Great Crusade (Premysloides Dynasty)

Background
After large defeats of Christians during Seventh Crusade, Hulegu Khan decided to take initiative in struggle against islamic empires. His decision was confirmed after embarrasing collapse of Shepherds Crusade in 1251. Hulegu Khan imagined himself as new Raymond of Toulouse, who conquered Jerusalem in 1099 and he started to form large coalition against Arabs, Ayyubids and Mamluks.

After bloody purge among conspiring vassals, Hulegu Khan gathered 10,000 Armenian, 8,000 Georgian, 12,000 Trapezuntine soldiers and 40,000 soldiers of his own army, another 6,000 Crusaders remaining in encirceled Crusade States, 2,000 Templars and 10,000 Roman troops of Romanos V. At end, he was able to gather 88,000 troops and cavalry and 10-12,000 auxiliary and supply troops.

Strategical Planning
Great Crusade is considere as one of first deeply sophisticated grand military strategy. Most of campaigns in previous history was based on ad hoc situations, skirmishes and misunderstandings. Hulagu Khan recognized large advantages that Mamluks and Ayyubids had: Desert terrain, homeland territory, local supplying outposts, known terrain, local support and numerous cavalry forces. Hulagu Khan never underestimated his enemies. Instead of one decisive campaign and decisive clashes, he decided to split his forces in to three armies.

Ascalon, Syrian and Euphrate Armies.

Ascalon Army
Ascalon Army of Templars and Roman troops had most difficult and most infamous task. Their goal was land in city of Ascalon, capture city, took city fortification and ties numerous enemy forces on themself, fought against Mamluk Fleet and prevent forces from Egypt and North Africa to support Ayyubid and Mamluk Army in Mesopotamia. Emperor Romanos V and commander Strategopulos decided to personally led this task. Their plan was to capture city and prepare it to long siege and achieve food and water selfsuficiety to stand until allies will reach Ascalon.

Syrian Army
Composed of Amernians, Georgians and 10,000 Mongols under Hulegu Khan general Kitbuqa, had to move against Syria, capture Homs, Aleppo and Damascus and reach connection with remaining Crusader States. Then, they will be joined by Crusaders and move against Jerusalem. Their goal was to capture Jerusalem, wide buffer area and relieve Ascalon Army.

Euphrate Army
Largest of these bodies, with 30,000 Mongol troops, 12,000 Trapzuntines and Persian mercenaries was assigned to attack northern Iraq, capture Kirkuk and move through Eufrat shoals and lowlands on Baghdad, as metropolis of Abbasid Caliphate and Ayybud dynasty. Hulegu declared his will to raze Baghdad, but Romanos achieved compromis with Hulegu and persuade Hulegu to not destroy "Dome of Wisdom", one of largest university and library in world and to take over all books and manuscripts in Dome of Wisdom to Roman Empire. Otherwise, Romanos was not interest anymore in fate of Baghdad.

After Fall of Baghdad, Hulegu/Euphrate Army would across Euphrate and move to west, conquer Kufa and Anbar, pass through deserts and invade Jordan of Mamluk Sultanate and unite with Ascalon and Syrian Army in Ascalon. Then, Great Crusade will continue to cross Suez and conquer Alexandria, that will be granted to Romans and Cairo, which will be granted to Mongols, while Egypt will be partitioned on two halves.

Last Stage
Crusader Army will stop at Cyrenaica, while Mongols will send their detachements against Mecca and Medina.