Go West, Young Turk: A 769 Pecheneg AAR (MODDED)

[HistoryDude]

I doubt the Arabian Empire will outlive Basarab...

Temer will need to keep all his vassals in line... and that won’t be easy.

Do the Pechenegs still rule their Steppe lands? Or did some stick to nomadism?

 

[Specialist290]

The eternal cycle begins once again. The nomads have ousted the old dynasty, and now they settle down to govern their newfound subjects as a new ruling class.

 

[stnylan]

I think he might be going all Il-Khanate on us.

 

[mrmagicman2287]

I doubt the Arabian Empire will outlive Basarab...

Temer will need to keep all his vassals in line... and that won’t be easy.

Do the Pechenegs still rule their Steppe lands? Or did some stick to nomadism?

The Pechenegs still rule the steppes, under Kostas, Basarab's closest friend and ally.

The eternal cycle begins once again. The nomads have ousted the old dynasty, and now they settle down to govern their newfound subjects as a new ruling class.

I think he might be going all Il-Khanate on us.

 

[mrmagicman2287]

Chapter 9: A Life Well Lived
Basarab was enticed by the sight of a certain woman, a one named Golbaanu, whom he made his concubine. This woman was a Zoroastrian, and would slowly convince him of her faith.

Basarab started teaching his daughter, Yeldem, the art of finance.

Basarab was then convinced of his concubines' zoroastrian religion, converting to it and issuing an imperial edict declaring christianity and islam to be allowed religions, ending the persecution of their followers.

He then reformed the legal system, increasing it's centralization and giving more power to the Khagan.

With this dabbling in politics, Basarab's wit finally showed itself.

News came from Kostas, the old capital was being raided. Without wasting a second, Basarab led his men and crushed the raider army, later counter-raiding them for gold and glory.

On the way, he received news from his wife: She was pregnant yet again, and he would be blessed by Ahura Mazda with yet another child.

Basarab then helped Kostas conquer the Yabguids once and for all, adding them to the now sprawling empire.

While the current capital, Hail, was all well and good, Basarab preferred somewhere closer to the seas, where he could observe trade. He began building up the city of Tithana, planning to one day make it his new capital.

Basarab's wife then concieved, and to his joy, it was a daughter.

Then a series of revolts started, which opened Basarab's eyes: the Fourth Fitna did not end, and it would outlive him, as long as the Arabs and Persians were not used to their masters they would rebel. Before he can give them the carrot, though, he gave them the stick, brutally putting down all rebellions and executing their leaders.

After that was said and done, he went back to continue his son's education. Basarab was now acutely aware that Teber continued to worship Tengri and the Ancestors. Basarab decided to ignore this for now, and planned on demanding conversion when Teber came of age.

Sadly, Basarab would not see that happen, as one day, when he was in the woods with his bodyguard, he was ambushed by a group of highwaymen and killed.

After 15 years of guiding the Pechenegs, Basarab died at the age of 53. He was a military genius, shrewd, tolerant of abrahamic religions, ambitious and proud of himself, having reigned with a mask to cover his disfigured face. For better or for worse, he was dead, and his son Teber succeeded him at the age of 15. Luckily, the regent chosen was none other than Kostas, and Teber could rest easy knowing that until he came of age, the Khaganate was in capable hands.

 

[DensleyBlair]

A Zoroastrian empire would've been so fun. Shame about the premature death the universe obviously had other plans.

 

[mrmagicman2287]

A Zoroastrian empire would've been so fun. Shame about the premature death the universe obviously had other plans.

Oh, I haven't given up on Zoroastrianism just yet.
And it is unfortunate that Basarab died, I really wanted to move the capital before that happened. Oh well, I can probably manage that as Teber.

 

[DensleyBlair]

I am very glad to hear the dream is still alive.

 

[HistoryDude]

A Zoroastrian Empire shall be interesting...

Let’s see how Khan Teber does!

 

[stnylan]

The best laid plans of Pecheneg-men
Get stumped by a crew of highwaymen

 

[mrmagicman2287]

Chapter 10: Live Quick, Die Young
The first year of Teber's reign went smoothly under the watchful eye of his regent, Kostas. Teber came of age, and immediately set his eyes upon finishing his father's plans.

He converted to Zoroastrianism, and immediately married, in addition to having a concubine.

He moved the capital to Tithana, where he started building a series of markets. Teber was quite interested in money and finances, and during his reign would pay careful attention to the treasury.

In order to consolidate his power, he sent his mother away to be re-married to a different Khagan.

It was then that the Fitna would rear it's ugly head once again.

Teber's wife became pregnant with his child, ensuring the Tolui dynasty would live beyond him.

He continued drumming up trade in the new capital.

It was then that Teber's concubine also reported bearing his child. Teber was ecstatic

Teber's mood however quickly soured, as his work piled up. He knew his reign would be spent managing the empire rather than achieving victory on the battlefield, but he underestimated the amount of paperwork piling up on him. He thus started a war to consolidate Persia under his rule, hoping to at least see a battle.

Teber's son was born, and he was named Basarab in honor of his mighty grandfather.

Teber's attention was drawn to two things after receiving a message: That his armies had achieved victory, and that his marshall was a corrupt incompetent thug. He declared that corruption would not be tolerated and replaced him with a more loyal man.

The Sunnis launched yet another revolt which was easily crushed.

Teber's son with his concubine was finally born, and he was named after his father.

Teber continued expanding the markets in the capital, making it the main trading hub connecting the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean with a series of roads branching down from Antioch towards the capital.

Then a treacherous vassal revolted against the rightful rule of Teber.

Before Teber could see this revolt through, however, he became bedridden with slow fever. His court physician managed to cure him, but the wounds inflicted upon Teber would eventually kill him. After leading the Pechenegs for only 4 years, Teber had died of his wounds. A Kurultai then elected his youngest son as Teber II, making the young boy their Emperor. May Ahura Mazda have mercy.

 

[mrmagicman2287]

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Here is the Tolui family tree so far:

And here are the current boundaries of the Empire:

 

[DensleyBlair]

Astonishing work to get to this stage of control over the Near East so quickly, and so far it seems as if the Pechenegs are able to maintain their control pretty handily. Nothing yet certain, though.

 

[HistoryDude]

Nothing is certain. Shame about Teber’s death, but things happen.

Will Teber II launch an invasion of Anatolia? Perhaps the Tolui can restore the might of the Achaemenid Empire? And even get revenge for that empire’s defeat against Alexander by conquering Greece?

 

[mrmagicman2287]

Nothing is certain. Shame about Teber’s death, but things happen.

Will Teber II launch an invasion of Anatolia? Perhaps the Tolui can restore the might of the Achaemenid Empire? And even get revenge for that empire’s defeat against Alexander by conquering Greece?

A good idea, although my reasoning for NOT doing it would be that the Pechenegs don't quite consider themselves Persian.
Thanks for the idea though, seems quite interesting

 

[stnylan]

Well he did not last long. I hope by the time his son attains his majority there will still be a decent realm to restore.

 

[Specialist290]

Teber burned briefly, yet brightly. Always a bit unfortunate when the cure ends up being worse than the disease...

 

[mrmagicman2287]

Well he did not last long. I hope by the time his son attains his majority there will still be a decent realm to restore.

All we can really do is hope.

Teber burned briefly, yet brightly. Always a bit unfortunate when the cure ends up being worse than the disease...

For shame, he could have surpassed his father had he been given more time.

 

[mrmagicman2287]

Chapter 11: Power behind the Throne
It did not take long before another Sunni revolt broke out, but by now they were defeated as quickly as they appeared.

The capital finally bore the fruits of Teber I's hard work, it had become the foremost trading center in the Indian Ocean, and a wealthy merchant Patrician class was starting to appear...

Teber II was nicknamed 'The Inquisitor' due to his victory over the rebellion.

But the real inquisitor was Kostas, his regent, by now very old, and a true power behind the Khagan's throne.

By now, the Arabian Empire had officially been renamed to the Pecheneg Empire, altough it had commonly been refered to as such since Basarab's conquests.

It seemed the young Khagan was getting more independent by the day. At first, he was attacked and maimed by some assassins, whom when subjected to torture revealed that they had been paid by Kostas. Before the Khagan could react, however, he met his end in his sleep, leaving his young brother to become Khagan Basarab II.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Here is the family tree so far:

 

[DensleyBlair]

These khans really are not having the best of luck staying alive. Tough old world out there, evidently.