"Shall I order a messenger to go Draganos?"
"No I'll go myself I have trained a new army in Nicaea that will be the army who will follow me in combat. Plus I have some unfinished business in Constantinople that needs attention."
"What shall I do?"
"I shall tell your brother to come here as well as I wil order the Royal Fleet to pick you up and bring you to your targets.
"Fine."
"After the campaign send your army to a retraining spot and come to Constantinople. Tell that to Draganos as well."
"I will, have a good trip Zigavinos.
"Thank you and may god help you with your mission."
"Thank you my lord."
13 days later in Constantinople
Draganos was in the Blachemae palace welcoming his new sister in the family as well as in the capital. Shorena had arrived one hour ago, and now the emperor had came back from his many victories as well. An scribe came to the Bastarnae palace to give the news of the arrival of the emperor. Draganos hastenend towards the gate of Apollo welcoming his friend and emperor.
"So what have you been up to Draganos while ruling this city?"
"I have founded a new university. Wise men from al around the world come here now to learn about Greek and Roman wisdom, but they also learn us about their own wisdom making us a very advanced nation
"And what more?"
"The usual, Oh before I forget Pelekanos had send a message. He had won the battle of Heraclea and added it to our realm."
"Great news. Draganos I have another task for you that needs to be accomplished, go to your brother Efstathios he will tell you what needs to be done."
"Why can't you tell me?"
"I'm afraid of spies but please go quickly."
"I'll pack my things and I'll leave in one hour."
"Good and thank you. I need to get to some state affairs and to my wife."
"The senate wants to offer you a triump festival."
"I'll talk to them myself later on for now hurry."
With that said Draganos quickly walked to his palace and made himself ready for the journey. 2 Hours later a scribe told me that a ship with Draganos and his company of friends and bodyguards had gone to the south. After Draganos left to his palace I went to my wife and children and I stayed with them for a week. The last day of that week I was so busy with state affairs that I couldn't be home, that was what my wife thought in fact, the meeting with the senate council was quickly over and I went to the Blachemea palace to welcome it's newest resident in the way she wanted.
At the end of the week my newly trained army arrived from Nicaea, before I left I stayed the whole day with my wife. The children were out to school or were at their care taker. While I stayed with my wife all day and night and the next day on the eight day after my arrival I marched out with my newly trained army.
This army composed out of elite swordsmen and a elite unit corpse called the Emperor's guard. These men were trained just as bodyguards for the emperor, but they fought on foot. To symbolise their position they wore a purple cloack.
The battle plan was that every army would attack at the same time. The scheduled day for the attack was 29 of July.
My target was Iraklion, the smallest city of the republic, but the closest to Constantinople and posed the most danger.
Draganos would attack Famegusta and make Cyprus one whole again
Efstathios would attack Rhodes
The siege of Iraklion commenced at the 29th of July 3 hours after I set foot on Crete.
As this was an battle against rebells I felt no need to ride in front of my army to show the rebels honour, instead I took my place behind my royal guard.
The enemy not ready for my unexpected assault took refuge at the town centre and I let my trebuchets bombard them from behind the walls
Knowing that they would be killed if they holded their ground. They marched onwards and they threatenend my trebuchets. I send forward my archers who quickly and easily killed the unarmoured and packed formations of the rebels
only 200 rebels were left after my archers were done and the trebuchets had no boulders left to fire with. These 200 Greeks were not Spartan warriors and were very easily killed by my bodyguard. The day was ours with minimal losses
The siege of Rhodes commenced on July 29. Few hours after the landing on the island
The trebuchets were used to make a breach in the walls
After the breaches were made, Efstathios immediatly send in his swordsmen to cut down the defenders of the walls
The enemy was easily driven back from the walls and forced into a retreat to the towncentre. The retreat was unorganized and unordely so it was a chaos and many rebels and imperial troops founded death. At the town centre only the enemy captain remainend and he fought brave but he also was killed in the heat of battle and so Rhodes was ours
The siege of Famegusta commenced at July 30th. Draganos had been strikken ill and he wasn't cured to led the assault on the planned date. The rebels gained very precious time and their defence was wel prepared
As every Roman general had done the last 10 years. Breaches were made inside the cities walls
Draganos ordered his spearmen in to cut the defenders down on the main road. Along with his spearmen he send in his archers and trebuchets. And under the cover of these two the spearmens' resistance was minimal.
At the town square the enemy spearmen made a some kind of shield wall and blocked the way for the spearmen and a lot of them perished here not able to find a weak spot. Draganos heard of this event and he ordered his cavalry in and they went via a down alley and flanked the enemy formation the day was his
And two weeks later every general was in Constantinople to celebrate every succes the Roman Empire had for the last 14 years. The festivities went on for 7 days and the next 7 days the city celebrated the Emperors' 32th birthday. After 14 days filled with joy and laughter, The emperor called another war council meeting to plan a new campaign.
Editor: With such a council I mean you the reader. Give me plans for what I should do.
The meeting
Zigavinos walks inside the Senate. Every senator rises up as he enters the room. He puts the map on the table so everyone can see it. He gives permission to sit down and the meeting begins.
All right the island wars were an succes, but now we have to decide on what to do next. We can all see the map. Now it's time to think about our next campaign. Personally I would like to strike at the holy land, recapturing Jerusalem from the Egyptians, the strategic value of this is that their lands become divided, and not able to contact each other making it easy targets.
When Pelekanos is ready with the Turkish campaign we could attack Georgia, their lands are being neglected due to the war with the Kypchack confederacy, and in those lands a lot of Greeks live, we could bring them together under our rule
The only problem is that a princess of Georgian blood has married inside my royal family, I wouldn´t like to betray my family in law, plus if we conquer the Georgians, there is a big chance we face another war with the Kypchack, I don´t like the sound of that so sorry but I deny your plan senator...?
Senator Nolios
Well senator Nolios I´m sorry but I don´t agree with your plan are there any others who agree with my plan?
You have made a cunning plan indeed my lord, but capturing Jerusalem wouldn't hurt the Egyptians as much as we hope it would. Those lands have faced wars for years and are as poor as Rome was after the sacking of Alarik. I would suggest attacking the Egyptians in their heartland, taking their breadbaskests away from them, by capturing the Nile witch would give us a huge foodboost. Plus I hear that the cities of the Nile are very rich, so much loot can be found.
A cunning plan indeed, what's your name noble senator?
Musthavius
Well Musthavius how would you plan this war?
I would make Cyprus our base of operations. It´s close to all of our targets, Cyprus could be used as a refuge and as a reinforcement centre. I would suggest taking only the coastal cities of Egypt with perhaps a great city at the Nile, but I wouldn´t go to far in uncharted destert territory, those cities probably aren´t worth taking. After you have taken the important cities of Egÿpt you could travel northwards by sea to Armenia and claim the conquered Armenian towns by the Egyptians as your own. And from there with the help of the fourth army of Pelekanos attacking the heartland
Clever plan I like it. Everybody agree? Then I will give the orders for moving the armies and generals to Cyprus. When Pelekanos comes back send him to Cyprus and let him wait there for us.
Efstathios send this plan to your brother. We will send al our armies to Cyprus and from there we will attack Egypt.
Okay I´ll send these orders to Draganos, and after Egypt?
I will explain everything on Cyprus, move you army there. See you there
See you there
The Desert Foe
After the senate meeting I took the first boat I could get and sailed towards Nicaea. Here I picked up my army and went towards Cyprus. I arrived at Cyprus at Oktober 12 in the year of 1212 AD.
In December 28th of the same year Draganos arrived, with news that Pelekanos had invaded the last theme of the Turks. Also he brought news that the Armenians despite great efforts, were defeated and conquered by the Egyptians. According to our scouts they are right beside our borders.
After 5 months of waiting Efstathios finally came with his army and he brought also news. Pelekanos had besieged Sinop and he was victorious. The Turks as a result abondenend their lost lands and they went east towards the lands of the kingdom of Georgia.
When everybody was finally here we debated about our options and how we were going to use them.
I think our best option is to retake the lands of Armenia, by that we secure our eastern front, and we can make a push in the direction of Egypt herself. Even though Egypt's greatest armies are here, if we defeat them nothing stands in our way,
We never are fast enough to completely consolidate our power over these provences. When Egypt comes back to strike at us we will be defeated, sure we have defeated Egypt's greatest armies, but when we arrive at the holy land new armies are trained and ready to strike at us. I say we take the holy land, by that we split the armies from their retraining areas. This will make our job easier.
I don't agree with both of you. If we attack Armenia then Efstathios is right. And for the holy land, if we attack that and take it, then we still have the problems of our manpower. We don't have enough men to attack both areas. We need all te men we can get for attacking the Egyptian main armies and we need all the men we have for the training centres wich are unlike the Turks heavily guarded. I say we attack Egypt, this will give us the food income of the Nile, plus we take out the training hotspots for the Egyptian armies, that way they will bleed out, and we can safely take the lands of the crusaders and the Armenians. I'll send word to Pelekanos that he has to come here soon 4 armies is better then 3 armies
We don't need him let him clean the rebel armies in Turkey or guard the borders.
Yes we need him he has proven himselve during the Turkish campaign he's a able field general who can win battles with mediocre units
mumble mumble
Good now prepare your self I want to sail out tomorrow
yes sir
Tell your men to sleep well take the pleasures in the local brothels and tell them to rest. War is upon us, some of them will not their homes again
And so on may 5th of 1213 we sailed out towards a land were no Roman army ever has been since the days of emperor Heraclius
1 Week after our sail we arrived at Egypt. We decided that Draganos and I would secure the coastal provences, and that Efstathios would march inland to secure a beachhead, I arrived and attacked the harbor city of Damyut
The trebuchets maded breaches inside the enemy walls
The trebuchets were made and me and my army marched in. As I did earlier I fought as Alexander. I charged first and I made the first kill, just as with the great Macedonian king the army followed me.
The Egyptians holded their ground at the town centre. Knowing that they would be overwhelmed at the walls they tried to fill the gap of the streets with their spearman. Unfortunately for them and thank god for me, these men weren't well trainend and there fore didn't knew a answer to the heavy charge of my Greek bodyguard. There formation became disorganised they held their ground till the last man something you couldn't say of their Turkish counterparts, but nevertheless we won
After my victory I renamed Damyut to Porta Aegyptus, as this would be the dock where the reinforcements and supplies would arrive.
An messenger arrived a few hours later by boat, telling me that the Georgian kingdom, also an ally of the Egyptians, has chosen the side of the Egyptians. Furious of this betrayal I send worth to Pelekanos to form a new army and march onward to Georgia and the Greek-Georgian cities and castles to free the Greek citizens of Georgian rule.
Meanwhile news arrived me of Draganos' battle at Alexandria, the city founded by the Macedonian king and the city who had become a wealthy metropolis under Egyptian rule
Though he was the lesser general of our team, he still did a good job. He used the trebuchets to breach the walls after the walls were breached he send in his spearmen who steadily advanced in the town under the cover from archers, the same thing he did in Famagusta. He drove the enemy soldiers back from the walls and drove them to the town centre, here his cavalry could run freely and so the day was his
So Draganos had won, now it was waiting time for the messengers of Efstathios, who came after a week.
Efstathios besieged the great castle of Bilbeis. He faced the cream of the Egyptian army though they were in small numbers and didn't made a huge threat, if good positioned they could make Efstathios' job very hard
The opening face was the bombardment of trebuchets at the walls. The enemy were nowhere to be seen and so Efstathios and his men cautiously marched in
Inside the city they were ambushed by Mamluk Tabardiyya, the elite soldiers of the Egyptian empire, and they showed why they were the elites, according to Efstathios report:
"If I hadn't pulled back my cavalry then I wouldn't have cavalry for the rest of the campaign."
Nevertheless they were eventually surrounded by Efstathios' swordsmen who after a hard fight made short work of them. The Mamluk archers were easily routed and destroyed by the bodyguard of Efstathios. The enemy commander knowing that he had no chance, withdrawed. Efstathios catched him up and with no supporting troops the fight became a commander versus commander fight.
The fighting was hard and with the support of the coming swordsmen the enemy bodyguard was eventually surrounded and then destroyed the castle of Bilbeis was captured.
After I heard of the victory I gave the order to move out. I left a Greek officer here to train a local garisson. On the road I met with Draganos who would help me with the upcoming battles. I send Efstathios back to Cyprus for retraining. For he had suffered the most losses.
Where are we going to now?
I have always wanted to see the valley of kings at Luxor, they say that the structures are beautifull but most of all filled with treasure and riches.
Just give the word and I'll do it
glad to hear that
And with that said we went south towards the last great cities of Egypt in Egypt herself
My noble fellow senators I have received a letter from our most glorious emperor, who tells us that his grand strategy paid of and that Egypt is on the brink of fal, I hereby let you know that the great cities of Alexandria, Dumyat or Porta Aegyptus as it now been called and Bilbeis have been captured and added for the glory of the empire!
The senators cheer and celebrate although in the corner one man sits not eager to party
His great strategy? Phah if it wasn't for me he would now be on a fighting retreat being overwhelmed by the Egyptian Forces in the area. He would be death now if I didn't told him his great strategy
Are we a little bit angry Musthavius? You didn't expect at al that this would happen? That the noble emperor himself would give you your share of the rewards that are now being spilled by his soldiers in brothels and foreign markets.
Shut up Nolios, why are you happy anyway, the emperor is now using your plan partially, and he will give you no credit for his victory in Georgia.
Who said that I was happy, and since when does Zigavinos himself reside near the borders of Georgia? No it's my brother in law who resides at the borders of Georgia, my brother in law who I put forward in the council as a worthy general and look how my prospects awarded the empire
Why aren't you celebrating with our fellow senators then?
Because I have a plan that will fullfill both of our dreams, the reinstatement of the republic, were we the senators have the power and not some sort of advicing role.
I'm intrigued let's hear it
The other day I was having dinner with a friend of mine when I saw senator Kasrkinios walking by with a man a friend of him I suppose. Anyway I walked to him to discuss the meeting of that day. They went in an alley and they stopped there, When I was ready to follow him in the alley I heard his voice speaking to the other and I waited around the corner to hear what he said.
three days ago
What I'm going to tell you now has to be a secret okay?
unknown voice
yes, what's your big secret that you have been on an on about whole day.
My sister's brother in law is a doctor as you know.
unkown voice
Yes I know please tell faster I have a important appointment that I have to attend
Well four days ago he had to give birth to a baby, not just any baby, but a future prince
unknown voice
really did the Augusta gave birth to another child
No not the Augusta, that Georgian princess, Shorena I think her name is.
unknown voice
Shorena, that's the wife of prince Efstathios. The most beautiful women in the entire empire, but what's wrong with a women that gives birth?
That the husband hasn't been in Constantinople for 5 years. While the lady has been since they married, the child is not Efstathios'
unknown voice
He was here with the triump festivities
No he wasn't he had send someone in his place, and the most curious thing is that the emperor when he's in the city he always visit her, and the last visit of him was practically almost
unknown voice
a year ago.
Exactly
So the emperor is cheating on his wife and the wife of Efstathios is cheating on him, what's the big deal?
You also want to see the republic restored just as I do right?
Yes
Then you have to come with me.
Where are we going to?
To Cyprus to visit a young general
Okay I shall pack my things,
I have already borrowed a boat who can bring us there. Meet me tomorrow in the docks at twelve hours.
The next day
Ah Musthavios you are here, great now we can sail out
Nolios I still don't understand your plan,
I will tell you when we are out the docks, come quickly now the ship is about to set sail
The two men hastily climb the wooden plank to the boat and on the boat they are being called
Senator Nolios and senator Musthavius, what a great pleasure to meet you here
Senator Kasrkinios???
What are you doing here?
I received a letter from the emperor witch instructs me to come to him and join his army.
Why would you do that?
My brother who's a senior officer at his army recommended me and now he called me to join his army as his Strategos died and he didn't find anyone good among his current officers
Why were you asked?
I have fought in the emperor's bodyguard in the Turkish wars, I was wounded terribly at the siege of Ankara, and the emperor had send me home, I recovered and now I'm here to help my former general out, Why are you going to the emperor?
We're not actually, we are going to cyprus, we had made reservations for this ship so we could travel there quickly
This ship is going on a direct tour to Porta Aegyptus I'm afraid, the ship you mean was a few hours ago being taken in control by that Georgian princess, I don't know where she is going to though. Anyway I'm going to unpack. Bye
Bye, Nolios now what are we going to do? We can't get out now this ship has already set sail.
When this ship arrives in Zigavina we will get of and we will wait for another ship or we should do another plan I have been working about. I'll tell you everything, right now unpack your things and relax, enjoy the trip, after this trip it wil be a hell ride
The War of The Nile
After arriving in Zigavina
Captain
We can't sail any further, the wind is to harsh, everybody stay here and when the wind goes down we will sail out immediatly
To bad I want to get the emperor as quickly as possible, I want to join him. I could always visit general Pelekanos.
Is he here?
Yes didn't you know? He arrived according to the locals two or three days ago, every field army was given the order to go to Egypt.
Why?
I think for wrapping things up in Egypt and later on ofcourse the invasion of the Holy Land and Armenia.
I hope you can excuse us we want to visit the noble general, could you stay here and look after our luggage please? Oh and if you don't mind could you call us when the boat will be sailing out again?
Ofcourse fellow senators.
Thank you
I thought you didn't want to go to Egypt?
Sometimes my good friend Musthavius you can be as dumb as you are smart, ofcourse I don't want to go but we need to speak with Pelekanos for our plan.
When they arrive at the residence of Pelekanos
Ah noble senators, good to see you here! I always thought that you senators weren't warriors, but this proves I'm wrong. So you are thinking about answering the call of the emperor
Well actually
Ofcourse
You are the first senators to respond to the order of the emperor, are you the only senators here?
No senator Karskinios is here to but what letter are you talking about?
The letter that states that every army in the field with their generals must come to Porta Aegyptus as wel as every senator
After he said that a loud horn is heard
Ah the wind went down, my fleet will be moving soon. I'll see you in Aegyptus
The two senators are to confused to talk and end up staring at each other.
Got any ideas?
I have always wondered how warm the sun is in Aegyptus. I suggest we sould find out
And later that afternoon after the war fleet of Pelekanos had sailed out so is the boat of the three senators
I thought you would stay here in Zigavina?
Change of plans, apperantly the emperor has ordered every senator to come to the new capital of Aegyptus Porta Aegyptus, and here he would us what his next plan would be and what for advice we could give him
Atleast I won't be alone on my travel towards Egypt
Meanwhile in Egypt
I gave order to Draganos to attack the city of Qahira, while he would do that my army could go further south to rat out the last Egyptian forces in the desert of Aegyptus so we couldn't be attacked in the back.
The citizens of Qahira were being aided by the last field army of the Egyptians in Aegyptus itself
As usuall the walls were being pounded by the trebuchets untill breaches were being made
While Draganos and his cavalry force would attack the enemy reinforcements, so would his infantry force attack the city its selve
The enemy cavalry quickly attacked Draganos and his cavalry to make sure that at least a portion of the relieve force could get safe inside the city. These heavy cavalry were armed the same way the Mamluks were they were only lesser trained and their primary weapon is the bow
Due to their heavy armour they held out long, while the infantry forces clashed inside the streets of Qahira
Finally due to their sheer numerical overweight the enemy cavalry routed and they were cut down by Draganos and his men. He quickly returned to the infantry who were facing heavy resistance and needed some way of aid, so Draganos decided he himselve was the rest cure for this Egyptian illness. The Turks showed us the weak version of the infidels the Egyptians showed us the strong version. There ancestors would be proud upon them
The battle at the gate was harsh but thanks to the arrival of Draganos the tide turned and the enemy retreated to the town centre were they would hold their last stand. Draganos ordered all his men in and he posted his archers behind the infantry lines who launched deathly volleys at the Egyptians.
The enemy knowing they would be killed if they would do nothing quickly charged suicidally in our lines. The soldiers of Draganos were startled and a portion fled. However Draganos ordered the remnants of his cavalry to charge in the rear of the enemy and they surrendered or died. Draganos chivalrous as he is let those who surrendered live
After the battle Draganos immediatly send his army to Cyprus were they could get retraining.
While Draganos went rebuilding Qahira as a true Roman city I went further south to the last great true Egyptian city called Luxor.
The city was being defended by a fastly trained garisson and doesn't need to be reported. If you want to know what happenend read the other reports and you will get a clue. We won there and we only lost men to archery fire
After my victory at Luxor I ordered the construction of a stone orthodox chapel and when it was done I led the first service inside the chapel, I ordered the recruitment of a few archer battalions and after that I ordered the march to the north, were I heard that the armies of Efstathios and Draganos had returned from their retraining duties and were we all would wait on the coming reinforcements of Pelekanos and the senators who were ordered to come here and to aid and advice me on my new campaign
okay entered it:original:
A month after they left Constantinople the three senators arrived at Porta Aegyptus were they are welcomed by the emperor himselve
Greetings noble senators, I hope you had a pleasant trip,
We had to come didn't we, I heard you ordered it
True I need you here to guide me in my campaign for the one that comes now will be the hardest. As you were here first I'll promote you to the rank of Strategos, this position means that you are second in command and is a very important position. Musthavius for your great military skill, I ask you to aid Draganos as his skills for a general needs to be developed with a proper tutor, Kasrkinios because you fought at my side I ask you to aid Efstathios, I know what you can do and know that someone like him could use someone like you. And that leaves Nolios, you have foreseen the problem of Georgia may you foresee many more problems while at my side. Now senators this is the situation at hand
Torturing the prisones was a dirty job but gave information about the Egyptian empire. They have conquered all of the Arabian peninsula but they are driven back by the Imamate of Oman.Our southern Mekurian neighbors have also invaded the Arabian peninsula. The largest forces of the Egyptians are in the holy land Armenia and their north eastern border near Edessa is very threatenend by foreign countries. They are assembling their troops in Armenia for a push in our lands. I have already precautions for this and two field armies are already being trainend and being send to this border
And now I ask you as my tactical advisors what must I do to achieve victory?
Beggars in Constantinople
Enrikos my good friend, how are you doing?
I'm fine thank you senator Masakyus.
Do you feel like going for a walk with me my liege? My wife went to our mansion in Hadrianople she took our kids with her.
Ofcourse Masakyus, let me prepare myself, I'll be right back
When Enrikos returns he finds senator Masakyus patiently waiting at the door.
Come my lord. The sun is shining.
The two men walk through Constantinople.
You were right senator the sun is lovely, I see a lot of people have thought the same thing we thought Although it really seems crowded don't you think, I have never seen so many people at our forum at the same time.
Maybe a special price at the market stalls? I don't know ah well Constantinople is a large city my liege, since our victory at Zama against the rebellious Crusaders a lot of people fear the foreign threats and are coming to live within the save walls of our majestic city.
Look at al those women and men begging for some coins. Senator since when did the whole population of our great empire go poor?
Where do they all come from?
Come let's go walk through the woods of Constantine,
Okay some fresh air would do us some good
The two men walk towards the gatehouse, were they leave the city of Constantinope to walk through the woods of Constantine.
The only good thing that Romanus Diogenus left us the great forest of Constantine.
A few hours later
Well friend my feet begin to hurt let's go back to enjoy the pleasures of some good Greek wine,
I agree
The two men walk back to the gates and when they get out of the woods, they see something unbelievable. the royal road is filled with horse carts carrying peoples belongings as far as the eye can see.
Okay senator since when does the entire Roman population move towards the Constantinople?
A cart driver hear what he said and replies:
Do you think we like moving to our great city, do you think we like leaving our belongings behind in our cities?
Why are you moving then?
Why should I stay, if I could get killed by some honourless horde?
Noble farmer are you treatenend by a rebellion if so I'll send a message to our troop centres at the Aegean sea.
Rebellion PHAH. the Farmer spits before the feets of the senator. Don't you know it yet noble senator. We were besieged by an army carrying the GEORGIAN FLAG, only thanks to general Stratiocus did they fled
If the themata is safe why are you moving then?
Because senator, according to rumours from the north, pirates wearing the Pagan flag are harrassing the northern docks and they are sieging there old city, the two who once were enemies are now allies and they have found a common enemy
I'll go to my father, he needs to be informed about this
God speed Enrikos
Oh you are the son of the emperor. He's a damn fine general, he brought 15 years of peace towards the Turkish lands were once were constant hierarchycal wars between the sultan and his sons.
Later that day Enrikos sails out with the fastest ship in Constantinople and sails out to his father.
The holy land
The day after Pelekanos arrived he immediatly left to help the attack from the old Armenian border. When he left I ordered for a last time every general and his strategos together for a last tactical meeting.
At this meeting we decided that we would invade the poorly defended lands of Palestine. We would attack by boat at a different time to make the enemy run to their lost lands to lose another province in the city that they left. The first to sail out were Efstathios and his strategos Kasrkinios, 3 days later Draganos and Musthavius would go sail out and after 4 days I and Nolios would sail away. Before we all made our preparations I send the majority of my royal fleet to the north to Antioch to make the enemy think I would attack there.
One week after the sail out of my royal fleet Efstathios left with a prosperous wind. When he was just a dot at the horizon a small boat returned with a messenger telling me that my royal fleet was attacked near Tyre.
Tyre was the headquarters of the Ayyubid fleet since they lost Alexandria four months ago. Because the majority of the fleet was then in Armenia putting out the last fires of the Armenian armies, their fleet was largely intact. They were succesfull and good in their job and they progressed so fast that they could return quickly before the land army was done. When they heard that Alexandria had fallen they went to Tyre making it their new naval base.
When they heard that a huge Roman fleet carrying the Emperor's banner was sailing nearby they couldn't resist the temptation of the attack. They had even more luck as a huge storm hitted the coast the night before they had set sail and so not a few ships were damaged. They charged out and were commanded by the same admiral as the admiral that led the fleet at Armenia, his name as Baruk Aj Bars. Our fleet had infact lost some ships due to the heavy storm, but these boats were made in Greek dockyards and the Greeks still possesed the greatest craftmanship when they builded boats, and so less boats were lost then the enemy thought. This fleet was led by the noble senator-Admiral Raunous.
The fleets were almost even in size with a small numerical advantage for the Ayyubids, I don't call them Egyptians anymore for they have lost their home land so what's the point, instead I give them the name of their royal family.
When admiral Raunous heard of the enemies' advance he didn't waste any time to give the orders for that day. The fleet of the admiral cosisted mostly out of Dromons but also a few ships with catapults who fired balls with one of the greatest Greek inventions: Greek Fire. The admiral also had some ships from when the time when the great city of Rome still was a part of our empire, triremes I think they are called and some ships who's main role was to transport units, these ships were loaded with units and they still had the legendary corvus, who was still used with sufficient efficience
He positioned his fleet between two sand banks, the Ayyubids didn't know of this and in their initial charge a lot of ships stranded to be quickly destroyed by the Greek Fire of my Raunous' ships. With that initial charge the enemy lost 22 of their 180 ships. While Raunous still hadn't lost any ship and stil had 168 ships. He ordered his light triremes to sail around the sand banks to attack the enemy in the flanks and rear while he ordered his dromons to sail through the centre under support from his Greek Fire throwing ships. This plan initially failed because the Triremes couldn't move because suddenly the wind went down and the spades were getting destroyed by crashes. The Ayyubids now could focus their full attention on the main fleet of Raunous who without the Triremes only counted 130 ships. But the Greeks still rule the sea and the superior maded ships of the Romans held firm against the Ayyubid ships who were to broath to make an efficient force through the sand banks.
The seabattle had already lasted an hour when the wind came up again. The triremes immediatly set sail towards the flanks of the enemy fleet and the suprise attack was devastating. The enemy was very suprised with the sudden arrival of another 30 Greek ships. Witnessed the power of the rest of their counterparts their morale quickly faded away and they tried to run only to crash in one another, leaving their rout a complete disaster with the entire fleet destroyed. Admiral Raunous spotted Baruk Aj Bars who was struggling for his life whilst holding on to a piece of wood. Ruunus got him on board and for the deaths he made under the Armenian population admiral Raunous cut of the head of Baruk Aj Bars.
After this victory the Ayyubid fleet was as good as gone and without their fleet reinforcements from every corner of the empire could now sail in attacking undefended pieces of coast.
Four days after he set sail to his target, Efstathios arrived without facing any resistance. His target would be the huge citadel of Acre, this citadel once was the greatest barracks of the Crusader states but was now used as a resting place between marches, and if Efstathios was lucky no one was using the stop when he arrived there. His scouts reported that the one ruling the place was none less then the enemy sultan. He remembered his orders and he sieged and assaulted the place immediatly. Senator Kasrkinios joined the bodyguard of Efstathios
The citadel of Acre due to it's former importance was defended by three ring wall, The sultan knew that it took time to breach through that kind of defences, precious time that Efstathios didn't had. He asked Kasrkinios what to do who simply replied,
We should take the walls down one by one
Efstathios listenend to him, and ordered his trebuchets to fire and once a breach was made he ordered his men inside to make sure that they wouldn't be attacked by a Ayyubid relieve force
When the last wall fell Efstathios was alone with his bodyguard, The sultan seeing their isolation attacked them and wounded Efstathios. Kasrkinios seeing the great danger Efstathios was in picked up his lance and throwed it to the sultan, the lance hitted the sultan's stomach who instantly died. The bodyguard confused by this turn of events, surrendered but Kasrkinios ordered to kill them all
After the battle Efstathios was brought to a field hospital to recover from his wounds. He gave Kasrkinios the order to siege and attack the city of Tyre, witch he quickly won, and so the first siege who was fought by someone else then a noblemen was won.
While Kasrkinios marched towards Tyre. Draganos landed. His objective was to take the town of Jaffa, but his spies reported that the holy city of Jerusalem wasn't defended properly. Draganos seeing that this was his chance for eternal fame and glory immediatly ordered the march towards Jerusalem. When I set sail towards my goal, he sieged Jerusalem
The enemy didn't wait at the walls but in the streets to put up heavy resistance
Strategos Musthavius was ordered to lead the first assault.
The two armies met in the streets of Jerusalem and a heavy battle occured
Musthavius showed his bravery and skill by fighting in the first line and he killed many Ayyubids. The enemy was succumbed and eventually the streets of Jerusalem was red of infidel blood
The enemy who were eventually being pushed back towards the centre of the town saw that there was no chance of survival and they surrendered. Musthavius being as chivalrous as Draganos granted them mercy.
After his victory Draganos just as Efstathios did granted Musthavius the chance of proving himselve and he ordered him to attack the city that Draganos had to conquer Jaffa. When I arrived at Jaffa 5 days after the victory at Jerusalem, Jaffa was decorated by Roman banners.
Due to a storm I was forced to stay in the port of Jaffa, were a sudden suprise arrived from the sea. My son arrived in a smal fast vessel.
I was so glad that I had the chance to talk with him. He gave me very bad news. The kingdom of Georgia and the Kypchack confederacy had ended the war with eachother and now they felt threatenend by our coming successes. They felt it was their job to halt this turn of events by attacking us. The initial attacks were beaten my son said, and two armies led by Pelekanos and Stratiocus were already send north to invade the lands of the Georgians
Knowing they were vastly outnumbered I went with my army north to aid them in battle. I ordered my son to stay here to gain some experience as a governor of a Themata. My son seeing my sadness told me that not all hope was lost. He saw my confused face and he told me that he personally send a message to the Seljuk Turks to ask for aid. They hated the Georgians and were very eager to join in an alliance with us
Thankfully praying for this good news I gave my son a kis on his cheeck and sailed out. Within the week I was at Cyprus
Leaving the command of the Palestinian-Syrian campaign with my son, the Basilacius brothers and the senators.
Roma victor part 1 The Georgian War
Two weeks after I left Jaffa, I arrived at Cyprus. Here I retrained my army and I stayed here for a month. In this time period nothing interesting happens. So after a month I was relieved to get of that island for I really got bored there. After one day of sailing me and my arrived on the the main land of Asia Minor. we docked at the city of Attalia, the city were Efstathios had one of the greatest victories since the times of Heraclius and Basil. Then a Turkish city it rapidly transformed in a true Roman city and thus I could never see that it once was a Turkish town.
Here the new general of my army waited for me to get his new army. The man who would be taken my army answers by the name of Dionysios Phocas. He is a far descendant of Flavius Phocas one of the worst emperors in New Roman history. But despite this heritage, Dionysios proved himselve to be an outstanding military commander who defended the walls of Varna countless of times.
He grew up in the Roman city of Hadrianople. During his days as a teenager he frequently visited bars and brothels of the city and his parents worried whether or not their son would grow up to be a good man, they decided to send him with the military hoping he would get disciplined. When he became of age he packed his things and moved towards Nicaea, where he enlisted in the army. He fought as a officer in the army of Efstathios when he attacked and conquered Varna. Apparently he made a good appearance as he was tasked with the defence of the city witch he held untill present day. But when I met him he wasn't a mere garisson commander, now in him I saw a true general, the same thing I saw when I looked at Efstathios and Pelekanos. This boy was destinend for glory and greatness, now let's hope he'll act for the empire and it's emperor instead of himself.
Dionysios was given my army without the emperor's guard who were travelling with me to Constantinope to act as my bodyguard. After the army swoar an oath of trust towards their new general, they marched northwards to accompany the rest of the northern field armies.
After he left I stayed in Attalia one day to celebrate the festivities the population was given in my honour. After that I marched towards Constantinope were I arrived after a march of one week. In Constantinople a messenger was waiting inside the royal palace for my return. He gave me the reports of Pelekanos who trusted on his own skills rather then waiting for reinforcements and so he had already invaded the lands of the kingdom of Georgia. He had begun the siege of Amasia when I arrived at the shore of Attalia and now he had sent me battle reports of that battle. Witch has fought the same the day as the assault.
The Georgian defenders though far weaker in numbers, sallied. They had celebrated many victories and they thought that their nemesis in the field was just as easily to defeat as the Kypchacks and the Seljuks
Trebuchets were used to fire at the coming enemy.
The enemy scared of the casualties our trebuchets fled back inside their city. to defend the walls. The trebuchtes bombarded the enemy walls, who quickly breached. Pelekanos angry with the arrogance the Georgians had ordered the entire army in and were ordered to massacre every men that would dare to pick up arms against them
The Georgian defenders seeing the fierceness of our Roman soldiers who even tried to wound each other to kill any of them. The enemy then realised that Roman arms were again beginning to dominate the middle-east and they fled scared of what these Romans could do to them
The fleeing Georgians were being chased by Pelekanos and his cavalry. When Pelekanos stumbled on the last resistance of the Georgian defenders he personally led the charge.
The Romans didn't noticed who they killed, they only watched towards the armour of the man they were opposing, if they didn't recognized it, they attacked it. Among those deaths was the enemy general, who's horse was killed by a dagger of a swordsman who lost his sword. The general was easily killed
When the general got killed the remaining men were holding their ground at the town centre. Hoping to get mercy they were easily killed
And so one of the greatest siege victories in was won. And Pelekanos gave his men one week to loot the newly conquered city. After that week nothing of value remained inside the city
I looked at our newly conquered provence along with the diplomacy chart that was made by my diplomats
We have to move fast, our allies the Seljuks are faced with a huge war. If we abandon them, we will lose another ally, we can't do that as we don't want to have the reputation that our allies quickly get destroyed.
After his victory at Amasia Pelekanos waited for Stratiocus, and together they marched into Georgian territory
When arriving at the first of the many Georgian mountains. The two generals changed main marching line and started to work with cavalry at front and back to protect the infantry who needed more time to deploy from possible Georgian ambushes
That night I slept well. However the next day, a messenger from our Seljuk allies arrived at our doorstep. Saying that they couldn't follow us in battle anymore for they have signed a very bad peace treaty with their warring neighbours. But a treaty is a treaty and this way we can give our country and men some rest.
I didn't liked this for now we didn't had any reinforcements from the eastern border the Georgians could now send all of their armies to the front they have with us.
To calm my nerves I made a walk through the city, were I encoutered the Shorena the Georgian princess. She didn't saw me as I followed her. I found out she talked to a hooded man giving him a letter. I didn't trust this and I ordered a few soldiers of mine to follow the man and kill him in a place where no other people were to give me that letter.
Roma Victor part 2 The Ayyubid War
Here follows the account of Draganos Basilacius, general of the second Egyptian army.
One week after my noble emperor set sail towards Asia Minor my brother and I thought it was time to get the army moving and to conquer more parts of the formerly known Egyptian empire.
I marched onwards to Tripoli and my brother towards Baalbek
My journey went well. And after a fast march we arrived at Tripoli three days after we took off
The city of Tripoli was once a great Crusader city untill it was captured by Saladin the Great. Al though it was an Egyptian city, you could still see the Western styled buildings that had dominated in Tripoli during it's place as an Crusader city
Traditionally the walls were breached by my trebuchets and I send forth the infantry under command of senator Musthavius
He made good progress inside the city untill he encoutered some heavily armoured Mamluk horse archers who halted his advance and even putted him back wards
Musthavius sended a messenger to me for help and I send in the cavalry. The cavalry were supported by the infantry and they quickly decimated the enemy Mamluk horse archers
With the defeat of the enemy Mamluks the road was open for us. However Musthavius asked me if he could charge the last defenders as he wanted revenge for what the horse archers did to his men. I granted him that. He surrounded the enemy with his infantry to make sure none survived. And the massacre began. Leaving none of the enemy alive
After our victory at Tripoli the men wanted to march further, even if it would cost them the rewards of sacking and pillaging a city. So I moved further to the castle of Tartus, I gave the siege command to the senator Musthavius
The garrison was so small that it was easily beaten back. And easily killed. Musthavius hesitated not a single time to take a fleeing enemy prisoner. When only the general was still alive
He surrounded him just as he did in Tripoli but unfortunatly this general once was a sergeant in the army of Saladin the great and thus knew how to fight. He cost us many men before he finally got killed
Unfortunatly I have no account on the battle of Baalbek
I only know that Efstathios putted senator Kasrkinios in the position of commander and he did an excellent job and won the battle
Once I read this report of Draganos my heart was pounding heavily I was glad that the war in the holy land went like this. Some navigators later told me that at this point. The Roman Empire was the largest realm in the known world