A Knife of the Keenest Steel - a mini-CK2 Zoroastrian AAR

[garbon]

1417-1424 - Realms Torn Asunder

Parvin's council spends several weeks crafting a suitable plan for the break up of the Persian Empire. Though mainly punitive, the plan does have the benefit of ensuring that the Karen Empire will have no rival in Persia for the foreseeable future (or at least that is the idea). Too weak to challenge the Karens alone, the various persian princes are expected to squabble among one another for untold generations.



Judging the source of their power to broken, Khiva is allowed to keep most of its far away steppe provinces.

Parvin's younger son, Ghobad, is given control of the Khazarian lands.


To make sure her heir does not feel slighted, Mashad is re-styled the Shah of Egypt.


A miscalculation is made in the land grants, allowing for the quick consolidation of a Karen-ruled Shahdom of Georgia.



Drawing upon kinship, the new shah calls upon Parvin's support and sanction of his efforts to gain further territories. As the Marzoban of Abkhazia was upset with Parvin's land redistributions (he was forced to give up several satrapies!), she grants Georgia nominal support to deal with the troublemaker.



Parvin is surprised to hear about the Moabad-Moabadan declaring war on the newly independent Satrapy of Tigris. Apparently, even the clerics have territorial ambitions in the new Persia.



More dismaying is news that her son, Ghobad, has hatched a scheme to assassinate his elder brother.





Glad to have been informed before plans had progressed too far, Parvin gives Ghobad a stern lecture about being content with the shahdom he was granted. Embarrassed to have been found out, Ghobad relents.



Meanwhile, word reaches court that the Shah of Georgia has been successful in consolidating Abkhazia into his realm.



After a couple years with no active military engagements, the Karen army begins to agitate for a new campaign providing opportunities  for glory and spoils. With no stomach for a protracted war, Parvin asks her advisors to find a weak target. Her council sets upon attacking the ambitious Keykhosrau Shah.

A suitable candidate is found who has a claim on the Satrapy of Poitou.





As Karen forces make landfall in the southern portion of the Keykhosrau Shahdom, Parvin receives a petition from the Satrap of Ancona. He begs license to attack the independent Satrapy of Tuscany. Having inherited her mother's distaste for Italian politics, Parvin forbids the venture with a thinly veiled threat of expulsion from the Empire if he persists. The ambitious satrap pays no mind as his forces were already marching on Tuscan lands when he dispatched the messenger asking for permission.





Encountering virtually no resistance, Karen forces storm the Keykhosrau capital. In short order, Shah Pashang agrees to give up the Satrapy of Poitou.





Emboldened by the successful campaign, Karen forces ignore summons to return home. Instead their commanders look northwards towards the Djamaspid Shahdom whose lands are currently in turmoil. Several claimants have raised rebel banners in hopes of usurping the shahdom from their young banebshen.



Conveniently, the newly installed Satrap of Poitou also has a claim on that shahdom. Declaring their intent to back his right to rule, the Karen army marches northwards.





Back in the Empire, Golshan comes of age and Parvin plans for her wedding to her brother, Ghobad, to be carried out soon.



Ghobad begs leave to push the wedding date as he is in Persia campaigning against Timurid ambitions. In no mood to take orders from her son, particularly when he is defending Persia, Parvin has the couple married by proxy and Golshan departs for the Khazarian capital.



The tide of battle has turned against the Zoroastrian high priest who now cowers in his fortress; besieged by Tigran forces.



Golshan does not have to wait long for her husband's return and the couple is married properly a few months later.



To mark his marriage, Ghobad moves against the Shahdom of Khiva.



With Karen forces still entangled in France, Parvin agrees to join her son's war against Khiva but cautions him that for now, she can only offer financial support.



No sooner has her missive been dispatched does a messenger arrive bringing news that an overly ambitious fellow has declared his intentions to take Khazaria. Parvin laments her inability to help her son and curses the troops who remain in France.



Suddenly realizing that she's heard little of her son in Egypt, Parvin orders an emissary to go forth and report news of her heir. Upon his return, Parvin is surprised and ashamed to belatedly learn that her son sired an heir shortly after the grant of his shahdom. Happily her grandson has been named after her dead husband. Nevertheless, she sends her emissary back to Egypt to chastise for son for failing to inform his mother of the joyous news.



The Moabad-Moabadan fails in his ambitions and is forced to make a humiliating peace.



Ever active, Timur sends his troops forth to gain further territories.



The Satrap of Ancona, undeterred by Parvin's earlier threat, has the temerity to send news of his successful campaign. Fearful of losing face, Parvin rescinds the Empire's protection of Ancona.



Around this time, Parvin begins to question her life choices. Though an elderly serving woman tells Parvin that it is natural to reflect on the past as one ages, Parvin can't help feeling that she has done little worthy of note.



At least good tidings come from the north where Ghobad's troops have managed to capture the would be usurper.



News comes from the west that the Karen army was successful in installing their claimant in France. Rage waking Parvin from her despondence, she orders the new shahdom to be dissolved. The army must not think it has the power to play kingmaker!





Across the Channel, the Imotski Shahdom faces a noble revolt to weaken the authority of its crown. Already fairly autonomous, the nobles cripple the shahdom by attaining independence.





A noble in the Karen court is said to have quipped that such marks the first realm not torn apart by the vain Empress.

[garbon]

1424-1432 - The Fadeout

Back east, Timur is successful versus the Basbugid Shah and promptly announces renewed efforts to conquer Persia; this time moving against the Satrap of Fars.





Fars is vulnerable as it is already under attack from Tagtid armies (one of the new satrapies ruling over the provinces of Hamadan). While the Tagtids are failing in their attempted conquest, the tired forces of Fars are not expected to put up much resistance to Timur.



What no one expected is that the new Persian satrapies would band together to protect Persia from would-be invaders. With the exception of the Khivan Shahdom, which had always been an independently minded part of the Persian Empire, the Persian princes all agree to form a loose association against opposing forces. While still free to scheme against one another, they pledge to unite when one state is attacked by the Timurids or Karen Empire.



Thus when Timurid forces enter Fars, they encounter surprisingly stiff resistance.



Uninterested with the affairs of Persia, Parvin instead sets about to set a wrong that has lasted for far too long. North of Tartaria lies the small satrapy of Yugra which has been part of the Karen Empire ever since it was inherited by a marzoban in Hum. Tired of the expenditure needed to maintain a garrison for the remote satrap, Parvin rescinds the Empire's protection for Yugra and dispatches a small force to regain Hum for the Empire. The weak satrap agrees to part with the province as soon as Karen forces arrive in the area.



The Khazaria-Khiva war carries on with Khazaria only making agonizingly slow gains. Begging his mother once again for support, Parvin relents and dispatches a host to hasten the war's conclusion. Within a few months, Khiva gives up Pecheneg.







Meanwhile, the Tagtids give up their attempt to take Fars and instead join the coalition against the Timurids.



Out west, the nobles of the Amin Shahdom, emulating the successful revolt against the Imotski Shah, make a bid for independence. The revolt fades after a few short months.



The Satrap of Turkestan takes the ambitious move of changing his realm name to that of Khiva. His ambition leads to the confusing, though aptly named, Khiva-Khiva war.



Recalling that possession of Kherson had always been meant to be temporary, Parvin grants independence to the peninsula.



As though just waiting for the opportunity, the Empire of Tartaria immediately declares war for Crimea. They even have the gall to ask Parvin for her support.



Indignant, Parvin decides to punish Tartaria by marching against them. With any luck. her forces willl distract the bulk of their troops allowing Kherson to make a favorable peace.



Parvin's daughter, Golshan, spikes a sudden fever and dies a few days later. Parvin despairs remarking that a mother should never have to bury her child.



The Karen Empire may have overreached when it declared war on Tartaria. The latter is able to convince most of his kin to oppose Parvin's vengeful act.



At this point Parvin begins to show signs of losing it. She announces a bizarre decision to help assist the last feudal Christian ruler who has been hiding out in the hills of Vivarais. Her councillors move to protest but fall silent as she lashes out with a stinging rebuke.



The same Karen forces that plundered France are sent against the weak ruler of Dauphiné.



Unfortunately, as Javaneh is a scion of the Ossiaid house, the larger Ossiaid kingdom joins the fray.



Good news come from the east where Karen forces crush a smaller Georgian army outside the capital of Tartaria.



Even better news follows that the Ossiaid attempt to attack Karen troops outside the small town of Joyeuse turned into a total rout. Of the attacking Ossiaid forces only 3,000 limp away. Karen losses number at less than 900.



Karen forces then spin around to attack a larger enemy host in Vienne.



This too proves successful leaving the Karen army unopposed in the area.



Caught up in the excitement of her numerous victories, Parvin orders a horse saddled up as she wants to practice learning to fight on horseback. Afraid to contradict her order, her retainers do as they are told. Thankfully, the ride seems to put the Empress in good spirits and she does not even complain when her horse gets spooked causing her to fall to the ground. All hold their breath as her maidservants help her up. The tension is cut when Parvin makes a joke and starts laughing. Back at court, rumors run wild about the Empress's mental decline.



News comes from the west that the Ossiaids have taken direct control of Dauphiné but it is too little too late and within weeks, a messenger arrives in Constantinople offering to give up Vivarais.
[One thing they need to change is what happens when titles are inherited. Dauphiné was inherited by the Ossiaids which meant the war was suddenly over! Doesn't really make sense that we'd give up the war because a different enemy to control of the target lands.]





Nobles around the Empire grumble as Parvin ennobles the first Christian marzoban.



A now elderly, Timur relents and admits defeat in yet another failed invasion of Persia.





Meanwhile a charismatic priest leads the poor and downtrodden of Galatia into heresy. Parvin orders no expense spared in combating the vile Mazdaki teachings.



The Tartarian war ends in favor of the Karens after one last battle in Kuma.



Unfortunately, the aim of protecting Kherson is a failure and Tartaria annexes the southern half of the Crimean peninsula.



In quick succession both Timur and Parvin's youngest daughter die. Parvin is said to have torn out her hair before quickly being escorted to her chambers upon news of the death of another one of her children.



Throwing off his father's Persian ways, the new Timurid ruler holds onto mongol traditions. His mother of Karen blood, Bartan can boast that he is a descendant of the Saoshyant!



Parvin's son wastes no time in betrothing himself to his 3 year old daughter after the death of his sister-wife. While permitted by scripture, everyone thinks this a bit unseemly.



Parvin also learns that her heir married a nobody after his sister-wife, Golshan, died. She's not surprised he kept that embarrassing fact to himself.



The Timurid khagan, anxious to prove his mettle but well aware of his father's failed conquests of Persia, announces an invasion of Khiva.



Yet another Zoroastrian force rises up to harry the Timurid army but as always, is quickly subdued.



Though Khiva is able to get a large host of allies to support it, the Timurids have amassed a mighty host.





Pressured by her councillors to help the Khivans, but secretly wishing to see them brought low, a very stressed Parvin slumps over in her throne. The Empress is dead, long live the Shahanshah Mashad - the first male ruler of the Karen Empire in over a century.

[garbon]

Getting a little ahead of myself, I've been trying out some hands off tests for converting this to EU4 and just saw this spectacular collapse.

First here's screenshot of what AI Karen Empire was able to conquer by 1540ish. AI isn't good at converting cultures but pretty good at coring so this diplomatic shot is fairly accurate of AI Empire's borders at greatest extent.



Below is the situation in 1560s (Karen Empire is that Burgundy bit in Anatolia with most of its provinces controlled by rebels or nearby nations). Given that AI was cheating a bit (with lucky nation and I think manpower based on how it fended off some powerful revolts earlier), I could be in for quite a ride in EU4!

[garbon]

Long delayed but not forgotten...

1432-1437 - And now for the stunning conclusion in 2 parts

While the first Shahanshah in a century is not particularly talented in his own right (completely hopeless with finances), he has surrounded himself with a talented set of councillors that hopefully will make up for any of his...shortcomings.

Despite, never winning over the heart of her mother in-law, Mashad's wife has proven to be a worthy companion and the happy couple can boast several heirs.



As his first order of business, he betroths his 15-year old heir to the Banebshen of Nubia. With any luck that shahdom will be re-absorbed into the Empire.





A request for aid comes in from a distant cousin in Khiva which is being overrun by Khorasan and the Timurids.



Unconvinced that the situation is actually dire, Mashad denies the request and instead has the court prepare for Gholam's impending marriage to the Banebshen of Nubia. Wanting to make sure that his son is accorded precedence over his Nubian bride, Gholam is styled the Shah of Egypt. May their union prove fruitful.



The ceremony has scarcely ended when a messenger arrives bearing word that the Umayyad Caliph has called upon all faithful Sunnis to reconquer Egypt from the heathenish Zoroastrians.



Mashad can't help but find this all very tedious as with the remaining muslim states confined to West Africa, there's no hope their foolish quest will be succesful.



Out in Persia, the Timurids make significant strides against Khiva but not without cost; several khagans perish in battle.





The newest ruler of the Timurids is barely a mewling babe. However, now steeped in Persian traditions, the new monarch accepts the title Shahanshah, perhaps in a bid by his regent to accommodate their Persian subjects.



Very quickly Khiva is overrun and surrenders its last Persian provinces to the Timurids. What was once a mighty shahdom (and the birthplace of the Karen Empire) now holds onto only a few minor province in India and Azov.




The independent and unrelated Satrapy of Khiva continues to rule on the in the Khwarezmian highlands.

Mashad's wife gives birth to a girl who is accorded special status as Mashad's first child born in the Imperial Palace.



Gholam can also now boast both a male and female heir.



Unwittingly, the Karen Empire serves as a launching point for an invasion of Mashad's brother's shahdom. Too proud to ask for help, Ghobad makes no request for assistance and none is granted.





Mashad gives his court leave to update him on the state of the Jihad for Egypt. Predictably the war is going well with the ragtag Sunni armies faring poorly against Karen steel.



Eager to have the war over, Mashad orders an expedition to take the fight to the muslim lands. The minor skirmish of Lagos sees a great many captives taken including the wealthy Emir of fabled Timbuktu.







Back east, eager to prove himself, the Timurid shahanshah launches an invasion of Persia.



Not eager to see the Timurids make additional gains, the court succeeds in advising Mashad to accept Khorasan's call for assistance.



Ordering his generals to spare no expense in checking Timurid aggression, the army mobilizes a large host and begins its trek eastward.



Hat in hand, Caliph Aarif sues for peace with yet another jihad failing in its stated aims.



Mashad rejoices at news that his beloved wife is pregnant again but his idyll is cut short with word that rebellious peasants have risen up in Galatia and yet another would be shah has invaded his brother's lands in Khazaria.







A back-up host of Karen forces first encounter the Timurids in the Georgian highlands.



The hills are stained red with blood on both sides though primarily that of the Timurids - whose forces are destroyed almost to a man.





After Gonabad, the Karen generals believe the war is now largely one of mopping up errant Timurid forces until their Shahanshah admits defeat.



However, the going is tough as the weak Khorsani armies continue to be decimated.



News comes from the women's quarters that Mashad's wife has given birth to a new son. No one at court is quite sure why, but the Shahanshah is quite taken with his new son and declares that it will be Shahrokh and not Gholam of Egypt that will rule the Empire after his death.



In a bizarre twist, Khorasan agrees to give into Timurid claims. Greatly dismayed, Mashad is nonetheless happy the war is over as it frees Karen forces to march northwards into the collapsing Shahdom of Khazaria.







Loathe as he is to help a sibling that once tried to murder him, Mashad opines that the imperial dignity would be undermined if an upstart were allowed to take his Ghobad's throne.



Ghobad of Khazaria happily grants his brother's armies leave to enter his territory.

[Martinus]

Thanks for posting this, garbo - this is very fun and interesting to read. By the way, are you using any portrait mod? Some characters (especially the male ones) look really good.

[garbon]

Thanks. Nope just the portrait packs that p'dox put out - so this is mostly showing that Persian one.

[Martinus]

Ok. I thought the guy you put on the throne of Poitou was quite hot.



Must be that French-Persian blend.

[Queequeg]

Persian portraits are the best looking by far. 

[Crazy_Ivan80]

looking forward to the continuation of the story in EU4

[garbon]

I have the conversion mostly done (god the default conversion is terrible) but now I'm like argh, I should probably wait till Art of War comes out which will of course necessitate me altering again.

[Queequeg]

How did the old Persian Empire fall apart?  It is interesting that your Persian Byzantium is presumably incredibly prosperous and and centralized while Persia itself is decentralized and falling prey to the Steppe.

[Jacob]

You granted independence to a few states over the course of this AAR, I believe... what was the reasoning for that?

[garbon]

How did the old Persian Empire fall apart?  It is interesting that your Persian Byzantium is presumably incredibly prosperous and and centralized while Persia itself is decentralized and falling prey to the Steppe.

It was destroyed during reign of Parvin in end of part 3, start of part 4. Both were actually combined around 1100 or 1200 but decided it was too much to maintain the combined empires + I'd expected mongol hordes to come crashing in and wanted a buffer - so I'd separated out before AAR start and then only briefly recombined. Of course for some unknown reason - mongols never appeared bar Timur.

@Jacob - Well stated reason for letting go of northern Italy was like of desire to play in Italian politics. I did actually have France as a vassal too when it got conquered but as an outlying area that I portrayed as rebellious armies conquering, thought it best to dissolve and release. And reason for Persian Empire dissolution was animosity from Parvin against title she felt had destroyed her parents marriage and her own.

From a gamemaster perspective, I wanted to make sure Karen Empire wasn't too large for conversion into EU4. As I noted to grumbler earlier though, I did have most of the state releases prior to the AAR. Also, CK2 doesn't really have in-game reasons yet not to keep far flung vassals which isn't interesting from RP perspective.

I do have one last CK2 entry that involves the release of one more minor, distant vassal.

[garbon]

Actually I just realized that I may have to indulge in some light Timmay alt-hist for the EU4 conversion. As the Mongols never arrived, I need to think about what that means for Mongolia and China.

Similarly as I banished Islam to the west fairly early on, it probably doesn't make sense for Islamic states to pop up in Indonesia.