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The Crescent Over Europe: The Ibn Ziri Dynasty

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Corporal
Aug 2, 2006
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The Crescent Over Europe:
Ibn Ziri Dynasty
Islamic_Flag.gif


Prolouge​

A Brief History of Islam In Sicily

652 CE saw the first steps of Muslim conquest into Sicily. Syrian raiders landed on Sicily and pillaged it before returning to Syria. Similar raiding attacks occurred until 740 CE when the first real conquest ensued. Prince Habib besieged the city of Syracuse and planned to conquer the rest of the island before being called home to put down a revolt. His planned conquest was never undertaken and Syracuse was recaptured by the Byzantines.

300px-Young_Folks'_History_of_Rome_illus442.png

Throughout the 9th century there were numerous assaults on Sicily by Muslim invaders, and by 902 CE it was firmly in Muslim hands. At this point it was under the control of Aghlabids who brought with them thousands of immigrants from Africa, Middle East, and Spain. These new immigrants caused the population of Sicily to boom and the island enjoyed a long period of prosperity. The Aghlabids would be replaced by the Fatimids, and eventually Sicily would emerge as an independent emirate. Under emirs like Jafar and Yusuf al-Kalbi the arts flourished and great public works were built. However their successors were weak which brought Muslim Sicily into decline.

italy2.jpg

In 1038 CE the Byzantines attempted to retake Sicily. They conquered Messina and laid siege to Syracuse before being defeated by a Muslim counter-offensive. In 1060 Christian conquerors returned to Sicily as the Italian Normans captured Messina and splintered the rest of Sicily into 3 emirates.

In 1066 the fate of Sicily is yet to be seen. Will the Christian armies retake all of Sicily, or will the Emirate of Sicily rise again to power and glory?
 
For this AAR I'm using Crusader Kings with Deus Vult expansion. I will be starting as the Sheik of Palermo, but I may change depending on how things go.( Eg, If I get to strong or conquered I may play as another branch of the Ibn Ziri family)

My goals are as follows:

Main:
1. Survive :eek:o
2. Spread Islam
3. Increase the power of the Ibn Ziri family
4. Expand into Italy, and then rest of Europe

Side:
1. Prevent Muslim Spain from falling
2. Protect the Holy Land from Christian crusaders
3. Destroy the Papacy
4. Destroy the Byzantine Empire

Also a few ground rules I will follow,

1.No cheating.
2.No weird claims.
3.I will play by character traits.
4.Don't disband troops until they're back in their home province.
5.Only conquer within my sphere of influence.
6.Play straight through--no reloads when a war goes poorly
 
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Sounds interesting. Not having DV yet myself I hadn't even realized you could play Muslim dynasties :eek:o . Is this in fact the first ever DV Muslim AAR? In any case, I will be interested to see how it goes. It may even persuade me to get DV...
 
This sounds great, I have the DV expansion but have never attempted to try a Muslim Dynasty,or even know if it possible. Though in my first game somehow the Venice Dynasty came to be Muslim somehow so who knows. Keep us all posted and good luck.
 
Subcomandante is correct. You need to mod the game a bit play as a Muslim country. For those interested follow the link he posted.

I will try to have the first update up tonight some time. :)
 
The Crescent Over Europe:
Ibn Ziri Dynasty
Islamic_Flag.gif

Ayyub, lips pursed, stroked his beard slowly and stared idly ahead. Despite the look of absentmindedness he was focused, his thoughts concentrated on the approaching engagement with the emissary from Cairo.

How had Al-Mustansir responded to his proposal he wondered. What news would the diplomat bring him? Surely they would see the wisdom of such a proposal, wouldn’t they? Ayyub didn’t see why not. They both had much to gain from such an deal. If the Fatimids agreed to support Palermo’s bid to reunite the island then Cairo would gain a strong and stable ally in the west, and Ayyub would gain the backing he would need to unify Sicily. Yes, he thought to himself, surely they would agree.

Ayyub’s eyes rose as a squat, rosy cheeked man entered into the courtyard where Ayyub had been waiting. The man made his way over to Ayyub, moving slowly in more of waddle then a walk, and Ayyub rose to greet him.

“Assalamu alaikum,” Ayyub said, sticking out his had to the new arrival.

“Wa'laikum As'salaam,” the man replied, meeting Ayyub’s hand and giving it a firm shake.

“Hasan! How long has it been friend? Three ? Four years?”

Hasan grinned, “Less then 8 months I would say”

“Well, come let us sit down in the shade. I have fresh coffee ready to be served.” Ayyub led Hasan toward a modest stone table with a simple geometric etching carved along the border. It sat under a great palm that swayed slightly as the wind blew and a servant brought out a tray of coffee as they took a seat in matching stone chairs, “Tell me, what has your master decided? What does he think of my proposal?”

Hasan took a sip of his coffee, “Well he was intrigued to say the least. And curious, very curious. He wants to know why he should support you. Why not support Ibn al-Halwas or some other?”

“Because I am the only man on who can do what needs to be done. The others, they sit on their thrones and say they protect this island from the Christians, but they do nothing. Already Messina has fallen. What next? Syracuse? Palermo? Perhaps one day they will go for Jerusalem, or even Mecca!”

Hasan scoffed, “They could never do it. They could never get within a hundred leagues of Jerusalem, let alone Mecca.”

Ayyub leaned forward, “Perhaps, perhaps not. Forget I said anything about Jerusalem or Mecca. What I’m trying to say is that if we don’t retaliate we will be overrun. The just and fair emirs who currently rule will be replaced with cruel and malicious tyrants. The island will fall into despair, and I dare not think of what they might do to those who call themselves Muslims.”

Hasan seem satisfied, at least for the moment, “And after you have united Sicily? What are your ambitions then?”

Ayyub looked deep into Hasan eyes, “Friend, I have no greater ambitions. Once I have united Sicily I will be content.”

Hasan studied him over. He clenched his teeth and seemed hesitant to speak, “I believe your ambitions to be greater, and I would not support you if I were Al-Mustansir. But I am not Al-Mustansir." Hasan seemed reluctant, "My liege has told me he would support you. I hope you are sincere in your intentions old friend.”

“I am old friend. I am. You will see. I shall unite this land. Insha'Allah. ”

“Yes, Insha'Allah.”
 
Ayyub seems like a nice, honest, trustworthy sort of chap. :D Well, good luck uniting the island with Fatimid assistance, and then we'll see what other ambitions Ayyub suddenly discovers he has...
 
@Farquharson, Yes, very trustworthy indeed. :D

Unfortanetly this AAR is put on indefinite hold until a real Muslim mod comes out. There is an issue that prevents me from claiming and creating titles as a Muslim which makes the game pretty much unplayable. In the mean time I'm thinking of starting a new AAR.
 
Ayyub says the portentful words: "I have no ambitions". Nothing is surer in signally a would be megalomanical conqueror than an avowed lack of ambition :D
 
There is an issue that prevents me from claiming and creating titles as a Muslim which makes the game pretty much unplayable.
Click to expand...
Too bad! Well, luckily Ayyub wasn't very ambitious anyway, so no harm done... :p Looking forward to another AAR then.
 
Ayyub says the portentful words: "I have no ambitions". Nothing is surer in signally a would be megalomanical conqueror than an avowed lack of ambition
Click to expand...
Very true. It's a shame you never got to see his megalomaniac side. :p

Too bad! Well, luckily Ayyub wasn't very ambitious anyway, so no harm done... Looking forward to another AAR then.
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Or so he would have us believe. :eek:

I will probably start a new one in the next couple of days. Just thinking of someone interesting to play as.
 
Interesting!

Definitely following this one!
 
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