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Thread: The Danube Limes Introduction

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    Deutschland's Avatar East of Rome Mod Leader
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    Icon2 The Danube Limes Introduction



    The Danube Campaign focuses on the epic fight of Emperor Maurikios and the Romans (Byzantines) against the Slavic invasions on the Balkans.

    Map


    Campaign Information This sub-campaign for East of Rome will start in 591 AD, the year when Maurikios finally signed a peace treaty with the Sasanian Persian Empire in the east. The constant war on the eastern frontier of the empire tied up most of the Roman army so that the Balkan provinces were left defenceless. The Slavic tribes north of the Danube sensed this weakness and subsequently began to raid the Roman provinces to the South.





    The Slavs are plunderers and settlers, they do not know any political structure and ordinarily should be no match for the professional Roman soldiers. But a new threat has risen in the north: The Avars, a nomadic eurasian tribe, are excellent horse archers, much like their predecessors, the Huns, who brought down the Western Roman Empire.
    The Anastasian Walls

    Now the Balkan peninsula is a no man's land, filled with plundering Slavic hordes. The Romans barely manage to hold some coastlines and important cities. Maurikios will have to fight hard to repel the barbarians and restore the imperial glory in the Balkans..




    Idea The idea behind this campaign is to give players to opportunity to test out East of Rome on a smaller scale so that they can get a feeling for the upcoming 1.0 Beta.


    Factions The Danube Limes Campaign will feature four all-new factions:




    The Roman Empire It is a time of opportunity for the Eastern Roman Empire. Through a diplomatic coup, the Emperor Maurikios has ended the war that has been raging for years with Persia. Having restored the young Shahnashah Khosrau II to his throne, Maurikios has positioned the Roman Empire as the dominant partner in a new alliance with the Sasanian Empire. Now, with peace in the East, Maurikios can transfer his armies to his next priority: the Danube limes.

    With constant pressure from the Avars and Slavs, the Danube frontier is about to collapse. The cities and countryside of the Balkans are in chaos. The farms and pastures are indefensible and have been largely abandoned. The cities are shrinking around small, defensible cores. No cities in the Balkans except Thessalonica and Nikopolis had a hippodrome, a praetorium, or public baths any longer. The rest are gradually becoming Castra, that is, fortifications with settlements huddled nearby for protection. If the limes are not restored soon, there will no longer be a Roman civilization left in the Balkans to protect.

    And so, the peace with Persia could not have come too soon. The Avar Khanate, a new power from the steppes, poses the greatest threat to the Eastern Roman Empire since the days of Attila. The fierce Avar horsemen have subjugated some of the Slavs, and have sent the rest flooding into Roman lands. The Avars have invaded the Balkans, and the Avar Khagan, in open antagonism toward the emperor in Constantinople, has stolen the robes of a Roman empress from a church and now wears them, while he openly challenges Roman imperial authority by offering the Roman cities the chance to pay their taxes to the Avars and so gain their protection. The Avars seem to now consider the Roman Empire to be their own. They must be stopped before all of the Balkans fall under their rule. To make matters worse, the Slavs have fled in fear of the Avars and settled on Roman lands. Now they wait in ambush to destroy whatever Roman armies come to reclaim these territories. But with troops from the East, it is now possible to drive both the Avars and the Slavs back to where they came from.

    The Roman objectives are simple: to route the Avars, neutralize the Slavic tribes beyond the frontier and Romanize those that had settled within it so that imperial authority can be firmly re-established over all land south of the Danube. But it is not going to be easy. For one thing, money is tight. Years of war, as well as paying off the Avars with massive gifts of gold, have drained the treasury of Constantinople. Plague and war have devastated the cities, which cannot be expected to provide much aid to the Roman war effort. Manpower is limited. Although soldiering is a privileged profession, enlistment for hard fighting in the Balkans is unattractive: there was little booty to be won on defensive campaigns within the empire, while at the same time the Slavs and nomadic Avars had little to plunder. The new soldiers from the East will help the situation, but if they are squandered the Danube limes will surely collapse.

    Still, if the Romans can emerge victorious in the Balkans, this could be a turning point in history. Maurikios is already planning on bequeathing a reunited Roman Empire to his sons, and driving the Avars and Slavs out of the Balkans could be the first step in completing the failed dream of Justinian. If Maurikios and his generals fail, however, the Balkans will fall under barbarian rule and Constantinople, for the first time will stand open to conquest by fierce foes from the north. The Avars and Slavs will have no mercy on the citizens of the Queen of Cities. They must be stopped before it is too late. The future of the Roman Empire hangs in the balance.



    The Sclavenian Tribes The great migrations of the fifth century, whatever the feelings of the Romans upon whom they impacted, did not drain the forests of Barbaricum of their inhabitants. Quite the contrary, in fact- as groups spread west into the old Western Roman Empire, others emerged from the frozen north and east to replace them.

    The barbarian peoples of the north may be collectively sneered at by the peoples of the Mediterranean world, but they are not a collective group. The barbarian invaders of the Roman Empire can, instead, be divided into roughly four linguistic groups- Germanic speakers, Iranian speakers, Turkic speakers- and a people Roman writers called the Sklavenoi: the Slavs.

    The history of the Slavs is one shrouded in obscurity, but now, finally, the Roman writers to the south are finally starting to recognise that these are a people that merit differentiation from the rest. The Slavic peoples have proved themselves to be fierce warriors, defeating other barbarians, and slowly forcing their way south and westwards, towards civilisation.

    Though the Slavs remain backward compared to those peoples living closer to the Mediterranean, there is no innate impediment to stop them rising to greatness- their martial prowess is already allowing them to take advantage of the vacuum of power that has existed in their area of Europe since the death of Attila some seventy years ago. Establishing hegemony over their own lands, and building a great Slavic Empire is a possibility, but why would a Slav leader stop there? If peoples from the north can take Rome's Western Empire apart, then, a Slavic leader might think, it is perfectly possible that they could take the East too. If they manage to unite themselves against the Roman counter-attack, what should prevent them from ruling all the Balkans?


    The Avars The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars, were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turkic groups. Although the name Avar first appeared in the mid-fifth century, the Avars of Europe enter the historical scene in the mid-sixth century AD, when they established a pax spanning considerable areas of Central and Eastern Europe. Avar rule persisted over much of the Pannonian Plain up to the early 9th century.

    The Avars arrived in the northern region of Caucasia in 557; they sent an embassy to Constantinople, marking their first contact with the Roman Empire. In exchange for gold, they agreed to subjugate the "unruly gentes" on behalf of the Romans. They conquered and incorporated various nomadic tribes - Kutrigur Bulgars, Onogur/Utigur Bulgars, Sabir. They also defeated Antes. By 562 they controlled the steppes north of the Black Sea, and the lower Danube basin.

    By the time of their arrival into the Balkans, the Avars were a heterogeneous group of c. 20,000 horsemen. Having been bought off by the Emperor Justinian I, they pushed northwest into Germania. However, further expansion was halted by Frankish opposition. Seeking rich pastoral lands, they initially demanded land south of the Danube River (in present-day Bulgaria), but this was denied them by the Romans, who used their contacts with the Göktürks as a threat against Avar aggression. They thus turned their attention to the Carpathian plain and the natural defenses it afforded.

    However, the Carpathian basin was then occupied by the Gepids. In 567, the Avars signed an alliance with the Lombards, who were the enemies of the Gepids, and together they destroyed much of the Gepid Kingdom. The Avars then persuaded the Lombards to move into northern Italy, an invasion that marked the last Germanic mass movement in the Migration Period. Continuing their successful policy of turning the various barbarians against each other, the Romans convinced the Avars to attack the Sclavenes in Scythia Minor - for their land was rich with booty and had threatened the Roman provinces to the south. After devastating much of the Sclavenes' land, the Avars returned to Pannonia, but not before many of the Khagan's subjects deserted to the Roman Emperor.

    By 600 AD, the Avars had established a nomadic empire stretching from modern-day Austria in the west to the Pontic steppes in the east, ruling over a multitude of peoples.


    The Antes The Antes do not bare a famous name long-repeated in the ancient annals of the Greeks, nor a name that inspires thoughts of great civilization or culture. They are the men of the forest, men who lurk in trees or wait in ambush under marshy waters. Hiding, but armed with spear and bow, they stand ready to destroy whatever opponent dares venture into their lands, no matter his arms or numbers or fame. And as the Antes look south, over the deep Danuvius, and see the wealthy cities and verdant farmers of the Greek-speakers, they may be moved to go on the offense. If regular payments from the great king in the Ceasar-grad stop coming, they may return to their raids over the river. Why should the Avars and the Slavs get all the spoils?

    Historically, the Antes lived to the north or north-east of the Slavs. Procopius gives a description of the Antes together with the Sclaveni (Slavs). According to Procopius, both these people lack kings, worship one god (the god of lightening), and are stalwart defenders of any guests. But, like Tacitus describing the Germans nearly 500 years earlier, Procopius may just be reflecting Roman attitudes toward foreigners and ideals of “noble savages.” Still, he claims that they all look the same, having neither dark nor light complexions, but a reddish color. Also, he claims that in the distant past the Antes and the Slavs were a single people. A very different account of the Antes is given in Jordanes- he too says that the Slavs and Antes originated from a single people, but he places their homeland further to the north, as far as the Vistula, and says that they did have kings, naming one- Boz.

    Most of what both Procopius and Jordanes knew about the Antes probably came from talking with Antes mercenaries in the pay of the Eastern Roman army in Italy, and from oral histories of the Goths (like that of Abladius, in which the Antes were likely known as Venethi). Though the Antes were known to the Romans since the time of the fall of the Hunnic Empire, their first raids into Roman territory took place in 518AD, and soon after they were engaged as foederati of the empire. They served in the armies of Belisarius, and remained loyal to the Eastern Roman Empire.

    As the Avars swept through the steppe lands north of the Danube in the reign of Justinian, the Antes suffered much from these invaders (Menander, fr. 6). In about 587, the Antes had reached an agreement with Emperor Maurice to ravage Slav territory in an (unsuccessful) attempt to persuade the Slavs to stop their raids against Roman lands (Michael the Syrian, 10. 21). In revenge for this attack on his allies, the Avar Khagan sent his armies to conquer the Antes (Theophylact Simocatta, 8.5.13). Antes identity did not survive their integration into the Avar Khannate, but the Antes may be the ancestors of later people who would settle in the woods, swamps, and sweeping grasslands north of the Danube.



  2. #2
    Ixor_Drakar's Avatar Senator
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    You sneaky devils, didn't see this coming. Love the idea and the 2 units and the wall is the Mesoteichion correct?
    I survived the Mayan Apocalypse 12/21/12

  3. #3
    Alkimachos's Avatar EoR Modeller
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    Mesoteichion was the one of the 3 walls of Constantinople.
    These are the Anastasian Walls builded at late 5th century, 67Km west of the Divine city...

    East of Rome Co - Leader / Modeller of Asia ton Barbaron / Ex beta tester of Roma Surrectum

  4. #4
    Ixor_Drakar's Avatar Senator
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    Ah ok, didn't know about those ones. Merry Christmas to the whole team by the way.
    I survived the Mayan Apocalypse 12/21/12

  5. #5
    Alkimachos's Avatar EoR Modeller
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    You too my friend...

    East of Rome Co - Leader / Modeller of Asia ton Barbaron / Ex beta tester of Roma Surrectum

  6. #6

    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    Nice!!!

  7. #7
    Miles
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    Awesome!

  8. #8
    DevrimJan's Avatar Semisalis
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    Wow! Merry Christmass!!!!!
    My rig.

    Gainward GTX 570
    Intel Core i-7 Sandybridge 2600K
    Asus P8Z68-V Pro Z68 Motherboard
    8GB RAM
    2TB Hardrive
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    Ok, this thread is over.
    My list of most anticipated mods:

  9. #9
    mayotte's Avatar Civis
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    Very nice =) !!! and Merry Christmas to all.

  10. #10
    Pope Gregorius I's Avatar Ducenarius
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    A Merry Christmas indeed! Looks like it will be a fun little teaser for the main mod. Can't wit for its release ( when...? )
    "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great compassion. Your delight is not in horses, nor Your pleasure in warriors strength..."

  11. #11
    Jezza93's Avatar Centenarius
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    I am looking forward to this mod...SO MUCH!

  12. #12
    Sanguinary Guardian's Avatar Primicerius
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    Very nice work! Merry Christmas to all!




    H ΕΛΛΑΔΑ κι ο ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΣ είναι αξίες ιερότερες από οποιαδήποτε ειρήνη!

    Despite all we have lost so far, our fire still burns...

  13. #13
    Christonikos's Avatar Centenarius
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    I love mini campaigns!!!

  14. #14
    Latin Knight's Avatar Miles
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    Great work, very good concept! And Merry Christmas to all of you!

    Just one question: Will Phokas make an appearance in this mod? After all, it were the legions of the Danube that mutinied against Maurikios and proclaimed Phokas emperor, right? Or is it beyond the timeframe of this mod?

  15. #15
    CReSTo's Avatar Civis
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    Really looks amazing.Great work!

    +rep


  16. #16

    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    just perfect , keep it coming guys + rep alki and deutch

    The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.
    Niccolo Machiavelli

  17. #17
    xxxMoRaVexxx's Avatar Ordinarius
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    There will be MUCH stuff coming! So stay tuned!

    @Alkimachos:

    I sent the pic, check your inbox.

    "*maintaning radio silence... now!"





  18. #18
    jakerslake's Avatar Libertus
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    ahhhhhh I am drooling,.....Merry Christmas!

  19. #19
    Alkimachos's Avatar EoR Modeller
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser

    Thanks people for your kind words, happy Christmas to all!!!

    @Mark, thank you my friend...
    @Latin Knight, Phocas unfortunately is not in the beta mini - campaign... But maybe we'll make a good Historical event to show how ended the reign of Mavrikios and started this of Phocas...
    Last edited by Alkimachos; December 26, 2011 at 12:27 AM.

    East of Rome Co - Leader / Modeller of Asia ton Barbaron / Ex beta tester of Roma Surrectum

  20. #20
    matmohair1's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: [East of Rome] Christmas Teaser



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