Yet another worldbuilding thread. Unlike other threads, this world is clearly Earth in 1100AD but with clear divergence from history and containing more than a few fantasy elements. This setting may or may not be used at a later point. Each post must consist of at least one sentence and must be about one coherent idea. Posts may not contradict each other unless offering an alternative interpretation in-universe. To give a picture of the kind of world I'm aiming for, the below examples will be used to open the thread.
Aleppo, 1100AD.
The Crimson Divan lies empty, bereft of its great lord and accompanied only by a court in mourning.
In the Palace of Lions, Crown Prince Akram prepares for his coronation, while Princess Azusena schemes in the dusky corridors of the king's palace itself.
To the north, the resurgent phoenix of the Roman Empire has reclaimed the Anatolian heartlands, with the Sultan of Rum slain by the great Emperor himself. With the radiant Banner of Constantine held high, the heathenish Turks have been purged from the realm entirely.
To the east, the glorious Sword of Islam and Bearer of the Zulfiqar, Sultan Arslan II, has mustered the Seljuk Turks for a final assault on the remaining Persian satrapies and even now for a new invasion of Anatolia.
To the south, the crusader realms continue the eternal struggle against the Fatimid Caliphs of Egypt and the ambitious emirs of Damascus, all the while the Djinn and Ogre Houses influence them from afar
To the west, Grand Armenia continues its heroic defence against the Prince of Edessa, despite constant revolt from Orthodox citizenry and a decade long blockade of its shores.