Episode 200
The crowds flocking to Jerusalem grew larger by the day.
It wasn’t just ordinary people; even those of high status, considered leaders of society, were arriving in droves.
Delegations from various religions, granted permission to participate in the council, were also steadily arriving in Jerusalem.
To avoid unnecessary controversy, each country was given a fair share of representation, so it would still take some time for everyone to arrive.
Clergy were coming from as far as England, not just nearby places like Rome or the Ayyubid territories.
Previously, assembling the clergy for participation was a task in itself, but now the situation was quite the opposite.
Everyone was clamoring to be included in the delegation, and those not selected were begging to at least witness the event from up close.
I could understand their eagerness.
When else would there be an occasion where the Pope, the Caliph, kings, and sultans all gathered in one place?
Everyone knew that this council would shape the future of the world.
Even those chosen for the delegation were wracking their brains with the same concerns.
Each religion needed to clearly define its stance.
They would debate day and night, but a satisfactory answer was unlikely to emerge.
After all, even though they were called representatives, they didn’t truly represent their religions.
The Christian and Islamic delegations, aware of this, took turns coming to me for guidance.
“Prophet, please guide us. What path should we take in this council?”
“Return to the essence. What was the core value Christ emphasized? Love.”
“Indeed. Christianity is a religion of love.”
“Love your neighbor as yourself. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. These are Christ’s teachings. Reflecting on how well we’ve adhered to these will naturally lead to the answer.”
“Then, would you consider participating directly, as you did before…?”
“That won’t do. I am here as a representative of all religions participating. If I intervene, it could be criticized as a biased conclusion.”
Given my current standing, why would I engage in heated debates on the front lines?
If I were to join the discussions, the other participants would simply nod along, and that would be the end of it.
It would turn into a one-sided proclamation under the guise of a council, lacking impact and effectiveness.
The process must demonstrate unity under my guidance.
If necessary, I will intervene, but only as a last resort.
Those who come to me whining will eventually follow the prevailing trend, so there’s no need to worry.
The key was to have a conversation with the Pope, and fortunately, he seemed to have grasped the situation as soon as he arrived.
He met with a few kings and then hurried to Jerusalem, requesting a meeting, which was proof enough.
In matters like these, Philip II is quite helpful.
He quickly understands my intentions without making me spell them out.
“Prophet, congratulations. I should have greeted you first, but I apologize for the delay. Ha ha ha.”
“Traveling all the way from Rome is no small feat. I understand completely. Even though you’re still young, you must take care of your health. You have much to accomplish with me, and you can’t afford to fall ill.”
At my subtle hint, Pope Peter II’s face brightened immediately.
If he couldn’t see reality and acted rashly, I would have to dismiss him, but Peter II was a wise man.
Without me, he would focus on strengthening papal authority, but he wasn’t foolish enough to charge at an insurmountable wall.
In terms of disposition, he was similar to Philip II.
“Thank you for your concern about my health. Speaking of which, our scholars, representing us, deeply resonate with your teachings.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“In that case, why not gather them all for a discussion? There might be misunderstandings they have.”
“Some have already approached me individually. It might not be a bad idea to hear their thoughts collectively, as you suggest.”
“Indeed, indeed.”
With the issue resolved, Peter II was eager to show his willingness to cooperate.
I wasn’t lying when I said I intended to work with him.
Even if Christianity and Islam reconcile, they can’t completely merge into one.
In Europe, Christianity will remain the social order, and in the Middle East, Islam will. The Pope and the Caliph must continue to fulfill their roles.
Of course, they can’t push through absurd actions under the guise of divine representation as they did before.
“Prophet, even if our discussions are settled, is Islam alright?”
“There are no issues there. In fact, they’re more likely to elevate me to a divine status, which is a concern.”
Strictly speaking, my position in Christianity and Islam is slightly different.
Christianity has Christ as an absolute figure, but Islam does not.
Muhammad exists, but he is the last prophet, not a deity.
However, because he is not divine, there is room for another to rise to a similar status.
That would be me.
“In Islam, to exaggerate a bit, if I, who is considered on par with Muhammad, speak, it becomes law and truth. Preparations are well underway, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Indeed, with Saladin seemingly entirely on your side… But while that’s the case with the Ayyubids, isn’t the Maghreb a different story? The Almohad Caliphate claims the title of Caliph, so they might not be keen on coming under your order.”
“I’ve considered that possibility. I was planning to meet with them after seeing you. Shall I share my impressions afterward?”
“Ha ha ha. As expected, you have everything planned, Prophet.”
I doubt there would be anyone foolish enough not to read the situation, but even if there is, it doesn’t matter.
I’ll simply guide them to understand their place.
The proud Almohad Caliphate’s fourth Caliph.
Muhammad an-Nasir, who succeeded the third Caliph, Yaqub al-Mansur, at the young age of seventeen, was an ambitious young man.
Though he had only been Caliph for a few years, he was already pursuing many initiatives with vigor.
He was in the process of subduing the remnants of the Almoravids, who had been a constant thorn in the empire’s side, and he wasn’t easing up on the Christian states that were causing trouble with their Reconquista.
The tumultuous region of Tunisia had recently been conquered, bringing peace to North Africa at last.
Though there was noise from the east about the return of Attila, it seemed unlikely that such chaos would reach the Maghreb.
In many ways, the only threat to the Almohads now were the Christian states of Iberia, and the young Caliph had no intention of letting that stand.
Defense alone was insufficient.
He planned to send a large expeditionary force to seize more Christian lands and show who the true rulers of the Iberian Peninsula were.
But just as the Caliph was gathering his forces, something unexpected happened.
It was the most absurd and ridiculous thing he had ever heard.
Who was allying with whom?
Yet, unbelievably, this seemingly impossible event was happening.
The two religions had joined forces to drive out the Mongols and, as if forgetting their centuries of conflict, were suddenly fostering a spirit of reconciliation.
This put the grand Andalusian expedition plan in jeopardy.
An-Nasir believed that as the great Caliph, he had no need to heed such words.
However.
“Your Highness! The words of the Apostle Marshall are as if spoken by God!”
“Disobeying his words will bring great calamity!”
“The expedition is absolutely impossible!”
The imams and emirs, who had been singing about crushing the Christians, seemed to have collectively lost their minds.
“Not long ago, you were all for welcoming him with open arms.”
“That was before the Apostle told us not to fight the Christians.”
“Isn’t the Caliph of this land me, not Marshall?”
“Of course. But as long as you claim the title of Caliph, you are obliged to follow the Apostle’s words.”
The Almohad Caliphate originally used the title of Caliph because its origins were in a religious organization.
Frankly, in the Islamic world, without borrowing religious authority, establishing a stable power structure is impossible.
Whether it’s a Caliph or a Sultan, legitimacy must be secured through titles.
“Well… this Marshall has never even set foot in my lands, so why should we heed his words?”
“Because the Apostle can hear the words of God. Wasn’t it proven again with the eradication of smallpox?”
“The eradication of smallpox… We should learn how to do that ourselves.”
“Moreover, not just us, but even the Shia are absolutely obedient to the Apostle’s words. Ignoring the words of the Apostle, the Imam of a united Islam, could mean isolation from the Islamic community.”
The Caliph was thoroughly annoyed by his subordinates’ anxious fuss.
Logically, how could they prioritize the words of someone they’ve never met over their own leader standing right in front of them?
Of course, I understood that this Marshal was considered on par with the Prophet Muhammad.
But that didn’t mean he could meddle in our affairs as he pleased.
“Tsk. Fine, I’ll go see him myself… or rather, meet with him personally. I’ve already been asked to send a representative to Jerusalem or to come in person.”
“A wise decision, Your Holiness!”
“Your Holiness! May I accompany you? I wish to pay my respects to the Prophet…”
“Please, let me come too! I must also pay my respects!”
“Me too! Please, let me join you!”
And so, through this almost comical process, the Almohad Caliphate assembled one of the largest delegations imaginable and set off for Jerusalem.
A letter arrived, thanking them for their cooperation in the name of the Prophet Marshal, and the imams and amirs were all smiles.
But to the young caliph, even this felt like an insult.
“Alright, let’s see just how impressive this person is, to summon me like this.”
Unable to fully temper the fiery spirit of his early twenties, the young caliph of the Almohad dynasty clicked his tongue softly and left the capital.
His steps toward the holy city were confident and unyielding.
At least for now.