LORDS of the EARTH XXVII

Turn 7

TURN 5 ORDERS DUE: January 13th  (assuming we survive Y2K <G>) the extra time is to allow for the Holidays when many have family commitments. Merry Christmas to all.
 

GM:

Jeff Morrison
1019 Ossington
Flint, Mi 48507
(810) 238-6425

PLAYER NOTES  READ THIS!!!!!
You will notice several players have submitted a flag or national banner Symbol. Feel free to do likewise. Barring any problems I will include them in the newsfax.

Note turns have went up tp $3

TURN COSTS AND MAPS

Turns: $3.00
 Maps: I prefer to send maps out via e-mail, however if you need a paper one, contact me and I will see what I can do.
 

RULE ERRATA
Secret Empires are not being played, which means secret empire commands such as IL aren’t an option.
******* You must be Tech Level 3 to raise elite troops.********

Table of Religious interaction:

T= Tolerant
H= Hostile

RC= Roman Catholic
EO=Eastern Orthodox
CP= Monophysite (coptic)
CC= Celtic Christian
AC= Arian Christian
JD= Judaism
BH= Buddhist
HN= Hindu
OP= Oceanic Pagan
EP= European pagan
AP= Asiatic pagan
AF= African Pagan
ST= Shinto
ZO= Zoroastrain
DC=Druidic Christianity

TITHE
Tithes are gonna be treated as “IN” effect once set, the primate need not try to establish them ever turn as long as the nation being tithed agrees.

HAVE CHILDREN (HC)
Kings or Heirs doing a Rule action will be considered to be spending time with their wife (if they have one) while seeing to all that paper work so I will roll for child births during the period they are Ruling.

TECH ADVANCEMENT
Be warned nations may LOSE tech points now and their kingdoms may regress to a less advanced stage of development.
 
 
 
 

THE HISTORY
531-535 AD
 
 
 

CHINA and JAPAN

Mercenaries:
17i,10c,5w,3t,5s
 
 

TAKEDA SHOGUNATE
 

Shogun Chuichi

Diplomacy: Shimane (nt) Ueshiba (f)

Shogun Chuichi ruled in peace. His wife gave birth to a son in 533AD.

Other good news was the city of Ueshiba becoming completely tied to the Shogunate.
 

KOREA

King Ura

Diplomacy  Shangtung (f)

King Ura continued his stay in Shangtung and was able to get that region to join his nation.

Prince Kim Ho invaded Lu’an and after brushing aside the small native army the region agreed to pay tribute. The Prince then marched east and subdued Bandao the same way. Satisfied the prince marched to Koguryo where he married. His wife gave birth to a son in 535AD. Of concern to the prince was the fact that several regions nearly rebelled because no one was actively ruling and taking care of the small necessities of state.
 
 

THE KHANATE OF THE HSUING’NU  (was the Yen Kingdom of Liao-Yang)

Jamuka Khan

Diplomacy: Shangtu (t)  Ch’in (fa)  Harbin (fa)  Manchou (t)

Jamuka Khan travels through the steppe regions showing his strength and talking to the Khans of the steppes. 2 agree to pay Tribute and 2 others agreed to a military alliance.

As the great diplomatic ride made its way back toward Hsuing nu they stopped in parhae. Parhae had allowed the Koreans the right of passage, and a Korean Diplomat, Lord Li Wong, was there as well. The parhae leader listened to both sides, but in the end the Parhae decided to keep things as they were. Neither side gained any.

Young Prince Liao Kao was left to Rule in his Uncle’s absence. He did well but began to grow somewhat concerned when the wealthy merchants who had loaned his dynasty money began to leave the region after the loans were defaulted on. Soon economic chaos set in. The economy collapsed. The Khan won’t be pleased.
 
 

THE NORTHERN EMPIRE OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON

Emperor Si Wan

Diplomacy: Hopei (f)  Kaifeng (f)

Prince Si-Lei ruled while the Emperor was on military maneuvers. The Empress died of an Illness in 531AD. Si-Lei’s wife gave birth to a daughter in 532AD and a son in 534AD.

Many diplomats centered on Hopei and Kaifeng. They were rewarded with the region and city being added fully to the Empire.

The city of Shaolin was built in Funiu. In Tangchou the Empire of the Southern Dragon gave permission for the city of Dragon to be built in Tangchou.
 
 

THE TOBA WEI

King Wei Han

Diplomacy: none

No news
 

THE SOUTHERN EMPIRE OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON

Emperor Hu Tii

Diplomacy: Chiangning (f)  Lin’an (f)  Taiping (f) Nanling (f)  Kwangsi (f) Kwangchou (f)

Emperor Hu Tii ordered the evacuation of the Empire military presence in Tangchou and Tsainan. The Empire allowed the regions nearly complete autonomy but still maintained an Imperial claim to those regions.

Also of note was the continuation of the Empires extensive building program. The port city of Tii was built in Hwai. In the south several road systems were upgraded to Royal roads.

And ofcourse the Imperial policy of solidifying the empire through diplomatic means continued with nice results.
 
 

THE CELESTIAL EMPIRE OF BUDDHA

Pei Lu

Diplomacy: none

The Buddhist are at their prayers. They did however expand several of their holy sites.
 
 

THE TEMPLE OF THE SHAOLIN

Grandmaster Bodhidharma

Diplomacy: none

All was quiet as the Shaolin priest were at their prayers.
 
 

SOUTH EAST ASIA

Mercenaries:
18i, 4c ,9W,7t
 

THE KINGDOM OF BURMA

King Dei

Diplomacy:
 

Crushed and annihilated. Damn Gupta!!!!

The Burmese cease to exist as a national entity.
 
 

THE KINGDOM OF CHAMPA

King Tru Rhan

Diplomacy:  Preikuk (f)  Annam (f)

King Tru Rhan consolidated his rule and sent out diplomats to preikuk and annam with nice success. The destruction of his Burmese ally at the hands of the Gupta was somewhat disconcerting. Southeast Asia has become a power vacuum and it has drawn the Gupta.
 
 

PACIFICA
Mercenaries:
5i, 5w, 5t
 

THE SRIVIJAYAN EMPIRE

King Puran

Diplomacy: none

While King Puran ruled, from Sirvjaya, his younger brother, Prince Toopa, continued the Sirivijayan Empires expansion by invading Atjeh, the jungle region collapsed quickly and the Sirivijayan troops militarily converted it.

The region of Jambi became completely Hindu as the Kingdoms missionaries worked wonders.

INDIA

Mercenaries:
7i,3c,3s,5w,5t
 
 

THE KINGDOM OF PANDYA

King Parjna

Diplomacy: none

Pandya was devestated when Asamakara invaded. SEE THE SOUTHERN WAR
 

THE KINGDOM OF LANKA

King Rajma

Diplomacy:  none

Lanka was very quiet. It did lose a Province to Asmakara aggression however. SEE THE SOUTHERN WAR
 

THE ASAMAKARA EMPIRE

King Arami

Diplomacy: Kakitaya (f) Karnata (un)

King Arami ruled his realm, he was a happy monarch when his wife gave birth to a son in 532AD , a daughter in 533AD, and another son in 534AD

The King was furious when word was sent from Karnata that they no longer would consider themselves part of Asamakara’s Empire. Reports had it that Pandyian diplomats were to thank for that turn of events. Pandya was about to get the Kings revenge however. The King had ordered the Invasion of Pandya even before he heard about this recent diplomatic reversal. This just made it all the more enjoyable.

THE SOUTHERN WAR
531AD:
Prince Vurn, Lord Shustra and the Duke of Pawar assembled an army in Nasik. Mercenaries were hired as well. Marching south the Asamaka army over ran Chera in mid-late summer. Chera was an economic ally of the Kingdom of Lanka’s and its small native army was no mach for the 30,000 warriors from Asamaka. Vurn decided to winter in Chera before pressing south.

Meanwhile Lord Sharavani sailed their 100 vessels of the Asamakaran navy into Kollam harbor and destroyed the 30 some Pandyian vessels. Asamakara didn’t even need the 25 Mercenary warships they had hired in addition. With the destruction of the Pandyian fleet the harbor is sealed up and the city blockaded.

532AD:
This year began well for the Pandyian’s; they caught a Holyman sent from Asamaka attempting to forment rebellion in Madurai. The Brahman was executed.

The spring was taken up with the conquest of Pandya. The Pandyian King, Parjna, led his army out to meet the invader. His army was 20,000 strong, compared with about 24,500 for Asamaka.

King Parjna was a poor general however and even the presence of Lord Mulava didn’t help. Asamak by comparison had excellent generals and its troops were of a superior quality.

The battle begins mid morn as the Asamakaran army surges forward, smashing into the defenders. The Pandyians hold the initial assault as fighting stalemates along the line. For nearly an hour the two lines hack and slash at eachother without either side gaining an edge.

Around noon Lord Shustra leads some mercenary foot into a wild charge that breaks through the center of the Pandyan line. Lord Mulava does his best to reestablish the line but he falls. His banner waivers and falls and the Lord himself takes a spear in his side. He staggers but keeps his feet as he feels the warm flow of blood gush down his leg. Seeing the standard go down the Asamakarans are energized and push forward with a wild yell. Lord Mulava is hacked down and his head taken.

With his line collapsing King Parjna tries to make an ordered withdrawal into the Capital of Kollam  where he hopes to make his stand.

The Asamakarans press their advantage and in the retreat the king is wounded, his helmet saving him from a split skull. Even so he is unconscious and bleeding heavily as his men drag him into the city.

The rest of the year the Asamakran army sets up siege lines and instigates a passive siege of the Pandyian Capital.

533AD:
The entire year is taken up with the long siege of Kollam. The city defenders grow hungry, and by summer are near starvation.  As winter comes the last of the animals, even pets, are killed and eaten.

534AD
In late spring the starving city cannot hold out any longer. King Parjna surrenders and is sent back to Kalyani in chains. King Arami delights in his surrender and throws him in Prison.

The victorious prince Vurn leaves a garrison then marches north and crushes the poorly defending region of Chola. The Asamakara Navy sails ahead and blockades Tanjore harbor. The Army takes up siege lines as winter sets in.

535AD:
The siege of Tanjore repeats the hardships suffered at the capital of Kollam. The difference is that Tanjore doesn’t have a leader to rally the peoples support and so the city surrenders in late summer.
 

THE GUPTA EMPIRE

King Erata

Diplomacy: Pegu (nt)  Arakan (nt)

King Erata orders thousands of laborers and engineers to assemble in Bihar. He then announces the kingdoms latest goal, a vast system of roads. With that he orders an impressive amount of road construction. Rumors said it would be by far the largest road network in existence. Over shadowing what the Chinese nations had been building.

Queen Geeta passed away in 531AD, something she ate the doctors say.

Lord Ashoka and Prince Mahatra were ordered to march east and bring stability to the chaos in Southeast Asia. 75,000 warriors are led east. Suprisingly nearly 50,000 troops were left behind as a garrison in the capital.

531AD:
The large Gupta army makes its way through Gaur, Assam, and Samatata. As winter sets in Lord Ashoka falls ill and dies. Prince Mashatra taking the initiative, now commander in chief, orders the army to make a winter crossing over the mountainous terrain and into Ava.

Troops from a smaller second army raid into Burma from the north.

532AD:
Coming down from the mountains in early march the Gupta take the Burmese by suprise.

King Dei, along with Prince Dei-mu and Lord Lu wan, gather the army and fall back to what defensive terrain they can find. The poor Burmese only have about 10,000 warriors and although they put up a spirited defense they are butchered. King Dei and the prince die fighting. Lord Lu wan makes it back to Pagan, the capital, with a smattering of survivors, less than a 1,000.

The Army pacifies the region then marches on the capital. Winter arrives and forces a halt in operations for the year before the siege could begin.

Prince Dei-Van, the last member of the royal family alive manages to make his way safely into the capital before the Gupta could surround it. Unfortunately the elderly Prince dies in the late fall.

533AD:
The Gupta begin an active siege of Pagan. The Gupta siege engineers hurl stone and other missiles at the city walls. The Burmese respond but they are seriously outclassed and outnumbered.  In early April the combination of bombardment and selected sorties force pagan to surrender. Lord Lu Wan was killed in the most recent bombardment and his death led to the collapse of the defenders morale.

534-535AD:
Prince Mashatra completes the conquest by outlawing Buddhism and military converting the region.

The Burmese nation dissolves into chaos. No member of the royal family lives.

Prince Chandra and several other Gupta leaders take this opportunity to try and convince several of the now independent regions to align with the Gupta. Only Pegu shows favor and then only giving homage in name.
 

THE HOLY CHURCH OF SHIVA

Sajid Tajuddin, his Holiness, beloved of Shiva.

Diplomacy: none

No news
 

THE SWORD OF SHIVA

Shiva Chakravarti, grandmaster

Diplomacy: none

The order of Shiva continued to build holy sites in the midlands of India. Trying to extend their reach into the Gupta Empire.
 

CENTRAL ASIA

Mercenaries
5c, 5lc
 

THE KHANATE OF KARA-KHITAI

Osman Khan

Diplomacy:   Tadzik (ea)  Singanakh (a)

Osman Khan continued his nations expansion through diplomacy. Tadzik agreed to pay tribute and Singanakh confirmed a full alliance.

Young prince Aladir married and his new wife gave him a son in 535AD

Osman’s wife gave birth to a daughter in 533AD and then a son in 535AD, but she sadly died from complications of the birth.
 

THE EMIRATE OF DAR AL-HARB

Emir Abu Bakr

Diplomacy: none

Abu Bekr realized life would be short if his people stayed here and he wasn’t eager to see Allah just yet. His Roman and Armenian allies gave him permission to lead his nomadic host north through the rugged mountains of eastern Anatolia. They travel across the plains and arrive in Urkel, talks break down and the Muslims simply conquer the region and its neighboring region in Bolgar then colonizes them.

Abu Bekr calls his new realm DAR AL-HARB
 
 

THE MIDDLE EAST

Mercenaries:
52i, 34c, 70lc, 3w, 3t
 
 
 
 
 
 

THE SASSANID EMPIRE

Emperor Shapur IV, King of Kings, King of Persia, Babylonia and Parthia, the Overlord of Arachosia, the Holy Arm of Ahura Mazda, the Sassanid, Heir to the Achaemenids

Diplomacy: Bostra (t)  Socotra (f)

Emperor Shapur IV gathered an army and marched to war. He left His uncle, Prince Hystaps behind to rule in his place. Sadly Hystaps died shortly after the young emperor marched west.

Lord Balish was sent north to scout out the nomadic steppes. He was never heard from again.

In Media the local garrison captured a stranger who had tried to incite a revolt. Sent off to Ctesiphon for questioning it turned out the man was the Archbishop Zephyrinius of the Orthodox Church. He was ofcourse thrown into the deepest and darkest dungeon in Ctesiphon.

THE SYRIAN WAR
531AD:
Two major armies marched out of Ctesiphon. The first was the army of the Zoroastrian Church and it marched North into Arbiliq led by the priest Kharakhum.  In May the army turned west and invaded Carhae. The small native army was crushed and the Zoroastrians spent the rest of the year ensuring its pacification.

Emperor Shapur IV with Prince Yazdegard, and a few other generals, marched west through the steppes of circis and Palmyra. They large Sassanid army was bolstered by over 53,000 Mercenaries bringing the total Sassanid army to over 80,000+ warriors. They were forced to winter in Palmyra when the weather turned foul.

In Lebanon Prince Maurice, the Praetorian prefect of the east, had just finished a council of war and was returning to his tent. The army would be marching back north soon to deal with the expected Sassanid invasion. As he was about to enter is tent he noticed the guards stationed at the entrance looked odd, but it was to late they grabbed him and quickly subdued him. The group of kidnappers had made some noise and a few men were stirring nearby. Quickly the group through the prince onto a horse and were galloping away. A few of the kidnappers were forced to stay and fight a rearguard to guarantee the success of the mission. It was from these men from the rearguard that were captured that the Romans learned the kidnappers were from The Egyptian Empire.

Johannes, the warrior monk who traveled with the Roman army was now in command. He feared this was the opening move of an Egyptian attack.  Several weeks later he worried no more. He was found assassinated.

532AD:
Kharakhum and his Zoroastrian warriors spend the entire year Militarily converting Carhae. The Orthodox Abbey in carhae is looted and burnt to the ground.

Emperor Shapur IV Invades Syria and annihilates the native army.  The Sassanids were looking for the Abadanese, but they had fled north the previous year. After pacifying the region the Sassanid army surrounds Damascus and Emperor Shapur sends a messenger to the city “ People of Damascus, I come to liberate you from your Muslim and Roman oppressors. Surrender to me and your city will be treated as a friend with local control returned. No harm shall come to a single citizen of your city. If you do not surrender then we shall treat you as an enemy. We will sack your city and carry off your daughters as our playthings. What shall it be? Peace or Death?”

The cities response was to hurl a javelin at the messenger, which missed, and to raise the banner of the ERE over the cities highest tower.

Shapur laughed “Yazdegard, take the mercenaries and storm the city. Tell the mercenaries they may sack the city fully.”

Yazdegard drew his sword, and grinned an evil grin, he had wanted to make war against the Romans for years and now his chance had come. “LOOT AND PLUNDER ARE YOURS FOR THE TAKING! FOLLOW ME!” he yells as he gives the order to charge. A great shout rings out as the 53,000 mercenaries swarm toward the city. The fire from the city is desperate and effective. Unfortunately it isn’t plentiful because the Mercenaries take some casualties but it doesn’t take long for them to overwhelm the south wall and hurl open the gates. With the gates open the warriors pour in. A great slaughter occurs as the mercenaries kill every man they can find and rape every women. Fire soon breaks out and great stacks of smoke rise above the devastated city.

Shapur nods in satisfaction and prepares his warriors to winter in Syria. One enemy down, it was a shame the Abadanese ran he thought.

533AD:
Spring brings the Zoroastrian army into Aleppo. The regions only defender, the Dux of Galatia, falls back into the port fortress of Cyrrhos.

Kharakhum realized he needed to take the fortress to pacify the region. Offering prayers to Ahura Mazda for success Kharakhum’s prayers were answered when he saw the Sassanid army of Emperor Shapur IV march into view.  Shapur had sent Yazdegard south into Lebanon with the mercenaries while he brought the Sassanid national army here to help taking Aleppo.

The Dux’s 3,000 warriors were not able to hold off the combined armies that stormed the fortress. Though the attackers did take fairly heavy casualties.  Inside the fortresses walls there was the Monastery of Cyrrhos. The Zoroastrian troops slaughtered every priest, looted the monastery and burned it down.

The combined armies then turned their attention to Antioch. The city put up a spirited defense as the warriors stormed its walls. However Antioch had even fewer defenders than Cyrrhos and soon fell.

In now pacified Antioch the great Christian Cathedral in the city was plundered. Its priests butchered and then set fire.

In Lebanon the Mercenary army under Yazdegard attacked the Roman army. The armies of equal size smashed into one another and slaughter ruled. The better led Merc army battered the poorly led Roman army. Soon the Romans broke and were slaughtered as they tried to flee. The skilled mercenary cavalry road down those that tried to flee and few, if any, Romans escaped. The hills of Lebanon are littered with over 50,000 roman corpses. Roman military might in the east has been shattered.

534-535AD:
Shapur and Yazdegard return to Ctesiphon. Yazdegard falls ill and dies in 535AD.

The Zoroastrian army remains vigilant in Aleppo.
 
 

ZOROASTRIAN CHURCH

Siavash, blessed of Ahura Mazda

Diplomacy: none

The main focus of the church was the conversion efforts in Trans-Oxania and Kush.

Other than the war with Rome SEE: THE SYRIAN WAR
 
 

THE FAROHARS OF AHURA-MAZDA

Avesta, Master of the order

Diplomacy: none

The order established many abbeys and spent its time increasing the Orders are of operations.
 
 

THE CALIPHATE OF ADEN

Caliph Hamir

Diplomacy:  Hijaz (t)

Hamir rules and then sends lord Pelewar to negotiate with Hijaz.

Prince Momar sails the Adenese navy south along the African coast and raid into Scebeli and Mogadishu before returning home.  Eastern Africa is the most heavily raided place on the globe.
 
 
 

THE EMIRATE OF OMAN

Omar, Emir of Oman

Diplomacy:  As’Summan (nt)  Hadramuht (ea).

The Emir marries and his new bride gives him a son in 532 D and two daughters in 534 and 535AD.

Diplomatic efforts in As’Summan and hadramuht are the only other significant events.
 
 

THE HOLY CHURCH OF MEDINNA

Imam Mohammed

Diplomacy:  none

No news
 

MONOPHYSITE CHURCH

Patriarch Romarius

Diplomacy: none

Romarius calls a crusade to rid the south of the murderers in Kush. Peaceful missionaries were sent to save the souls of the pagans there and were rewarded by being murdered in cold blood.

Romarius also makes the following proclamation:
“Many years ago we proclaimed that the Monophysite Church was to be tolerant of all faiths, as long as we were treated in kind. The Roman Catholic Church and Zoroastrian Churches have returned this tolerance. We therefore encourage the Monophysite nations to accept them as allies and open trade with nations that follow their teachings. At the same time the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Roman Empire have followed a path of oppression and destruction. Let it be known that Monophysite nations trading with either of these entities are in direct opposition to the wishes of your clergy. Make your dealings for gold and worldly goods and risk your eternal souls. Let us join those who stand for the same Ideals we do, and hold those who oppose us from making gains at our expense”

The Priest Wellem takes over the Crusaders who have assembled from the Egyptian Empire. Kneeling before Patriarch Romarius he waits as the Patriarch blesses him. “Drive the heathens away my son. Meet up with the Ethiopians and the Muslims coming from Tunisia and punish the Kushites, now go and smite them in the name of God”. With that Wellem took his forces south...

THE HAMMERING OF KUSH
531AD: The Kushites had heard rumors an attack was possible so they raised some reinforcements and Prince Anwara marched them from Kefa eastward to Zeila where they expected the attack to come.

Prince Aeron lead the main Ethiopian column of regulars and crusaders south through funj and sennar and attacked Shoa in early fall. The region was easily pacified ant the Ethiopians wintered there.

The Priest Wellem moved south through Faiyum, Thebes, Dongola, and Alwa and then they winter in Axum.

In far away Tunisia the Arab armies who had unsuccessfully tried to take Carthage gathered up their host and traveled east. Egypt gave them passage through their lands and they traveled south into Ethiopia. Avoiding entering central Ethiopia, where a crusade was under way, the Muslims were guided by Ethiopian scouts along the western frontier and ended the year in Kordofan.

532AD:The spring brings the Ethiopian forces into Kefa the Kushite homeland was totally defenseless and the Capital city of Amra was undefended and had no city wall. Queen Amurto was preparing to flee when an assassins attack wounded her. The Ethiopian assassin was tortured then executed. The Queen was to injured to move and as the Ethiopian army approached her brother Amrathan tried to flee but was captured by Ethiopian cavalry that had been sent ahead to surround the city. Amrathon is forced to watch as Queen Amurto is dragged by her hair out of the palace and thrown at the feet of Prince Aeron. Holding her wounded side the Queen is barely conscious. Aeron draws his sword and cries “Like the Canaanites of old, so must the Kushites perish!” and with that he strikes off her head with one stroke of his blade. Amrathon, still just a teen, is in shock as he is dragged to the feet of Aeron where he meets a similar end.  The Ethiopians spend the rest of the year tearing down pagan shrines as they militarily convert the region to the true faith.

The Crusaders under Father Wellem spend the year moving through the rugged Ethiopian landscape ending the year attacking and pacifying the poorly defended region of Adowa
Emir Seluji led his Muslim host through Kosti, Gesira, sennar and into Shoa. Fortunately Shoa was only garrisoned by regulars and the Crusaders had left. The Ethiopians gave the Muslims permission to winter in the region.

533AD:Aeron finishes the Military conversion of Shoa, Kefa and the city of Amra.

Father wellem spent the year militarily converting the heathens of Adowa. An Ethiopian army under Prince Bunwar follows the crusaders and places a garrison in Adowa.

Seluji and his muslim armies burst out of Shoa travel through the undefended region of Adal and burst into Djibuti. The native army is overwhelmed and annihilated. The only bright spot the people of the region had to look forward too, as they watched Muslim tribes begin colonization of their lands, was that now with a strong power in the area those funny looking Hindu folk from across the sea wouldn’t raid so often.

534AD: Father Wellem marches his crusaders into Zeila. Waiting was the Kushite Prince Anwara. The sides were about even but Wellem, the crusaders had the edge in that they were troops of far superior quality. Never the less the Kushites put up a valiant defense and fought shield to shield all morning long. Thousands died under the hot sun. Noon saw the Kushite line collapse. Prince Anwara died trying to rally his men. The crusaders occupy the un walled city of Amurto. They spent the rest of the year military conversion of the region.

Seluji left a strong garrison in Djibuti and invaded Harar. The small army the Warlord had was simply overwhelmed by the ferocious Muslim Cavalry.

535AD: The Ethiopians of Prince Bunwar occupy Zeila and Amurto installing Garrisons as the Military conversions are finished.  When news reaches them that the Kushite Royal family are all-dead and that the nation is dissolving into chaos they praise God. Father Wellem holds prayers and announces the Crusade is complete.

The Muslims colonize Harar and Seluji proclaims himself King of Harar
 
 

THE ORDER OF THE THEBAN LEGION

Maurice, Grandmaster of the order

Diplomacy: none

The order founded abbeys in the Nile area then helped the Monophysite church win converts in Levant and far away Sennar.
 

THE EGYPTIAN EMPIRE

King Aetius, the Shield of Christ

Diplomacy: Faiyum (t)  Levant (a)

 King Aetius stayed alert incase Egypts enemies advanced again. Fortunatly Egypt saw a time of peace come upon them.

Prince Tiberius married into tone of the leading families at court and spent time between his new bride and diplomatic talks.

Lord Pilotus was sent off to Levant where he secured a formal alliance. He was scheduled to go to Sinai for talks as well but he passed away in early 533AD

Lord Vitalinus passed away in 531AD
 
 
 

EASTERN EUROPE

Mercenaries:
19i, 21c, 24lc, 3w, 3t
 

THE EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE

Alexandros, Vasilevs, Avghoustos, kai Avtrokrator Romaion

Diplomacy: Cilicia (t)  Psidia (t)

Augustus Alexandros new things were critical in the east. But he had duties here that kept him busy buried in the mundane tasks of seeing to the day to day details of ruling the empire. The stress was relieved occasionally by visits from his wife and the joy of the two new sons she gave him in 532 and 533AD.

In the East things were not going according to plan thanks to Intelligence coups by the Egyptians and others SEE: THE SYRIAN WAR

After news reaches him of the disaster in Lebanon the Emperor travels to the east and tries to arrange his remaining forces behind the massive fortification lines in Cilicia.

 

GREATER ARMENIA

King Vahan, Arkhon Megalis Armenias

Diplomacy: Pontus (a)

King Vahan traveled to Pontus where he secured an alliance.  Prince Kushra was sent south to link up the Armenian army with the Northern Roman army. He was as shocked as everyone else when the news of the Roman defeat in Lebanon traveled North.

Lord Taborik and Prince Varkhan, along with Prince Kuran, traveled North for diplomatic talks with the steppe peoples.

The fact that no one was ruling and that this listless form of govn’t led to the steppe regions being outside the crowns influence lead to revolts in Khazar and Alan. Lord Taborik and both princes were killed in the revolt.
 
 

THE KINGDOM OF BOGUSLAV

Tsar Boguliub

Diplomacy:  none

No news
 
 

THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

Patriarch Milorius

Diplomacy: none

Archbishop Zephyrinius was expected to take over the leadership of the Church after Patriarch Milorius went to be with God so many were concerned when he was sent off on a secret mission deep into the Sassanid Empire.

Sure enough the mission failed and Archbishop Zephyrinius was captured and then Milorius died. The Orthodox Clergy met and were forced to appoint Dorian as the new Patriarch.

Dorian orders the continued missionary activities into Vaspurakan, Lazika, Armenia, Smolenks, Polotsk and Poland.

Of further concern were the recent Intelligence failures by the Church. Dorian ordered an internal investigation. Many were turned in and arrested. Some even were innocent but ended up in the dungeon anyway, or so the rumors went.

Of Interest was Dorians proclamation that the Monophysite are only misguided and not lost. Dorian accuses the Monophysites of being the truly intolerant ones.
 
 

THE ORDER OF ST GEORGIOS

Grandmaster Leonidas

Diplomacy: none

The Order moved throughout Greece expanding its influence by establishing Holy Sites. With the Eastern Empire under assault this Order may have its work cut out for it sooner than it had thought.
 
 

EASTERN AFRICA

Mercenaries:
10i, 5w, 5t

THE KINGDOM OF ETHIOPIA

King Kaleb

Diplomacy: none

Ethiopia responds to the call for crusade by Patriarch Romarius.

SEE THE HAMMERING OF KUSH
 

THE KINGDOM OF HARAR

Seluji, King of Harar

Diplomacy:  none

Formerly the Emir of Sultan  SEE THE HAMMERING OF KUSH
 
 
 

KUSH-Passes into History  SEE THE HAMMERING OF KUSH
 
 

WESTERN AFRICA

Mercenaries:
10i,5w,5t
 

THE KINGDOM OF KANEM

King Anabornu

Diplomacy:  Sudan (f)

Things were quiet in Kanem. The Kings daughter married the Warlord of Sudan thus uniting the two.
 
 

AKAN, LORDS OF THE GOLD COAST

King Dadra

Diplomacy:  Zerma (a) Burkina (f)  Borogou (fa)

A new Capital is built in Mossi, the city of Ougadougou.

Diplomacy was the order of the day as Zerma became a full ally and Burkina was united fully with the kingdom. Borogou promised a military alliance.

The nation almost had a civil war when both the King and heir died in 535AD. Prince Dadra was able to consolidate his rule as the last of his dynasty.
 
 
 

THE KINGDOM OF AKWAR

Ghana Kunta

Diplomacy:  none

No news

 

KINGDOM OF MOSSI

King Kurr

Diplomacy:  Yoruba (f)

Akan was peaceful, the Capital City was enlarged and public works built.

 King Kurr was able to get Yoruba to unify with the Kingdom.
 
 
 

SOUTH AFRICA

Mercenaries:
5i,5w,5t
 

ZULU EMPIRE

King Tumba

Diplomacy: none

No news was heard
 

NORTH AFRICA

Mercenaries:
25i, 12c, 5s, 5w, 5t
 

THE KINGDOM OF THE VANDALS

King Octa

Diplomacy:  none

The Vandals watch as the Syrians move away and retreat from the region. A day of celebration to thank God is ordered. They Kingdoms defenses stay alert just incase its a ruse. It isn’t however. The Vandals liberate Tunisia.
 

THE ARIAN CHURCH

Patriach Taborus, defender of the true Christ

Diplomacy:  none

The Arian Church was Quiet; they must be at their prayers thanking God for driving the Syrians away.
 
 
 

WESTERN EUROPE

Mercenaries:
26i, 17c, 8s, 7w, 6t
 

THE KINGDOM OF REGET

King Cynfarch Oer

Diplomacy:  Shetlands (nt)  Hebrides (fa)

With the subjugation of Albion King Cynfarch Oer began the process of removing the druidic heresy from the Land. His warriors moved throughout Albion closing churches and establishing the Kings law. From here on out the heresy was outlawed.

Some people rose in revolt but the peasant army was quickly beaten and the land pacified with a large garrison. The King didn’t feel he had the men on hand to enforce such a law in Scone so he simply garrisoned the city and bid his time when he could crush the heresy there as well.

Diplomats were sent to the Shetland Isles and to the Hebrides with some small success in the ensuing talks.

In 533AD the heir Elidir Lydanwyn passed away. The Kings youngest brother, Llyr Marini, became heir.
 

THE KINGDOM OF POWYS

King Pwyll

Diplomacy:  none

The King of Powys wasn’t so sure where the Picts had fled to. So to be sure they weren’t still lurking in the highlands he sent Prince Arthwys north accompanied by the Jar from Angela. They found the highlands devoid of Picts, tell tale signs of a recent mass migration were all that was found. The Picts had truly left Britain.

Meanwhile King Pwyll traveled to the Isle of Man. He married into the local nobility and his new Queen had a son in 533AD
 

THE KINGDOM OF DUMNONIA

King Gwydre

Diplomacy: Orkney (nt)

King Gwydre ordered an expedition to the Orkney’s, just in case the Picts still had a presence there about. Lord Derfal was ordered to bring the Dumnonian army south to meet up in Caer Swys with Prince Magunnus. Realizing the Prince didn’t have near enough transports for the army Derfal left what forces the Dumnonian navy could carry and marched the rest back home to Salisbury.

Prince Magunnus sailed the Dumnonian forces north; talks with the Orknian leader bore some small success.

Sadly Queen Isolde died in 532AD
 

THE UI NEIL

King Fergus

Diplomacy: Connaught (a)  Mumu (t)

King Fergus traveled to the Highlands to meet up with his Powysian allies in case the Picts were indeed still present.

In Laigin a Port fortress “Sidhe Castle” was constructed.

Prince Connal and Lord Conner were busy trying to further Unite the Kingdom by diplomatic means.
 
 
 

CELTIC CHURCH

Patriarch Aedan

Diplomacy:  none

THE COUNCIL OF POWYS
The Clergy of the Celtic Church met in Powys with the Clergy of the Catholic Church. Pope Hormisdas himself sent 3 major church leaders to Britian.

The two Christian churches sought common ground and struggled to unify their foundational views. The Celts argued vigorously about the need for freedom from rigid church order in order to serve God as moved by Gods guidance.

The Catholics argued for the need of order and for the correct dating of Easter.

Many of the Church leaders died during the council and this left opportunities for the younger leaders, on both sides, who weren’t as stubborn or rooted in years of bitterness towards the other faith.

In 534 AD patriarch Aedan of the Celtic Church passed away, and in 535 AD Pope Hormisdas passed away as well. The new Patriarchs, Mungo and Ysgarran, were all for reuniting the new faiths and although little actually was solved by the council the outlook for future understanding was looking brighter.
 

THE KINGDOM OF ARMORICA

King Geriant

Diplomacy:  none

Armorica was again a land of peace and quiet.  The king was busy with missionary work.
 

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Pope Hormisdas

Diplomacy:  none

The Catholic Church was focused almost exclusively on the Council in Powys SEE THE COUNCIL OF POWYS and the war of the Catholic Alliance in Visgoth Spain SEE THE LOMBARD MIGRATION
 
 
 

THE KINGDOM OF THE GOTHS

King Dameric

Diplomacy: Old Castille (f)  Portugal (t)

Lord Marcus escorted young Prince Dameric to Old Castille for a marriage of the two royal houses. Lord Marcus and prince Dameric then watched in horror as the Lombards and their Catholic allies poured over the border into Visgothic Spain.

SEE THE LOMBARD INVASION

With the death of his father and the rest of his family Dameric slowly realized he was the last of the Visgothic dynasty. Lord Marcus swore feality to Dameric as the new King. They also learned that the Duke of New Castille confirmed his alliance. But what was Dameric King of? The Visgothic Kingdom had been cut in half. The future was looking very uncertain.
 

THE KINGDOM OF THE MEROVINGIANS

King Pepin

Diplomacy: none

Pepin oversaw the construction of various castles across the Merovingian realm. A petition to build fewer strongholds and more sick houses in the east was brought to Aachen. King Pepin was occupied with other matters and referred the request to the Bishop.

Bishop Alwhin was busy in Westphalia converting the heathen to the cross. Many converts were welcomed in the arms of the true faith.

Lord Rollan was sent south to join the Catholic alliance in the invasion of Spain.  SEE THE LOMBARD INVASION
 
 

THE KINGDOM OF BURGUNDY

King Varocher

Diplomacy: switzerland (a)

King Varocher ruled his nation. Lord Valmont was sent to Switzerland , he was able to secure an alliance.

Prince Dauphin died young; he was only 26 when he passed away in 532AD. His brother Donatein was made heir.

Jerome the Kings youngest brother also passed away.

The King also sent Lord Amyn to help the catholic forces in Spain SEE THE LOMBARD INVASION
 

THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK

King CaenWulf

Diplomacy: none

Prince Magnulf ruled the realm for his father. His wife gave him a son in 532AD and a pretty little daughter in 535AD

Sven the fat oversaw the construction of the city of Aarkopbyr, a port city on the Dvina River in Polotsk.

In Poland Father Petros announced that not a single pagan remained in the region, he then set off for Danzig to begin win over converts to the true faith there.

Prince Leodi felt the call of adventure in his veins and set off across the Baltic Sea. The slavic peoples in Latvia, Novgorod and Turku felt the sting of the Danish raids. Leaving the slavic coast the Danes sail out into North Sea and then around the coast of Gaul where they raided Asturius in northern Spain. They returned home with loot and singing war songs.
 

THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE

Emperor Ulprus, Restitutor Orbis, Redditor Lucis Aeternae

Diplomacy:  Campania (f)  Calabria (a)  Spoleto (t)

The Roman nobility revives the Western Empire by crowning Ulpris as Emperor. The Western Empire is reborn!!!  The Catholic clergy helps the Imperial government.

The Emperor continues to solidify Italy under Roman rule. Peace with the Croats was achieved and as part of the deal Romagna was granted to the Croats.

The Emperor takes a bride from one of Rome’s leading patrician families. The new Empress has two sons, Galerus in 532 and Theodosius in 535.

The Emperor’s brother, and heir, Trisvan dies in 531 AD
 

THE CROAT TRIBAL FEDERATION

Chief Ptreskov

Diplomacy:  Romagna (ea)

King Ptreskov marches with his Lombard allies, and other Catholic forces. SEE: The Lombard Migration
 
 
 

THE KINGDOM OF THE LOMBARDS

Hermann

Diplomacy:  none

THE LOMBARD MIGRATION
In the winter of 530AD Pope Hormisdas called a great conclave of all the great Kings of Europe.  He even invited the Pagan Croats who had refused to follow when their brethren converted to the Roman religion.

To the surprise of all, King Hermann of the Lombards accepted the invitation to parley.  Pope Hormisdas spoke first,  "We have no desire for future conflict with your people, but neither can we allow you to occupy Roman lands. Why don't you and your people migrate to Translvania and we will help you tame the wilderness."

"Never!  The Lombards have traveled long and hard to find our Promised Land.  We will NOT be pushed back into the wilderness!  We will fight to the last man, women and child before we let that happen -- and don't call us Croats!"

The Pope sighed, "Damn those who helped you invade Italy. You would have failed in your attack on the Ostrogoths if it were not for their gold and ships that helped you in your attack.  King Hermann, what do you suggest I do?  You can't expect the Catholic nations to give you any more of their land."

"We will attack Denmark!   All we need is permission to pass through Bavarian and Frankish lands."

King Pepin of the Franks spoke at this time. "The Danes have been peaceful neighbors.  It is in no one's interests to usurp the modest lands he holds on the frontier.  The future of European security for us all would be compromised, and this must not happen.  I will not let it happen."

"We will attack Armorica!  All we need is permission is to pass through the lands of Burgundy--and Don't Call Us Croats!"

King Gwydre of Dumnonia, King Pepin and King Varocher of Burgundy vetoed this idea.  "The Armoricans have offered no harm to anyone,” said King Varocher and King Gwyder protested that he would never allow an attack on a Celtic brother.

"We will attack the Visigoths!"

Emperor Ulpris of The Western Roman Empire spoke for the Visigoths.  "The Visigoths have been good neighbors, why should they pay for the treachery of the Vandals?"

The Pope's eyes darkened, then glowed as if with fire.  "If it were not for the Vandal blockade of Ravenna, we would not be in this position today. Pope Symmachus would be alive today.  King Alaric of the Visigoths should have chosen his friends--and his heretical church—more wisely.   King Alaric did not even condemn their damnable actions but the Arians have ever been given to evil and now it comes upon their heads.  The Roman Catholic Church will not hinder the Lombards if they choose to attack the Visigoths."

And so it came to pass that the destiny of the Lombard people in Iberia was made manifest.

In the spring of 531AD King Hermann gathers his people for the migration and adresses them:

"Lombards! Slovenes! My People! We have come here, far from our homes in the Valley of the Elbe, in search of a better life! Trusting our Gods--and threatened by others--we wandered in search of a Homeland, in search of Room to Live, in search of our Promised Land!

From afar, we heard of the riches of Italy, and what we heard was true! We see it all around us today, here in the heart of the Valley of the Po.  Have we found our Homeland?  It might seem so, in this verdant land.  Have we found Room to Live?  That we have not.  And so, we have not found our Promised Land.

We are hemmed in, with no space to grow, nowhere to move.  And what of our Gods?  Are we forsaken, surrounded by the followers of the Christ?  Or are we simply the last great tribe in Europe to cling to the old ways, to the great old gods?  Other tribes have marched west, as we have done: Ostrogoths, Franks, Croats.  Each in turn has found new ways, new lives, and a new and true God!

Lombards! Slovenes! My People!  We have called you to gather here to tell you that we have been blessed with a Vision!  It is a Vision of Glory, or Wealth, and of a Homeland, beckoning in the West!  We see it blazing, brighter than the Sun!  It is a Vision of the True Cross, of the Christ, of the Truth!

We take this day the Waters of the Po, the Waters of Baptism, from the hand of the Great, Wise, and Holy Hormisdas, Pope of Rome.  He is here this day to guide us in Our Calling!

We are called by the Christ!  We are called to Greatness!  We are Called on a Mission to liberate our Promised Land from the Heretic Visigoths, Arians who His Holiness assures us are steeped in evil and damned for their Untruth.  As a People We call you to join us in Baptism, and to follow us to free the rich and fertile lands of Iberia!

Po Lombards!  We march to Glory!"

The King knelt before the Holy Father Hormisdas, and was baptized by his hand.  The Po Lombards were baptized en masse in the river, and marched west, sodden, swords rusting, leather shrinking in the sun, teeth chattering from the chill of the waters.

The Lombards and Croats, who marched with them led by their King Ptreskov, arrived in Languedoc in August 531AD. Their Catholic Allies, Franks, Burgundians and even a small army lead by a Catholic priest, sent by the Pope, had gathered there ahead of them. All told the armies of the catholic Alliance totaled 93,500 warriors. Feeling it was to late in the year to cross the Pyranees and invade they decided to instead winter in Languedoc.

Spring 532AD sees the Invasion of Catalonia. Prince Harde and Lord Theodoric the Red respond and align their much smaller, only 13,500 men, Visgothic army as best they can. Battle in joined in June 532AD. Although Theodoric is arguably the best General in Western Europe it is not enough and after a short and viscous fight Catalonia is pacified.  Burgundian warriors garrison the region. Prince Harde and Theodoric both perishing in the fight. Few if any Visgoths survive.

Continuing their campaign the Catholic armies march along the coast and Invade Valencia. The Dux of Valencia was south guarding Gebal-Al-Tarik when news of the Invasion of Catalonia arrived and hurried north. He arrived in Valencia ahead of the Catholics but his army was vastly outnumbered and annihilated. The Dux perished in the fight. The City of Valencia was unwalled and easily fell. The Catholic armies winter in Valencia.

In the spring of 533AD Murcia is invaded and overrun. 25,000+ Lombards are left to passively siege Cordoba under the command of Lord Peotr. The rest of the Catholic armies invade Andalusia in early fall. King Theodoric is waiting with his 20,000+ warriors. Outnumbered almost 3-1 the Visgoths put up a spirited defense.  All day long the two sides batter eachother. The fury of two germanic armies battering eachother was the stuff of sagas. Numbers begin to tell as the day drags on and slowly the visgothic army is forced back towards the gates of Seville. King Alaric is wounded beating back a Frankish Assault and is taken into the city. With their King wounded and their line collapsing the surviving Visgoths withdraw into Seville. The Catholic armies move out and finish pacifying Andalusia. Lombard tribes begin colonizing the region, although the colonization will not be complete till the following spring.  The tired Catholic armies winter and plan how best to take Seville.

March of 534AD brings the Catholic armies lining up for an assault on Seville. “Whats this ?” King Alaric, recovered from his wounds now, wonders “will they throw themselves at the city walls?”
Alaric didn’t realize that most of the Catholic armies, with he exception of the franks and Burundians, were unskilled in the siege arts.

Throwing vast numbers of men at the walls the Catholics storm the walls. Ladders rise up against the walls as men bravely attack. Carnage rules the day as the Catholics over and over storm the walls. Heaps of bodies’ lay at the foot of the walls as wave after wave of attackers are thrown back. The fighting continues into the night, the darkness hiding the source of the dying and screaming men as they struggle along the tops of the walls.  Mid of night the fighting dies out and word spreads that the western gate has fallen.

Dawn rises indeed revealing the Banner of the Lombards atop the Western Gatehouse. The city defenders gather what strength they can in the western part of the city. The Catholic forces poor threw the now open city gate and overwhelm the last Visgothic forces. The priest Titus dies in this assault. The attackers spread out and over run the city, the Catholic leaders prevent the complete looting of the city but many of the citizens were killed and the royal family were all butchered before order was restored. The Armies of the Church now leaderless with Titus’s death disperse.

Garrisoning Seville the Catholic armies march back into Murcia in time to see the city fall in August 534AD. The Frank and Burgundians remain in murcia but the Croats begin the long march back to Verona.
 

KINGDOM OF NORWAY

King Knut

Diplomacy:  Mordaland (f)

While King Knut dealt with the mundane details of ruling a kingdom his brother, Prince Nors, was sent to conclude a unification treaty with Mordaland.

Staying at court does have its appeal however. Knut’s Queen gave birth to 4 sons from 532-535AD. Knut now has 6 young sons and 0 daughters. Wow!
 

THE KINGDOM OF THE SVEAR

King Olaf

Diplomacy: none

Things were relatively quit in Svearland. Two things of importance did occur.

The city of Holmgardr, a port on the Dvina River, was built in Livonia.

Sadly the offer important news was the death of Queen Thoralf during childbirth, the child died as well. The kings 9 year old son, Asgar died in 531 AD. Petra, a daughter of Prince Asmund died in 535AD at the age of 14.

Prince Asmund’s wife, Ivana, did give him a fine son “Arinbjorn” in 534AD however.
 

THE KINGDOM OF BAVARIA

King Horsa

Diplomacy:  Bohemia (ea)

The Bavarians focused on converting the pagan lands near them.

Prince Octar was trusted with conducting a census.

Lord Burhuk perished in 533AD and Prince Inered in 534AD.