TOTAL WAR WIKI

Game: Medieval II: Total War

Culture: Middle-Eastern

Religion: Islam

Campaign

Starting position

Regions

Iconium - Large town (Capital)
Caesarea - Castle
Mosul - Wooden castle
Yerevan - Town

Purse

8000

Introduction

The Turks may very much be relative newcomers to both Anatolia and the Holy Lands, but the impact that they have had upon these realms since they migrated from the steppes east of the Caspian has been profound enough to shake the pillars of the oldest and mightiest neighbouring dynasties. Having seized control of the Abbasid Caliphate from the Buyids, and utterly crushed the Byzantines at Manzikert, the Turks have restored unity to the eastern Islamic region, making them arguably the greatest power Arabia or Persia has seen for centuries.

Settling down has been the Turks' secret to asserting their dominion. Traditionally a nomadic people, they have at last adopted a system of centralised rule to form the Seljuk Empire. Considering they have relied upon their natural skill at mounted combat and guerrilla warfare for centuries, the Turks have already shown incredible talent at governing a vast empire from a single throne.

In the foreseeable future, arrogance and complacency are likely to be the biggest threats to the mighty Seljuk Empire. To expect Byzantium to underestimate Turkish forces after the slaughter of Manzikert would be folly, and it can be taken as given that they will attempt to regain control of Anatolia. It would also be foolish to believe that the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt will be content to simply overlook the fertile banks of the Nile - They are just as well placed to seize control of all of the Holy Lands.

So long as the Turks manage to combine their new system of centralised government with their innate abilities as mounted warriors, then their position in this corner of the world looks most secure. After all, how likely is it that an even more fierce and formidable race of nomadic warriors sweep down from the steppes?

Strengths

Janissary Heavy Infantry

Outstanding mounted archers and Janissary troops.

Weaknesses

Lacking in heavy armour and early period infantry.

Campaign rules

Long

Hold 45 regions, including: Constantinople Region, Jerusalem Region

Short

Hold 15 regions. Eliminate factions: The Byzantine Empire