[Finished][MTW2] To Conquer the World For Islam: A Moor AAR (Updated January 4)

[Scottish King]

A well-deserved and long-awaited victory for the warriors of Islam. Congratulations are in order.

Thank you very much! But the war continues...

Nice victory. Now just remember, one enemy falls...

Another takes its place. Well see how well the Sicilians and Portuguese can defend themselves.

excellent!
al andalus is ours!!

Not completely. Just have to take care of Portuguese. Their days are numbered!

I would like to thank everyone who has taken time to read this AAR and I will like to thank the Critics Quill for the favorable review. That review can be found here: To Conquer the World for Islam Review

[Sweger]

Great updates since I last read it, will you continue it? (For me it does not have to be, the end here would be "logic" if you know what I mean, maybe you could write until you conquered whole Iberia if you decide to write further on this. I am not saying that I'm happy it's over or something, just reminding you that a good (and well written) story ends at it's best, just look what happened to some TV-series).

How did you made some screenshots black and white, did you use photoshop, or can you actually use such an effect in photobucket? (if that's what you're using)

I am likely to update my own AAR during the week.

Great work however!

[Scottish King]

Great updates since I last read it, will you continue it? (For me it does not have to be, the end here would be "logic" if you know what I mean, maybe you could write until you conquered whole Iberia if you decide to write further on this. I am not saying that I'm happy it's over or something, just reminding you that a good (and well written) story ends at it's best, just look what happened to some TV-series).

How did you made some screenshots black and white, did you use photoshop, or can you actually use such an effect in photobucket? (if that's what you're using)

I am likely to update my own AAR during the week.

Great work however!

I do plan to continue this for awhile. I've played quite ahead and it gets interesting for the Moors. For the black and white shots I used an effect in GIMP, a free art program.

[Maltacus]

Why not have the rest of the story focusing on the revenge of the Imams, perhaps with the help of the untrustworthy French?

This is a great AAR, and it has really improved over time. The power-hungry Fakhir is of course the most interesting character - please find him a successor to carry on the proud legacy of politics and corruption.

[Scottish King]

I have given thought to having Fahkir's legacy continue with a protégé of his...only time will tell. I am working on a new update now, but school has not been kind But please keep making suggestions. This AAR is only as good as it is now because of the readers who have contributed suggestions to help make it so.

[Britannia's Finest]

Aww.... has this died? I loved it!

[Exarch]

NO!!

it cannot be so!!, by Allah, this thread must not die!

[Scottish King]

A New Empire

1104 Zaragoza Province Faraj’s Journal
In the past six months, we have effectively incorporated Spanish lands into ours. Zaragoza has been our greatest success. Qasim decided to move the royal court here temporary and much has happened since then, which I plan to record here in my journal.

First, Fahkir and his co-conspirators, the council and his assassins, were brought to before the court to stand trial. I can’t even begin to describe the hate that I felt as I saw him led through the streets to the city dungeon. But I will return to him later. Soon after Fahkir arrived, Mahjoub escorted Hamdin’s family and Salan’s family to Zaragoza for a meeting Sultan Qasim had called. With everyone he had summoned present, the meeting began. I will record here to the best of my ability to record what was said.

Sultan Qasim, after prayers had been said, addressed the assembly.

Greetings leaders, generals, family and friends,
Today we are gathered here in celebration of the victory we have had over the infidels. But our work is not done. The Spaniards will not stand by quietly as we assume control of their lands. Their former king has fled into the mountains like a coward but until he has fallen he will still be a threat, like the Portuguese and the Sicilian infidels. However, with Allah on our side we shall never lose to the infidel kingdoms of world.

With our defeat of the Spanish, we have moved into a new era and I feel that the Moorish kingdom must evolve to meet the future that we have carved out for ourselves. We are no longer a kingdom of wandering tribes on the verge of extinction. Our lands now stretch across the Mediterranean and Northern Africa. We are now an empire that will last for eternity.

The laws of the kingdom no longer are good enough to govern our empire. I have personally written out laws that I believe that will keep our empire structured and strong. Give me the opportunity to present it to you.

The Imperial Declaration of the First Conclave

We the Moors of Iberia, which will forever be known as Al Andalus, and of the Mediterranean here at the First Imperial Conclave declare the founding of the Moorish Empire. The following are a list of laws that will govern the empire from this day this forward

Leadership
Sultan
The Sultan is the most powerful man. He ensures all laws written here are enforced and is the commander of all the Empire’s armies. He controls the treasuries and regulates taxes. He will also call the Conclave to session and lead them.

Crown Prince
The Crown Prince is second in power to the Sultan and his successor. All powers allotted to him will determined by the current Sultan.

Governors
Governors are provincial rulers of the provinces bestowed to their respective families. They will ensure that the laws of the Empire are carried out. Each one will be chosen by the Sultan and Crown Prince from each ruling family. Each governor must be present at the Conclave as a representative of his province. The Sultan and Crown Prince may also hold the office of governor.

Provinces
The lands of the Empire are to be split among the families here set forth and will remain forever in their possession. First, my family and their descendants I give Sicily and the island of Sardinia and Tunis. Da’ud Amzine, for his service to the Empire, I make a governor of the provinces of Tripoli and Naples giving his family control of these provinces. To the family of the late Hamdin al-lishi I bestow the provinces of Zaragoza and Valencia. To Mahjoub and his family, I bestow the provinces of Granada, Cordoba, and Lisbon. To the family of the late Salan, I bestow the provinces Leon, Toledo, and Pamplona. And to the family of the last remaining son of the late Sultan, Faraj, I bestow the provinces of Algiers and Marrakesh and the lands south of him.

Any other territories taken from the infidels by force will be claimed to the one who conquered it or of by diplomacy given to the Sultan or whosoever he decides to bestow it. If territory is taken by a foreign power and it is of the original lands bestowed to the families named here then once it is taken back ownership will return to the original family.

If any general takes a city and it is the capital city of a kingdom, he is to present the crown to the governor he fights for and the governor will become known as king of that nation in title only. The title will remain with that family forever unless the Sultan decides to bestow it upon another or abolish the title altogether.

War
A declaration of war may made by a Sultan, or Crown Prince. When the Sultan calls for war against an aggressor or neutral nation, then all governors are obligated to support the war effort with troops, money and, supplies.

If the Crown Prince calls for war against a neutral nation, the Sultan can override his declaration. If the Sultan allows his declaration to stand, four governors must agree to go to war.

If the Crown Prince calls for war against an aggressor nation the Sultan can override his declaration. If the Sultan allows his declaration to stand, all governors in support of the war may participate, however, those not in favor may stay out of the war.

Conclaves
Conclaves will be held twice a year to discuss matters of importance. They will assemble at an appointed place determined by the Sultan and will consist of the Crown Prince and governors of the provinces. The conclaves may be cancelled during times of war and may be an assembled at any time during periods of distress or war.

Economy
Markets, ports, merchants, and honest means sponsored by the Empire are to be used to ensure the stability of the empire’s economy. Merchants may be sent out to other kingdom and diplomats may make trade agreements with other kingdoms.

Diplomacy
Diplomats are to be sent to make trade agreements with other kingdoms that are not of our faith Allah or follow the teachings of the Koran. No alliance may be entered upon with the infidels from this day forward. All alliances we have at this present time, we will honor but once they are broken, they are not to be restored.

Religion
Islam shall forever be the official religion of the empire. Other religions may be practiced without harassment but they must pay taxes to continue in their infidel ways. If they will not comply they will be exiled from our lands. Imams are to be trained and the people converted. Imams may never hold a position in government.

Taxes
Taxes shall remain at normal levels during times of peace unless a city be in need of funds for civil improvements. Taxes can be raised for up to five years before the start of a war but only at high levels. Conquered cities may be tax anyway the conquered see fit. After the war has ended, this may continue for five years at which tax levels shall be returned to normal.

None shall change the laws set forth here. The Conclave may add new laws and only if they all agree on it and it does not contradict or negate any of the original laws.

When Sultan Qasim finished reading the document, which he had written on the ship he took to come back to Iberia (Al-Andalus) from Sicily, the room cheered in agreement to the new laws. The Sultan then had the document copied and read to the people gathered in Zaragoza, and for the most part the people were in favor of adopting it as law.

The week is yet young but there is still more to come. Sultan Qasim is planning to publicly bestow the office of governors and Fahkir’s trial will take place. I cannot believe that I am a governor in our new Empire. Even though we don’t know of the lands further south well, they have rumored to be a land of countless treasures. What is really an honor for me is that Qasim made me governor of Algiers the city where he once was governor. I have heard of the southern provinces, and they have been neglected for the most part. With most of the money being used for the war, provinces that received little support before, receive almost none now.

However, more than anything I want to see that dog punished for what he did. He has tried to kill me and my family. He has almost destroyed our Empire. He is the cause all most of the hardship and pain of the last couple of years. But Allah is a just judge and I believe that he will give Fahkir exactly what he deserves.

[Britannia's Finest]

Great job seriously the best AAR I have ever read. This characterization is just great. This should be stickied as an example of how to write and present an AAR.
Keep up the good work!

[Scottish King]

Aww.... has this died? I loved it!

Great job seriously the best AAR I have ever read. This characterization is just great. This should be stickied as an example of how to write and present an AAR.
Keep up the good work!

NO!!

it cannot be so!!, by Allah, this thread must not die!

Thank you very much for your support! I been busy with school lately that is why I haven't been updating regularly but Ill try to this alive for you, the readers

[Britannia's Finest]

All behind ya fella'

[Exarch]

no worries what can ye do with school eh; we'll still be around to follow up on what happens to the moors next!

[Scipio Africanus Maximus]

Long live the Sultan, and his maker Scottish King.

[Radzeer]

Good to see you back on this! Looks like the real story is just about to begin.

[Scottish King]

All behind ya fella'

no worries what can ye do with school eh; we'll still be around to follow up on what happens to the moors next!

Long live the Sultan, and his maker Scottish King.

Thanks you guys! I'm hoping that Ill be able to squeeze an update in this week. You have been a real encouragement.

Good to see you back on this! Looks like the real story is just about to begin.

Thank, Radzeer. A new chapter has begun for the Moors.They have had great success at stopping the Reconquista. Other kingdoms in Europe, like France, and beyond are taking notice of their rise to power. It will interesting to see how they react to the news of the founding of the Moorish Empire. The position of the Pope at this time will also be another interesting avenue I can explore with the Moors so close to Rome. Maltacus also suggested perhaps having other imams be like Fahkir, which I had been considering seeing that it could add another layer of intrigue to the story. At this point, I not sure exactly where Ill go with this yet but Ill probably be as surprised as you are when I do decide.

[Britannia's Finest]

Great stuff to hear- take the fight to the pope!

[Scottish King]

Working on next update between studying for exams to help me relax. In the next update news comes in from Sicily where the Moors haven't heard word from in weeks and the beginning of Fahkir's trial.

[Britannia's Finest]

OOOOH, Juicy

[Scottish King]

Battle for Sicily and a New Threat Emerges

1104 Zaragoza Province Faraj’s Journal
Fakir’s trial started yesterday and I made sure I was present. The hall in which the trial is being held was packed full with all the people who wanted to see the dog finally face justice for all the crimes he has committed. Sultan Qasim is acting as his judge and the evidence of his crimes are being presented to him. Today, the families of the arrested protest victims and the victims themselves told of the atrocities they faced in jail and by the hand of the dog’s agents. I will have to testify later about my assassination attempt later. I hope that we will be able to uncover evidence that the dog tried to have me assassinated. The people have died because of him and he deserves to pay for every crime he has committed.

On a brighter note, word has reached us from Sicily. Da’ud has had a successful campaign against the Sicilians. The last time we had heard of the Sicilians, they were besieging Palermo. In the excitement over our victory over the Spaniards, many had forgotten about the eastern front. However, today, battle reports have arrived from Da’ud and I will recount here what I have seen in the battle report.


Siege of Palermo/Iberian War

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The King of Sicily, Corrado, led the siege on Palermo himself. Da’ud had just arrived at the castle when the siege began so the garrison was on their own.



The garrison consisted of three units of Berber spearmen, two Dismounted Arab Cavalry, two groups of peasants pressed into service, a Lamtuna spearman, Grenadine jinetes and Arab cavalry unit. The Sicilians had built a ram and a siege tower. The garrison’s captain decided to stop the ram from reaching the city’s gate and charge out to attack the besieging army.



The men manning the ram were alone out in front of their troops and were easily overcome by the massing garrison.



The captain got a little over zealous and was killed valiantly defending our lands.



The garrison stayed strong and continued to fight while Da’ud fought the bulk of the army somewhere in the fog unseen. The Sicilians manning the siege tower continue to push toward the walls.



The garrison though leaderless knew what was at stake and charged toward the siege tower, overpowering the Sicilian unit and sent them running away with their tails between their legs.





The few remaining Sicilian rushed into the fog but the garrison stayed put knowing that the rest of the Sicilian army was out there in the fog. Da’ud, however, had engaged the Sicilians led by King Corrado, and caused them to rout. Palermo was kept from falling into enemy hands and the Sicilians had been turned back with heavy losses and the prisoners were executed.

This good news means that the war is almost over. All the Sicilians have now is the city of Naples. If we take Sicily they will be the second nation to fall before our mighty army and we will be in only a stone’s throw away from Rome, the seat of the Christian religion. Taking Rome would deal a serious blow to the infidel kingdoms that dominate Europe. I may not live to see it but my children or grandchildren definitely will and perhaps they will see the day we destroy the religion of the infidels. Until then I will be quite content to see Fahkir get what comes to him.


1104 Zaragoza Province Yusaf al-Mayurqui’s Journal
I am Yusaf al-Mayurqui. I am starting this journal to record my acts for future admirers of the deeds I will accomplish for the betterment of my people.



I will be assisted by my prized pupil Ubaid from the city of Fez, in our southern provinces in North Africa.



I was born in Cordoba fifty five years ago. My family ruled what is now the Cordoba province and had much influence among the other tribes. At a young age, I became interested in our most sacred religion and started on the road to becoming an imam. My father was not particularity pleased with my decision, wanting me rather to become a soldier but he supported my decision and I was taught by the best teachers of Islam. I did well and eventually became an imam myself.

All was well as I taught at the biggest mosque in Cordoba. That was until the Unification War began. Who could have thought that a tribe from the southern provinces would be able to wage war successfully against the stronger tribes of the north but it happened. Tahar led his forces to victory and my family was extermined except me. I swore I would get revenge but for years it was only a dream. Then I met Fahkir. He was a fellow imam that had loss his family in a raid on his town by soldiers commanded by Tahar. He took me under his wing and helped me to come to terms with what had happened to me. He came up with the plans to overthrow the son of Tahar, Miswar and once he had gained enough power he would crown me king of the unified Moorish tribes. However, his plans did not come to fruition and now he is facing death for his noble deeds. I would break him out but he will not let me. There is no one braver or more courageous than he. They think that but killing him it will end.

But it will not end. This is only the beginning. I will continue in Fahkir’s footsteps. I may not take the throne and restore my family’s name, but I will set the wheels in motion to destroy Tahar family. I am sending Ubaid into France to incite the French against the Qasim and his son when the time is right. The French see the current Sultan as a threat and so when they think they have the upper hand they will strike and Ubaid will make sure the nobles as well as the commoners will support the war effort. I, meanwhile, will work here in Moorish territory secretly to gather and incite support against the “emperor.” They’ll never see this coming and they’ll never forget it. So shall the prideful fall.

[Exarch]

great update!

and welcome back!