1509

The Zayyanids had found themselves victorious against a large invasion by the Spanish, a number of Italian states, and other Christian allies. This came with a certain degree of autonomy the Sultans grew to enjoy normally under the watchful eye of the millenarians in Iberia. The Christians had, however, brought to bear weaponry hardly seen at such scale and with such lethality. A number of the largest fortresses on the North African coast had fallen, if only temporarily. The shift in the Zayyanid Sultanate had affected more than just the court in Algeria.

In the meantime, though, the Zayyanid Sultan sought to weaken the both traitorous and influential Tha'alaba tribe. The leader of the Tha'alaba tribe's confederation had been Governor of Algiers, and had surrendered the city to the Spaniards during the invasion. The Sultan's initial attempt to regain control over his subjects would be in the aim to destroy the tribes influence. First, the Sultan sought allies in his goal. He offered strict terms, though the position was one of large influence. He found the terms unacceptable to a range of tribes within and without his official territories. The position was volatile, with the current tribe's position being violently overthrown now, and the Sultan intended on strengthening his own authority within. The region was also struggling in the wake of its destruction, and would put the tribe at risk of becoming subservient to the Sultan's commands. There was also no guarantee the invaders wouldn't return in short time. Eventually the Sultan grew tired of the petty tribes, and accepted a smaller and less ambitious agreement with one of the weaker tribes of the Zayyanids, the Beni Moussa. Already a subject tribe of the Sultan, they were happy to receive promises of royal favor and a large swathe of the Tha'alaba territory for themselves. In return, the Sultan would ensure that at least a portion of the Tha'alaba territory would remain in the hands of a loyal subject, and the rival tribe will have been expelled.

With this alliance in hand, the Sultan began raising an army at his capital. The lack of an announcement or declaration by the Sultan caused significant uproar throughout the Sultanate as Emirs and Governors as well as neighbors begin quietly preparing in fear as well. After the months of preparation ended, the denouncement of the Tha'alaba tribe and their treachery made the Zayyanids intention clear. The Sultan had secured Algiers itself beforehand, and united with the Beni Moussa tribesmen who marched alongside them. The Sultan was not particularly interested in commanding the troops himself, and delegated most all of the campaign to his tribal allies. While this ensured the defeat of the Tha'alaba on the field was all but guaranteed with his considerable resources spent on the campaign, the retaliation from the royal tribes was particularly brutal. The "treachery" of the Tha'alaba already in private contention as many quietly sympathized with the previous Governor's decision, many of the other tribes began openly degrading the Beni Moussa. Though few spoke of rebellion, the cry against the Sultan's chosen allies no doubt carried with it anti-crown sentiments. The Tha'alaba would find this support materialize as the Zayyanids pushed them closer to the Kabylia region. Unbeknownst to the Zayyanid Sultan, the authority of the Emir of Bejaia had also been collapsing both to tribal boldness and pressure from the Caliph in Tunis. Part of the success of the Zayyanids had come from the power vacuum that was created with the death of the Tha'alaba tribal confederation's leader. This would change when the new chieftain sent out missives from his new capital, the Kalâa of the Aït Abbas, announcing himself the Sultan of the Kalâa. There had been a silent power struggle between himself and the Emir of Bejaia, Ahmed, over the growing strength of the Amazigh in Kabylia with more and more refugees of the coastal wars and piracy. The strong and brutal threat of the Zayyanid Sultan had strengthened the legitimacy of now-Sultan Tamim al-Thani's claims and bolstered his ranks with those who sympathized with his cause. Similarly Emir Ahmed of Bejaia finds his realm on the verge of collapse, and fights for the same authority al-Thani now wields in the hopes of saving his Emirate. The Caliph in Tunis knows his rival in Bejaia now sits on the ledge, and appears unlikely to allow the situation to develop to his loss. Sultan al-Thani for his part threatens to send any Hafsid army back home if they dare invade Kabylia and beyond as well.

TL;DR

• The Zayyanid Sultan gained an ally in a smaller Amazigh tribe, proceeds to attack another one of its influential subjects

• Strategies employed by the Zayyanids lead to harsh reprisals, new heir to the Tha'alaba announces new Sultanate of the Aït Abbas

• Regroups his forces, stems the tide of Zayyanid soldiers

• Emirate of Bejaia is collapsing in on itself with the loss of its interior, Hafsid Caliph appears to be mustering

[Map coming soon]