interests of the spiritual to the needs of the flesh.

Worship of the Tree of Life in the Realm of Light
The creation is depicted as having the realms of Light (a peaceful blissful harmony) and Darkness (warlike anarchy) separate, with the Darkness invading the realm of Light. The realm of Light ultimately develops the ability to defend itself; and the world is created as a prison from the corpses of slain demons, but also it was to create a mechanism for the lost particles of the Light beings. The redemption of the fallen “Light” beings being the ultimate ends. Humanity is considered to be a creation of evil.

Humankind however could be salvated, and this mission began by Jesus the Splendour in the time of Adam, and would be carried on by several other prophets, although their messages would have been twisted. There are actually ttwo salvations: Salvation of the human soul, and salvation of the World Soul (liberation of the fallen Light) through human beings

Uyghur Manichean Electae from Qocho
What are the implications? Well the “elect” or clergy would be subject to vegetarianism, chastity, non-alcoholism, and forbidden to kill or hurt. The lay people would provide for the clergy, and were given more moderate commandments, esp. not to be miserly.

The Manichean faith would include five pillars, being, Commandments, Prayer, Alms,Fasting and Confession of Sins.

While Zoroastrians have a motto of “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds”, Manicheans would have a credo of “Love, Faith, Fear of God and Wisdom”.

The Manichean Commandments would be also ten:

1. Prohibition of idolatry

2. Purity of the mouth: no blasphemy, lying, slander etc.

3. No meat and fervented beverages

4. No denigration of prophets

5. Be faithful to your spouse. No sex during fasting

6. Help the needy and don’t be greedy

7. Don’t help lapsed Manicheans

8. Do not hurt not only humans, but also animals

9. Do not steal

10. No magical practices, potions etc.

Prayer was four times a day, at dawn, midday, sunset and after dark. Prayer was directed towards the Sun and Moon; if not visible then towards the Pole Star.

Manichaen Priests from the Tarim Basin
Alms meant providing for the “Elect” or clergy in the form of a tithe. Fasting was observed at Sundays, when even the laymen would be subject to the strict moral code of the “Elect”. Annually, there would also be a 30-day fast, terminanting with the celebration of Bema.

The Confession of Sins would take place on Mondays, for Hearers (laymen) and Elect (clergy) alike. The grand confession would be at the end of the fast, with a collective confession of sins committed throughout the year.

The liturgical year was divided to commemorate the major phases of Manis life: birth, call of the angel, dispatch of the prophet, passion and death, and martyrdom of first apostles. The greatest festival would be Bema (comparable to Christian Easter in its nature) The month-long Manichean fast would extend from 8Feb to 8 March

 

[Tomislav Addai]

Scandinavia: The Homeland of the Vikings

The developments in Scandinavia during the ninth century would have been felt in a large part of Europe. The Jutish peninsula, the Danish islands, the firths of the Norwegian coast and the forests and clearings in Scania, Gotaland and Sweden would have been populated by North Germanic peoples, known to the outsiders as the Vikings.

The word Viking was used by the peoples on the other banks of the Noth Seas to relate to the dwellers of the firths; in the east, where the Old Norse would be more merchant-adventurers then looters and raiders they would be known mainly as Ruotsi (from the word to row), thus meaning sea people (hence the word Rus). Another name relating to them was Varangians, meaning oathbound, for many Varangians would form the Varangian Guard, a personal bodyguard of the Rhomaic Emperor.

Historians speak of a “Viking Age” in Northern Europe, caused by a demographic expansion in Scandinavia, resulting in overpopulation. This resulted in mercantile and military expansion, which was often demonstrated to the maritime populations under the form of Viking raids.

As for the Danes, they have already established themselves as a kingdom on the Jutland peninsula, on the Danish island and in Scania. Quite often, they have been at odds with their southern neighbours the Saxons, who had been crushed by Charlemagne. To defend themselves against the Saxons, they had built a border wall called Danevirke; this border defence would have been expanded and reinforced after the incorporation of Saxony to Francia.

Further northeast was the realm of the Geat, also known as Gotaland, extending from Goteborg to the islands of Gotland and Oland. Around Lake Malaren and in the region of Uppsala was the petty kingdom of Svealand; on the western side of the Scandinavian mountians, on the Atlantic and North Sea coast with many firths was the realm of Norway.

As for the large areas of Scandinavia roughly north of the Uppsala-Trondheim line, those areas would have remained unoccupied by Norse, and inhabited by the Sámi peoples, who would have lived as reindeer herdsmen. To the Norse, their northern neighbours would have been known as Kvens, and the area as Kvenland.

Havoc in Britain
The British Isles would have been one of the first targets of the raiding Norsemen. The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms would have fallen one after the other, with Northumbria falling (with a rump kingdom persisting in Lothian), followed by Mercia. The lands ruled by the Vikings would come to be known as the Danelaw.

This would reduce the zone of Anglo-Saxon dominance to a line running roughly from Chester to London, to a region comprising Wessex, southwestern Mercia, Sussex and Kent. This would have given the Brythonic populace some breathing space. Unfortunately, however, this also the period of the of the Latinate Brittanic language in the area of Verulamium; a small latinate population of around 15 000 people would continue to survive in the southern border regions with Wales. That peninsula would have remained still disunited throughout the entire century.

As for the Danelaw, a large part of its people would flee to Saxon-held lands. With a stronger Frankish Empire, not having to fight Muslims, the Vikings would give up raiding Francia and would focus more on England; therefore, Yorkshire will have much more Danish presence than OTL.

In Ireland, the Vikings would have raided the coasts, and establish numerous coastal cities as maritime bases, such as Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford.

As for the northern part of the British Island, known to the Romans as Caledonia, one could all but wonder how there could be such a diverse population north of the Hadrian Wall. There was the remnant of Northumbria in Lothian; then you had a Cumbric to its west (the old realm of Strathclyde). The coastal areas in the southwestern corner would have however been populated by a mixed population of Vikings and Irish, or Gall-Gaidel as they would have called themselves. This would be simplified later to the form of Galloway. Further northwards the Scots of DalRiata and the Picts of Fortriu would have united themselves in the 840s, thus creating a kingdom of Alba. The core of Alba was the North Sea coast, for the western coast had been overrun by Vikings. The local populace, a mix of Norse and Gaels, would have organized themselves into two realms: the Yarldom of Orkney and the Lordship of the Isles, based around the Isle of Man

Exploration of the Northern Sea
The Norse had already reached the Orkney, Shetland and Faroes by the 800s, displacing, enslaving or mixing with the local Gaelic and Pictish population, with many Gaelic hermits known as Papar.

Modern reconstruction of the Viking Knarr

The Norse arrival to Iceland is traditionally been dated to 874 AD. Previous Gaelic inhabitants of Iceland were known as the Papar and have settled the peninsula of Reykjanes at hafnir and on the Vestmanneyrar Island off the southwestern coast. The first Norse settlements would have been established at Husavik and Bardharstrom.

The settlers were not Norwegians, at least not all of them. While some of them would have been dissidents to King Harald Fairhair of the newly unified Norway, others would have been Swedes, but many more would have been Irish or Scots ; quite a few would have been Norse-Gaels. It is likely that the Scottish and Irish would have arrived unvoluntarily as thralls and serfs, while the Norse would have been the ruling population.

The Norse have not reached Greenland just yet.

Founding of Rus
Varangian (that is) Swedish merchants would discover trade routes leading to the southern seas: to the Black Sea, giving access to trade with the Rhomaic Empire via the Dnieper, Daugava and Vistula rivers, and to the Caspian through the Itil or Volga river.

They would establish a network of trade posts, such as Holmsgardr (Novgorod), Aldeijuborg (Old Ladoga), Pallteskja (Polotsk), Smalleskja (Smolensk),Súrsdalar (Suzdal), Móramar (Murom) and Radhstofa (Rostov). Collectively they would have been known to the Varangians as the Gardhariki. That was not to be viewed as the unified state of Kievan Rus just yet, but rather as a cultural area of East Slavic settlement. Varangians would be engaged in trade, piracy and serving as mercenaries.

The Varangians are likely to have ruled the area around Kiev and Holmgardr under the name of the Rus Khaganate. This early state, with also Khazar influences (such as using the trident tagma, or the title of the Khagan) was however overthrown in 862 by a rebellion of both Slavic and Chudic (Baltic Finnic) peoples. All of the major settlements would have been burnt.

Soon however the tribes failed agree with each other and strife would occur. Thus he tribes invited the Varangians to come and rule them, to restore order and peace. The Varangians would thus return and under the leadership of Hrorekr (Rurik) establish a principality at Holmgardr (Novgorod). Trade would have shifted once more from the Itil trade route (because of decline of the Khazars and havoc in Persia?) to the Dnieper

Monument to Hrorekr and Helgi and Ladoga
Upon his death Hrorekr would be succeeded by Helgi (Oleg), who would unite the majority of the East Slavic lands, or at least their core by conquering the rival city-state of Kiev, which however becomes his new capital. Thus one can start talking about the state of Kievan Rus.

Kievan Rus must not be viewed as a precedent to Muscovy, no. Musocvy was a Slavic, Orthodox state, with Tatar influences and Merya substratum. Kievan Rus was a pagan tribal confederation or chiefdom, with a Varyag nobility or upperclass, an East Slavic, but also Finnic population of Izhorans, Votes, Veps and Chudes. Moreover, there would have also been Baltic Galindians in the realm, although by now mostly assimilated. Muscovy was geopolitically based on the tributaries of the Volga, Rus was based on the north-south axis from Holmgardr to Kiev, thus connecting norse Scandinavia with, and open to, Rhomaic influences.

By 874 however, the Rus welcomed some disciples of Cyril and Methodius; and an Archbishop of Rus, residing in Kiev was consecrated.

Rival to the Rus, the Varyags trading on the Itil trade route have prompted the consolidation of a more centralized tribal realm among the Merya. Its capital is Arsa, and the location has a great number of artifacts pointing to native Merya presence, especially beaver-themed objects. On the other hand, Runic inscriptions also hint Varyag presence. The principality was located in the Upper Valley and from there to the border of the Middle Oka basin. This Merya State, will, due to butterflies, a slightly more prosperous Iran and my personal sympathy to the Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia continue to play an important role in the region.

Balticum
The southern and eastern banks of the Baltic Sea would also see some more development. In Esthonia e.g., the population in this period increased dramatically, and several forts with wooden palisade have been built.

In Pomerania, Slavic tribes had been in contact with their Germanic northern neighbours ever since their settlement in the region. Scandinavian trade posts had been larger than the early Slavic ones, which would have been built in their vicinity. Major Scandinavian trade posts in the Mecklenburg region would include Reric, Dierkow and Haithabu; in Pomerania it would be Wolin, Ralswiek, Menzlin and at Kolberg. Wolin is thought to have been identical with Jomsburg, the legendary base of the Jomsviking



Viking stone ships in Pomerania

Scandinavian settlements would have also been set up in the regions of the Baltic tribes: at Truso (near Elblang) and Krup/ Viskiautian (at the southwestern end of the Curonian lagoon) among the Prussians and at Grobin in Curonia (until the mid-ninth century, when the Curonians rebelled and destroyed the Gotland colony).

Major exports from the Baltic coast would include amber; one would trade also livestock, horses, honey, wax and salt. Linen, iron and silver would be used for payments, with iron in the form of small daggers and silver in the form of coins. Of course one must not forget that Viking raids in the area had a primary motif of acquiring slaves.

From the political point of view, one can witness the emergence of more organized tribal chiefdoms, among the Pomeranians, with the Obodrites in Meckhlenburg and around Ljubica (Luebeck), Veletis in Brandenburg and West Pomeranian, Rani on the Ruegen, and Kashubia between the lower Oder and Vistula.

The Baltic tribes would not have been so organized as the Pomeranians, with larger tribal chiefdoms of the Prussians, Sudovians, Samogitians, Polochians and mainly Curonians

 

[Tomislav Addai]

Caucasus

The Caucasian Mountains are sometimes perceived as the border separating the European and Asian continents. To the south of these mountains is the area drained by the Kura and the Araxes rivers, by the Rioni, which is known as the southern Caucasus.

The kingdom of Apkhazeti, known to Rhomaic sources as Lazica and to most of us as Abkhazia, would continue to maintain its independence on the eastern shore of the Pontic Sea, beneath the ridges of the Caucasus, to encompass Sukhumi, but also Mingrelia, Imereti and Guria. With its capital at Kutaisi, this kingdom would have remained open to Rhomaic cultural and ecclesiastical influences.

For the Kartvelian regions on the upper Kura valley, the area would have underwent both periods of fragmentation, but also integration. Notably, king Adarnase IV would unify the eastern Kartvelan regions, including the duchies of Tao-Klarjeti, of Kakheti and Javakheti held as appanages and duchies, as powerful landed vassals. This inland Georgian state was under the ruler of the Bagrationi dynasty, with its own autocephalous church under the Catholicosate of Mtskheta; ths jurisdiction would have also been expanded to include Apkhzeti during the later half of the ninth century. Thus the Catholicosate of Colchis would have been merged with Catholicosate of Mtskheta, unifying the Kartvelian linguistic space in the context of canonical jursidictions

The region of Iberia and Abkhazia would by no means have been linguistically unified. Iberian or Georgian would have dominated the Iberian realm; Lazic would be spoken in Tao-Klarjeti and by Kartvelian speakers in Rhomaic lands; a distinct Kartvelian language would have been spoken in Svaneti, and Mingrelian would have been spoken on the Pontic coast. Furthermore, there would have been speakers also of other Caucasian languages in the area, as well as Rhomaic and Armenian merchants

The Kingdom of Armenia could be found to the south of the Iberian (yes, Iberia is the name under which inland Georgia has been known) realm. Armenia in this period would have mostly been unified as a state under the Bagrationi dynasty. Smaller independent duchies and counties would exist in Syunik, Artsakh and Vaspurakan; and to the west of the borders of Bagrationi Armenia, the followers of the dualistic Gnostic Paulician sect would have established their own state around Tephrike.

The Bagratouni Armenian kingdom would have been located in the valleys of the upper Araxes and the upper Euphrates. The mountainous terrain would have meant a challenge to a centralized state, and the area would actually be ruled inderctly by local aristocracy.

Most of the Paulicians would have been ethnic Armenians, who would have lived in the mountainous borderlands in the eastern part of the Rhomaic Empire; the Paulicians have assimilated by this time the followers of another Gnostic movement, the Archontics.

The Paulician State around Tephrike and in the regions south was by definition hostile to the neighbouring Rhomaic Empire; should the empire be on its offensive, it would have been quite an early target for the empire to invade. The hilly landscape was thus heavily fortified, with many castles appearing in inaccessible terrain. Of course, the Paulician state would have been run as a theocratic realm, ruled by the leaders of the Paulician sect.

Tephrike, the Paulician capital

To the east of Armenia lay the Aghbanian realm. Aghbania would have been under a large cultural influence from neighbouring Armenia, although the area had been vassal to the Khazars. Most of the inhabitants of the inland regions, that is of the Kura and Araxes valleys and plains would have been actually Miaphysites, belonging to the Church of Aghbania, while the coastal areas, mainly the Apsheron peninsula, was inhabited primarily by Tats, an Iranian people, practicising Zurvanism.

Across the ridge of the High Caucasus lie the vast expanses of the Pontic-Caspian steppe. Most of the western steppe would have been continued to be dominated by the Turkic Oghur Khazars, while the areas between the lower Itil River and the Ural River would be roamed by the Cumans, known also as the Polovtsi. Near the source of the Itil River would have been the lands of the Bashkirs, and from there northwestwards was the kingdom of Boulgaria, near the estuary of the Kama River into the Itil.
Volga Boulgaria would have commanded much of the trade between the Varangians, the Khazars and the Permian peoples. Indeed, the city of Bulgar was a major fur market and also a contact point for the Uralic tribes. As for the ethnic makeup of the Bolgarian population, the majority would have been Turkic, with some Uralic admixture as well. The Oghur Turkic tribes were: Sabir, Barsil, Bilar ,Balanjar; also Uralic tribes of Esegel and Paskatir.

The Khazar khanate would be in a decline by the late ninth century, with its major settlements being on the coast of the Caspian (or as it was known back then, the Khazar) Sea. These would include Semender, Balanjar and Derbent. The cities of Atil (1), Sarkel and Tana (2) would have been major Khazar cities on the river banks, serving also as administrative and military centers, but also as major trade posts.

Apart from the dominating Khazars, there would have been also many Armenian merchant sliving in the cities, mainly in Atil and the Daghestani coast, the western parts not so much, who would have established a major foothold of Miaphysite chrisitianity in the realm. The Alans dwelling on the northern foothills of the Caucasus, along with the Cricassians, would have become a major target for Rhomaic missionaries. The western borders of Khazaria would remain on the lower Dnieper, with Khazaria controlling also the greater part of Crimea; populated mostly by Orthodox Crimean Goths, an eastern Germanic people.

Khazars art
The Khazars had allowed Variags to sail through their lands and raid other countries further south, on condition with sharing the loot. While this arrangement was alright for the time being, who knows for how long will the Rus and the Khazars be able to cooperate.

West of the Khazars, between the lower Dnieper and the Dniester rivers would be the land of the Pechenegs. They were a people closely related to the Khazars, and in their westward movement, they expelled the Magyars living in the area previously.

The Rhomaic Emperors sought to get the newly displaced Magyars, a Finno-Ugric people dwellin g previously in the same lands the Pechenegs have conquered, to attack the biggest Rhomaic headache in the Balkans, called Bulgaria.

With strong Rhomaic border defences on the Haemos (3) Mountains, the Bulgarian state was restricted to the lower Danube basin that is Lower Moesia, Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania.

The late ninth century was marked by the rule of Boris I. (852-889). Careful manoevering would have allowed Boris to assert autocephaly; all Rhomaic preists were banished, and Slavic priests, exiled from Moravia would be welcomed. Furthermore, Italian missionaries from Benevento would have been invited to Bulgaria as well, establishing themselves mainly in the region of Oltenia.

Boris welcoming the disciples of Cyril and Methodius
As a result of the proximity of Rhomaic borders, the location of the capital at Pliska is changed for Severin, lying at the Iron Gate of the Danube at the Danube gorge. This change of the capital city means also a shift in the cultural indetity of the Bulgarian state. Severin is located actually at the center of the Vlach ethnic region – should there be any other city in the Bulgarian realm with more East Romance speakers that would possibly have been Vidin. Such a decision would be in stark contrast to adopting Church Slavonic

Thus Bulgaria would become known in Latin documents as “Regnum Bulgarorum et Blachorum”, with the Bulgars being the Slavic inhabitants of the realm, and the Vlachs being the eastern Romance peoples inhabiting the country. The Slavs would have by now mostly assimilated the Turkic population, and populate the lowland region of Moesia, Walachia and Moldavia, as well as the Transylvanian basin. The Vlachs would dominate the region of Dacia Ripense, Oltenia and the valleys of the Carpathian Mountains.

The Western Balkans continue to be a rather disunited region, fragmented into the realms of Rashka (Serbia) Duklia (Montenegro), Pagania (Herzegovina) and Croatia, which would by now unify the lands from Lika to the Bosna River.

The lands between the Sava and the Drava would have been known as Savia, or Pannonian Croatia, and be a vassal of East Francia.

Ultimately there was the realm of Moravia. With its core at the Moravia and Váh basins, this early West Slavic State would halt Frankish eastward expansion. Although not pagans anymore, King Rastislav sought to end continuous Frankish interference by putting a halt to Frankish influence among the clergy. This was stopped by the Rhomaic mission of Saint Cyril and Methodius, who would have established an independent Slavic liturgy, while remaining under the jurisdiction of Rome.

This was changed by his successor Svätopluk, who favoured Latin liturgy, and achieved great military glory in expanding the borders of the realm, to incorporate Bohemia, Pannonia, Vistulia, Silesia and Sorbia.

However, after his death, the realm fell into a succession crisis and a civil war between Mojmír II. And Svätopluk II. The Magyars would take advantage and seize the Pannonia basin…

Magyar Blood oath

(1) Near Astrakhan

(2) Near Azov

(3) Balkan

 

[Tomislav Addai]

Here we can see the forms of the organization of society throughout Afro-Eurasia in 900AD

1. Tribal: Tribal organization prevails in most of the settled areas on the fringes of civilization; most of the tribally organized peoples would be pagans, and their realms would be based around hillforts and led by chieftains. Tribal areas would include by this time the entirety of the Baltic Sea basin, Scandinavia, the Uralic and East Slavic speaking area, extending into parts of Siberia as well.
   1. Clan-based (light brown/beige) : Sami and Uralic/ Siberian
   2. Chiefdoms: (dark brown) much of Sahel, Slavic and Baltic Europe
2. Nomadic (golden): Nomadic pastoralism is dominant across the Eurasian Steppe. Taking advantage of empty land to feed their herds, and live in mobile yurts. Internal dynamics are between various clans.
3. Caste(purple): The caste system of India is thought to be a rather strict version of feudalism, closely connected to the Hindu religion. While the it is noblemean and monarchs who effectively rule the country, it is the priestly caste (brahmins) who hold the highest social respect
4. Eranshahr(orange): The social structure based on the principles of the ancient Sassanid Empire, now prevailing in Mihranid Persia and Media as well. Within this form of government, there is an absolute fusion church and state, and a state organized religion. The Eranshahr also used bureaucratic and feudal elements as well. The society is thus organized around castles and cities.
5. Imperia(purple)l: The Imperial government is that of the former Roman Empire, now present only in Rhomania. The government combines bureaucratic and feudal elements, yet unlike Eranshahr there remains a certain amount of division between church and state. While the society is increasingly militarised and castles paky a significant role, urban centers remain nevertheless dominant.
6. Bureaucracy(green): Bureaucratic governments rely on nonelected appointed officers who administer parts of their realm in the name of the sovereign and are appointed for a fixed amount of time, or can be replaced immediately.
7. Feudal (blue) : The feudal system emerged in Western Europe in the aftermath of Germanic conquests. The land is distributed to heriditary noblemen who then provide troops and loyalty. Thus form of government dominates Francia and much of western Europe.
8. Republic(pink): The republican form of government is that where the ruler is elected amongst eligible members of the citizenry. In many cases, the republics have developed into a form of oligarchy, dominated by trade and plutocratic merchants. Such a government can be seen in the coastal cities of Phoenicia, in Palmyra and in Somalia
   
9. Theocracy(white): Theocratic governments ruled by the clergy include the Papacy, Mazoun (Oman) and the Paulician State in Anatolia
   1. Monastic:none
   2. Holy Orders (not yet present)
10. Hierocratic (hieros+aristocratic) The monarch relies on both the clergy and the bureaucracy to administer the realm. Militaristic nobility do not own any significant portion of land, and civic and military organization are strictly separated. Present in Egypt.

 

[Tomislav Addai]

Do you guys also want some commentary? Colurs same as before, using TURCS

 

[Tomislav Addai]

So I used the colour scheme for THICC expanded version to draw the culture map... The major linguistic families played out quite well, the banches as Germanic or Romance are not clearly distinguishable

 

[Tomislav Addai]

The Amorian dynasty was succeeded by the Macedonians on the Rhomaic throne. The Macedonian dynasty rose to power under Basil I. It has given the empire a series of capable rulers, who have managed to reconquer many lost territories.

The reign of Basil I. (867-886) has been marked by struggle with the Paulicians, who had fortified themselves in Tephrike in Anatolian Mesopotamia.

Leo VI paying homage to Lord Jesus Christ
His heir Leo VI reigned between 886 and 912. His immediate concern were the northern borders with Bulgaria; however in the subsequent war he was defeated and had to make concessions. While defeated on the northern front, Leo pressed hard on several other border regions of the empire as well. In the southeast, he utterly defeats the Paulicians in 902 and conquers the theocratic state of the Paulicians, which has caused many frowns and worries to the empire.

The securing of the eastern frontier is also tied to further consolidation of imperial domain in Syria: full integration of the County of Tripoli in 901 and conquest of the Beqaa Valley around Zahle at the upper Orontes in 903, effectively threatening the independence of the Phoenician merchant republics.(1)

Leo is also remembered as a lawgiver; for he has had the Codex Iustinianus translated from Latin to Greek : the result would be known as Basilika. Not only has the Roman law been translated, but Novels (new law) was established to deal with urgent issues, such as prohibiting fourth marriages; but also abolishing inherited obsolete institutions such as the Curiae, the Consulate or the Senate, still de iure existing.

Church in Larnaca: an example of Rhomaic architecture from the reign of Leo VI.
Leos interest in public affairs also resulted in the composition of Klerotologion, seeking to establish order in the rather complex court titles at the Rhomaic imperial palace. The Klerotologion establishes rules of protocol at imperial banquets, the order of the dignitaries and foreign ambassadors. The Klerotologion is however under the shadow of a later work De Ceremoniis by Porphyrogenetos.

His understanding of economy and trade can be studied in the Book of the Eparch; military affairs are described in a work of his known as the Tactica. This work would later serve as an inspiration or manual for many generals who would rise during the Rhomaic “Age of Reconquest”. (2)

Due to his many academic and theoretical treatises, he is remembered in history as Leo the Wise; he was briefly succeeded by Alexander reigning for a year, before the Sceptre was handed over to Constantine VII. Porphyrogennetos.

Constantine VII

In the form of Constantine VII. (913-959), the empire got a well-versed scholar and a reformer. In the early years of his reign, that is, during the regency, Rhomaic troops manage to achieve a brilliant victory against Bulgaria; pushing the border northwards towards the Danube, incorporating the former province of Lower Moesia, which becomes known in the Empire as Paristrion.

Constantine VII is also known to be the author of two great treatises: De Ceremoniis and De Administrando Imperio.

From the political point of view, De Administrando Imperio was much more interesting: it spoke of the histories and character of the empire´s neighbouring peoples, such as the Turks, Pechenegs, Rus´, South Slavs, Arameans, Egyptians, Lombards, Armenians and Georgians. The book makes a manual on how to deal with the nations surrounding the Empire, especially the “Scythian” that is Eurasian nomad hordes. Furthermore it makes a geographic and historical overview of the empires neighbours. The second part deals with events going on in the provinces of the Empire; these would have been considerably reformed under Constantine VII.

The Empire was now reorganized into Dioceses; each being relatively large, around the size of a kingdom in its own right. The Dioceses would be further subdivided into prefectures or nomos; these would be county-tier areas

These Dioceses would be headed by vicar or Katepanos, chosen by the Diocesan Council. One third of the council would be made by the delegates of the various prefectures, another third consisted of the "estates"- amongst them commanders of the local garrisons, important noble families, church hierarchy, representatives of the cities, and one third consisted of imperial nominees.

So you are quite curious of how the dioceses would look, right? Well take a look here:

The city of Constantinople is outside of any diocesan structure; it is administered separately as the Magistrate of Constantinople. As for the rest here we go:

1. Diocese of Thrace Capital: Hadrianople

2. Diocese of Macedonia Capital: Thessaloniki

3. Diocese of Bithynia Capital: Nicomedia

4. Diocese of Asiana Capital: Ephesus

5. Diocese of Anatolikon Capital: Ikonium

6. Diocese of Pontus Capital: Trebizond

7. Diocese of Epeiros Capital: Nicopolis

8. Diocese of Dacia Capital: Naissus

9. Diocese of Paristrion Capital: Dulostorum

10. Diocese of Taurika Capital: Chersones

11. Diocese of Antioch Capital: Antioch

12. Diocese of Cilicia Capital: Tarsus

13. Diocese of Osroene Capital: Edessa

14. Diocese of Syria Capital: Aleppo

15. Diocese of Italy Capital: Taranto

16. Diocese of Crete Capital: Chandax?

The Exarchate of Africa is practically outside of this structure; it has been independent for quite some time in all but name; and the Exarchs of Africa would have very well liked to have taken control over Sicily and Calabria. The Diocese of Antioch, Cilicia, Osroene and Syria would have been combined into one diocese of Syria in the first drafts. However, the Emperor decided to cut it into smaller pieces in order to prevent such a large whole to be united under one ruler (coupist potential), but also to acknowledge the diverse ethnic makeup of the region. For Osroene and Syria would be predominantly Aramaic-speaking; a sizeble Armenian presence would be in Cilicia. Furthermore Macedonia, Paristrion and Dacia would have been populated mainly by Vlachs, that is, Eastern Romance speakers; Paristrion would have also a sizeable Slavic Bulgarian population. Northern Epirus would be home to “Illyrians”, that is, Albanians; yet unmentioned are the Isaurian and Phrygian speakers of Anatolikon. Of course, the Diocese of Italy would also have had more “Latin” speakers than Greek ones. Such was the makeup of the languages in the empire.

In 953 Constantine would have his armies prepare for war. His goal: establish a Rhomaic foothold in Egypt. His aim would be to strike from the naval bases in Sicily and Calabria to seize Cyrenaica; the Aegean navy would hit upon the Nile Delta, while the Cypriot and Cilician fleet would strike on the Palestinian coast. The issue was, well that Egypt, since the ascendance of Vahram of Alexandria, who sought to establish Egypt as a Mediterranean power.

Egypt, controlling by this time major outposts on the Red Sea, as well as the Palestinian coast up to Mount Carmel, was prospering due to trade with India, and building itself a proper fleet.

The Rhomaic invasion was launched as planned; yet the Egyptians had made an alliance with Tracađu (3), the Exarch of Africa; and the Phoenician city states. Thus, following the initial successful disembarkment at Cyrenaica, the Rhomaic troops were forced to defend the island of Sicily,in what they failed to do so. The Rhomaic army manages also Damietta and Pelusim, two major forts in Lower Egypt, and proceeds to attack Alexandria. Meanwhile, Israel “backstabs” Egypt by seizing the Palestinian coast; with the Exception of Gaza, which is conquered by the Rhomaic Empire. With the conquest of Alexandria, Rhomaic troops go on to occupy the entire Nile Delta. At this point, Egypt surrenders

The resulting peace has Tafirca becoming formally independent, and acquiring the western half of the island of Sicily; the Hellenophone eastern part remains in Rhomaic hands. Cyrenaic coast, as well as the coastline until Alexandria is annexed by the Empire, as well as Gaza and the northern coast of Sinai. Israel is allowed to keep its Mediterranean coast, at least for now… Egypt is now cut off all of its Mediterranean influence, and has become effectively a Rhomaic vassal. The Egyptian state itself however would not be fully annexed; indeed the Emperors have no interest in doing so. Rather, give Egypt full control over their internal affairs, yet establish them as a tributary state to the mighty Rhomaic Empire. However, now Rhomaic rulers are more careful than their predecessors, and direct imperial control is established in Alexandria.(4)



(1) The sack of Thessalonica by Leo of Tripoli doesn’t happen, well due to butterflies. Therefore, the city manages to play a larger role in the empire, and the Rhomaic positions in the Balkans are therefore stronger.

(2) In OTL, Tactica would contain Leo´s ideas regarding the adoption of the idea of “holy war” in Christianity as a response to muslim Jihad. Without that, no such idea arises.

(3) Tafircan for Arcadius

(4) As for the administrative purposes, Cyrenaica is merged with Crete into Creta et Cyrenaica, with its capital being in Cyrenaica. The OTL Marsa Matrouh province is added into this jurisdiction as well, while Alexandria becomes a magistrate, that is has a status akin to Constantinople; Gaza and northern Sinai are organized as a Diocese of Palestina.

 

[Tomislav Addai]

In this update, I shall cover heirs of Constantine VII, and then I shall speak more of the the functioning of the Rhomaic state during the ninth century.

Conquest of the Levant
Constantine VII was succeeded by his son Romanos II. (945-959). While he himself was a rather hedonistic ruler, marrying an innkeepers daughter called Anastaso; and he left the matters of the state in hands of competent ministers: the military was under the command of his brother Leo and Nicephoros Phocas. Nicephoros originated from Cappadocia.

Nicephoros Phocas sought to stablish full Rhomaic control over the Eastern Mediterranean; so that it would have been a Rhomaic Mare Nostrum. The only opposing force were the Phoenician city-states of Beirout and Tyre and the County of Galilee. In 960, the campaign against Phoenicia began; a brilliant naval victory to the southeast of Cyprus, followed by a land invasion from Tripoli very well ended with the Phoenician republics. The Counts of Galilee, seeing the winning side accepted Rhomaic suzerainty after the fall of Berytos.

After the death of Romanos II., the imperial office passes into the hands of Nicephoros II. Phocas, reigning from 963 to 969. Nicephoras would have liked to “tidy up” the western borders of the Empire. This would have meant the consolidation of imperial holdings in Italy: especially irritating was the existence of the Duchy of Salerno, cutting off Naples, Calabria and Apulia from each other. The second issue in the west was the divided island of Sicily; this should be united as soon as possible under the Rhomaic banner.

The liquidation of the Duchy of Salerno was no big deal: rather it could be well described as large-scale military manoever. Diplomatically, Salerno has gained support from Otto, the German emperor in the north, however it was too far off for the Germans to intervene, before having to acknowledge fait accompli.

From 964 to 965 Nicephoras decided to strike eastwards once more: to conquer Aram and Nabatea, ruled by the Yabroudid dynasty from Damascus. This campaign was rather successful, for the Yabroudid dynasty could only hope for their allies in Hejaz; the Syriac kingdom in Gozarto dared not to provoke the wrath of the Empire unto themselves. Nicephoras promised Palmyra some territorial gains in the desert regions should they join him in the war, as well as more commercial opportunities. To this they agreed, and thus the Rhomaic empire could rely on masters of desert warfare to counter the Yabroudids.

The heir of Nicephoros Phocas was John I. Tzimiskes (969-976), of Armenian descent, from the region of Cappadocia.

Tzimiskes turned the attention of imperial troops northwards, doing away with the independence of Serbia (Rashka) in the Morava valley. In 972, he once more took the army to the Levant, and waging war on the sole independent kingdom on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean: Israel. The Samaritans and Jews and Ebionites would put up a heavy resistance in the mountains and the desert, with skirmishes and guerrilla tactics used frequently by the defenders. The Rhomaic army, on their part, would have won battles in the open and secured major cities.

The newly conquered areas of the Levant were automatically incorporated into the Diocesan structure of the Empire. The whole region was rearranged, esulting in the following structure:

· Diocese of Cilicia (Tarsus)

· Magistrate of Antioch

· Diocese of Syria (Beroea)

· Diocese of Osroene (Edessa)

· Diocese of Phoenicia (Tyre)

· Diocese of Aram (Emesa)

· Diocese of Palestina (Akko)

After Tzimiskes, the Empire would receive again a very capable ruler named Basil II. (1)….To be featured in some other update

(1) Not named Bulgar slayer, because, well the job has been done before already

State Administration
In the Rhomaic Empire, one can view three major institutions, each with their own territorial organization: the State, the Church and the Military. The unity of the empire is however, best manifested in the person of the Emperor.

The Emperor himself would be titled Basileus in all major occasions. Sometimes, the emperors would use the title Porphyrogennetos, to emphasize their legitimacy (meaning born in purple) and Autokrator meaning self-ruler.

The sons of the emperor would bear the title Despotes, meaning Lord. This would not have any territorial connections to it however.

Equivalent to the Frankish majordomus was the Rhomaic kouropalates, literally the one who takes care of the running of the palace. This position was of great prestige, and should the Emperor have other issues he is dealing more urgently with, the responsibility to solve the daily affairs would most likely be upon the kouropalates.

The State administration, or civil administration has been reformed by Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos. The Empire itself was divided into Dioceses, headed by a Vicar , which would further be divided into “nomos” or prefectures. Each Diocese would also have a council of its own, to deal with local affairs, as advisory body to the Vicar.

The Military was also structured territorially. Parallel to the diocesan structure of civil administration, there would exist a theme system: the themes would have been military districts which were tied to specific military units. The districts would be replentishment and recruitment zones; their borders were drawn so, that they do not match the borders of the Dioceses, as to prevent a rebellion.

As for the Church, of course, the State-sanctioned denomination was the Chalcedonian Church. With the reconquests of the Macedonian dynasty, the Empire would once more get a substantial population of non-Chalcedonian denominations.

The core regions of the Empire would be included under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, with its southern border being at the ridges of the Taurus Mountains. The subordinate Metropolitans to Constantinople would be, as follows:

a. Kaisareia

b. Ephesus

c. Herakleia

d. Ankyra

e. Kyzikos

f. Sardis

g. Thessalonica

h. Nikomedeia

i. Nikaia

j. Chalkedon

k. Korinthos

l. Side

m. Sebasteia

n. Amasia

o. Athinai

p. Tyana

q. Gangra

r. Klaudiopolis

s. Neokaisareia

t. Pessinous

u. Myra

v. Patras

w. Staroupolis

x. Laodikeia

y. Synnada

z. Ikonion

aa. Antiocheia in Pisidia

bb. Perge

cc. Larissa

dd. Philippopolis

ee. Traianopolis

ff. Rhodos

gg. Adrianoupolis

hh. Hierapolis

ii. Choniai

jj. Kotyaion

kk. Trebizond

ll. Serrai

mm. Philippoi

nn. Neupaktos

oo. Thebes

pp. Gortyn

qq. Philippopolis

rr. Dristra

ss. Naissus

tt. Akrid

uu. Dyrrhacion

vv. Tarentum

ww. Hagia Severina

xx. Rhegium

yy. Catania

zz. Syrakusa

aaa. Rus´

bbb. Servia

Furthermore, the majority of the Levant, as well as Armenia would come under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Antioch.

a. Seleukia in Isauria

b. Anazarbos

c. Tarsus

d. Beroia

e. Laodikeia ad Mare

f. Edessa

g. Hierapolis

h. Apamea

i. Edessa

j. Tyre

k. Berythos

l. Tripoli

m. Mopsuestia

n. Damascus

o. Constantia on Cyprus

p. Bostra

The Greek Patriarchate of Alexandria would be restored to a large degree after the incorporation of Cyrenaica and Alexandria to the Empire. Its structure would be as follows.

a. Alexandria

b. Thebais (Kemet)

c. Cyrenaica

d. Neukratis

e. Pelusium

f. Kabasa

g. Paraetonium

h. Ptolemais

i. Berenike

j. Antipyrgus

Ultimately, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem would have remained mostly unchanged

a. Metropolitanate of Caesarea

b. Metropolitanate of Scythopolis

c. Metropolitanate of Nazareth

d. Metropolitanate of Ptolemais/Acre

e. Metropolitanate of Bostra

f. Metropolitanate of Petra

g. Metropolitanate of Neapolis (Nablus)

h. Metropolitanate of Gaza

Outisde of the Church would remain still some surviving Paulicians in Rhomaic Armenia (although some were resettled to Thrace), a mainly Maronite-populated Phoenicia, the Coptic Church in Cyrenaica and Alexandria to a large degree, and the Syriac Church in Aram. Furthermore, there would have been Jews, Samaritans and Ebionites in Israel, and Miphysites on the Palestinian coast.

As for imperial policy, the attitude differed from case to another. In general, the Macedonian dynasty did not stick their nose into religious affairs, that much. In general, Jews and Samaritans were not „encouraged“ to convert, but rather offered to resettle in Paristrion; and many jews were relocated to that particular region, which needed to be populated by settlers needing Rhomaic protection.

The „competing churches“ : Coptic and Syriac Jacobite, would be allowed to continue to operate even inside of Rhomaic jurisdiction, although they would be „tolerated“ and the chalcedonian chuches „preferred“. Especially in Cyrenaica, there was issued a ban on doing Miaphysite liturgy in Greek – and new Chalcedonian dioceses were created in the region, hoping to convert the Cyreneian Greeks to Chalcedonianism. As for Phoenicia, no action was taken to actively convert the population.

The Ebionites and Marcionists would be however actively persecuted.

 

[Tomislav Addai]

The Heirs of Charlemagne: a Divided Francia

The former Frankish realm is by now divided into Western Francia, Eastern Francia, Upper and Lower Burgundy, and Italy.

The East Frankish realm is the first to face the issue of the extinction of the Karlings. After the death Louis IV the Child at Forchheim, the German (that is, East Francia) dukes elect Conrad I. Franconian as king of „Germania“ – a realm encompassing Saxony (1), Thuringia, Franconia (2), Swabia (3) and Bavaria (4). This realm was thus composed of “stem duchies”, and individual tribes, while feeling a common bond, would still continue to identify as such.

Meanwhile Lotharingia – the strip of land extending from Basel to Frisia, would have Charles III Simple as king, who was also ruling West Francia. However, the two realms would not be united for long, for West Francia came to be ruled by a certain Robert, while Lotharingia came under the power of Gilbert.

Before this, however, the realm had to tackle an ongoing problem with Viking raids; and Norse raiders would actually establish their own realm east to the mouth of the Seine at Rouen.

The German realm had to somehow cope with a danger from the east: the Magyars. A Uralic people, these steppe raiders have installed themselves in Pannonia, and would have raided Germany, Italy and even France.

Another capable ruler presented himself to Germany in the person of Henry I. Fowler (for he was an avid hunter and news of his election as king reached him while preparing for a bird hunt). He has managed to wrestle control over Lotharingia once more, and divided the region into Upper and Lower Lotharingia. This strategy of “divide and rule” helped to pacify the area. Furthermore, the Lotharingian areas north of the Rhine would be detached as the stem duchy of Frisia.

Henry the Fowler would have expanded the realm by incorporating Sleswig, Mecklenburg, Sorbia west of the Elbe and forcing Bohemia into submission. Although having the ambition to ride to Rome to be crowned Emperor he failed to do so, for he died before he would reach there.

In 933, the two Burgundies unite under the banner of King Rudolf II. This new realm, which historians often call after its capital as the Kingdom of Arelate, or Arles would be known in written documents as the Kingdom of Two Burgundies (6).

Geographically Two Burgundies would stretch between the Rhone and Saon in the west to the Alpes in the east; its population would have spoken in majority a West Romance tongue. Its Upper Burgundian variation would be known as Arpetan, while its lower varieties would be known as Provensal. In the northeast frontiers, some Swabian or Alemannic speakers overstretching the border from Swabia would have inhabited the Aare river valley.

The heir of Henry the Fowler in Germany would be Otto the Great. Otto would restore German control over the eastern marches and force Polabian chiefdoms into submission by establishing the Billungian and Northern marches; and the Ostmark is reconstructed to serve the needs of the empire after its decline vis-à-vis the Hungarian raids.

Ultimately, as the Karlings wane in West Francia, and die out, the nobles no have to choose the new ruler. The Robertians have been a powerful family in Neustria for quite some time, and insisted on Hugh Capet, their current incumbent, to be granted the crown. This proposal would be met with opposition in the south. The lands to the south of the Loire had been ever since Roman times administered separately from the north: previously as provinces of Aquitania and Narbonensis in contrast to Lugdunensis and Belgica further north; under Diocletian, Gaul was divded into two dioceses: Gaul in the north and Viennensis in the south; and even during the Migration period, the two shared different fates: the north would at first be ruled as a rump state around Noviodunum (5), before being overrun by the Franks; the south would be held by the Visigoths and the Burgunds.

The divide was not only historical, but also cultural: the northerners would drink more beer, while southerners would cling on to wine. The north-south divide can be seen in gastronomy even today as a divide between the butter north and the oil south. However, there remains one thing the south would lack: a major core area, an undisputed natural capital region, as Paris and the middle Seine basin were to the north. This role would be contested between Tolosa and Bordeu, which would have been in this case decided in favour of the former.

To put long descriptions short, the north-south divide would result in the southern dukes revolting against Hugh Capet, and the realm being split. Ultimately in the 990s, Aquitain would emerge as an independent kingdom; the rest of West Francia would be known under the name of Neustria, situated between the Loire and the Ardennes.

As for Italy this successor realm was originally designated to continue with the imperial tradition. However after the death of Berengar, the kingdom faces a period of instability, until Adalbert became king in 950. However, his kingdom would be restricted only to the regions north of Rome. The Duchy of Spoleto would have broken off, as would Corsica – Corsican pirates would be quite problem in the western Mediterranean. The Papal domains would include Latium and southern Tuscany, while Rhomaic hold would extend over Venice and its suburbs.

Further south, we have the Duchy of Benevento almost totally surrounded by Rhomaic possessions, and a Sicily partitioned between Rhomania and Tafirca. Sardinia for its part is in a state of fragmentation ruled by different counts and pirates, although its southern coast has been recently conquered by Tafircans.

As mentioned in one of the previous updates, the following varieties of Romance languages are present south of the Alps:

The Annonarian varieties of Lombard, Ligurian, Romagnan and Venetian have already diverged quite significantly. Further south, you can see Tuscan going divergent, while Mediano itself also differentiates into the varieties of Latium, Spoleto and the Pentapolis. Further south, the boundaries between the different varieties match borders between Benevento and the Rhomaic possessions.

Ostrogothic presence has by now vanished and any surviving Ostrogoths are fully assimilated into Italin culture; perhaps the region of Ravenna would have more Ostrogothic loanwords, but that’s it. In contrast the Lombards would have still left quite a strong presence, not only in genetics (many blonde people in Benevento, Spoleto, and the Po valley), but pockets of Lombard speakers would continue to remain in the high Alpine villages between the Venetian and Adige regions and in the region of Pavia; however, most of them would have assimilated by now.

(1) Niedersachsen, Bremen, Hamburg, Westfalen und Sachsen-Anhalt

(2) Hesse und Bayerische Franken

(3) Baden-Wuerttemberg, Elsass, Deutschenschweiz und Bayerische Schwaben

(4) To include Salsburg, Tyrol and Upper and Lower Austria as well, together with Inner Austria.

(5) Soissons

(6) Perhaps the Kingdom of Two Sicilies inspired itself over here

 

[Tomislav Addai]

Britain

The British Isles would see a period of consolidation during the 10th century. This would be particularly true for England, at least most of it. A unified realm extending from Devon to Kent, encompassing the entire East Anglia and Mercia, and even Lancashire would emerge during the 10th century, under the dominance of Wessex.

The unified Anglo-Saxon realm of England under the dominance of Wessex would however not incorporate Danish Yorkshire throughout the entirety of the 10th century: due to butterflies, more Norse would settle in Yorkshire than in the Seine estuary; and as a result, the area would have a much denser population, meaning a large army, meaning more difficult to conquer.

To its north, the remnant of Northumbria splits into the realms of Lothian and Deira (south of the Tweed River). Deira itself would be in a rather vulnerable position: a rather easy target for either Danelaw or England. However, the Pennines were a major barrier between Northumbria and the rest of England; the realm would thus continue with its independence for some time.

By now, the original Anglo-Saxon tongue has gotten quite a few Scandinavian influences: in East Anglia, eastern Midlands, but especially in Yorkshire. In fact, the variety spoken in the area would actually qualify as a North Germanic, rather than as a West Germanic language.

Both Devon and Cornwall would remain Dumnonic-speaking and the Celtic presence in the area would have remained strong.

Wales would have remained still disunited and fractured into petty-kingdoms of Deheurbath, Gwynedd, Powys, Brycheniog and Glamorgan. However, these petty-kingdoms would be united under some sort of league, now under the seniority of Deheurbath in the southwest.

Between the Offas Dyka and the Severn, there would have still been pockets of Latinate settlement. These people would have been the descendants of the Roman colonists to Britain. Their numbers could amount to some 60 000 to 90 000 people. Their villages would be fortified and have an appearance of the Old Roman military camps. The more educated once would go on to serve as priests. In fact, the Latinate population of the Severn region would have the highest number of priests from amongst them per capita in the entirety of southern Britain. This was mainly due to the fact, that Latin was the liturgical language, and these people spoke a Latin-descended dialect.

Further north, the Kingdom of Alba was consolidating its power in the area. Based around the Fife, the Scots went to integrate also the southern bank of the Firth of Forth. Lothian has been populatd by Anglic people akin to those further south in Northumbria.

The isles – the Hebrides, the Orkneys, the Shetlands, Man and even the northernmost part of the Scottish mainland – would have been continued to be dominated by the Norse, who set up a Lordship of the Isles. While in Hebrides and the Isle of Mann, the Gaelic element was still vibrant and a mixed Norse-Gael culture would develop, in the northern isles the Germanic element prevailed, leading to the development of a Norn language and identity.

Northern Scotland - the region around Moray Firth and Inverness, would continue to exist independently as the Kingdom of Moray (or Moireabh in Gaelic). Separated by the Grampian Mountains from Scotland proper and with the Highlander keenness of preserving their independence, this petty kingdom would remain independent throughout the entire century.

Dumbarton Rock was a major Strathclydian fortress
In the southwestern corner of Scotland, there remained two further polities: Strathclyde and Galloway. Strathclyde was the last part of Hen Oggled or the Brythonic “Old North” – effectively speaking Cumbric, a language related to Welsh. The coastal parts were however possessed by the Norse, under the name Galloway: however the Galwegians would have by now become mostly assimilated to Cumbric language, yet maintaining distinct Scandinavian customs.

As for Ireland, the interior would go on as usual, with independent petty—kings here and there. However, Viking presence on the coast and permanent settlement at places like Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Limerick and Cork would have changed the general pattern somewhat. These cities appear to have had a Scandinavian elite, yet most of their inhabitants (possibly with the exception o Dublin) were Irish.

Brian Boru
The insecurity of Viking raids has resulted into an exodus of Irish scholars, who would visit other European courts, bringing Irish knowledge and culture over to the Continent.

In the southern parts of the island, we could have witnessed some political consolidation. Mainly in the form of Munster subjugating Leinster and the Viking settlements as tributaries or vassals, yet preserving their autonomy. This was mainly the feat of Brian Boru.

Scandinavia
The realms of Denmark and Norway would have gradually accepted Christianity. In Denmark, this would have been under Harald Bluetooth in the 980s, with the establishment of the Archbishopric f Lund. In Norway, Christianity was adopt by Olaf Tryggvason in 995, after the end of the rule of a pagan zealot Haakan Sigurdson Jarl.

However, the people would not entirely abandon their old belief. Many of the churches would have been built on already sacred places, and Mjollnir could have been easily swapped for the sign of the Cross.

In Sweden, Christianity would proceed rather slowly, with a few churches, later bishoprics set up at Birka, and Skara in Vastergotland. While Sweden would get a Christian king in 990s, he would not be in a position to impose Christianity on his subjects. For the most part, Chrisitan churches would be built, but Asatru practices would go on, in Uppsala, the major pagan center of the land especially. Thus, even by 1000AD, the vast majority of Swedes would still be Norse pagans.

Sweden would, for its part, still be divided into two kingdoms: Svealand around Uppsala and Gotaland (Geaten) in the south.

Early missionary attempts in Sweden have failed
Iceland would long be resistant to Christianity, however under pressure from Norway and seeking to prevent civil war, the speaker of the Althing, Thorgeir Thorgelsson, decided in favour of Christianity.

Mentioning the Althing, I should return back to the peculiar political system of Iceland. The country was effectively a republic, with an annual gathering called the Althing at Thingvellir. Speaking in modern terminology, the system was anarcho-capitalistic, with chieftains exercising real power in their districts, and this being the basis of their legitimacy in the Althing. Therefore, the state itself did not have any taxes nor armies: all law enforcement was private. As a result the society would adopt a blood-feud mentality.

This update would not be complete without further mentioning Norse exploration of the North Atlantic. The next major island the Norse would encounter after initial landings at Shetland, Orkney and Iceland would be Greenland

In 986 Erik the Red reaches Greenland, and the first settlement at Brattahlid is established. The name of the land itself appears to have been a marketing device: in no way would Greenland be greener than Iceland, as much of Greenland is covered in a thick ice sheet all year round, and it would have been more accurate to swap the place names of Greenland and Iceland.

A reconstruction of a church in Greenland
The climate back then was considerably warmer, allowing birch trees to grow in the area. The Norse population in Greenland would consist of three areas: the largest Eastern Settlement, the smaller Western Settlement and the smallest Middle Settlement. The “settlements” were not villages per se, but rather collections of scattered farms. The inhabitants would mostly raise livestock and fish, and hunt caribou and seals.

The northern parts of Greenland would have been populated by the so-called Dorset-culture. The two peoples would not have interacted: the southern part of the island had been uninhabited and separated from the north by the thick and large ice sheet.

 

[Tomislav Addai]

The two major Slavic realms on the Danube: Moravia and Bulgaria, would greatly decline during the 10th century. Although Moravia would continue to exist in a much diminished form, Bulgaria collapses totally.

As a result of Pecheneg incursion, the Bulgarian state vanishes completely. The lowland regions of Wallachia are overrun by Pecheneg clans; and a rump duchy of Ahtum is established in the region of the Banate; another Vlach duchy is established in Oltenia. This area is mostly populated by Vlachs, an Eastern Romance people, descended from the Romanized populations of the Moesian limes.

To its northeast is a natural mountain fortress, the Transylvanian basin. The area has been a target of frequent Pecheneg raids. Populated by mostly Slavic Bulgarians and Vlachs, this area is ruled by a certain Gelou as the principality of Ardeal.

Interestingly enough, the area ruled by Vlach principalities roughly corresponds to the area of the Roman province of Dacia under Trajan.

As for the Pechenegs themselves in my previously map thy were for some reason labelled as Oghuz Turks, which was incorrect as they belong to the OghuR branch of the Turkic languges, along with Bolghar, Khazar and Hunnic; the ancient tongues of the Turkic peoples of the Western Steppe.

Magyar settlement in the Carpathian basin would have effectively put an end to the ongoing development of the Slovien kingdom.

The Magyars were a Uralic people, with their closest cousins being the Khanty and the Mansi in the marshy Ob regions of western Siberia. Living to far south, they would adopt the nomadic steppe lifestyle, and migrate westwards, before establishing themselves in the Carpathian basin. The incoming Magyars would have been a collection of eight major tribes or clans: Gyarmat, Jenoe, Keszi, Kér, Kuert, Megyer, Nyék and Tarján. Moreover, they would be joined by the Turkic Kabar people, in the form of the clans of Berény, Oszlár,Oers, Tarkány, Varsány, Szabar, Kálisz,Kazar and Szekély.

Seven captains of the Magyars, from a medieval chronicle

And more romanticised depiction of the same event
The thinly populated regions between the Tisa and Danube rivers would fast become dominated by the incoming Magyars. The second major area of Magyar settlement would have been Pannonia. That region had been populated by Sloviens and Carantanians previously, and a few German and Pannonian settlements as well.

Even after the Magyar would have dominated the area since the 920s, a strong Slavic majority would be present in places such as Moson in the northwestern part of Pannonia. In fact, the entire area to the northwest of the Rába River would have stayed Slavic throughout the 10th century.

The Zala and Vas regions as well would have remained predominantly Slavic, being a continuation of Carantanian (1) settlement in Carinthia, Carniola and Styria.

Magyar settlements would also be relatively dense in the region between Pressburg, Bitra and the Danube River. The Lesser Pannonia plain would thus be settled by Magyars to a great degree, forcing the Slovien(2) populations into the Carpathian Highlands, to the upper reaches of the Váh and Hron Rivers.

Any surviving Avar population (in southeastern Lower Austria) would have been likely greatly assimilated either into the local Slovien populations, or have joined the incoming Magyars. Similarly, the Pannonian Romance speakers, previously dwelling at Balaton, at Sopiania (3), in some towns on the Danube River like Szentendre and Hainburg, and more importantly along the Amber road, in the regions of Scarbantia(4) and Neusiedler See. The majority of the Pannonians would have assimilated for the most part, although in the time of Kocel and Svätopluk it appears still that they would have lived in those areas and spoken the Latin dialect.

Even after the Magyar takeover, Scarbantia would continue to be a major cultural centre of the Pannonians; unfortunately for them, their major population core at Balaton Lake would have been overrun by the Magyars, with some of them remaining in the Vesprem Mountains and in the Zala region, where they would mix with Slavic population.

Anyhow, Magyar dominance in the Carpathian basin would mean that their principality would include most of Pannonia, Slavonia, the Alfold, and Crisana by the late 10th century. The Hungarian prince Géza woulda accept Christianity and his son Vajk would be baptised as Stephen. Although the realm would face pagan (Tengrii) revolts, especially in the Alfoeld, by the year 1000 Hungary would be proclaimed as Christian kingdom and Stephen would receive his crown from the Pope. The seat of the first Hungarian archbishopric would be at the location of the capital: as Esztergrom (Ostrihom) on the Danube very close to its bend.

Further northwards, the regions of Moravian and Slovakia, once the core of the Slovien realm, would have now greatly diminished struggling to survive. The Mojmirid dynasty would have been overthrown after the death Mojmir II.; they would have been succeeded by the House of Divinsky originating from the Upper Váh regions. The Divinskys would have consolidated most of Central, the northern parts of western Slovakia, and Moravia. Eastern Slovakia would have become an independent Duchy under the Laborecky house based in Zemplín.

Bohemia to the west would have become a tributary state to the German Empire under Otto I., The Czechs, the dominating tribe ruling the region of Prague would have used their links with Germany to consolidate their power against internal opposition. Earlier on, they would have taken control of Silesia and Cracovia; yet these areas would be incorporated into the merging Polish state.

Bohemia by now would have been Christianized; the Bishopric of Prague would be subordinate to the Archbishopric of Mainz.

Further north, there would have been the various Polabian tribes, mainly the Obotrites and the Veleti. The Obodrites would be based in the region of Mecklenburg; the Veleti or the Lutices in the region of Brandenburg further south. Although they had been subjugated by the Germnas in the form of the establishment of the Billungian March and the Northern March, the Polabian tribes would rise in the Great Slav Rising – resulting in the collapse of Christian institutions in the region, and the expulsion or murder of any German settlers in the region. Thus, the Obodrite and Veleti realms would become again independent Polabian duchies.

Viking jewellery from 10th century Pommerania. Contact with the Norse was still very intense .
On the eastern side of the Oder River, we have the emergent state of Pomerania, by now still a pagan realm. The Pommeranians were involved in piracy in the Baltic Sea. Pommerania would have been subdued by Mieszko, yet upon his death it would reassume its independence with the exception of Danzig, which would remain under Polish rule.

To the southeast of Pommerania was the emergent Polish state. The initial core of the Polish state was the region of Greater Poland, around the Warthe River and the town of Gniezdno. This realm would be expanded to include Silesia, Cracovia and Mazovia under the rule of Mieszko I., who would have ruled during the greater part of the 10th century.

Mieszko I.
Mieszko I. is thus known for laying the foundations of the Polish state, and would also accept Christianity from the west. He would be succeeded by his son, Boleslaw Chrabry or Boleslaw the Bold. Boleslaw the Bold was an energetic ruler; let us just say for now that he would accept Chrisitainty, receive the royal crown from the Pope and an archbishopric would be set up at Gniezdno.

East of the Vistula estuary was the region of Prussia, populated by pagan Baltic tribes of whom the most important confederations were the Pruthenes and Yotvingians. Other tribes in the southern Baltic area would include the Skalvians and the Galindians. The Pruthenian tribal confederation was now beginning to consolidate, and with trade contacts with the Norse, the society begins to reform a little, while population grows.

The Baltic peoples. This map appears to have been pretty valid by 10th century as well
Further to the north, there are powerful tribal chiefdom of the Lithuanians, expanding westwards into the territory of the Samogitians. To their north, the Curonians have picked up some Viking influence and Curonian pirates become very well a threat to any merchants trading in the Baltic. On the Daugava River basin, the Latgalians are gradually expanding northwards, into Livonian lands. The capital fortress of the Latgalians would have been Jersika; and during the 10th century, some sources claim that there has been some large-scale socio-political transformation, and the Principality of Jersika could very well be considered to be an early feudal state.



(1) Early Slovene

(2) Early Slovak

(3) Pécs

(4) Sopron/Odenburg

 

[Tomislav Addai]

The next brilliant emperor of the Rhomans was Basil II(1). Basil II had to face some major rebellions of Anatolian magnates, whch he manages to supress.

Basil II. Would have secured an alliance with the Kievan Rus – the nearly East Slavic realm along the Dnieper stretching as far north as the city of Homgardr/Novgorod. Originally with a Viking elite, under Vladimir of Kiev, these “Varangians” would have become assimilated to a large degree to the local East Slavic population.

As a lasting effect of the alliance with the Rus was the establishment of the Varangian Guard. This unit would play a similar role as the Praetorian guard of the pre-migration era Roman Empire. However, unlike the Praetorians, the Varangians would be foreign recruits, originating from northern Europe, mainly from the Rus, but also from Geaten, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, using the physical strength of the northerners, as well as their uninterest in Rhomaic politics.

The year 992 AD, using the Rhomaic calendar Annus Mundi 6500 was a very round one. This would be a perfect occasion for Basil II to conduct a general survey of the Empire “for many new districts were regained to the Empire by my predecessors, and we need to know more about these lands”

The Oecumenical Survey of the Empire conducted in 992 is considered one of the best sources for early medieval demographic history of the Empire. This survey would be conducted by Rhomaic bureaucrats and officials, travelling to every village, and asking the priests, the village chiefs or elders, local nobles or mayors to give them information about the village. Thus, this early census would not be counted on an individual scale, but rather would give us approximate figures. Early modern era nationalists would often cite ethnic data as a basis for their claims, but the overall report would contain the following categories:

· Diocese

· Nomos (District)

· Name of Locality

· Predominant language

· Religious Jurisdiction

· Total Population:

o Children

§ Boys

§ Girls

o Adults

§ Men

§ Women

o Elderly

§ Men

§ Women

· Number of priests

· Nobles and prominent noble families

· Economic activity (divided into columns : farmers, miners, artisans, merchants, scholars).

As for the results by Diocese, here we go:

a. Constantinople: 785 000 people, out of whom the gross majority are Greek

b. Thrace: 1 850 000 people. While mostly Greek, a sizeable tenth are Slavs and around 5% Vlachs

c. Macedonia: 1 710 000 people. Greeks form just over a half (57%), with a large Vlach (28%) minority, and considerable Slavic(8%) and Arnautian(7%, Albanian) populations as well.

d. Bithynia: 1 800 000 people. Mostly Greek (91%), with a considerable Galatian minority

e. Asiana: 2 200 000 people. Nine out of ten people are Greeks, and the rest are mostly Slavs.

f. Anatolikon: 1 100 000 people. Two thirds are Greeks, and the diocese houses a considerable Isaurian (21%) and Galatian (11%) presence.

g. Pontus: 1 700 000 people. Six out of ten are Greeks, a quarter of the population are Armenians, and roughly 14% are Iberians,that is Caucasian speaking Lazes.

h. Epirus: 2 340 000 people. Three-quarters are Greeks, the rest being Arnautes, Vlachs and Slavs.

i. Dacia: 1 150 000 people. Around two thirds are Slavs, the rest being Vlachs.

j. Paristrion: 740 000 people. Just over a half (52%) are Slavs, then there are Vlachs (22%) Tourks (16%), Greeks (7%) and Jews (3%)

k. Taurica: 350 000 people. A multicultural area of Greeks (64%), Varangians (16%), Tourks (10%), Armenians (7%) and Jews (3%)

l. Antioch: 300 000 people, mainly Greeks.

m. Cilicia and Cyprus: 2 200 000 people, mainly Greeks (71%), followed by Armenians and Syriacs

n. Osroene: 600 000 people, dominated by Syriacs

o. Syria: 2 785 000 people, dominated by Syriacs (78%) with a significant Greek presence (19%)

p. Phoenicia: 1 000 000 people, almost all of them Syriacs

q. Aram: 750 000 people: 85% Syriacs and 13% Arabs

r. Palestine: 2 230 000 people, populated by a mix of mainly Jews, Arabs and Syriacs

s. Alexandria: 395 000 people: 45% Greeks and 40% Copts, with the rest being mainly Jews and Armenians

t. Creta et Cyrenaica: 1 120 000: primarily Greek (71%) ,with significant Lybian (12%), Arab (11%) and Coptic (7%) communities

u. Italia: 2 800 000 people, mainly Italians (61%) and Greeks (37%)

v. Venetia 550 000 people, almost all of them Latins

w. Dalmatia: 450 000 people, mainly Latins (79%) but also Slavs (21%)

All in all, the empire would have had some 30 905 000 people:

1. Greeks: 15 185 000 (49%)

2. Syriacs: 5 362 500 (17%)

3. Latins: 2 607 500 (8%)

4. Slavs: 1 867 500 (6%)

5. Vlachs: 1 325 000 (4%)

6. Armenians: 992 500 (3%)

7. Arabs: 925 000 (3%)

8. Jews: 685 000 (2%)

9. Arnautes: 392 500 (1%)

10. Copts: 380 000 (1%)

11. Galatians: 290 000(1%)

12. Isaurians: 267 500 (1%)

13. Iberians: 230 000 (1%)

14. Tourks: 155 000 (1%)

15. Lybes: 135 000 (0%)

16. Varangians: 75 000 (0%)

17. Kurds: 35 000 (0%)

But let us get back to Basil´s policies. In foreign policy, he would seek to “consolidate” the northern borders of the realm. Dalmatia was no longer to be a naval exclave: it was to be connected by land to the bulk of Rhomaic possessions. This would mean the conquest of Dioclea and Pagania: effectively incorporating all the Balkan Slavic realms with the exception of Croatia.

Croatia would rather accept Rhomaic suzerainty and become a tributary state, than fight a bloody war with the Rhomaic Empire. The “integrated” areas of the western Balkans, together with previously held Dalmatian coastal towns would be organized as the Diocese of Dalmatia (2).

On the western front, Basil campaign in Sicily, regaining also the western half of the island from Tafirca and further campaign in southern Italy result in the consolidation of a large part of the local domains. Calabria, Basilicata and Apulia are all connected, with the Duchy of Benevento still controlling the Campanian hinterlands.

With the reign of Basil II., the Rhomaic Empire was high on the saddle. Its territorial extent is now very similar to that of the Eastern Roman Empire, with the exception of Palmyra and Egypt, the latter being a Rhomaic tributary. Moreover, the Rhomaic Empire would control the Perateia or Taurican coast (3), Sicily, Campania, Basilicata, Apulia, coastal Dalmatia, Serbia, and Venice. The Eastern Mediterranean, the Aegean and Marble Seas would effectively be a Rhomaic Mare Nostrum: the Black and Adriatic seas would be dominated by Rhomaic fleet as well.




(1) Historically, he had annexed Bulgaria to the Empire. Here, we will still have him as a grand conqueror, but well give him other tasks.

(2) This Diocese of Dalmatia would cover the OTL territories of Dalmatia, Herzegovina, Montengro, Rashka and Kosovo and Metohija, and would cover Rhomaic-held parts of the eponymous early Roman province.

(3) Southern Crimea

 

[Tomislav Addai]

And so we happen to reach the vast East European Plains, the lands of the boreal taiga inhabited by the Uralic peoples, the deciduous forests of the Eastern Slavs and the Western Steppe of the Turkic peoples.

The westernmost people of the Steppe are the Pechenegs, having installed themselves between the lower Danube and the lower Dnieper, also include the lower reaches of the Dniester and the Prut. Even further, their realm would extend as far as the Don estuary in the east.

The Pechenegs have subjugated also a handful of Pontic Greek colonies located on the far shore of the Black Sea. Those settlements had also been one of the last refuges of the Marcionites, a very specific Gnostic community originating in northern Anatolia. On the other side, at the upper valleys of the Prut and Dniester, that is, in Upper Moldavia, were the domains of the Slavic tribes – Tivertsi and Uliches- who would be suzerain of the Pechenegs. The Pechenegs would have eventually allied with the Rhomaic Empire to raid the lands of the Khazars

The Crimean Peninsula remains as it was, populated mainly by Crimean Goths in the north and centre, and Greeks on the Pontic coast

The northern neighbours of the Pecheneg would be the Rus. This originally Varangian state would during the course of the 10th century be fully slavicized. The Rus realm would be greatly expanded during the 10th century, to encompass all the independent tribal realms of the East Slavs: to conquer the Pinsk marshes, Volhynia, Galicia up to the foothills of the Eastern Carpathians. In the east, the realm would incorporate the Oka river basin, the tribes of the Krivichi, Radimichi and the Meshchera.

One of the greatest rulers of the Rus was Sviatoslav I. the Brave, whose major feat was the defeat of the Khazars. Allying himself with the Pechenegs to counter superior Bolghar and Khazar cavalry, Sviatoslav eventually would conquer Sarkel and sack the Khazar capital of Atil. The Rus established outposts at Sarkel/Belaya Vezha and Tmutarakan – gaining full control of the Don trade route.

Sviatoslav would be followed by Yaropolk, who by turn would be succeeded by Vladimir I. (Vladimir Sviatoslavich, or Varangian: Valdemarr Sveinaldsson.

Sviatoslav of Kiev
Vladimir, during the first phase of his reign, would remain a (Slavic) pagan, taking up to eight hundred beautiful Slavic and Finnic concubines, erecting pagan shrines and temples. The Rus pantheon would include six major deities: Perun, the god of thunder and war , favoured by the Varangian elite; Slavic Stribog and Dazhbog; Mokosh worshipped by the Finnic peoples, and Khors and Simargl of Iranic origin.

However Vladimir sought to adopt ultimately some major world religion. Sending envoys all over the world to bring priests and scholars of all religious traditions, he soon dismissed the Manichean priests, for alcohol is the joy of his nobles and his subjects. His envoys were most impressed by the beauty of Rhomaic liturgy, claiming that they knew not whether they were in Heaven or Earth.

The Baptism of Rus goes on in a similar way as it happened well historically, and early Rus history goes in very much the almost same way as it would go in the world with a strict Arab monotheist religion.

Baptism of Vladimir
As for Khazaria, after Sviatoslavs campaign, Khazaria would be destroyed as a major power, despite retaining independence. It would be reduced to the region between the Terek and the Itil River, centered on some of the cities on the coast of the Khazar or Caspian Sea. The Circassian, Alan and Caucasian Avars would assert their own independence.

The Alans, an Iranian people dwelling on the northern foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, would ensure an alliance with the Rhomaic Empire, with their king adopting Christianity. His people, however, would accept this new religion relatively mildly, if at all.

Their western neighbours the Circassians, known to the Greeks as Kassogs would under Rhomaic influence accept Christianity. This conversion appears to be largely superficial and not fullhearted, as many of their tribesmen would remain pagan.

Beyond the lower Itil river was the emergent realm of the Cumans. The Cumans were a Kipchak Turkic people, with a strong Tengri religious tradition. They would hold the dog and wolf as a sacred animal. In fact, individual clans would be named after different types of dogs.

At the confluence of the Upper Volga and the Kama rivers would stand the realm of Bolgharia. Being a major trade centre, it would command fur trade from Permians going down the Kama River, while through the Volga River, Varangian merchants from Scandinavia and Merya would descend further southwards as far as Persia. Other trade partners would include local partners such as the Cheremis, the Mordvin but also the Yugrans beyond the Urals, Bjarmaland and Nenetsia along the Arctic Sea. The city of Bolghar would develop to a thriving city, rivalling even the city of Qtespon in Mesopotamia. Built of stone and brick, the city of Bolghar would thus have become the largest city on the Itil River.

Due to increased trade contacts with the Iranian plateau, the Bolghars would adopt Zoroastrianism from Persia. The high reverence of fire would in fact make very much sense in the continental climate of the Bolghar realm, especially during the severe winters.

The legend has it that the Bolgharian king was severely ill together with his wife. The local shamans and feltchers tried to cure him, but nothing helped, and the illness just worsened A Zoroastrian merchant, highly proficient in medicine happened to be present at the city of Bolghar itself. After hearing about this trouble, he agreed to help, on the condition that they accept his religion. They agreed and embrace the Religion of Fire.

After the defeat of Khazaria, Bolgharians would take over as the major power on the Volga River, monopolizing the trade on the Volga River.

While the Mordvins would remain an independent tribal people, in a periphery between the major powers of Rus, Bolgharia and Cumania, the Cheremis would not be able to hold onto their independence. They would be subjugated by the Merya, who had created a principality on the Upper Volga. This principality would act effectively as a buffer between Rus and Bolgharia. Ethnically Finnic, it would have come under the sphere of the Rus influence.

Ultimately we have the northern taigas. The area was populated by the Komi, the Vepsians, known to the Vikings as Bjarmians, and the Nenets. Out of these nations, only the Veps would have had considerable contact with the Vikings, to somehow change their society, mainly by incorporating them into the trade network of Eastern Europe.

(1) Historically, Volga Bulgaria would embrace Islam from Baghdad. However, their nearest trade partners would have been in Tabarestan, Iran. Other options would Nestorianism and Manicheism.

 

[Tomislav Addai]

When one speaks of the “Southern Caucasus”, one usually thinks of three geocultural entities: the Orthodox Kartvelian-speaking region at the upper Kura River and the Lazic Riviera, the Mipahysite Armenian highlands extending from the Upper Euphrates and Araxes Rivers to incorporate the lake districts of Sevan and Van and ultimately the lowland regions of the Kura and Araxes delta facing the Caspian Sea populated by Aghbanian and Tat peoples.

Caucasus Mountains in Svaneti
Neither of these entities would be a united country a historian would from hindsight label as Georgia, Armenia or Azerbaijan. Rather, each would be a collection of independent statelets, duchies and petty kingdoms.

During most of the 10th century the Kartvelian regions would be fragmented into the realms of Abkhazia, Tao-Klarjeti and Kakheti-Hereti and Kartli. Towards the end of the century, David III of Tao would integrate Kartli, while the succession in Abkhazia would be so, that a succession crisis would erupt, and David III would be one of the contenders. This he would succeed in 1008 and further in 1010 he would seek to integrate Kakheti-Hereti.

Cup of King David III. of Georgia
Of course, the Kartvelian linguistic family would contain the varieties of Lazic, spoken in Rhomaic territory, Svan in Svaneti and Mingrelian in Abkhazia, Mingrelia and Guria. Contrary to a world with an Arab monotheist religion, the Mingrelian language would continue to be spoken along the entire Kartvelian coast of the Pontic Sea; and Mingrelian or Zan would remain as a vibrant language rather than be reduced to a “sister language” of Georgian proper.

The Kartlian language would have its core of speakers in the Kura valley: with some dialect groups distinguishing the central varieties (around Kartli), western varieties (in Tao-Klarjeti), northeastern (in the mountain valleys of the Caucasus) and eastern (Kakheti and Hereti).

As for Armenia, the highland region itself would be fragmented as well, with an Armenian Kingdom taking up the region between Lake Sevan and the upper reaches of the Araxes; a lordship of Taron at the Upper Euphrates, a Duchy of Vaspourakan around Lake Van, and counties of Syunik, and Artsakh.

The traditional Armenian woman costume from the period
The notion of a unified Armenian state was now rather relative than absolute. However, the Armenian language remains more-less uniform throughout the entire region

While the Paulician movement by now was mostly, or at least formally extinguished, a heretic branch called Tondrakians arose. The movement could be described as a continuation of Paulicianism; yet it was social revolutionary. It was used as a resistance movement of class warfare against the extant feudal system- directed against the nobility and clergy. Organized as early Christian communities rather than with an episcopal structure, their errors could be described as:

1. They deny priestly ordination, which the apostles received from Christ.
2. They deny the Holy Communion as the true body and blood of Christ.
3. They deny Baptism as being mere bath water.
4. They consider Sunday as on a level with other days.
5. They refuse genuflection.
6. They deny the veneration of the cross.
7. They ordain each other and thus follow self-conferred priesthood.
8. They do not accept marriage as a sacrament.
9. They reject the ritual slaughter of animals as being a Jewish practice.
10. They are sexually promiscuous.

The Armenian Apostolic Church would remain as the state sponsored religion, despite soft power from the Rhomaic Empire to seek communion with the Chalcedonian Church. This was particularly true for the western statelets, which would be solidly in the Rhomaic sphere of influence.

Manuscript of the Etchmiadzin Gospel
As for the lowland regions facing the Caspian Sea, known as Aghbania (1) used to be very heterogenous, as of having initially as many as 26 languages. However, by the 10th century, this number has shrunken significantly.

Most of these ancient tongues would be spoken in the region between the Kura river and the Caucasus Mountains, and would include Avar, Tsakhur, Rutul,Lezgin, Kryz , Jek, Budukh and Krynalukh languages: all of them being of the Northeastern Caucasian stock. Among them, Lezgin and Udi would become most prominent, with Udi being the most widespread. The western regions, between the Kura and Araxes Rivers, would gradually become more and more culturally influenced by Armenia, to such an extent, that the local languages would be, in many cases dropped in favour of Armenian or Udi, which would have the greatest capacity to resist cultural assimilation due to it being a liturgical and written language.

On the Apsheron Peninsula, and along the Caspian coast, the populace would have spoken an Iranian language known as Adhari(2) and practice Zurvanism. Further south, in the Shirvan steppe, many Khazars have descended into the area and settle especially in the eastern Arran region.

Thus Aghbania becomes a cultural melting pot, with the western highlands in the process of Armenianization, the north speaking Lezgic languages, especially Udi, the south settled by Khazars and Apsheron peninsula populated by Adhari-speaking Iranians. Such ethno-religious diversity would scarcely be without political turmoil as well. The Khazars would establish their own Khanate in the area, under the so-called Jospehian dynasty (after the last Khagan of Khazaria). This Jospehian dynasty would have established their own Khaganate of Shirvan, dismantling the older Kingdom of Aghbania, which would fragment into several successor states.

Gandzasar Monastery, one of the major religious landmarks in Aghbania
First, the western highlands would be joint to the extant Armenian principalities of Artsakh. Secondly, the lowlying Kura-Araxes delta region would become the Shirvan Khanate. And finally , the northern regions, still populated by Lezgic, Adhari, and Udi peoples, would become the principalities of Utik and Lezgia

(1) Roughly corresponding to Azerbaijan

(2) Referring to the Tat language of Azerbaijan. Tat is an Azeri exonym

 

[Tomislav Addai]

The land of Mazoun had been transformed by the Mazdakite revolutionaries into a quasi-utopian republic, with the social organization directly based upon Mazdakite philosophy.

The State of Mazoun would have two major institutions: The Sacred Council, consisting purely of Mazdakite clerics, which would effectively deal with the “grand decisions”, that is, deciding the questions of war and peace, and preserving the general architecture of the society and caring for the constitutional order.

The other major institution would be the Grand Council of State, which would decide the practical day-to-day affairs of the state. This Grand Council of State would be elected from amongst the free citizens of Mazoun, and from amongst them they would choose the Rais (1) of Mazoun, who would be the head of state, however most of his decisions would not be upon his choice entirely, and would need to be consulted with the Grand Council of State.

As the major reforms would have been implemented, and the system would get going, the Sacred Council would be less and less involved (2), and most of the affairs be left to the Grand Council of State. Therefore, Mazoun would very well shift from a theocratic regime to a rather republican form of government.

Mazoun had a strong seafaring tradition
Mazoun would prosper greatly from trade with India, and would Mazoun merchants would command maritime traffic from the straits of Hormuz (the island of Hormuz becoming a Mazouni trade post) to the Indus River estuary, coming in contact also with the tribesmen of Makran. Mazoun would on one hand seek to diverge trade with India from the Red Sea basin to the Persian Gulf, on the other hand, they would seek to collect tolls from any ships travelling through the Straits of Hormuz, and acting like pirates to any ships that would not.

The major thorn in the eye for Mazouni thalassocracy would have been the port of Salalah on the Dhofari coast: the last port to acquire supplies for any ship passing from Himyar to the Kathiawari coast. For that reason, the port would be repeatedly razed and sacked by Mazouni pirates, and Red Sea trade with India, would for the most part shift southwards, to the Somali Coast and then to the island of Socotra.

Desert landscape in Mazoun
Continued pressure from both Mazoun and Egypt, as well as invading desert tribesmen would result in a weakening of the kingdom of Himyar, which would have been on the rise during the 9th century: most importantly, this would mean the loss of control over Hadhramawt. This region would still be home to the declining monotheistic religion called Rahmanism, while also home to Miaphysite Christian community as well: however this would be replaced due to Mazouni influence by Mazdakism, and also adopt a republican form of government. Hadhramawt would become a tributary of Mazoun.

The Monsoon season in Dhofar brings fog
Returning back to the Persian Gulf region, on its Arabic bank is the region of Beth Qatriye. The area would have been part of the Kingdom of Sawat until around the 940s. By then, the overall situation in the area had changed. Beth Qatriye would no longer be a mere appendix of lower Mesopotamia. Rather, the Qatriyan merchants would make great profit from trade, and increased maritime activity and a wealthy merchant class would feel generally alienated towards the Sawadi monarchy. Seeing a successful republican Mazoun nextdoor, Qatriye would as well fight a war of independence against Sawad and become a republic.

The Qatriyans would shape many of their institutions upon the existing model in Mazoun, yet they would customize their modle to the specifics of their Nestorian religion. This would mean very well that you could fill the Sacred Council with Nestorian bishops and monks, yet this would somehow not be a considered as a valid possibility. Rather, they would replace it by establishing an Elder Council of the Wise, a rather advisory body, which should ring the bells for the alarm should some problem arise. The members of the Elder Council would be co-opted by members already within.

While the realms of Mazoun and Qatriye would often be described as utopian societies, with an egalitarian model free from class or caste structures, and welfare programmes, this would be only possible at the expense of someone else. This “someone else” would be a great mass of slaves (called servants or labourers in Qatriye, although their conditions would be very much similar). These slaves would be bought at markets either in India, in Africa or even the northern steppes of Eurasia, and would work in the baking sun on large agricultural plantations of Dilmun and Qatar, or search for pearls in the Gulf.

Conditions in Qatriye would legally be better, for the “servants” or “labourers” would be given a wage, and after ten years in general they would become free, yet not acquiring any rights or becoming involved in the political process. They could, however, buy themselves a small filed and house, or work as a peasant infeudiated to his liege lord.


(1) Rais is both Arabci and Persian for president, so this should do.

(2) And play a role somewhere between the Upper House and the Constitutional Court