The Great Seljuq Empire was rocked by rebellion during the late 11th century CE. Especially the Order of Assassins proved a thorn in the sultan's side.
Chinese general Zhang Xun was steadfast and untiring in his loyalty to the imperial regime. As a result, he was prepared to make great - and extreme - sacrifices.
The city of Ghent was extremely rich. Therefore, its Burgundian overlords wanted to milk it. Ghent, however, had ideas of their own about where to put their money.
The Fall of Rome was only the beginning of an epic clash of civilizations on the Italian peninsula. One general turned out to be smarter than the others involved.