Episode 234
“Yes, we did it! It’s a success!”
While Philip II and Ferdinand III manipulated the other kings to their will, chaos reigned in the Maghreb region as Ayyubid forces poured in.
Upon hearing the news, the Imams of the Almohads erupted in cheers, though their reasons varied.
Some were devout believers, convinced that the fall of the Almohads was just. Others were cautious leaders, skeptical of the current Caliph’s political acumen. And then there were the ambitious ones, eager to leverage Ayyubid power to expand their own influence.
Despite their differing motives, they all shared one certainty: they could no longer trust the current Caliph. It was better to align with the Sultan of the Ayyubids.
Entrusted with full authority by Saladin, Al-Adil traversed North Africa unopposed. The Almohads, however, did not sit idly by. They protested vehemently, declaring the Ayyubid military intervention a blatant act of aggression that violated the Second Council of Jerusalem. They threatened a storm of wrath if the Ayyubids did not withdraw, but their threats were utterly ineffective.
Al-Adil, under the pretense of protecting the Maghreb’s religious community, easily crushed the Almohad forces sent to oppose him. Most of the Almohad soldiers, already doubtful of their Caliph’s leadership, either feigned resistance before surrendering or fled without a fight.
The more troops the Caliph sent, the weaker the Almohads became, while the Ayyubid numbers swelled.
“The Caliph of the Almohads, An-Nasir, not only massacres innocent believers but also commits the grave sin of denying the words of the great Prophet Marshall. Thus, the Amirs have united in declaring they will not recognize him as Caliph. I, Al-Adil, under the command of the great Sultan Saladin, will uphold their courageous decision.”
This was practically a declaration of war. Al-Adil continued his relentless advance westward, and the local fortresses, instead of resisting, welcomed the invading forces with open arms.
The locals, long anxious over the Caliph’s growing madness, feared divine retribution might befall them. They desperately wished for the Caliph’s swift removal. The very necessity of a Caliph was in question, but any dissent was met with threats of execution. How could the country function properly under such conditions?
“What happens to us now?”
“Are we going to be absorbed by the Ayyubids?”
“Al-Adil promised to maintain the local Amirs’ rights at the same level as now, so does it really matter?”
Technically, they were being invaded by a foreign army, but no one seemed to care. Why should they, if the local power structures remained intact and they suffered no real loss?
Some doubted whether this arrangement could last. Wouldn’t Saladin’s loyalists from Egypt flood in once the Ayyubids took over?
“Politicians are notorious for changing their minds once they’re in power. Aren’t we risking everything by trusting them blindly?”
“Exactly. If I were the Sultan of the Ayyubids, I’d want to exploit the Maghreb for my own gain.”
“If they take over, it means our benefits will diminish. It’s not like money falls from the sky.”
Those still loyal to the Caliph weren’t driven by devotion but by fear of losing their vast interests if Saladin took control. Yet as the situation grew increasingly dire, even their unity began to fracture.
“Maybe if I betray him, I can save myself?”
“Send a messenger to Al-Adil. Ask if they’ll guarantee my safety if I switch sides.”
“Or perhaps if I help capture the Caliph, I could secure a high position with the Ayyubids?”
“Wait, are you a genius?”
Initially, no one believed the Ayyubids could swallow the vast Almohad territories. They thought the Ayyubids would tire and withdraw, but local sentiment was overwhelmingly in Saladin’s favor. It was as if the Ayyubids were conducting operations from within, not as invaders. Realizing the tide had turned, some began to consider withdrawing.
Losing some interests was better than losing everything and dying. If only the Caliph were sane, things might be different, but he was far from it.
“Your Highness! The local support for the Ayyubids is too strong. We can’t stop them. Perhaps we should negotiate?”
“Negotiate? What negotiation! They’ll just dethrone me, and you want me to die so you can live?”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
“There will be no negotiations! I am the Caliph of this land, and it is mine. How dare these upstarts covet my territory!”
This was hopeless.
“But our forces can’t hold them off. Our morale is plummeting while their numbers grow…”
“Is that so? Then it means the longer we wait, the greater the disparity in strength?”
“Yes.”
For a moment, hope flickered in the eyes of the Caliph’s remaining loyalists. Perhaps there was still a chance for negotiation…
“Then we must strike before it’s too late. Prepare for an all-out war.”
“Oh no…”
Despair replaced the fleeting hope in their eyes. An all-out war now?
“Your Highness! That’s not wise. Gathering our forces for a decisive battle will only increase defections.”
“Exactly. We should at least pretend to negotiate to show we’re willing to resolve this peacefully.”
“Silence! Do you think I don’t know what you’re plotting? You think you can switch sides and keep your positions if things go south. But if I retreat any further, there’s nothing but a cliff behind me!”
His grasp of reality wasn’t wrong, but he needed to offer incentives to rally support. Too late, they realized the Caliph had lost all reason. Though he could still speak and listen, his judgment was beyond repair.
Had he negotiated, things might have turned out differently. But his stubbornness and hatred sealed the fate of the Almohads.
Paris, France.
Philip II’s office.
The first day of the conference went exactly as Philip II had planned. The Iberian nations turned their focus away from France and began squabbling over who should claim more land. This alone marked a victory for Philip II, but he continued to scrutinize the letters arriving from all over with a serious expression.
“It feels like there’s more work piling up.”
“Can’t you just delegate some of it?”
“There are many matters I must oversee personally. The Prophet is here because he knows what’s at stake.”
“Indeed. It’s an intriguing spectacle for me, and I might need to mediate.”
Philip II’s interest had shifted away from the Iberian Peninsula. Like a toy that loses its appeal once all its features have been explored, the other kings, except Ferdinand III, seemed to him like mere playthings.
The fact that the conference wasn’t over yet was shocking, but it also meant Philip II had achieved all his goals. His attention was now focused further south, on how the Maghreb region in North Africa would be restructured.
This was also my primary interest, so I continued to share the latest information with Philip II.
“What news do you have? The last I heard, Al-Adil, the Sultan’s brother, was advancing across the border.”
“Similar here. Local sentiment seems to favor the Ayyubids, which is quite interesting.”
“I expected as much. The Caliph’s rejection of the Prophet was a grave mistake. It’s bafflingly foolish.”
“Many people, even if holding mere dust, refuse to let go. Surprisingly, there are quite a few like that.”
An-Nasir could have maintained his regime despite his blunders at the Council of Jerusalem. All he had to do was swallow his pride and grovel, even if it meant licking my boots. If he had abolished the title of Caliph and accepted a new one from me, no one could have criticized him.
If it were Philip II or Saladin, they would have handled it differently.
Or perhaps it’s pointless to speculate, since they wouldn’t have let things get to this point in the first place.
“If things continue as they are, Al-Adil should reach the vicinity of the Almohad capital without much trouble. But the real question is what happens next… Surely, the Prophet knows how the future will unfold?”
“Praying might bring an answer, but using my abilities for personal curiosity doesn’t seem right. Of course, if the situation demands it, I would do so willingly, but I wouldn’t share it with others.”
“That makes sense.”
“But even without my input, I imagine His Majesty Philip II can predict how things will play out?”
Saladin is surely planning to seize this opportunity to swallow up the Maghreb.
There’s no way Philip II wouldn’t see through Saladin’s intentions.
Yet, surprisingly, he shook his head, looking uncertain.
“I can predict the Ayyubid response well enough. But, how should I put it… the Almohads are harder for me to gauge.”
“Ah, I see.”
“When someone is moderately clever or moderately foolish, you can anticipate their actions or mindset to some extent. But when someone like Al-Nasir is cornered and half-crazed, any choice they make seems plausible. Whether they surrender everything, struggle pathetically to the end, or are betrayed by their own men and lose their life—any scenario seems possible. So, we need to prepare for every conceivable outcome.”
No wonder he’s been drafting more documents than necessary; he must have his reasons.
Even Philip II, who manipulated the kings of the Iberian Peninsula like pawns, found it refreshing that he couldn’t predict the erratic actions of a mad ruler.
But was it just his imagination?
Somehow, that made it all the more intriguing.