[Preview] Emirate of Iqritiya (Emirate of Chandax]

**AnthoniusII** · May 01, 2011, 05:27 AM

The Emirate of Chandax/Crete ("Iqritish or Iqritiya")

Prologue.

Crete Island lies in a very strategic position in the east Mediterranean Sea. What made the island valuable was the fact that seals the Aegean Sea from its south entrance , guards the naval trade routes from east to west and can be an invasion base to anyone that would like to invade everywhere in the central or east Mediterranean coastal areas. Romans found out how dangerous a hostile occupation of the island could be, when they had to deal with pirates in the time of Caesar. Later when Pax Romana reached to its highest level , Mediterranean Sea was a rather “clean” area with minimum or no piracy for centuries. The early Arabic expansion came to change the peaceful life in the sea and its islands and forced the Roman Empire to create a huge fleet to guard it. Crete- by a paradox way- was left almost unguarded because the Emperors believed that the great distance, Crete had from Egypt and north Africa ,was the best defense for the island despite the fact that the island had several other raids from Arabs even since 654? AD . Saint Andrew of Crete, primate of the Church of Crete from 712 to 740 related: "The most impious and well-versed in naval warfare of all the Muslims swept across the sea, setting themselves against the island of Crete with many ships, and fear and trepidation possessed the indigenous population and those in the outlying isles..." (Theocharis Detorakis, History of Crete, trans. J.C. Davis, Heraklion 1994, pp. 133).

The Arabs in Crete.

Romans realized once again their mistake when Abu Haffs Omar landed on the island in 824 AD bringing his loyal subjects from Spain that followed him after his failed rebellion in Andalusia in 813 AD. Emir Al Chacam I exiled them from Spain. Crete was neither his first option nor his first attempt to find a new land and establish an Emirate of his own. The exiles from Andalusia went to Fez and in few years established a new trade center known for its riches and its wonderful gardens, but soon they were forced to leave the city.
Alexandria was his second target in 818 but soon after he was forced to leave the city and been an exile for third time. Arabs knew Crete as a trade crossroad valuable to them after the temporary peace between them and the Roman Empire. Abu Haffs Omar led his followers to the unguarded island and landed in the north shore. The small Arabic fleet (40 ships according to Scylitzes) found no ships on its rout because the Roman fleet was destroyed by the rebellion of Thomas the Slav [821-823AD].
According to Arabic myths he put his ships on fire to force his soldiers to fight with fanaticism and despair against the few soldiers that defended the island and against the large local population . Abu Haffs Omar led his people straight to the island’s capital Gortyn (Gortyna) and captured it a year later. Arabs continued the island’s conquest for more than 15 years. Later they realized that Gortyn- which was in the center of the island- did not fit as a trade position and they created their new capital on the north shores of Crete. They build a massive wall to protect their new homeland, made by clay bricks and enforced it with a wide moat. Because of that moat they named their new fortress/city Ravdh al Khantak ( ربض الخندق in Arabic, Chandax in Medieval Greek language) the modern city of Heraklion. The reason behind the construction of that massive defensive structure was the fact that vast number of settlements on the island were still under local Roman control and every year after winter they had tried to liberate their island. Abu Haffs Omar tried to conquer by force all these settlements but his followers were too few for such attempt. All that he managed was to conquer the larger and most rich cities of the island and terrify the locals with slavery. Slave market was the main source of income for the Cretan Arabs,a result of their numerous raids against the nearest Aegean islands or even from long distances like the raid in Thessaloníki (904AD).

The Arabic fleet attacking Crete(picture from manuscript, 11th century.)
The picture comes from Scylitzes chronicle, 11th cent. (National Library of Madrid).

Cretan Arabs expanded their raids to western Greece and the Dalmatian coasts and they had tried to invade Marmara Sea, unsuccessfully ,in order to attack Prokonissos. Roman admiral Oryphas defeated them and started a naval campaign to regain the Aegean islands that Arabs took the years before.
Slavery and trade along with the boost in agricultural production , made the emirate very rich and powerful and gave it the ability to build a huge fleet that soon became famous in the medieval world.

Later Arabs realized that “force” was the worst tool to make Cretans change their point of view about Arabs and Islam. Slaves stopped to be drawn from Cretan population after few years. In fact Cretans were essential source of agricultural income and a very reliable source of experienced archers and sailors. Cretans ,who were very unhappy from the Roman rule over the years, thanks to the heavy taxes they had to pay. That fact became a useful tool for Arabs in order to gain the local population’s trust and tolerance. The Islamic law excluded all Muslims from taxation. Any one that still wished to worship his own God could do it as long he would continue pay taxes to the new administrators. Thousands of Cretans became Muslims for that reason in a small time period. But in the 133 years of Arabic occupation there were still points of resistance mainly in the south coast of the island and at the mountain areas [Sources : Ibn Istakhri, Ibn Hawkal Abu Mas’udi].

There is a great myth about what the Arabs were in those times. Until recently people believed that the Arabs were simply pirates. In fact they were the hardcore of the Islamic “middle” class of Andalusia. They were merchants, soldiers, land owners, teachers or scientists. The exiles recruited a lot of other Muslim people to man their ships or to serve them as soldiers.
Arabs had a real love for art and science. Soon Crete had ,except of a huge slave bazaar, a large number of Muslim and Christian artists and scientists to work for the emirate. Also they brought Judges from Spain. Scholars and poets were respected and according to many historians of their time ,Chandax's library was one of the biggest in the Arabic world. Unfortunately the vast majority of those scripts were destroyed in time and only few parts of them still exist.
Abu Haffs Omar and the Emirs that followed his reign knew that the first wave of Arabs that came with them was too small to enforce a stable occupation on the island (at least at the regions they wanted) and so until a part of the local population would be friendly to them, they invited new Arab settlers from north Africa, Egypt, Spain and other places. The Arabic population soon reached to about 40000 people or even more.
Another myth was that Christians were extincted by the Arabs. That was not true as we mentioned earlier.
Part of the local land owners joined the new state and served it just like they did for the Roman Empire. Also many pure people islamized trying to fit in the new regime.
The " Emirate of Icritis "recognized the authority of the Sunnite Caliphate of Baghdad over it but it was “de facto” fully independent.
The Emirate had its own coins with quotes from Quran and the Emirs names on the other.
According to the inscriptions on those Arabic coins dating from this period, ten rulers bearing the title of Emir "reigned" over the island. The first was Abu Hafs Omar I ibn Suab, who took the island and remained in power for approximately 30 years, up until 855. The last ruler of the island was Abd al-Aziz ibn Suab, known to the Byzantines as Kouroupas, who was taken prisoner by Nicephorus Phocas after the fall of Chandax.

Golden dinar of Emir Shu'ayb bin abi-Hafs 'Umar (865-895 AD.)
Ashmolean Museum (England).

Silver dirhem of Emir Abd al-Aziz bin Shu'ayb (954-961 AD.)
Royal Coin Cabinet (Sweden).

Bronze fals of Emir Muhammad bin Shu'ayb (around στα 900 AD).
Museum of History (Crete).

Translation of the back side:
"Muhammad is the envoy of Alah".
"Shu'ayb"

List of the Emirs of Chandax:

Abu Hafs Umar I ibn Shuayb ibn Isa al-Ghaliz al-Iqritish (Apohapsis in Greek sources), ruled 827/828 – ca. 855
Shuayb I ibn Umar (Saipes or Saet in Greek sources), ruled ca. 855–880
Abu Abdallah Umar II ibn Shuayb (Babdel in Greek sources), ruled ca. 880–895
Muhammad ibn Shuayb al-Zarkun (Zerkounes in Greek sources), ruled ca. 895–910
Yusuf ibn Umar II, ruled ca. 910–915
Ali ibn Yusuf, ruled ca. 915–925
Ahmad ibn Umar II, ruled ca. 925–940
Shuayb II ibn Ahmad, ruled ca. 940–943
Ali ibn Ahmad, ruled ca. 943–949
Abd al-Aziz ibn Shuayb II (Kouroupas in Greek sources), ruled 949–961, the last emir
Al-Numan ibn Abd al-Aziz (Anemas in Greek sources), son of the last emir, was captured and served in the Roman army, falling at the Battle of Dorostolon in 971.

Romano-Arabic conflict for Crete.

Romans called those people Saracens just like all Arabic origin people but also Mosarab thanks to their Spanish origin as well.

Arabs after their establishment in Crete tried to expand via raids or semi permanent occupations of other islands and cities. Their next targets were mainly the Aegean islands but also many cities of the empire. Soon they occupied Naxos Island and made it their secondary naval base for their raids. They besieged Patrai, Amvrakia, occupied for a short time Nikopolis and they rose to ground Aegina, Paros, Korinthos, and Methone, Demetrias, Samos, Limnos and they also attacked against Monemvasia (the nearest Roman fortified naval base) , Athos monasteries ,Cephalonia and Zakynthos !
Their most famous raid was against Thessaloniki in 904 AD. Arabs with 54 large ships and under the leadership of the Greek origin admiral of theirs Leon Tripolitis attacked the city that Protospatharios Petronas was in charge of its defenses. The first and the second assaults against the entire walls and the gates had no impact but after the third day Saracens focused on the sea walls. They used their ships to place siege towers on each two of them. That way the attackers were higher than the defenders. After ten days of looting Saracens left the city with 22000 slaves.

Saracens take the slaves after the fall of Thessaloniki.
The picture comes from Scylitzes chronicle, 11th cent.

The Roman Empire's attempts to take back Crete.

Romans under the new threat forced to take some counter measures.
They started diplomatic contacts with the Emir of Cordoba trying to keep him away from what would happen in the east Mediterranean.
They created a new naval Thema the Aegean Thema (Thema tou Aegeaou) for more efficient defense against the Arabic raids in 843AD.
They started to prepare campaigns to retake Crete from “Saracens”.
These campaigns were:

Around 828 Romans made their first attempt against Crete under the dual leadership of Photeinos (Strategos of the Anatolicon Thema) and Damianos (Contostaulos). Arabs defeated them and Damianos was killed.
A year later a fleet from the naval Thema of Cibyraeoton under the leadership of it's Strategos , Krateros won over the Arabic fleet and also had some early victories against the Arabic army but eventually the Romans were defeated by an Arabic night attack!

In 873 the emperor Michael III assigned to the Niketas Oryphas that was Drougarios Ton Ploimon (Marshal of the imperial navy) to take back all the Aegean islands that were under Arabic control and Crete. The admiral had a lot of success against the Arabic land and naval forces that led to a temporary peace. Cretan Arabs soon restarted their raids when they received reinforcements from north Africa and Syria.

The last attempt occured when the Emperor Constantine VII assigned to his Megas Domestikos Nikephorus Phokas the campaign against Saracens near the empire’s borders, after the earlier disaster of Roman arms in Crete in 949 when Parakoimomenos Constantine Gongyles was defeated outside the walls of Chandax.
Constantine VII died but his successor Romanos II continued the preparations for the entire campaign. The Roman fleet and army have camped in a small island 1 mile north of Chandax in 960AD. The siege of Chandax lasted more or less a year and the city fell in March 6th of 961!

Nikephorus Phokas besiege Chandax(picture from manuscript, 11th century.)
The picture comes from Scylitzes chronicle, 11th cent. (National Library of Madrid).

Nikephorus Phokas attacks Chandax (picture from manuscript, 11th century.)
The picture comes from Scylitzes chronicle, 11th cent. (National Library of Madrid).

Aftermath.

After the fall of Chandax the rest of the cities and forts that still were under Arabic control surrendered. In the meanwhile Romans executed thousands of people in the city of Chandax as a revenge for the deaths and slavery of thousands Roman civilians in the previous century. The problem Nikephorus Phokas had to deal with was the simple fact that while he could continue the "roman requnquista" against Arabs in Cyprus, Asia Minor, Syria and Sicily he could not leave a large Muslim population at his strategic rear.

Another issue was the fact that the majority of Muslim population was not of Arabic origin but Greeks from the local population of the island or ex slaves that became free after converting to Islam. Nikephorus took some measures for all these issues he was dealing with.
He gathered the survived Saracen troops and under the leadership of “Anemas” the son of the last Emir he sent them to fight in the north borders of the empire.
He exiled the majority of the Arabic population that survived the slaughter of the Chandax in the Syria near the Roman-Arabic borders. The Greek orthodox population that remained after more than a century, war was very small to secure the island’s defense in case of a future similar attack. Therefore he brought settlers from all corners of the empire to enforce the population numbers. For the Greek Muslims, Nikephorus brought some famous priests or monks to reconvert the recent Muslims to Christianity.
The most famous of all was Nikon o Metanoite.
Crete suffered a lot of new raids and occupations in the centuries that followed but Cretans remained the most loyal subjects to the Roman Empire to its end !

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Characters.

Unit roster.

Hawwalah
Not all Arabs that left Andalusia belonged to its middle class. Many poor people and small land owners or simply land or city workers joined the rebellion. These people followed the rebels to their long journey to Fez, to Alexandria and finally to Crete shearing a common fate despite the social class difference. In that long journey many poor people from Fez and Alexandria also joined the Arabs to Crete seeking a new and bright future in the new land of “milk and honey” as they called Crete. They were no useless at all no matter their lack of war experience of their lack of weapons, as they used anything that could be or look like a weapon. Axes, clubs, knives became lethal instruments in their hands using their hope to a great future as their real weapon that made them fearsome and dangerous to those that might though to keep them away from their dream. Later, after the Arabic conquest of the island of Crete , more despaired for a better future, people came from Egypt, Syria and north Africa joining their ranks.

Jarwajaraya
Religion was always the perfect motivation to go to war or the get rich. All that was needed was someone to indicate the new target for both spreading the Prophet’s word and looting. The Romano/Arabic wars of the late 9th century and in whole 10th one, inspired many volunteers to join the ranks of Muslim states that they were in war. Emirate of Chandax was such a state that fought Christians and offered great opportunities for someone to become a martyr of the Islam. As warriors were use mostly as light range auxiliary troops as their faith was not enough to stand in a melee fight with the enemy’s soldiers. In assaults they were the first waves of the attack weakening the defenders forces opening way for the heaviest units to follow. In battle their faith made them fearless because they were not afraid death. That did not change the fact that their lack of heavy armor made them easy targets for all kind of enemy forces ,ranged or melee. Their better use was when they had to defend the cities that hosted them. Their religious fanaticism did not allow them to retreat from the walls and their javelins could be a real danger to anyone, no matter how heavily armed was, who was trying to reach the walls top. When their javelins would have run out , Jarwajaraya's axes were a perfect tool to open the attackers’ heads while they were climbing siege ladders

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Shurtah (شرطة)
The Arabic expansion even from its early period, brought under the Arabic rule people from a lot of different ethnic or tribal origin, who also had different religious and culture backgrounds. To avoid domestic unrests or rebellions, Arabs were tolerant to the populations’ differences. Tolerance was not enough all the time though. A force that would act for the regime’s security or a basic force to defend the cities walls was needed. Shurtah was such a force. Their duties consisted in keeping the order inside the cities and defend them side by side with professional forces that could camp near them. Armed with basic armor in some cases, with short spears and knives, those warriors are the first real combat unit of the state. They have some basic training but their ability in open ground battles must not over estimate. They act better as defenders on walls or behind barricades and they should avoid countering with heavily armored professional troops of the enemy. Never the less they can be useful until more capable units will be available. No matter their status their numbers and their spears are a real threat to any cavalry unit ,no matter how heavily armed it is, that would charge to their ranks from their front side.

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Cretan archers.
Cretans were famous for their archery skills since ancient times. In fact they may were the only Greek origin capable archers. They were also very capable sailors since the Mycenaean times. This skill combination made Cretans very attractive to naval forces both as crews or ship soldiers. When Arabs from Andalusia came to the island of Crete, the skills of its inhabitants did not escape their attention. Cretans soon became essential addition to the Arabic forces of Chandax as sailors and archers. Many of those warriors accepted to change their religion from Christianity to Islam under threat or after a great amount of money. As warriors Cretan archers used a composite bow and both Arabic and Greek axes. Helmets were often part of their equipment. Some of them became high rank officers of the Emirate proving the value these warriors had for Arabs. They could cause many troubles though to their new masters from time to time as their independent spirit drove them rebellious! Arabs despite that fact, have used them in large numbers thanks to the courage they had shown to battle and their archery and melee fighting skills. Their expertises were ambushes and sudden attacks. Despite the fact that they were lightly armored they always held their ground! They are a multi purpose tool to any commander.

Rumat.
Rumat means “those who throw something”. That something can be anything but in central and west Mediterranean of the Middle Ages the term was used to describe mostly archers. Bow was not as favorite weapon for Arabs as the javelins but Saracens (medieval Arabs) formed large numbers of archers both mounted and dismounted. Even if they could not be compared with the steppe archers, Saracen ones could use bow with great efficiency and accuracy. They depended most on their ability to strike from a great distance thanks to their composite bows and under protection or not. They usually carried 30 to 40 arrows and could use quite well their swords to protect themselves in melee combat. As they need to be fast in their reactions, they did not prefer heavy armors that could not offer them a real advantage if they would be exposed in the enemy charges. As all archers , they were easy targets for cavalry of all kinds and their protection must be the primary concern of any player that will use them.

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Rammaha (رماحة)
Their name means “spearmen”. They are actually the natural evolution of Shurtah after of years of fighting the enemies. As soldiers they have a lot more discipline after the long time battle experience they have. That makes them the best unit to stand against cavalry charges when needed, because the primary factor to stand against a group of horsemen that coming against you is discipline that war experience offers to a band of soldiers. Discipline is not enough though but the soldiers need better protection ,mostly the psychological boost that equipment gives to soldier’s morale and that is why the spearmen are some of the Emirate’s soldiers that receive better equipment earlier than any other unit. This does not mean that they can be left alone against the enemy charges or that they are equally expedient to elite units. But they are a unit that can be used in every ground and against every kind of enemy unit.

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Rajil (راجلة)
Their name simply means soldiers on foot. These men though are the backbone of the entire Emirate’s army as they can handle with the best way the sword and javelins. That makes them good enough to fit in both the land forces and in ship crews. Raids deep in enemy’s mainland were rare so the weight of their armors was not a problem at all. Having profits and share from the loots or the slave market they could arm themselves with every kind of armor available no matter how expensive it might have been. Javelin for these warriors was actually a secondary weapon as their swords were their primary tool in battles. Javelin could be very useful when they had to defend their walls or when they had to make their assault easier on the enemy ships.

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Bahriyyah (بحريّة)
Life on a ship is hard but it can offer high profits. Joining the naval forces was a hard but short way to become rich. Crossbow was one of the weapons that required less training to use and for that reason it was the favorite weapon of the ship crews that defended ships against enemy assault troops. Crossbow offered the warrior on ship better chances of aiming correct without the need of keeping the hand always on the bow’s string. That way the soldier could use his weapon when he thought he could have better possibilities of hitting his opponent. Bahriyyah were very useful in defending walls or weakening the wall defense forces on the enemy walls during sieges. For that they were highly paid and had significant share from the looting. They could be a real deadly force against heavy armored opponents thanks to bolts penetration abilities. If they will be placed on the proper place on the battlefield or on walls they can be the “ace” of the player.

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Abeed Al Shira (عبيد الشراء)
The word Abeed (عبيد) means simply “slave”. Abeed Al Shira means “purchased slaves”.
The word “slave” though had a much wider meaning from its modern one. Those soldiers could be children that have been bought from the slave markets or former slaves that run away from their masters and joined the army to have a sense of freedom and honor plus a comfortable life. At the end, they often were war captives that their former rulers could not pay the annual ransoms for captives exchange and instead of execution they had the offer to serve in the army they were captives in. That was very common in the early medieval era and it was a habit that Romans used it first. The Emirate could “recruit” such soldiers from the north African slave markets (children) or it could use experienced soldiers that were captives of war from its opponents like Greeks ,Serbs or Croats. In both cases these soldiers formed elite units using their war experience to lead the rest of the army in battle. In defense their expertise in every kind of tactic or using of weapons, could transform them to an army of their own. They could use javelins, swords and spears with the same efficiency and they will not run away in an enemy’s cavalry charge against them. Their leading officers –slaves as the rest of their comrades in arms- became generals or admirals serving the Emirate against their former fellow countrymen.

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Khayyalet al-Rum.
Crete as every other province of the Roman Empire (Thema) had Stratiotae as its primary military force. Arabs were smart enough to permit them keep part of their former military lands (mikrae pronoiae) to continue serve them as professional soldiers. Some of them changed their religion in order to climb up the military hierarchy or to save some more money from the taxes. They serve as the only real medium cavalry force simply because Crete is a island and the Emirate depends more to its naval forces and its infantry troops that fit better in sieging enemy cities. They continue to use their roman equipment but while the raid or duty income raises and the original equipment gets old and needs replacement, they add more and more Saracen kind of armors and weapons. After some years of duty they would look half roman Cavallarii and half Saracen Faris. They can be used to attack enemy infantry lines as they continue to use wedge formation but attacking spearmen always needs extra caution.

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Iqta'ee (إقطاعي).
Nobility is a very complicated issue. In middle ages what make you a noble is not your blood but your property. Property can be a direct result of land income , in most cases ,but also, in the medieval Arabic world, can be a result from slavery or trade. The fact is though that a medieval lord cannot attract professional warriors promising trade or slave income. He had to promise and give land that already exists; it can be measured and valued under stable standards. The result of this action was a number of warriors dedicated to their Emirs under a payment in lands, more or less similar to the feudal knights that will appear soon after. Iqta dar actually means someone who owes military service in exchange for a land grant. Iqta is the land that the warrior receives and it was similar to Roman Pronoiae military lands. These warriors look similar to Khayyalet al-Rum but they are mainly immigrants from the entire Arabic world around Mediterranean Sea. As Arabs or horsemen from Mauritania they are excellent horsemen proven their skills in battle often before entering the Emirate’s army. They are very close to Emirs, guarding them from domestic or foreign enemies, guarding their land interests in reality. Their high salaries with their land income allow them to have access to the best Saracen weaponry via trade. Their wealth is shown by their cloths and shiny weapons. They slowly but steadily become the real new noble class in the lands that the Emirate adds to its domain after every new campaign.

Naffatun.
Naphtha was known to people of Middle East since 2000BC. Sumerians and later Persians used it as flammable liquid in clay jars as weapon against siege equipment. Arabs and Romans used it as well. Naphtha grenades were very dangerous for both the enemies and those who used them or carry them. The warrior that used them should know when and where he should through the grenade to avoid harm himself or his comrades. For that reason the soldiers that had this task of using that weapon considered high professional and paid with huge salaries. Such a weapon was not wide spread in the Arabic armies because otherwise rivals of the Emirs thrones could use it against them or their loyal armies. Naffatun were usually part of the “royal” or palace forces. They are perfect in demoralize the enemy troops or burn to the ground his siege equipment such rams or siege towers. Their use needs caution though because they can harm friendly forces easily if the battle lines are unclear.

Haras al-Qasr (حرس القصر)
When you are a ruler of a land , you have many enemies but only few friends. Often you can trust no one but yourself and all those that your life and reign is for their best interest. Haras al-Qasr are the men that keep the Emir unharmed ,they are his protectors and an instrument of his will upon anyone that would think that could change the ruling order in the Emirate. Fear of betrayal, forced Emirs to hire those high professional soldiers from all around the Islamic world but basically from North Africa and Egypt. These soldiers use the best equipment the Emirate can provide. Their javelin in their case is more an execution tool than a war instrument. Palace or Emir’s mark is on their unit’s shields , separating them from the rest of the “common” soldiers of the Emirate. No other warrior can match them in fighting skills in the entire Emirate and for that everyone –no matter his social status-fear them.

Al Haras al-Khass – (الحرس الخاص)
Is the duty to guard the Emir or to escort him in battle and die for him, the highest honor? Or it could be something else? The answer is both. Guarding the Emir is the highest honor and the hardest task of all. But it can also be a prison if your father is a low or high rank noble of the Emirate. Emirs guards was a unit that consisted from warriors that they were rewarded for their bravery in the battlefield in this honorable place but also from sons, of the Emirate’s nobles, and they were more like prisoners rather than free warriors. Politics were very complicated and Emirs wanted to have the children of their political opponents near them, but they had to be placed in such honorable unit because of their noble blood. Despite that fact, the Emir’s Guards many times proved their dedication to the Emirs they served, and that is why that the Emirate had so few domestic uprisings by Arabs. These men are the last barricade before the Emir gets killed or captured and any opponent must be sure that they will die to the last before they will see their Emir harmed.

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CREDITS
koultouras : Modeler & skinner
Leif Erikson
Sumskilz
Absinthia
Lord_Calidor
S-te-fan

Historical info
Starlightman
Sumskilz
AnthoniusII
Neoptolemos
Wikipedia

Pictures by:
Matthæus

Spesial Thanks to:
Rusichi TW modding team.
DisgruntledGoat for ussing material from "1066 mod".
Evyatar for his scale cuirass texture.
thelionheart for his help with arabic names.

**Matthæus** · May 01, 2011, 05:39 AM

finally one of "koultoura's" factions

and not to forget sumskilz and leif_erikson who did a lot of work too.
and of course poor Anthony and Starlightman who wrote the texts.
and neoptolemos who helped them.

**Ixor_Drakar** · May 01, 2011, 06:03 AM

The Crete preview is just great. Love the unit designs.

**neoptolemos** · May 01, 2011, 06:14 AM

The "emirate of Chandax preview" is an excellent example of the TGC team's quality work!
Well done guys!!!

**AnthoniusII** · May 01, 2011, 06:22 AM

All previews are open to public comments.

**Matthæus** · May 01, 2011, 06:23 AM

yeey !

**_Tartaros_** · May 01, 2011, 06:26 AM

yeah!!
great and immense preview!!
i most like that nearly every unit got upgrades.

**Tureuki** · May 01, 2011, 06:32 AM

Great preview

**Silesian_Noble** · May 01, 2011, 06:34 AM

Impressive stuff guys. Simply top notch job

**karaislam** · May 01, 2011, 06:42 AM

this is the best mod and passed dominion for me.i play and happy with my empire british east india company mod but as soon as its out i ll reinstall and finish a campaign with this chandax.

congrats the team.