Rashidun Caliphate (Principia Moderni IV Map Game)

The Rashidun Caliphate (Arabic, اَلْخِلَافَةُ لرَّاشِدَةُ al-Khilāfah ar-Rāshidah) is a theocratic, elective nation located in the Middle East, North and East Africa. After the Abbasid Caliphate had been overthrown in the Sixth Fitna in 1599, the Ulema (or Council of Senior Scholars) took full control over both the nation and the religion of Islam. Rather than installing a new dynasty, the Ulema created a system of non-dynastic, elected Caliphs expanded from the former office of Grand Vizier. This system was heavily based on the Old Rashidun Caliphate, the original dynasty to rule Islam from 610-668 AD.

The Caliphate is generally remembered for bringing Islam into the modern world, particularly by uniting the sects of Sunni and Shia. Since its founding, the Caliphate is also the primary forefather of most representative government outside of Europe.