Episode 201
Arriving in Jerusalem, Al-Nasir couldn’t shake off his sour mood.
It wasn’t that he was treated poorly.
On the contrary, people greeted him, the Caliph of the Muwahhidun, with enthusiasm and ensured his comfort.
He toured the sacred city of Jerusalem, significant to Islam, and conversed with influential figures from the Ayyubid dynasty.
Even the Christian kings he met were surprisingly courteous and easy to communicate with.
But the most astonishing were the Shia Imams.
Within the Sunni Muwahhidun dynasty, many harbored more animosity towards the Shia than towards Christians.
Considering the Muwahhidun were in conflict with Christian states over the Iberian Peninsula, the depth of their hatred for the Shia was understandable.
And the Shia felt the same way.
They despised the Sunni, perhaps even more than the Christians.
This was why Al-Nasir had scoffed when he heard that both Shia and Sunni had accepted Marshal.
“Those stubborn fools accepting someone just because of a few words?”
If the rift between them was so shallow, they wouldn’t have become such bitter enemies.
Yet, upon arriving in Jerusalem, Al-Nasir felt as if all his preconceived notions were being challenged.
“You must have had a long journey. Thank you for coming.”
“We hope to foster a strong bond as a united Islam.”
The Shia representatives approached him first, extending a hand of reconciliation.
Could they really change their stance so easily?
After a brief conversation, the reason became clear.
“A new prophet has come. What meaning do the doctrinal differences that once divided us hold now? We’ve all been fighting meaningless battles. Perhaps that’s why the prophet has come.”
They proposed to cast aside old grudges and move forward.
While their words were compelling and not disadvantageous to the Muwahhidun, this was precisely what irked Al-Nasir.
Christians, the Ayyubids, and even the Shia were all captivated by Edward Marshal.
As a young Caliph in his early twenties, newly ascended to power, this didn’t sit well with him.
And soon after, someone he could have a deep conversation with sought him out.
Sultan Saladin of the Ayyubids.
As a leader of a neighboring state, Al-Nasir couldn’t ignore his presence.
Of course, given their nearly fifty-year age difference, Saladin wasn’t exactly a rival.
They weren’t on bad terms, so perhaps Saladin was more of a goal to surpass someday.
In any case, Al-Nasir believed that the wise Sultan could provide answers to his questions.
Having exchanged greetings at an official event recently, they skipped the formalities and got straight to the point.
“Your Majesty, I’ve heard you’re close to the prophet Edward Marshal. Do you often converse with him?”
“Indeed. Though it’s not something to boast about, I might be the first among Sunni believers to have formed a close relationship with him.”
Though he claimed it wasn’t a boast, pride was evident in his voice.
Even the wise Sultan seemed deeply enamored with Marshal.
“I haven’t met the prophet in person, so I’ve been curious.”
“Everyone feels that way at first. But once you meet him, you’ll understand.”
“Is he truly that remarkable?”
“I’m not sure what you’re asking, but whatever you imagine, he’s likely beyond that.”
“So, are his achievements truly without exaggeration? I mean, did he accomplish everything on his own?”
Al-Nasir quickly added the last part, fearing it might be seen as disrespectful, but Saladin merely chuckled.
“Most find it hard to believe. But there are so many witnesses and evidence that you’ll find answers easily.”
Judging by Saladin’s response, he too was thoroughly captivated by Marshal.
If this continued, the council would inevitably conclude with the outcome Marshal desired. What was the point?
Perhaps due to his youthful vigor, Al-Nasir couldn’t help but feel irked when others praised Marshal so highly.
If things continued this way, the Muwahhidun wouldn’t even be able to execute their grand expedition plans.
Al-Nasir had no intention of accepting such interference.
He would make this clear at the upcoming official event.
No matter what they called him, the Caliph of the Muwahhidun was him, and his will should govern the nation.
“I’ll run my country as I see fit. What can he do about it?”
Having never been under anyone’s thumb, Al-Nasir couldn’t yet fathom the power a united Islamic prophet could wield.
A week before the Jerusalem Council.
A preliminary meeting for coordination and discussion.
As he glanced around at the attendees, he couldn’t help but be amazed.
Look at this list. Is this for real?
Present were Richard, Philip II, and Henry VI, as well as the newly crowned King Afonso II of Portugal.
Also in attendance were King Alfonso VIII of Castile and King Peter II of Aragon.
With Sultans and Caliphs from the Islamic side, it was truly a gathering of stars.
Such an assembly of kings in the medieval era was unprecedented and likely never to be repeated.
“I didn’t expect so many of you to attend in person. Thank you. I didn’t anticipate everyone would come without sending representatives.”
Technically, the Byzantine Emperor sent a representative, but since the representative was present, it was as if he attended himself.
“The prophet’s remarkable achievements have deeply moved all of us in the Christian states. We had to come. We apologize if our presence delayed the council.”
King Alfonso VIII of Castile bowed respectfully, and the other Iberian kings chimed in.
“We agree.”
“We came as quickly as we could, but the distance to Jerusalem is considerable. We apologize for not arriving sooner.”
Despite their words, their true intentions were clear.
If Christianity and Islam achieved lasting peace, who would be most concerned?
The Byzantine Empire, sharing a border with the Ayyubids, harbored no ill will.
Neither side wished to expand their territory further, so they were content as they were.
But the Iberian Peninsula was a different story.
The Muwahhidun wanted to solidify their hold on the peninsula, while the Christian states aimed to complete the Reconquista.
In such a situation, being told to stop fighting would leave both sides bewildered.
At least the Christian kings were polite in asking for direction. The Muwahhidun Caliph, on the other hand, was openly displaying his discontent.
It was almost laughable.
If left unchecked, the Muwahhidun’s grand expedition would end in disaster, and his position would plummet, as history had shown.
“God sees the hearts of all present here.”
I left them with a cryptic remark and turned to Al-Nasir, who seemed determined to prove one could eat dirt with their face.
“Thank you for coming, Your Holiness. With so many engagements, this is our first meeting.”
“I couldn’t ignore a matter that could directly influence my country’s policies. It’s an honor to meet you.”
The Caliph’s words, practically shouting, “Aren’t you interfering in my affairs?” caused the faces of those around to stiffen.
Perhaps due to his youth, he didn’t yet understand how to maneuver for advantage in such settings.
Having ascended to the position of Caliph at a young age, he likely felt as if he owned the world.
Al-Nasir’s eyes, unguarded, seemed to ask, “Who do you think you are?”
I wasn’t offended.
In fact, after dealing with someone like Philip II, who had the cunning of a hundred snakes, encountering someone so straightforward was refreshing.
After all, I’ve been navigating the political minefield for over a decade.
Facing a newcomer, just stepping into the harsh realities of the world, was almost appetizing.
“If you follow the righteous path, there will be no influence on your affairs.”
“That sounds like you’re saying if I don’t, there will be.”
“Regrettably, isn’t that inevitable? To give an extreme example, if you declared the Quran a fraud and said there’s no need to follow it, wouldn’t there be backlash?”
“Well… I’m not saying I’d go that far. But honestly, it’s unsettling to have a meeting that could unilaterally decide national affairs.”
The sarcastic tone was unmistakable, and it was the people standing behind the caliph, the followers of the Muwahhidun, who began to fidget nervously.
“Y-Your Eminence! Please, choose your words carefully…”
“What if the Prophet gets angry with us?”
Even though they whispered, there was no way I couldn’t hear them.
Seeing the amirs and imams he had brought with him cower, Al-Nasir clicked his tongue in annoyance and looked me straight in the eye.
“Look at this. Sometimes I wonder if I’m the leader of the Muwahhidun or if the Prophet is. Do you think the same? Was it just my delusion that I’m the leader here?”
“Of course not. You are the rightful ruler of the dynasty, Your Eminence. And I have no authority or right to force you to do anything you dislike.”
He probably wanted to make that point clear.
It would have been strange if there wasn’t at least one king who reacted this way.
In a way, I’m grateful. If he knew how much his antics here would ultimately make me stand out, he might have chosen a different approach.
“Your Eminence, you must think this council is a hindrance to your grand expedition plans, don’t you?”
“E-Expedition? What are you talking about…?”
By now, the plan should have been underway, but unlike the original history, the schedule had been delayed.
Caught off guard by the revelation of his secret plans, Al-Nasir looked around in a panic.
Naturally, the kings of the Iberian Peninsula, hearing this for the first time, quickly hardened their expressions and asked,
“An expedition? Are you saying the Muwahhidun were planning to defy the Prophet’s teachings and attack us?”
“How could such blasphemous thoughts arise in a place gathered for peace?”
“No, no. It’s not that we’re planning an expedition. It was just a discussion that was ultimately canceled…”
“Your Eminence.”
If he was going to be this flustered, why did he even bother to oppose me?
Well, that’s why he foolishly aired his grievances in such a public setting.
“As I mentioned earlier, I have neither the power nor the authority to compel you, Your Eminence. So do as you wish. If you don’t want to attend the council, you’re free to leave. But since you’ve come all this way, I’ll see you off on your journey back.”
“No, who said anything about leaving… You seem to think that by pressuring me like this, I’ll be flustered.”
Before Al-Nasir, visibly agitated, could continue, Philip II, who had been listening idly, suddenly interjected.
“Prophet, does this mean the Caliph of the Muwahhidun is now excommunicated? I don’t know much about Islam, but you have excommunication here too, right?”
A bombshell disguised as an innocent question.
Al-Nasir’s face turned ashen as he realized the gravity of the situation he was now in.