The Sultanate of Ustrakhan

[Ustrakhan]

The Sultanate of Ustrakhan

The Ustrakhanate, also known as the Sultanate of Ustrakhan, is a Sultanate, located in the Caucasus. Its capital is (currently) the Uslan Castle, a well-fortified city-fort located on the mountaintops. It is ruled by the 27 year old Sultan Hashim ibn Arslanbek al-Uslan. The Sultanate has a vassal to its south-east, the Emirate of Al Ummad, ruled by the nephew of Sultan Hashim, Aslan ibn Ismaal al-Uslan. It borders to the north-east the Chinese Shi and to the north-west the rogue Alans.

[Ustrakhan]

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OVERVIEW

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Faction Leader: Hashim ibn Arslanbek al-Uslan (27)
Title/s/: Sultan

   Pious
   Alleged Relative of Muhammad
   Rigorous
   Honorable
   Dislikes Georgians (Xenophobic)    

Faction Heir: Aslan ibn Ismaal al-Uslan (13)
Government Type: Absolute Monarchy
Economic System: Iqta
State Religion: Shi’a Islam

Wars:
Trade Relations:
Defensive Alliances:
Military Alliances:
Non-Aggression Pacts:

Table of Content:

• Brief History
  
• Laws
  
• Inheritance Laws
  
• Military
  

[Ustrakhan]

The Sultanate was established in the 10th century by the Khan of the Turkic Serefli (Honorable) tribe, Boran Uslan, in the Caucasus mountains. As the nation expanded south, first contacts with the Islamic cultures were made. The Turks were fascinated by the language, alphabet, religion and culture of the Arab and Persian people. Bekbolat, Borans son, would initiate the conversion of the Turks, and in parallel, the native Chechens, to Islam.

The process would be continued and finished in a much more rigorous and formal matter by his son, Azad. Bekbolat also created a list of written laws in attempt at creating a stronger government (though, his son would re-write and reform most of the laws, as well as later incorporate them into the Sharia law of Ustrakhan).


Azad would accept the title ,,Sultan'', however, he would maintain the old name of the nation (hence, UstraKHAN-ATE). He would adapt to the Arabic culture, marring Fatma (Fatimah) ibn Fahd ibn Basira, a claimed descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and a well-known royal from Baghdad. He would instate Sharia Law in the Sultanate, reorganize the governmental and military structures of the country, urbanize the nomadic people, etc. etc. He would also create the Al-Farabi University of Islamic and Philosophical Studies (AFUIPS) in Baku, as well as fund the creation of libraries and madrasa (schools) in the country. Azad would hold the religious leaders of the country in high light, and would make sure that they ,,uphold Sharia alone''.

After Azads death, Arslanbek would weaken the authority of the religious scholars in the government in an attempt to mimic the Abbasid Caliphate's fairly secular policies (though more successfully). He would also lose control of the northern Chechen tribes and partial control of the Ummad lands (though, his son, Sultan Hashim, would crush the Emirate and would place his nephew, Aslan, as the temporal Emir).
During Arslanbeks rule, rivalry and hostile relations would boom with the Georgian kingdom, which would escalate with Hashim taking the first steppes to armed conflict (see ,,Georgian Holy War'').

[Ustrakhan]

The laws of the nation have been greatly inspired by the Abbasid Caliphate. There are 5 Ayatollah in Ustrakhan and 2 in Al Ummad, each serving as religious and administrative (to an extent) heads of their respected provinces. However, Sultan Arslanbek al-Uslan would largely decrease their power in the governmental and administrative matters.
The economic system is Iqta - a form of administrative grant, in which lords would collect taxes from their respected areas, and on their behalf pay the Sultan their tax percentage (#VeryOversimplified, so think of it a bit more like the feudal system, as the Ustrakhani Iqta is more closely related to that then the Arabic Iqta).
Non-Muslims are given the right of freedom of religion and since Azads Sharia, have been protected by law in the country. They are not obliged to partake in military service, however, in exchange they pay the jizzya. They have also been allowed to partake in the government since Arslanbeks own reforms.

[Ustrakhan]

The inheritance laws of the country are very Ottoman-ish. The heir of the ruler is the first-born-son. As tradition from the Serefli tribe proclaims, all brothers of the son either have to challenge the heir to a fight to the death, or accept the Khan as superior and exile themselves, never coming back to the Khanate again. Bekbolat , however, being a very harsh and brutal soldier, would change the system so that the heir is picked by being the strongest willed son, both physically and mentally, and, after proving himself, would be forced to execute all of his male siblings.

WIP

[Ustrakhan]

Table of Contents:
I. Overview
II. Composition and Numbers
III. Tactics

Overview

The military of Ustrakhan mimics to a large degree the Arab and Persian styles of warfare, orginization, structure and composition. However, the army also retians a large bit of their old tribal traditions, such as most importantly horse archery and the commonly used hit-and-run tactic. Majority of the infantry is light equiped with kilij swords and round shields. Majority of the cavalry units are horse archers and light horsemen with sabers. Siege weaponry is scarce and is of low quality.

WIP

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