Emirate of Mestaga

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Emirate of Mestaga

876–1428
Flag of
Flag
CapitalMestaga
Common languagesKavardan
Arabic
Religion
Islam
GovernmentEmirate
History 
• Zuhraid Caliphate collapses
876
• Conquered by the Terranilian Empire
1428
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Zuhraid Caliphate
Terranilian Empire

The Emirate of Mestaga (Arabic: إمارة مهزىشاغا, Kavardan: Emarét Mezišaga), also known as the Emirate of Kavarda, was a Kavardan emirate in Kavarda with its capital in Mestaga. It was established following the collapse of the Zuhraid Caliphate in 876 and lasted until it was conquered by the Terranilian Empire in 1428. The Emirate of Mestaga was ruled by several dynasties, all of whom were Sunni Muslim.

History

The province of Kavarda under the Zuhraid Caliphate sided with the Zuhraids against the Kulthumids, as most Sunnis did. Kavarda was then ruled by the Natribid dynasty, who fought in the Second Shiya Revolution until the collapse of the Caliphate in 876. Jamal ibn Kakun, governor of Kavarda, then declared himself Emir of the Emirate of Mestaga.

In 1272, Aramea launched the First Aramean Crusade against the Emirate, with the intention of capturing the city of Mestaga. Mestaga was significant for Pytabian Christians, as it is the place of establishment of the Pytabian Church of the West. Though the Church's headquarters moved to Valeriana, Mestaga still had a large Christian population. The crusaders were able to capture some territories to their west but failed to take Mestaga.

In the mid-14th century, the Terranilian Empire, from more than 5,500 kilometers away on the west coast of Ecros, began expanding east into the Terranilian Desert. They fought against the Acillians and built outposts along the Trans-Terranilian trade route. The Emirate of Mestaga became weary of the Empire's expansions. Additionally, many Acillians had fled to the Emirate to escape the violence. The Emirate began preparing for a potential war. As the Terranilian Empire continued to move east, the Emirate of Mestaga began to fortify its western border and also expand into the desert.

In 1395, the Terranilian and Mestagan border was formed. War was obviously emminent. The two nations' armies first met at in the battlefield in 1398, at the Battle of Ankarishako, in which the Terranilian army sieged Ankarishako Fort, the Emirate of Mestaga's furthest west fort. It lasted 18 months and ended with a Terranilian victory. The Terranihil army was slow to recuperate its forces for another offensive, as its homeland was thousands of miles away. However, it still managed to make consistent victories.

The Emirate of Mestaga first lost the Fort Tundre in Psydo in January of 1402 but then recaptured it eight months later. Then the Terranilian Empire retook it for the final time in 1404. The Terranilian Empire did not launch another offensive until 1426 under the Narian dynasty. The Emirate of Mestaga tried to retake Fort Tundre in 1413 and 1422 but failed both times. Then the Empire under the Ilsamian dynasty resumed expansions in 1426. The Emirate of Mestaga suffered several losses as the Terranilian army slowly moved towards the capital city of Mestaga. The Terranilian Empire won the Battle of Mestaga in 1428, ending the Emirate.

Religion

The Emirate of Mestaga's official religion was Sunni Islam. The majority of Kavardans had been Christianized in since Kavarda was conquered by the Zuhraid Caliphate in 709. There were also significant populations of Pytabian Christians and Jews, who were required to pay jizya. There was also a small population of Habizists, the pagan religion of Kavardans and Acillians, but they were converted to Islam by the end of the Emirate.

Language

The official languages of the Emirate of Mestaga were Kavardan and Arabic. Kavardan was the common language, while Arabic was used by the ruling class, wealthy, and religious leaders. The Christians, Jews, and Arameans also spoke Aramaic, but the language had fallen from its previous lingua franca status.

Kavardans began using the Arabic script to write Kavardan during the Zuhraid Caliphate. The Iberic script had begun to spread to Kavarda in the 5th century, but it did not become commonly used until after Kavarda was conquered by the Terranilian Empire.