[SS AAR] I am Skantarios! - Rebirth of the Eastern Roman Empire - **Complete**

[Beer Money]

Good update! Nice speech.

[dezikeizer]

Another great update by the way.

[Kallum]

This is quite possibly the best Byzantine AAR I've read so far!

+ rep

[Holy winter]

Very good AAR indeed! +rep

[cisse]

Nice!

[dezikeizer]

Brilliant update! Keep up the great work! +rep

[Skantarios]

From the Diary of Diadohos Skantarios, 1459 AD.

Arta, 1459 AD. Following our victories near Thessalonica and Arta, I tarry for the winter in Arta. This is a pleasant time for both the army and myself. Our two lightening marches across the Pindus Mountains and the two major battles fought last year have weakened the army both in numbers and vigor. We need time to recover and regroup. The winter is mild and my troops spend the days in drill and feasting on the food stores the Turks have left behind.

My new bride is diligently working on her Greek and I have even picked up some Hungarian. I am gratified that she is so quickly with child and I hope for a strong heir to continue the Laskaris line. She is a good woman and a strong partner. She, too, will be an asset for the Roman Empire.

Toward the late winter, she shares a letter with me from her father, King Bela, that he has proposed an offensive against the Turks and his Council of Nobles has agreed. Already, the forces of Hungary are marshalling and should be ready to strike the first blow in the new year. I pray that this letter is true and that the Turks will face another Christian foe to the north and be forced to fight on a two-front war. My only concern is that no official correspondence has reached me from the Hungarian Court to this effect. It could be that they are keeping the offensive a secret but it would be so much better if we could coordinate our efforts. I guess the bonds of allies only run so deep.

A messenger from Constantinople has arrived after running the Turkish gauntlet. My father writes that the city's garrison is taking in new soldiers every day and that the militia have recouped their losses following the most recent siege. In a secret addendum to the letter, he also says that the first company of Siphonories will be ready for battle in the coming spring. This new technology should go a long way toward tilting the balance of the infantry battles to come and provide needed relief for our spears and swords defending the capital. He also decided to send my adopted brother, Nikodimos, to the west to take charge of the city of Thessalonica. This is dangerous in the extreme as he must ride fast along the Aegean coast with only his personal bodyguard for security. However, the risk must be taken. We cannot afford to have so much of the imperial line tied up in any one city and be subject to the fortunes of battle. Should a catastrophe occur, the imperial line must live on to continue the fight.

With the coming of spring, my army is ready to move out. We have been unable to replenish our many losses but our troops are now fit and ready for the coming offensives. Our choice of destination becomes much clearer when two pieces of information reach me. The first is that our spy sent north to Scopia has managed to infiltrate the fortress and tells me that he has arranged for the gates to be open upon our advance. Also, the garrison of Scopia has been sent away and that only a single Turkish nobleman with his personal guard is in charge of the defense of the fortress. What became of the large garrison of Scopia soon becomes clear in the second piece of critical information. The garrison has come south, to Arta!

The Turkish field army is only a few days march away from my location and is clearly intent on recapturing this fortress. I silently curse my idleness as the forces I have available are totally unsuited for defense of a stronghold. We are mostly cavalry with only a few archers. We cannot hope to hold this place should a full Turkish field army besiege us.

I determine to immediately march out of Arta and make full speed for Scopia. My spy can only stay so long before discovery and I cannot be caught in a siege here. I send out riders at a gallop to Thessalonica to send some of the infantry newly arrived there to Scopia while I lead the cavalry north back through the Pindus Mountains. All haste is made and here, again, I can see the folly of remaining so long in one place. While my own bodyguard can make Scopia before the winter, the rest of the cavalry cannot. I determine that I will press on and join the infantry sent north from Thessalonica and conduct an immediate assault on Scopia. Should my spies be successful in opening the gates, I will immediately attack with the forces on hand. Should the spies fail, we will begin construction of siege equipment and await the arrival of the cavalry.

In Arta, I leave some of the cavalry behind as well as our archers. They are of sufficient strength to keep the fortress in hand but cannot stand up to a siege. I can only hope that the Turk will react to my movements and forgo a siege of Arta and continue in pursuit of my forces. In case they do not, I send the pregnant Maria south to Mystras along the coastal road. I hate to part from my new bride but I cannot risk her and the child she carries with the campaign to come. I know that I will miss the birth of our child but the risks of her traveling with the field army are unacceptable. I promise her that one day I will escort her into Constantinople as the future empress she is. One day...

Upon my arrival at Scopia, I link up with the small force of infantry from Thessalonica and march on the fortress. Soon, we are in place and ready for battle.


My spies, true to their word, send out the signal that all is ready. I order my forces in for the attack.



Battle of Scopia

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Turks have, indeed, only a single nobleman and his guard to hold the fortress. His name is Cenab Ihsanoglu and he styles himself as the "Emir" of Scopia.


He is a veteran of many conflicts and has a sizeable bodyguard. However, no bodyguard alone, of whatever size, can stand up to a determined assault by Romans. It seems the Turk continues to underestimate our strength and overestimate their security. We will make them pay for their folly and arrogance.

Our forces, while not large, should be more than sufficient.


We assault the fortress without even breaking out of march formation. Surprise is our ally and I intend to use it. I send my spears in first to secure the gate.


The Turkish general, seeing that he has been betrayed by his own gate guards, flees back to the supposed security of the inner keep.


However, my spies have been thorough. The gates of the inner keep are no more secure than the main gates and are thrown open to us upon our advance.

Cenab is totally unsure of how to react and wastes precious time in the central square as our archers take up position on the walls of the inner keep. They begin to rain arrows down on Cenab and his bodyguard while they stand by helpless to respond.


After he loses several of his bodyguards, Cenab must have realized that his position was hopeless. Out of either bravery, desperation, or a desire for martyrdom, he orders his bodyguard out in a suicidal attack against my spears who have taken up a strong position just outside the gates.


I then order my own bodyguard to charge them on the flanks. We cut them down quickly. Cenab fights bravely, but the end was never in any doubt.


With the death of their general, the remaining guards panic and surrender. The fortress is ours!

The fortress is sacked for what little gold it can provide. Those funds are added to our depleted treasury. Following the battle, I order the destruction of the Turkish mosque and the construction of a proper Orthodox chapel. The irony is not lost on me that Turkish gold is being used to fund Christian chapels and churches.

I also order the new Bishop of Thessalonica, Tiverios ek Konstaninoupoleos, to come to the Scopia region and take charge of the conversion efforts in the area. He is a man of strong faith but some unusual habits. Perhaps that is what is needed to turn back the tide of Islam in Europe.


Once these arrangements are in place, I leave the fortress to rejoin the cavalry of the field army. I will not make the same mistake of Arta. The cavalry will remain outside the fortress. There is more than a little grumbling from the men that they have lost out on the spoils of Scopia. I rather rudely inform them that this is a lesson to remember and that they will need to march as hard as I if they wish to share in the rewards of victory.

The year closes with my forces in winter camp in the mountains. I intend to move south once the spring thaw comes and link up with new forces coming from Mystras.

The news I receive from my diplomats is extremely encouraging.


Hungary has fulfilled their promise and have declared war against the Turk! Added to this, our Orthodox brothers to the north are now also at war with the Turks. Whether they were motivated by Orthodox Christian brotherhood or they sensed weakness from Turkey due to our recent victories, a three front war for the Turks may be more than even they can manage.

The signs are encouraging indeed.

I am Skantarios.

[Skantarios]

From the Diary of Diadohos Skantarios

April, 1460 AD.
Location: Pindus Mountains near Scopia

The winter spent in a snowy mountain camp with the cavalry of the field army. Word reaches me that the Turks have given up thoughts of taking Arta and are following our path to Scopia. They have paused west of Thessalonica but show no signs of putting the city to a siege.


I can only conclude that they have decided that it is more important to destroy our field army than regain their lost territory. This burst of strategic logic from the Turk, correct as it is, can work for us. My cavalry is very mobile, we have an intimate knowledge of the terrain, and we should be able to stay one step ahead of them. I lead my men through the small goat paths and trails of the Pindus and put myself behind them and to the south. I can only hope that our movements have gone unnoticed.

I link up with the infantry and artillery reinforcements from Mystras and take up a strong position to the south. We shall block their advance to either Mystras or Arta.

On the diplomatic front, there is extremely troubling news. The forces of the Papacy have put up a naval blockade on the port of Mystras.


Simultaneously, one of our ships transporting a diplomat to the Crusader states is attacked by the previously-neutral Egyptians.


This puts us at war with both the Egyptians and the Papacy in the same year.


I do not believe in coincidences and this stinks of conspiracy. Has the schism between the Empire and the Papacy grown so deep and so divisive that they would lay down with the heathen in order to attack us? I also sense that Venetian gold has played a part in this. Has the Pope sold himself and his ideals so cheaply? War with the Papacy is something that we have never sought. We have only made war on the Catholics after they started hostilities with us. Now that the Pope has openly declared against us, we will be seen as "fair game" for any adventuring Catholic prince with dreams of imperial glory.

Fortunately, our relations with the Hungarians remain strong and we receive word that they have, indeed, launched an invasion from the north with the goal of taking Sophia and Brasov. I offer prayers for their success.

I am Skantarios

[Skantarios]

From the Diary of Diadohos Skantarios, 1461 AD.

Location: Mountain Camp in Western Thessaly.

I have received information that the main Turkish field army in the area has, indeed, moved north to Scopia. If they hoped to trap me there, they are falling several steps behind.



One spectacular piece of news also reaches me from my spies to the north is that the Hungarians have taken Sophia! Coupled with my seizure of other two Turkish fortresses in Greece and Macedon, the Turk now has no other training grounds in this area and will be hard pressed to replace their losses.

My spies also report that the Turks have left behind a small force west of Thessalonica that seems intent on blocking any advance north from Greece proper. This target proves too temping for us and I resolve to attack them and further attrit the forces in the area.



Third Battle of Thessalonica - 1462 AD.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

From battle report filed by Diadohos Skantarios to Basileus Theodorus, 1462 AD.
The Turks are led by a nobody captain. Although veterans all, their forces are also seemingly depleted from an earlier battle.


My forces should prove more than a match.


As I have the advantage of both cavalry and missiles, I intend to use them accordingly and, hopefully, reduce my casualties. I have no heavy infantry at my disposal, though. Speed and distance will be my allies today.

The Turk holds back and seems content to lay in low ground and attempt to bring my forces into close combat where they have the advantage. I send my horse archers to the flanks and advance my Mangonel and archers to within firing range.


My light archers take the brunt of the enemies missile fire but soon the Mangonel has achieved an excellent firing position. The fire from my Mangonel and archers provides the necessary impetus to the enemy infantry and they move to engage.

I withdraw my Mangonel crew and charge their remaining cavalry while my own heavy horse circle around to the enemies rear. While the enemy heavy infantry is fully committed to fighting my archers, I send my horse to charge their rear.

The enemy soon break and the rout is on.


None escape the relentless pursuit.

This minor victory clears the approaches to Thessalonica. The prisoners of the engagement are executed in what is becoming standard practice in this war. We expect no mercy from the Turks and shall give none in return.

I withdraw to the south to link up with some needed heavy infantry enroute from Mystras. They will serve me well in the coming battles as my primary deficiency is the lack of swords to stand up to the Turkish Janissaries and halberds. The casualties they inflict on my horse are frightening and not something that we can sustain.

The best news I receive this year comes from my diplomatic corps. They confirm what we had long hoped for; the Muslims are now fighting amongst themselves. The two greatest Islamic nations are now at war!


I am overjoyed at the prospect of the Turks and Egyptians killing each other. Every death they inflict on each other is one less enemy for the Roman Empire. I had long thought that the aggressive natures of both those peoples would someday lead to conflict between them. I knew all this talk of Muslim brotherhood was just that, talk. The world is only so big a place. If I can continue to frustrate the Turk in Europe, perhaps he will turn his offensives against the east instead.

The only bad news of this year is that the Almoravids are now at war with us. Apparently, our almost non-existant navy has proven to be too much of a temptation for them and they have established a naval blockade at Arta. While the immediate threat from the African Muslims is remote, I can only wonder about the cumulative effect. With all the great Islamic nations aligned against us, is a call for Jihad too far away? We barely have the strength to fight the Turk and cannot hope to stand against all the armies of the Prophet. I can only hope their disunity will lead them to continue fighting each other and not rally against us.

I will close with a rather ironic item making the rounds at camp. Apparently, my father has erected another monument to my victories in Constantinople. This one for the victory at Scopia. At the commissioning of the monument, the crowd took up the chant of "Skantarios the Conqueror!" Somehow, that story has made it's way to camp and the soldiers have now picked up on it. I have tried to squash such idle talk but the name seems to stick. Even the local townsfolk are now shouting it as I go by. I will have to make sure that such silliness does not become infectious. An inflated ego is the last thing I need right now.

We still have a long ways to go and the Turk still fights at our doorstep.

I am Skantarios.

[Skantarios]

I really appreciate everyone's kind words of encouragement. I have been on a kind of tear today doing updates but that is because I will not be able to post for a few days. Not sure on exactly when I will be able to post a new update but I will probably get to one by this weekend.

Special thanks to those who have posted comments (dezikeizer, Deadly Rabbit, cisse, Holy winter, Kallum von Dobeln, Beer Money, Ivan the Terrible, and yackady). I also greatly appreciate the rep points given.

If there is something more that you would like to see in this AAR, things that should be clarified, or something that is detracting from its readability, I would be happy to hear that as well. As this is my first AAR (and possibly my only one given the time commitment), getting it "right" is important.

Again, I will have to take a little break but I will be back with more updates soon.

[Deadly Rabbit]

While the Turks are in Durazzo and Skopje there's little more that Venice can do than blockade... what next? A thrust towards Adrianople maybe? Let's hope that the Hungarian Alliance pays off and they divert some of the Turk's focus.

[eregost]

Brilliant AAR. Don't let this die

[Skantarios]

From the Diary of Diadohos Skantarios, 1463-1464 AD.

Location: Northern Greece.

I have moved out of winter quarters in northern Greece. The biggest news is that Maria has successfully given birth to a daughter. We name her Likenia Laksarias. This is a family name and one that she will bear proudly. Fortunately, she looks more like her mother than me. While I must admit to being somewhat disappointed that our first try did not produce a male heir, I am proud of my strong daughter. Anna has shown what a potent weapon a noble female can be in her dealings with other nations. I have no doubt that Likenia will be equally adept.

Maria is still young and will bear me more children. I have full confidence that a male heir will follow soon.

On the military front, reports come in that the Turkish field army has turned away from Scopia and started back south, just as I had predicted. They are obviously chasing my army and wish to bring me to battle. I have led them on quite a merry chase back and forth through the Pindus. They are now camped west of Thessalonica and in position to block any movement through Thessaly. They are also sitting across our trade routes and preventing any land trade in the region. This is clearly a challenge to us and the Turk obviously views our military might with contempt. Since he has marched so long and hard to bring us to battle, I feel that it is only right that we oblige him.

Further avoidance of this force jeopardizes all of our gains and will sow the seeds of doubt in our allies and our populace. With the additional forces coming north from Mystras, I am now confident that we can meet this Turkish army on field of battle.

I order my army north to meet them on the road to Thessalonica. I coordinate these actions with my brother, Nikodimos. He is tasked to send a portion of the garrison to take up positions behind the Turk. I order him not to come with these forces as I cannot risk all of my father's adult, male children in a single battle. He protests strongly but my senior position carries the day and he remains in the city. Should I fall on this battlefield, he must take up the mantle of commander of our remaining forces and fight on.

We bring the Turk to battle on a clear day under the sight of God.



The Fourth Battle of Thessalonica - 1463 AD.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Turkish forces arrayed against us are the cream of the Sultan's army.


Their forces are comprised of Janissary Heavy Infantry, Janissary Archers, Fari Horse Archers, heavy cavalry, and spearmen. They are veterans and led by an able general of many campaigns, Ahmed Gazali. They come with the expectation of victory and will fight to the last. So be it.

My army is still comprised of mostly new recruits with a few veteran companies.

We do have some heavy infantry that have recently come up from both Mystras and the garrison of Athens. These are hardy men, true Greeks, and they fight for their land and their religion. I do not doubt their commitment. They also comprise almost the sum total of our field strength. All the rest of our soldiers are committed to defending our new provinces.

The garrison troops of Thessalonica soon appear to the north of the Turk led by Captain Ioannikios and begin marching on their rear. The Turk splits his forces to deal with this new threat, committing roughly one third to this new threat. This is exactly what I had hoped. What I had not planned on was the Turks sending their horse in a desperate charge against my own cavalry. Soon a wild melee develops as lance and sword meet in a swirling melee.


Our horsemen eventually get the better of the engagement and clear the field enough for our infantry and artillery to move into position.



The infantry guards the front while the archers and Mangonels concentrate their fire on the Janissary Infantry.


We have the better position and soon the combined fire begins to take their toll on the Turk. We take losses amongst our own infantry from the fire of their archers and the desperate charges of their remaining horse. Ahmed Gazali then throws his own bodyguard into the fight and becomes separated from the rest of his forces.


This is the moment I have been waiting for. I commit my own bodyguard and my heavy horse against him and meet him in single combat. He tries to run but one of my men cuts him down. The fatal blow comes, fittingly, in his back.

The remaining infantry put up a strong fight and bring down many a Roman in their stubborn display of valor.

The casualties are appalling on both sides. My heavy foot fight well but the Turk has strong armor and the experience of many battles. My own horse charge again and again against their flanks and rear. Only a few break and run. The rest fight to the end.



My own force lose roughly a third of their strength, mostly from the foot but also from my heavy cavalry. The garrison forces of Thessalonica suffer especially high casualties, almost two thirds of their strength including Captain Ioannikios.

The victory outside Thessalonica is being hailed as heroic. However, all I can think about are our losses. Almost seven hundred Romans lost... We cannot fight a war of attrition against the Turks. We are too few and he too many. The losses from the Thessalonican garrison provide another valuable lesson. Soldiers not commanded by a strong general are easy prey on the battlefield. I will not forget this.

News from my diplomats and spies is a mixed bag. Constantinople is under siege yet again.


I must admit that the lack of panic I show at this news is a sign of our changing fortunes. My father reports that the garrison is strong and eager for battle. They have the confidence of earlier victories and the long-anticipated development of the Siphonores has bolstered the morale of the defenders. I can only hope that the strong walls of the city will remain a bulwark against the Muslims and continue to be the rocks that the Islamic waves crash and break against.

Another encouraging piece of news comes from Epirus.


The Turks have laid siege to Ragusa. It seems the Turk wishes to replace their recruiting grounds lost in the west at the expense of Venice. May the accursed Venetians and the heathen Turk spill each other's blood until they are both spent.

A review of our diplomatic situation is also of a mixed blessing.



We count many more enemies than friends at the moment. The great military powers of Islam are aligned against us. Also, with the Papacy openly hostile to us, it can only be a matter of time before other Catholics seek to expand their power and territory at our expense.

Still, our great war with the Turks remains our focus and all of our energies are directed at the one aim of expelling them from Europe. Fortunately, the Hungarians remain our steadfast partner and I hope that their recent success at Sophia is only the beginning of their offensive against the Sultan.


A review of the overall situation reveals that we are still in a very weak state compared to the other powers.


We barely muster one fifth of the military power of the Turk and one third of their populace. The cards still seem stacked against us, our recent successes notwithstanding.



Although our military power may be weak, we are on the rise. We have begun new buildings in most of our major cities and fortresses. Troops are flocking to our banner and new levies are coming in almost every month. We will be able to resume the offensive as soon as our losses at the most recent battle of Thessalonica are made good.

Reports from Anna have come in that she has established relations with both the Spanish and the Franks. Neither seem in any position to aid us at the moment but trade routes are established and both have agreed to send ambassadors to our court. The Franks refused her offer to exchange maps and we were in no position to pay their price. She will try again after she has visited with the English. She is the toast of Europe and the soft (but strong) face of our Empire. May the day come soon when I can again see my sister.

I end the year of 1464 back in Thessalonica as I await reinforcements from Greece and Macedonia. When they arrive, I will strike against the Turk.

I am Skantarios.

The world as we know it, 1464 AD.


The world as it actually is, 1464 AD.

[crazyguy1916]

Excellent AAR with amazing detail! +rep of course

[cisse]

Very nice! I'm curious - did the campaign start with those starting positions? The turks seem very strong indeed! I mainly play SS as mod, but I've never seen these starting positions.

[eregost]

Its the 1450 or something campaign. The latest one.

[Deadly Rabbit]

Cisse; The campaign is Jam's 1450 campaign from the RR/RC mod. At the beginning the Romans only hold Mystras Trebizond and Constantinople, have very few troops and a woeful economic position, and on VH/VH it is damn near impossible, so apart from the kudos Skantarios deserves for his writing, he's also a pretty handy total war player. Loving this AAR, one of the best I've read.

[cisse]

Ah, I've never downloaded the RR/RC submod for SS, so that'll be the reason I don't know it then.

[Beer Money]

Catching up and I have to say this AAR has gotten even better. The writing is flowing really nicely!

Nice work on the major effort! +rep

[Beer Money]

Apparently I have to wait till I can give you more rep but its in the queue.