Help a newbie play R'lyeh

[Goblin]

I haven't actually played them, but a very unusual thing happened to R'lyeh in a game I was playing - they vanished...

It would have been about turn 20, they had 4-5 provinces then the all to familiar message saying that the R'lyeh god has been killed and has no way of returning - but also that he had not a single province to his name in the end???

Looking at the game statistics they seem to have lost all there provinces in one hit. About 10-15 turns later I was able to walk through R'lyeh's old domain, as there was nothing defending it!!!

Anyone have any idea what may have happened? I know R'lyeh is meant to be mad, but mass suicide should be outside the game play.

Goblin.