Creeperian Crusade

Creeperian Crusade
Part of the Creeperian-Deltinian Wars and the Creeperian Wars of Religion
Taking of Almadinat Almuqadasa by the Crusaders
Date 8 February 1231 – 25 December 1345 (114 years, 10 months, 2 weeks and 3 days) Location Southern Landmass Result Creeperian victory Establishment of the Kingdom of Creeperopolis Destruction of the Caliphate of Deltino and its rump state successor states Spread of the Creeperian Catholic Church Decline of Deltinian Islam
Belligerents
Catholics Creeperopolis Castilliano (from 1254) State of the Church (from 1258)	Muslims Deltino (until 1326) Abdan (from 1326) Helam (from 1326) Jakiz (from 1326)
Commanders and leaders
Creeperopolis Alfonso I Alfonso II Salvador I Manuel I Miguel I State of the Church Gregorio IX Celestino IV Innocento IV Alexander IV Urbano IV Clemento IV Gergorio X Innocento V Adrian V Juan XXI Nicolás III Martín IV Honorio IV Nicolás IV Celestine V Bonifaco VIII Benedicto XI Clemento V Juan XII Benedicto XII Clemento VI Castilliano Sancho II Óscar I Sancho III Sancho IV José II Óscar II	Deltino Suleiman III Selim IV Osman I Selim V Selim VI Abdan Orhan I Orhan II Helam Mehmed I Jakiz Ohmad I
Strength
Creeperans: ~3,500,000 Castillianans: ~1,300,000 Papacy: 100,000	Deltinians: ~4,000,000 Abdaners: 300,000-500,000 Helamans: 250,000-300,000 Jakizians: 250,000-300,000
Casualties and losses
Creeperans: High Castillianans: Moderate Papacy: Low	Deltinians: High Abdaners: Moderate Helamans: Moderate Jakizians: Very High

The Creeperian Crusade (Creeperian Spanish: Cruzada Creeperiano, Arabic: الحملة الصليبية الزاحفة, transliterated as alhamlat alsalibiat alzzahifa) was a series of various military campaigns and religious wars initiated by the ethnic Creeperans of the Emirate of Rabadsun against the Caliphate of Deltino. The initial objective of the crusade was to secure the independence of the Kingdom of Creeperopolis and recapture all territory claimed to he "historic Creeperian land" that was controlled by the Old Kingdom of Creeperopolis (537AD–745AD) and the Creeperian Confederation (220BC–537AD).

The crusade began on 8 February 1231 when Alfawnasu III, the then-reigning Emir of the Emirate of Rabadsun, declared independence for the ethnic Creeperans living there after the decision made during the Second Council of Rabadsun. He proclaimed himself King of the Creeperans of the Kingdom of Creeperopolis. The declaration was made in response to the One-Religion Decree established by Suleiman III, the Caliph of the Caliphate of Deltino, on 31 January 1231. The decree outlawed the practicing of any religion that was not Deltinian Islam, effectively creating a theocracy with no religious freedom. The decree, therefore, outlawed the practicing of Creeperian Catholicism, the religion of the Creeperian people. The Creeperans had until 9 February to renounce their faith. Alfawnasu III, with the approval of Pope Jiryjuriun IX, decalred independence and called for a crusade against the Deltinian Muslims to secure freedom for the Creeperans.

Instead of reverting to the Old Creeperian language, the Creeperans adopted the Spanish language and de-Arabized their kingdom. Rabadsun was renamed to Creeperopólis, meaning "City of the Creeperans." Alfawnasu III changed his name to Alfonso I and Jiryjuriun IX changed his name to Gregorio IX, with all Creeperans following suit and solidifying the Creeperian naming customs. Suleiman III did not accept the declaration and war began. Instead of one war, the crusade was a series of wars fought between Creeperopolis and Deltino. The crusade came to an end under the reign of Miguel I. His reign witnessed both the collapse of the Caliphate in 1326 and the fall of Deltino's three rump successor states: the Emirates of Abdan, Helam, and Jakiz, in 1345.

The crusade occurred across the Southern Landmass for a period of 115 years between the establishment of Creeperopolis in 1231 and the fall of the Shata' Albahr in 1345. The collapse of Deltino and its successor rump states allowed Creeperopolis to become the dominant nation on the landmass. The crusade marked the end of Islamic dominance on the landmass and began the ongoing period of Catholic dominance. The crusade is often used in Creeperopolis to promote Islamophobia and anti-Deltinian sentiment.

Background

Early Creeperian-Deltinian relations

The Old Kingdom of Creeperopolis was established in 537AD by Felipe I of the Amacha Tribe, later the House of Amara, following victory in the War of Creeperian Unification that ended the Creeperian Confederation (220BC–537AD). The Creeperans were pagans until 540AD when Vigilio I, the Pope of the Catholic Church, arrived in Creeperopolis and converted the population to Catholicism. The Church subsequently became known as the Creeperian Catholic Church due to its heavy association with Creeperopolis. As a result of the conversion of the Creeperian population, many sites associated with the old Creeperian Pagan gods were destroyed by Felipe I as a part of the Bull of Yerkink that mandated such. Thousands were killed for refusing to convert. As a result of the Bull of Yerkink, the former capital city of the Creeperian Confederation, Xichūtepa, was destroyed and abandoned.

For over 200 years, the Creeperans existed on the Southern Landmass without very much contact with the outside world. However, in 734AD, the Kharzamite of Deltino was forced to flee from Ecros to the Southern Landmass as a result of their defeat in the Deltinian Wars of the Nihil. The Deltinians under Selim I, the Caliph of the Deltinians, established the Caliphate of Deltino north of Creeperopolis. The Creeperans and Deltinians first came into contact in 744AD which resulted in a Deltinian invastion of Creeperopolis. Under Caliph Adbul I, the Deltinians conquered the Creeperian kingdom under King Fidel II in 745AD. The Deltinians established the Emirate of Rabadsun as a client state ruled through Rudulifu I, the younger brother of Fidel II.

Deltinian rule through Rabadsun

The Deltinians ruled Rabadsun through the House of Amara through the lineage of Rudulifu I. In 1120, Rabadsun came under the rule of Emiress for the first time after the death of Filibi II and Khusih. Emiress Mariaan I was heavily opposed by the Deltinian Caliph, Abbas I. Abbas I sought to depose Mariaan I and so he gave her an ultimatum: marry and renounce her claim to the throne or be forcibly deposed. She relented and married Alfawnasu Rudulifu Martiniz Santus, a Rabadsuni nobleman. He ascended to the throne and became Alfawnasu I, establishing the House of Martínez.

Alfawnasu I was succeeded by his son, Alfawnasu II, and his son, Rudulifu IV. Alfawnasu III became Emir following the death of Rudulifu IV on 8 March 1230. Then, on 13 January 1231, Caliph Suleiman II died and was succeeded by his son, Suleiman III. On 31 January 1231, Suleiman III sought to unite his entire domain under Deltinian Islam and proclaimed the One-Religion Decree. The decree outlawed the practicing of any religion that was not Deltinian Islam, effectively creating a theocracy with no religious freedom. The decree, therefore, outlawed the practicing of Creeperian Catholicism, the religion of the Creeperian people. Suleiman III gave the Creeperans until 9 February to renounce their faith or face serious repercussions for defying the order of the Caliph.

Suleiman III cited the reasoning for the decree was that he had a dream where Muhammad instructed him that bringing the Creeperans to convert to Islam would please Allah and that He would reward him greatly. Islamic scholars have since contested Suleiman III's claim, with some scholars believing that the entire story was a fabrication, while others believe that the story had some creedance to it but that Muhammad wished for a peaceful conversion, instead of the violent war that would emerge as a result of the decree.

Progression of war

Catholic revolt

Further information: Creeperian War of Independence

The Second Council of Rabadsun of 4–7 February 1231.

Alfawnasu III was deeply concerned about his position as Emir since he did not wish to convert, as did the Pope, Jiryjuriun IX, who would have his position entirely abolished. Suleiman III informed Jiryjuriun IX that he could be instated as the chief religious official of Rabadsun as compensation for his loss of position, but he did not wish to convert either.

Jiryjuriun IX convened the Second Council of Rabadsun, a meeting of the Creeperian Catholic Church's top officials, wealthy nobles, and royalty. The One Religion Decree and the Church's reaction to it was the top priority of the council. The council was spoken in Old Creeperian as to not allow the Deltinians to understand what they were saying since the Deltinians spoke only Arabic and Deltinian Spanish. The Creeperans did not risk speaking in Creeperian Spanish since there were still many similarities with Deltinian Spanish. The council convened from 4 to 7 February 1231. Church and government officials came to an agreement: the Creeperans will not convert and the Creeperans will fight to continue worshipping God how they want to. Alfawnasu III informed every one of his army officials that a rebellion was necessary, and his officials informed the soldiers. The soldiers and officers unanimously sided with the Emir and the Pope and the uprising was set for 8 February.

On 8 February 1231, Jiryjuriun IX announced to the people of Rabadsun that the Creeperans will not submit to the One Religion Decree and will revolt to worship God how the Creeperans have always worshipped God. He declared that Rabadsun would de-Arabize and he changed his name to Gregorio IX. The common people spoke Creeperian Spanish but their names followed Arabic customs. The De-Arabization was the process of renaming all Arabic names to Creeperian Spanish names which established the Creeperian naming customs. Alfawnasu III declared himself Alfonso I and proclaimed the independence of the Kingdom of Creeperopolis, meaning "city of the Creeperans," taking the name of the Old Kingdom of Creeperopolis and officially abandoning the name Rabadsun.

The Creeperian Army and Creeperian Navy were established from the Rabadsuni Army and Rabadsuni Navy. The Army, numbering 30,000 men, successfully revolted and defeated the local Deltinian Army garrison of 2,000 men. The Creeperian victory began the Creeperian War of Independence and the first phase of the Creeperian Crusade. Alfonso I decreed the changing of the name of the city, Rabadsun, to Salvador (Creeperian Spanish for "Savior"), in reference to Jesús, the Savior of the world. During the battle, captured Deltinians were given the option to convert to earn their freedom or remain Muslim but remain imprisoned, as the Creeperans initially believed in a mostly peaceful separation from Deltino.

On 15 March 1231, the Deltinians attacked Salvador for a second time, but again the Deltinian forces were defeated in battle. On 4 April 1231, Deltinian soldiers entered the city of Alqarya and massacred 100–200 Creeperian Catholic laymen and clergy after failing to convert. They were hanged, beheaded, crucified, or burned alive. The Martyrs of Alqarya caused outrage within the Church and the royalty. In anger, Alfonso I ordered the immediate execution of all Deltinian prisoners resulting in 89 executions via crucifixion on 18 April 1231. He established the Creeperian Inquisition, officially known as the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition, to "cleanse" his domain of Deltinian Islam.

Creeperian forces pushed west and established an encampment outside the city of Edfu. On 19 October 1232, Deltinian forces launched an attack against the Creeperans, but the Deltinians were routed and the city surrendered. The fall of Edfu marked the end of the Creeperian War of Independence and solidified the existence of the Creeperian kingdom.

Catholic expansionism

Further information: People's Crusade, Monarch's Crusade, Emmanuel's War, and Alfonso's War

A depiction of Pedro Herrador Cestalles leading the People's Crusade.

Following the Creeperian success at Edfu, Alfonso I called for the people of Salvador to join him on a campaign to expand the kingdom. The call for furthing the fight against the Deltinians was supported by the Creeperans and many volunteered to join the renewed Crusade. The Crusader forces would need time to train, prepare, and equip before going on campaign, however, while many civilians wanted to go fight immediately. Pedro Herrador Cestalles, a Creeperian Catholic priest, spoke in Salvador and rallied many to follow him on a Crusade east to capture Al Madiq, a Deltinian trading outpost west of Creeperopolis. Alfosno I stated his condemnation for the Crusade, but around 7,000 peasants ignored the King's condemnation and followed Herrador Cestalles west in late January 1233.

Along the path to Al Madiq, the peasant army looted and plundered settlements for supplies and wealth. Around 1,000 people were massacred during the peasants' march west, mainly civilian Muslims. Upon reaching the outskirts of Al Madiq, Herrador Cestalles' army set up camp for the camp and prepared for battle the following day. On day break on 3 March 1233, Deltinian horsemen, infantry, and archers caught the encamped peasants by surprise. In the ensuing battle, the peasants were cut down by the Deltinians under Fawz al-Sharif. The entire army, including Herrador Cestalles, were slain resulting in a decisive Deltinian victory, ending the People's Crusade.

A depiction of Alfonso I leading the Monarch's Crusade.

Alfonso I was informed of the slaughter that occured in Al Madiq. He was concerned about a Deltinian attack against Salvador and mobilized his professional army to defend the city. After a month, no attack came and the army stood down. By mid-1235, Alfonso I believed that his army was well trained enough to begin engaging the Deltinians. The Creeperian Army was assorted into four legions, each comprising on 15,000 men: two from the already established Army and two from recruited peasants. Each legion was assigned a commander. Emmanuel Martínez Moreno, the younger brother of Alfonso I, was placed in command of the Second Legion. Miguel Fuellares Guijon, a wealthy noble from Salvador, was placed in command of the Third Legion. José Suárez Falias, another wealthy noble from Salvador, was placed in command of the Fourth Legion. Alfonso I himself commanded the First Legion and handed out orders to the four legions as a whole. He bestowed upon himself the title of Caudillo, or "leader," as the commander of the entire Army.

The army set out west in August 1235 and engaged in its first battle on 19 September 1235. The Battle of Esna ended in a swift Creeperian victory against a lightly manned garrison of the town of Esna. In November 1235, the army arrived at Al Madiq and secured the city without a battle. The city was renamed to Ciudad de Pedro in honor of the disastrous Peoples' Crusade. The inhabitants of the city were massacred as revenge for the destruction of Herrador Cestalles' army.

The Crusaders remained in Ciudad de Pedro until May 1236 when they continued moving west. The Creeperans were surprised in an attack by the Deltinians under al-Sharif near the village of Farshut on 17 July 1236. The battle ended in a Creeperian retreat back to Ciudad de Pedro and a Deltinian victory, the first waged against Alfonso I. The Deltinians later sieged Ciudad de Pedro itself from 18 September 1236 until 3 March 1237, when the Creeperans broke the siege and routed the Deltinians, but the pyrrhic victory inflicted heavy casualties among the Creeperans. The siege ended the Noble's Crusade and the Third and Fourth Legions returned to Salvador, as did Alfonso I. The First and Second Legions remained in Ciudad de Pedro under the command of Martínez Moreno and garrisoned the city until renewed forces arrived to renew the war.

In late-1238, the Third and Fourth Legions were refreshed and a Fifth Legion was formed. The three legions under Alfonso I arrived to San Santiago in February 1239 and rested to reunite with the other two legions. However, on 18 February 1239, Deltinian forces under al-Sharif attacked the Creeperans. The battle ended in a Creeperian victory, but a pyrrhic victory, and the legions had to return to Salvador to rebuild. Alfonso I knew that al-Sharif was his biggest obstacle as his Deltinian forces had been harassing the Creeperian armies effectively and halted any sort of expansion west.

Fawz al-Sharif (center left) landing the killing blow on Emmanuel Martínez Moreno (center right) during the Battle of Sohaq.

In 1241, Martínez Moreno was granted the permission of Alfonso I to begin a campaign south. He commanded three legions and was accompanied by Fuellares Guijon and Suárez Falias as his subordinate commanders. On 5 March 1241, the legions were ambushed by Deltinians commanded by al-Sharif near the village of Qena. Despite being outnumbered, the Deltinians inflicted heavy casualties and forced the Creeperans to retreat. The campaign was put on hold for three years while the army recuperated from its losses.

The army was prepared and set off for the campaign again in 1244. The army arrived at Qena again, but no Deltinians attacked. The village was captured and the 348 inhabitants were massacred on 4 April 1244. Suleiman III was informed of the massacre in Qena by scouts and he assembled an army of 50,000 soldiers and personally commanded the Deltinian Army against Martínez Moreno, with al-Sharif serving as his second-in-command. The Creeperans established a camp half a mile outside of the town of Sohaq, a strategic settlement located on a peninsula in the Bay of Salvador. On 10 May 1244, the Deltinian Army launched a surprise attack against the Creeperans around noon. The Creeperans attempted to organize themselves, but the Deltinians overwhelmed the Creeperian force of 45,000 men. Martínez Moreno was killed during the battle, with tradition stating that al-Sharif personally killed Martínez Moreno. The Creeperans were decisively defeated and 30,000 were killed with the remaining 15,000 being taken prisoner. Fuellares Guijon and Suárez Falias were also killed in battle. Martínez Moreno's body was dumped into the bay, as were the bodies of all the slain Creeperans.

Few Creeperans escaped the slaughter, and those that did reported back to Alfonso I and informed him of what happened. A month of mourning ensued across the city and a memorial service was presided over by Pope Innocento IV on 10 July 1244. In 1245, Innocento IV convened the First Council of Salvador. From 12 January to 1 February, the council discussed what the Creeperian kingdom should do next after three entire legions were destroyed. The council agreed that the Creeperans had to continue the crusade. Alfonso I rallied up support for revenge against the Deltinians and raised 4 Legions. The Creeperans under Alfonso I embarked on a campaign in late-1247.

The Sohaq Massacre of 1248.

On 9 December 1247, the Creeperans captured the town of Tahta after a brief engagement with the local garrison. The Creeperans then marched south to Sohaq and prepared to capture the city Martínez Moreno was killed attempting to capture. On 22 March 1248, the Creeperans began besieging Sohaq. The defenders had access to supplies via the bay, but the Creeperian Navy blockaded the city and prevented supplies from reaching Sohaq. On 13 May 1248, a Deltinian relief army under al-Sharif arrived to lift the siege, but after a large engagement with the Creeperans, the Deltinians withdrew and let the city fall. The city surrendered on 31 May 1248 and the inhabitants of the city were massacred. Their bodies were dumped into the bay as revenge for dumping the Creeperian bodies into the bay after the battle of 1244. On 10 May 1249, the five year anniversary of the battle, Innocento IV canonized Martínez Moreno as a saint in Sohaq and the city was renamed to San Emmanuel.

Alfonso I (center right) impaling and killing Fawz al-Sharif (center left) in the Battle of Asyut.

The Creeperans continued the campaign in January 1250 and advanced south along the coast. By mid-1253, the Creeperans captured nearly the entire coastline that Deltino had with the Bay of Salvador. The last sea access the Deltinians had to the bay was the city of Asyut. In late-November 1253, the Creeperans established a camp near Asyut and prepared to capture the city. Meanwhile, the Deltinians under al-Sharif were preparing for their own attack against the Creeperans. On 3 December 1253, Alfonso I moved against Asyut, and as the attack began, al-Sharif charged at Alfonso I's rear and left flank. Alfonso I's second-in-command, Julián Huerta Barajas, lured half of al-Sharif's army away by retreating north which allowed Alfonso I to focus on the remainder of the Deltinian army. After 2 hours of fighting, Huerta Barajas prevailed and returned and attacked al-Sharif's left flank. During the chaos of the battle, al-Sharif was killed, with tradition stating that Alfonso I personally impaled al-Sharif with his spear. The Deltinians routed and the Creeperans claimed victory. All Deltinian prisoners were executed and al-Sharif's body was burned and dumped into the bay. The city surrendered and was massacred. The city was renamed to San Carlos.

Castillianan involvement

Sancho II during the Battle of Apastenal.

In late-1252, Alfonso I sent messengers southwest to the Kingdom of Castilliano to convince the King, Sancho II, to support the Creeperans and fight the Deltinians from the west. In mid-1253, the messengers returned and informed Alfonso I that Sancho II would be willing to assist. The messengers were sent back to gain any more information from the Castillianans but the messengers were captured by the Deltinians. They were tortured until they told their capturers what their mission was. Suleiman III was informed of the plan and ordered an immediate attack against the Castillianans to delay their attacks.

In February 1254, Jaabir al-Masri and around 25,000 Deltinians marched west to force Castilliano to stand down. Castillianan scouts informed Sancho II of the Deltinian movements and he had Ramiro Íñiguez Arista and around 6,000 Castillianans defend the fortress of Apastenal, the Deltinian's most likely target. The Deltinians arrived at Apastenal on 18 May 1254 and a battle began. The Castillianans stood their ground and successfully defeated the Deltinians, killing around 20,000 Deltinians during battle. The surviving Deltinians fled and al-Masri was executed on 10 July 1254 on orders of Suleiman III for the disaster that he allowed to happen.

See also

• Creeperopolis
• Deltino