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Aw man i missed the transition to CK3.
Still, great work so far, ill watch with keen interest.
Still, great work so far, ill watch with keen interest.
- 2
Did Barchus die between the time of the council and the plague outbreak?
Did the war in Italy continue after Darius' death?
- 1
He was a man indeed blessed. In the light of history, I'm not sure whether most would consider him a goodly man. The persecution and strict orthodoxy he enforced caused much suffering and historians still struggle to estimate the death toll in Dacia after his crusade. The example he set would reverberate for centuries and continue the religious strife the region is famous for till this day. Despite that, he was a hero to Christians and a beloved saint for most of the faithful, and the most iconic examples of Orthodox architecture date from this period.
Never too late to start following along. I hope your exams went well and you have more time to continue your AAR.
Barchus was replaced by Darius after what he viewed as the Patriarch's failure at the Council of Dyrrachion. It's another example of the change in power dynamics between the two seats from the days of Astaphernes Argead.
The wars in Italy will continue under Orodes III who sought to fulfil his father's dream of expanding the universal empire/church.
- 2
Just caught up with the CKIII section here. Eager to see where this goes. I know from the prologue there will be another nadir for the dynasty, but they came back twice before, and so shall they a third time!
- 2
The Tragedy of Orodes III (623 AD – 667 AD)
The Tragedy of Orodes III (623 AD – 667 AD)
From The Lay of Orodes [1]
A king he was, a star of morning light,
Whose splendour shone more brilliant than the night.
Tempered of soul, a vessel pure and deep,
His wisdom flowed like rivers, calm and steep.
Diligence his crown, a jewel rare and bright,
He toiled unceasing through the darkest night.
With heart aflame, a lion bold and strong,
He faced all perils, vanquished every wrong.
His beauty, like the rose in morning dew,
Enchanted hearts with every glance anew.
A paragon of kings, a noble sight,
Whose fame resounded through the day and night.
When the Macedonian, the Greek, in wild unrest,
Challenged his rule, a perilous test.
A plague descended, a spectral, icy hand,
Scythe of destruction across the ravaged land.
His youth was painted with the hues of dawn,
A prince of promise, on a lofty throne.
Yet, shadows crept, a malady unseen,
That marred his splendour, a grotesque queen.
To purge this darkness, a cruel cure was sought,
His form distorted, his spirit fraught.
A king transformed, a monstrous, twisted frame,
Yet, in his heart, a flicker still remained.
Through trials of fire, his spirit did endure,
Conquering foes, a steadfast overture.
To Italy’s shores, his banner proudly flew,
Rome’s seven hills, beneath his eagle’s view.
The papal throne, a vacant, mournful seat,
As fear and chaos filled the trembling street.
The holy father, to Sardinia’s coast,
A captive exile, his spirit sorely lost.
A new star rose, a desert’s fiery birth,
A creed of steel, a sword to cleave the earth.
The Arab hordes, with fervour uncontrolled,
Swept through the sands, their banners bold.
At Kerak’s gates, a titan stood alone,
Orodes, the scarred, the steadfast, iron-throned.
A clash of empires, a titanic fight,
The crescent waned before the morning light.
But madness crept, a serpent in his mind,
A king unhinged, by shadows intertwined.
His heart, a vessel, shattered by despair,
As darkness claimed him, leaving none to care.
Three sons inherited his fractured realm,
A crown divided, a kingdom doomed to whelm.
The silver sun, once bright, now dimmed and cold,
As Orodes’ story became a song to mourn.
Early Reign of Orodes
Assuming power as a youth and guided by his regent-brother, Darius [2], the young Emperor was forced to put down Macedonian uprisings in the middle of the plague. The region had always been prone to a streak of independence and free-booting, often raiding other lands within the empire and the local powerbrokers had only handed over tribute and taxes grudgingly. Now, due to the food shortages caused by the plague, their grievances had boiled over and they rose en masse and sought to free themselves of the Achaemenid yoke.
Orodes put down the rebels firmly, executing the ringleaders and decimating the followers. It had been two years of fighting and sickness and the rebellion subsided together with the worst of the plague. Orodes would sponsor rebuilding work across his empire including Macedonia. Despite the early loss of his father, the boy seemed set to follow the example of the Steward Kings.
Crete, ruled by a lesser line of the Bagratids, House Abtin, would pledge fealty to Orodes as he attained adulthood, aware that it was better to submit on peaceful terms then risk a war of conquest as the Achaemenids continued in their quest to reassemble their once might empire. For Orodes would continue to expand his family’s great legacy. Beyond Crete, he would continue the Italian wars, eventually subduing all of Cisalpine Gaul and the kingdom Tushpa in Armenia would become client kings of the Achaemenids, dependent on them for protection against eastern aggression.
Building the Myth of the Blessed King
Orodes did not concern himself with only conquest. The Achaemenid court had already regained much of its prestige during his father’s and grandfather’s reign but he sought to push it to new heights. Throughout his reign, he sponsored adventurers and explorers to seek new artefacts and creatures from far-off places. Achaemeniyya was soon home to a menagerie housing giraffes, elephants, tigers and hundreds of exotic birds. Orodes would allow the residents free access to the menagerie and often used it to awe diplomats into submission.
The emperor would also set forth on his own adventures and there’s many a tale of the gallant king who fought great monsters or defeated evil tyrants in distant places. Here we have the tale of Orodes defeating a demon from the Achaenameh as he travelled into the far north to learn of his fate. A shepherd came to the King’s encampment and asked for his favour:
"A wild ass is broken in among my horses, and he doeth great mischief, for his breath is like unto a lion. Send forth, therefore, I entreat of thee, O King of Kings, a warrior of thine host that he may slay him."
Now Orodes, when he had listened, knew that this was not a wild ass but the Deev (demon) Agares, who had taken this disguise upon him. So the king set forth in search of the Deev, and he was mounted upon Furcas his steed. And in his hand was the Sword of Mah, and round his wrist was rolled a cord of length. And he went in search of the wild ass, and when he had found him he threw his cord about him. But the ass vanished under his hands. Then Orodes knew that it was a Deev, and that he fought against the arts of magic. Yet was he not dismayed. And after a while the ass came forth again, and Rostam threw his cord once more about him. And yet again the Deev vanished under his hand. And thus did the Deev three days and three nights without ceasing, so that weariness came upon Orodes and he was heavy with slumber. So he sought out a spot of safety and he laid him down to rest, and he bade Furcas browse beside him.
Now when the Deev saw that Orodes was sleeping, he drew nigh and loosened the earth whereon he lay, and lifted it and placed it upon his head, that he might cast it away and destroy Orodes. But as he carried him Orodes awoke, and when he saw what was come to pass he feared that his hour was come. And the Deev, when he beheld that Orodes was awakened, spake, and said unto him-
"O hero-king, which death dost thou covet? Shall I fling thee down upon the mountain or cast thee into the sea?"
Now Orodes knew that the Deev questioned him in wile, and he bethought him that he would of a surety do that which Orodes desired not, so he said-
"I have heard it said that it is not given to those that perish in the waters to look upon the face of the Christ or to find rest in the life that is beyond."
Then the Deev said, "I desire that thou know not repose."
And he flung him into the sea at a spot where hungry crocodiles would devour him.
Now Orodes, when he felt the water beneath him, forthwith drew out his sword and combated the crocodiles with his right hand, and with his left he swam towards the shore. And long did he struggle and sore, but when the night was fallen he put his foot upon the dry land. Then, when he had given thanks unto God and rested him, he returned unto the spot where he had found the Deev. And he sought after Furcas his steed, and his eye beheld him not. Then fear filled his spirit, and he roamed around to seek him. And he found him at last among the horses of the Scythians, that grazed in a spot hard by, for the keepers had ensnared him. But when Furcas heard the voice of Orodes he neighed aloud, and brake from the keepers and ran towards his master. And Orodes put the saddle upon him and mounted him. Then he slew the keepers and took their herds unto himself.
Now when it was done the Deev came forth again, for he thought he could quell Orodes now that he was weary. But Orodes sprang on him and crushed him, and he was slain at his hands. But the Deev pronounced his doom with his dying breath.
“Thou seek immortality but the waters shall pass but thou will be left behind the currents.”
The King was sorely vexed by the prophecy and sought wise men out who could change his fate. From that day forth, Orodes crossed no sea, river or sea for fear had taken his heart.
Orodes did not just spread his faith and empire through war. Diplomacy was another weapon he wielded ably like his exchange of letters with the heathen conquerors of Ravenna. The great Viking Gamall who had captured the city from the failing Romans renounced his pagan ways and converted to Christianity and submitted to the rightful ruler of the world.
In 653 AD, a visitor from Persia arrived in court seeking out the famed Emperor of the Christians. Telling a tale of how Persians were once ruled by a fabled lineage who ruled justly and righteously, this man was amazed to discover that the Achaemenids still lived and urged Orodes to return to Persia to restore order in their lands, now suffering disorder and brigandage. From the Byzantine’s perspective, they were shocked that Persia had forgotten the Achaemenid claim and that their grand empire had become a tale of myth and legend. Orodes promised he would return.
The Arab Invasion and Orodes’ Descent into Madness
Before Orodes could make good on his vow to subjugate Persia, a new threat arose in the South. In the deserts of Arabia, a preacher named the Prophet had arisen and united the disparate tribes of the desert into a powerful army. [3] The Prophet spoke of how Allah (their name for God) had delivered His message to him through an angel. It was a powerful message that lived on even after his passing. The death of Prophet in 652 CE presented a critical juncture. Yet, under the leadership of his sons, the Rashidun Caliphs, [4] the Islamic state continued to expand. The Arab tribes, once divided by blood feuds, were now united by a shared faith and a common purpose and marched forth to claim Jerusalem for Allah.
Orodes marched forth to meet them and at the Battle of Kerak, he won a decisive victory over the Muslim vanguard. Fortifying the passes from the desert, skirmishers and sieges would rage in Jordania and Sinai but the Muslims could not find a way past the well-drilled Byzantine armies. The Caliph, the Prophet’s son, Husam would eventually agree to a white peace but vowed they would return to fulfil Allah’s demand.
For the rest of his reign, Orodes would discount the growing Arab threat, even as it expanded into Mesopotamia and Persia proper to the detriment of his son and successor.
Upon his return from Arabia, the Emperor fell deathly ill, stricken by convulsions and rot at his extremities. His brother, Darius together with Empress Kallimache treated him but the outcome was horrific. Orodes’s skin was scourged off and he lost his right hand due to extreme gangrene. The once beautiful Silver King would hide his hideous visage behind an ornately carved silver mask.
The illness and treatment had affected more than just the emperor’s body. His mind was disturbed and there was a marked change in his personality from this period before. He would develop a proclivity for torture and his once glorious court became more and more secretive.
The people of Achaemeniyya would hear terrifying tales of him dining on human flesh and how the Collector had replaced many of his courtiers with grotesqueries while the Arabs claimed this was a curse from Allah for defying His will. His reign became more cruel and one of his last great acts was commanding his armies to capture the Pope and Rome for refusing to accept the supremacy of Achaemeniyya. While he captured St Peters, the Pope escaped and established a church in exile in Sardinia. This was the final nail into the East-West Church schism and the Catholics would refuse to come to the aid of the Orthodox in their time of need in the decades ahead.
Orodes seemed to be a man in conflict with himself. The earlier years of glory only reminded him of the monster he had become and his dark urges now only abated the stresses of rule temporarily. One night, the Silver King would collapse in his study. His brother pronounced him dead on the spot as a massive heart attack had ended his reign. Without a clear succession plan, the empire was split between his three sons and time of the Steward Kings came to an end.
====================================
[1] An early medieval Byzantine poem dating from the 9th century. It outlines the life of Orodes, son of Darius and it became popular as many elements of Orodes’ life echo the fate of the Achaemenid Empire after his death. Often sung by frontier soldiers, it and others gave rise to the genre of Akritic songs. Written in Medieval Greek, the Acritic songs deal with the heroic deeds of marcher warriors who lived near the frontiers of the Caliphate and Al-Anatolia and fought against the enemy. The constant state of war in the region and the repeated confrontations with the Muslims inspired poets to write down tales of chivalry as a response to a society that wished to be informed or hear details, whether factual or imaginary, of the adventures caused by enemy invasions or of the martial valour of their countrymen who drove the enemy out. The fate of the local civilians — who after each invasion often had to face the loss of family members as well as their own pain — is also a major theme.
[2] Darius III continued the practice of choosing the best candidate among his sons to take the throne instead of accepting simple primogeniture. The oldest, Darius, accepted his father’s decision and served his kingly brother ably throughout his reign as regent and physician. The practice would inspire later Achaemenid Kings but it was unevenly practiced and prone to favouritism. Thus it’s why the histories only consider Otaspes, Darius and Orodes as the three Steward Kings of the Achaemenid Empire.
[3] Before the advent of Islam, the Arabian Peninsula was a mosaic of tribes, each a world unto itself, bound by kinship and loyalty but often at odds with their neighbours. These tribes, hardened by the desert's unforgiving embrace, were fiercely independent, their lives governed by a complex code of honour and revenge. Into this fragmented landscape emerged the Prophet, a man of profound spiritual insight. His message, a monotheistic vision centred on the singular worship of Allah, resonated with a population weary of polytheism and tribal strife. Over time, the Prophet’s following grew, a nucleus of believers bound by a common faith.
The Meccan establishment, threatened by the growing influence of Islam, persecuted the Prophet and his followers. This adversity served to strengthen their resolve, forging an unbreakable bond. In a daring move known as the Hijrah, the Prophet and his companions migrated to Medina, a city eager for a unifying force. Here, the Prophet laid the foundation for a new kind of community, the Ummah. This was a brotherhood of faith that transcended tribal affiliations. Through a series of military campaigns, the nascent Muslim community gradually asserted its dominance over the Arabian Peninsula. The conquest of Mecca, the city that had once rejected Muhammad, marked a turning point. With the Kaaba, the holiest site of Arabian paganism, cleansed of idols, the peninsula was unified under the banner of Islam.
[4] The succession of the Caliphate was a complicated matter as there were two factions who sought to continue the prophet’s legacy – one said it should continue from father to son like the traditional way of kings while the other believed the Prophet had anointed his son-in-law, Ali, as his chosen successor. The first faction won the initial struggle for control and forced the Party of Ali, the Shi’ites into a long exile before they returned resurgent in the 10th century.
From The Lay of Orodes [1]
A king he was, a star of morning light,
Whose splendour shone more brilliant than the night.
Tempered of soul, a vessel pure and deep,
His wisdom flowed like rivers, calm and steep.
Diligence his crown, a jewel rare and bright,
He toiled unceasing through the darkest night.
With heart aflame, a lion bold and strong,
He faced all perils, vanquished every wrong.
His beauty, like the rose in morning dew,
Enchanted hearts with every glance anew.
A paragon of kings, a noble sight,
Whose fame resounded through the day and night.
When the Macedonian, the Greek, in wild unrest,
Challenged his rule, a perilous test.
A plague descended, a spectral, icy hand,
Scythe of destruction across the ravaged land.
His youth was painted with the hues of dawn,
A prince of promise, on a lofty throne.
Yet, shadows crept, a malady unseen,
That marred his splendour, a grotesque queen.
To purge this darkness, a cruel cure was sought,
His form distorted, his spirit fraught.
A king transformed, a monstrous, twisted frame,
Yet, in his heart, a flicker still remained.
Through trials of fire, his spirit did endure,
Conquering foes, a steadfast overture.
To Italy’s shores, his banner proudly flew,
Rome’s seven hills, beneath his eagle’s view.
The papal throne, a vacant, mournful seat,
As fear and chaos filled the trembling street.
The holy father, to Sardinia’s coast,
A captive exile, his spirit sorely lost.
A new star rose, a desert’s fiery birth,
A creed of steel, a sword to cleave the earth.
The Arab hordes, with fervour uncontrolled,
Swept through the sands, their banners bold.
At Kerak’s gates, a titan stood alone,
Orodes, the scarred, the steadfast, iron-throned.
A clash of empires, a titanic fight,
The crescent waned before the morning light.
But madness crept, a serpent in his mind,
A king unhinged, by shadows intertwined.
His heart, a vessel, shattered by despair,
As darkness claimed him, leaving none to care.
Three sons inherited his fractured realm,
A crown divided, a kingdom doomed to whelm.
The silver sun, once bright, now dimmed and cold,
As Orodes’ story became a song to mourn.
Early Reign of Orodes
Assuming power as a youth and guided by his regent-brother, Darius [2], the young Emperor was forced to put down Macedonian uprisings in the middle of the plague. The region had always been prone to a streak of independence and free-booting, often raiding other lands within the empire and the local powerbrokers had only handed over tribute and taxes grudgingly. Now, due to the food shortages caused by the plague, their grievances had boiled over and they rose en masse and sought to free themselves of the Achaemenid yoke.
Orodes put down the rebels firmly, executing the ringleaders and decimating the followers. It had been two years of fighting and sickness and the rebellion subsided together with the worst of the plague. Orodes would sponsor rebuilding work across his empire including Macedonia. Despite the early loss of his father, the boy seemed set to follow the example of the Steward Kings.
Crete, ruled by a lesser line of the Bagratids, House Abtin, would pledge fealty to Orodes as he attained adulthood, aware that it was better to submit on peaceful terms then risk a war of conquest as the Achaemenids continued in their quest to reassemble their once might empire. For Orodes would continue to expand his family’s great legacy. Beyond Crete, he would continue the Italian wars, eventually subduing all of Cisalpine Gaul and the kingdom Tushpa in Armenia would become client kings of the Achaemenids, dependent on them for protection against eastern aggression.
Building the Myth of the Blessed King
Orodes did not concern himself with only conquest. The Achaemenid court had already regained much of its prestige during his father’s and grandfather’s reign but he sought to push it to new heights. Throughout his reign, he sponsored adventurers and explorers to seek new artefacts and creatures from far-off places. Achaemeniyya was soon home to a menagerie housing giraffes, elephants, tigers and hundreds of exotic birds. Orodes would allow the residents free access to the menagerie and often used it to awe diplomats into submission.
The emperor would also set forth on his own adventures and there’s many a tale of the gallant king who fought great monsters or defeated evil tyrants in distant places. Here we have the tale of Orodes defeating a demon from the Achaenameh as he travelled into the far north to learn of his fate. A shepherd came to the King’s encampment and asked for his favour:
"A wild ass is broken in among my horses, and he doeth great mischief, for his breath is like unto a lion. Send forth, therefore, I entreat of thee, O King of Kings, a warrior of thine host that he may slay him."
Now Orodes, when he had listened, knew that this was not a wild ass but the Deev (demon) Agares, who had taken this disguise upon him. So the king set forth in search of the Deev, and he was mounted upon Furcas his steed. And in his hand was the Sword of Mah, and round his wrist was rolled a cord of length. And he went in search of the wild ass, and when he had found him he threw his cord about him. But the ass vanished under his hands. Then Orodes knew that it was a Deev, and that he fought against the arts of magic. Yet was he not dismayed. And after a while the ass came forth again, and Rostam threw his cord once more about him. And yet again the Deev vanished under his hand. And thus did the Deev three days and three nights without ceasing, so that weariness came upon Orodes and he was heavy with slumber. So he sought out a spot of safety and he laid him down to rest, and he bade Furcas browse beside him.
Now when the Deev saw that Orodes was sleeping, he drew nigh and loosened the earth whereon he lay, and lifted it and placed it upon his head, that he might cast it away and destroy Orodes. But as he carried him Orodes awoke, and when he saw what was come to pass he feared that his hour was come. And the Deev, when he beheld that Orodes was awakened, spake, and said unto him-
"O hero-king, which death dost thou covet? Shall I fling thee down upon the mountain or cast thee into the sea?"
Now Orodes knew that the Deev questioned him in wile, and he bethought him that he would of a surety do that which Orodes desired not, so he said-
"I have heard it said that it is not given to those that perish in the waters to look upon the face of the Christ or to find rest in the life that is beyond."
Then the Deev said, "I desire that thou know not repose."
And he flung him into the sea at a spot where hungry crocodiles would devour him.
Now Orodes, when he felt the water beneath him, forthwith drew out his sword and combated the crocodiles with his right hand, and with his left he swam towards the shore. And long did he struggle and sore, but when the night was fallen he put his foot upon the dry land. Then, when he had given thanks unto God and rested him, he returned unto the spot where he had found the Deev. And he sought after Furcas his steed, and his eye beheld him not. Then fear filled his spirit, and he roamed around to seek him. And he found him at last among the horses of the Scythians, that grazed in a spot hard by, for the keepers had ensnared him. But when Furcas heard the voice of Orodes he neighed aloud, and brake from the keepers and ran towards his master. And Orodes put the saddle upon him and mounted him. Then he slew the keepers and took their herds unto himself.
Now when it was done the Deev came forth again, for he thought he could quell Orodes now that he was weary. But Orodes sprang on him and crushed him, and he was slain at his hands. But the Deev pronounced his doom with his dying breath.
“Thou seek immortality but the waters shall pass but thou will be left behind the currents.”
The King was sorely vexed by the prophecy and sought wise men out who could change his fate. From that day forth, Orodes crossed no sea, river or sea for fear had taken his heart.
Orodes did not just spread his faith and empire through war. Diplomacy was another weapon he wielded ably like his exchange of letters with the heathen conquerors of Ravenna. The great Viking Gamall who had captured the city from the failing Romans renounced his pagan ways and converted to Christianity and submitted to the rightful ruler of the world.
In 653 AD, a visitor from Persia arrived in court seeking out the famed Emperor of the Christians. Telling a tale of how Persians were once ruled by a fabled lineage who ruled justly and righteously, this man was amazed to discover that the Achaemenids still lived and urged Orodes to return to Persia to restore order in their lands, now suffering disorder and brigandage. From the Byzantine’s perspective, they were shocked that Persia had forgotten the Achaemenid claim and that their grand empire had become a tale of myth and legend. Orodes promised he would return.
The Arab Invasion and Orodes’ Descent into Madness
Before Orodes could make good on his vow to subjugate Persia, a new threat arose in the South. In the deserts of Arabia, a preacher named the Prophet had arisen and united the disparate tribes of the desert into a powerful army. [3] The Prophet spoke of how Allah (their name for God) had delivered His message to him through an angel. It was a powerful message that lived on even after his passing. The death of Prophet in 652 CE presented a critical juncture. Yet, under the leadership of his sons, the Rashidun Caliphs, [4] the Islamic state continued to expand. The Arab tribes, once divided by blood feuds, were now united by a shared faith and a common purpose and marched forth to claim Jerusalem for Allah.
Orodes marched forth to meet them and at the Battle of Kerak, he won a decisive victory over the Muslim vanguard. Fortifying the passes from the desert, skirmishers and sieges would rage in Jordania and Sinai but the Muslims could not find a way past the well-drilled Byzantine armies. The Caliph, the Prophet’s son, Husam would eventually agree to a white peace but vowed they would return to fulfil Allah’s demand.
For the rest of his reign, Orodes would discount the growing Arab threat, even as it expanded into Mesopotamia and Persia proper to the detriment of his son and successor.
Upon his return from Arabia, the Emperor fell deathly ill, stricken by convulsions and rot at his extremities. His brother, Darius together with Empress Kallimache treated him but the outcome was horrific. Orodes’s skin was scourged off and he lost his right hand due to extreme gangrene. The once beautiful Silver King would hide his hideous visage behind an ornately carved silver mask.
The illness and treatment had affected more than just the emperor’s body. His mind was disturbed and there was a marked change in his personality from this period before. He would develop a proclivity for torture and his once glorious court became more and more secretive.
The people of Achaemeniyya would hear terrifying tales of him dining on human flesh and how the Collector had replaced many of his courtiers with grotesqueries while the Arabs claimed this was a curse from Allah for defying His will. His reign became more cruel and one of his last great acts was commanding his armies to capture the Pope and Rome for refusing to accept the supremacy of Achaemeniyya. While he captured St Peters, the Pope escaped and established a church in exile in Sardinia. This was the final nail into the East-West Church schism and the Catholics would refuse to come to the aid of the Orthodox in their time of need in the decades ahead.
Orodes seemed to be a man in conflict with himself. The earlier years of glory only reminded him of the monster he had become and his dark urges now only abated the stresses of rule temporarily. One night, the Silver King would collapse in his study. His brother pronounced him dead on the spot as a massive heart attack had ended his reign. Without a clear succession plan, the empire was split between his three sons and time of the Steward Kings came to an end.
====================================
[1] An early medieval Byzantine poem dating from the 9th century. It outlines the life of Orodes, son of Darius and it became popular as many elements of Orodes’ life echo the fate of the Achaemenid Empire after his death. Often sung by frontier soldiers, it and others gave rise to the genre of Akritic songs. Written in Medieval Greek, the Acritic songs deal with the heroic deeds of marcher warriors who lived near the frontiers of the Caliphate and Al-Anatolia and fought against the enemy. The constant state of war in the region and the repeated confrontations with the Muslims inspired poets to write down tales of chivalry as a response to a society that wished to be informed or hear details, whether factual or imaginary, of the adventures caused by enemy invasions or of the martial valour of their countrymen who drove the enemy out. The fate of the local civilians — who after each invasion often had to face the loss of family members as well as their own pain — is also a major theme.
[2] Darius III continued the practice of choosing the best candidate among his sons to take the throne instead of accepting simple primogeniture. The oldest, Darius, accepted his father’s decision and served his kingly brother ably throughout his reign as regent and physician. The practice would inspire later Achaemenid Kings but it was unevenly practiced and prone to favouritism. Thus it’s why the histories only consider Otaspes, Darius and Orodes as the three Steward Kings of the Achaemenid Empire.
[3] Before the advent of Islam, the Arabian Peninsula was a mosaic of tribes, each a world unto itself, bound by kinship and loyalty but often at odds with their neighbours. These tribes, hardened by the desert's unforgiving embrace, were fiercely independent, their lives governed by a complex code of honour and revenge. Into this fragmented landscape emerged the Prophet, a man of profound spiritual insight. His message, a monotheistic vision centred on the singular worship of Allah, resonated with a population weary of polytheism and tribal strife. Over time, the Prophet’s following grew, a nucleus of believers bound by a common faith.
The Meccan establishment, threatened by the growing influence of Islam, persecuted the Prophet and his followers. This adversity served to strengthen their resolve, forging an unbreakable bond. In a daring move known as the Hijrah, the Prophet and his companions migrated to Medina, a city eager for a unifying force. Here, the Prophet laid the foundation for a new kind of community, the Ummah. This was a brotherhood of faith that transcended tribal affiliations. Through a series of military campaigns, the nascent Muslim community gradually asserted its dominance over the Arabian Peninsula. The conquest of Mecca, the city that had once rejected Muhammad, marked a turning point. With the Kaaba, the holiest site of Arabian paganism, cleansed of idols, the peninsula was unified under the banner of Islam.
[4] The succession of the Caliphate was a complicated matter as there were two factions who sought to continue the prophet’s legacy – one said it should continue from father to son like the traditional way of kings while the other believed the Prophet had anointed his son-in-law, Ali, as his chosen successor. The first faction won the initial struggle for control and forced the Party of Ali, the Shi’ites into a long exile before they returned resurgent in the 10th century.
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Welcome back! Missed you for a bit but glad you returned to follow the tale.
The Achaemenids are like cockroaches - even after a nuclear holocaust, there's probably one of them seeking to claim back the radioactive wasteland that was their empire.
My next update will cover the world around 670 AD so everyone can get a good refresher of where we are in the timeline and the state we are in before we move into the next phase of history. We are on the verge of the Muslim conquests and it's a good chance to look at a world evolving (devolving?) from ancient imperialism to medieval feudalism.
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Darius sounds like a good ruler for the Achaemenids, but I feel like Dacia will be a problem for many years. Will it be abandoned before the empire's fall?
The Ecumenical Council might have gone better if there was more negotiation.
The Lay of Orodes was great - I love poetry.
Orodes's descent into madness was interesting, although it was tragic. What did the Catholics think of this change?
How did the Roman Empire proper fall? Was it just the Viking raid on Ravenna? Are there any remnants (besides the Pope's realm)?
The Ecumenical Council might have gone better if there was more negotiation.
The Lay of Orodes was great - I love poetry.
Orodes's descent into madness was interesting, although it was tragic. What did the Catholics think of this change?
How did the Roman Empire proper fall? Was it just the Viking raid on Ravenna? Are there any remnants (besides the Pope's realm)?
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Interlude: The World in 667 AD - The Mediterranean
Interlude: The World in 667 AD
Achaemenid Empire at the end of Orodes III
The Achaemenid Empire
On the death of Orodes III, the empire was divided between his three sons. His oldest, Orodes IV retained his seat in Achaemeniyya and most of the traditional territories of the empire and the new acquisitions in Dacia and the Pontic Steppe. His cousin, Darius was tasked with ruling the new territories in service of the Emperor and raised to Vice-King. Tensions would rise as Darius cemented his control of the region and grew more independent in his thinking before finally breaking off in 675 AD while Orodes focused on war with the Muslims.
Orodes III’ third son, Daeva, was given the territories of Jerusalem and tasked with guarding the southern desert passes from Muslim attacks. Daeva chafed having to serve his brother’s command while each of the others were given independent fiefdoms. Despite this, he served as commanded and built up a strong and powerful independent army.
Dacia, the newly acquired kingdom was given to Nikanor Achaemenid, a cousin of Orodes while Taurion Jamshid the Brave was tasked with ruling the lands of old Scythia Minor on the northern side of the Danube. Nikanor's son, Darius would form his own house and slowly put together a slow challenge for independence from Achaemeniyya as Orodes IV and Darius argued over imperial policy in Dacia.
Cultural map of the Achaemenid Empire in 677 AD
Culturally, the empire was quite unified in its central territories, expressing a unified Byzantine culture while the further you travelled from Achaemeniyya, the more disparate the peoples became. Along the old imperial roads, you would meet Greeks, Macedonians, Gepids, Dacians, Cappadocians, Syrians, Aegyptians and Jerusalemians. Most of them had adopted many Byzantine characteristics and they recognised each other as members of a shared culture or empire. This intermixing of cultures met a hard wall at the Arab border, beyond which the Persians were ruled by their new overlords. Interestingly, the Balkans is where we see migrators such as proto-Slav cultures settling in and slowly becoming integrated into the empire. The Danubian borders would see other tribes come in and the cultural make-up of the region would slowly evolve.
The Western Mediterrenean in 477 AD
Italy after the Collapse of Roman Power
The Roman Emperors faced the same issues of weak control that ended the Argeads and Bagratids rule. Unfortunately for them, they had no Otaspes the Great to bring all the pieces back together. Initially, they had lost their grasp on Gaul and Germania in the late 5th century but by 530 AD their domain only extended to the Roman peninsula. The line of the Ulpius who had ruled the Romans for nearly as long as the Achaemenids were overthrown in 560 AD. They fled to Illyria and Cisalpine Gaul and from there, would rebuild their holdings and power over the following century. The usurper, Theodosius II Chur only ruled for 2 years before he was deposed by faction demands and the Roman Empire endured its final collapse.
Italy would become a battleground of warlords as the large and divisive Ulpius dynasty and other contenders fought over control of the lands for nearly a century. We’ve previously covered how Darius III and Orodes III capitalised on this chaos to expand into Italy and captured most of Italy, less its boot. After Orodes passed on, his second son Artabanus took the peninsular as his domain and gave birth to the Achaemenid Roman Empire in 667 AD. From Rome, he sought to carve his own legacy independently from his brother Emperor but the many members of the Ulpian dynasty saw their chance to reclaim their birthright from these foreign usurpers. Artabanus has firm control over central Italy and Romagna but is threatened by King Gordian II Ulpius-Parentium, son of the man Orodes III subjugated twenty-five years ago. Gordian II rules all of Northern Italy while the South is split between Cutzes Ulpius-Forcona of Dalmatia and Philip II Ulpius-Panormus the Brilliant of Magna Graecia.
King Gordian II's holdings in Italy Superioris
Beyond the millenia-long politics of Ulpius versus Achaemenid, Italy was also increasingly being divided on religious lines as the majority Catholics resent the ascendance of the Orientalist Orthodox and the ways they were forcing their doctrines and ceremonies on a Roman Catholic nation. Pope Anastasius still resides in Sardinia after his escape in 662 AD and rumours abound that he is preparing to call all able-bodied Catholics to restore him to his seat in the Vatican.
Hispania
Amidst the chaos in Italy, many wealthy Romans fled to Hispania and their country estates there. A pleasant climate and a lack of conflict offered them a respite they could not find in old Rome. Over time, independent Roman Kingdoms would arise here and claim to continue the Roman way of life. Lusitania, Baetica and Carthagenesis would be the most powerful but the last would collapse in 609 amidst internal strife and conflict with its neighbours.
Now, Baetica seems to be on the rise, even expanding into North Africa and in control of water trade between the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Ships from Brittania and the further south in Africa have to pass the Straits of Hercules and Hispalis, the Baetican capital has grown rich off tax duties and trade. Ruled by Rex Iulia Traducta family since 522 AD, the Romans here are concerned with trade and wealth, seemingly possessed by the spirit of old Carthage.
Lusitania’s existence has been far more chaotic, often warring with the Celto-Iberians of Gallaecia and its other Roman neighbours. It has seen many kings try to hold power but none have managed to establish a proper dynasty. Now under Rex Paulus Claudius who has held it for 32 years, and having expanded into Carthagenensis lands, the citizens of Lusitania hope for greater things to come.
Culture map in Hispania. Lybican is a divergent Roman culture.
In the North, Germanic invaders established their own foothold on the peninsula. Ripuarian Germans captured the city of Barcino and its territories in 525 AD led by Meginhard the Bastard. From there, others followed and the Ripuarians were eventually forced to retreat North of the Pyrenees while the Saxons took their old Iberian lands. They would place a figurehead Roman to reduce tensions with the other Roman Hispanic domains and the system would become hereditary for House Ectorius while the powerful Saxon Walbert Illerda controlled the state from behind the scenes.
The Twin Empire of Hadremtum and Khemet
North Africa
Hadrametum, the Carthaginian successor state found itself falling deeper under the influence of Waset, the powerful Khemetic Kingdom of Upper Egypt and Sudan. As both Waset and Hadrametum followed ‘heretical’ doctrines, Coptic and Donatist Christianity, they preferred to band together against Rome and the Achaemenids for most of the 6th century. This was enforced by frequent royal marriages between the Punic Giskonis and the Khemetic Harsiotes houses. Over several generations, these intermarriages saw the titles fall to a single ruler due to a mix of infertility, unfortunate accidents and wars. Now, Emperor Aaron Harsiotes the Strong rules both empires but his lands are not as mighty as they would seem. Coptic is the imperial faith and Donatists are slowly being pushed out of North Africa as Aaron seeks to reduce tensions with greater Christianity and seek communion with the seemingly ascendant Orthodox Church. Beyond that, his crownlands are limited to Cyrenaica and smaller holdings in Tunisia and Khemetic Sudan making it difficult for him to pull his nobles into line or marshal the full strength of what should be an African superpower. As part of his diplomatic efforts, his sister Sofia was married off to Orodes III and he called upon the Silver Achaemenid several times to fight off rebellions and invasions. Now he fears Orodes’ sons look on his territories with hunger thanks to the claim from their mother.
Emperor Aaron the Strong
Further South, Berber Kings rule in Waddan and Atlas, occasionally raiding the richer lands of Hadrametum. This is another handicap preventing Aaron from sending his full forces abroad as he considers his next move.
Achaemenid Empire at the end of Orodes III
The Achaemenid Empire
On the death of Orodes III, the empire was divided between his three sons. His oldest, Orodes IV retained his seat in Achaemeniyya and most of the traditional territories of the empire and the new acquisitions in Dacia and the Pontic Steppe. His cousin, Darius was tasked with ruling the new territories in service of the Emperor and raised to Vice-King. Tensions would rise as Darius cemented his control of the region and grew more independent in his thinking before finally breaking off in 675 AD while Orodes focused on war with the Muslims.
Orodes III’ third son, Daeva, was given the territories of Jerusalem and tasked with guarding the southern desert passes from Muslim attacks. Daeva chafed having to serve his brother’s command while each of the others were given independent fiefdoms. Despite this, he served as commanded and built up a strong and powerful independent army.
Cultural map of the Achaemenid Empire in 677 AD
Culturally, the empire was quite unified in its central territories, expressing a unified Byzantine culture while the further you travelled from Achaemeniyya, the more disparate the peoples became. Along the old imperial roads, you would meet Greeks, Macedonians, Gepids, Dacians, Cappadocians, Syrians, Aegyptians and Jerusalemians. Most of them had adopted many Byzantine characteristics and they recognised each other as members of a shared culture or empire. This intermixing of cultures met a hard wall at the Arab border, beyond which the Persians were ruled by their new overlords. Interestingly, the Balkans is where we see migrators such as proto-Slav cultures settling in and slowly becoming integrated into the empire. The Danubian borders would see other tribes come in and the cultural make-up of the region would slowly evolve.
The Western Mediterrenean in 477 AD
Italy after the Collapse of Roman Power
The Roman Emperors faced the same issues of weak control that ended the Argeads and Bagratids rule. Unfortunately for them, they had no Otaspes the Great to bring all the pieces back together. Initially, they had lost their grasp on Gaul and Germania in the late 5th century but by 530 AD their domain only extended to the Roman peninsula. The line of the Ulpius who had ruled the Romans for nearly as long as the Achaemenids were overthrown in 560 AD. They fled to Illyria and Cisalpine Gaul and from there, would rebuild their holdings and power over the following century. The usurper, Theodosius II Chur only ruled for 2 years before he was deposed by faction demands and the Roman Empire endured its final collapse.
Italy would become a battleground of warlords as the large and divisive Ulpius dynasty and other contenders fought over control of the lands for nearly a century. We’ve previously covered how Darius III and Orodes III capitalised on this chaos to expand into Italy and captured most of Italy, less its boot. After Orodes passed on, his second son Artabanus took the peninsular as his domain and gave birth to the Achaemenid Roman Empire in 667 AD. From Rome, he sought to carve his own legacy independently from his brother Emperor but the many members of the Ulpian dynasty saw their chance to reclaim their birthright from these foreign usurpers. Artabanus has firm control over central Italy and Romagna but is threatened by King Gordian II Ulpius-Parentium, son of the man Orodes III subjugated twenty-five years ago. Gordian II rules all of Northern Italy while the South is split between Cutzes Ulpius-Forcona of Dalmatia and Philip II Ulpius-Panormus the Brilliant of Magna Graecia.
King Gordian II's holdings in Italy Superioris
Beyond the millenia-long politics of Ulpius versus Achaemenid, Italy was also increasingly being divided on religious lines as the majority Catholics resent the ascendance of the Orientalist Orthodox and the ways they were forcing their doctrines and ceremonies on a Roman Catholic nation. Pope Anastasius still resides in Sardinia after his escape in 662 AD and rumours abound that he is preparing to call all able-bodied Catholics to restore him to his seat in the Vatican.
Hispania
Amidst the chaos in Italy, many wealthy Romans fled to Hispania and their country estates there. A pleasant climate and a lack of conflict offered them a respite they could not find in old Rome. Over time, independent Roman Kingdoms would arise here and claim to continue the Roman way of life. Lusitania, Baetica and Carthagenesis would be the most powerful but the last would collapse in 609 amidst internal strife and conflict with its neighbours.
Now, Baetica seems to be on the rise, even expanding into North Africa and in control of water trade between the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Ships from Brittania and the further south in Africa have to pass the Straits of Hercules and Hispalis, the Baetican capital has grown rich off tax duties and trade. Ruled by Rex Iulia Traducta family since 522 AD, the Romans here are concerned with trade and wealth, seemingly possessed by the spirit of old Carthage.
Lusitania’s existence has been far more chaotic, often warring with the Celto-Iberians of Gallaecia and its other Roman neighbours. It has seen many kings try to hold power but none have managed to establish a proper dynasty. Now under Rex Paulus Claudius who has held it for 32 years, and having expanded into Carthagenensis lands, the citizens of Lusitania hope for greater things to come.
Culture map in Hispania. Lybican is a divergent Roman culture.
In the North, Germanic invaders established their own foothold on the peninsula. Ripuarian Germans captured the city of Barcino and its territories in 525 AD led by Meginhard the Bastard. From there, others followed and the Ripuarians were eventually forced to retreat North of the Pyrenees while the Saxons took their old Iberian lands. They would place a figurehead Roman to reduce tensions with the other Roman Hispanic domains and the system would become hereditary for House Ectorius while the powerful Saxon Walbert Illerda controlled the state from behind the scenes.
The Twin Empire of Hadremtum and Khemet
North Africa
Hadrametum, the Carthaginian successor state found itself falling deeper under the influence of Waset, the powerful Khemetic Kingdom of Upper Egypt and Sudan. As both Waset and Hadrametum followed ‘heretical’ doctrines, Coptic and Donatist Christianity, they preferred to band together against Rome and the Achaemenids for most of the 6th century. This was enforced by frequent royal marriages between the Punic Giskonis and the Khemetic Harsiotes houses. Over several generations, these intermarriages saw the titles fall to a single ruler due to a mix of infertility, unfortunate accidents and wars. Now, Emperor Aaron Harsiotes the Strong rules both empires but his lands are not as mighty as they would seem. Coptic is the imperial faith and Donatists are slowly being pushed out of North Africa as Aaron seeks to reduce tensions with greater Christianity and seek communion with the seemingly ascendant Orthodox Church. Beyond that, his crownlands are limited to Cyrenaica and smaller holdings in Tunisia and Khemetic Sudan making it difficult for him to pull his nobles into line or marshal the full strength of what should be an African superpower. As part of his diplomatic efforts, his sister Sofia was married off to Orodes III and he called upon the Silver Achaemenid several times to fight off rebellions and invasions. Now he fears Orodes’ sons look on his territories with hunger thanks to the claim from their mother.
Emperor Aaron the Strong
Further South, Berber Kings rule in Waddan and Atlas, occasionally raiding the richer lands of Hadrametum. This is another handicap preventing Aaron from sending his full forces abroad as he considers his next move.
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Dacia is an interesting quandary, its such a large land that its impossible to rule directly but anyone you place there - there is a risk they will begin to get ideas of their own about who should be in charge. Darius and Orodes hope that familial bonds will prevent their chosen vice-king will behave but already his successor is starting to test the limits. Let's see what happens.
The East-West schism in this timeline is far more pronounced than it is in OTL. When Orodes went insane, they probably had a mixture of schadenfreude and fear that he would turn his power to them, especially after what he did to the head of the Catholic Church.
I've outline how the Roman Empire collapsed in the post above. There are many parts that survived but could not consolidate its disparate parts. The old Imperial House of Ulpius (Ulpians?) will continue to have a major role in Italy and beyond for centuries more. They seem far more succesful at propogating their line and spreading it to many thrones than the insular Achaemenid dynasty.
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Achaemenia is once again on the verge of collapse. The Muslims have bided their time while Orodes' sons plot against each other.
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Hi all, just wanted to let everyone know not to expect updates for the next couple of weeks as I'll be away trekking. Thank you for reading so far and hope those still behind catches up.
I plan to try a different briefer updates when I'm back as I really want to get to the EU4 portion of the campaign.
I plan to try a different briefer updates when I'm back as I really want to get to the EU4 portion of the campaign.
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Rome is not doing well. Thanks for telling us about how they died!
Does the Twin Empire have designs on Upper Egypt or Achaemenid Egypt?
Does the Twin Empire have designs on Upper Egypt or Achaemenid Egypt?
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Thank you all for the well wishes. Just got off the mountains and will be flying from Ladakh to New Delhi tomorrow and spend a few days of r&r before I head home to the grind.
Egypt is a grand prize. The Twin Empire would love to capture both upper and lower Egypt to connect their lands but the sons of Muhammad are eyeing it too.
You are very right about the Muslims. They will strike soon when the empire is facing its own internal struggles in an unexpected direction.
Egypt is a grand prize. The Twin Empire would love to capture both upper and lower Egypt to connect their lands but the sons of Muhammad are eyeing it too.
You are very right about the Muslims. They will strike soon when the empire is facing its own internal struggles in an unexpected direction.
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