Highlights of my "Jewish Sicily" game:
-declaring independence from the kingdom of Italy
-Already converting 2 regions to judaism
-waging an impossible defensive war against the Karlings who had united west, mid, and east francia as well as inheriting the kingdom of Italy.
-Winning said war by charging through an army four times the size of mine, seizing four dukes of france and the super-king.
-Execute said king, plunging Europe in to chaos and defeating short-term hopes for any attempts at the reconquista.
-Fostering like twenty fucking kids and a super genius demon child, who goes on to convert all my peeps and eventually me to the samaritan heresy.
-Defeat the Byzantines' plans of invasion by destroying their armies piecemeal before they can assemble after landing, and eventually taking a sicilian province from them.
Holy Shit
Has anyone tried a "Hellenic" character before? Maybe Leonidas II?
Part two:
-fifty years of Francia's incompetence has left half of Spain muslim.
-The Kingdom of Aquitaine belongs to the "Hubbib" empire. A rump state of the Umayyads. A significant portion of it fell in to Jylland's hands.
-Middle Francia still exists. West Francia has become France. East Francia has fallen to infighting, finally settling in to the Kingdom of Germany and the Chiefdom of Saxony. In turn, this has given rise to several powerful Eastern-European/Germanic States including Bavaria, Bohemia, Poland, and Lithuania.
-In newly formed France and Burgundy the last Karlings rule, Middle Francia and Eastern Francia's rump states having fell into the hands of Christian Germans. Things are beginning to reform into to historical lines.
-The Aquitaine region is in complete disarray, with one of the last remaining christian counts forming about five provinces in to the Duchy of Aquitaine. If France wasn't so focused on random bullshit and would just unite the errant counties and rebels in the aquitaine region, it would be back on its feet.
-In Northern Italy, the city states reign supreme. Nothing larger than Duchies have formed. Bavaria and Middle Francia both enjoy a few holdings in the area.
-In Southern Italy, Jewish Sicily or The Kingdom of "Nuovo Israele" (me) fought four extremely destructive wars against the Byzantine Empire. Four holy wars of Jewish-Orthodox malice. From time to time the Byzantine emperors would wage indecisive wars against Sicily, following the third (the first had been fought a long time ago, the the next two are part of the "four holy wars") King Urist, who is normally a saintly figure, executes several royal figures, shaming the Byzantines. Beginning a short period of Jewish ascendancy. In response, Byzantium invaded once more. Easily defeating them, the Italian Jews launched a holy war of their own for Amalfi, a major blow to the Byzantine Empire and a great boon to the wayward Israelites. However, for once in the history of the four holy wars Byzantium rallies a massive host, defeating the Jews after several early-war victories. In the end Sicily is forced to capitulate, though no land is lost, their pride is wounded. In one final war of revenge, the Byzantines once again looked to acquire Jewish Sicilian lands. After several jewish victories (my army of 8000-9000 destroyed a few 1000 strong armies and a 5000 strong host) the byzantines attempt to force the matter, landing an invasion force 8000 strong in Neapolis. After a short jewish campaign to mop up in the south, the Byzantine invasion force swells to 10,000. After months of maneuvering the Jewish army finally corners and destroys the Byzantine invaders. Preparing to disband the army, King Urist gets wind of a massive 11,000 force of Byzantines marching south from the Italian City States. The long campaign of delay to swell the Jewish ranks culminates in the battle of Capua, where the 9500 strong Jewish army decisively defeat the Byzantines, ending the war.
-Judaism expands, for a grand totally of 3 provinces. Though... the samaritans are taking over.
-other than their Italian interests the Byzantines are doing well.
-The Slavs' principal states fall in to decline including Pannonia. In it's wake, Croatia expands. Chaos... everywhere!
-England is still in total disarray, Pictland is doing fabulously, and Sweden has become the dominant Scandinavian power.