Current Ruler,

Ahmad I al-Mansur Saadi

Grand Sultan of Morocco and Africa

Defeater of the Portugese, Conqueror of the Soghdai Empire, the sixth ruler of the Saadi Dynasty.

In 1578, Ahmad's brother, Sultan Abu Marwan Abd al-Malik I Saadi, died in battle against the Portuguese army at Ksar el Kebir. Ahmad was named his brother's successor and began his reign amid newly-won prestige and wealth from the ransom of Portuguese captives.

On October 16, 1590, Ahmad took advantage of recent civil strife in the Songhai Empire and dispatched an army of 4,000 men across the Sahara desert under the command of converted Spaniard Judar Pasha. Though the Songhai met them at the Battle of Tondibi with a force of 40,000, they lacked the Morrocan's gunpowder weapons and quickly fled. Ahmad advanced, sacking the Songhai cities of Timbuktu and Djenné, as well as the capital Gao.

Although we were not enough to keep the Kingdom under our control or find their gold supply due to logistical problems, his majesty still has not given up on his attempts to take over the nation.

Successor,
Abdul Abdallah Mohammed III

Saadi Army

Stationed in Marraketch
2 units of Arab infantry 30 ducats upkeep,
2 regiments of medium cannons 24 ducats upkeep

Stationed in Fez
3 units of Arab Infantry 45

Commander in Chief

Judar Pasha
Born a Christian Spaniard, Judar joined the service of Moroccan Sultan Ahmad I al-Mansur Saadi, converting to Islam. Like many of Ahmad's officers, Judar was a eunuch.

In 1590, Ahmad I made Judar a pasha and appointed him the head of an invasion force against the Songhai Empire of what is now Mali. In October of that year, Judar set out from Marrakesh with a force of 1,500 light cavalry and 2,500 arquebusiers and light infantry. He also carried eight British cannon in his supply train, and assembled eighty Christian bodyguards for his personal detail.

After an arduous crossing of the Sahara desert, Judar razed the desert salt mines of Taghaza and advanced on the Songhai capital of Gao.

Meanwhile, Songhai ruler Askia Ishaq II assembled a force of more than 40,000 men and moved north against the Moroccans; the two armies met at Tondibi in March 1591. Despite their inferior numbers, the Moroccan gunpowder weapons easily carried the day, resulting in a rout of the Songhai troops. Judar sacked Gao and then moved on to the trading centers of Djenné and Timbuktu.

Expirience; Legendary
Background traits; School of Artillery
Adventurer
Personality traits; Aggressive
Merciless

Kaid M'mi

The Kaid is described as "a farsighted man" and is credited with making peace with the people of Timbuktoo. After the siege was broken M' mi convinced the people of the city to swear allegiance to Al-Mansur and requested that Askia Ishak's successor, Askia Mohammed Gao, provide food for them as a gesture of good faith.

Expirience; Veteran
Background; Rising Star
Gifted Administrator
Personality; diplomatic
gallant

Mohammed, was formerly the leader of all the renegades in Morocco. Mohammed, like Judar, was an enuch. The supporting forces are said to have crossed the Sahara in seven weeks. Ibid p.180. Once they arrived in Timbuktoo, on August 17, 1591, the new leader learned much of his foe from the experiences of Judar who Mohammed appointed to be his second in command. Realizing that the unconquered Songhai forces would again retreat to their water enshrouded refuge he ordered the boats be built fro m the few available trees and the doors and door frames so that his forces would be able to pursue their opposition along the water.
Three weeks after his arrival Mohammed had constructed three barges from the conscripted supplies and, leaving a force behind to maintain the fortress Judar had built in Timbuktoo, went south to re-attack Askia Ishak. The battle of Gurma was a complete victory of the invaders. The Songhai forces fled the field and the disorderly retreat led to the death of Iskia Ishak who was cut of from his troops and then murdered by Taureg tribesmen. Following the victory, large n umbers of Songhai deserted the kingdom.

Expirience; Legendary
Background; innovative tactician
School of Firepower
Personality; Active
Balanced

Saadi Navy

Three Spanish Galleons

al-Ghalib
al-Malik
Al Mansur

upkeep 45 ducats