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Thread: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire **COMPLETE** (With Compilation)

  1. #181

    Default Chapter 16 - The Campaign of Mongol Extermination (1550-1555 AD) - Part 2

    Chapter 16 - The Campaign of Mongol Extermination (1550-1555 AD) - Part 2

    May, 1554 AD.

    The campaign against the Muslims is finally coming to an end. The war has been long and brutal featuring decades of conflict, countless battles, hundreds of thousands slain on both sides, burned cities, and plundered countrysides. After all this suffering and death, the end is finally in sight.

    The nations that once ruled the entire east have fallen: our archenemy the Turks have been joined by the Persians, the Moors, and the Egyptians as mere chapters in out long history. Once the Muslims led vast armies to the very gates of holy Constantinople, now they flee at the sight of our invincible armies. All that remains of those once proud and mighty peoples are the scattered remnants of the Mongols.

    My husband hunts the last of them in the wild and expansive north. If our intelligence reports are correct, the only city that remains in the Mongols' hands is some collection of hovels known as Yelabuga.

    We have waited months since the last report and the court is starting to gossip again. Much more muted this time but there all the same. These people annoy me. They seem to have no comprehension the distances involved in my husband's campaign. Most have no idea that there are greater distances in this world than the one from the palace to their country estate. They compare the frequency of reports from our generals in the West to those of our men in the East and think there must be something wrong when they don't hear from them as often.

    Oh, I long for the days when my father was alive and cast out so many their ilk. Cast them out or killed them as he did to the infamous "Council of Twelve." In those days, the Court was tiny and humble. Now, it is large and pompous. Perhaps it was better when the Imperial coffers were empty and we were so near destruction. Then, these people knew their place and their duty. Now that our lands are vast and our borders far away, they have been given the luxury of time and comfort. That idleness breeds complacency and gossip; but I will have neither. That makes me something of an outcast here but I do not care.

    When we finally receive a report from my husband, it could not have come too soon. At last I have proof to counter the malicious gossip.

    Battle of Yelabuga (Fourth Battle of Mongol Extermination) - June, 1554 AD.

    Spoiler for Battle of Yelabuga

    From Battle Report Filed by Lord Vitos Vasilidis to the Imperial Archives - 1554 AD.

    The late Mongol Ogodhun spoke truly. His map to Yelabuga was exact and led us to right to the city. We passed a few villages along the way but nothing that would impede our progress. The Mongols have thrown up no roadblocks in our way and we have encountered no scouting parties. For men so renowned for their horse riding skills, it seems strange to think that they would have holed themselves up in the city knowing we were coming.

    Still, we pressed on. Ogodhun told us that the city was only held by a skeleton garrison and that the new Khan was present. In expectation of a quick victory, we made haste to the city.

    When we encamped outside the city walls, we started to build our siege equipment. After capturing a few local townsfolk, they readily confirmed what Ogodhun had told us. The city was virtually unguarded.


    The entire force in the city consisted of little more than the bodyguard of the new Khan and some Turkish mercenaries.

    The new Khan was indeed in residence.

    Khan Shideghuk was just a young lad but was also the only remaining link to the old Mongolian aristocracy of the Golden Horde. He was hailed as a great administrator of the city but had served in no campaign of note.

    We all expected an easy victory and an end to this war. However, we had no sooner finished work on a ram and some ladders when a report from my scouts sent us scurrying to the defense.

    A huge force of Mongols had emerged from the woods behind us!

    This was the real garrison of the city; not hiding behind the walls but mustered in full strength and rampaging toward us!

    They had fully five companies of Horse Archers, three companies of Light Lancers, and even one company of the infamous Khan's Guard. Added to their considerable mounted strength, they had four companies of Heavy Spearmen, two of Regular Spearmen, and two of Mongol Infantry archers.

    The small garrison had been but a ruse; one we fell for. The Mongols had trapped us between the walls of their city and their onrushing relief force.

    Fortunately, my veteran army did not panic but formed up with precision and speed and prepared for battle.

    We were as strong as we had been in years. We had five companies of Cavalarii horse archers, six companies of various (Christianized) Turkish horse archers, and one of the local mercenary horse archers. For shock cavalry, we had five companies of Stratitotae light cavalry and one of mercenary Alans. We also had our newly recruited elephants who had astonished all we passed on our long journey. It was time for all to once again earn their pay.

    As soon as the young Khan saw his trap sprung, he rushed out to join his forces.


    The relief army made a pretty picture of itself as it emerged from the woods in splendid ranks upon the green fields.


    Shideghuk used his Turkish mercenaries to screen his movement to the relief army. Those Turks paid for that decision with their lives.

    My horse archers outnumbered this small band twenty to one and made short work of that rabble.

    Before Shideghuk could link up with the rest of his army, my horse archers were on him with the elephants in close support.

    Arrows from the horse archers and lead shot from the elephants rained down on the young Mongol and his men. Soon, Shideghuk decided that he could not reach his men and turned tail the opposite direction to seek safety inside the walls of Yelabuga.

    I took up the chase myself with my own guard to run the whelp down.


    His men were too fleet for my heavy horsemen...but not too fleet for my Turks.

    Those they didn't kill with arrow or sword were captured in ignominious fashion. The Turks are not known for their gentleness with prisoners.
    Spoiler for Shideghuk Captured
    Although their Khan was down, the relief army pressed on. My men had made good use of the interval between this second army's emergence and their assault on our formation. We took what little high ground there was and set up our firing positions.


    The Mongol horse archers came on in a swirling mob weaving back and forth and forming shooting circles. We had fought this type of battle many times before and knew the best course of action was to steady our mounts and not engage in back and forth skirmishing. We had numbers and position on our side and saw no need to relinquish either without good cause. The Mongols' fire was heavy but ours was greater. Further, while their aim was spoiled by their movement, our's was true as we fired volley after volley from stationary mounts. The bulk of our casualties fell on our Christianized Turks but we still slew four of theirs for each one we lost.

    The Mongol captain of the relief army was foolish enough to be in the front ranks of his men and paid the price for his misplaced bravery.

    Spoiler for Captain Killed
    The Mongol horse archers were losing their battle with my men but the onrushing Light Lancers were another issue. They came on in a wave with the company of Khan's Guard at the fore. They did not practice any maneuver but simply trusted to the impetus of their charge to split our ranks. My horse archers picked off some during the advance but not enough. The rest charged forward at the gallop!


    This, too, was something we had seen before and knew how to deal with it. While my light cavalry sprang to the flanks, I had my heaviest troops - the elephants - meet them head on!

    The armored war elephants crashed into the company of Khan's Guard and crushed them under hoof. Those that weren't pulverized in the initial collision had to deal with the tusks of the beasts or the guns of their mounts. I lent the weight of my own armored horsemen to this battle as well as calling for two companies of Stratiotae to encircle them from the flanks. When our horsemen closed, the Mongols fought well and long but this issue had already been decided in our favor.

    The rest of my light horse went entirely around the Mongol charge to deal with the enemy infantry in the rear. The Mongol foot archers, who had started to send some of their own volleys into our ranks, were the first to feel the onrush of our horsemen.


    The Mongol spearmen were late to the fight and found nothing but circling horse archers all around them. My men peppered them with arrows and taunts while the foot soldiers were helpless to do anything about it. They knew the battle was already lost and broke as a group. Not a single man amongst them bloodied their spear on one of our soldiers.

    While the enemy footsoldiers were being slaughtered, what remained of the Mongol cavalry took flight. Our horsemen chased most of them down but a few made their escape.


    Those of the Mongol host that made it out alive left their brothers slain on the field.


    The slaughter was great this day and I lost a fifth of my men. Still, it was a great victory for an army that was supposedly in a trap.

    We had a few hundred prisoners including the new Khan, Shideghuk.
    Spoiler for Prisoners
    Shideghuk offered to become a vassal of the Romans if he was granted his life and those of his men.


    I suppose it could be seen as a generous offer...but many years too late. Perhaps I would have seen it as a more genuine offer had he proposed it before the battle and not when he was a helpless prisoner before me.

    My response was that we did not come here seeking vassals, we came here for extermination.

    Such was the will of my father-in-law and such was our mandate. The entire lot was slain outside the walls of Yelabuga. When all the common soldiers had been killed, I finished the work by taking the head of Shideghuk myself.
    Spoiler for Khan Killed
    It was a single, clean blow. It's good to know still can wield a sword with skill and strength even after all these years.


    With the entire Mongol army slain outside the city, the few guards that remained in the gatehouse fled. We strode into the city unmolested and put the city to the sack. A just reward for so much traveling and so much death.

    We celebrated in longer and harder than we had in years. We all thought the Muslim wars were over!

    It was not until the third week of our occupation of the city that word came from Lord Genessios. The scattered Mongol elements outside the city were not disbanding. Quite the contrary, in fact. They were coalescing under the command of some new pretender who now claimed for himself the title of Khan.

    Both I and the men were stunned. We had taken their last city. We had killed their Khan. They were defeated! Why would they not admit it and just submit to our rule or flee to the east or just disappear?

    It was a difficult day when I had to break the news to the men. The war was not over. We had more work to do.

    Still, we have our orders and I intend to fulfill it no matter how long or how far.

    For where they go, we shall follow.

    - Lord Vitos Vasilidis.

    My joy in my husband's great victory is only tempered by the news of yet more Mongol forces. I know the Mongols are a pastoral people and not as tied to the land as we are but this goes beyond stubborness. This is madness.

    Why won't those bastards just die! To quote another, "A people should know when they're conquered."

    I had hoped my husband would be well on his way back home when the letter arrived. Now, I must consign myself that the wait will be a little longer.

    June, 1555 AD.

    At last, word from my husband! He has followed the Mongols outside of Yelabuga for months. They have continually retreated before his host in a game of cat and mouse but he has finally brought them to battle.

    Perhaps this is the last battle??

    Fifth Battle of Mongol Extermination - June, 1555 AD.

    Spoiler for Fifth Battle of Mongol Extermination

    From Battle Report Filed by Lord Vitos Vasilidis to the Imperial Archives - 1555 AD.

    I've been riding on the trail of these Mongols for many days. We had expected that the Mongols would simply ride away to the East and out of our lands but that was not to be. They seem intent of forging a new empire out of the ashes of the old. They merely wait for us to depart so that they can set upon the defenseless cities in our wake.

    I will not allow that to happen.

    I still remember so vividly the words of Skantarios as spelled out in his will.

    "Do not leave them festering at our doorstep waiting only for the time and strength to fight us again. For they will. If you leave them “in peace”, then war will follow. Maybe not tomorrow or the next but someday. It is inevitable."

    His warning was true then and it is true now. We cannot leave them alone. We cannot leave them with strength to challenge us once again. The time to strike is now while we have the advantage and not them. I will not rest until they are all gone.

    It has taken us some time to run them down but we have. When the scouts finally brought word of the Mongol horde, I gave the call to battle!

    The Mongol forces were formidable but nothing we had not seen countless times before.

    They all seemed to be new recruits; fired with conviction but not tempered by experience.

    A varied lot but with some significant numbers. They had two companies of Heavy Mongol Horse Archers, two companies of Light Horse Archers, one company of Heavy Lancers, one small company of renegade Turks (those who would not convert to Christianity, I suspect), and a smattering of mercenary Alans. For foot soldiers, they had four companies of Mongol Infantry and three companies of Mongol archers.

    They were led by the latest pretender to claim the title of Khan of the Mongols.

    You would have thought this man would have learned from the fate of the previous three Khans but the Mongols are a stubborn lot. His name was Shidebala and possessed no blood tie to the old line of Khans. He was a new man but an influential speaker and one that clearly stood as a lightning rod for the Mongol resistance.

    My men were weary but ready.

    Fortunately, we had made contact with Lord Genessios and he loaned me some of his men for the battle. Given the new troops, our horse archer contingent was back up to strength despite our losses to battle last year. We had five companies of Cavalarii horse archers, four companies of Christian Turks, and one company of mercenary Steppe horse archers. We also had a good deal of shock cavalry with our elephants, five companies of Stratiotae (including two fresh levies), two companies of mercenary Alans, and one unit of local troops called Tartar Lancers. I would have to watch these new men, especially those "Tartars."

    This Mongol general was no fool. He had obviously heard of the fate of the previous Mongol forces and had set himself up on a wooded hill.

    This time, the Mongols would have the advantage of position.

    I sent the light cavalry out to the flanks while the horse archers attempted to skirt around the hill and come up behind the Mongols. The first to react were the Mongol foot soldiers as they tried to get position and fire on the horse archers. I sent the reserve Stratiotae in a wild charge straight up the hill into the moving Mongols.

    It wasn't pretty or subtle but it was effective. The foot soldiers tried to flee but were run down. In the process, the right flank of the Mongols was now uncovered.

    Shidebala tried to restore some order to his chaotic flank and led his bodyguard and a contingent of cavalry to shore it up. This presented an opportunity that could not be passed up. If I could take down Shidebala, then I could panic his army and perhaps end the war. I had already committed my reserve so I took just my own bodyguard to challenge him.

    Just as the charge of the Stratiotae had lacked subtlety, this did too. Our bodyguards met in an armored collision. Riders were thrown from their horse, the legs of several of the mounts were broken, and the more than a few of my men were concussed. Still, my boys had done this many times before. We had the experience and the better training and gained an advantage over Shidebala's fresh recruits.

    I tried to bring the new Khan down on my own but one of my men beat me to it.

    At least this Khan had more courage than the last. He had the dignity to die in battle.

    My flanking light horse saw that their wide sweeping arc around the Mongols would be too late and changed course directly up the hill. They charged forward with a blood curdling scream straight into both flanks of the Mongols.

    The impromptu pincer movement worked. With their Khan down and Romans all around, the bulk of the Mongols tried to disengage or flee.

    What had started out as an orderly army quickly turned into a panicked mob.

    Horsemen fled in all directions. Infantry tried to hide in the woods or simply threw up their hands in surrender. It was all in vain. Those that did not make good their escape died.

    Only a precious few of the lightest and fastest of the Mongols made good their retreat.

    My horsemen made sure they were closely "escorted" from the field.

    This battle was brutal. No fancy tactics, no feints and retreats, no strategy...just a great deal of death.


    Though outnumbered and in the inferior position, we were triumphant.

    Given how poorly my plan was executed, I was amazed at how few men we lost. Even with all the advantages in the hands of the enemy, we still slew nearly eight of theirs for each one we lost.

    This just goes to show that experience and guts will always triumph over numbers.

    We took a few hundred prisoners.
    Spoiler for Prisoners

    Given how stubborn these Mongols seem to be, I could not let them go free just so I would have to fight them again later. I had the prisoners give a proper burial to the Romans we had lost and then had the rest of them cut down to join their brothers rotting in the fields. The wolves and rats could have their fill with them.

    I would so much like to say that this was the last battle with the Mongols but, alas, I cannot. Before the prisoners were executed, they told us of another great force lying only a few weeks march from here. Apparently, the two armies had made plans to join forces. Too bad for them that we moved too quickly and thus spoiled their plans.

    I shall go to find them with all dispatch. With both Lord Genessios and myself combing the fields and forests, we should not have to wait too long to find them.

    - Vitos.

    How many more armies can the Mongols field? They are scattered and deprived of any lands to call their own and yet they can call forth large forces as though from the very ground itself. They are like an infestation of rats in a barn. No matter how many cats you put in there to kill them, they keep popping up.

    Must we burn down the entire structure to be rid of them?

    Fortunately, our "cats" are very well trained. They found the last of the rats with only a short delay.

    Last Battle of Mongol Extermination - August, 1555 AD.

    Spoiler for Last Battle of Mongol Extermination

    From Battle Report Filed by Lord Vitos Vasilidis to the Imperial Archives - 1555 AD.

    Finally.

    The last battle had arrived. We had run down the last of the Mongols. No more reports of them had come during these last two months. All indications were that this was the final force in the field.

    It wasn't much of an army. They had two companies of Heavy Lancers, four of Mongol Archers, and one of the Mongol Infantry. The hordes that once numbered in the hundreds of thousands were now reduced to nothing but these few hundred survivors.

    The last of the Khans was named Khogadai.

    He was known as a capable but unspectacular officer; good to his men and possessing a little skill but otherwise unremarkable. In better times, he might have commanded a garrison; perhaps even a small raiding party. Now, with all his noble kinsmen dead, he commanded what was left of the Mongols.

    My army had received no new troops in the past two months.

    My cavalry showed the losses from our previous battle, especially amongst the ranks of the new (but now veteran) Stratiotae.

    The Mongols formed up in classical formation. The Heavy Lancers held the wings while the peasant archers formed the center.


    My men formed up in the normal way. Our horse archers formed a screen on the wings (Turks in front, Cavalarii behind) and the light horsemen in the center. I sent the elephants and some supporting light cavalry to my far right flank. The great beasts would take on the Mongolian Heavy Lancers and, with luck, roll them up from right to left.

    We stared at each other across this large field. A few scattered trees formed the only cover. There was no high ground to contest, no landmark to anchor a line, only a flat field occupied by men intent on killing each other.

    Perhaps it was exhaustion on my part. Perhaps I just didn't see any subtle strategy that would minimize our losses or make this an easy victory. Perhaps I was just tired of it all and impatient for it to be over. I simply don't know or can't remember. What I do recall is giving the order for a general attack across the entire front.

    My men leapt forward at my command. I led the way with my bodyguard and a couple of reduced companies of light horse in support. I made straight for their center with no thought but to close with the last of the Khans.

    We swept aside the infantry with little effort. The peasants broke almost as soon as the first lance touched the flesh of their front ranks. I didn't care, all I wanted was to reach the Khan.

    The elephants and light cavalry on the wings made short work of the Mongol left flank and then turned to the center. I kept pushing through the enemy horsemen to reach Khogadai. All across the front it was the same. Horses and men battering at each other in the final clash of arms between our two peoples.

    The horse archers merely watched and picked off any Mongol that squirted out of the scrum. This was not a day for arrows, this was a day for steel and flesh and blind fury.

    I finally pushed my way through the Mongol formation and found Khogadai. He fought like a trapped animal, which I suppose was fitting since that was exactly what he was. He slew two of my men with his own sword before I could lock him up in a one-on-one battle. My two fallen comrades had done some of the work for me. Khogadai was already bleeding from at least two wounds and his left arm dangled at his side. Still, the man fought nobly and with determination and stood his ground. We fought for a few moments but I had the advantage and I was not to be deterred in this final hour.

    Khogadai died there in the field. Sword still in hand and horse underneath him. Just as a Mongol should.
    Spoiler for Khogadai Killed
    When Khogadai fell, the rest of his army fled. Of course, by this time, there wasn't much left.


    My men were not to be deterred. We chased down the entire Mongol army. This time, there would be no survivors.

    Those that tried to surrender were killed where they stood. No prisoners, no mercy.

    We had won.

    The last Khan of the Mongols was dead. The last army was defeated.

    I had waited so long for this. Fought so hard for this. Traveled so far and for so long. At long last, I have fulfilled my vow to Skantarios.

    The last of the Muslims are destroyed.

    - Vitos.

    When the report from my husband is read out in the forum, the entire city bursts into a spontaneous celebration. The church bells ring out for hours. Men, women, and even children dance in the street. Wine flows and food is shared without thought to payment or the class of the person receiving it.

    Jubilation bordering on ecstasy is in the hearts of everyone in the city and, I suspect, throughout the Christian world.

    This was not just the end of the Mongols, this was the end of the Muslims and Islam. The Orthodox Church and her armies had vanquished the last of our old foes.

    Even Vasileios cannot contain his pleasure at the news. He orders the Patriarch and the Pope to hold formal celebrations in Constantinople and Pisa, respectively. A special service is held in Hagia Sophia and offerings are delivered to the altar of the True Cross. The Orthodox Church is not only safe but is now dominant in the East and West.

    It is a time of celebration. A war that has lasted in one form or another since since the first Muslim invasion of Palestine in 634 AD has now finally and forever been brought to an end. Over 900 years of conflict are over!

    What skillful rulers such as Heraclius, Basil I, Basil II, and Aleksios Comnenus had failed to do, Emperor Skantarios, Lord Genessios, and Lord Vitos have done. They have turned back what had once seemed to be the inevitable tide of Islam and stamped it out forever.

    The Muslims are gone. Allah has been purged from all of the lands.

    Islam is no more!



    September 15, 1555 AD.

    My brother and my husband are the talk of the city. Children are being named after them and many statues have been commissioned. There are no greater heroes in all of our lands.

    ...and this is exactly what Vasileios feared. He knows what Vitos and Genessios think of him and he could not let their victory stand undiminished.

    It was only two weeks after the news had been read out and the celebrations had finally started to ebb that Vasileios struck.

    It was subtle, it was cunning, and it was not seen as a direct challenge to my kinsmen. No, what Vasileios did was, I must admit, brilliant and underhanded at the same time.

    He traded away all the lands my husband and Genessios had conquered and thus took the luster off their victory. In fact, he even managed to gain a great concession in the bargain.

    Romano-Hungarian Land Settlement of 1555 AD.
    Spoiler for Romano-Hungarian Land Settlement of 1555 AD







    Vasileios has traded all the lands formerly held by the Mongols to the Hungarians for two of their territories closer to Constantinople. Specifically, he has given Yelabuga, Khiva, Embi, and Mensk for the traditional Hungarian lands of Kassa and Esztergom. To convince the Hungarians, he sweetened the deal with a truly immense quantity of gold.

    In this, Vasileios apes my father. It was Skantarios who negotiated both the great land trades in the past and now Vasileios has done him one better. He has taken the lands that formed the very heart of the Hungarian Kingdom for lands thousands of miles away. It is breathtaking.

    I frankly find it hard to believe that King Dezso would agree to such a trade. It is being portrayed by the court ministers as a wise bargain on both sides. On the one hand, the Hungarians are now seen as the bastion of Christianity in the East. They gain immense lands and the wealth to turn them into a Catholic empire that rivals that of the old Persians. For the Roman's part, we now have greater security for Constantinople and it restores the old land boundaries (and then some) of the Imperial Roman Empire.

    I think this is all fluff. Dezso was bought off. The gold proves it. The Hungarian Kingdom is now split in two with more than a thousand miles between their borders. It makes no sense.

    I know Dezso went on the Crusade and is "fired with the Holy Spirit" but I cannot countenance him trading his ancestral lands for the trackless plains of the Steppes or the dusty wastelands around Khiva. Tens of thousands of people are going to be displaced because of this. Family estates will have to be handed over and entire villages will be broken up. Truly, I am surprised his nobles haven't risen up in rebellion.

    I see the hand of the Pope in this one. All this talk of the Christian bulwark in the East must have come from his hand; no doubt with the approval (if not the instigation) of Vasileios. I haven't heard of any Papal Bull to this effect but I would be willing to bet any sum of money that there was secret correspondence between Pope and the Hungarian court. There can be no other explanation.

    Closer to home, what this does is steals the impact of my husband's and Genessios's victories. They are now yesterday's news and Vasileios is the talk of the city. Though the stories of the Muslim conquest are still being told, they now share time with the exchange of lands between us and the Hungarians. The court nobles are already carving up the new territory amongst themselves and offering any kind of favor Vasileios could imagine in exchange for a piece of the new territory. I suppose it comes as no surprise that our family has been offered none.

    Vasileios is now being hailed as one of the greatest Emperor's in the history of the Empire. They are even calling him Vasileios the Chivalrous.
    Spoiler for Vasileios
    I find it ironic that a man who openly consorts with criminals and is known for his "bending" of the truth could be called "chivalrous." The laughter at the thought is only stifled by the bile coming up from my belly.


    Still, I must admit his propaganda is compelling for the common people. Under his rulership, we have now conquered the East and brought the wars with the Muslims to a close. I even hear that one of his favorites has conquered the last free city in Arabia. Some dirty and forgotten place called Sharjah.

    Roman arms reaching not only the heights of the north but the trackless wastes of the far east. The world is definitely a far different place than the one I was born into.

    I had wondered what were the feelings of my husband about all this. The lands he had fought so long and so hard to conquer were now forfeited by the stroke of a pen.

    I did not have long to wait before I received this brief letter.
    Spoiler for Letter from Vitos

    My dear wife,

    We have all heard word of the "great and wise" land deal that our Emperor has made.

    In fact, we had barely had time to bury our dead when the news came. The men are all disgusted and feel betrayed; justifiably so. Everything that they had fought, bled, and died for was taken away like a thief stealing it in the night.

    Still, I guess I should thank Vasileios. If the men felt any lingering loyalty to Vasileios, it is now gone. They now come to me and Genessios for justice...and we shall provide it.

    If the Hungarians want this accursed land, let them have it. I don't care. I have other things to worry about.

    I am coming home.

    ...and I'm not coming alone.

    - Vitos

    - Likenia Laskaris Vasilidis.

    The Eastern World as We Know It - 1555 AD.


    The Eastern World As It Really Is - 1555 AD.
    Last edited by Skantarios; November 22, 2010 at 12:36 PM.
    Read the review of I am Skantarios! in the Critic's Quill here.

  2. #182
    Desley's Avatar Praefectus
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    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 12 November)

    Yet another great chapter!!
    I think iv said this before.. but I'm not sure: What I dislike about your AAR is the fact that your almost always winning.. Before I start reading a chapter about a battle you have fought I already know you will win..

    For the rest its a great AAR and i'm really enjoying it!

  3. #183
    Indefinitely Banned
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    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 12 November)

    excellent excellent update as usual

    mind you, when i read this bit
    August, 1553 AD.

    It was well into the second year of the silence from the East when the first rumors of what had happened to them began to circulate. I believe it was Vasileios himself that began this smear campaign but I could never confirm it. Wild tales were told about how the armies had all been lost. The Mongols had returned and slaughtered them all. Of course, contradictory rumors also flowed about how they had gone "native" and set up their own kingdom far to the northeast beyond the knowing of our scribes. They had renounced their allegiance to Constantinople and taken up the worship of foreign, pagan gods.
    i had a deep deep sense of shock and disbelief;
    Genessios and Co....... had they gone rogue? had they gone rebel?

    luckily they hadnt,
    you nearly had us fooled and it was with a great sense of relief (after 2 yrs!!) when we received dispatches from Genessios and vitos lol

  4. #184
    Libertus
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    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 12 November)

    If this was more ancient rome there woulda been 3 civil wars by now >.>

    and if this was normal AI logic you would have been backstabbed by the hungarians by now
    "So, you tell me that if I buy this you won't steal my limited edition Boba Fett statue?"

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    • Hater of France (Not the people, just everything about them)
    • The above is only Joke-Hatred

  5. #185
    ArkocentoArisen's Avatar Protector Domesticus
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    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 12 November)

    You know something i just had a Urge to begin my first AAR because of this....my Pc is crappy so im gonna be using a diffrent game....but Nvertheless it will still be the Byzantines THanks Skanty
    Look, Some words

  6. #186
    dezikeizer's Avatar Campidoctor
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    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 12 November)

    Great updates as always. I really liked the touch with the captured Mongol Khan, very fitting. The Mongols will definitely provide a worthy end to the wars with the muslims. I look forward to the next update. Just a couple things:
    I had nearly forgotten was grass looked like
    I think you meant: I had nearly forgotten what grass looked like.
    The men on the ladders were fist to gain
    I think you meant: The men on the ladders were first to gain.

  7. #187

    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 12 November)

    Quick question, I was re-reading the original thread and...
    Are the Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Rhodes still around? (Ie. Crusader States?)
    I was playing Crusades on Kingdoms and thought of that XD
    It's kind of tough to tell, seeing as how they have such a tiny territory.
    They'd be Catholic crusaders caught in a sea of another faith if so (Except this time it's Orthodoxy, or Reunified Christian church as I remember?)
    I think Malta wouldn't be so safe this time around though.

  8. #188
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    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 12 November)

    Quote Originally Posted by Dofon View Post
    Quick question, I was re-reading the original thread and...
    Are the Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Rhodes still around? (Ie. Crusader States?)
    I was playing Crusades on Kingdoms and thought of that XD
    It's kind of tough to tell, seeing as how they have such a tiny territory.
    They'd be Catholic crusaders caught in a sea of another faith if so (Except this time it's Orthodoxy, or Reunified Christian church as I remember?)
    I think Malta wouldn't be so safe this time around though.
    Good question. I can't remember if Skantarios did conquer Rhodes. I remember Cyprus (when his bodyguard disappointed him ) but not Rhodes. And in SS 6.2 Malta isn't a territory.

  9. #189

    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 22 November)

    Post #181 has now been edited to a full update.

    This takes us through the end of the Mongolian (and Muslim) wars. If you haven't read it yet, please scroll on back up and do so now.

    It took a bit longer than I thought to put together and I have had some serious time crunches on my hands but I hope you like the result. I will edit this tomorrow to comment on the feedback but for now, I have to go. Just wanted to let you all know that I have finally gotten around to doing the next update.

    [EDIT: to responsd to feedback]
    Quote Originally Posted by Radzeer View Post
    Thank you, it was also your AAR finally convincing me to write one. Make sure to get a good agent and secure the movie rights too. This would make a hell of a picture, three hours of epic screen time!
    Wow. Well, I am very happy to hear that. Both the comments on the potential for production and the fact that I helped to motivate you to write. I usually say that having a member sign up just to comment on my writing is the best compliment I could receive. However, having someone inspired to write their own AAR because of what I have written might just top it. You did a fantastic job with your first AAR and you should be rightfully proud.

    Quote Originally Posted by Arkocento Prinos View Post
    Skatnto if You make a Novel about this...Greeks would be swarming all over it [I am a greek and your one of only a few people ive ever seen aar past 1453 for obvious reasons]
    Very happy to hear that it is being well received in the "home country" of Skantarios. Although I am not Greek, I try to portray the fierce nationalism and cultural pride that a man born in that time and place would have for his country. If I ever do get around to making these into a novel, I will be sure to make it available internationally (especially Greece). Might have some problems with the translation, though.


    Quote Originally Posted by Thokran View Post
    I have to say, you never fail to impress me with your writing. I really like how you decided to focus on each individual campaign, as it gives more opportunity to expand on each theater of war. And this Mongol Steppe theater doesn't disappoint! There's always been something about warriors fighting on the fringes of civilization and beyond that has always appealed to me as a reader. Thanks for wishing me luck as well, btw. I haven't had much feedback so far so I don't know if there's anything in particular I have to improve upon or what not. It's still very much a work in progress and in its developmental stages, but I hope to get it rolling into another sprawling epic soon enough!
    Thank you for the wonderful compliment. As you know, I am quite a fan of your writing, too. I loved the Makurian AAR. It was a great balance of pace and quality and the type of AAR that I really enjoy reading. I haven't had a chance to read all of your Baltic AAR, yet. I've loaded it about three times but can't seem to find enough time to get to it all. I hope to remedy that soon. Don't worry about the feedback. These things take time to catch on and get people involved in the story. I had the same problems with I am Skantarios in the beginning but it worked out okay in the end. For what it's worth, I would say keep at it. If you have a story that you are passionate about, the readership will follow. For another instance of "for what it's worth," one of the first pieces I wrote for the Critic's Quill was my ten rules for writing an AAR. You can read it here. I should probably clean it up a bit but the basic context holds true.

    Quote Originally Posted by Desley View Post
    Yet another great chapter!! I think iv said this before.. but I'm not sure: What I dislike about your AAR is the fact that your almost always winning.. Before I start reading a chapter about a battle you have fought I already know you will win.. For the rest its a great AAR and i'm really enjoying it!
    Yes, I've had this point brought out before. It probably is unrealistic to a certain extent to win every battle (even against the computer and even though that actually happened in the game). I try to get past this a bit by only using a select few generals who were trained by Skantarios and should (presumably) be pretty good. Also, the army reforms instituted by Skantarios (can't find the exact post at the moment) speak to giving them a qualitative edge over their opponents. I try to just remain constant in how I fight and let the chips fall as they may. The computer has bested me on a couple occassions but not many. I guess I just can't bring myself to "throw" a battle. I'll consider it, though. I hope the rest of the non-battle writing is still enough to keep you interested.

    Quote Originally Posted by Exarch View Post
    excellent excellent update as usual mind you, when i read this bit
    i had a deep deep sense of shock and disbelief;
    Genessios and Co....... had they gone rogue? had they gone rebel?
    luckily they hadnt,
    you nearly had us fooled and it was with a great sense of relief (after 2 yrs!!) when we received dispatches from Genessios and vitos lol
    One of the things I really don't like with this mod is the amount of time that transpires and how little you can accomplish in one turn. Given the vast distances of the Steppes and the amount of time it would take to send messages back and forth, I thought it would be realistic for them to have a break in communication. Given the active and negative propaganda campaign that the current Emperor is undertaking, a little court gossip would surely be in play. No, our boys in the East haven't gone rogue...yet. We'll see what happens next, though.

    Quote Originally Posted by mikalos209 View Post
    If this was more ancient rome there woulda been 3 civil wars by now >.>
    and if this was normal AI logic you would have been backstabbed by the hungarians by now
    The stability in allliances is something that I actually like in this mod. It would be unrealistic (in my opinion) for the Hungarians to do anything but stick with the alliance given the disparity in wealth, power, and territory between the two realms. The Romans are their best and just about only friend. Really, would the relatively small Kingdom of Hungary start a war that they knew they had no chance of winning? Still, your point is taken. The normal AI does a lot of abnormal things.

    I love the Byzantines/Eastern Romans. So much history and such a dynamic political situation. You can really let it take you wherever you want. I think that is why it is one of the most popular factions for an AAR. In fact, when I came back from my absence, I noted that there were like two or three of them that had started while I was gone (though it looks like they have fallen off quickly. I hope you do start an AAR. They are a lot of work but can be fun and an excellent creative outlet.

    Quote Originally Posted by dezikeizer View Post
    Great updates as always. I really liked the touch with the captured Mongol Khan, very fitting. The Mongols will definitely provide a worthy end to the wars with the muslims. I look forward to the next update. Just a couple things:
    Great to have you back! So glad you are still here and commenting on the AARs. I will make the changes right away. I don't have an editor so I miss quite a bit that I shouldn't. Always appreciate the help.


    Quote Originally Posted by Dofon View Post
    Quick question, I was re-reading the original thread and...Are the Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Rhodes still around? (Ie. Crusader States?)
    I was playing Crusades on Kingdoms and thought of that XD
    It's kind of tough to tell, seeing as how they have such a tiny territory.
    They'd be Catholic crusaders caught in a sea of another faith if so (Except this time it's Orthodoxy, or Reunified Christian church as I remember?)
    I think Malta wouldn't be so safe this time around though.
    Yep. I haven't touched Rhodes and the remnants of the Crusaders still hold it in quite a bit of strength. Not sure what, if anything, I will do with them. They haven't caused me any problems and are trade partners for a long time. Also, now that the Pope is my vassal, there doesn't seem to be any need. Let them keep that small island.

    Quote Originally Posted by ByzantineCaesar View Post
    Good question. I can't remember if Skantarios did conquer Rhodes. I remember Cyprus (when his bodyguard disappointed him ) but not Rhodes. And in SS 6.2 Malta isn't a territory.
    Just as I said above, they are still there. Not doing anything of note and haven't left their island in years. Since both you and Dofon asked, here is what they look like today.
    Spoiler for Rhodes
    Probably another reason that I haven't done anything with them is that their ruler is trapped in Anatolia and has been there for years. He was in Palestine way back when we stormed through it and has been trying to get "home" ever since. I think his kindgom is bankrupt from maintaining their large army and can't afford a ship to get him back(!). I would offer him free passage just to get rid of him but, of course, the game won't let me. So, there he sits and there they stay. Also, I threw in the picture of Vasileios into the last update so you can have an idea of how he looks now. The nickname "the Chivalrous" is not very fitting given his other traits but I will just say that it is part of his public propaganda campaign to make him look better. I think you will see in future updates that he does some things that are not so chivalrous.

    Quote Originally Posted by Exarch View Post
    at last the mongols are finished. it is done. Congratulations, mate well done on the victory; i can see the sense in the land exchange, seems pretty sound
    A long time in coming but they are finally gone. Just as I put in the last post, it wasn't just a victory over the Mongols but the last of the Muslims died with them. So, the long blood feud between the Orthodox Christians and the Muslims also came to an end. That was even a longer time in coming. The land swap makes sense to me in that we can clean up the borders around Constantinople and not have to bother with such poor and far flung (though vast) territories in the East. Plus, it fits nicely in the story of the conflict between Vasileios and Genessios/Vitos.


    Also like to give a quick thanks to Dan for his return to the AAR forums. Not sure where he's been but happy to have him back.


    I think that catches me up on the feedback I have received between the last few posts. Thanks to all those who took the time to comment. It is always appreciated.

    I am still going through a seemingly never-ending transition and might have to take a few small breaks here and there until I finish. I do have some time in the next couple of days so I will try to get up the first update on the West tomorrow and then the second part by this weekend. No promises but that is the plan. Thanks for your patience.

    The next update will be what has happened in the West, particularly in France with Efthymios. A lot of movement there and it will most likely take at least two posts to catch it all up. I'll also try to add in what has been going on in Spain. Once we have everyone caught up to 1555 AD, then I will start switiching back and forth between theaters.

    As always, thanks for reading!
    Last edited by Skantarios; November 22, 2010 at 12:43 PM.
    Read the review of I am Skantarios! in the Critic's Quill here.

  10. #190
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    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 22 November)

    at last the mongols are finished
    it is done.

    Congratulations, mate well done on the victory;

    i can see the sense in the land exchange, seems pretty sound

  11. #191

    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 22 November)

    Those tips are too true my friend. We all have to write for what we enjoy and have a passion for, something I think neither of us suffer a lack of.

    It's been many years coming, but at long last the Mongols are done for, and with them the last traces of Islam! That's a huge deal for the Empire, and all of Europe for that matter I'm sure. I also liked the land deal. I know it further consolidated the Empire's holdings in a more central position, but it's nice to see Vasileios play it off in his devious fashion. Vitos and Genessios now head home through New Hungary, heh.

    Looking forward to seeing what's been happening in France and Africa in the meantime, though I need to ask for clarification: once you reach 1555 AD on all fronts, will you continue to go on a campaign by campaign basis or return to the broader overview updates?

    +rep when I can.

  12. #192
    ChivalrousKiller's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 22 November)

    Great chapter as always, Skantarios

  13. #193

    Default The Breaking of the French - Part 1 (1550 AD)

    Chapter 17 - The Breaking of the French - Part 1 (1550 AD)

    The conflict with France has taken a respite while the battles in Africa and the East raged on. Our two commanders in ancient Gaul, Diadohos Efthymios and General Kalamodios have used the interlude to shore up the garrisons of the newly conquered territory and put together potent field armies for their next push. The overall plan as briefed last year is a two pronged, parallel push all the way to the northern sea and, thus, to split the Kingdom of France in two. This will not only cripple the French economically but also separate their field armies fighting against the Germans in the east from their homelands in the west.

    With the death of King Gerard two years ago, the crown has fallen to his son, King Evrart. He is married to the young Roman princess Efsevia (dauther of Vasileios and sister to Efthymios). The alliance sealed by that marriage was brokered by Skantarios himself just before his death. He had hoped to unite our people and thus end the western wars. Unfortunately for all, that alliance died with Skantarios. Only two months after his death, the Spanish and the French were battering at our walls attempting to regain their lost territory. The French betrayal (and lack of honor) is all the more galling as they have refused every demand to return "Queen" Efsevia. Each request has been denied out of hand. In fact, our ambassador to France was killed in the last attempt.

    The French betrayal of the alliance and their continued stubborness in the matter of Efsevia has forever removed any chance of a peaceful settlement to this war. There is now too much bad blood between our peoples to ever go back to peaceful coexistence. Our invasions are no longer to enforce a peace (as Skantarios's were). We now seek the utter destruction of the French monarchy and the annexation of their lands.

    Our young heir, Efthymios, has shown himself to be a brilliant general and openly compares himself to Skantarios (but notably, not to his own father). He is brash and reckless but can afford to be so with the Imperial Army backing him up and the entire financial and manpower assets of the Empire at his disposal. What Vasileios denied our men in the East, he lavishes it on the forces in the West. Given the long string of victories against the French to date and the manpower being mustered, the momentum of conquest is decidedly in our favor.

    When last I heard from Efthymios, he was pushing toward the French capitol of Paris. He is expecting heavy resistance as the French fight to maintain their chief city and, I suspect, the personage of their King.

    It was not long into the year when I received the first report from Efthymios.

    First Battle of Paris - May, 1550 AD.
    Spoiler for First Battle of Paris

    From Battle Report Filed by Diadohos Efthymios to Emperor Vasileios and the Imperial Archives - 1550 AD.

    I am finally in position for my assault on the center of the French Kingdom, Paris itself. The long march back north after my assault on Marseilles has caused a delay in dealing with the rest of the French and I fear I may have given them too much time to regroup and fill out their ranks again.

    It seemed the French had, indeed, used the interlude to their advantage. My scouts report a great cavalry army standing in my way and blocking the approaches to Paris.

    The fresh armor and shaky ranks indicated that these men were all new recruits. However, they were splendidly outfitted and well mounted. Their army consisted of four units of the professional and super-heavy Lancers and five companies of the new-style cavalry, the Demi-Lancers. Almost as an afterthought, they also had one full unit of professional Halberd Men-At-Arms.

    This composition is somewhat different than the French were used to fielding. It seemed they had adjusted their tactics to our own by over-weighting their army in cavalry in order to deal with our superior numbers of horsemen. The Lancers posed a great challenge. Although they had only four companies, their superb armor has proven time and again to be impervious to our arrows and almost as safe from our muskets. The only thing that has worked at all has been pikes and elephants.

    The Demi-Lancers were another issue. They are just as professional and elite as the Lancers but their armor is thinner. They have traded the weight of the armor for the speed of their horses. These men can match the speed of my own light cavalry and combine that with the punch of my own heavy horse.

    Indeed, this was going to be tricky. I'm only glad I have returned as soon as I did. Otherwise, I might have had to face twice their number. As it was, I had an almost two to one advantage (which, I should add, was a nice change from the normal battles we had fought).

    The Imperial Army was virtually back up to strength although I have had to make up some shortcomings with mercenaries.

    I was still very heavily weighted with horse archers with four companies of Cavalarii and four of Magyars. For Roman shock cavalry, I had one company of Scholarii, two of Pronarii (one newly recruited and only recently blooded), and one company of Stratitotae light cavalry. I filled out the ranks of my heavy horse with mercenaries including one company of Serbian Knights, one company of Germans, and two companies of new Feudal Knights recruited from the newly conquered lands north of Italy. The Serbs have fielded soldiers to the Imperial Army since the time of Skantarios and were both experienced and utterly loyal. The Germans had proved themselves on several battlefields, as well. These new European Knights were another story. Though splendidly armored and seemingly very fierce, I questioned their loyalty.

    The final elements of the Imperial Army were the remnants of the War Elephants and two companies of mercenary pikemen (one German, one Swiss).

    The French formed a long line of gleaming armor and lances that stretched for almost half a mile.

    Though their formation was long, it was not deep. Most of the companies were formed only two deep. The heavy Lancers were in the center with the lighter (but faster) Demi-Lancers on the flanks.

    The French were entirely without missile troops. So, I decided to trade a little space for time and see what effect my horse archers could have on the horsemen prior to engaging them with my own cavalry.

    My men knew by now not to waste their time with the Lancers but instead concentrated their fire on the Demi-Lancers. In this, they were more successful and whittled down their ranks by about half. They would have caused even greater casualties but the Frenchmen were too fast.

    The Lancers showed their lack of experience and charged straight for my lines. They relied too much on their heavy armor and the weight of their horsemen to see them through. My answer to their brash assault was the pikemen. My pikemen may have been mercenaries but they were experienced and did not blanch at the sight of the massed ranks of horsemen barreling down on them. The planted their spears in the ground and braced their comrades to absorb the impact. Even so, when the French horsemen hit, the effect was impressive.

    Some men were knocked from their feet, others impaled on the long lances, and still others tossed completely in the air by the force of the impact. The line buckled, but held. Many Frenchmen went down in the initial impact but others tried to push their way forward through the spears to reach the Germans and Swiss with their swords. Most troubling, though, was another company of Lancers went around the edge and them came charging into the flank. Pikes are strong against cavalry but virtually defenseless when charged in their unprotected flank or rear.

    My mercenary pikes were in danger of being overrun and so I gave the signal for the Elephants and the heavy cavalry to commence their own charge.

    The pikemen had stopped the French momentum at the cost of many of their lives. I had to take advantage of the French being tied up in the spears, and thus vulnerable, lest they disengage and make the sacrifice of the pikemen for naught.

    I sent all of my heavy cavalry forward keeping none in reserve. My Scholarii and Germans hit one company of Lancers at the same time but from different directions.

    This was a real battle of Titans. The best heavy cavalry of the Romans versus the best of the French. We had the numbers and the experience and we prevailed. Still, it did not come at some considerable cost of life.

    While the heavy horse smashed against each other, I led my own bodyguard and the light cavalry forward against the remains of the Demi-Lancers.

    These men put up considerably less of a fight and we routed them after only the briefest of fighting.

    The hapless French infantry played no real part in the battle although they did give my Magyars something to practice their archery on.

    Despite the high quality of the enemy, we were victorious with acceptable losses.

    The heaviest casualties fell on my pikemen. Even so, they never wavered and fought well throughout the battle. I also suffered some losses amongst my heavy cavalry but I still have sufficient strength to continue to Paris.

    We took a little over a hundred prisoners amongst the concussed and those that had their horses killed out from under them.
    Spoiler for Prisoners
    These men had fought bravely and so I would reward them by offering them up for ransom to the Evrart. The price I demanded was high as befitting such fine soldiery.

    When the response came, I believed it showed Evrart's true colors.

    He claimed poverty but I knew it was just nonsense. Even the French official that brought the news seemed to know it was a lie. Evrart can recruit great armies but he can't pay the ransom for those captured in battle. Pathetic.

    I feel so sorry for my sister to be forced to endure a man such as him.

    I must continue to move quickly so I can end her suffering soon.

    - Efthymios.

    Efthymios wasted no time and continued on to the French capitol of Paris. We all hoped that he could recover Efsevia for us while Efthymios simply hoped for an easy victory. Unfortunately, none of us had our wishes fulfilled quite like what we wanted.

    Whereas the approach to Paris went exactly according to plan, the assault did not. Efthymios had barely begun his siege when the French struck. The report of the battle came in two parts.

    Second Battle of Paris - September, 1550 AD.
    Spoiler for Second Battle of Paris

    From Battle Report Filed by Diadohos Efthymios to Emperor Vasileios and the Imperial Archives - 1550 AD.

    My march to Paris went off without a hitch. After destroying the French cavalry army south of the city, there was no more opposition along the way. The initial reports from my spies indicated only a few hundred defenders. I was heartened by the report but greatly disappointed to learn that Evrart had fled the city before we could get there. Even worse, he took Efsevia with him.

    The garrison did not look like it would pose much of a problem.

    They had only some militia under the command of some nobody. For actual troops, they had but one company each of Voulgiers, Spearmen, and Arbalesters.

    The military commander of the city was a new noble that I had never heard of.

    This Charles of Vilaines was supposedly someone possessing some military talent but was known far better for his loyalty to the crown. I suppose this is why Evrart had appointed him his Lord High Steward and entrusted him with the administration of the capitol.

    We set up our lines and resolved ourselves to a winter building siege equipment and a general blockade of the city. It was in the second month of our siege when a great relief army appeared over the horizon intent on sweeping us away and lifting the siege of the city.

    This was a real army. Strong in every facet of arms and led by a French general. A true challenge. They had two companies of Lancers, two of Demi-Lancers, one of Feudal Knights, and one of Men-At-Arms. They also had five companies of pikes (one French, two Flemish, two German), three of gunners (two mercenary, one French), one of Sergeant Swordsmen, and one of spears.

    They were under the command of a very young noble named Raymond of Gisors.

    He was the brother of Evrart. Being a second son, he had been trained as an administrator who was more at home with a ledger in the office poring over the latest returns from the farms than he was at the head of a great host of men.
    Combined with the garrison, the French had us outnumbered two to one and facing a battle from both the front and the rear!

    When my scouts brought me the news of the strength of the relief army, I contemplated a tactical withdraw in order to link up with my reinforcements marching north from the Alps. My captains looked at me like I had gone mad. The reminded me that the Imperial Army had not retreated in over forty years. They had fought much greater odds before and were not afraid to do so now. Besides, we were only facing the French. The dishonor of a retreat before the likes of them would not be something they were ready to try and live down.

    I do believe that had I given the order, they would have fought on their own. Of course, I did not. Instead, I gave the signal for battle!

    We had received no new troops since our battle earlier in the summer and many of my companies showed the attrition when the muster was sounded.

    In all other respects, we were exactly the same.

    When the relief army mustered before us, they did make for a fearsome picture.

    The heavy French cavalry was in the fore with the infantry and missile troops formed up behind. A classic attack posture.

    The overcast and dreary day would only add to the misery of the battle. More importantly, it would also deprive my horse archers of much of the punch from their composite bows. The wet weather loosens the strings and makes the bows much less resilient. Therefore, they would be nearly useless in battle. So, not only were we outnumbered more than two to one, almost half of my army would now be not much more than spectators.

    I had expected the French to press their advantage and sound a general attack. However, they dithered while waiting for the garrison to sally out. While they were paused, they sent their gunners forward to bring my men under fire. I'm not sure what Raymond was trying to do as their gunners were almost as worthless as my horse archers in the wet weather. Gunpowder does not react well when wet. Even so, I would not let his rookie mistake go unpunished and so I sent my mercenary heavy horse out to strike the first blow.

    The gunners had not even the chance to prime their weapons when my boys struck. They sent men flying through the air or pulverized under hoof and killed nearly half the gunners in the first moments of impact.

    The French rose to the challenge and sent their fast Demi-Lancers forward to break up my own lines just as I had just done to them. Again, my pikemen planted their spears and met the charge with grim determination.

    My elephants formed just behind the pikes added a few rounds of gunfire over the heads of my pikemen. Those French that weren't impaled by the pikes quickly lost their nerve and made quite a disorganized retreat.

    The French Lancers tried to swing around our formation and charge into the flanks. The elephant riders pivoted away and met them head on.

    When the French turned to face the great beasts, my Pronarii smashed into their flanks in a nice bit of coordinated maneuver. It definitely helps to have veterans in a battle such as this.

    The battle had by this time lost any real semblance of order. Units were engaged piecemeal and in scattered groups all over the field. It was mostly a cavalry engagement as the infantry were slow to move over the very muddy ground.

    Raymond moved this way and that trying to get a hold of a battle that had clearly gotten away from him. My Scholarii saw his bodyguard uncovered and made a direct charge on him.

    The young son of the dead king soon joined his father when a lance from the Scholarii went clean through his body. Both rider and horse were killed in the crush.
    Spoiler for Raymond
    The newly recruited Lancers fared poorly against my elephants and Pronarii and quickly discarded their honor like a rag one would use to clean their bottom.


    My elephants were blooded but maintained the pursuit as best they could. My heretofore unused horse archers now became of some assistance as they ran down those in full retreat.

    My Scholarii, fresh from killing Raymond, now turned toward the few French knights still engaged with my pikemen.

    The noble Frenchmen were crushed in the impact and none escaped.

    Although the bulk of the French cavalry was now either dead or fleeing, there was still a long way to go in this battle. The French infantry were still a force to be reckoned with and we hadn't even engaged the garrison yet. Many of the companies in the relief force fought very hard. I lost many of my heavy horse in the various cavalry duels and even had to commit some of my horse archers to turn the tide on the left flank. It was a brutal and punishing slogging match by any measure. When the garrison finally appeared on the field, I ordered the attack on the relief infantry to be broken off so I could concentrate on the intact garrison.

    I sent what remained of my heavy horse to hit the garrison from every flank.

    The elephants added the weight of their own armor as well as the fear they instill on those unused to seeing them. The French spearmen and swordsmen were the first to go down in a wild tangle of armor and horses. I locked up with Steward Charles and killed him by my own hand.
    Spoiler for Charles
    I hope this teaches Evrart a lesson about sending his brother to do his work for him.

    With both generals down and the garrison crushed, the relief army did their best to live up to the martial reputation of France.

    By this, I mean they fled. We had some difficulty cutting them down but they made this much easier for us by showing us their backs. We lost some more men but the issue was decided.

    The losses on both sides were appalling. The French lost virtually the entirety of both armies while I lost over half of my men. It was a great victory but also a very costly one.

    The great number of prisoners was another problem as we now had more men under guard than men to guard them with.
    Spoiler for Prisoners
    Seeing as we had lost over half of our army in the past few hours, the decision on what to do with the prisoners was a very easy one. We executed them all.

    Though the men were tired and bloody, they took to the order with gusto. Hearts are very hard after a battle such as this.

    We had barely finished cleaning our swords and dressing our wounds when news came from our scouts, another army was on the march towards us!

    - Efthymios


    Third Battle of Paris - September, 1550 AD.
    Spoiler for Third Battle of Paris

    From Battle Report Filed by Diadohos Efthymios to Emperor Vasileios and the Imperial Archives - 1550 AD.

    The sun had barely come up on a new day when the second French relief army attacked. I can only assume that they were meant to join with the first two armies in a combined assault. It would seem that the inexperienced French captain in charge of this group could not get them to the fight in time. Thanks be to God for that!

    The second French army was blessedly smaller than the one we had just fought but still outnumbered by greatly reduced forces by a significant margin.

    This force was a mixed lot consisting of troop types from all ranks of the French military system. They had two companies of Dismounted Knights and one company each of Demi-Lancers, Feudal Knights, Men-At-Arms, Arbalest Militia, Pikemen, and armored Arbalesters.

    My army was only a shell of what it had been at the start of this year.

    My Stratiotae and Serbs were virtually destroyed with only a handful of survivors. One of my companies of Cavalarii was completely destroyed as well as my German pikes. In addition, I'd lost over two thirds of my mercenary knights, my Scholarii, my Pronarii, and even my own bodyguard. I'd even lost one of my elephants. The only unit from my army to escape without significant loss were the Magyars but that was only because they had stayed on the sideline except for the pursuit.

    It was definitely a tired and battered army that I formed up for battle that morning. When the French attacked, we'd had practically no sleep or food and were still bloodied by the last engagement.

    I cannot describe my unbridled pride I felt in the men when they formed ranks that morning. No complaints, no talk of retreat, and no lack of resolve. We are the Imperial Army of the Roman Empire. We would not retreat and leave so many of our dead unburied on the field nor surrender the ground we had given so much to gain.

    The French attacked in the pre-dawn hours. Our only bit of luck is that the terrible rainstorm had finally blown through and the air was now dry and crisp - just like our bows. I sent the Cavalarii out to even the odds before the French could bring us to close order battle.

    The men concentrated their fire on the French horsemen. These men were not so finely armored as were the Lancers and the results of their fire began to add up.

    I had combined the two units of Mercenary Knights under my command into an almost complete company. I sent these men out to ride down the French arbalesters.

    As always, the contest between missile troops and heavy cavalry was completely uneven.

    What was left of my Pronarii challenged the French captain's company and pounded into their flanks with their customary abandon.

    My Mercenary Knights cleaned up those that broke free of the Pronarii, including their captain.

    Spoiler for Death Card
    I personally led the rest of my men forward to finish off the infantry.


    The elephants proved their worth yet again by trampling all those that came in their path.

    Though I lost barely over a hundred men in this battle, it still amounted to almost a quarter of what I had left.

    The men are calling this a heroic victory; and it is. The most heroic thing about it is that such tired and bloody men were able to fight at all.

    Needless to say, we were not in a mood to take any prisoners.

    The French truly put forth a great effort to keep their capitol and our losses show the truth in this. At the start of this year's campaign, the Imperial Army numbered some 1154 men. By the end of this year, we number just 340. Although we lost over 800 men (two thirds of the Army!) we took over 3,400 of the French bastards with us.

    It was this bloody and exhausted army that I led through the gates of Paris. The only orders I gave the men were to "have fun and don't mind the courtesies."

    That's exactly what they did.
    Spoiler for Paris
    The people of this fair city have now paid the price for our losses in the field. The French soldiers dead outside the city have now been joined by a great deal of dead inside the city.

    Once our anger had been spent, I had the men organize parties to take care of the dead of the two battles outside the city. Those of my army were given proper burials with full honors. Those of the French were given an unceremonious burning. The wind can scatter their ashes.

    Although I command Paris, we are now terribly understrength. I have given orders for immediate reinforcements to move here to relieve the city and I have dispatched some of my greatly reduced units back south to get additional recruits to flesh out their ranks. My veteran survivors will provide very able trainers.

    With luck, the reinforcements will be here soon and I can continue north. Until then, I shall make my preparations for a defense and enjoy the luxury of the former French Palace.

    - Efthymios.

    The Imperial Army is shattered. Though Efthymios was triumphant, the losses are appalling. Many of the men that had once served my father now lay dead in France. It is hard to lay blame for this from so far away but I doubt father would have fared so poorly had he been in charge of the campaign. Of course, had father been alive, this campaign would not have happened in the first place.

    I don't know how many men Efthymios has coming to him but I doubt they will be enough to reform the army any time soon. I just hope for the sake of the Army that this delay will not give the French time to call up new forces. Just look at what they did with only a year's delay.

    Efthymios was not the only active force this year. General Kalamodios formed the second part of the new invasion and has reached his intended target with quite a bit less trouble than what befell our heir. While Efthymios was fighting for his life outside Paris, Kalamodios was launching his own assault on Rheims.

    Assault on Rheims - September, 1550 AD.
    Spoiler for Assault on Rheims

    From Battle Report Filed by General Kalamodios to Emperor Vasileios and the Imperial Archives - 1550 AD.

    My drive to the northern sea has gone as scheduled. I have met no resistance during the march north. In fact, the villages I have passed all tell of a great muster to the west near Paris. I trust my commander can handle whatever comes his way.

    The French garrison was quite weak given the strategic importance of the city.

    They were entirely new militia equipped with the Voulge pike that the French are so fond of. Just three companies of peasants that had been tilling farms only last year but now were charged with guarding the city.

    Their commander was a minor noble by the name of Roger of Quesnai.

    I heard that he had been in a couple of scrapes when he was younger. Apparently, he had done well enough to earn a promotion to the minor nobility and command of the city. Still, at only 23, how much could he have seen?

    My army was more than ready for this assault. I had somewhat more cavalry than what was needed having recently received several of the old companies of the Imperial Army freshly returned from Constantinople. When I link up with Diadohos Efthymios, I will be passing them off to him. For now, they are part of my forces.

    For horse archers, I had four companies of Magyars freshly arrived from Hungary as well one veteran company of Cavalarii. For shock cavalry, I had three companies of Scholarii and two of Stratiotae. For footsoldiers, I had mostly mercenaries with one Free Company, one of German Zweihander swordsmen, one of German Knights, and one of heavy Roman spearmen. To gain entrance into the city, I had three units of bombards. I also brought along one unit of Mangonels in case the French decide to try and block the walls.

    The morning of the assault did not start out so auspiciously. The sky was overcast and rain fell in waves on our heads. Still, we would not be deterred by a little rain. If we did that, we wouldn't get anywhere in this dark and dreary country!

    The battle was quite simple and I won't need to go into great detail. The bombards did exactly what I needed them to do which was blow a hole through their walls.

    My infantry poured through the breach as soon as it was open. The French decided to fight it out in the streets rather than the central square. My men rose to the occasion and soon the narrow street was literally blocked with men hacking away at each other.

    The French commander fought in the front ranks in order to inspire his shaky militia.

    The militia held back and soon the brave general was surrounded by my boys.

    I give the lad credit, he kept fighting even after being blooded and battered by about a dozen good blows to his armor.

    Not much he could do being so outnumbered. He took a couple of my mercenaries with him but died in the process.

    Spoiler for Roger
    What remained of the garrison made a last stand in the city's square.


    These were the same "soldiers" that had just abandoned their commander to his death. So, I didn't feel at all bad about rolling up my artillery and blowing them into little pieces.

    I have found that the Mangonel does good work but so does a bit of grapeshot.

    It didn't take us long to kill the rest of the garrison. The clean up of all the little pieces of them...now, that might take some time.

    I lost a few dozen of my mercenaries in the street fighting but it wasn't too bad. Besides, that's what they get paid for.

    We now command this city and I've made sure that the first order of business is to tear down that Catholic church and construct a proper Orthodox one. I think our priests will be happy with that. As soon as I've got things settled here, I will continue north.

    - Kalamodios.

    The first step in the drive to the sea is complete. The French have now lost their capitol and the major city of Rheims. In contrast to the easy victory of Kalamodios, Efthymios has lost nearly his entire army in his (ultimately) successful assault on Paris. Given how strong the French defense of the city was, it does not stretch the imagination to believe they will be equally strenuous in their efforts to retake it. I trust Efthymios has enough men en route to him or he will be leaving the city as quickly as he took it.

    While the territorial gains in the French invasion are off to a good start, there is still no sign of Evrart and Efsevia. Hard to believe that Evrart so casually abandoned his most important city but that seems to be exactly what he did. For the hundredth time, I pity my cousin for having to marry a man such as that. Of all the decisions that father made in his life, that may prove to be the worst. Still, she is but one life when there are thousands dying every year. We should have some perspective on this after all.

    I will close out the year with an update on the goings on in Africa. Our men there have been slowly moving along the coast in this third-most important theater of war. The Spanish have been especially stubborn and given ground only grudgingly. Based on the latest report from General Isidoros, that still seems to be the case.

    Battle of the North African Passes - October, 1550 AD.
    Spoiler for Battle of North African Passes

    From Battle Report Filed by General Isidoros to Emperor Vasileios and the Imperial Archives - 1550 AD.

    The long march west through Africa continues. I have received some resupply by ship but I am still very short on men and food. I have had no new companies of men in some time and the ones I have are all footsore and their ranks depleted by battle and the toll the road takes on us. Still, our ultimate goal of Fes is almost in sight.

    I had hoped for an uneventful last phase of this march but it was not to be. The Spanish have set another army in my path and they hold the high ground. There seems to be no easy way to get around them so I shall have to go through them.

    The Spanish were a veteran lot and had some strong numbers but not overwhelmingly so.

    They were balanced between missile troops, cavalry, and infantry. The cavalry arm consisted of three companies of Feudal Knights. For missile troops, they had two companies of arbalesters (one armored, one militia). The footsoldiers made up the bulk of the rest with three companies of Sword Militia, two of Men-At-Arms, one of Sword and Buckler Men, and one of Andalusian mercenaries.

    My army had seen better days but we were still in good fighting trim.

    We are quite a mixed lot with troops from all over the Empire. We had two companies of Scutarii spearmen, one of Scutarii swordsmen, one of Andalusian spearmen, one (very reduced) unit of German pikemen, one of Swiss pikemen, one Free Company, one of local "Desert Infantry" mercenaries, and the depleted Varangian Guard. For cavalry, we had one company of Scholarii, one of Archontopulae, and two of Italian Condetterotti. I also had two companies of Cavalarii horse archers and one of Mounted Crossbowmen. I had been pulling along some cannon as well for the walls of Marakesh but they would do their part in this battle.

    The Spanish took up a pretty strong position on the high ground.

    They set up in the classical formation with missile troops out front, infantry behind, and cavalry on the wings. Nothing surprising there but difficult all the same.

    Given that it would be rather costly to attack them head on, I decided to make some use of the artillery that had given us so much trouble through these hills. Once they got in range, I had them open fire on the Spanish formation.

    I didn't think we would kill too many of them but I had hoped to kill a few, demoralize the rest, and maybe encourage them to come down into the low ground.

    While the artillery sent a few rounds into the Spanish formation, I sent the Cavalarii around the flanks to try and kill a few horsemen.

    The Spanish armor was tough but they did manage to bring down a dozen or so.

    The Spanish captain didn't like getting shot at by the artillery and sent his arbalests down to bring my gunners under fire. Such a good target was not to be missed so I sent my Italians forward to take them out.

    The Italians managed to get there just as the crossbows were getting ready to fire. Their lances made short work of the missile troops.

    The Spanish should have stayed up on the hill despite the missile fire. That's what an experienced commander would have done; but this Spanish captain was not. He sent his infantry forward at the run to battle it out against my lines. Now, we had the better ground and the Spanish were tired out from their mad dash across the open field.

    The infantry fought hard and our lines started to buckle a bit but our men held on and kept their place in line.

    The Spanish cavalry that had not been brought down by the horse archers now tried to bull their way through our flanks. Too bad for them that our flanks were held by what remained of my pikemen.

    The Spanish captain ended his brief career as a commander at the pointy end of a Swiss pike.
    Spoiler for Enrique
    Now that their captain was dead and our lines showed no sign of crumbling, the Spanish infantry thought better of their impetuous attack.


    The Spanish are known for their bravery but you couldn't find much of that at the end of this battle. Some of their companies fought well but most did not.

    My own horsemen had some sport chasing the fleeing Spanish across the broken hills and plains.

    I'm happy to report that not one of them made it clear.

    I lost nearly 200 men in this battle but still achieved a victory.

    Given how short we are of money here in Africa, I decided to offer the nearly 250 prisoners up for ransom.
    Spoiler for Prisoners

    The Spanish answer from Fes was about what I was expecting.

    I guess the Spanish governor needs the money more than he needs the men. Either that or he just doesn't like paying for men who have no honor. We left them in our wake as just more food for the vultures.

    This war of attrition is one that we are winning, but just barely. I don't know how many more of these veteran armies the Spanish have in Africa but I hope not many. Fes is now in our sights and the end of this African war cannot be too far away.

    We all anticipate the next battle with the utmost desire. Better to fight it out than spend another day marching in this heat.

    - Isidoros.

    So, the African war continues. This nearly forgotten theater has almost run its course. If Isidoros can take Fes, then the Spanish mainland will soon be in reach. Then, our long-suffering warriors will see the real fruits of their labors.

    It has been another year of victories in the West. Victories, yes but costly ones. Our enemies have shown a surprising ability to field ever more men despite the vast slaughter we have inflicted upon them. As we march closer to their home countries, I don't expect their resolve to weaken.

    The next years will tell the tale of how these wars will conclude.

    - Likenia Laskaris Vasilidis.

    The World as We Know It - 1550 AD.


    The World As It Really Is - 1550 AD.
    Last edited by Skantarios; January 03, 2011 at 01:16 AM.
    Read the review of I am Skantarios! in the Critic's Quill here.

  14. #194

    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 23 November)

    Okay. The next update is posted taking us through 1550 AD in the West.

    I had intended on going through 1551 but I ran out of time and the post was quite long enough already. For the next two updates, I will stay with the West and combine the years 1551/1552 and then 1553-1555. So, I should have all the theaters of war caught up after two more updates.

    Its been pretty quick since the last update so I don't have much feedback to catch up on.

    @ Thokran - Thanks for the kind words. You definitely have to have a passion for this or you would never finish one of these (well, passion or blind stubborness). I think that is why you see so many fall by the wayside after a promising start. Once they see how much work is required, the passion fades quickly. To answer your question, once I get both East and West caught up, I will go back to a bit of a broad overview (I think). The East is mostly finished. There are only a couple of big things in store for Genessios/Vitos but they are vital to the story and will either merit their own post(s) or be a part of the year-to-year retelling. If when I get to the Spanish mainland phase, the French theater is still hot then I may split those two up and go part by part. Right now, the Spanish war doesn't merit its own section but it probably will soon. Now that I read this, I guess I should just say that I will see how things look when I get there. [Also, funny about the rep. I tried to do that when I did the post in your thread and it said I had to spread some around. Hadn't had that happen before. I guess I need to broaden my horizons a bit.]

    @ChivalrousKiller - Thanks for the feedback. Glad to have you reading and posting here again!

    Not sure what the schedule looks like for the next update. I have a lot going on this week but I might be able to get the next one done by Saturday. No promises.

    As always, thanks for reading!
    Read the review of I am Skantarios! in the Critic's Quill here.

  15. #195
    Treize's Avatar Dux Limitis
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    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 23 November)

    Nice work.
    Miss me yet?

  16. #196

    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 23 November)

    WOW! I need to catch up!

    Cant wait to see whats happened the past month and a half. Good to see you are still killing it! Er, the enemy...ha.

    Great work!

  17. #197

    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 23 November)

    Paris was a "the princess is in a different castle" moment




  18. #198
    TaronQuinn's Avatar Semisalis
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    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 23 November)

    I'm running out of ways of saying what a terrific job you do, Skantarios.

    So: Great job! Keep it coming!

    Thank you for your time, have a nice day.

    TQ

  19. #199

    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 23 November)

    "The Imperial Army is shattered. Though Efthymios was triumphant, the losses are appalling. Many of the men that had once served my father now lay dead in France. It is hard to lay blame for this from so far away but I doubt father would have fared so poorly had he been in charge of the campaign."
    I have been waiting for that sentence for a long time.
    Great job as always.

  20. #200
    Dan the Man's Avatar S A M U R A I F O O L
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    Default Re: [SS AAR] The Legacy of Skantarios - Restoration of the Roman Empire (Updated 23 November)

    Also like to give a quick thanks to Dan for his return to the AAR forums. Not sure where he's been but happy to have him back.
    If this is Dan as in me, I'm still here sir, just trying to catch up on what I've missed!
    Proudly under the patronage of The Holy Pilgrim, the holiest of pilgrims.


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