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@StrategyGameEnthusiast To be clear I gave my friend Muslihiddin (now my brother-in-law) Gilan. Tabriz is held by a greedy cousin of his, who decided he wanted Gilan also. *Tabriz* is the one I executed. Muslihiddin is still very much alive and well.
I only realised that after I'd already posted my reply, I've edited it after realising.
November 974-November 985:
Caliph Zahir calls me in against Luristan (ruled by a Yazidid incidentally!), but I have faith in his ability to handle that himself. More relevantly the Al-Turki of Mosul offer me a non-aggression pact which I accept in January 975. In other news, I am apparently now lovers with my wife Shola. In February 976 I hear complaints about a courtier of Caliph Zahir being annoying. I ignore them. In April my steward collects a special tithe. In June I learn of an opportunity to develop some marginal land near my capital to support a new holding. I immediately invest in this and start building a new barony. I decide on an Etiquette focus for my son Jahanshah.
Apparently Caliph Zahir decided to demote my sister to a mere secondary wife. I decide to dissolve our alliance. In more positive international news, the Nakhsabids have managed to totally destroy the Empire they usurped in just 11 years! Central Asia and the Tarim basin gain a bunch of new independent realms! 1 Kingdom, 11 Duchies, and 1 County! The bordergore is not as bad as you might fear! 9/13 of the new realms are completely contiguous!
I give Khashayar a Struggle focus. He is getting closer to his brother Jahanshah, though he is rivals with his younger sister. In December 977, a courtier tries to blackmail me. I refuse, so she spreads rumors I am a coward. The new Satrap of Tabriz allies with Gilan to invade the Saffarids. He suggests to me building roads in Zanjan. In June 978 my brother-in-law Muslihiddin has some bright construction ideas for me.
Tabriz is defeated by the forces of the Saffarids and Merv. In May 979 Shola tells me she is pregnant! In December, my strong, but dim son Hossein is born! I betroth him to my niece Nazaneen. My half-brother Zakaria no longer likes me and is plotting to forge a claim on my titles, a mess I prefer not to deal with. By July 980 I have gotten kind of fat. Gilan dies and I give his lands to Jahanshah. By December I have decided I am actually kind of proud about how big I am! Caliph Zahir declares a holy war against the Saffarids.
In April 981 I learn Tabriz has converted to Shia Islam! In May the Saffarids surrender to Caliph Zahir. I now share a border with him! The first time we’ve had a border with another Shia realm!
In January 983 I spend quality time with my son Hossein. Caliph Zahir is fighting a war for Mosul against the Al-Turki. In September my court chaplain raises Tabriz’s opinion of me. In March 984 Khashyar becomes Brave. In October, a traveling bard comes to court. I let him stay as long as he wants.
In November 985, my son Jahanshah comes of age! He is married to my cousin Rashida. He is moderately competent except at stewardship. He is humble and diligent, but also deceitful. I go ahead and betroth Khashyar to my niece Rashida.
Empress Ioanna repulsed the Saffarids and finished off Georgia and started a war against Kakheti. However, she died and her half-brother Megistos ‘the Wise’ inherited that war. Kakheti has been reduced to a Khazar vassal. The Al-Turki are holding up well against Caliph Zahir thanks to Saffarid help, though the war could still go either way. The Bardunids continue to decline. The Abbasids are trying to subjugate the Fatimids. The Yazidids of the Arabian Empire are currently led by a 4-year-old, facing an independence revolt, and being attacked by several neighbors. The Saffarids are ruled by a child. You can see the mess that used to be the Nakhsabids, though they are actually seeing a bit of a duke-tier revival now they have an adult ruler.
Caliph Zahir calls me in against Luristan (ruled by a Yazidid incidentally!), but I have faith in his ability to handle that himself. More relevantly the Al-Turki of Mosul offer me a non-aggression pact which I accept in January 975. In other news, I am apparently now lovers with my wife Shola. In February 976 I hear complaints about a courtier of Caliph Zahir being annoying. I ignore them. In April my steward collects a special tithe. In June I learn of an opportunity to develop some marginal land near my capital to support a new holding. I immediately invest in this and start building a new barony. I decide on an Etiquette focus for my son Jahanshah.
Apparently Caliph Zahir decided to demote my sister to a mere secondary wife. I decide to dissolve our alliance. In more positive international news, the Nakhsabids have managed to totally destroy the Empire they usurped in just 11 years! Central Asia and the Tarim basin gain a bunch of new independent realms! 1 Kingdom, 11 Duchies, and 1 County! The bordergore is not as bad as you might fear! 9/13 of the new realms are completely contiguous!
I give Khashayar a Struggle focus. He is getting closer to his brother Jahanshah, though he is rivals with his younger sister. In December 977, a courtier tries to blackmail me. I refuse, so she spreads rumors I am a coward. The new Satrap of Tabriz allies with Gilan to invade the Saffarids. He suggests to me building roads in Zanjan. In June 978 my brother-in-law Muslihiddin has some bright construction ideas for me.
Tabriz is defeated by the forces of the Saffarids and Merv. In May 979 Shola tells me she is pregnant! In December, my strong, but dim son Hossein is born! I betroth him to my niece Nazaneen. My half-brother Zakaria no longer likes me and is plotting to forge a claim on my titles, a mess I prefer not to deal with. By July 980 I have gotten kind of fat. Gilan dies and I give his lands to Jahanshah. By December I have decided I am actually kind of proud about how big I am! Caliph Zahir declares a holy war against the Saffarids.
In April 981 I learn Tabriz has converted to Shia Islam! In May the Saffarids surrender to Caliph Zahir. I now share a border with him! The first time we’ve had a border with another Shia realm!
In January 983 I spend quality time with my son Hossein. Caliph Zahir is fighting a war for Mosul against the Al-Turki. In September my court chaplain raises Tabriz’s opinion of me. In March 984 Khashyar becomes Brave. In October, a traveling bard comes to court. I let him stay as long as he wants.
In November 985, my son Jahanshah comes of age! He is married to my cousin Rashida. He is moderately competent except at stewardship. He is humble and diligent, but also deceitful. I go ahead and betroth Khashyar to my niece Rashida.
Empress Ioanna repulsed the Saffarids and finished off Georgia and started a war against Kakheti. However, she died and her half-brother Megistos ‘the Wise’ inherited that war. Kakheti has been reduced to a Khazar vassal. The Al-Turki are holding up well against Caliph Zahir thanks to Saffarid help, though the war could still go either way. The Bardunids continue to decline. The Abbasids are trying to subjugate the Fatimids. The Yazidids of the Arabian Empire are currently led by a 4-year-old, facing an independence revolt, and being attacked by several neighbors. The Saffarids are ruled by a child. You can see the mess that used to be the Nakhsabids, though they are actually seeing a bit of a duke-tier revival now they have an adult ruler.
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November 985-January 997:
In April 986 I teach my son Khashayar to be Kind. In June we fight some Turkic raiders at Chaloons. The battle goes horrifically wrong. However the raiders move off into Caliph Zahir (now ‘the Careless’). In October I learn Shola is pregnant! My Uncle tried to take Gilan from my son Jahanshah, so I have to tell him to knock it off. Tabriz declared war on Afsharid Khorasan, but is losing. I let a nobleman join my court. In April Caliph Zahir wins his holy war for Mosul against the Al-Turki! In May 987 my comely son Ardavan is born! He is betrothed to my niece Parand.
In July, Khashayar comes of age! He is good at war, but otherwise kind of mediocre. He is Kind and Brave, but has a Wroth temperament and cares a bit too much about his appearance. In May 988, a Jewish man comes to court! Jahanshah, serving as my chancellor, manages to upset Tabriz. The Byzantines win a war for Armenia, so I share a short border with them. My uncle has the bright idea in March 989 to build roads in Zanjan. Caliph Zahir declares a holy war on the Saffarids. In September I go falconing.
My daughter Pourandokht comes of age. In May 990 I lose Temperate. Uncle persuades me to spend quality time with my cousin Mansur. In December, Pourandokht marries her cousin and Caliph Zahir’s heir, Imamaddin. In May 991, Shola helps me solve a complicated diplomatic question. In June 992, I build a great monument in Qwivir, so all the people settling there will know who is responsible for the prosperity they see.
In June I start feeling sick. By September it is clear I have the flu. My court physician slathers cow dung on my chest. This makes me feel even worse. In March 993 my wife Shola, the love of my life, dies. Jahanshah for some reason thinks this is a good time to accuse Tabriz of perverted sexual behavior. One must question the veracity of this given Tabriz is deeply in love with his wife who is pregnant with their 8th child at the moment.
My cousin Akin becomes decedent. In other exciting family news, we have our first imbred person, Golbahar, daughter of my brother Zakaria and our cousin Shogofa! Regrettably she does not live long. Caliph Zahir won his war against the Saffarids. He refuses to allow my sister’s youngest to marry my nephew Shujah. Instead Shujah is betrothed to Layla Ukhaidhirid. In January 994 I recover from the Flu. In September there is a peasant revolt in Tabriz. We crush it soon after, though I don’t exactly bring glory on myself, gaining the trait Coward.
Caliph Zahir is now attacking the Afsharids. In October 995 I lose Kind. My nephew Behred becomes decedent. In December my son Hossein comes of age! In April 996 my first grandson, The Saffarids collapse and the Tahirids declare themselves Shahs of Persia.
On January 10, 997 I die of Depression at the age of 48. I have reigned for 34 years. My epitaph is “Prone to Sloth, he never did anything he did not have to do. A wicked man, Esma’il will surely pay for his sins in the afterlife.” My son Jahanshah inherits. As for predictions of his reign, “A devious and discontent soul, his rule is likely to be filled with spite and intrigue.”
The Byzantines have lost Armenia to a liberation revolt. The Al-Turki have been weakened by losing Mosul. The Fatimid ruler is trying to put his sister on their throne. The Arabian Empire continues to decline. Meanwhile Caliph Zahir’s realm is expanding deep into Persia and Arabia. He is still trying to conquer the Afsharids. The eastern parts of Greater Persia continue to get even messier. Shoutout to the Tahirids who have regained independence after 120 years under the Saffarids.
In April 986 I teach my son Khashayar to be Kind. In June we fight some Turkic raiders at Chaloons. The battle goes horrifically wrong. However the raiders move off into Caliph Zahir (now ‘the Careless’). In October I learn Shola is pregnant! My Uncle tried to take Gilan from my son Jahanshah, so I have to tell him to knock it off. Tabriz declared war on Afsharid Khorasan, but is losing. I let a nobleman join my court. In April Caliph Zahir wins his holy war for Mosul against the Al-Turki! In May 987 my comely son Ardavan is born! He is betrothed to my niece Parand.
In July, Khashayar comes of age! He is good at war, but otherwise kind of mediocre. He is Kind and Brave, but has a Wroth temperament and cares a bit too much about his appearance. In May 988, a Jewish man comes to court! Jahanshah, serving as my chancellor, manages to upset Tabriz. The Byzantines win a war for Armenia, so I share a short border with them. My uncle has the bright idea in March 989 to build roads in Zanjan. Caliph Zahir declares a holy war on the Saffarids. In September I go falconing.
My daughter Pourandokht comes of age. In May 990 I lose Temperate. Uncle persuades me to spend quality time with my cousin Mansur. In December, Pourandokht marries her cousin and Caliph Zahir’s heir, Imamaddin. In May 991, Shola helps me solve a complicated diplomatic question. In June 992, I build a great monument in Qwivir, so all the people settling there will know who is responsible for the prosperity they see.
In June I start feeling sick. By September it is clear I have the flu. My court physician slathers cow dung on my chest. This makes me feel even worse. In March 993 my wife Shola, the love of my life, dies. Jahanshah for some reason thinks this is a good time to accuse Tabriz of perverted sexual behavior. One must question the veracity of this given Tabriz is deeply in love with his wife who is pregnant with their 8th child at the moment.
My cousin Akin becomes decedent. In other exciting family news, we have our first imbred person, Golbahar, daughter of my brother Zakaria and our cousin Shogofa! Regrettably she does not live long. Caliph Zahir won his war against the Saffarids. He refuses to allow my sister’s youngest to marry my nephew Shujah. Instead Shujah is betrothed to Layla Ukhaidhirid. In January 994 I recover from the Flu. In September there is a peasant revolt in Tabriz. We crush it soon after, though I don’t exactly bring glory on myself, gaining the trait Coward.
Caliph Zahir is now attacking the Afsharids. In October 995 I lose Kind. My nephew Behred becomes decedent. In December my son Hossein comes of age! In April 996 my first grandson, The Saffarids collapse and the Tahirids declare themselves Shahs of Persia.
On January 10, 997 I die of Depression at the age of 48. I have reigned for 34 years. My epitaph is “Prone to Sloth, he never did anything he did not have to do. A wicked man, Esma’il will surely pay for his sins in the afterlife.” My son Jahanshah inherits. As for predictions of his reign, “A devious and discontent soul, his rule is likely to be filled with spite and intrigue.”
The Byzantines have lost Armenia to a liberation revolt. The Al-Turki have been weakened by losing Mosul. The Fatimid ruler is trying to put his sister on their throne. The Arabian Empire continues to decline. Meanwhile Caliph Zahir’s realm is expanding deep into Persia and Arabia. He is still trying to conquer the Afsharids. The eastern parts of Greater Persia continue to get even messier. Shoutout to the Tahirids who have regained independence after 120 years under the Saffarids.
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You never know, just because they have a lot of children doesn't mean they can't enjoy other things on the side...
State of the World 997:
Muzaffaraddin ‘the Just’ was a courtier who inherited the Emirate of Taizz in 891. In 904 he crowned himself Sultan of Yemen. His son Muzaffaraddin ‘the Unchaste’ expanded into Somalia, conquered Socotra and won more than he lost in border wars with the Arabian Empire. The Abbasids rule Medina and much of the Hijaz while as you can see the Nuffarid Caliphs have expanded to Mecca.
The Tulunids have ruled Egypt since game start. Their first rulers didn’t do much. But Al-Abbas ‘the Blessed’ inherited in 878. Over the course of his reign, much of Sudan would be captured. He died in 898 and his unremarkable son and nephew followed. But then in 938 Biktor came to the throne. He was a pretty bright guy. Just paranoid and insane. Oh, and a Yarsan heretic. Anyway, he managed to overrun the Aghlabids of Africa in 949. He celebrated this by declaring himself Emperor of Egypt. He died of Smallpox in 951.
His son Hakam ‘the Proselytizer’ inherited. He tried to restore Sunni Islam, but would fall in battle against a Yarsan vassal in 958. However, his twin brother Ra’uf ‘the Terrible’ took up the cause. His son Kemaladdin ‘the Proselytizer’ followed. *His* son Nabil is a good Sunni, other than being a demon-possessed womanizer. There are still several Yarsan vassals around though.
Christian Makuria still survives as a Tulunid tributary. Ethiopia is a bet of a mess. Axum and Gondar are actually independent junior Tulunids. The Rassids are Bedouin. Damot is Ethiopian Muslim and Wag is Ethiopian Judaizer.
The last Idrisid ruler died in 922 fighting a civil war after losing much of northern Morocco to the Umayyads. The aftermath was a succession struggle for Morocco between various Hashimids and Abbasids. Then a mass liberation revolt would in 956 restore the Kingdom of the Maghreb under the Ibadi Abdul-Kareem ‘the Liberator’. Neither he nor his successor left an heir. Abdullah ‘the Vengeful’ Tremecen inherited in 972. He reconquered Fez in 989 only for the Andalusians to regain it 4 years later.
The Kingdom of Ghana was founded in 885 by Queen Amita ‘the Drunkard’ Cisse. Her brother Soumaba inherited, then his son Sulayman, then his daughter Fatim, at which point the dynasty died out in 956. A Mali vassal inherited, then after his death the native Oualata dynasty inherited. The ambitious pagan Queen Zeinab now rules. She is attacking Tremecen.
Queen Zeinab Tadmekka inherited a single county in 983. By 900 she was able to crown herself Queen of Songhay. 4 years later she added Hausaland. However, in 906 she caught a fatal case of pregnancy and died without heirs. After her death chaos followed for the two kingdoms. Ultimately in 932, Queen Hassan ‘the Merry’ reunified them. She married the ruler of Manding. However gynecological issues proved too much for her also in 947, specifically a difficult pregnancy+great pox. Her son Harun ‘the Drunkard’ inherited. He was even more incompetent than the nickname might suggest and died of an infected wound at the ripe old age of 23. His shrewd, ambitious sister Tekhaye inherited. She conquered Muslim Kanem in 958 and crowned herself Empress of Kanem-Bornu in 970. She died a natural death in 994 at the age of 60. Her grandson Said now rules.
In 889 Muhammad ‘the Lame’ Umayyad overthrew his cousin. He would expand into Morocco. He created the Empire of Hispania in 909. His son Abdul ‘the Just’ though managed to be overthrown in 917 by Visigothic Musliddin Qutamid. During this mess Murcia and Valencia were lost to Lotharingia. They in turn were overthrown by Basque Pelaio ‘the Unchaste’ Qasid from Navarre. The Nayihids took the opportunity to break free. They died out in 988 and Balashk ‘the Cruel’ inherited. His main accomplishment is losing Aragon to Aquitaine.
Asturias figured out the one weird trick to avoid conquest, have a Muslim inherit the throne in 908. Since then they have had several Muslim dynasties. They lost Galicia to Aquitaine in 990.
Aquitaine has been ruled by the same gone native Karling branch since game start. In 958 Odon inherited. He vastly expanded Aquitaine into Spain. His son Frances now rules.
Lothare was succeeded by his son Lothare II as ruler of the middle strip of Francia who conquered Bavaria. On his death in 889, his oldest daughter Heloise inherited Lotharingia and Burgundy. 16-year-old Teutburga got Italy and Bavaria. This arrangement lasted for all of 2 months before Heloise conveniently died. Teutburga married the King of Serbia and conquered Valencia. By her death in 931, she was the second Karling after Charlemagne known as ‘the Great’.
Her descendants peacefully shuffled their six crowns among each other by inheritance. Made more confusing as her first husband’s kids were Vlastimirovics and her second husband’s were Karlings. The former rule Italy and Lotharingia at the moment. Serbia was conquered by Carpathia in 986. Most of Italy’s lands have gained independence. Karlings rule Burgundy and Bavaria/Valencia.
East Francia under Ludwig ‘the German conquered West Francia in 872 from Charles ‘the Bald’. In 874 Ludwig crowned himself Holy Roman Emperor. His son Ludwig ‘the Younger’ inherited. He lost France to a national liberation revolt in 886, then died of cancer in 888. His son Bernhard ‘the Depraved’ had a long reign to 925. Then his son Liutbert ‘the Cruel’ ruled until 947. On his death, the vassals chose a van Vlaaderen. He was overthrown in 949 by a guy in turn overthrown by Liutbert’s son, who then died in battle. The van Vlaaderen have had stable rule since 956.
France was founded by Othon ‘the Liberater’ in 886. Since then they have had 3 dynesties. Several rulers died fighting the Muslims under unclear circumstances. One died fighting the Norse in Brittany which has been an ongoing struggle all game. Currently Centule ‘the Wise’ de Crecy rules.
The Byzantine Empire has expanded somewhat in Italy over the game. They gained Epirus, Ohrid, and Tao under Konstantinos ‘the Chaste’ Macedon (886-916). It has been ruled by the Doukas from 937-57 and 960-85 before passing to the Agelastos half-brother that now rules. They have twice expanded into Armenia and beyond only to be thrown back out by Muslims and native revolts. The conquest of Cilicia by a Doukas vassal in 958 greatly improved the position on that front and very slow continued advances have followed.
In 869 Muslim Vladimir ‘the Wise’ Balgarsko inherited Bulgaria. However in 880 he was conquered by the Khazars partially due to internal instability. A bunch of Khazars settled down, mostly in near the Byzantine border. By 901 Vladimir managed to regain control over Bulgaria though by then some southern areas were lost to the Byzantines. He died in 908. His family had a lot of fun murdering each other, but in 926 his grandson Vladimir inherited. He added Hungary and Croatia to the realm. He died in 939 and his brother Vojnomir ‘the Lame’ inherited. He created the Empire of Carpathia in 944 then died in 946 fighting the Byzantines. Family drama continued, with every successor dying within a few years or living long enough to be overthrown. Ultimately infant Vasili II inherited in 992. He was then overthrown by his insane court physician, Vasili Erdevelu. Carpathia is still Muslim.
Miroslaw ‘the Wall of Greater Poland’ inherited in 897. He then *vastly* expanded the realm. Uppland was subjugated in 908, it also ruled Ostrogothia, Pomerania, and Pomerelia. Kuyavia followed in 922, Mazovia in 930, Prussia in 931. He died in 939. His son Piast created the Kingdom of Poland in 944. His son Siemysl ‘the Ill-Ruler’ inherited, but died fighting the Norse in 957. Since then the Swidnicki dynasty have ruled. The Swedish lands have been lost.
The first Khazar ruling dynasty conquered Bulgaria and decided to settle there in 880. 3 rulers from 3 dynesties followed in the next 11 years, with the last one’s descendants breaking off to form the Jabdertim. Then the Ryn dynasty gained power and mostly held control until 957. Another mess followed, before Yilig ‘the Monster’ Beletid gained power in 973. He temporarily conquered much of Russia and expanded Khazaria to the Aral Sea at Turkic expense. The Jabdertim also didn’t do much until Balgici ‘the Lionheart’. He conquered Kiev in 990 and Turov a few years later.
Hafdan ‘Whiteshirt’ Hvitserk formed the Kingdom of York in 866. Northumbria fell to the Norse in 871, Cornwall in 876, Mercia in 878, East Anglia in 883. Wessex held out by far the longest, not falling until 918. They first conquered Scotland in 945, but the Mac Ailpin threw them out in 952 and final victory would not come until 979. Ireland went better, being finished by 932. As for the border gore that exists, Vase broke free from York sometime before 971. Sweden conquered some lands and the Yngling, though that fell apart resulting in the Mercian microstates. Thanks to Varangian service by many Hvitserk family members, York has embraced the Orthodox faith since 973. Most of the population is still Catholic though.
Pordr ‘the Cruel’ of Viken inherited in 948 and by 955 was able to crown himself King of Norway. He was then subjugated in 972 by Finnish High Chief Veli ‘the Short-tempered’. Veli’s uncle now rules Norway and Veli’s son Lappland. They are Catholic.
Porfinn ‘the Wise’ Ulfig was son of a chief. In 922 he managed to conquer Westrogothia. He then went a unification spree, in 933 crowning himself King of Sweden. His son had no kids, so ultimately in 950 the Rammi dynasty inherited. In 955 Snorri ‘the Brave’ inherited. He was the one who conquered land in England. His son Sigtrygg ‘the Submissive’ decided to convert to Islam. His son Styrbjorn now rules.
The fall of Uppland to Miroslaw left a vacuum in the Baltic. Skalvia had long been independent. They gained Kurzeme in 914, but expansion really started when Juvage ‘the Hunter’ gada Varviai of Selija inherited in 928. He created the High Chiefdom of Courland and expanded into Lithuania. He died in 948 and expansion stalled. Valikaila ‘the Headless’ conquered Latgale in 959 from the Russian Slovensky dynasty, reducing them to vassals. However, they resented this and killed him in battle in 966. His brother Rushky ‘the Evil’ handled that and another revolt in 973. He died in 985 and a third brother, Dovyat inherited. But he died fighting the Slovensky in 995, so a child now rules.
The Vyatich had ruled Pronsk since game start. Vladislav ‘Sharp Tongue’ added Polotsk in 887. His brother Gradimir conquered Minsk in 897 and Tver in 911. His son Viacheslaw ‘the Able’ then added Smolensk and Chernigov in 913 and Ryazan in 919. His cousin Sviatopolk ‘the Monster’ conquered the Ruriks in 934 and Novosil in 944. Then expansion largely stopped. In 977, Yemelyan created the Kingdoms of Chernigov and Novogorod. They were soon after conquered by the Khazars. This did not last long, but the dynasty has since been Jewish. In recent decades they have lost much of their western lands to Poland, Courland, and Savonia.
Velsk and Vologda have common origins. Kettu ‘the Merry’ Tsuudit was a Finn. He started with a single county as a Mordvin vassal, but then in 887 inherited Vologda. He then in 896 conquered Velsk/Kargopol from Yurak ‘the Bone-Squeezer’ Shenkurskid, a Nenets before dying in 899. However, Yurak bided his time and killed Kettu’s granddaughter Elizabeth in a claim duel in 926 for Velsk. However, her aunt Hella ‘Daughter of Tuonetar’ inherited everything else, including Kargopol. She expanded the realm, conquering Rostov. After he death in 943 though, things fell apart. Yurak’s son regained Kargopol in 960. The rump lands fell also to a Nenets, Vesi ‘the Hunter Ngayid’ in 974.
The Bolghars are a disunited mess, some Slavic and some Jewish in religion.
In 901, Chuga Viryayid claimed the High Chiefdom of Perm in a duel before dying in 906. His sons ruled until 941. Kudym-Osh ‘the Whisperer’ added Zyriane in 911. Deryab added Votyaki in 930. Chuga II added nothing. Kudym-Osh’s son Pokshayaka created the Kingdom of Perm in 953. It bounced around between cousins while staying territorially stable. Then in 991 Sanal’ka ‘the Heavenly’ of Mari, a Mordvin, subjugated them. Her son Uchva Kezhayid now rules.
From 901-928 the Samanids would surge across the Tarim basin to the edge of the map. They established the Muslim Kashgarid dynasty in Kashgar. But otherwise they largely left the native rulers in places, though those rulers eventually converted to Islam outside Jiuquan. They tried to place a Persian ruler in Khotan, but allowed the Saka ruling dynasty to return in 930. The Saminids formed an Empire in 928, were overthrown that same year by the Banijurids. An incompetent Banijurid inherited in 960. He was overthrown by the Nakhsabids in 966, who ran a “How To Destroy an Empire in 10 Years!” tutorial, completed in 977. This resulted in the Tarim vassals gaining independence.
Mozaffar ‘the Lame’ Kashgarid inherited Kashgar in 936 as a 5-year-old. He inherited a claim on Khotan from his mother and pressed it in 971. In 985 he crowned himself Sultan of Khotan. His son Bakhitar inherited in 991 and still rules. Karashar is ruled by the Tocharian Yuni dynasty. Bakhitar is trying to conquer them.
The Saminids had replaced the Tocharian Tripaskar dynasty of Kumul with the Saka Hunas dynasty. They ruled until 986. Then a Kirghiz adventurer named Barsbeg Kanzid conquered them. He converted to Islam. In 994 he conquered Jiuquan. He is fighting a border war with the Kashgarids.
To the north, Bashkiria is a Sunni Pecheneg Khaganate. The same dynasty has ruled them since 850. They have split the Cumans. To the north are the Tengri Toksoba and Suomensko Kuman and to the west are the Sunni Thizid. The Kirghiz are mostly still Tengri. Most powerful of these are the Canid and the Agutid. They’ve been a chaotic mess all game.
Kara Khorum is Nestorian Mongols. They managed to convert or conquer all the other Mongols to Christianity. Their current dynasty has ruled for 50 years
Muzaffaraddin ‘the Just’ was a courtier who inherited the Emirate of Taizz in 891. In 904 he crowned himself Sultan of Yemen. His son Muzaffaraddin ‘the Unchaste’ expanded into Somalia, conquered Socotra and won more than he lost in border wars with the Arabian Empire. The Abbasids rule Medina and much of the Hijaz while as you can see the Nuffarid Caliphs have expanded to Mecca.
The Tulunids have ruled Egypt since game start. Their first rulers didn’t do much. But Al-Abbas ‘the Blessed’ inherited in 878. Over the course of his reign, much of Sudan would be captured. He died in 898 and his unremarkable son and nephew followed. But then in 938 Biktor came to the throne. He was a pretty bright guy. Just paranoid and insane. Oh, and a Yarsan heretic. Anyway, he managed to overrun the Aghlabids of Africa in 949. He celebrated this by declaring himself Emperor of Egypt. He died of Smallpox in 951.
His son Hakam ‘the Proselytizer’ inherited. He tried to restore Sunni Islam, but would fall in battle against a Yarsan vassal in 958. However, his twin brother Ra’uf ‘the Terrible’ took up the cause. His son Kemaladdin ‘the Proselytizer’ followed. *His* son Nabil is a good Sunni, other than being a demon-possessed womanizer. There are still several Yarsan vassals around though.
Christian Makuria still survives as a Tulunid tributary. Ethiopia is a bet of a mess. Axum and Gondar are actually independent junior Tulunids. The Rassids are Bedouin. Damot is Ethiopian Muslim and Wag is Ethiopian Judaizer.
The last Idrisid ruler died in 922 fighting a civil war after losing much of northern Morocco to the Umayyads. The aftermath was a succession struggle for Morocco between various Hashimids and Abbasids. Then a mass liberation revolt would in 956 restore the Kingdom of the Maghreb under the Ibadi Abdul-Kareem ‘the Liberator’. Neither he nor his successor left an heir. Abdullah ‘the Vengeful’ Tremecen inherited in 972. He reconquered Fez in 989 only for the Andalusians to regain it 4 years later.
The Kingdom of Ghana was founded in 885 by Queen Amita ‘the Drunkard’ Cisse. Her brother Soumaba inherited, then his son Sulayman, then his daughter Fatim, at which point the dynasty died out in 956. A Mali vassal inherited, then after his death the native Oualata dynasty inherited. The ambitious pagan Queen Zeinab now rules. She is attacking Tremecen.
Queen Zeinab Tadmekka inherited a single county in 983. By 900 she was able to crown herself Queen of Songhay. 4 years later she added Hausaland. However, in 906 she caught a fatal case of pregnancy and died without heirs. After her death chaos followed for the two kingdoms. Ultimately in 932, Queen Hassan ‘the Merry’ reunified them. She married the ruler of Manding. However gynecological issues proved too much for her also in 947, specifically a difficult pregnancy+great pox. Her son Harun ‘the Drunkard’ inherited. He was even more incompetent than the nickname might suggest and died of an infected wound at the ripe old age of 23. His shrewd, ambitious sister Tekhaye inherited. She conquered Muslim Kanem in 958 and crowned herself Empress of Kanem-Bornu in 970. She died a natural death in 994 at the age of 60. Her grandson Said now rules.
In 889 Muhammad ‘the Lame’ Umayyad overthrew his cousin. He would expand into Morocco. He created the Empire of Hispania in 909. His son Abdul ‘the Just’ though managed to be overthrown in 917 by Visigothic Musliddin Qutamid. During this mess Murcia and Valencia were lost to Lotharingia. They in turn were overthrown by Basque Pelaio ‘the Unchaste’ Qasid from Navarre. The Nayihids took the opportunity to break free. They died out in 988 and Balashk ‘the Cruel’ inherited. His main accomplishment is losing Aragon to Aquitaine.
Asturias figured out the one weird trick to avoid conquest, have a Muslim inherit the throne in 908. Since then they have had several Muslim dynasties. They lost Galicia to Aquitaine in 990.
Aquitaine has been ruled by the same gone native Karling branch since game start. In 958 Odon inherited. He vastly expanded Aquitaine into Spain. His son Frances now rules.
Lothare was succeeded by his son Lothare II as ruler of the middle strip of Francia who conquered Bavaria. On his death in 889, his oldest daughter Heloise inherited Lotharingia and Burgundy. 16-year-old Teutburga got Italy and Bavaria. This arrangement lasted for all of 2 months before Heloise conveniently died. Teutburga married the King of Serbia and conquered Valencia. By her death in 931, she was the second Karling after Charlemagne known as ‘the Great’.
Her descendants peacefully shuffled their six crowns among each other by inheritance. Made more confusing as her first husband’s kids were Vlastimirovics and her second husband’s were Karlings. The former rule Italy and Lotharingia at the moment. Serbia was conquered by Carpathia in 986. Most of Italy’s lands have gained independence. Karlings rule Burgundy and Bavaria/Valencia.
East Francia under Ludwig ‘the German conquered West Francia in 872 from Charles ‘the Bald’. In 874 Ludwig crowned himself Holy Roman Emperor. His son Ludwig ‘the Younger’ inherited. He lost France to a national liberation revolt in 886, then died of cancer in 888. His son Bernhard ‘the Depraved’ had a long reign to 925. Then his son Liutbert ‘the Cruel’ ruled until 947. On his death, the vassals chose a van Vlaaderen. He was overthrown in 949 by a guy in turn overthrown by Liutbert’s son, who then died in battle. The van Vlaaderen have had stable rule since 956.
France was founded by Othon ‘the Liberater’ in 886. Since then they have had 3 dynesties. Several rulers died fighting the Muslims under unclear circumstances. One died fighting the Norse in Brittany which has been an ongoing struggle all game. Currently Centule ‘the Wise’ de Crecy rules.
The Byzantine Empire has expanded somewhat in Italy over the game. They gained Epirus, Ohrid, and Tao under Konstantinos ‘the Chaste’ Macedon (886-916). It has been ruled by the Doukas from 937-57 and 960-85 before passing to the Agelastos half-brother that now rules. They have twice expanded into Armenia and beyond only to be thrown back out by Muslims and native revolts. The conquest of Cilicia by a Doukas vassal in 958 greatly improved the position on that front and very slow continued advances have followed.
In 869 Muslim Vladimir ‘the Wise’ Balgarsko inherited Bulgaria. However in 880 he was conquered by the Khazars partially due to internal instability. A bunch of Khazars settled down, mostly in near the Byzantine border. By 901 Vladimir managed to regain control over Bulgaria though by then some southern areas were lost to the Byzantines. He died in 908. His family had a lot of fun murdering each other, but in 926 his grandson Vladimir inherited. He added Hungary and Croatia to the realm. He died in 939 and his brother Vojnomir ‘the Lame’ inherited. He created the Empire of Carpathia in 944 then died in 946 fighting the Byzantines. Family drama continued, with every successor dying within a few years or living long enough to be overthrown. Ultimately infant Vasili II inherited in 992. He was then overthrown by his insane court physician, Vasili Erdevelu. Carpathia is still Muslim.
Miroslaw ‘the Wall of Greater Poland’ inherited in 897. He then *vastly* expanded the realm. Uppland was subjugated in 908, it also ruled Ostrogothia, Pomerania, and Pomerelia. Kuyavia followed in 922, Mazovia in 930, Prussia in 931. He died in 939. His son Piast created the Kingdom of Poland in 944. His son Siemysl ‘the Ill-Ruler’ inherited, but died fighting the Norse in 957. Since then the Swidnicki dynasty have ruled. The Swedish lands have been lost.
The first Khazar ruling dynasty conquered Bulgaria and decided to settle there in 880. 3 rulers from 3 dynesties followed in the next 11 years, with the last one’s descendants breaking off to form the Jabdertim. Then the Ryn dynasty gained power and mostly held control until 957. Another mess followed, before Yilig ‘the Monster’ Beletid gained power in 973. He temporarily conquered much of Russia and expanded Khazaria to the Aral Sea at Turkic expense. The Jabdertim also didn’t do much until Balgici ‘the Lionheart’. He conquered Kiev in 990 and Turov a few years later.
Hafdan ‘Whiteshirt’ Hvitserk formed the Kingdom of York in 866. Northumbria fell to the Norse in 871, Cornwall in 876, Mercia in 878, East Anglia in 883. Wessex held out by far the longest, not falling until 918. They first conquered Scotland in 945, but the Mac Ailpin threw them out in 952 and final victory would not come until 979. Ireland went better, being finished by 932. As for the border gore that exists, Vase broke free from York sometime before 971. Sweden conquered some lands and the Yngling, though that fell apart resulting in the Mercian microstates. Thanks to Varangian service by many Hvitserk family members, York has embraced the Orthodox faith since 973. Most of the population is still Catholic though.
Pordr ‘the Cruel’ of Viken inherited in 948 and by 955 was able to crown himself King of Norway. He was then subjugated in 972 by Finnish High Chief Veli ‘the Short-tempered’. Veli’s uncle now rules Norway and Veli’s son Lappland. They are Catholic.
Porfinn ‘the Wise’ Ulfig was son of a chief. In 922 he managed to conquer Westrogothia. He then went a unification spree, in 933 crowning himself King of Sweden. His son had no kids, so ultimately in 950 the Rammi dynasty inherited. In 955 Snorri ‘the Brave’ inherited. He was the one who conquered land in England. His son Sigtrygg ‘the Submissive’ decided to convert to Islam. His son Styrbjorn now rules.
The fall of Uppland to Miroslaw left a vacuum in the Baltic. Skalvia had long been independent. They gained Kurzeme in 914, but expansion really started when Juvage ‘the Hunter’ gada Varviai of Selija inherited in 928. He created the High Chiefdom of Courland and expanded into Lithuania. He died in 948 and expansion stalled. Valikaila ‘the Headless’ conquered Latgale in 959 from the Russian Slovensky dynasty, reducing them to vassals. However, they resented this and killed him in battle in 966. His brother Rushky ‘the Evil’ handled that and another revolt in 973. He died in 985 and a third brother, Dovyat inherited. But he died fighting the Slovensky in 995, so a child now rules.
The Vyatich had ruled Pronsk since game start. Vladislav ‘Sharp Tongue’ added Polotsk in 887. His brother Gradimir conquered Minsk in 897 and Tver in 911. His son Viacheslaw ‘the Able’ then added Smolensk and Chernigov in 913 and Ryazan in 919. His cousin Sviatopolk ‘the Monster’ conquered the Ruriks in 934 and Novosil in 944. Then expansion largely stopped. In 977, Yemelyan created the Kingdoms of Chernigov and Novogorod. They were soon after conquered by the Khazars. This did not last long, but the dynasty has since been Jewish. In recent decades they have lost much of their western lands to Poland, Courland, and Savonia.
Velsk and Vologda have common origins. Kettu ‘the Merry’ Tsuudit was a Finn. He started with a single county as a Mordvin vassal, but then in 887 inherited Vologda. He then in 896 conquered Velsk/Kargopol from Yurak ‘the Bone-Squeezer’ Shenkurskid, a Nenets before dying in 899. However, Yurak bided his time and killed Kettu’s granddaughter Elizabeth in a claim duel in 926 for Velsk. However, her aunt Hella ‘Daughter of Tuonetar’ inherited everything else, including Kargopol. She expanded the realm, conquering Rostov. After he death in 943 though, things fell apart. Yurak’s son regained Kargopol in 960. The rump lands fell also to a Nenets, Vesi ‘the Hunter Ngayid’ in 974.
The Bolghars are a disunited mess, some Slavic and some Jewish in religion.
In 901, Chuga Viryayid claimed the High Chiefdom of Perm in a duel before dying in 906. His sons ruled until 941. Kudym-Osh ‘the Whisperer’ added Zyriane in 911. Deryab added Votyaki in 930. Chuga II added nothing. Kudym-Osh’s son Pokshayaka created the Kingdom of Perm in 953. It bounced around between cousins while staying territorially stable. Then in 991 Sanal’ka ‘the Heavenly’ of Mari, a Mordvin, subjugated them. Her son Uchva Kezhayid now rules.
From 901-928 the Samanids would surge across the Tarim basin to the edge of the map. They established the Muslim Kashgarid dynasty in Kashgar. But otherwise they largely left the native rulers in places, though those rulers eventually converted to Islam outside Jiuquan. They tried to place a Persian ruler in Khotan, but allowed the Saka ruling dynasty to return in 930. The Saminids formed an Empire in 928, were overthrown that same year by the Banijurids. An incompetent Banijurid inherited in 960. He was overthrown by the Nakhsabids in 966, who ran a “How To Destroy an Empire in 10 Years!” tutorial, completed in 977. This resulted in the Tarim vassals gaining independence.
Mozaffar ‘the Lame’ Kashgarid inherited Kashgar in 936 as a 5-year-old. He inherited a claim on Khotan from his mother and pressed it in 971. In 985 he crowned himself Sultan of Khotan. His son Bakhitar inherited in 991 and still rules. Karashar is ruled by the Tocharian Yuni dynasty. Bakhitar is trying to conquer them.
The Saminids had replaced the Tocharian Tripaskar dynasty of Kumul with the Saka Hunas dynasty. They ruled until 986. Then a Kirghiz adventurer named Barsbeg Kanzid conquered them. He converted to Islam. In 994 he conquered Jiuquan. He is fighting a border war with the Kashgarids.
To the north, Bashkiria is a Sunni Pecheneg Khaganate. The same dynasty has ruled them since 850. They have split the Cumans. To the north are the Tengri Toksoba and Suomensko Kuman and to the west are the Sunni Thizid. The Kirghiz are mostly still Tengri. Most powerful of these are the Canid and the Agutid. They’ve been a chaotic mess all game.
Kara Khorum is Nestorian Mongols. They managed to convert or conquer all the other Mongols to Christianity. Their current dynasty has ruled for 50 years
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I wonder if they'll stay Orthodox for long enough to start converting Britain...
January 997-August 1403:
Here I am! Shah Jahanshah! I am Humble, Diligent, and Charitable. I can however also be Envious and Deceitful and am a bit of a coward. I already have an Intrigue focus and ambition to Groom an Heir. My wife/cousin Rashida is a nice woman and good at diplomacy. I like her a lot. She tolerates me. My second wife Semeah is also a cousin, but on my *mother’s* side. She gave me a baby boy who died 2 months later. My brother Khashayar is heir. I give him Gilan.
I am currently plotting to kill my cousin Behrad. His father Zakaria is still plotting to forge a claim. I am the type of coward who ruthlessly crushes threats. So I invoke Takfir against him, then try to arrest Zakaria for his plot. Zakaria revolts, but is quickly crushed. Zakaria is beheaded. Behrad is crucified. I have a Charitable spirit though, so restore Qazwin to Behrad’s toddler son.
I betroth myself to Tabriz’s very attractive sister (lets glide past the fact she is 11 years old). Now I have a non-aggression pact with my most powerful vassal. I declare war on the Nakhsabids for Gurgan. I of course will not be leading the army. We win after 7 months with little drama.
My brother-in-law Akin is decedent, but he has no claims on my lands, so I just scare some sense into him. In March 998 I give Rashida the nickname ‘the Festive’. In August, my brother Hossein has a son! Vali is an Inbred Lunatic, but Strong so he might actually survive. In April 999 I pick up a court physician, a pilgrim passing by my hospital. I chose a diplomatic education for my brother Ardavan.
In May I decide to read some poetry, but it is very boring. Someone suggests I go falconing instead, but that sounds dangerous, so instead I lay about being Depressed. In October I marry Saghar Jalilid. In December I hear stories of a crack out of which foul gasses are escaping. I of course stay far away. In May 1000, my father-in-law upsets the peasants collecting taxes. My brother Hossein has another child, a daughter in September.
Armenia wins a holy war for Azerbaijan. Caliph Zahir finally suffers a defeat, against the Afsharids. In April 1002 I lose Craven. This newfound courage doesn’t extend to allowing lepers at court however. Behrad Jalilid of Daylam refuses to end a murder plot, so I try to arrest him. The fact that he is betrothed to my comely sister-in-law is entirely irrelevant…
On September 25, 1002 I die of depression at the age of 32. I have reigned 5 years. My epitaph is “A humble man, he never wanted anyone to make a fuss over his accomplishments. A godly man, Jahanshah is with Allah now.” My brother Khashayar inherits. As for expectations of him, “Being a talented military tactician, we expect him to lead us to many victories on the field of battle.”
I am Kind and Brave and well-groomed, though kind of shy. I can be Greedy at times and have a temper. I am deeply in love with my wife Rashida, who has similar strengths to me. We just had our first child, Morteza, who shows promise of being tall. I am also married to Parand Jalilid, who is from an undistinguished branch of that family. I am rivals with my sister Pourandokht. I already have a Family focus. I chose Groom an Heir as my ambition.
As for my brother’s widows, Rashida ‘the Festive’ I marry off to Hossein. I marry Saghar myself. She is beautiful, has a lovely personality, and has a teenage crush on me, so why not? Daylam is crushed in December. I give his county to Ardavan. I give Gilan to Hossein.
In January 1403 I declare war on Armenia for Azerbaijan. In April I learn Rashida is pregnant! In May Saghar gives my brother a post-humous child, a girl named Noor. In August we fight the Armenians at Kapalak and crush them. However, I fall fighting an Alan mercenary on August 11. I have reigned for less than a year. As for my epitapth, “For his wicked deeds, many screamed not to bury him with the other rulers of our lands, instead to toss him in an unmarked grave and without proper services. May Khashayar finally pay for his sins in the afterlife.”
My 1-year-old son Morteza inherits…
Here I am! Shah Jahanshah! I am Humble, Diligent, and Charitable. I can however also be Envious and Deceitful and am a bit of a coward. I already have an Intrigue focus and ambition to Groom an Heir. My wife/cousin Rashida is a nice woman and good at diplomacy. I like her a lot. She tolerates me. My second wife Semeah is also a cousin, but on my *mother’s* side. She gave me a baby boy who died 2 months later. My brother Khashayar is heir. I give him Gilan.
I am currently plotting to kill my cousin Behrad. His father Zakaria is still plotting to forge a claim. I am the type of coward who ruthlessly crushes threats. So I invoke Takfir against him, then try to arrest Zakaria for his plot. Zakaria revolts, but is quickly crushed. Zakaria is beheaded. Behrad is crucified. I have a Charitable spirit though, so restore Qazwin to Behrad’s toddler son.
I betroth myself to Tabriz’s very attractive sister (lets glide past the fact she is 11 years old). Now I have a non-aggression pact with my most powerful vassal. I declare war on the Nakhsabids for Gurgan. I of course will not be leading the army. We win after 7 months with little drama.
My brother-in-law Akin is decedent, but he has no claims on my lands, so I just scare some sense into him. In March 998 I give Rashida the nickname ‘the Festive’. In August, my brother Hossein has a son! Vali is an Inbred Lunatic, but Strong so he might actually survive. In April 999 I pick up a court physician, a pilgrim passing by my hospital. I chose a diplomatic education for my brother Ardavan.
In May I decide to read some poetry, but it is very boring. Someone suggests I go falconing instead, but that sounds dangerous, so instead I lay about being Depressed. In October I marry Saghar Jalilid. In December I hear stories of a crack out of which foul gasses are escaping. I of course stay far away. In May 1000, my father-in-law upsets the peasants collecting taxes. My brother Hossein has another child, a daughter in September.
Armenia wins a holy war for Azerbaijan. Caliph Zahir finally suffers a defeat, against the Afsharids. In April 1002 I lose Craven. This newfound courage doesn’t extend to allowing lepers at court however. Behrad Jalilid of Daylam refuses to end a murder plot, so I try to arrest him. The fact that he is betrothed to my comely sister-in-law is entirely irrelevant…
On September 25, 1002 I die of depression at the age of 32. I have reigned 5 years. My epitaph is “A humble man, he never wanted anyone to make a fuss over his accomplishments. A godly man, Jahanshah is with Allah now.” My brother Khashayar inherits. As for expectations of him, “Being a talented military tactician, we expect him to lead us to many victories on the field of battle.”
I am Kind and Brave and well-groomed, though kind of shy. I can be Greedy at times and have a temper. I am deeply in love with my wife Rashida, who has similar strengths to me. We just had our first child, Morteza, who shows promise of being tall. I am also married to Parand Jalilid, who is from an undistinguished branch of that family. I am rivals with my sister Pourandokht. I already have a Family focus. I chose Groom an Heir as my ambition.
As for my brother’s widows, Rashida ‘the Festive’ I marry off to Hossein. I marry Saghar myself. She is beautiful, has a lovely personality, and has a teenage crush on me, so why not? Daylam is crushed in December. I give his county to Ardavan. I give Gilan to Hossein.
In January 1403 I declare war on Armenia for Azerbaijan. In April I learn Rashida is pregnant! In May Saghar gives my brother a post-humous child, a girl named Noor. In August we fight the Armenians at Kapalak and crush them. However, I fall fighting an Alan mercenary on August 11. I have reigned for less than a year. As for my epitapth, “For his wicked deeds, many screamed not to bury him with the other rulers of our lands, instead to toss him in an unmarked grave and without proper services. May Khashayar finally pay for his sins in the afterlife.”
My 1-year-old son Morteza inherits…
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Those two brothers had terrible luck when it came to living past 30, and now an infant is the monarch... Time for a coup perhaps?
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August 1403-August 1418:
We are now the 1-year-old Shah Morteza. My mother Rashida is guardian. My regent and heir is my Uncle Hossein. This might seem dangerous, but he likes me in memory of his brother. My mother has a still-birth in November. Caliph Zahir dies. Instead of his oldest Imamaddin, son of my great-aunt and husband of my aunt, inheriting as expected, the new Caliph named is his younger brother Umaya who we have no connection too.
In March 1004, Gurgan conquers Dihistan. We defeat the Armenians again at Lankaran. In February 1005 the Armenians surrender. The Orthodox Armenian Duke of Azerbaijan becomes a vassal. The False Caliph is facing a tyranny revolt, so we send our army to help the rebels. Things are going well, but then in October, an ex-Turkic adventurer named Aksonqor declares war on us for Azerbaijan.
In March 1006, my nurse gets me a pet cat! In July we win a great victory at Baku! If we had lost that would have been decisive. As it is we are free to reclaim Azerbaijan. In September my uncle is replaced as regent by Cytelbearn of the House of Alamut. Despite being a great-grandson of the founder, he still considers himself culturally Anglo-Saxon. His mother was a Sayyid and he is personally very ambitious.
In exciting international news, the Al-Turki have converted to Shia Islam! He wants to marry his son to my mother. Cytelbearn jumps at the opportunity and takes over my guardianship. The Caliphal tyranny revolt ends in a white peace. The adventurer is crushed at Absheron and agrees to reparations. Cytelbearn rewards himself with Zanjan. The tyranny revolt rapidly revives, so we join that. In August our combined armies defeat the False Caliph at Halabja!
However, in March 1008 we suffer a crushing defeat at Ramadi. Meanwhile I have a lot of fun pony-back riding! I gain Playful. Cytelbearn gives me an etiquette education. My cousin of Qazwin seizes Daylam from my Uncle Ardavan. In February 1009 I become rivals with a Jewish courtier named Makha who I had been bullying.
In May I decide to play with the other kids instead of reading. I gain 1 health. My Uncle Shujah and Gurgan resent Cytelbearn’s power. He refuses to be blackmailed into ceding power. Good news rapidly follows! Gurgan dies and we inherit his lands. Cytelbearn gives Gurgan to himself and Dihistan to his son Beorn. Then we defeat the False Caliph at Hafar al Batin.
My grandmother Gopari dies in July 1010. Tabriz conquers Daylam from Qazwin. We defeat the rebels in a series of minor battles. My great-uncle Bahir is captured in April 1011. Cytelbearn’s ambitions continue to rise. He now has the ambition to become Shah of Persia. I inherit the Duchy of Azerbaijan. My council refuses to let him give it to himself, so instead his son Beorn gets it, though only with 1 county. In September we siege down Alamut and my Uncle Shujah surrenders.
We can now rejoin the war against the False Caliph. Unfortunately, we are hit hard at the battle of Hit. Cytelbearn dies in July 1012 and Uncle Hussein is regent again! At some point I apparently became rivals with Malcha’s sister Pultzelina. In September 1012 I notice some poor kids being beaten for stealing food and I intervene. I gain Affectionate. In March 1014 the False Caliph dies, ending the war. His son False Caliph Kamran now rules. In September, Tabriz converts from Shia Islam to the Druze heresy.
Uncle betroths me to his daughter Arghavan. In March 1015, Playful becomes Deceitful. In June I have cramps, but they soon disappear. We have a Druze revolt, but it is soon crushed. The idea of ruling is kind of overwhelming. In January 1016 I decide I want to stay a child as much as I can. I gain Content. The Sunni branch of the al-Turki inherited, so my mother, her husband, and my half-brothers return to court. She takes over my education. In March 1017, Affectionate becomes Trusting. In March 1018 my pet cat dies.
In August I come of age! I am a profoundly mediocre person, with learning the only thing I am semi-competent at.
Armenia has been nearly wiped out. Kakheti gained independence, I conquered Azerbaijan, and the Al-Turki gained much of their heartland. The Nuffarid Caliphs have lost their Arabian lands except Mecca to the Arabian Empire and Mosul to the Al-Turki. Before that they had conquered Fars from the Tahirids though. The Kirghiz adventurer-formed Kingdom of Kabulistan is on the rise. The Nakhsabids are gone. Megistos ‘the Wise’ in the Byzantine Empire has been overthrown by people who are actually Doukas as opposed to the half-brother of one.
We are now the 1-year-old Shah Morteza. My mother Rashida is guardian. My regent and heir is my Uncle Hossein. This might seem dangerous, but he likes me in memory of his brother. My mother has a still-birth in November. Caliph Zahir dies. Instead of his oldest Imamaddin, son of my great-aunt and husband of my aunt, inheriting as expected, the new Caliph named is his younger brother Umaya who we have no connection too.
In March 1004, Gurgan conquers Dihistan. We defeat the Armenians again at Lankaran. In February 1005 the Armenians surrender. The Orthodox Armenian Duke of Azerbaijan becomes a vassal. The False Caliph is facing a tyranny revolt, so we send our army to help the rebels. Things are going well, but then in October, an ex-Turkic adventurer named Aksonqor declares war on us for Azerbaijan.
In March 1006, my nurse gets me a pet cat! In July we win a great victory at Baku! If we had lost that would have been decisive. As it is we are free to reclaim Azerbaijan. In September my uncle is replaced as regent by Cytelbearn of the House of Alamut. Despite being a great-grandson of the founder, he still considers himself culturally Anglo-Saxon. His mother was a Sayyid and he is personally very ambitious.
In exciting international news, the Al-Turki have converted to Shia Islam! He wants to marry his son to my mother. Cytelbearn jumps at the opportunity and takes over my guardianship. The Caliphal tyranny revolt ends in a white peace. The adventurer is crushed at Absheron and agrees to reparations. Cytelbearn rewards himself with Zanjan. The tyranny revolt rapidly revives, so we join that. In August our combined armies defeat the False Caliph at Halabja!
However, in March 1008 we suffer a crushing defeat at Ramadi. Meanwhile I have a lot of fun pony-back riding! I gain Playful. Cytelbearn gives me an etiquette education. My cousin of Qazwin seizes Daylam from my Uncle Ardavan. In February 1009 I become rivals with a Jewish courtier named Makha who I had been bullying.
In May I decide to play with the other kids instead of reading. I gain 1 health. My Uncle Shujah and Gurgan resent Cytelbearn’s power. He refuses to be blackmailed into ceding power. Good news rapidly follows! Gurgan dies and we inherit his lands. Cytelbearn gives Gurgan to himself and Dihistan to his son Beorn. Then we defeat the False Caliph at Hafar al Batin.
My grandmother Gopari dies in July 1010. Tabriz conquers Daylam from Qazwin. We defeat the rebels in a series of minor battles. My great-uncle Bahir is captured in April 1011. Cytelbearn’s ambitions continue to rise. He now has the ambition to become Shah of Persia. I inherit the Duchy of Azerbaijan. My council refuses to let him give it to himself, so instead his son Beorn gets it, though only with 1 county. In September we siege down Alamut and my Uncle Shujah surrenders.
We can now rejoin the war against the False Caliph. Unfortunately, we are hit hard at the battle of Hit. Cytelbearn dies in July 1012 and Uncle Hussein is regent again! At some point I apparently became rivals with Malcha’s sister Pultzelina. In September 1012 I notice some poor kids being beaten for stealing food and I intervene. I gain Affectionate. In March 1014 the False Caliph dies, ending the war. His son False Caliph Kamran now rules. In September, Tabriz converts from Shia Islam to the Druze heresy.
Uncle betroths me to his daughter Arghavan. In March 1015, Playful becomes Deceitful. In June I have cramps, but they soon disappear. We have a Druze revolt, but it is soon crushed. The idea of ruling is kind of overwhelming. In January 1016 I decide I want to stay a child as much as I can. I gain Content. The Sunni branch of the al-Turki inherited, so my mother, her husband, and my half-brothers return to court. She takes over my education. In March 1017, Affectionate becomes Trusting. In March 1018 my pet cat dies.
In August I come of age! I am a profoundly mediocre person, with learning the only thing I am semi-competent at.
Armenia has been nearly wiped out. Kakheti gained independence, I conquered Azerbaijan, and the Al-Turki gained much of their heartland. The Nuffarid Caliphs have lost their Arabian lands except Mecca to the Arabian Empire and Mosul to the Al-Turki. Before that they had conquered Fars from the Tahirids though. The Kirghiz adventurer-formed Kingdom of Kabulistan is on the rise. The Nakhsabids are gone. Megistos ‘the Wise’ in the Byzantine Empire has been overthrown by people who are actually Doukas as opposed to the half-brother of one.
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That's good, as Cytelbearn's ambitions seemed to suggest he could have been a threat to Morteza's rule (if he couldn't get Persia, maybe Daylam would do for him).
August 1418-June 1033:
I don’t choose any ambition. I chose the Family Focus. Given my traits and skills (or lack thereof!) I think I will treat it as my uncle still being de-facto regent. I do celebrate in one way, asking my Jewish family to leave my court as I am rivals with two of his kids. Several cousins are married or betrothed off, mostly to Ukhaidhirids.
I am getting closer to my half-brother Mubarak al-Turki! My Uncle Shujah declares war on Beorn for Gurgan and Dihistan in April. Beorn was already fighting the Khazars. My Uncle Hossein demands he surrender. Beorn agrees in return for a favor. He then burns that favor in August to make me declare a de jure war for Farava on the Samanids.
In November 1019 I marry Hossein’s daughter Arghavan. In January 1020 we defeat the Saminids in a great battle at Gazanjyk. I flee combat and gain the trait Craven. I decide that is the end of my military career! In June I learn Arghavan is pregnant! The Saminids surrender after we storm their capital. We now rule all the Kingdom of Daylam plus the great fortresses of Zanjan and Rayy. The omans are good around my wife’s pregnancy. In December, Tabriz allies with Beorn.
I have inherited several baronies, so give the County of Azerbaijan to Uncle Hossein’s son Keykhosrau while his brother Esma’il gets Suenik. Incidentally the oldest, imbred lunatic Vali, died, but not before he and his cousin-wife produced a daughter, Zeynab who is perfectly normal other than being kind of Ugly. In January 1021, my daughter Yekta is born! She is Attractive, but Slow intellectually.
In June Tabriz declares a holy war for Khorasan on the Afsharids. In July I learn Arghavan is pregnant again! My Uncle Shujah plots to kill his sister/my mother Rashida and is told to knock it off.
Varshabid Jalilid, Satrap of Tabriz, is an ambitious man. Not only is he allied with Beorn, not only is he trying to conquer the Afsharids, but it turns out he is also plotting to forge a claim on *my* throne! In November, the Druz launch another revolt in Tabriz.
Arghavan comes of age! I don’t remember if I’ve mentioned one of my mods lowers the female marriage age to 14. Anyway, we became lovers at some point. Also, despite being supposedly dim-witted, she is quite a bit smarter than her husband!
Uncle Hossein’s plan is simple. Raise a large army, crush the Druze revolt, then try to arrest Tabriz. Meanwhile in February 1022, my son Abbas is born! He is a Strong and Comely Giant, but Dim-witted. He is married to Hossein’s granddaughter Zeynab. In April we defeat the Druze. Arrest attempt fails, so we start sieging Tabriz. In January 1023 I spend quality time with my daughter Yekta. In February Arghavan asks me to get her romantic poetry. I agree and shortly afterward she tells me she is pregnant again!
The war is going to take awhile because Tabriz’s army was already largely eliminated by the Afsharids. It turns out if they could handle the Saffarids at the peak of their power, they can handle him. In September, my comely, tall son Mashad is born! In November my mother dies. In May 1024 my Uncle Shujah dies. His 1-year-old son Yazdegerd inherits. I betroth him to Yekta. I spend quality time with my son Abbas and gain Kind. In September 1025 my Uncle Ardavan becomes Decedent. I become Fat myself the following year.
Tabriz finally surrenders in June 1026 after forcing me to fully siege down all 4 of his counties. I decide on an Etiquette education for Yekta. Tabriz loses Rayy to my cousin Darish, has his duchy revoked, and goes in the Oubliette. We steal some tech.
In January 1028 my wife has the bright idea we should fire her father Hossein as spymaster and replace him with a Jalilid. This goes down like a lead balloon. Alamut has been inherited by a distant cousin, as Yekta’s betrothed has died. In June Uncle Hossein dies. My wife starts taking over as de-facto ruler. She is more ruthless than her father and starts a plot to kill the False Caliph.
In July I start feeling sick. In October, a plot to kill the False Caliph fails. By now it is clear I have the Flu (game said Great Pox, but changed that, lets just say a Content, Kind guy in love with his wife is probably not picking up STDs! It annoys me how it is random.). The treatments offered sound scary so I refuse them. I recover in December.
The Al-Turki are fighting Trebizond. We take advantage to declare war to rip Al-Jazira from them and install my Shia half-brother Burhanaddin. Incidentally my son Abbas recently became friends with him! In April 1029 the False Caliph is tragically killed by highwaymen…
Qwivir is booming, but in December we have to turn down an opportunity to clear land for a new holding for financial reasons. In January 1030 the Al-Turki beat us badly at Bakhdida near Mosul. Then even worse in July at Babak near Tabriz. In June 1031 I learn Arghavan is pregnant again! In January 1032 my strong, attractive son Peroz is born! We defeat the Al-Turki after they are attritioned sieging down Zanjan. In May my wife fires the Jalilid spymaster and appoints herself. We resiege Mosul and in May the Al-Turki agree to a white peace (forgot to take screenshots of the battles).
My wife implements some law changes, preventing lands being inherited by outsiders and increasing the status of women to Marginal. We start plotting to kill the child False Caliph. My daughter Yekta is betrothed to Nard, the True Caliph as the most senior Nuffarid (and perhaps more relevantly the branch we repeatedly married into). He’s a 7-year-old lunatic, but details. We’ll need to rebuild our finances and army before we are ready to try to install him though…
Photios Krateros recently inherited the Byzantine Empire. He has a Doukas mother. He is facing a revolt. The Byzantines have been focusing on beating up Carpathia recently. The current Al-Turki ruler has only daughters, so Burhanaddin is actually his heir! The Nuffarids usurped Persia from the Tahirids and are now fighting a holy war for Kerman. The Arabian Empire conquered Medina from the Nuffarids. Kabul continues to slowly expand. Otherwise the mess of states has been surprisingly stable.
P.S.: As you can tell, we are becoming a bit of a family circle. Abbas+Zeynab’s kids will only have 8 instead of the normal 16 unique great-great grandparents. Their kids will be roughly as inbred as Charles II of Spain (didn’t fully math it out!).
We’ve had surprisingly few inbred, though there are some clear family traits. We tend toward beauty, height, strength, and stupidity. Of the 29 living family members, 13 are comely or attractive, 7 are tall or giants, 6 are strong or burly, 9 are dim, slow, or imbecile.
Its for similarish reasons as with the Habsburgs. Basically roleplaying-wise the suitable marriage match pool is *small* (my AI-controlled relatives make icky marriages too!). The Nuffarid Caliphate is the only other Shia kingdom. The Jalilids are long our most powerful vassal. Other than that it is junior branches of our family and the Ukhaidhrids. I realized this after a bit and decided to lean into it. After all that’s what the Habsburgs did! Charles II’s sister was married to her uncle. Of her 7 pregnancies, 1 child survived infancy. But don’t worry, she figured out the cause! That’s right! The Jews!***
***Its worth noting that pretty much every human society not called Roman Egypt had anti-inbreeding cultural norms of varying strictness for *non-elites*, so I think the proximate cause is more blue blood hubris than a lack of knowledge of modern genetics.
I don’t choose any ambition. I chose the Family Focus. Given my traits and skills (or lack thereof!) I think I will treat it as my uncle still being de-facto regent. I do celebrate in one way, asking my Jewish family to leave my court as I am rivals with two of his kids. Several cousins are married or betrothed off, mostly to Ukhaidhirids.
I am getting closer to my half-brother Mubarak al-Turki! My Uncle Shujah declares war on Beorn for Gurgan and Dihistan in April. Beorn was already fighting the Khazars. My Uncle Hossein demands he surrender. Beorn agrees in return for a favor. He then burns that favor in August to make me declare a de jure war for Farava on the Samanids.
In November 1019 I marry Hossein’s daughter Arghavan. In January 1020 we defeat the Saminids in a great battle at Gazanjyk. I flee combat and gain the trait Craven. I decide that is the end of my military career! In June I learn Arghavan is pregnant! The Saminids surrender after we storm their capital. We now rule all the Kingdom of Daylam plus the great fortresses of Zanjan and Rayy. The omans are good around my wife’s pregnancy. In December, Tabriz allies with Beorn.
I have inherited several baronies, so give the County of Azerbaijan to Uncle Hossein’s son Keykhosrau while his brother Esma’il gets Suenik. Incidentally the oldest, imbred lunatic Vali, died, but not before he and his cousin-wife produced a daughter, Zeynab who is perfectly normal other than being kind of Ugly. In January 1021, my daughter Yekta is born! She is Attractive, but Slow intellectually.
In June Tabriz declares a holy war for Khorasan on the Afsharids. In July I learn Arghavan is pregnant again! My Uncle Shujah plots to kill his sister/my mother Rashida and is told to knock it off.
Varshabid Jalilid, Satrap of Tabriz, is an ambitious man. Not only is he allied with Beorn, not only is he trying to conquer the Afsharids, but it turns out he is also plotting to forge a claim on *my* throne! In November, the Druz launch another revolt in Tabriz.
Arghavan comes of age! I don’t remember if I’ve mentioned one of my mods lowers the female marriage age to 14. Anyway, we became lovers at some point. Also, despite being supposedly dim-witted, she is quite a bit smarter than her husband!
Uncle Hossein’s plan is simple. Raise a large army, crush the Druze revolt, then try to arrest Tabriz. Meanwhile in February 1022, my son Abbas is born! He is a Strong and Comely Giant, but Dim-witted. He is married to Hossein’s granddaughter Zeynab. In April we defeat the Druze. Arrest attempt fails, so we start sieging Tabriz. In January 1023 I spend quality time with my daughter Yekta. In February Arghavan asks me to get her romantic poetry. I agree and shortly afterward she tells me she is pregnant again!
The war is going to take awhile because Tabriz’s army was already largely eliminated by the Afsharids. It turns out if they could handle the Saffarids at the peak of their power, they can handle him. In September, my comely, tall son Mashad is born! In November my mother dies. In May 1024 my Uncle Shujah dies. His 1-year-old son Yazdegerd inherits. I betroth him to Yekta. I spend quality time with my son Abbas and gain Kind. In September 1025 my Uncle Ardavan becomes Decedent. I become Fat myself the following year.
Tabriz finally surrenders in June 1026 after forcing me to fully siege down all 4 of his counties. I decide on an Etiquette education for Yekta. Tabriz loses Rayy to my cousin Darish, has his duchy revoked, and goes in the Oubliette. We steal some tech.
In January 1028 my wife has the bright idea we should fire her father Hossein as spymaster and replace him with a Jalilid. This goes down like a lead balloon. Alamut has been inherited by a distant cousin, as Yekta’s betrothed has died. In June Uncle Hossein dies. My wife starts taking over as de-facto ruler. She is more ruthless than her father and starts a plot to kill the False Caliph.
In July I start feeling sick. In October, a plot to kill the False Caliph fails. By now it is clear I have the Flu (game said Great Pox, but changed that, lets just say a Content, Kind guy in love with his wife is probably not picking up STDs! It annoys me how it is random.). The treatments offered sound scary so I refuse them. I recover in December.
The Al-Turki are fighting Trebizond. We take advantage to declare war to rip Al-Jazira from them and install my Shia half-brother Burhanaddin. Incidentally my son Abbas recently became friends with him! In April 1029 the False Caliph is tragically killed by highwaymen…
Qwivir is booming, but in December we have to turn down an opportunity to clear land for a new holding for financial reasons. In January 1030 the Al-Turki beat us badly at Bakhdida near Mosul. Then even worse in July at Babak near Tabriz. In June 1031 I learn Arghavan is pregnant again! In January 1032 my strong, attractive son Peroz is born! We defeat the Al-Turki after they are attritioned sieging down Zanjan. In May my wife fires the Jalilid spymaster and appoints herself. We resiege Mosul and in May the Al-Turki agree to a white peace (forgot to take screenshots of the battles).
My wife implements some law changes, preventing lands being inherited by outsiders and increasing the status of women to Marginal. We start plotting to kill the child False Caliph. My daughter Yekta is betrothed to Nard, the True Caliph as the most senior Nuffarid (and perhaps more relevantly the branch we repeatedly married into). He’s a 7-year-old lunatic, but details. We’ll need to rebuild our finances and army before we are ready to try to install him though…
Photios Krateros recently inherited the Byzantine Empire. He has a Doukas mother. He is facing a revolt. The Byzantines have been focusing on beating up Carpathia recently. The current Al-Turki ruler has only daughters, so Burhanaddin is actually his heir! The Nuffarids usurped Persia from the Tahirids and are now fighting a holy war for Kerman. The Arabian Empire conquered Medina from the Nuffarids. Kabul continues to slowly expand. Otherwise the mess of states has been surprisingly stable.
P.S.: As you can tell, we are becoming a bit of a family circle. Abbas+Zeynab’s kids will only have 8 instead of the normal 16 unique great-great grandparents. Their kids will be roughly as inbred as Charles II of Spain (didn’t fully math it out!).
We’ve had surprisingly few inbred, though there are some clear family traits. We tend toward beauty, height, strength, and stupidity. Of the 29 living family members, 13 are comely or attractive, 7 are tall or giants, 6 are strong or burly, 9 are dim, slow, or imbecile.
Its for similarish reasons as with the Habsburgs. Basically roleplaying-wise the suitable marriage match pool is *small* (my AI-controlled relatives make icky marriages too!). The Nuffarid Caliphate is the only other Shia kingdom. The Jalilids are long our most powerful vassal. Other than that it is junior branches of our family and the Ukhaidhrids. I realized this after a bit and decided to lean into it. After all that’s what the Habsburgs did! Charles II’s sister was married to her uncle. Of her 7 pregnancies, 1 child survived infancy. But don’t worry, she figured out the cause! That’s right! The Jews!***
***Its worth noting that pretty much every human society not called Roman Egypt had anti-inbreeding cultural norms of varying strictness for *non-elites*, so I think the proximate cause is more blue blood hubris than a lack of knowledge of modern genetics.
When I get this event the wife usually requests that one of her sons replaces a vassal on the council. I didn't know that a vassal could be suggested through this event.
June 1033-August 1046:
In August I learn Arghavan is pregnant! I shut the gates because of a Slow Fever epidemic. In September we reject another opportunity to clear land in Qwivir. We decide on an Intrigue focus for my son Abbas. In March 1034 my dim, comely, tall (remember the family traits!) daughter Parvin is born!
The Al-Turki are facing a major revolt to put the Arabian branch of the family in charge. The False Caliph has defeated the Tahirids while his vassals took down Khozistan. We open the gates as the epidemic seems to have stalled. Arghavan is pregnant again in October! Our dim giant son Morteza is born in May 1035!
The Nuffarids have become too strong at the moment to realistically take on. My daughter Yekta is lovers with also-14-years-old courtier Shahin Sholid. He’s an imbecile but I guess she considers that better than a 9-year-old lunatic. I break the betrothal and pair her with Shahin despite the status difference. In February 1036, I develop sympathy for the other People of the Book. In August my son Morteza dies of giantism.
My trusting ways sometimes alarm my loved ones but as often as not people respond to the trust I give them by living up to it. In April 1037 my cousin Akin asks me to attack the Al-Turki to press his claim on a county. I refuse. Meanwhile his brother Abdul-Jaleel has become decedent.
I betroth Mashad to Zeri Nuffarid. One of my brother-in-laws is trying to forge a claim on Azerbaijan, held by the of Alamuts. In February 1038 Abbas comes of age! Intrigue is his strength. He marries his cousin Zeynab. My wife thinks we should secure some lands for our sons. So I declare a holy war on Muslim Derbent. In May, Yekta gives me my first grandchild, Afsaneh! Derbent surrenders in December.
Next up is Kakheti! In May 1039 I get the nickname ‘the Blessed’! In September Mashad comes of age! He is good at diplomacy, not much else. He marries Zeri. Both he and Abbas become Decedent. In February 1040 I hear rumors people are plotting to kill Mashad. Kakheti surrenders in May 1040. Abbas gets Derbent, Mashad Kakheti, and Peroz Albania.
The Al-Turki manage to defeat their revolt, but lose Kurdistan to the False Caliph. In June Arghavan tells me she is pregnant! In July 1040, the last of Alamut ruler dies and I inherit Azerbaijan. I marry his widow, my cousin Nazgol, to Nard Nuffarid. In November the people of Gilan convert to Shiaism. In January 1041 my short, attractive, and strong son Khashayar is born!
In February I have to tell Abbas that perhaps he should not be plotting to murder his mother. I’m not exactly clear why he would wish to? To be honest my kids are turning out morally challenged. In June, my court chaplain converts Zanjan to Shiaism! In December I hear rumors people are plotting to kill me.
Our truce with the Al-Turki end, so we declare war to install my half-brother Burhanaddin! He was already fighting the Arabian Empire as their Al-Turki vassals seized Syria some years ago. The False Caliph finally conquers Khorasan. My wife is starting to get fat like me. I tell her there is nothing wrong with that! We defeat the Al-Turki at Palmyra in June!
We defeat the Al-Turki again in November! I inherit Zanjan in January 1045 and give it to my youngest Khashayar. I hear more rumors people are plotting my death. In February 1046 we defeat the Al-Turki again! In July I learn Arghavan is pregnant again!
On August 3, 1046 I die at the age of 43 of poor health. I have reigned for 43 years. “While many struggle to see why Allah decided to take a young child away from us, we hope Morteza will find peace in the afterlife.” As for why people are so sad about my death, here are the expectations for my son Abbas: “Already a feared tyrant, the realm trembles before his rule.”
While people have fond memories of my reign, I was personally largely a non-entity. But with hindsight, it was a period of decadence and rising family tensions. We are up to 26% decadence and rising fast thanks to 4 decedent family members. And as for the harmony of a family that has not had a single revolt or assassination in 180 years…
The landed members of the extended family were banding together to overthrow Morteza! Likely his reputation was helped by not living too long…
Turns out there actually were people plotting to kill Morteza ‘the Blessed’. Namely both his adult sons, both his brother-in-laws, a cousin, and the daughter of the last of Alamut ruler of Azerbaijan. Yep, that’s right! My next character will be a guy who tried to murder *both* his parents! Real charmer...
The Byzantines conquered Alania. The Al Jazira branch of the Al-Turki lost Syria to the Bahrain branch. The Nuffarids have significantly expanded their presence in Persia and with a 22-year-old competent ruler that is likely to continue. Kabulistan continues to expand and is now ruled by the grandson of the Kirghiz founder.
In August I learn Arghavan is pregnant! I shut the gates because of a Slow Fever epidemic. In September we reject another opportunity to clear land in Qwivir. We decide on an Intrigue focus for my son Abbas. In March 1034 my dim, comely, tall (remember the family traits!) daughter Parvin is born!
The Al-Turki are facing a major revolt to put the Arabian branch of the family in charge. The False Caliph has defeated the Tahirids while his vassals took down Khozistan. We open the gates as the epidemic seems to have stalled. Arghavan is pregnant again in October! Our dim giant son Morteza is born in May 1035!
The Nuffarids have become too strong at the moment to realistically take on. My daughter Yekta is lovers with also-14-years-old courtier Shahin Sholid. He’s an imbecile but I guess she considers that better than a 9-year-old lunatic. I break the betrothal and pair her with Shahin despite the status difference. In February 1036, I develop sympathy for the other People of the Book. In August my son Morteza dies of giantism.
My trusting ways sometimes alarm my loved ones but as often as not people respond to the trust I give them by living up to it. In April 1037 my cousin Akin asks me to attack the Al-Turki to press his claim on a county. I refuse. Meanwhile his brother Abdul-Jaleel has become decedent.
I betroth Mashad to Zeri Nuffarid. One of my brother-in-laws is trying to forge a claim on Azerbaijan, held by the of Alamuts. In February 1038 Abbas comes of age! Intrigue is his strength. He marries his cousin Zeynab. My wife thinks we should secure some lands for our sons. So I declare a holy war on Muslim Derbent. In May, Yekta gives me my first grandchild, Afsaneh! Derbent surrenders in December.
Next up is Kakheti! In May 1039 I get the nickname ‘the Blessed’! In September Mashad comes of age! He is good at diplomacy, not much else. He marries Zeri. Both he and Abbas become Decedent. In February 1040 I hear rumors people are plotting to kill Mashad. Kakheti surrenders in May 1040. Abbas gets Derbent, Mashad Kakheti, and Peroz Albania.
The Al-Turki manage to defeat their revolt, but lose Kurdistan to the False Caliph. In June Arghavan tells me she is pregnant! In July 1040, the last of Alamut ruler dies and I inherit Azerbaijan. I marry his widow, my cousin Nazgol, to Nard Nuffarid. In November the people of Gilan convert to Shiaism. In January 1041 my short, attractive, and strong son Khashayar is born!
In February I have to tell Abbas that perhaps he should not be plotting to murder his mother. I’m not exactly clear why he would wish to? To be honest my kids are turning out morally challenged. In June, my court chaplain converts Zanjan to Shiaism! In December I hear rumors people are plotting to kill me.
Our truce with the Al-Turki end, so we declare war to install my half-brother Burhanaddin! He was already fighting the Arabian Empire as their Al-Turki vassals seized Syria some years ago. The False Caliph finally conquers Khorasan. My wife is starting to get fat like me. I tell her there is nothing wrong with that! We defeat the Al-Turki at Palmyra in June!
We defeat the Al-Turki again in November! I inherit Zanjan in January 1045 and give it to my youngest Khashayar. I hear more rumors people are plotting my death. In February 1046 we defeat the Al-Turki again! In July I learn Arghavan is pregnant again!
On August 3, 1046 I die at the age of 43 of poor health. I have reigned for 43 years. “While many struggle to see why Allah decided to take a young child away from us, we hope Morteza will find peace in the afterlife.” As for why people are so sad about my death, here are the expectations for my son Abbas: “Already a feared tyrant, the realm trembles before his rule.”
While people have fond memories of my reign, I was personally largely a non-entity. But with hindsight, it was a period of decadence and rising family tensions. We are up to 26% decadence and rising fast thanks to 4 decedent family members. And as for the harmony of a family that has not had a single revolt or assassination in 180 years…
The landed members of the extended family were banding together to overthrow Morteza! Likely his reputation was helped by not living too long…
Turns out there actually were people plotting to kill Morteza ‘the Blessed’. Namely both his adult sons, both his brother-in-laws, a cousin, and the daughter of the last of Alamut ruler of Azerbaijan. Yep, that’s right! My next character will be a guy who tried to murder *both* his parents! Real charmer...
The Byzantines conquered Alania. The Al Jazira branch of the Al-Turki lost Syria to the Bahrain branch. The Nuffarids have significantly expanded their presence in Persia and with a 22-year-old competent ruler that is likely to continue. Kabulistan continues to expand and is now ruled by the grandson of the Kirghiz founder.
Hopefully the realm doesn't fall apart...But with hindsight, it was a period of decadence and rising family tensions. We are up to 26% decadence and rising fast thanks to 4 decedent family members. And as for the harmony of a family that has not had a single revolt or assassination in 180 years…
The landed members of the extended family were banding together to overthrow Morteza! Likely his reputation was helped by not living too long…
Turns out there actually were people plotting to kill Morteza ‘the Blessed’. Namely both his adult sons, both his brother-in-laws, a cousin, and the daughter of the last of Alamut ruler of Azerbaijan. Yep, that’s right! My next character will be a guy who tried to murder *both* his parents!
August 1046-April 1059:
Here I am! Ready to be a firm ruler unlike my father! I am Gregarious and Shrewd. I am also Decedent, Gluttonous, Greedy, Arbitrary, Deceitful, and Paranoid. The type of guy who would murder his own mother without even disliking her. On that note, she is carrying my father’s posthumous child. It could be a boy. Lets start a murder plot against her. See my wife? She’s kind of Ugly and I don’t like her very much. Let’s divorce her! I have a rival, Jamshid Miyan. I arrest him and have him stomped to death by elephants. I gain the nickname ‘the Vengeful.’
People who were plotting to kill or overthrow my father probably can’t be trusted not to do the same thing. However, I inherit the war to install my Uncle Burhanaddin in Al-Jazira. That needs resolved first. He’s my best friend, perhaps because he’s a bit of a jerk himself.
In December the Al-Turki surrender and Uncle Burhanaddin is installed! Time to start preparing for the next stage! Meanwhile Nard Nuffarid dies. This is in theory a problem as at this point the ‘True Caliph’ line has no legitimate males. In practice, not my top priority. Mom does have a son, Jahandar. So I can switch from trying to kill her to trying to kill him. I hear rumors people are plotting to kill me.
In June 1047 I am ready to move! Arrest warrants are sent out to my brother Mashad, my uncle Dariush, my uncle Esma’il, my cousin Hossein, and Ealdgyth of Alamut for plotting the murder of their father (lets gloss over that I was involved in that plot). Farava gets included for plotting to forge a claim on my titles. Everyone except Esma’il and Hossein are successfully arrested and then brutally executed.
Now to crush Esma’il and Hossein! Uncle Burhanaddin asks for help as he is facing a Nestorian revolt and fighting the Ashinas. I annihilate Hossein’s army and capture one of his sons who I behead. I siege down Qazwin and his head joins his son’s in October. In personal news, I gain the trait Brawny! My baby brother Jahandar is successfully eliminated in November. I start a new plot to kill my cousin Ardavan.
In December, there is big international news! A Sunni Jihad for Anatolia against the Byzantines! In February 1048 sieging Suenik I capture Uncle Esma’il’s family. I execute both his wives and his two sons Mleh and Vassak. He surrenders and is executed soon after.
The Jalilid ruler of Tabriz is still sitting in the Oubliette as he has been for the last 20 years. I revoke all his lands and then kill him. I decide I am ready to break free from the bounds of the law. I try to imprison my brother Peroz in March 1048. All my remaining vassals revolt with him. Fortunately, I have a large, mostly mercenary army! In May, we successfully eliminate my cousin of Rayy.
We smash the rebels as they try to combine in very lopsided battles. Unfortunately in October a chunk of my face is hacked off. I siege down my brother’s capital. In April 1049 I triumph! Mass revocations follow. I eliminate my male relatives.
At the start of my reign, there were 21 other male members of the Alavid dynasty, 7 of them landed. 3 years later, 14 of them are dead. The rest are refugees.
We can now start my glorious consolidated reign! I take as my first wife Zeri Nuffarid. I also take as wife my cousin Nazgol, remarry Zeynab, and marry Shola Ukhaidhirid. I need to give out a lot of land, but there are few who don’t hate me in the realm. Pashang Abbasid (no relative of *the* Abbasids) gets Dihistan. Azerbaijan goes to Allahyar. Kharmandar Ardahan gets Tabriz. Farzad Shahruzid gets Gilan. 3 Zandid brothers (a loyal baron-tier family) get Derbent, Kakheti, and Albania. I keep 6 counties for myself.
I chose the ambition to Groom an Heir! I marry my sister Parvin to the Emir of Armenia (he is 51, has great pox, but no heir!). In September Burhanaddin calls me in to help him with a tyranny revolt.
In November my wife Zeynab tells me she is pregnant! My wound from my face being chopped off heals. The omans are terrible and I suspect she is unfaithful, but find no evidence. In December, Zeri tells me she is pregnant too! I think she looks really sexy pregnant! Next in March 1050 Shola tells me she is pregnant.
I defeat Uncle’s rebels in May at Tella, though it is somewhat pyrrhic. The war then ends in a white peace. A new revolt starts in August. My wives give me 3 sons: Zeynab gives me hunchback Vali, Zeri gives me slow but attractive Darab, Shola gives me attractive Aurang.
I defeat Uncle’s rebels and kill an enemy commander in personal combat. I start working on plotting to kill my refugee male relatives. This gets off to a quick start as cousin Aram is smothered in April 1051. In June, I establish a Scholar’s Foundation in my capital.
In November, Zeri tells me she is pregnant again! Zeynab keeps asking to be my first wife again and keeps being told no. My daughter Golpari is born in June 1052 and dies in December. I discover Zeynab is planning to kill one of my sons, so I execute her. In January 1053 I learn my wife Nazgol is pregnant! In March the Sunni Jihad for Anatolia fails. In August I lose Wroth. In August Nazgol has a stillbirth. In January 1054 I learn Shola is pregnant!
In June Uncle loses Armenia to a Liberation Revolt. Interestingly it is a Sunni Muslim one though! My attractive son Abbaszade is born in August. The Nuffarid Caliph declares a de jure war on me for Zanjan. In March 1055 my wife Zeri is pregnant again! She has a stillbirth in October. We siege and countersiege with the Nuffarids.
In October 1057 we finally fight them in the great Battle of Tehran. We put up a good showing despite being outnumbered, but ultimately lose. I gain the Heavy Infantry Leader trait.
In January 1058 I lose gregarious. I hear rumors that a cousin, Jamshid is trying to raise an adventurer army against me. Shola is pregnant again in May. In November she has twins: Slow Vahid and Strong Soraya. In January 1059, I punish my son Vali for opening my mail. I gain Cruel. In February my son Darab dies of the Flu. In April the Nuffarids finally agree to a white peace. Fortunate timing as I had just run out of money to pay my mercenaries.
As you can see, my Uncle isn’t doing so well. Besides Armenia, he also lost Kartli to the Byzantines. Armenia took advantage of my war with the Nuffarids to take Kurdistan from them. The Byzantines recently beat up the Fatimids. The Abbasids post jihad failure are now trying to subjugate the Ashinas. The Yazidids are facing a major revolt to overthrow them as Arabian Emperors. The Nuffarid Caliph was assassinated, so his 9-year-old son now rules. In the east Kabulistan ever grows. Zunbil is back from the grave as their leader has raised them from 1 county to 4. The Saminids have formed Transoxiana.
Here I am! Ready to be a firm ruler unlike my father! I am Gregarious and Shrewd. I am also Decedent, Gluttonous, Greedy, Arbitrary, Deceitful, and Paranoid. The type of guy who would murder his own mother without even disliking her. On that note, she is carrying my father’s posthumous child. It could be a boy. Lets start a murder plot against her. See my wife? She’s kind of Ugly and I don’t like her very much. Let’s divorce her! I have a rival, Jamshid Miyan. I arrest him and have him stomped to death by elephants. I gain the nickname ‘the Vengeful.’
People who were plotting to kill or overthrow my father probably can’t be trusted not to do the same thing. However, I inherit the war to install my Uncle Burhanaddin in Al-Jazira. That needs resolved first. He’s my best friend, perhaps because he’s a bit of a jerk himself.
In December the Al-Turki surrender and Uncle Burhanaddin is installed! Time to start preparing for the next stage! Meanwhile Nard Nuffarid dies. This is in theory a problem as at this point the ‘True Caliph’ line has no legitimate males. In practice, not my top priority. Mom does have a son, Jahandar. So I can switch from trying to kill her to trying to kill him. I hear rumors people are plotting to kill me.
In June 1047 I am ready to move! Arrest warrants are sent out to my brother Mashad, my uncle Dariush, my uncle Esma’il, my cousin Hossein, and Ealdgyth of Alamut for plotting the murder of their father (lets gloss over that I was involved in that plot). Farava gets included for plotting to forge a claim on my titles. Everyone except Esma’il and Hossein are successfully arrested and then brutally executed.
Now to crush Esma’il and Hossein! Uncle Burhanaddin asks for help as he is facing a Nestorian revolt and fighting the Ashinas. I annihilate Hossein’s army and capture one of his sons who I behead. I siege down Qazwin and his head joins his son’s in October. In personal news, I gain the trait Brawny! My baby brother Jahandar is successfully eliminated in November. I start a new plot to kill my cousin Ardavan.
In December, there is big international news! A Sunni Jihad for Anatolia against the Byzantines! In February 1048 sieging Suenik I capture Uncle Esma’il’s family. I execute both his wives and his two sons Mleh and Vassak. He surrenders and is executed soon after.
The Jalilid ruler of Tabriz is still sitting in the Oubliette as he has been for the last 20 years. I revoke all his lands and then kill him. I decide I am ready to break free from the bounds of the law. I try to imprison my brother Peroz in March 1048. All my remaining vassals revolt with him. Fortunately, I have a large, mostly mercenary army! In May, we successfully eliminate my cousin of Rayy.
We smash the rebels as they try to combine in very lopsided battles. Unfortunately in October a chunk of my face is hacked off. I siege down my brother’s capital. In April 1049 I triumph! Mass revocations follow. I eliminate my male relatives.
At the start of my reign, there were 21 other male members of the Alavid dynasty, 7 of them landed. 3 years later, 14 of them are dead. The rest are refugees.
We can now start my glorious consolidated reign! I take as my first wife Zeri Nuffarid. I also take as wife my cousin Nazgol, remarry Zeynab, and marry Shola Ukhaidhirid. I need to give out a lot of land, but there are few who don’t hate me in the realm. Pashang Abbasid (no relative of *the* Abbasids) gets Dihistan. Azerbaijan goes to Allahyar. Kharmandar Ardahan gets Tabriz. Farzad Shahruzid gets Gilan. 3 Zandid brothers (a loyal baron-tier family) get Derbent, Kakheti, and Albania. I keep 6 counties for myself.
I chose the ambition to Groom an Heir! I marry my sister Parvin to the Emir of Armenia (he is 51, has great pox, but no heir!). In September Burhanaddin calls me in to help him with a tyranny revolt.
In November my wife Zeynab tells me she is pregnant! My wound from my face being chopped off heals. The omans are terrible and I suspect she is unfaithful, but find no evidence. In December, Zeri tells me she is pregnant too! I think she looks really sexy pregnant! Next in March 1050 Shola tells me she is pregnant.
I defeat Uncle’s rebels in May at Tella, though it is somewhat pyrrhic. The war then ends in a white peace. A new revolt starts in August. My wives give me 3 sons: Zeynab gives me hunchback Vali, Zeri gives me slow but attractive Darab, Shola gives me attractive Aurang.
I defeat Uncle’s rebels and kill an enemy commander in personal combat. I start working on plotting to kill my refugee male relatives. This gets off to a quick start as cousin Aram is smothered in April 1051. In June, I establish a Scholar’s Foundation in my capital.
In November, Zeri tells me she is pregnant again! Zeynab keeps asking to be my first wife again and keeps being told no. My daughter Golpari is born in June 1052 and dies in December. I discover Zeynab is planning to kill one of my sons, so I execute her. In January 1053 I learn my wife Nazgol is pregnant! In March the Sunni Jihad for Anatolia fails. In August I lose Wroth. In August Nazgol has a stillbirth. In January 1054 I learn Shola is pregnant!
In June Uncle loses Armenia to a Liberation Revolt. Interestingly it is a Sunni Muslim one though! My attractive son Abbaszade is born in August. The Nuffarid Caliph declares a de jure war on me for Zanjan. In March 1055 my wife Zeri is pregnant again! She has a stillbirth in October. We siege and countersiege with the Nuffarids.
In October 1057 we finally fight them in the great Battle of Tehran. We put up a good showing despite being outnumbered, but ultimately lose. I gain the Heavy Infantry Leader trait.
In January 1058 I lose gregarious. I hear rumors that a cousin, Jamshid is trying to raise an adventurer army against me. Shola is pregnant again in May. In November she has twins: Slow Vahid and Strong Soraya. In January 1059, I punish my son Vali for opening my mail. I gain Cruel. In February my son Darab dies of the Flu. In April the Nuffarids finally agree to a white peace. Fortunate timing as I had just run out of money to pay my mercenaries.
As you can see, my Uncle isn’t doing so well. Besides Armenia, he also lost Kartli to the Byzantines. Armenia took advantage of my war with the Nuffarids to take Kurdistan from them. The Byzantines recently beat up the Fatimids. The Abbasids post jihad failure are now trying to subjugate the Ashinas. The Yazidids are facing a major revolt to overthrow them as Arabian Emperors. The Nuffarid Caliph was assassinated, so his 9-year-old son now rules. In the east Kabulistan ever grows. Zunbil is back from the grave as their leader has raised them from 1 county to 4. The Saminids have formed Transoxiana.
Eliminating most of your family, including your baby brother, and wiping out your vassals using an army of foreign mercenaries? Firm realm management. Punishing your son for rifling through your mail without permission? What a monster!