(Pro Deo Et Rege) Byzantium: Recovery and Reconquest

**Emperor Basil** · March 06, 2008, 02:11 PM

BYZANTIUM
RECOVERY AND RECONQUEST

The Glorious days of the Macedonian Emperors are over. Since then the Empire has fallen into disrepair and chaos. The once mighty Roman armies are now little more than a poorly armed mob and the borders, which in living memory stretched from Italy in the West to the Euphrates in the East, are now shrunken and there are enemies at the very gates of Constantinople.

Asia Minor, once the greatest recruiting ground for us, is all but lost to the Turks and what's worse is that it was lost without a fight. The last hope for the us seemed to die on a battlefield outside Manzikert ten years ago when Romanus IV Diogenes was defeated and captured. Since the light of the Empire and, with it, Roman prestige has succumbed to darkness.

But in the darkness there is a glimmer of light. One man has made himself master of Constantinople and is set to revive the Empire and bring order and strength to the world once again. His name is Alexius Comnenus.

Will he and his dynasty breath life to the Empire once more and make the name Comneni echo through eternity as the saviour of the Romans?
Or will he fall like so many of his predecessors and allow the Empire to plunge into darkness?
Whatever the outcome, his and his successors' task will not be easy.

**Socal_infidel** · March 06, 2008, 04:19 PM

This looks like it's off to a promising start!

Cant' wait to read more!

**Emperor Basil** · March 06, 2008, 06:18 PM

Thanks. Chapter1 will be posted tomorrow.

**hekk** · March 07, 2008, 06:50 AM

looks like the start of a good AAR.

**Emperor Basil** · March 07, 2008, 03:43 PM

Chapter 1
New Beginnings

Summer, 1080

For nearly four centuries the heart of the Empire was in the Asia themes, but now the Asian territories are overrun with Turkish hordes known as the Seljuks. Our last Asian territory is Trebizond, alone and isolated. Military aid can not be sent if this province is attacked and so to survive the emperor must rely on diplomacy: a potent tool with any Byzantine.

It is in Europe that the hope of the Empire rests now. It is here that the strength of the Romans must be rebuilt. The Balkans shall be the new foundations of the Empire.

The Queen of Cities is our greatest assent. It shall be protected at all costs and therefore shall be entrusted to the our greatest and most loyal warriors: the Varangian Guard.

These northern barbarians from Thule shall not fail us and, so long as they guard the walls, Constantinople shall never fall.

Our Empire now rests on Hellas, Thessaly, Macedonia and Thrace and it is here that has to be protected.

First action shall be to assess the army. It is in a poor condition but a core army remains to us. These must be used wisely.

The northern border must be attended to. Rumours of nomadic hordes sweeping south from the Russian Steppes have reached our ears so we can not afford to ignore this otherwise barbaric province of our Empire.

Here we have the mighty River Danube to protect us, which should be used to our advantage. Forts and watch towers shall be built to hinder any invaders from the north.

In order to create an army we must have the funds available and only then can we recruit and train an army. Such things, though, take many years and we already have troops in our cities and castles.

They is a way to get about both problems however. We just train the townspeople to defend themselves. Militias may not be any match for professional soldiers, but if our armies do their job these militias probably won't even see war.

Much needs to be done before we can consider the thought of reconquest for we are not strong enough yet. Despite being on our doorstep we can not afford to engage the Turks in warfare. Instead we must show them we seek peace.

This could be a favourable alliance. If they accept this then tribute will strengthen us and, who knows, maybe they'll eventually agree to summit to us......

They agree! Our diplomat tells us they showed a brave face but he smelt fear in them. It seems Roman prestige is not dead yet!

Now our new leader is eager to prove his piety and prove to God that he need test us no longer. Heresy is a plague from which we have suffered dearly so Alexius has decreed that a church is to be built in every province to persuade those who have strayed from the Orthodox path to come back into the fold.

They are some who have voiced the opinion that our funds are best spent elsewhere but Alexius is firm in his decision, especially now the Pope of Rome often contemns our Eastern ways so we must be united under the one true religion. (Some, however, spread the rumour that the Patriarch, God rest his soul, has threatened the emperor with much trouble if he doesn't provide richly for the Church....)

That is all we can do for now but we should keep an eye on the future. Until we have reorganised we must rely on diplomacy for security. A diplomat is already on his way to meet the Hungarians to make our northern border safe. As we have no interest in the lands north of the Danube we seek a firm alliance and we have high hopes as it is believed the Hungarians have their eyes on Croatia not on our lands.
The Doge of Venice is also a key ruler that must be contacted, he can help increase our trade as well as look after our naval interested in the Adriatic Sea, but we must stay vigilant against their ambitious interests.
We have not forgotten our lost Italian lands though and so an alliance with the Holy Roman Empire is imperative as well as with the Pope who truly commands the western powers.
To the east the Great Seljuks may be a worthy ally for our Asian interests or failing that the Egyptians may help. And of course the Georgians threaten our last Asian territory, Trebizond, it would be wise to bring them into alliance too.

**Socal_infidel** · March 07, 2008, 06:26 PM

This was a good read. Can't wait for the next episode. It's off to a really good start.

**Emperor Basil** · March 07, 2008, 06:34 PM

Chapter 2
New Foundations

It seems we are of one mind. The Georgians have asked for an alliance and we shall indeed accept. They afterall have their own problems to deal with.

New men are always welcome to strengthen our ranks. He has little experience but as he is related to the once great George Maniakis perhaps he shall prove himself worthy. His loyalty is questionable but in these early days there are few to be trusted anyway.

These first years are critical and we have been far from idle. Churches are still being built and our cities are still training our militias. Much progress has been made but it is our northern border defences that is our greatest achievement to date.

They are not yet complete but when they are they shall stop all northern invaders.

It seems, though, that our strengthening of our authority in Paristrion has not come unchallenged. The independent fires of the Bulgars have long been extinguished but they still threaten to reignite. These rebels must be put down immediately.

The Hungarians were most co-operative. May we have a long and peaceful friendship.

These rebels are daring indeed if they think they can win back the favour of the emperor so easily! But Alexius is a practical man and understands that the Armenians can not be subjugated just yet and they may actually prove a worthy ally against the Seljuks if they turn on us. These people, however, will have to pay a heavy tribute if they wish to enter our grace. After much debate 2500 Florins for three and a half years was agreed to be paid to us. We are indeed feared this side of the world.

May our alliance be long and peaceful!

They were demanding diplomats but we reached a most favourable deal.

All is going well.

Our churches have been built. The Orthodox Church is once again strong. Alexius now turns his attention to the economy and with the poor state of the roads he has decided to put his faith in sea trade.

We are finally ready for war! We march east to Smyrna.

Alexius hopes to subjugate all the areas still under Greek rule but currently independent from the authority of Constantinople. These will be easy to bring into our control and will stop them from falling into Turkish hands. A risky strategy but we must unite.

While our leader is in foreign lands the nobles have called a council. A worrying sign and it is up to the Sebastos to answer.

About ten years have passed since the Kingdom of Dukjla has declared its independence. They will be brought to heel. Sebastos Isaac willing collects together the remaining troops from Greece and begins the training of new units.

While some of these soldiers are being trained Isaac takes what troops he already has to deal with the Bulgarian rebels.

A noble victory. May the fate of these rebels be a warning to anyone else who does not bow to Roman authority.

Victory in the north is matched by victory in the east.

It seems the rebels at Smyrna did not stock up their supplies very well for after a short siege they surrendered without a fight.
Alexius has no time run Smyrna and so chooses a suitable governor.

Davatinos was promised the town from the start of the campaign and accompanied Alexius during the siege. Perhaps his new position will increase his loyalty.
Alexius spends a little time securing the region but quickly readies his army for further conquest.

The garrison of Rhodes is added to the army to increase numbers.

The new militia shall protect the island now.

Meanwhile in the west Isaac collects his army together for the campaign into Serbian lands.

And is soon besieging Ras.

Attalia is Alexius' next target.

But as the Emperor's navy reaches the coast, messages reach his ears of Armenian expansion further east.

These Armenians may have to be dealt with earlier rather than later.
The siege of Attalia is laid nevertheless.

As the siege progresses, though, it becomes clear that the Armenian campaign has failed.

More bad news though! In the west a Serbian army approaches with the intention of relieving Ras. The Serbians are more numerous than we previously thought.

It is a small army of inferior troops.........

...........but put together with the garrison of Ras and............

.........and they have a dangerous force indeed.

They outnumber us and some of the older wiser generals are advising a tactical retreat, but Isaac never cowers from a fight and immediately starts discussing battle plans. He plans to use his superior, if less numerous, troops to his advantage by quickly defeating each army in turn. A good tactic if it can be pulled off.
The Serbian army arrives in the evening, hoping to catch us off guard, but Roman arms are always ready.

The terrain is woody so we will have to stay vigilant. Isaac commands the centre where all the heavy infantry and spearmen are stationed with archers behind. Sissinios Kalameteros is placed in charge of the left wing with a strong force of mounted Lancers, while Astikos Sgouropoulos commands the right wing with an identical force to Sissinios' plus a unit of Magyar horse-archers. The first army are believed to possess no archers but with the other army on its way Isaac plans to engage them sooner rather than later and outflank them with the cavalry.
First the Magyar missile cavalry are sent ahead to weaken the enemy spearmen.

But the Serbian general chases them off.

The Bull and the Eagle fight it out as the infantry engage.

Their infantry holds firm but the arrival of Roman heavy cavalry at their rear will soon break them.
Meanwhile our great Sebastos valiantly proves himself on the battlefield by charging straight for the Serbian general.

The enemy is routed!

In the chaos though the enemy general, who got the worse of the duel with Isaac,.......

.....escapes. His shame and cowardliness is punishment enough for him!
But the second army is almost upon us. We must regroup.

Time has failed us. Our army is in disarray and tired from the previous fight but it must reach the top of this hill before the enemy falls on us and routs us.

God has surely blessed us for engaging in some degree of order, but the men have just fought one battle, run up a hill and are now engaged in another. They are tired and moral is low.

Some of our men begin to rout. Isaac, sensing the Romans are about to break, charges straight for the enemy king. This man knows no fear!

Hail Isaac the Brave! The Serbian king is dead and the battlefield is ours. Hail also the valiant Astikos who held the right flank for so long and Hail the bold Sissinios who, as our right flank gave way, charged into the Serbian left and routed them!

The enemy routs to the sound of our victory cries.

"Let no-one escape!" commands Isaac, for he does not want to deal with these rebels yet again.

A victory worthy of Alexander!! Isaac is master of the sword today and Ras is ours.

Still bitter about their fallen comrades, our victorious soldiers sack the town and pillage it for all it's worth. The Serbs are now under our authority.

And so ends Chapter 2. But there is still much to do.
As Alexius continues to besiege Attalia the future is always in his mind. He has vowed never to rest from his eastern conquests until he is master of Antioch.

But it is a race for time because his spy inform him the Armenians and the Great Seljuks also have their eyes on the great city.

The wars in the west are far from over. Parts of the kingdom of Dukjla still hold out on the Adriatic coast.

And the Sicilian Normans show signs of having ambitions in the Balkans. Some say Robert Guiscard has a man claiming to be the deposed Emperor Michael VII.........

These invaders are our top priority in the west and imperial policy will inevitably lead to a reconquest of the Two Sicilies, but these northern barbarians should not be dealt with lightly or underestimated.

The Hungarians have been successful in their Croatia ambitions and now it seems they threaten our borders.

Let us hope our alliance holds.

But we have much to celebrate. Our eastern conquests go well, we are victorious over the Serbians, northern border has been strengthened, the provinces are secure, even the outlying regions are secure.......

..........and the Empire sits in a prime place in the world once more.

Pro Deo Et Basilius