Qarmatian Overhaul Mod
THIS HAS NOW BEEN MERGED WITH ACE’S MUSLIMS ENHANCEMENTS! DOWNLOAD AT https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2241658518 ! Might potentially maintain this as a separate version.
This mod aims to more accurately model the Qarmatian faith, along with its outsized impact on medieval Islam and the unique internal dynamics of the movement.
Ultimately, this mod will include;
– Updates to the existing Qarmatian faith in-game to more accurately reflect both the beliefs and practices of the Qarmatians (their vanilla representation currently positions them as little more than slightly more tolerant Quranists). Currently this consists of changes to Doctrines, Tenets and Holy Sites, but if possible, I would like to model the function of al-Iqdaniyya (‘Those Who Bind’), the council of noble families that governed Qarmatian Bahrein with limited input from the broader population (maybe possible with future Conclave or Republic-type DLC)
– Events and decisions modelling the Sack of Mecca, the abduction of the Black Stone and its return via ransom.
– Events and decisions modelling the rise, reign and fall of the Isfahani Mahdi, complete with a unique Isfahani Zoroastrian faith that will allow you to enact or struggle against his violently anti-Islamic apocalyptic vision.
CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTED:
QARMATIANISM:
Qarmatianism has been changed to more accurately reflect the movement’s goals and actions. The movement’s rejection of wordly pilgrimages, chiefly the Hajj, has been reflected in the Inner Journey tenet, along with the movement of Holy Sites from Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem and Damascus to Basra, Arrajan, Bahrein and Isfahan (Nadjaf remains unchanged, reflecting the ghulat nature of the movement). This mod previously removed the Qarmatian’s ability to go on Hajj, though this is now properly represented in the base game. The movement’s communalist view of property is reflected in the Vows of Poverty tenet, and the frequent raids, conquests and sackings undertaken by the movement are reflected in the Warmonger tenet. Qarmatians are also now Monogamous and have a Spiritual Head of Faith.
ISFAHANISM:
The tentatively titled ‘Isfahanism’ reflects the apocalyptic strain of Zoroastrianism implemented by the Isfahani Mahdi, characterised by public cursings of Islam and Muslim figures such as the Prophet Muhammad and the mass killing of prominent Qarmatian leaders. The Tenets are Human Sacrifice, Warmonger and Sanctioned False Conversions (the last to reflect the initial conception of the Qarmatians of the Isfahani Mahdi as a Muslim leader), with a Fundamentalist Doctrine and Temporal leadership under the Mahdi-Caliph.
SHORT-TERM ROADMAP:
SACKING OF MECCA:
The Sack of Mecca by Qarmatians in 930 was one of the most traumatic events in Islamic history, and the failure of the Abbasids to protect Muslims on Hajj was one among many issues that led to the collapse of Abbasid legitimacy and ultimately the Abbasid state. The goal in implementing this moment in history would be events/decisions emulating escalating raids and attacks on Hajj caravans in the Arabian hinterland culminating in the sack of Mecca and abduction of the Black Stone, complete with massive maluses to the owner of Mecca/bonuses to the Qarmatian ruler who sacked Mecca as long as the Black Stone remains in Qarmatian hands, along with a way for rulers to pay the ransom on the Stone.
THE ISFAHANI MAHDI:
While the Isfahani faith is implemented in the initial version of the mod, it exists in flux within the Zoroastrian religious group with no real links to the Qarmatian faith. The goal would be to allow a Qarmatian ruler who controls a certain amount of territory/key territories (probably Basra) to enthrone the Isfahani Mahdi as the Mahdi-Caliph, who would reign as spiritual leader of the Qarmatian faith before seizing control via event of the top-level title of the ruler who enthroned him, converting to Isfahanism and becoming temporal leader of said faith. The player would get a Crusade beneficiary-style event to play as either the Isfahani Mahdi or the overthrown Qarmatian leader, now reduced to a vassal; if the latter is chosen, an event/decision chain emulating the toppling of the Isfahani Mahdi would also be implemented.
LONG-TERM ROADMAP:
AL-IQDANIYYA:
The Qarmatians have often been referred to as a republic or democratic owing to the institution of al-Iqdaniyya, a council of prominent nobles who the Jannabids ruled as first among equals. While I would like to add mechanics for them, I think the best option at present is to wait for a Conclave or Republic-style DLC that fleshes out council or republic mechanics respectively.
