Heirs of Charlemagne IH

[Dan the Man]

Alright, before ya'll get your shorts in a knot, I have an explanation:
I've decided to go with something more constant after the flop that was my 1942 AH IH. I'm probably much better with real history than alternate stuff, at least in games. I also found this cool new map on the Alternate History Forums, and thought it would be worth trying in a game like this.

So, if you're willing to forgive my more-or-less dubious track record and play, here it is:

The year is 900 AD, and Europe is an ever-changing face. New invaders come and go constantly, even after Charlemagne and his allies defeated the vicious Avars, chasing the nomads back to their homes in the steppes. Now a new threat materializes in the form of the Magyars, another bloodthirsty tribe of Central Asia. It is a world full of heathens, as not only the Pagan Magyars, but the Vikings to the North, and the Islamic Caliphates and Sultanates in Spain and the Middle East carve a path of conquest across the land. Even in this state of unrest outside the Church's borders, Christianity itself continues to be fragmented, as relations between the Eastern and Western churches quickly deteriorate.
The mighty Charlemagne and his glorious Empire is now gone, and Europe is in turmoil. Will you take the reins and lead your nation out of the Dark Ages?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Playable Factions

NOTE: All nations start with their economies at 100%, and factions in red have already been claimed.

Pagan Factions:
Magyars
Poles
Vikings - Claimed by Marshy

Orthodox Factions:
Roman Empire - Claimed by Kip
Bulgarian Empire - Claimed by Kaits
Kievan Rus'
Armenia

Catholic Factions:
West Francia (French)
Burgundy - claimed by c00ki3
Asturias - Claimed by Barry
East Francia (German)
Italy
Duchy of Benevento
Great Moravia
Celts - Claimed by Gunny
Anglo-Saxons - Claimed by Fred

Muslim Factions:
Moors - Claimed by MMM
Abbasid Caliphate - Claimed by Pakov

Jewish Factions:
Khazar Khanate (Yes, the state religion of the Khanate was Judaism at the time. Look it up if you don't believe me. )

Non-Playable Factions
Papal States
Anything in White (these regions are minor nations and tribes that can be conquered if you so choose)

Military
Statistics are loose estimates. Unfortunately, no real statistics survive from this time period.

Vikings
Berserkergang: 400 elite warriors
Heavy infantry: 4,000 standard warriors
Light infantry (spearmen): 2,000 standard warriors
Archers: 1,000 standard warriors
Peasant levies: 4,000 levy troops
Navy: 100 longships
(Note: The Vikings don't start out with cavalry)

Roman Empire
Varangian Guard: 900 elite warriors
Heavy infantry: 3,000 standard warriors
Light infantry (spearmen): 3,000 standard warriors
Archers: 1,000 standard warriors; 500 horse archers
Cataphracts: 1,000 veteran heavy cavalry
Lancers: 1,000 standard light horsemen
Peasant levies: 5,000 levy troops
Navy: 110 dromons

Bulgarian Empire

Tsarskata gvardiya (Tsar's guard): 500 elite heavy cavalry
Heavy infantry: 3,500 standard warriors
Light infantry (spearmen): 2,000 standard warriors
Archers: 2,000 standard warriors; 1,000 standard horse archers
Heavy Cavalry: 2,000 heavy horsemen
Light Cavalry: 2,000 light horsemen

Peasant levies: 1,000 levy troops
Navy: 75 war galleys

Burgundy
Paladins: 600 elite heavy cavalry
Heavy infantry: 4,000 standard warriors
Light infantry (spearmen): 2,000 standard warriors
Archers: 1,000 standard warriors
Chevaliers: 1,000 veteran heavy horsemen
Lancers: 1,000 standard light horsemen
Peasant levies: 3,500 levy troops
Navy: 80 war galleys

Asturias
Jinetes: 700 elite mounted skirmishers (function as horse archers)
Heavy Infantry: 4,000 standard warriors
Light infantry (spearmen): 3,000 standard warriors
Archers: 1,200 standard warriors
Caballeros: 1,000 veteran heavy horsemen
Lancers: 2,000 standard light horsemen
Peasant levies: 2,000 levy troops
Navy: 80 war galleys

Celts
Gallowglaich: 800 elite heavy infantry
Heavy infantry: 4,000 standard warriors
Light infantry (spearmen): 3,000 standard warriors
Archers: 500 standard warriors
Ridire: 500 veteran heavy horsemen
Hobelars: 600 standard light horsemen
Peasant levies: 4,000 levy troops
Navy: 70 war galleys

Anglo-Saxons
Housecarls: 700 elite heavy infantry
Heavy infantry: 3,500 standard warriors
Light infantry (spearmen): 3,000 standard warriors
Archers: 1,500 standard warriors
Knights: 800 veteran heavy horsemen
Hobelars: 900 standard light horsemen
Peasant levies: 3,000 levy troops
Navy: 80 war galleys

Moors
Ansar: 700 elite heavy cavalry
Heavy infantry: 3,000 standard warriors
Light infantry (spearmen): 5,000 standard warriors
Archers: 1,000 standard warriors; 2,000 horse archers
Heavy cavalry: 3,000 standard heavy horsemen
Camels: 3,000 standard light cavalry
Peasant levies: 3,000 levy troops
Navy: 85 war galleys

Abbasid Caliphate
Mobile guard: 630 elite light cavalry
Heavy infantry: 4,000 standard warriors
Light infantry: 5,000 standard warriors
Archers: 1,000 standard warriors; 3,000 horse archers
Heavy cavalry: 2,000 standard heavy horsemen
Camels: 4,000 standard light cavalry
Peasant levies: 2,000 levy troops
Navy: 80 war galleys

[Watercress]

I'll have the Moors.

[Dan the Man]

Sure thing MMM.

[Barry Goldwater]

I'll take Asturias.

[Dave Strider]

Anglo-Saxons for me.

[Dan the Man]

Can do!

[Dave Strider]

Also, will there be an economic % chart?

[Dan the Man]

Haven't decided yet. I'm leaning towards yes though.

[Dave Strider]

Seems like there should be, seeing as there is a province system.

[Dan the Man]

Not so much a province system as it's just divided into regions to make things easier.
But, yeah, we'll go with an economic system. It's just more realistic that way.

[Dave Strider]

If you want I can write one up for you

[Dan the Man]

Nah, I'll follow Barry's standard one. Thanks though.

[Celsius]

Celts for me

[Dan the Man]

Cool! Added!

[Marshy]

Vikings for me!

[Prodigal]

Bulgaria please.

[Dan the Man]

Woah, Bulgaria, seriously? That never happens!

[Prodigal]

Why are you not responding on MSN.

[Dan the Man]

New map added to the OP. Everybody give Kaits a pat on the back for vamping up our historical accuracy!

[Prodigal]

Please, everyone, hold your applause!