POD: Alexander III of Scotland does not die in 1286 (he realizes that ride at night in the rain is not a smart idea) and Edward I decided to realize the dream of the crusade, the X.
In 1289, the British army is in Acre: the city, given the declining interest of the Angevins of Naples and the weakness of Lusignan, swears allegiance to the British
Qalawun engaged in the Siege of Tripoli, is to fight the best army in Europe, led by a great general and a good politician who immediately gets an alliance with the Mongols.
As a result, the Mamluks are defated. Al-Ashraf Khalil is forced to recognize the Crusader possession of Palestine, with free access for Muslim pilgrims in Jerusalem
Chapter one
Edward I was happy: he had saved Acre and regained the Holy Sepulchre. Both the Mamluks, and the Mongols, in exchange for freedom of pilgrimage and trade, had recognized the borders of the new kingdom of Jerusalem.
It was time to return to England. Alexander of Scotland and Philip of France were becoming restless. There was war possibility in Europe.
Edward would have finished rearranging his conquests and then find a way to govern.
The Plantagenet king ordered him to rent a fleet from Genoa. His army would be shipped to April 1293, except for a small garrisons in support of the Knights Templar, Teutonic and Hospitaller
The spoils of war would serve to recruit mercenaries "turcopoli"
But this was not the will of the Most High. In Cairo, the Sultan of Egypt Al-Ashraf Khalil was killed by a conspiracy of the emirs, contrary to its policy of peace with Edward I and eager to resume the war with the Crusaders.
His brother Al-Nasir Muhammad (nine years old) was crowned Sultan, but the real power was in the hands of Kitbugha Zayn-ad-Din, who was appointed regent, and the Emir Sanjar al-Shuja'i.
But the rivalry between the two, degenerates into a civil war: the courtiers of Al-Nasir Muhammad, fearing for his life, face a desperate move.
They replace the child with the son of a slave and hide in a caravan of copt pilgrims live in Jerusalem.
Muhammad arrives at the Holy Sepulchre on March 12, shortly before the arrival of the Genoese fleet.
Edward, fearing that the Egyptian civil war could turn into an invasion of his new conquest, decided to postpone return in England
At the same time receiving ambassadors from Scotland. For Alexander III was born an heir, he also called Alexander, and the king of Scotland, in exchange for minor border adjustments is willing to renew the peace and send aid to the Crusader kingdom, as thanks to the Virgin for having granted him a son
The king spent a year, in understanding what to do with Muhammad. Keep him as a hostage, to protect the Mamluk attacks? Sell him to the winner of the Egyptian civil war, in exchange for gold or peace?
While reflecting, comes embassy from Damascus . Local leaders, tired of anarchy, ask Edward to put on the throne of Syria Al-Nasir Muhammad.
The king, convinced that so we can break through the mamluk encirclement accepts. Mobilizes the army and march towards Syria, finding a very low resistance.
On May 6, 1294 Al-Nasir Muhammad is crowned Sultan in Damascus. In return must pay a tribute to Edward, to renounce any claims to Jerusalem and to intervene with the army on the side of the English king, in the case that one of the winners of the civil war Egyptian wants to declare war.
If the Mamluk Syria accepts the rule of Al-Nasir Muhammad, Egypt continues the civil war.
Fixed the issue, Edward returns to Jerusalem in an attempt to reorganize his return to his homeland. In the city, lies the Franciscan philosopher Ramon Llull that at the end of the pilgrimage of the Holy Sepulchre has decided to remain in Palestine, chasing his dream to convert Muslims.
Edward, impressed by his doctrine, instead convince the Spaniard to remain in his service.
At the same time receives the news that Pope Celestine V resigned immediately after the elections and in its place is elected Pope Boniface VIII