Castle of Philia: Nova Anglia

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Philia
Historically the site housed a castle, town and port. It was ones of roughly seven satellite fortified settlements to Constantinople. Some of thsese such as Rhegion held out longer than the main city itself. In the Fourth Crusade during the siege of Constantinople the Crusaders harried and sacked the castle in the lead-up to the assault of the great city, the local garrison recalled to aid in tye defence of the polis; it was quickly overcome. The knights in retreat from their pillage were intercepted by the Byzantines but were themselves driven back. After the Latin victory the castle became an important coastal outpost and border fortress against the Bulgars and Vlachs to the north.

Nova Anglia
The precise historical location for this site is unknown but there is evidence to suggest that the English element of the Varangian Guard from 1066-1204 were intrinsically linked to the settlement. It has been argued that the long enduring relations between the English and Anglo-Scottish royals in exile in Hungary may have some connection to the Varangian population.

New England (Latin: Nova Anglia) was a colony founded in the mid-to-late 11th century by English refugees fleeing William the Conqueror. Its existence is attested in two major sources, dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, the French Chronicon Universale Anonymi Laudunensis and the Icelandic Játvarðar Saga. They tell the story of a journey from England through the Mediterranean Sea that led to Constantinople, where the English refugees fought off a siege by "heathens" and were rewarded by the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus. A group of them were given land in the north-east of the Black Sea, reconquering it and renaming their territory "New England".

1204
Baron Athelstan Wreak; 1st Baron of Philia, Constable of Constantinople, Captain of the English Company. As veterans of the Third Crusade and the last surviving members of Richard the Lionheart's men, they enlisted in the Fourth Crusade on the way home in 1204, originally in order to finance themselves. They remain in the city for reasons unknown. Emperor Bohemond I ceded the fortress of Philia to the Company in 1204 in exchange for their agreeing to serve the Empire exclusively. Aethelstan was named Baron of Philia. Named Constable of Constantinople in 1204 shortly after the taking of Constantinople after Emperor Bohemond realised he needed a neutral party to keep order in the city.

150 Feudal Men-at-Arms
150 Armoured Sergeants
100 Venetian Crossbowmen
50 Dismounted Feudal Knights
50 Mounted Feudal Knights

Land Income: 10,000
Rank Income: 2,500

[Hengest]

Mere weeks after the Polis had fallen and the gates sealed, Athelstan was awarded Philia to the north. He knew nothing of the town and neither did anyone within the city. For all he knew it was an empty or an accursed reward. One advantage was that it was perhaps the baronial estate closest to the City above all other places. Since as Constable he had effective control over all the city's forces he soon became confident of a successful attack, although any loss of men would have been deeply embarrassing and perhaps ruined his good name as constable of the forces.
Willyame Thegn of Eskedale and Captain of the Guard was tasked with spying out the place, and many refugees were expected, desperate angry and cornered.
Reaching the outskirts of the Philia farmlands, neighbouring thelematarioi had been captured and forced to guides in the area.
On black horses they reached the southern ridges by night, as veterans of the last crusade they had learned from Saracen the nocturnal tactics and the need for camouflage. Black and turbaned the bowmen crept across the sandy ground until they were in sight of the castle upon its promontory by the sea. The fortifications was sizeable but it's true strength lay in its perch at the top of a rocky hill where there was no room to make any assault and it was too high to hit with marksmanship.
"A fine stronghold for us" Willyame whispered to the others who nodded in kind, wondering if the Emperor and his Seneschal were fully aware of the character of the land that had been given to them.
Down in the courtyard there must have been some guards, there was s little noise and the flickering of light; surely a campfire. Judging by the sound, Willyame estimated fifty men. Enough to make an assault nigh on impossible with the 331 survivors of the English Company.
Willyame's arm was tugged as he began to crawl backwards having gained all intelligence he felt he needed. His comrade gestured that they stop and listen, the distinctive heavy breathing of destriers could be now discerned. That meant knights.
Willyame had indeed heard enough, fifty men and horse would spell disaster for any force trying to take the town below. Athelstan had been right to be pessimistic, reasoned Willyame to the other few men of the Company around him. Philia would remain but a name.
But then, the stir of light in the town below caught his attention. There by the meagre harbour stood a vessel in the shallow waters. What made him look twice was the strangely familiar outline of the draft and the sturdy square sail around a bold mast. In every way like a northern ship. It was certainly neither Layin nor Byzantine.
"Rus?" Whispered one of the comrades.
Willyame and the other handful of commandos were convinced, but they were all intrigued as to know why they were this far south. Eskedale had the rising acidic feeling in his gut that perhaps this was some spearhead force from the north gathering for an invasion on the Polis.
The men inched ever closer to the town at the foot of the rocky outcrop, their black becoming white with dusty earth. It was only then that he saw them- seventeen burly guards on the eastern flank arrayed in shield wall but squatting against the backdrop of the coming dawnlight. These dark shapes stood motionlessly, watching.