8: Paradox of Great Powers in History - AI Only Megacampaign Part 1

[KiratRawr]

769

1. Tang Empire

Emperor: Daizong
House: Li
Culture: Han
Religion: Taoist

"Good afternoon, class. I hope you all have the soft copy of the book '8: Paradox of Great Powers in History - Part 1'; which I requested in our first session yesterday...I believe we are now ready to begin our first chapter. We will start with the Tang Empire..."

2. Abbasid Empire​

Capital: Ain Al-Tamur
Caliph: Al-Mansur
Heir: Emir Al-Mahdi of Jibal (Al-Mansur's first son mothered by Empress Arwa)
House: Abbasid
Culture: Bedouin
Religion: Sunni
Great Works: Lighthouse of Alexandria, Great Pyramid of Khufu, Petra and House of Wisdom
Tributary States: Petty Kingdom of Makuria, County of Aydhab, Uqaylid Sultanate, Taghlibid Sultanate, Taid Emirate, Bajanid Emirate and County of Suakin

"The Abbasid Empire began the year 769 by declaring a holy war for Zabulistan against Marzoban Nihaal of Kalat."

3. Byzantine Empire​

Capital: Constantinople
Basileus: Konstantinos V
Heir: Prince Leon (Konstantinos V's first son mothered by Eirene Ashina)
House: Isauros
Culture: Greek
Religion: Iconoclast
Artifacts: Imperial Diadem and Nail of the True Cross
Great Works: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and Hagia Sophia
Tributary State: Duchy of Abkhazia

"The Byzantine Empire also started the year 769 with a holy war. Khagan Baghatur of Khazaria was the target of the Byzantine Holy War for Cherson. A Byzantine army of over 7,000 men led by Strategos Misael of Boukellarion defeated 3,000 Khazars commanded by Iltabar Samsamakh at Theodosia. The same year, Duke Levan II of Abkhazia declared a holy war against Sultan Bakkar of the Uqaylid Sultanate. Abkhazia was a tributary state of the Byzantine Empire and a fellow Iconoclast state. Strategos Misael was given new orders by Basileus Konstantinos V. The strategos routed a much smaller unit led by Sultan Bakkar's Armenian Christian commander Stepanos in Bukistsikhe."

4. Kingdom of West Francia​

Capital: Guise
King: Karl (Carolingian Blood)
Heir: King Karloman of Middle Francia (Karl's younger brother)
House: Karling
Culture: Frankish
Religion: Catholic

"King Karl of West Francia too started the year 769 with a holy war against his neighbor, who was none other than Sultan Abd al-Rahman of the Umayyad Sultanate."

5. Kingdom of Middle Francia​

Capital: Provins
King: Karloman (Carolingian Blood)
Heir: Prince Pepin (Karloman's son mothered by Queen Gerberga)
House: Karling
Culture: Frankish
Religion: Catholic

"Claiming the Bavarian crown for his cousin Karl of Bavaria, King Karloman of Middle Francia waged war against his other cousin King Tassilo III of Bavaria."

6. Empire of Tibet​

Capital: Marpori
Tsenpo: Trisong Detsen (Blood of Songtsen Gampo)
Heir: Prince Purgyal Mutri (Trisong Detsen's first son mothered by Tsenmo Tsepang Magyal Dongkar)
House: Purgyal
Culture: Bodpa
Religion: Buddhist

"Tsenpo Purgyal Trisong Detsen of Tibet, meanwhile, declared war upon Maharaja Balavarman II of the Mlechchha Kingdom to make him his tributary."

7. Umayyad Sultanate​

Capital: Alcolea
Sultan: Abd-al-Rahman
Heir: Emir Abd-al-Rahman of Toledo (Sultan Abd-al-Rahman's first son)
House: Umayyad
Culture: Bedouin
Religion: Sunni

"The Umayyad Holy War for Castille started with Sultan Abd-al-Rahman's Basque vassal, Sheikh Muza of Najera, emerging victorious against King Aurelio of Asturias; whose army was led by Baron Mauregato of San Pedro de Perix at the Battle of Segovia."

8. Kingdom of Lombardy​

Capital: Pavia
King: Desiderius
Heir: Prince Adelchis (Desiderius' son mothered by Queen Ansia)
House: Alachisling
Culture: Lombard
Religion: Catholic
Artifacts: Iron Crown of Lombardy
Tributary State: Duchy of Benevento

"In 769, the Lombard king Desideius declared a holy war against the Slavic pagans of Croatia. A Christian force of over 5,000 men led by Prince-Bishop Tato of Trent overwhelmed the tribal warriors of the Croatian High Chief Senulat of Slavonia."

 

[KiratRawr]

Hello everyone and welcome to this AI only megacampaign's CK2 part!

Last time, I did Displaying the Decades (CK3 and EU4) where I marked important events of every decade...

Displaying the Decades - AI Only Megacampaign Part 1

EU4: Part 2 870s "Let's talk about the most important event of the 870s. As you can see on this map, King Charles the Bald of West Francia conquered the lands in the Kingdom of East Francia that were held by his brother Ludwig the German."...

forum.paradoxplaza.com

We are going to do it year by year this time around.

 

[Idhrendur]

Following

 

[KiratRawr]

Following

Aye, welcome!

 

[HistoryDude]

Interesting...

It seems as if everybody likes the holy wars this time around.

I wonder how the situation with Karl and Karloman will go...

 

[Bullfilter]

Interesting concept. Will you be follow,ing these powers through, or swapping around from chapter to chapter?

 

[KiratRawr]

770

1. Tang Empire

Emperor: Daizong
House: Li
Culture: Han
Religion: Taoist

"We will start today's class with a look at the Tang Empire again..."

2. Abbasid Empire​

Capital: Ain Al-Tamur
Caliph: Al-Mansur
Heir: Emir Al-Mahdi of Jibal (Al-Mansur's first son mothered by Empress Arwa)
House: Abbasid
Culture: Bedouin
Religion: Sunni
Great Works: Lighthouse of Alexandria, Great Pyramid of Khufu, Petra and House of Wisdom
Tributary States: Petty Kingdom of Makuria, County of Aydhab, Uqaylid Sultanate, Taghlibid Sultanate, Taid Emirate, Bajanid Emirate and County of Suakin

"In the final month of the year 770, a rebellion against the tyranny of Caliph Al-Mansur began. The rebels were led by Khalid of Barmakid Satrapy. The Patriarch of the East, Ya'qob II, declared Nestorian Christian support for Khalid's rebellion."

3. Byzantine Empire​

Capital: Constantinople
Basileus: Konstantinos V
Heir: Prince Leon (Konstantinos V's first son mothered by Eirene Ashina)
House: Isauros
Culture: Greek
Religion: Iconoclast
Artifacts: Imperial Diadem and Nail of the True Cross
Great Works: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and Hagia Sophia
Tributary State: Duchy of Abkhazia

"Although a small Byzantine unit led by Basileus Konstantinos V himself were defeated in a battle by Khazars under the command of Kundac Ashina earlier that year, the empire struck back with the arrival of reinforcements."

4. Kingdom of Middle Francia​

Capital: Provins
King: Karloman (Carolingian Blood)
Heir: Prince Pepin (Karloman's son mothered by Queen Gerberga)
House: Karling
Culture: Frankish
Religion: Catholic

"As the war between King Karloman of Middle Francia and his cousin King Tassilo III reached its second year, the latter had his family taken as prisoners of war. Four years old Prince Theodo of Bavaria was kept as a hostage by Karloman while the boy's mother Queen Liutperga had become a captive of Duke Hnabi of Alemannia, Karloman's vassal."

5. Kingdom of West Francia​

Capital: Guise
King: Karl (Carolingian Blood)
Heir: King Karloman of Middle Francia (Karl's younger brother)
House: Karling
Culture: Frankish
Religion: Catholic

"The Battle of Pamplona between the invasion force led by King Karl of West Francia and a Muslim army under the command of Sultan Abd-al-Rahman's Basque vassal Sheikh Muza of Najera. Both sides had fielded nearly 5,000 men on the battlefield but the Christians ended up emerging victorious. Sheikh Hakam of Navarra, Wali Zafir of Tamisa and the entire family of Sheikh Muza from his mother to his two wives to his two infant sons to even his brother and uncles and their wives were all captured as prisoners in the aftermath of the battle."

6. Empire of Tibet

Capital: Marpori
Tsenpo: Trisong Detsen (Blood of Songtsen Gampo)
Heir: Prince Purgyal Mutri (Trisong Detsen's first son mothered by Tsenmo Tsepang Magyal Dongkar)
House: Purgyal
Culture: Bodpa
Religion: Buddhist
Tributary State: Mlechchha Kingdom

"Tsenpo Purgyal Trisong Detsen managed to make the Mlechchha Kingdom a tributary state of Tibet but he was severely injured while fighting in the war."

7. Umayyad Sultanate​

Capital: Alcolea
Sultan: Abd-al-Rahman
Heir: Emir Abd-al-Rahman of Toledo (Sultan Abd-al-Rahman's first son)
House: Umayyad
Culture: Bedouin
Religion: Sunni

"The Umayyad Sultanate may been defeated earlier that year in the Battle of Pamplona against King Karl of West Francia, but they were far more successful against their other Christian enemy: King Aurelio of Asturias. In the Battle of Valladolid, Umayyad forces commanded by Sheikh Marwan of Uhshunubah defeated a much larger Christian army led by Baron Mauregato of San Pedro de Perix."

8. Kingdom of Lombardy​

Capital: Pavia
King: Desiderius
Heir: Prince Adelchis (Desiderius' son mothered by Queen Ansia)
House: Alachisling
Culture: Lombard
Religion: Catholic
Artifacts: Iron Crown of Lombardy
Tributary State: Duchy of Benevento

"Pope Stephanus III surprised everyone, particularly the Lombard king Desiderius, when he announced a Christian defensive pact against Lombardy. It was particularly ironic since the coronation of Desiderius had been performed by none other than the pope himself. The Bishop of Rome had even approved of the Lombard king's holy war against the Slavic pagans of Croatia just a year ago. It is known that the Papacy laid claims to many of the Italian territories."

 

[KiratRawr]

Interesting...

It seems as if everybody likes the holy wars this time around.

I wonder how the situation with Karl and Karloman will go...

That we shall have to find out

Interesting concept. Will you be follow,ing these powers through, or swapping around from chapter to chapter?

Initially, it will be only these eight powers but empires rise and fall. I am sure that by 15th Century begins, most of these eight powers or heck, even all of them except China, will no longer remain in the top 8 (we will have to see though).

That said, I will try to keep things interesting by highlighting the enemies of these eight powers (except China again) and special events like Crusades or Turkic/Mongol/Aztec invasions.

 

[KiratRawr]

Apparently, the real Pope Stephanus III was also wary of Lombard expansions

Pope Stephen III - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[stnylan]

Sounds interesting

 

[HistoryDude]

The Lombards seem to have some trouble here. Given how well the Carolingians are doing, I wonder if they'll take advantage of the Pope's move.

Byzantium is doing well, and the cracks in the Ummah are showing.

 

[KiratRawr]

Sounds interesting

Aye, welcome.

The Lombards seem to have some trouble here. Given how well the Carolingians are doing, I wonder if they'll take advantage of the Pope's move.

Byzantium is doing well, and the cracks in the Ummah are showing.

I wonder the same.

 

[KanadeSomeone]

Following!

 

[KiratRawr]

771

1. Tang Empire

Emperor: Daizong
House: Li
Culture: Han
Religion: Taoist

"By 771, the unrest in the Tang Empire had ended and China was stable again."

2. Kingdom of West Francia​

Capital: Guise
King: Karl (Carolingian Blood)
Heir: Pepin Karling (Karl's nephew)
House: Karling
Culture: Frankish
Religion: Catholic

"On 14 February of the year 771, King Karloman of Middle Francia died at the age of just 20. Despite the death occuring all of a sudden, most sources of the time considered it to have been of natural causes and often cited a severe nosebleed as the reason for Karloman's death. His widow, Gerberga de Betoricas, had expected her infant son Pepin to become king and for herself to rule as his regent. However, Frankish nobles had other plans. They invited Karloman's elder brother, King Karl of West Francia, to annex his brother's territories and Gerberga was forced to join the Benedictine Order. Since Karl was still unmarried and had two bastard children who were barred from inheritance, his nephew Pepin was declared his heir for the time being."

3. Abbasid Empire​

Capital: Ain Al-Tamur
Caliph: Al-Mansur
Heir: Emir Al-Mahdi of Jibal (Al-Mansur's first son mothered by Empress Arwa)
House: Abbasid
Culture: Bedouin
Religion: Sunni
Great Works: Lighthouse of Alexandria, Great Pyramid of Khufu, Petra and House of Wisdom
Tributary States: Petty Kingdom of Makuria, County of Aydhab, Uqaylid Sultanate, Taghlibid Sultanate, Taid Emirate, Bajanid Emirate and County of Suakin

"In the year 771, the rebels under Khalid of Barmakid Satrapy managed to seize control of several key Abbasid holdings."

4. Byzantine Empire​

Capital: Constantinople
Basileus: Konstantinos V
Heir: Prince Leon (Konstantinos V's first son mothered by Eirene Ashina)
House: Isauros
Culture: Greek
Religion: Iconoclast
Artifacts: Imperial Diadem and Nail of the True Cross
Great Works: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and Hagia Sophia
Tributary State: Duchy of Abkhazia

"In 771, Byzantine forces led by Strategos Misael of Boukellarion were defeated at the Battle of Neapol by a Khazar army under the command of Kundac Ashina. This was the second defeat inflicted by this brilliant Khazar strategist in the war and this outcome reversed the tide of the war against the Byzantines."

5. Empire of Tibet​

Capital: Marpori
Tsenpo: Trisong Detsen (Blood of Songtsen Gampo)
Heir: Prince Purgyal Mutri (Trisong Detsen's first son mothered by Tsenmo Tsepang Magyal Dongkar)
House: Purgyal
Culture: Bodpa
Religion: Buddhist
Tributary State: Mlechchha Kingdom

"Having made Maharaja Balavarman II of the Mlechchha Kingdom his tributary, Tsenpo Purgyal Trisong Detsen of Tibet decided add another Indian kingdom to his collection of tributary states. Thus, Tibet went to war against a fellow Buddhist state: the Pala Kingdom of Maharaja Dharmapala. The young maharaja led the Pala army himself and defeated a Tibetan invasion force commanded by Thupo Ashoka of the Patola Sahi Raj, Trisong Detsen's Punjabi vassal, at the Battle of Yavamajjhaka."

6. Umayyad Sultanate​

Capital: Alcolea
Sultan: Abd-al-Rahman II
Heir: Prince Abdul-Gafur (Abd-al-Rahman II's son mothered by Sultana Souzan)
House: Umayyad
Culture: Bedouin
Religion: Sunni
Artifacts: Hand of a Famous Holy Man

"Sultan Abd-al-Rahman, the founder of the Umayyad Sultanate, died a mangled mess on 12 August 771 at the age of 40. The Falcon of Quraysh was succeeded by his eldest son who shared his name. Immediately after the new sultan's ascension, his vassal Sheikh Marwan of Uhshunubah defeated the army of King Karl of West Francia at the Battle of Logrono."

7. Kingdom of Lombardy​

Capital: Pavia
King: Desiderius
Heir: Prince Adelchis (Desiderius' son mothered by Queen Ansia)
House: Alachisling
Culture: Lombard
Religion: Catholic
Artifacts: Iron Crown of Lombardy
Tributary State: Duchy of Benevento

"On 25 August 771, Pope Stephanus III died from an infected wound at the age of 71 and the so-called Christian defensive pact against Lombardy died with him as well. The new pope, Hadrianus, still laid claims to several Italian territories held by the Lombard king Desiderius but decided that the slow fever epidemic in Rome was more concerning for the Papacy at the moment."

8. Rashtrakuta Kingdom​

Capital: Bidar
Maharaja: Krishna
Heir: Thakur Govinda of Lattalura (Krishna's first son)
House: Rashtrakuta
Culture: Kannada
Religion: Hindu

"In 771, Thakur Dhruva of Devagiri's revolt against his father Krishna Rashtrakuta ended. Dhruva was the second son of Maharaja Krishna and had been aided in his revolt by his son Raja Karkka of Lata, his elder brother Thakur Govinda of Lattalura and his Marathi relative Raja Fatehsinh of Rashtrakuta Raj as well as Raja Vinayaditya Yuddhamalla the Just of the Vemulavada Chalukya Raj and Raja Sanahapulla of the Silahara Raj. Interestingly, the maharaja forgave Dhruva for the revolt but neither his heir Govinda nor his grandson Karkka were released from their imprisonment. Fatehsinh was thrown into a snake pit and the maharaja seized his lands after the man died from the venomous bites of the Big Four. The Just and Sanahapulla were also left to rot in the dungeons."

 

[KiratRawr]

Following!

Warm welcome!

 

[KiratRawr]

Big Four (Indian snakes) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[KiratRawr]

772

1. Tang Empire

Emperor: Daizong
House: Li
Culture: Han
Religion: Taoist
Tributary State: Karkota Kingdom

"The Karkota Kingdom had been fighting against invaders from the Taghlibid Sultanate since 769. In the year 772, Maharaja Samgramapida decided to make his kingdom a tributary state of China in order to protect it from future Islamic invasions."

2. Kingdom of West Francia​

Capital: Guise
King: Karl (Carolingian Blood)
Heir: Pepin Karling (Karl's nephew)
House: Karling
Culture: Frankish
Religion: Catholic

"Having won the Holy War for Navarra against the Umayyad Sultanate, King Karl of West Francia shifted his focus east to his cousin King Tassilo III of Bavaria. Karl claimed the Kingdom of Bavaria for himself and went to war with his cousin for it."

3. Abbasid Empire​

Capital: Ain Al-Tamur
Caliph: Al-Mansur
Heir: Emir Al-Mahdi of Jibal (Al-Mansur's first son mothered by Empress Arwa)
House: Abbasid
Culture: Bedouin
Religion: Sunni
Great Works: Lighthouse of Alexandria, Great Pyramid of Khufu, Petra and House of Wisdom
Tributary States: Petty Kingdom of Makuria, County of Aydhab, Uqaylid Sultanate, Taghlibid Sultanate, Taid Emirate, Bajanid Emirate and County of Suakin

"In 772, even more cities in the Abbasid Empire came under the control of the rebels led by Khalid of Barmakid Satrapy."

4. Byzantine Empire​

Capital: Constantinople
Basileus: Konstantinos V
Heir: Prince Leon (Konstantinos V's first son mothered by Eirene Ashina)
House: Isauros
Culture: Greek
Religion: Iconoclast
Artifacts: Imperial Diadem and Nail of the True Cross
Great Works: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and Hagia Sophia
Tributary State: Duchy of Abkhazia

"In 772, a Byzantine army led by Basileus Konstantinos V himself were defeated in battle by Khazars under the command of Kundac Ashina. With this, the brilliant Khazar stratgeist had now routed Byzantine armies in three different battles."

5. Umayyad Sultanate​

Capital: Alcolea
Sultan: Abd-al-Rahman II
Heir: Emir Abdul-Gafur of Seville (Abd-al-Rahman II's son mothered by Sultana Souzan)
House: Umayyad
Culture: Bedouin
Religion: Sunni
Artifacts: Hand of a Famous Holy Man

"Early in the year, the Iberian Christians managed to defeat a smaller Umayyad unit at the Battle of Soria. King Aurelio of Asturias, perhaps emboldened by this victory, decided to send some of his forces to north invade West Francia instead. Aurelio, who saw King Karl of West Francia as an equal threat to the sultanate to his south, had proclaimed his support for King Tassilo III of Bavaria in his defensive war against Karl. This decision would prove costly for Aurelio and his kingdom as the Umayyad army under the leadership of Emir Marwan of the Qashid Emirate defeated Christian forced led by Baron Mauregato of San Pedro de Perix at the Battle of Burgos."

6. Kingdom of Lombardy​

Capital: Pavia
King: Desiderius
Heir: Prince Adelchis (Desiderius' son mothered by Queen Ansia)
House: Alachisling
Culture: Lombard
Religion: Catholic
Artifacts: Iron Crown of Lombardy
Tributary State: Duchy of Benevento

"Taking advantage of the Byzantine troubles in their war against the Khazars, King Desiderius of Lombardy declared war against Basileus Konstantinos V. While the Lombard king held control over the County of Zadar, which he had seized two years earlier from Slavic pagans of the area; the city of Diadora within the county had pledged their loyalty to the Byzantine Empire. Thus, the Lombard king went to war against the basileus for this one city."

7. Rashtrakuta Kingdom​

Capital: Bidar
Maharaja: Krishna
Heir: Thakur Govinda of Lattalura (Krishna's first son)
House: Rashtrakuta
Culture: Kannada
Religion: Hindu

"In 772, a Jain man named Venkatapathi became the leader of a peasant rebellion against Maharaja Krishna of the Rashtrakuta Kingdom."

8. Empire of Tibet​

Capital: Marpori
Tsenpo: Trisong Detsen (Blood of Songtsen Gampo)
Heir: Prince Purgyal Mutri (Trisong Detsen's first son mothered by Tsenmo Tsepang Magyal Dongkar)
House: Purgyal
Culture: Bodpa
Religion: Buddhist
Tributary State: Mlechchha Kingdom

"After the Tibetan army of over 5,000 men was defeated at the Battle of Birgunj by a much smaller Pala unit led by Maharaja Dharmapala himself, Tong Ataklumo the Lionheart of Nagchu decided that the time was right for independence from Tsenpo Purgyal Trisong Detsen. The Lionheart was also the Heroine of the Sentinels of Light, a society of Bon warrior clans, and many members of this warrior society joined her war."

 

[HistoryDude]

Tibet's having trouble in India.

The Christians in Iberia are divided, and it's nice (if predictable) that Francia is reunited...

The Khazars seem to be defeating Byzantium, and the Abbasid Caliphate is still collapsing.

 

[stnylan]

The East Romans do seem to be experiencing a bit of Khazar trouble to be sure.

 

[KiratRawr]

773

1. Tang Empire

Emperor: Daizong
House: Li
Culture: Han
Religion: Taoist
Tributary State: Karkota Kingdom

"As usual, we shall begin our class with a look at the Tang Empire..."

2. Kingdom of West Francia​

Capital: Guise
King: Karl (Carolingian Blood)
Heir: Pepin Karling (Karl's nephew)
House: Karling
Culture: Frankish
Religion: Catholic

"Two battles between the invaders from West Francia and the Bavarian defenders took place at Donauworth in the year 773. Led by Duke Guillaume of Toulouse, the invaders overwhelmed their enemies and emerged victorious at both battles."

3. Abbasid Empire​

Capital: Ain Al-Tamur
Caliph: Al-Mansur
Heir: Emir Al-Mahdi of Jibal (Al-Mansur's first son mothered by Empress Arwa)
House: Abbasid
Culture: Bedouin
Religion: Sunni
Great Works: Lighthouse of Alexandria, Great Pyramid of Khufu, Petra and House of Wisdom
Tributary States: Petty Kingdom of Makuria, County of Aydhab, Uqaylid Sultanate, Taghlibid Sultanate, Taid Emirate, Bajanid Emirate and County of Suakin

"The Abbasid Empire finally struck back at the rebels in the Battle of Tehran. The rebels numbered around 5,000 and stood no chance against the over 12,000 Abbasid soldiers under the command of the Persian Emir Muhammad of the Marwazid Satrapy. We now know that Caliph Al-Mansur had been plotting to kill Emir Muhammad in order to seize his lands. We can only assume that the caliph wanted to get rid of his Persian vassal by appointing him as the commander of his army with hopes that the man would get killed in the battlefield."

4. Byzantine Empire​

Capital: Constantinople
Basileus: Konstantinos V
Heir: Prince Leon (Konstantinos V's first son mothered by Eirene Ashina)
House: Isauros
Culture: Greek
Religion: Iconoclast
Artifacts: Imperial Diadem and Nail of the True Cross
Great Works: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and Hagia Sophia
Tributary State: Duchy of Abkhazia

"Byzantine forces were getting routed in battle after battle by Khazar strategist Kundac Ashina. The Lombards had invaded a year earlier, demanding the city of Diadora. Emboldened by these Byzantine failures and the news that Basileus Konstantinos V was now suffering from cancer, High Chief Budimir of Epirus declared his own war against the empire for Dyrrachion. Serbian warriors led by Mayor Rastko of Spinarizza were ambushed in their camp at Avlonas by a small group of Byzantine soldiers under the command of Strategos Demetrios of Aegean Islands. The ambush was a failure as the entire Serbian camp was alerted by the death of a guard. Only the strategos himself managed to escape alive while the Byzantine soldiers perished."

5. Umayyad Sultanate​

Capital: Alcolea
Sultan: Abd-al-Rahman II
Heir: Emir Abdul-Gafur of Seville (Abd-al-Rahman II's son mothered by Sultana Souzan)
House: Umayyad
Culture: Bedouin
Religion: Sunni
Artifacts: Hand of a Famous Holy Man

"In 773, Emir Marwan of the Qashid Emirate led Ummayad forces to victory at the Battle of Gormaz against an Iberian Christian army led by Baron Mauregato of San Pedro de Perix."

6. Kingdom of Lombardy​

Capital: Pavia
King: Desiderius
Heir: Prince Adelchis (Desiderius' son mothered by Queen Ansia)
House: Alachisling
Culture: Lombard
Religion: Catholic
Artifacts: Iron Crown of Lombardy
Tributary State: Duchy of Benevento

"In 773, after occupying Byzantine holdings at the border, the Lombard army was ordered by their king Desiderius to march further into enemy territory."

7. Rashtrakuta Kingdom​

Capital: Devagiri
Maharaja: Krishna
Heir: Thakur Govinda of Lattalura (Krishna's first son)
House: Rashtrakuta
Culture: Kannada
Religion: Hindu

"In the year 773, Maharaja Krishna of the Rashtrakuta Kingdom shifted his capital north from Bidar to Devagiri so that he could interfere in the affairs of north Indian kingdoms. The south Indian great power wasted no time in waging war against Raja Krishnaraja of the Cedi Raj after he refused to become a Rashtrakuta vassal. The Cedi Raj was the tributary state of Maharaja Vajrayudha the Purifier of the Ayudha Kingdom and he joined the Cedis in this war against the Kannada invaders."

8. Empire of Tibet​

Capital: Marpori
Tsenpo: Trisong Detsen (Blood of Songtsen Gampo)
Heir: Prince Purgyal Mutri (Trisong Detsen's first son mothered by Tsenmo Tsepang Magyal Dongkar)
House: Purgyal
Culture: Bodpa
Religion: Buddhist
Tributary State: Mlechchha Kingdom

"In 773, a third Tibetan invasion force under the command of Thupo Pangong Bhuti of Maryul was repelled by a much smaller Pala army led by Maharaja Dharmapala himself at the Battle of Mithila."