Emperor of Byzantium

[Demon of Light]

This is a new e-mail campaign game. First, lets get some basics down:

version 2.0
expert difficulty
early period


There are some differences with this campaign that should be readily apparent. First is that it is in the Main Hall. There are two reasons for that. One is that I am looking to attract players who have shown that they have frequented these forums for at least a reasonable period of time. I have a better chance of finding those people here simply because the posting requirements are a bit higher. the other reason is that KukriKhan already has his hands full with the Almohad games in Entrance Hall. If I place this here, it won't be his problem.

The next difference has to do with how we select players. There will be NO list. This will operate on a first come, first serve basis. Whoever is first to ask for the game after a reign is over gets the game next. Second place counts for squat. If you asked after someone else did, try again later. Anyone who has followed these games knows why this rule is in effect.

Here is how I want things to work:
MisterX petitions for the game

MisterX receives game

MisterX posts that the game is recieved.

MisterX (substitute Mrs.X if that is appropriate)finshes game and sends the file to totalwardynasticgames@yahoo.com

MisterX posts an account of his reign.

MisterX posts something like "awaiting next player"

MisterX sends the game to next player when they show up.

OK. Are there any questions?

[Demon of Light]

I hereby ask for the game http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Demon of Light]

I acknowledge that I have the game http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Demon of Light]

Brief history of the reign of Emperor Alexius I of Byzantium:

Alexius I will be known primarily for two things. First is the extensive building program he embarked upon during his reign. He was truly a magnificent builder. This, however, pales in comparison to his most lasting feat. Alexius I will be long remembered for ending the Turkish threat.

In 1099, the Turks launched an offensive against the Byzantines. Sultan Suleyman I commanded the attack on Georgia while his son Osman commanded the attack in Lesser Armenia. The result was disastrous for the Turks.

In Lesser Armenia, Osman had his personal unit of elite bodyguards together with his brother’s unit. Accompanying them was a unit of mounted archers. The Byzantine commander, Romanus Maniakes, knew that he needed to force the enemy into a disadvantageous position. With this in mind, he positioned his infantry and archers (one unit each) upon a wooded hill. When Prince Osman and his brother attacked, they found that their Calvary was ill-equipped to conduct maneuvers in the woods. Osman’s brother died and Osman himself was forced to withdraw after it became apparent that the Byzantine infantry clearly held the advantage. The archers had already won the archery duel by this time.

The attack on Georgia was an even bigger disaster. It started well as the Turks initially seized the high ground but they ceded that advantage early in the battle and never recovered. Sultan Suleyman took his youngest son with him and proceeded to lose him in battle. It seems that the impetuous youth thought he could bypass the Byzantine infantry and attack the archers from Trebizond without repercussion. His error cost more than his life. His father saw him imperiled and desperately sought to save him. The Byzantine lines wavered and it looked like he might succeed but his son was cruelly cut down (by the very Trebizond archers he had sought to decimate no less) and fresh troops were tossed into the fray. Suleyman was seperated from the rest of his army and was slain by a flight of arrows. Had he not lead a charge to save his son, history might have turned out differently. As it stood, fate had decreed that the Turks were repulsed on all fronts and that a young and untested Osman I would lead a now humbled and humiliated empire.

Osman did a credible job as Sultan. He wrested control of Lesser Armenia from the Byzantine and seemed ready to redeem his father’s errors. He personally conducted a spirited defense of Rum and repulsed a Byzantine counter-offensive despite the fact that at one point he was surrounded by 150 enemy soldiers without the benefit of any living bodyguards. This all came to a crashing halt after Alexius I took an alternative route in destroying the Turks. In the final year of his reign Alexius ordered three assassins to kill the still youthful Osman. Two of them never returned. Osman had yet to produce a male heir so his death splintered the Turks into bickering factions that no longer posed a threat. ( funny how the point of a knife accomplished what 100 swords could not)

[Demon of Light]

Who's next??

[Mount Suribachi]

I'm up for it

[Mount Suribachi]

Received save game from Demon of Light

[kataphraktoi]

i petition for the next reign after mount suribachi

[Mount Suribachi]

I think you've misunderstood Kataphraktoi - when I say that I've finished with the save game, the 1st person who posts "I want it" gets the save game next.

Anyways, got the save game this morning, played up until around 1116 and I think I've got a bug...

I keep getting the "insufficient funds" message. My profit is circa 500 florins per turn. I had 1112 Florins in the bank. Each turn my balance goes up 1 florin - 1112, 1113, 1114, 1115, and I still keep getting the insufficient funds message. So I removed all my stuff in the build queue that costs 1000 florins and I still keep gettting the message, even though the only things in my build queues now are 100 & 200 florin improvements. I just took lesser armenia, got 300 florins for it, and my balance still went up by 1 florin. Anyone else seen this? Any suggestions? I think my next move will be to remove everything from my build queues and see if that sorts the problem.

[Mount Suribachi]

I am the stupidest Emperor who ever lived

STOOPID STOOPID STOOPID

Guess who was looking at the year, and not his florins above it...I feel like such a n00b... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif

[Brother Derfel]

Quote[/b] (Mount Suribachi @ July 12 2003,05:50)]I am the stupidest Emperor who ever lived

STOOPID STOOPID STOOPID

Guess who was looking at the year, and not his florins above it...I feel like such a n00b... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif
hehe, thats hilarious http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[The_Emperor]

Ok Demon sign me up for it... The Byzantine Empire will endure

ralphwolf@clara.co.uk

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Dîn-Heru]

Quote[/b] (Mount Suribachi @ July 12 2003,11:50)]I am the stupidest Emperor who ever lived

STOOPID STOOPID STOOPID

Guess who was looking at the year, and not his florins above it...I feel like such a n00b... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif that is the funniest thing I have heard in a while http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Pablo Sanchez]

Quote[/b] (Mount Suribachi @ July 12 2003,05:50)]I am the stupidest Emperor who ever lived

STOOPID STOOPID STOOPID

Guess who was looking at the year, and not his florins above it...I feel like such a n00b... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wacko.gif
Everyone, get your sharpest knife. It's time to play "Justinian II." http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[MiniKiller]

I would like to try to, just gotta be on at the right time. Now can I put the save file on a floppy and onto my other computer? Thats where MTW is, then transfere it back via floppy and back to you guys? My rain would be peaceful unless already at war or trying to gain rebel territories.

One more question, if my kind dies on the first turn its over right? Only one king no matter what the age?

[Demon of Light]

I tried the floppy disk idea once. It didn't work for me. Of course, that isn't to say it can't work but only that I couldn't make it work. As far as the year thing goes, the answer is that you'd better make that an eventful year because it is the only one you'll get.

[Mount Suribachi]

The Emperor Alexius II, Anatolia, The year of the Lords grace 1116.

My Darling Mary. Good news my English Rose, our warriors have successfully taken Lesser Armenia from the muslims and returned it to the Roman Empire once more. Many of the Muslims fled on their horses to the North to join their brother in the rebel princedom of Rum. I am undecided at to whether to press home the attack there as well. They are many, and their army consists of light cavalry, such as I have so far been unable to recruit. I fear with their superior speed they will run rings round us and tire us out.

However the Egpytians are also contesting the province and I would seek to deny them any enlargement of their Empire. Reports from our border forts in Georgia say that the Egyptians have been having problems subduing Armenia, though they appear to have the area under control now. The Egyptians worry me, they can only attack in one of 2 directions - towards us or their Muslim brothers to the west. I have sent Stephen Orphanotrophus to try and conclude an alliance of friendship with the Egyptian Sultan, but Stephen is young and inexperienced and I hold out little hope.

I would desire to travel North and secure the Northern shore of the Black Sea, in order that it might become a Roman boating lake, and I would desire even more to return to Constantinople to be with you my love. But alas I do not trust the muslims and I feel I must remain here, to watch them, and warn them. I have left our only son, your beloved Manuel with an army to hold Lesser Armenia. He is a fine general, though I am worried about his strange behaviour. He has started talking to servants who don't exist I fear the stress of being the son of Gods Vice-regent on Earth is getting to him. Perhaps you could ask Patriach Sergius II to offer prayers to the Lord God on his behalf (not publicly of course, we must not worry the people or give our enemies an oppurtunity).

How is my sister Vigilantia? Perhaps you should visit her and her husband, Lord Prvovencani in Greece.

I worry about our economy too. We do not have enough money to make the investment necessary to increase our cash flow. Perhaps we must tighten our belts for a few years in order to save the money we need to build up our infrastructure. I have also been severely embaressed. Whilst checking the annual financial report I saw that our coffers had increased by only one florin. I flew into a rage and demanded to know where the missing money was, then I realised I was looking at the year, rather than the balance. It was a most embaressing public display which greatly amused those gathered in the Main Hall. I hear whispers that some have started calling me "Alexius the Wise" though alas, not in a respectful way as my forefather Leo was known, but in a mocking way.

Nevertheless, I plan to try and continue to build up my empire and increase the happiness of my people.

Your loving and faithful husband

Equal of the Apostles

Alexius

[MiniKiller]

So ur not dead yet? bummer lol just kidding.

[Odinn]

Post the maps plz http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[MiniKiller]

update update

[Casca]

Well done Mount Suribaci I look forward to reading more of your progress http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Mount Suribachi]

Mary, my love. I must first apologise to you for the fact that I have been a stranger to you all these years. Just once in the last 20 years have I been back to Constantinople to see you, and even then the stay was so brief, as once more our enemies attacked our borders and I was called away. Now we have no sons to take over from us, but at least I have 2 brothers to take over from me. You must call my brother Andronicus back from Serbia. By the time he reaches our great capital, I will probably be dead. Yes my love, I am ill and the physicians tell me that I have only 12 months to live, if it is the Lords will. I would ask you to pray to out protector, the Virgin Mary, but I am mindful of Hezekiah. He prayed to the Lord for healing when he was at the point of death and his prayer was granted. But in the extension of life that was granted him, Manasseh was born, the longest lived and the wickedest of all the Kings of Israel. I do not want to live on, only to sire a Manesseh. It is worry enough that Manuels mental state has deteriorated lately, he is now painting his servants blue and sucking on horseshoes...he is fine general, but the men can only take so much.

Andronicus's affair with Lord Diogenes may have become public knowledge, but he is a fine general and an intelligent man. As soon as he arrives in Constantinople I order that he be crowned as Basileus by the Patriach in the great church of St Sophia. I hope he has a more peaceful reign than I. It was with great joy that I heard the news of the defeat of the Crusade by the Holy Roman Empire that was rampaging through our lands towards Antioch. The army in Bulgaria, though greatly outnumbered put up a brave fight before they were forced to retreat to their fort. And what a sight the battle outside the walls of Constantinople must have been Lord Byrennius, Duke of Trebizond led his small army with great skill and bravery to drive those hordes of Frankish barbarians from our land Send him my apologies that I did not provide him with more troops, but I did not expect the crusade to arrive at our borders so quickly.

As for myself, I am happy with what I have achieved in the East. The battle to defeat the claimant to the vacant Turkish throne in Rum was a fine example of the valour and skill of the armies of Rome I was most proud of my men that day. The treacherous surprise attack by the Egyptians produced more of that pride as we beat them back in Georgia, Trebizond and Armenia. The Egyptians paid for their treachery when a civil war ensued following their series of defeats. Indeed,as their empire broke apart, it gave me great satisfaction to receive their emissary, grovelling and begging for a ceasefire Though I agreed, I am sure they will no doubt attack us again soon enough.

Still, their problems were to our advantage. I have been able to take some of the lands that broke away during the civil war. Antioch and Edessa are now ours again, and the way is open to Tripoli and even the Holy Land itself, should Andronicus so desire it.

I must go now my love, farewell. I shall try and write more soon.

Alexius.

[MiniKiller]

so does that mean ur 55? How old is ur brother? I want to try this but if he is past his 30's....

[Mount Suribachi]

Andronicus the adulterer is in his 50s. Manuel the crack brained is in his 30s.

[MiniKiller]

And will Manual be taking over? If so and you are near death I would like to take on ur reins.

re-read ur write up, guess not, lol but he will only have like 3 turns or so. I'll wait http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Mount Suribachi]

hehe, hold your horses minikiller, you gotta be the first to post *after* I'm done.

All this power is going to my head muwahahahahaha http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif

[MiniKiller]

well than by golly...finish hehe u old old man http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Let me know who takes over, maybe send ur 50 year old brother to battle to die, that rein would be what 6 years tops, lol.

[The_Emperor]

Quote[/b] (Mount Suribachi @ July 15 2003,17:47)]hehe, hold your horses minikiller, you gotta be the first to post *after* I'm done.

All this power is going to my head muwahahahahaha http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif
I think that system sucks,

I say create a list and even things out... and if the list gets too big and the campaing ends, you can always start another campaign.

[MiniKiller]

WEll I have to go to work, can I like, uhh be exempt lol and take control if the younger brother takes over? maybe I can but only if u guys after me dont mind?

[Yoko Kono]

ooo the tension mounts
a king on deaths door
an heir with but 6 years to live and a community to satisfy with tales of great deeds
keep it up
its all too much

p.s. as the oldest patron of the borad in this thread can i lead the six year reign? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[Demon of Light]

Quote[/b] (The_Emperor @ July 15 2003,11:20)]
Quote[/b] (Mount Suribachi @ July 15 2003,17:47)]hehe, hold your horses minikiller, you gotta be the first to post *after* I'm done.

All this power is going to my head muwahahahahaha http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smokin.gif
I think that system sucks,

I say create a list and even things out... and if the list gets too big and the campaing ends, you can always start another campaign.
I thought someone would eventually say that. Bear in mind that I had to deal with about a dozen people bailing on the English campaign. That experience has lead me to conclude that lists are too unreliable for use. Too many well-meaning people sign up in June but can't take the game in July. I didn't create this system capriciously. Every person who gets this game is prepared to play it right now. They already took committments into account and find that they have the time. Fact is that I don't want to go through my English experience again and I'm taking steps to assure that I don't.

I hope that explains it.

[The_Emperor]

If someone doesn't make themselves avaliable to play it, perhpas they should be skipped and put back on the end of the list...

The basic rule should be, only put your name down if your serious.

[Demon of Light]

The problem with lists lies in how many people have to be skipped and how they slow the process. Each game gains momentum through participation. If a game loses its momentum, it can begin to be seen as not being viable. Then you get less participation and the cycle begins anew.

The basic rule is that only people who are serious should put their name down and I'll be the first to say that the Almohad campaigns have had more people willing to do that. Fact is though that you can't ascertain who is serious and who isn't. There simply isn't a litmus test for that. THere is also the problem of people who are serious finding they just can't invest the time into when their name comes up. Everyone who drops their name on a list is ready to take a game at THAT moment but not necessarily in 3 weeks when it is their turn. FActs of life and all that.

I won't consider risking another King of England and I will not oversee a game to that extent at this time.

[Skie Mirror Silvanoshei]

I'm in.

[Mount Suribachi]

Alexius never did write to his wife Mary. He died aged 56. With a limited budget, he struggled to secure and expand his empires borders and develop the economy. Nevertheless, he did manage to build some of the infrastructure needed to boost the flagging Byzantine finances. In the East he had great success, destroying a Turkish rebellion before it had chance to re-establish the Turks as a thorn in the Byzantine side. He fought off a surprise attack by the Egyptians and then went on the offensive to take advantage of the Egyptian civil war caused by their unsuccessful attack. In the west, his armies, though greatly outnumbered fought bravely and skillfully to defeat the huge crusade launched by the Holy Roman Empire, the final and decisive battle being fought just a few miles from the walls of Constantinople.

As instructed, his brother Andronicus returned to the capital and was crowned in the Church of St Sophia. However, at 51 years of age, with no children and with his long affair with Theodora, the wife of Lord Diogenes of Serbia now common knowledge, he was unpopular with the people, the army and the orthodox clergy. The only alternative though was his younger brother, Manuel the crack-brained. Crazy or not, Manuel had one huge advantage that Androncus did not. A 10 year old son, and his wife pregnant with another child which all the soothsayers and astrologers were sure would be a boy. So it was that after less than a year on the throne, Andronicus was assassinated and a 39 year old who liked to paint his servants blue and suck on horshoes was crowned Gods vice-regent on Earth.

[Mount Suribachi]

Save game emailed to DoL.

I'm done, who wants it? First to post gets it.

[The_Emperor]

I want it ralphwolf@clara.co.uk

[Mount Suribachi]

Laaaayyyyydddeeeeeeeeees and gentlemen we have a winner.

Kinda ironic that the person most critical of the 1st come 1st served system gets the game next http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

Anyways, savegame zipped and emailed to The Emperor.

[The_Emperor]

Well i do spend wayyy too much time on these boards as it is... but saying that its lucky I came on at all, I was just about to disconnect and start a game.

Oh well its now downloading, cheers mate. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

(Like a true politician, I now retract what I said about the system) http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

Alright I now confirm that I have the Game, I'll keep you guys posted of my reign and be sure to give you a full write up complete with Pictures. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[MiniKiller]

damnit http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[The_Emperor]

Diary of The_Emperor of Byzantium, 1133 AD.

With the Death of my great predecessor Alexius II, Command of the Great Byzantine Empire is has now passed to me Emperor Manuel I.

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/emperor.jpg

By the grace of Almighty God I will uphold the honour and traditions of my Forefathers and fulfill my task as leader of the one true church of God.

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/cracked.jpg

I have heard the whispers about me, they say I might be unstable... ME unstable pah What my critics fail to see is that Blue goes well with Purple, i just can't stand the sight of Purple on its own... besides nothing wrong with that is there?

its also amazing how few people understand how much fun a good dance in the moonlight is... or how tasety horseshoes can be at times.

I'll show them all....

As I look over this land I can see where attention is needed... and what I must do.

- We have no govenor in Constantinople, and I will try my utmost to recruit one. My personal preference is for someone who has good military command skills, but is also adept at managing the finer aspects of finance within this great city.

- I will need to focus most of my attention on developing a strong Navy to trade with other lands. Our strong Military presence desperately needs financing and I will produce much of the revenue from trading our fine goods abroad. Farmland development is also a priority.

Militarily we are strong, but the Egyptian forces on our doorstep are untrustworthy, they have a vast army on our doorstep and I feel that we may end up being at war within a few years. They do have their own problems with rebellion.

Our Hungarian allies to the Northwest are strong, but do not have the number of troops the infidel has. I will pay them the respect they deserve, and they will always be of use later on if we decide to crush the Tartar rebels to the North.

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/skilledatt.jpg

Attacking is in my blood, it is what I am good at... I will strike hard and fast, we will prevail for Almighty God is on our side... And no-one will expect the killer combination of Purple and Blue men on the battlefield, Muhahahaha

[MiniKiller]

I hope i get in next round lol

[jLan]

Me too :o

[Demon of Light]

Only someone truly crack-brained would mistake his brother for his father. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

P.S: Post a map? The one that shows Mount Suribachi's progress?

[The_Emperor]

I will post a map when I get off work later on.

And then I will try to go through my reign as quickly and effectively as I can.

[The_Emperor]

Alright here is a map of my border with Egypt... and the Minimap.

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/eborder.jpg

As you can see we haven't expanded much and most of the forces on the Border with Egypt are mere mercenaries and require reinforcement.

[The_Emperor]

Ok people, i have finished, my king has died making way for the eldest Son Michael VIII.

He is "Strange" and has no noticable Military command ability, His younger brother is just the same but not quite so odd.

The Empire's navy has grown well, and our finances are getting larger.

Thanks to my Efforts the Egyptian army has had its back broken, but the Sultan did lead a massive counterattack in Palestine which was horribly defeated. he has no heirs and will be dead in two years anyway.

We now control as far south as Arabia and Palestine... and I will give a full account of the spectacular battles against the vast Infidel armies.

Who wants it next?

SPEAK NOW http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Yoko Kono]

ill take it please

mail to hhh2yoko_kono@hotmail.com

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Skie Mirror Silvanoshei]

I want it.

[The_Emperor]

We have a winner... Yoko Kono the game is en route.

Enjoy http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Yoko Kono]

ok campaign recieved http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[MiniKiller]

i seriously hate this system. i got the most posts here yet i am never on the right time. I just god damn give up.

[The_Emperor]

Last Recorded Letter from Emperor Manuel I, on the frontline in arabia, to his eldest son Michael. Year, Unknown.

My Son, these years have proven fruitful for our nation and now I regret that my health has been in decline, I fear that I will not survive the end of the year. These years spent campaigning against the Egyptians have taken their toll on me and I am now suffering a terrible illness.

The war began as Egyptian forces were massing on our borders for a few years, even though our treasury was low I gave the risky order to wage war and to strike them down first. I also gave orders for new trade buildings to be constructed, a navy to be built, and for farmland to be improved over the course of my rule.

The Cowardly Egyptians ran at the sight of my army when we crossed into Armenia, leaving the province to our forces. Still I decided we must press on and two years later we crossed into Syria. Most of the Egyptian forces had invaded the rebel-held Tripoli, and the remaining forces ran for the cover provided by their fort. The Rebels were defeated, but the Egyptians now had a sizable force in the province led by their greatest general Abdul Al Kamil.

The following year The Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, allied with us... With the Pope on our side I knew that Catholic actions against us would not be looked on kindly, and that Crusades would be difficult to arrange. The same year I crossed the Border into Tripoli at the head of 1100 men, battle was joined.

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/battles/battle1.jpg

The Egyptians had the benefit of superior numbers and a defensive position on a double hill. I decided to approach the hill from the East and the enemy fell back to the second higher hill however he made the mistake of falling back to the downward slope on the rear of the mound.

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/battles/battle2a.jpg

Our Trebizond archers screened by spearmen moved into range and started to shower the enemy archers with a hail of arrows, and at that moment I decided to lead our Byzantine Infantry and Cavalry around to capture the top of the hill (route shown by black arrows).

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/battles/battle3.jpg

We captured the hill and our momemtum in the fight was considerable and many of his troops fled in panic, the enemy General led his camel warriors in a foolish charge uphill. We surrounded him and after taking heavy losses he attempted to escape... He was knocked down and captured, his execution swiftly followed.

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/battles/battle4.jpg

I spent a few years consolidating our lands... but soon enough the Egyptian Sultan led and attack on Rebel forces in Arabia. While the Egyptians exhausted themselves fighting rebel armies I prepared to cross the border to capture the holy city of Jerusalem.

A great militay leader had emerged within our ranks, Lord Nicephoritzes. He was perfect to take over leadership of Constantinople. As you well know he married your sister, Princess Maria. He led our forces to victory in Arabia, but his victory was to be short lived for when he moved on to garrisson Jarusalem and I moved my army into the Sinai... the Egyptian Sultan manage to sneak a large force over the border into Arabia to help its besieged garrisson.

I immediately led my forces back over the border into Arabia to finish off the Sultan, only to find a tiny force guarding the province. Our archers routed the army before a sword was drawn, with over 200 dead to the enemy and no losses for us.

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/battles/arabia.jpg

We soon found out that the Sultan's army had moved from Arabia, into Palestine to try and drive us out of the Holy City, Lord Nicephoritzes organised a valiant defence against a force nearly twice his size...

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/battles/sultan1.jpg

Choosing the high ground he screened the archers with our infantry and shot the enemy to bits when they advanced. We charged forward and routed the enemy... The enemy Sultan, with no regard for his honour ran from the battlefield.

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/battles/sultan2.jpg

Our troops could not give chase, and soon wave after wave of Brave Bedouin Camel warrior reinforcements pressed down on us, even the archers inequipped as they were had to enter the fray to prop-up our exhausted troops.

As the dust settled we stood victorious... we had slaughtered close to 1500 of the enemy and had only lost around 200 men.

http://home.clara.net/ralphwolf/battles/sultan3.jpg

The enemy Sultan is now known as a coward and a fool when attcking, he is old and has no heirs I predict his faction will crumble within the next two years.

Know that I name you as my successor, you have yet to make a name for yourself on the field of battle but I know the Empire is safe in your hands... and with commanders like Lord Nicephoritzes on your side, you can only prosper.

I expect to soon join my Father and Brothers in the hereafter.
Your father Manuel I, Bane of Egypt.

[Demon of Light]

I deleted my previous post. My e-mail has The_Emperor's completed game. I'm still awaiting his call for a successor...( Unless his post above was meant to do that.

"Know that I name you as my successor, you have yet to make a name for yourself but I know the Empire is safe in your hands... and with commanders like Lord Nicephoritzes on your side, you can only prosper." - The Emperor

Is that the call?

[The_Emperor]

Yoko Kono is the successor I sent him the saved game.
My call for a replacement is on the end of page 2.

That letter was my write up of the reign.


MiniKiller Don't worry, you'll get there... just keep checking back as often as you can

[Demon of Light]

Oops. Sorry.

[bhutavarna]

pardon my intrusion, i can't help but follow this interesting thread.

although i'm not planning to joint the ranks of byzantine emperors due to lack of time, i want to offer a suggestion to make this campaign more interesting. why don't you guys set a goal, reconquering the roman empire perhaps. let's see how many emperors it takes to achieve that.

[Mount Suribachi]

Well, I think the goal of the dynasty is to conquer the known world, not just the Roman Empire.

Would be an excellent idea for a GA game tho. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[MiniKiller]

We need an update.

[Yoko Kono]

okay sorry folks been working but im back on track now
will update after a few hours http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Yoko Kono]

OK whos next, the emperor is dead, again victim to the curse of 56 years
the empire has conquered the holy lands and driven the almohad hordes back into tunisa bringing stavilty to the sacred lands
churches are being constrycted daily to establish christianity as the true religion once more
a crises of succession in siciliy saw our imperial armies take sicily as our own and establish ourselves as the richesest empire in the world with our extensivve trade networks
no many changes hands without enriching our already vast reserves al cash
this wealth and prosperity saw the holy roman empire lauch a crusade towards constantinople
our aged king met this magnifenct army in the plains of bulgaria and few were spared as byzantine cavalry danced on the graves of a thousand souls who died in gods name for the empires greed
we expect their return...

our great leader died a few years later but his army still stands in bulgaria waiting on new leader, one who can turn the riches of byzantine into the most glorious empire the world has seen

All rise for Emperor Neciphorus IV

First to post gets the save and last battle replay

Yoko

[MiniKiller]

me

Now that I FINALLY GOT IT http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif How old is he? How can I post pictures to keep u guys up to date, this is so cool http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Yoko Kono]

whats your emai address?

[The_Emperor]

You know I feel sorry for the guy who is on the Throne in the year 1230...

The Golden Horde could prove to be some serious fun http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Congrats Mini Killer, glad you finally got the game. Have a good few years conquering http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[MiniKiller]

jbrvincent@attbi.com

LEts hope his is only about 40 lol.

[Yoko Kono]

ok ive zipped up and sent you the saved game and a replay of our last battle, where we killed about 1200 http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

enjoy

[MiniKiller]

Thanks got it, but I think my security is to high.

I cant open it it says "OE removed access to the following unsafe attachments in your email" Then the title of the save file. This happened last night to how can I accept this instead of this auto blocking feature? thanks

Try jbrvincent@comcast.net

Dunno why its deleting them onsite.

[Yoko Kono]

do you use msn messenger or mIRC?

ok ive sent it again
if you use msn messenger (it comes with windows XP) i can send it to you via that if thats any help?

ok i resent to both addresses again http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[MiniKiller]

I use "outlook express"

Damn it deleted it again, must be some new comcast thing...I'm not happy with comcast at all.

I have aol instat messanger and yahoo instant messenger.

[MiniKiller]

I think I fixed it, lol sorry to bother but try that messege one more time http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[MiniKiller]

Ok, Campaign recived http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I'll get it going tonight after work and my 2 hockey games.

[Demon of Light]

Mini-killer: Good luck.
THe_Emperor: I like your write-up. Good job.

[The_Emperor]

Thanks DOL. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

I was inspired by those I have seen in the Almohad campaign thread.

[MiniKiller]

Still trying to figure this out but I dont think you sent me the right file.

You sent me a file the ended it .rar but the saved game files end in .cpg. I changed the end to .cpg and it appeard ok. I hit load from the load game menu but it never goes.

Did you maybe send me the replay file by mistake? (Hence .rar and no .cpg?)

I'll keep trying.

*edit*

Ya its not loading, it fully loads it then just stops. The file you sent me is .rar and is not the actual save file of the game (.cpg)

[The_Emperor]

.rar files are another format of zip file.

I guess you need to find something like Winrar to open it.

[MiniKiller]

*second edit*

I got it, downloaded winrar and transfered it to my comp with MTW Next post (soon or Sunday morning) Will be my kings inagual address complete with plans, provinces, other nations etc.

[MiniKiller]

I'm only 29 Alright, well I have to decide who to give titles to and stuff. I'll post my "inagural adress" http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif Sunday after work.

You c I'm talking to someone online right now and well SHE is pretty nice http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Empress_Zoe]

I don't know who thought of these posts, but ever since the first 'King of England' post I have loved these, keep it up guys, very enjoyable to read, im almost to the point of begging for them to be stickied. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pat.gif

[MiniKiller]

A few things before I get started. How do I take pictures of the camp and battle map and then how do I post em here? Thanks.

And EZ, I hope I can live up to ur standards http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[DemonArchangel]

hello, i was just stopping by, good job Demon of Light. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Demon of Light]

Empress_Zoe: The person who started it all was Herodotus. He also managed to play in the Polish game.

MiniKiller: F2 will get you screenshots. Go to the TGA folder in your Medieval folder. That's where you'll find the screenshots. Incidently, can you send a copy of the game to totalwardynasticgames@yahoo.com? Yoko Ono forgot o do that. (I mean the version Yoko gave you BTW)

My fellow Demon: Thank you

[MiniKiller]

Ok thanks, I will be writing my first write up soon.

Ummm I can but I kinda already did some things...does that matter?

[Empress_Zoe]

Well Herodotus is a legend then. And his 'the histories' is also an excellent work.

Now please, guys, get these stories pumping.

[MiniKiller]

*clears throat*

Hello fellow members of the house and members of our grand civilization. I am...well I've been told by our Lord not to give my name as of yet, but I am his mere messenger boy. He has granted me the authority to come here and introduce his greatness. He is now preparing his final glorious inagural speech. He hopes it will place you in a state of utter awe. His rein will be the rein that is talked about for years and years after his passing. The speech will begin in approx: 1 hour. After our lord has spoken questions may be asked and if he particularly likes you or the question he may even answer it in person in front of you all today.

Bow down to his greatness

LONG LIVE BYZANTIUM

*steps down from platform and dissapears in the dark shadows*



---------------------------------------------------
How was that? Opinions?

[Yoko Kono]

sorry demon ive mailed the campaign to that email addy now

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[MiniKiller]

1180AD

*enters the room*
*bows to all*

Hello everyone, I am very pleased you could all make it hear today. The year is 1180, I am Emperor Nicephorus the 4th, I am at the age of 29 and I will be your new leader into this world of danager and prosperity.

I have 3 siblings, only 1 of which is passed the age of 16. His name is Prince Constantine and is a 3 star general. He, like myself find it hard to belive in a supreme being and he sets fear in the eyes of all you stare. He is a very intelligent man at the age of 22 and could very well up us propser even more than we already have. Prince Alexius is 15, one more year and he to will take command of a small army. My youngest brother is Prince Androncius and he is at the age of 10.

I am not married but hope to find a suitable bride soon and I would hope see bare's a son, my son is the true heir to the thrown. My influence is far spread and everyone flocks to me, to pelase me. No matter what decsion I make, someone will take my side. I also instill fear into the eyes of my enemy, although I must admit, my brother Constantine is better at this than I. I have a hard time and am fairly ignorant towards the divine but am open to all ideas in life. My command is at 2, I have fought in battles and won but I fear not enough to fully gain the trust of all my men. I am smarter than the last Emperor and my promise to you is that we will prosper.

Now onto other notes. We are currently allied with the following countries:
Spain
The People of Novogord
Papacy
Italians
Aragonese

We are at war with:
Germans
Almohads

I am sending an emmisary to try and ally with a neutral country called Hungry. They border us in many provinces and I would hope that we can become friends and together wipe out the Germans who stand in our way.

The Almohads are also at war with the English. Fighting on 2 fronts is never a good idea. We are currently stuck in a war on 2 fronts but I hope we can end one threat soon.The Germans are also at war with ar ally the Italians and a neutral foe, the Danes.

I current treasury is 131495 and is predicted to go up almost 9000 again in the upcoming year.

My time is short and I must go attend to my new duties.

War is upon us, but I will do my best to keep peace with the rest of the world but if we fail we will fight back and will triumph. I'm not one to attack provinces to gain there wealth but if attacked first I will retaliate with force and the intent of taking land over.

I thank you for coming and will speak again soon.

Emperor Nicephorus the 4th

[Demon of Light]

Applause
shouts of "all hail the Emperor"

[Sainika]

The Mongols are approaching http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Looking forward for the show.

[MiniKiller]

*enters room, sits downs*

Hello everyone, its been about 5 years since I"ve last held a gathering like this. The Germans are attacking our ships along the costs on England and France...they are winning, we are beggining to pump out more and more in hopes we can counter. The Hungarians refused are alliance but declared tht they are in no plans to attack us. Still I dont know if I can trust them. The Almohads hold 4 provinces now and I plan that Our great nation and The Enlgish will both get at least 1. We are pressuring from the east and they are pressuring from the north. There will be a grand battle, a 3 way battle soon, this will determine who captures the most of the Almohads lands. My plan, get out of the way, let them duke it out and swoop in and scoop up the pieces.

Thank you for your time, nothing else much has changed, The Italians are gaining ground on the Germans a bit thats about it. I have inisde info from a sailor that they saw thousands of wierd lookin men on the ohter side of our world massing together. I fear they may attack us, therefor I will not attack the German stronghold to my north in the far east. Thats a very big province, perfect landing grounds if these men with different faces do infact arrive.

*stands up bows*

Do you have any questions?

[The_Emperor]

*The spectre of Emperor Manuel I appears in a vision*

There is a great threat comming from the east, one greater than the Muslim infidels ever were. Everything we have fought for is in peril... I know you are aware of this, Have you made preparations to meet it? The years after 1230 will be dark for this is when the horde arrives in Khazar.

And don't forget to paint your servents blue Muahaha

*The vision fades*

[MiniKiller]

*waks up from dream in shock*
*looks around*

Wow, I just had a vision...if this is true then..then we need to begin my troop deployment east, I just hope the Hugarians do not attack us, fighting on 3 fronts is sure disaster. I must quickly get back to bed before anyone wonders why I am up and in a sweat.

*gets back into bed, doesnt sleep, thinks of plans all night*

[Yoko Kono]

any updates?

[MiniKiller]

Yup, I'll be done with my rein tomorow. Sory I"ve been so slow, had alot on my plate recently and there is a girl involved http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif so ya lol.

Its now been 10 years since I took my oath to you all. I've begun developing men to the east and to my suprise at otter disguest we've been attacked by the Hungarians. The same Hungarains who stated only 3 years ago they they have no plans to attack us. WE are now fighting on 3 fronts, though the Germans have not attacked in 6 years. This is going to be my test as the lord requests it. I will survive

[Mount Suribachi]

May I just say how happy I am that minikiller, after being frustratingly unable to get his name posted 1st, then couldn't get the game to work, is now playing it http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[jLan]

Yes, it's nice... now if only he could hurry up a bit http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[MiniKiller]

O'll be done today.

Hey now, lol you try to juggle work, hockey, and a girl (which is very hot and the best person every) in a week. lol

Here is an example of my typical 17 year old day

Wake up 9 go to work 10 30-7 hockey games 8 or 9 (weekends at noon, work after games on weekend) then call Mellisa and talk for 2 hours (which I might add is the best part of my day http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif)

Then what? Sleep, lol but shes on vacation so I can now devout 2 hours tonight to MTW http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[jLan]

You try to juggle umm sleep and ehh.. work once a week and uh going to the gym and friends errm... Yeah, try that http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Okay okay so it isnt as hectic http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[MiniKiller]

lol friends, I forgot to mention them and the once a week paintballing trip we do.

Nice try http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[MiniKiller]

Um I hate to be a bother again but I seem to be having a problemo.

Hungarians attack Serbia, and an Enlglish crusdae goes into Morocco. They retreat everytime and everytime when the messege comes up that they are deciding they can not win the game boots me to desktop. There is a long pause and I get booted, what in the name is going on.

Oh ya and it lets me click the check button but then freeze and boots me.

[Demon of Light]

How many times has it happened?

[MiniKiller]

8, I reloaded a save from 2 years earlier and all is well I have 3 years left in my rein. The other file, the one that boots me still does but owell I just reverted to a previous save and again have 3 years left in my rein.

[Yoko Kono]

by my reckoning the next emperor or his son will face the golden hordes then
i wonder who will be brave enough to try

[The_Emperor]

Quote[/b] (Yoko Kono @ July 28 2003,19:21)]by my reckoning the next emperor or his son will face the golden hordes then
i wonder who will be brave enough to try
I was wondering that myself...

Ok whoever fights the Mongols we want a full and detailed account complete with Pictures I want to see the war against the new threat in all its glory http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[DemonArchangel]

Yea, all 5 hours of it.... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif

[MiniKiller]

My rein is complete I will post a full write up of my rein when I get home (tonight in about 3 hours time) and will also email the new person their file. I'm thowing in a twist however. Instead of just posting first u also have to post the date I took over, that means re-reading alot of these posts http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif good luck.

[Demon of Light]

Still there MiniKiller? Happy to see that you solved the problem. I look forward to your post. Also, could you senf the game to albertmaldonado@yahoo.com ? the other email is getting full.

[jLan]

You recieved the file July 19 2003,05:37.

Me next http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

infinite@sb-bt.com

[MiniKiller]

Quote[/b] ]I'm thowing in a twist however. Instead of just posting first u also have to post the date I took over, that means re-reading alot of these posts good luck.


Muwhahahaha *cough cough* muwhahaha http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Soon as someone gets the correct answer the file will be mailed to the new user and Demon of Light. You will also be granted the ability to read my write up which is typed up in word, just waiting to be copy/pasted here http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

*continues evil laugh*

[Casca]

Mini-killer You took the throne in 1180. You were 29 years old.

I want the game. chicoscout69@hotmail.com

[Casca]

Quote[/b] (MiniKiller @ July 19 2003,20:16)]*second edit*

I got it, downloaded winrar and transfered it to my comp with MTW Next post (soon or Sunday morning) Will be my kings inagual address complete with plans, provinces, other nations etc.
Alternatively, if Jlan was on the right track with his answer, I submit this as the date you received the game. ( I'm covering my bets)

(JLan was using a date and time that corrosponded to your announcement of receiving the game but didn't take into account your problems with Winrar)

[Casca]

You could also be talking about the date for when Nicephorus IV addressed everyone. That is : July 21 2003,15:46


You also might be referring to the date for when your messenger announced that Nicephorus IV would address us. That was: July 21 2003,12:18

[Cazbol]

The successors shouldn't have to enter a quizshow to continue with the campaign.

[MiniKiller]

Why not? I am the Emporer. muwuahahah Its all urs Casca.

I did this to be more fair then being lucky u know? Anyway I'll send the file soon as I write up my farewell speech which will be soon.

*edit* I wasnt to clear however with my question was i? I meant the date and my age 1180 29yrs srry for any mix up.

[MiniKiller]

*The file is to big for the floppy"

How did u zip it to winrar? I need to tranfser it from computers like i did to play. so the file shouldntbe to large.

[Casca]

Yay I won

I do however feel like an usurper (there are wispers of some who would support a coup in favor of the rival claimant to the throne). Therefore in the interest of peace and stability, as my first act as Emperor, I formaly designate jLan as my heir and successor. May both our reigns add to the glory of the East Roman Empire

PS: Please send game in WinZip Form

[Cazbol]

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

[jLan]

Thank you Casca http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I petition that Minikiller be punished for his unclear formulation of the question http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif 5 whippings will do http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Sainika]

I'm still waiting for the show "The Mongols: ass-kickers or ass-kicked" http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[TheSilverKnight]

I really love these campaigns. But I never thought of joining one. Would be cool. But I don't know if I should. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif I was thinking of starting one, but I never got around to it. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[Yoko Kono]

Quote[/b] (MiniKiller @ July 29 2003,15:50)]*The file is to big for the floppy"

How did u zip it to winrar? I need to tranfser it from computers like i did to play. so the file shouldntbe to large.
im assuming winrar is installed on your pc
right click on the game game file and select add to save_game_name.rar, this should make it an email friendly 500k or so, most mailboxes can handle at least 1mb files
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[MiniKiller]

Ok thanks I'll try that right now, the prob is I need to transfer it from a floppy to my other pc (the internet one, which is this one lol) to send it. Hope fully it will work.

*Edit* All right it worked I apoligize for the length of time it took but I am going to email the file now. I'll type of my rein tomorow, its late here and south park is on lol.

[Casca]

I have recieved the file and begun my reign. I await word of my father's reign.

[jLan]

Don't take a week playing like Minikiller did :P I'm heading off on sunday or monday..

[MiniKiller]

I'm sorry guys I would love to write out a big grand lecture on how i did, u know like how i opened up my rein but i cant, i dunno i just seem so tired lately, i feel just idunno but in short I took over all but 1 province of the hungarains becasue they attacked me. Took over 3 provinces for the almohads, um germans are destroying all my ships, and are started to attack my ceneter rein oh ya and i held back 2 crusades (1 still there but weak) to constantinopel.

[Demon of Light]

O.K

I hope Minikiller can give us more later. Couple of things to address:

First, there is now a new rule. No more quizzing potential monarchs. I can appreciate Mini-Killer's motives for doing it but the unfortunate victem in this was Jlan. He certainly went back through the posts and came up with an answer. Unfortunately, he answered the wrong question. Herein lies part of the problem; it is more than possible to ask an unclear question. Then what? I already decided to let this continue simply because I did not forbid it before but I do so now. Too many potential problems. Again, I appreciate Mini-Killer's motives but I know how easily this could have blown up if Jlan had been less calm (Thanks Jlan).

Bringing me to my next point. Casca's idea is acceptable to me. (he actually hit upon my idea for the next game)I'll happily make an exception to my list rule (this once though) and have Jlan play next reign.

Jlan: you mentioned that you leave Sunday or Monday. When do you return? Casca will take a while to finish so it probably won't be a problem to hold up until you return. Just let me know how long. If you say nothing though, I'll not hold it for you. That would be too open ended. Answer some time before Casca finishes.

[jLan]

I will probably be gone for about 1 week, a few days more or less...

[Casca]

The funeral procession for Nicephorus IV was truly an impressive one. Throngs of people lined both sides of the streets from the Gate of Charisius to the Church of the Holy Apostles in order to wish their late leader goodbye. The new emperor Manuel II led the procession. He walked next to his father's rider less horse, gently leading the great beast towards what was soon to be his father's last resting place. It was a good move he thought. This was the first time that his people were really going to see him, and Manuel felt that he needed to make a good impression. It was also his way of sending a message. "I know I have my faults" he wanted to tell them, "But I am not haughty or proud, I am a serious individual and I intend to lead by example" Manuel winced when he thought about his faults and the image of him as a prince. Though his regiment of horse knew him to be a natural leader with a talent for administration, the more popular version of him was that of an unscrupulous womanizer whose appetite respected neither class nor the vows of marriage. It was true that he liked women but he could not help it. He was young, witty, handsome, and the heir to an empire. Women could not help but be flattered by his attentions. To Manuel it was all like a grand hunt, the more elusive his quarry, the harder he chased. "Perhaps I went too far" he thought. He was after all twenty-seven now and still unmarried. He had a dynasty to continue and instead of flattered women now cringed when they heard of his romps around the palace. Deep down inside, and though it pained him to admit it, Manuel still remembered why it had all begun. Nicephorus IV had been considered a good ruler, but Manuel had never considered him a good father. Indifferent and callus, Manuel had thought him to be about as warm as a cold fish. All he had ever wanted was his father's attention; barring that just attention it did'nt matter if it was good or bad. But it had always been the same with his father. "I'm busy right now boy, these men are important and you have to go now" . Manuel closed his eyes and silently cursed his father. Too busy? he thought, I'm your son, your heir, tell me what to do....teach me. How am I going to be a good ruler if you don't show me how? Manuel had always worried about this. He had felt the burden of responsibility before it was really his. And now.....now it was too late and he was emperor. "All I know I've learned from the army" he thought. “But that's fine, I'll run this place like an army, and if people don't like it they can bloody well go to hell'. A small smile crept across Manuel's face, he knew what he had to do.

[Demon of Light]

I'll be out from Aug. 5 to Aug. 12. As Casca is the current Emperor, during my abscence (assuming I don't find an Internet connection while I'm in Chattanooga) assume that he speaks with my voice.

[jLan]

Change of plans, won't leave after all.

[ShadesWolf]

I have moved this to the story telling/ PBM forum

[Demon of Light]

It appears that my sister is kind enough to let me use her internet connection so I'll be hanging out after all.

Casca: Awaiting next write-up. Also: Dad wants to know if you are watering the plants

[Demon of Light]

I can confirm that Casca is still at it and is preparing a long post for submission. Currently, we are at our sister's wedding and thus very unable to progress until we return tommorrow (I think he might be here a day or 2 longer). I'll see about putting up a map so you can see what is going on. The Emperor is still young and there is alot going on (ALOT going on).

[jLan]

I'm around still btw http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif Didn't notice thread had been moved...

[Casca]

Emperor Manuel II could not believe he was actually doing this. Just remember he kept saying to himself its your duty. For the better part of two years Manuel had been tormented by the not so subtle hints of his chief adviser. My isn't that a pretty little thing he would say, or Ah your grace, what a surprise to find you here, allow me to introduce the countess of so and so while accidentally bumping into him at dinner, or while attending church, or boating, or in the barracks, or conducting maneuvers, or in his study. It had all been mildly amusing at first but when his adviser 'accidentally' bumped into him while in the toilet, Manuel knew that something had to be done. I was in the toilet he had yelled at his adviser, for gods sake man, have some decency I assure you your majesty his adviser had said, it was all quite accidental. Manuel remembered how he had rolled his eyes when he had heard this. I get the hint ok he had said finally admitting defeat, I need to get married, but since you seem to have so much energy I'm going to have YOU do all the work. Get the name of every eligible maiden in the empire and make me a list, once I have chosen a name Manuel had said with a sly smile, it's your job to court her. His minister had started to object but Manuel cut him off with a look. No excuses, I just want results. Manuel had been in his study signing several orders of dismissal for several poor governors when his minister had come in. When he started reading from the list, Manuel found himself decidedly unimpressed with such names as Anna of Anatolia, Teresa of Trebizond, Georgina of Georgia, Gertrude of Greece, and Hanga of Hungary. He was about to call a halt when his adviser uttered Scarlett of Terra... Scarlett? he remembered saying, what an unusual name... yes that will do quite nicely, carry on George But your majesty his adviser cried in alarm, are you sure you want to make a decision so.. Look George, I don't have the time or the patience, just get her for me OK? The weeks went by and Manuel continued with his work. A large Roman army was smashed by the Russians in Moldavia, and a large German one in Carpathia . The key, Manuel noticed was good generalship. Moldavia had been lost not because it had been poorly defended, but because the commanding general had panicked in the middle of the fight. This had started a chain reaction amongst neighboring units, and before long what had been a promising beginning had turned into wholesale slaughter and a rout. In Capathia on the other hand, a small outnumbered force with an able commander had stood against many times more their brethren and smashed a mixed force of Swabian swordsmen and heavy knights. Manuel had been pondering this when his adviser entered the room. Well hello there George Don't hello me your majesty His adviser had countered as negatively as he dared she's ready for you and I'll have you know it was not easy Thank you George Manuel smiled you are a true sport and a gentleman. Looking back at the ensuing meetings that followed Manuel had wondered if perhaps he had been too hasty. Though Scarlett was indeed a fine woman, she proved to be every bit as fiery as her name. Educated, opinionated, cultivated, but hardly domesticated, she not only proved that A kiss can be a comma, a question mark, or an exclamation point, but that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And the shoes Manuel wondered to himself, what can one woman do with so many shoes. Manuel could already hear himself saying, Yes dear just to keep his peace of mind. As he approached the wedding aisle he smiled at himself, he had to admit that she was different, and on an optimistic note she might prove to be a welcome distraction to an empire full of troubles.

[Mount Suribachi]

Its been a week and a day.

Whats the latest Casca? How goes it with Manuel the Henpecked?

[Demon of Light]

I'm not Casca but I have been looking over his shoulder http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif . Manuel the Henpecked has been gloriously fighting college as he attempts to get into classes. (It started up this week.) Also, he's been dealing with the real Scarlet in his life. Can't say I'm doing much better. When attractive women ask that I join them on XY or Z excursion, I tend to comply.Even when they do have boyfriends http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif and bring them http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/rolleyes.gif Seriously though, I've been helping him move out from a bad living situation. Gotta love roomates.

The game itself has,well, taught me to respect certain units. That's all I'll say for now. (Casca's gameplay can't be blamed for what I saw BTW

[jLan]

Has he had the campaign for 4 weeks or something like that now?

[Casca]

What a mess, Longinius thought as he approached the tent on foot. He had been traveling for three months and had had nothing but the memories of his past ordeal to keep him company. The battle he thought had started off well and he still remembered the confident optimism of the troops as they assembled into their orders of battle. And why not? They had a general who was a devious and superb commander. Most inportantly however, they had all been thoroughly briefed on what he thought was an excellent plan. Roman forces had set up on the lower edge of a wide valley in the typical formation that one might expect of an army in the defense; Infantry up front with the Calvary on the flanks. As the enemy attack begun, officers executed the very same tactic that made the infamous Carthaginian Hannibal so notorious. As the infantry absorbed the enemy attack, they fell back and made as if they were giving ground under pressure. When they finally stropped and held their ground, the army was arranged in a giant U formation with the Calvary primed to envelop from the flanks. Lord Comnenus gave the order to attack and as the Roman heavy Calvary bore down on the enemy rearguard, the unthinkable happened. Lord Comnenus, leading so confidently and courageously from the front was felled by a volley of arrows and trampled to death before the eyes of the entire army. For a moment everything seemed to stop as the shock of what happened set in and the troops began to falter. It was to Lord Lascaris' credit that he was able take command mid-charge and continue the attack on the enemy. The carnage that followed was terrible as the young horsemen massacred scores of young Germans in an attempt to avenge their beloved leader, So fierce was their bloodlust that the German commander himself did not live long enough to enjoy Lord Comnenus' death. The same shock that inspired the brave horsemen to such heights however proved too much for the infantry who broke and fled one after another before an angry horde of German infantry wishing in their turn to avenge their leader's death. The Calvary tried in vain to stem the tide and though they smashed several units, they proved too few. Most of the army died during ordeal that followed. In a desperate move, he remembered being ordered by Lord Lascaris to call any reinforcements available and have them rally around him for a last stand. The small rabble of Infantry and archers that assembled was a pathetic sight, but as they turned and charged the enemy spears there no doubt in his mind that they were Roman. The ensuing encounter was savage, with no quarter offered or given. Both sides seemed to melt away and die along a thin line of death, neither side advancing or retreating. It was the Germans who died faster however and as the enemy formations of one's and two's finally lost heart and ran, an exhausted and bloody Lord Lascaris surveyed his formations of three's and four's and ordered them not to pursue. He knew that the enemy had another wave left and that the battle was lost. With a lump in his throat he ordered his flag bearer to signal the retreat. Parched and heartbroken, he remembered how they had all turned their eyes to the sky, not to implore upon our lord Christ, but to avoid having to look at the faces of their dead friends who would be denied the dignity of a proper burial. Perhaps god had noticed the stares anyway, he did not know, but the German Army decided that it had enough that day, and retreated at a faster pace, thus leaving them the winners of a Pyrric victory by default. But everybody knew the real truth, they had been beaten, even the local peasants, normally so amiable, closed their doors to them muttering how they had never seen such a good bunch of runners as those in this army. It was because of this stigma that Lord Lascaris knew he could not remain at the head of the army. Thus he had dispatched him to ride to Moldavia where the Emperor was preparing to attack with a formidable host of men, and ask him to send a new commander.
The army that Longinius was sent to see was considered the best because of the generous amount of Varagian regiments that had been painstakingly recruited over the years. He had hoped that the sight of such a great host of Vikings would cheer him, but he was not prepared for what had greeted him instead. A great host of Vikings indeed, but the camp was eerily quiet. Nobody challenged him when he approached the camp, and where he asked a grizzled old Viking where the Emperor's tent was, the big brute would not meet his gaze, much less answer his query. Instead he merely pointed in a general direction and shuffled off. Longinius felt that this place looked all too familiar, but he continued on despite the sickening feeling at the pit of his stomach. Time after time he would stop a man and ask the same question, but nobody would say a word; they would merely point and walk away. By the time he reached the tent Longinius felt like one of the Virgins twice over, he knew but he had to hear it. Dead the old officer choked out as he covered his face within his trembling hands. We'd won he continued in a shrill voice, we'd driven them completely from the field WHAT FIELD, WHERE Longinius asked, but the poor man would not acknowledge him, he merely continued his rambling. He was knocked off his horse ...Can you believe it....knocked off and hacked to death by a bunch of woodsmen Now it was he whom was speechless, he did not know what to say; but it did not matter the man took no notice. Every single one of them ran....to a man they ran and left him there...nobody even tried to recover his body It was at this time, when he most wanted to be alone with his thoughts that the man turned a pair of haunted and anguished eyes to him and cried What will they say...What's to become of us.... Oh God what's to become of us The stench of fear was more than Longinius could bear, and as he stumbled out of the tent he let the bile in his mouth spill over his clothes. Time as always turned her face and took no notice. As day turned into night, a brother received a weary messenger, and an unsuspecting empress caressed her sleeping newborn child.

[Casca]

Waiting for Jlan now...

[Casca]

Sent Jlan game to his E mail a few days ago, waiting for his responce.

[jLan]

Game recieved and successfully loaded. Thanks http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[jLan]

Unfortunately, I won't have time to finish this reign, so I will pass it on to whoever wants it http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

I tried to get the time in to get it done, but it seems undoable. In addition, I've lost most of my interest in MTW... Sorry

[Demon of Light]

The game now goes to the first person to show an interest in having it.

[The Wizard]

I'll step up to the challenge for my fourth (and second Expert) Byzantine campaign.. send the save file to:

me_is_pie@hotmail.com

[Demon of Light]

Sorry. I should have posted it here but a few days ago I set up a new thread asking people to pick up orphaned campaigns. I included this one and Drucius volunteered. Don't lose hope though. Just have a little patience and Drucius will either finish or drop off the face of the Earth. When the the Throne is vacant once again, I'll notify you immediately.

[The Wizard]

Yes, I viewed that thread but failed to notice the fact that Drucius picked it up. It's in capable hands tho. =)

[econ21]

I make it 23 days since Drucius picked up this campaign and he has made no posts here. I would count that as falling off the face of the earth. I remember wistfully the days of Kukrikhan's campaigns - where you had to post progress reports every other day or forfeit...

[The Wizard]

Send it to me then... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Demon of Light]

I will try to send the game to Wizzy. The computer is still finnicky as hell.

[The Wizard]

I suppose you still have my email, hm? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[The Wizard]

The Life of Romanus V Melissenus, Emperor of Byzantium, and the founder of the Melissenus dynasty
From the Melissenian Annals by Phillip Rontiplos, Cretan scribe

'Twas a time of turmoil and unrest in the ancient and once mighty Byzantine Empire. The last ruler of the Comnenus dynasty, Manuel II, had died, and there was great unrest following his death, as his heir to the throne had vanished. 'Tis upon this day still, that it is unknown if he was murdered, captured, or forced to abdicate his rightful throne before he had even had the chance to sit on it. On both the political plane, as well as one more violent, there was turmoil and struggle. Constantine Argyrus, a great general and important political figure, coming from the noble Argyrus family, an exceedingly rich family residing 'pon the isle of Delos in their family estate, which was both a beautiful mansion and a mighty stronghold, decided it was his duty to make his family the royal family. But he had rivals in Alexius Comnenus, a man who claimed to be a member of the Comnenus family, and an unlikely rival in Romanus Melissenus, hailing from the relatively unimportant noble Melissenus family, whom had their estates and holdings 'pon the isle of Crete, in yon central mountains not far from the town in which I write this history of the dynasty he founded.
At first, 'twas merely a political battle, between lord Argyrus and Comnenus. These two infuential and powerful men soon could not talk to each and other, or an argument would commence. 'Twas after one such heavy insult by Alexius Comnenus, that lord Argyrus decided to take up arms and defeat Comnenus in battle. At the battle of Thessaloniki in the year of our Lord 1210, Comnenus managed to narrowly defeat lord Argyrus, and in the war that followed, lord Argyrus managed to get himself surrounded and killed at the battle of Varna, in Bulgaria, in the year of our Lord 1213.
While the two rivals fought for supremacy, our future Emperor Romanus Melissenus worked feverishly to gain a political power base. On the military plane, he had substantial and experienced forces, having campaigned in North Africa, southern Italy, and even southern Russia. On the political level, however, his allies were few and far apart, and he had spent the three years of the civil war making more allies, and creating a strong political base of power.
Thus, when Alexius returned with his tired forces to his main camp in the province of Thessaly in the month of February in the year of our Lord 1314, he was waylaid by lord Melissenus' forces, along the northern banks of the river Danube, in south-eastern Bulgaria. The battle seemed to descend into a slow battle of attrition in the melée, when Comnenus' regiment of kataphraktoi charged into the flanks of the unprepared regiment of Varangian Guard, whom were occupied in the melée. Lord Melissenus himself, showing his bravery, charged into the fray to save his right flank. In the end, lord Melissenus had to retreat, but the largest part of the Comnenian kataphraktoi had passed on to the arms of our Lord. This proved decisive, as lord Melissenus' cavalry one battle after battle, and finally, in the battle of Thessaloniki in the month June in the year of our Lord 1316, Alexius Comnenus, pretender to the throne and not even a member of the former royal family, was struck down on that hot day, and his army surrendered.
So started the rule of a new Emperor, and a new dynasty...

[Drucius]

Sorry for crapping out on this, a combination of hardware failure, busy life and stupidity have conspired to prevent me from playing any MTW recently.

My apologies to all concerned.

[Demon of Light]

Don't feel TOO bad. Your successor has had the game for 24 days without giving word. It almost makes me want to do a competition. First person to post as Emperor of Byzantium wins.

Do you still have the game? I'm afraid that it took a minor miracle to mail the game to Wizzy and if he flakes, I might not be able to ship it off to a successor.

[Drucius]

Blimey, I've still got it, and now I can't resist having a look at it...

[The Wizard]

Grmbl... very well -- expect at least something tonight. ~_~;

[The Wizard]

I told you I TOLD YOU MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

The War with the Pretenders
Note by the translator: From here, the author seems to have made a point of view change, and describes the situation from the view of a Papal soldier

'Twas on a hot summer day to the north of the city of the Vatican, Rome, that Frederico Frangipani saw. A Byzantine patrol leisurely made it's way over the path, checking for any enemies. The black knight knew why as well.
It was the year of our Lord 1221, and the Papal state was now surrounded on all sides by the orthodox Byzantines. Sir Frederico Frangipani was indeed a member of the infamous family of black knights that had made its home in Rome, and had allied with the Pope, for the time being at least. He was a young knight, having only recently been knighted. When he was a squire, his uncle, his master, had told him of how Imperial forces to the North were being hounded by Byzantine forces moving in from southern Italy and Venice, a Byzantine-held city. At Milan, Imperial forces had narrowly managed to halt the advance of duke Lascaris, and only because they had withdrawn forces from Tuscany, which had been given up to duke Comnenus without bloodshed.
All that war in northern Italy was only one part of a massive offensive of the Byzantines, and Sir Frederico had heard many tales of it. How, at lake Dánsk, a Teutonic army had managed to beat a supposedly equally sized Byzantine force soundly, killing duke Stratiocus. How the new emperor Romanus V had slaughtered thousands in Silesia to take revenge. How Franconia was lost because Imperial forces deserted en masse because they were scared of the Byzantine devils. How English crusaders failed to stop the Byzantine advance in Córdoba, and how catholic fleets of every catholic prince were being pushed back along the Mediterranean, but only after a great fight.

This, is how an ordinary Catholic soldier looked at the situation. The evil Empire encroaching upon the great Catholic kingdoms, threatening all in existence. That is simply not true. It is no wonder that the people that the Byzantines rule are the happiest, most loyal of the world. Our emperor brings only peace and prosperity, where war and squalor once existed.
In the first three years of his rule, our Emperor, Romanus V Melissenus, had consolidated his position as the Emperor fully, strengthening all the fronts of the vast Empire, and increasing the rate of conscription all over the Empire. Realising that the wars in the East, against the orthodox Russian princes, was taking far too many resources, our great leader gave them Kiev, in turn for peace.
He was preparing for war, for he wished to end the insolence that was the so-called Holy Roman Empire, which had named itself after the mighty empire of old, from which the Byzantine Empire itself had sprung. In the last years, these dogs had offended the Byzantine people, tried to burn and pillage their lands, and opted to a full-scale war. The emperor thought it enough, and he prepared his forces along the border for his massive campaign to destroy the Pretenders and their cause.
So, in the year of our Lord 1219, the emperor himself invaded Greater Poland, and the following year, he split his forces and himself invaded Silesia, while he sent an army under the excellent commander duke Stratiocus to conquer Pomerania. At the same time, he sent duke Tzimisces to conquer Franconia from the Teutonic order of crusaders, and he ordered his commanders in northern Italy to force the dogs from soil that rightfully belonged to the Byzantine people. A world away, in the extreme west of the Mediterranean, the Emperor's brother, duke Melissenus, advanced on English crusaders in Córdoba on his own account.
Only in Pomerania and Córdoba, like two opposites, so far away were they from each other, did it come to a clashing. In Pomerania, duke Stratiocus knew he was outnumbered, but he did not know how much he was in truth. According to his intelligence, he was outnumbered by only a few hundred men, and he was facing an army inferior in quality and experience. In truth, the poor quality mercenary scouts had failed to notice two other Imperial forces. In total, the duke was outnumbered three to one, and the entire army payed dearly for the scouts' mistake. It was slaughtered, and the Empire lost a brilliant commander in the process.
In Córdoba, duke Melissenus won the battle after a grueling melée that lasted all day, but a well-timed charge by his charging cavalry saved the day after all.
There was another battle, in Milan. There, the viceroy of the emperor, lord Lascaris, had tread upon Imperial soil. According to the catholics, the battle had been saved by the brave Grandmaster of the Teutons. In truth, Milan was held, at the mercy of the king of Serbia. He had wisely seen that he was outnumbered to a point where he could not win the battle, and called off the attack.
And so tale the first rowdy years of Romanus V's rule...

[Drucius]

Curses, foiled again

[The Wizard]

Now, an accumulation of things aided in the fact that I am currently barely able to play, plus also write something up. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-help.gif

Because of this, I think I'm gonna play it until my Emperor dies, and then hand it over. I hope I get the time... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-juggle.gif

[Demon of Light]

You will write something up, right? I don't want a blank reign. I don't see anyone else volunteering for the game so it isn't as though you are on a schedule.

(How is everything going, Drucius?)

[The Wizard]

Well, currently I am pushing deep into the HRE, but I don't know if I'll continue because of the pending arrival of the Horde. No army can really stand up to my forces however. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-jester.gif

[Drucius]

I'll step into any breaches that require stepping into. As it were.

[The Wizard]

Ok, now for some pics.

This is a mugshot of our beloved emperor, Romanus V of Crete.

http://www.kayssplace.com/albums/album81/RomanusV_Mellisenus.jpg

And this is the Empire at the start of his reign (it has been dramatically expanded ever since http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif) :

http://www.kayssplace.com/albums/album81/TheEmpire_AD1216.jpg



~Wiz http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-pirate.gif

[The Wizard]

Oh my, the Mongols are here and have defeated a weakly-lead army of mine in Georgia...

Romanus was campaigning in Bavaria... wondering what I'm gonna do. Withdraw and fight the Mongols or try to beat both the imposters and the Mongols at the same time?



~Wiz

[The Wizard]

Okido, I'm done and I'll upload it now. Filename: Emperor_JohnII_1244.rar

Calling for any volunteers to guide Romanus' son, John in his rule http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-help.gif



~Wiz

[Demon of Light]

I eagerly await your writeup.
P.S: I think Casca might have something to say about whose son John is...

[econ21]

I'd like to pick this one up, if that's ok. Looks like there is no great pressure to finish a reign quickly.

[Demon of Light]

I'm happy to see you volunteer. Have at it. Have fun.

[econ21]

Thanks, Demon of Light. I've uploaded the game. It's not as near end-game as I'd thought, so there should be some life left in this thread yet. I'll post periodic write-ups of my progress.

[Demon of Light]

Many thanks. I'll let you in on a little secret: You are Manuel's long lost son. I pitched the idea to Casca about writing a little something to that effect and he's up for it (schedule permitting) John was born in the last year of Manuel's reign before he fell fighting the HRE.

[The Wizard]

Eh?

But my story is about how Romanus came to power by way of a civil war (reflecting the long time of nobody picking this campaign up) and then being the first ruler of the Melissenus dynasty... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif



~Wiz

[econ21]

Well, you have two sons who are heirs to the throne, Wizzy. So the dynasty may revert to your line.

Any chance of your finishing up your story? I would be very interested to hear it. When I read what you have written so far, I infered that there actually was a civil war - or is that a literary licence?

[Demon of Light]

Literary liscence.

Wizzy: No worries. First thing is that he'll likely be too busy to write that and also, I have full confidence in Dr. Appleton's abilty to write both in. Had anyone else taken the game, I would have had doubts. Of course, if you do your write-up first and do it in such a way that what I am suggesting simply doesn't happen, that would work too.

[The Wizard]

Now, what is the list of kings? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-anxious.gif



~Wiz

[econ21]

The Black Sea, 1244

Emperor John stood on the deck of a fire-galley, breathing in the sea air. “It is good to be out of that god-forsaken city.” he muttered to himself. The wind blowing over the exposed and austere warship was a welcome change from the claustrophobic confines of the capital. A month trapped in the crowded labyrinthine palace had been quite enough. If he had stayed a day longer, John felt he would have been forever ensnared by the legions of minor dignitaries, pompous officials and feckless hangers-on that sapped the life out of the ancient city. It never ceased to amaze him that so many people could be paid to produce so little.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/JohnII.jpg

It was true that Byzantium controlled a vast Empire, stretching from Morocco across North Africa into the Levant and Asia Minor, through the Balkans to Tuscany. But it was as though this territorial grandeur had given rise to a complacent lethargy. The Empire’s many provinces were largely undeveloped – John had been shocked to count only half a dozen castles among the scores of cities under his rule. What was worse, the provinces showed no sign of wanting to better themselves – perhaps a majority were undertaking no building projects when John came to power, in spite of the Empire having a healthy treasury of 167,000 florins. Some of this inertia was perhaps understandable given that Byzantium had failed even to appoint governors for around a dozen provinces.

The military situation was characterised by a similar mix of engorgement and lethargy. Thousands of citizens were under-arms, but many were idling in garrisons in provincial backwaters and most were simple soldiers – Byzantine infantry, Trebizond archers and crossbowmen. The Varangian Guard lived on only as a memory, kept alive in taverns only by the tales of a few survivors of shattered companies, while the formidable kataphractoi appeared to play just a ceremonial role as bodyguards to a few generals. What was worse, only two provinces were capable of producing either of these two kinds of elite troops. As well as failing to capitalise on its traditional strengths, the Empire had failed to keep abreast of the technological developments happening elsewhere in Europe. It fielded no arbalesters and only one province had begun to recruit feudal heavy cavalry, the Pronoiai Allagion. The great Empire had no siege train, nor any facilities for producing even a simple catapult. The Empire’s rivals had not been so complacent – the Holy Roman Empire fielded first class armies with arbalesters, feudal knights and chivalric sergeants. The powerful cavalry-based armies of the Mongols had a clear edge over the swordsmen and archers of Byzantium, with scarcely any Roman spearmen or cavalry having been recruited to hold them at bay.

The complacency of the Empire was reflected in its inwardness and ignorance of other countries. German warships patrolling off Gibraltar prevented Roman ship-captains sending any word about life along the Atlantic and Baltic coasts. Byzantium had many ships and fleets, but these had not been concentrated to contest German-controlled waters but instead were scattered throughout the interior of Byzantine seas. Likewise, Orthodox priests ministered to the faithful throughout the Empire, but none had been sent out into the Catholic world to seek converts and send back covert intelligence. As a result, John could only guess at the extent and strength of the kingdoms which opposed him.

John shook his head, remonstrating silently to himself: “This must change” The Empire was locked in a death struggle with two powerful factions: the Holy Roman Empire and the Golden Horde. To continue to stagnate would ultimately doom the Empire in the face of the vigour of its younger rivals.

Soon the Emperor’s fire-galley joined others in the armada beached on the shores of the Black Sea, near to Kiev. The province was the lynchpin of the Mongol lands, the bridge between the Great Khan in Volyhnia and his hinterlands in the steppe. Since both the east and west approaches to Kiev required crossing major rivers, John had stripped all interior garrisons of excess troops and sent them in a great armada to seize the province from the sea. As John stepped onto land, a messenger ran to greet him.

“Your majesty, our scouts report the Mongol army has left this province without a fight.”

John allowed himself a smile and then immediately regretted it.

“They left for Moldavia. Word has come that our army there was massacred, General Lascaris himself was slain on the field and the survivors are now besieged in the keep.”

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/Moldavia1244a.jpg




John cursed. This was not the way it was meant to begin.


http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/Moldavia1244b.jpg

[econ21]

The Mongol War

Moldavia, 1245

Moldavia, a cursed land … Emperor John surveyed the bloodied ground around him. Newly watered by the fallen of the day's struggle, this province had previously been the scene of the first battle of Emperor John’s reign and a humiliating defeat for the new ruler. In 1244, an old fashioned Roman army had faced off against the Mongol horde and been over-run. Mongol warriors on foot had forsaken their bows and rushed the legions, matching them in deadly prowess with their swords. At the same time, a mass of Mongol heavy cavalry had crushed the single company of spearmen available to try to hold off and then scattered the hapless legions. The Roman medium cavalry had proved ineffective and the general, Lascaris, had paid the ultimate price for his defeat.

But Moldavia had an evil reputation with the Empire that extended long before Lascaris’s downfall. It was Moldavia where Emperor Manuel II had met his untimely death at the hands of German woodsmen. Emperor John had been brought up to believe that Romanus V was his father but rumours in the Imperial court hinted at an older lineage. Certainly, the two juvenile princes – Nicephorus and Constantine, John’s supposed younger brothers – bore little resemblance to him. But in the absence of children of his own, John treated them with the greatest of care – knowing that one day, they might be called upon to lead the Empire.

John turned again to survey the battlefield. Had he finally excised the curse of this land? It had come close to claiming him this day. The battle had been fought around a central hamlet, which had led John to divide his army into two wings, one either side of the village. On the Roman right, John had managed to turn the Mongol flank – leading with crossbowmen backed by legions and cavalry. But the Roman left had ultimately been overwhelmed by the charge of Mongol heavy cavalry.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BMoldavia1245a.jpg

The Moldavian hamlet, scene of the pivotal battle in the Mongol war. Already, it can be seen that both armies are moving to turn their enemy's left flank.

Soon John had found himself cut off from his supply lines with only his bodyguard, two companies of crossbowmen and a hard-pressed unit of infantry remaining. A second wave of Mongol troops, fast moving Steppe cavalry and Slav warriors, were rapidly approaching as the Mongol heavy cavalry reformed and turned back to face the Emperor with his small isolated force.

Had John died that day, the Empire would have been ruined. The two princes, heirs apparent, were too young to have taken the throne and the battle for influence would have caused the Empire to break up in strife. Consequently, John had spurred his horse for home and attempted to extract himself from the trap he found himself in. But the slow moving kataphracts were easy prey for the steppe cavalry and John had not even cleared the hamlet before he and his men were engulfed.

For what seemed like an eternity, the Emperor had battled in hand to hand combat with the Mongols. Thirty-five of his escort died that day, taking four times that number of Mongols with them. By the sacrifice of his men and a feat of personal endurance, John had managed to hold on long enough for a unit of Roman infantry to come huffing up through the village and relieve his embattled entourage.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BMoldavia1245b.jpg

The Emperor’s bodyguard die protecting him while beyond the church a unit of legionnaires can be seen rushing to their relief.

With the arrival of reinforcements, numbers began to tell and the Mongols were soundly beaten. Each side lost nearly a thousand men, but the Mongols had been driven off into Volhynia, where their Khan was now isolated along with the greater part of their forces.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BMoldavia1245c.jpg

Emperor John wins a close fought victory.

The year brought mixed news from other fronts. Lord Comnenus, Prince of Antioch and Chancellor of the Palace, successfully seized Pereyaslavl from the Mongols. But Lord Caliphates, Duke of Trebizond and Commander of the Fleet, fell in battle while attacking Volga-Bulgaria and his army was routed.


1246, Volhynia

“Citizens of Rome, this is your hour. You have harried the wolf to his lair and now it is time for the kill. He crouches before you, vengeful and wild. Given a chance, he would tear you limb from limb and devour your loved ones. But his time is over. His heart beats with fear and he recognises you as his doom. You are soldiers of Rome, disciplined and strong. You will march forward together and together we shall drive our swords into the heart of this beast”

To cheers from the army, Lord Murtzuphlus pointed his sword towards the wooded hill behind which the Mongol khan and his army lurked. Steadily, the Roman advance began – led by the massed ranks of crossbowmen and legions, stiffened by freshly raised companies of kataphracts and Varangian Guard.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BVolhynia1246a.jpg

The Roman army deploys against the main Mongol army for the decisive battle in the war.

The Emperor had ordered Murtzuphlus to lead the decisive battle. The Emperor’s bodyguard was still woefully under-strength after the previous year’s battle in Moldavia and Murtzuphlus had the reputation of being one of the finest commanders in the Empire. The victory at Volhynia would cement that reputation, although privately Murtzuphlus thought the battle lost by the Mongols rather than won by any particular skill of his own.

The encounter had begun bizarrely with the Khan Ogadai I himself leading his bodyguard down from the wooded hill and into the ranks of the Roman army.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BVolhynia1246b.jpg

The Khan Ogadai I launches a reckless charge. Already kataphracts can be seen moving to intercept him on both flanks.

While he scattered the advancing Roman crossbowmen, Ogadai’s unsupported charge had been doomed. Murtzuphlus had seized his chance and ordered two companies of kataphracts to counter-charge from both flanks.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BVolhynia1246c.jpg

Ogadai is trapped and, although he will break free, the aggressive spirit of his army is broken.

Ogadai’s bodyguard was eliminated and the Khan fled from the field in dishonour. After that, the spirit of the Mongol army appeared weakened and it contented itself with archery duels …

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BVolhynia1246d.jpg

The battle of Volhynia degenerates into a shooting match … one that the Roman crossbowmen will comfortably win.

The depleted ranks of Roman crossbowmen easily bested the Mongol archers and, supported by strong units of infantry and cavalry, beat back successive waves of Mongol troops.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BVolhynia1246e.jpg

The battle of Volhynia sees the power of the Mongols broken forever.

At the end of the battle, Murtzuphlus sent a terse victory report to Emperor John in Moldavia:

“Your Imperial Majesty,
The Mongol army is broken and the Khan lies trapped in Volhynia castle.”


The bloody end of the Mongol war

The incarceration of the Khan in Volhynia left Volga-Bulgaria and Muscovy as the only remaining Mongol possessions. Roman forces returned to the scene of their earlier defeat in Volga-Bulgaria, as Lord Tzimisces fought an exemplary battle to seize the province in 1247. But the victory led to overconfidence when the next year, Tzimisces pursued the Mongols into Muscovy. There he found a strong army led by Jebdun, generously endowed with heavy cavalry, defending a river.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BMuscovy1248a.jpg

Lord Tzimisces faces a strong Mongol army defending a river position.

Recklessly, Tzimisces tried to seize the bridges, only to be repeatedly driven back with heavy casualties. However, the wily Roman observed that as the Mongols pursued routed Romans back over the bridges, they exposed themselves to devastating crossbow fire from the Romans on the southern bank. Consequently, Tzimisces ruthlessly decided to bleed both armies, sacrificing his rank and file in order to lure the Mongol heavy cavalry to their demise. Even when all that remained of his army were a few companies of crossbowmen, Tzimisces persisted in fighting for the north bank of the river until ultimately his entire force was routed.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BMuscovy.jpg

Lord Tzimisces bleeds the Mongols, and his own men, in a bloody and futile last battle in the Mongol war.

This terrible fate was willed by the callous Roman general. He was prepared to trade Mongol lives for Roman lives. It was a good exchange, Tzimisces believed, because some of the Mongol troops, notably their heavy cavalry, were clearly superior to Roman rank and file. Moreover, unlike the Romans, the Mongols would not be able to replace their losses. Additionally, many of the Roman losses were in the form of prisoners that could be ransomed, whereas the crossbow bolt took no captives. But above, Tzimisces thought that sooner or later, the bridges to Muscovy must be seized and thinning out the defences now would make that job easier in future.

In the end, like most such ruthless calculations supposedly justified by logic, the reasoning was flawed. For that year, the Mongol keep in Volhynia fell and with the death of their Khan Ogadai I, the surviving Mongol warriors in Muscovy became rebel Rurikids.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BMongol.jpg

Given a chance, Emperor John would willingly have bribed the fine Rurikid heavy cavalry to join the Roman cause and avoid a bloody bridge battle. But the blood was already spilt and most of the heavy cavalry lay dead on the Muscovite bridges, impaled by crossbow bolts. Reluctantly, John ordered the aged Lord Comnenus to finish the gory work begun by Tzimisces and storm the bridges now held by the depleted Rurikids under Lord Tasguk. Lord Comnenus accomplished the task easily, in large part due to the work done by the butcher Tzimisces. The old general Comnenus passed away after this final battle. On his deathbed, he pardoned both the Rurikid leaders, Tasguk and Jebdun, in acknowledgement of their stubborn defence of Muscovy's bridges.

And so, in 1249, the final chapter of the war against the Mongols was closed. Emperor John turned his attention next to the Holy Roman Empire. Already a crusade had been launched for Constantinople and vast German armies were being mustered in Poland. How best should he respond to this threat? His frantic building programme had not yet born fruit, so Rome continued to lack a siege train and arbalesters, while she continued to be constrained to recruiting a single unit of kataphracts and Varangian Guard each year. Moreover, the defeat of the Mongols had left the Empire with a long border with Novogorod along the southern steppes. Lord Tzimisces had returned to the Imperial court and advocated holding off offensive operations against the Germans until the army was better prepared. Instead, he proposed a war of aggression against Novgorod which, by securing the steppes, would ultimately free five border provinces of the need to station large garrisoning armies. John hastily dismissed this ruthless proposal from the general now nicknamed “the butcher”, but the seed of an idea had been sown and began to take root.

[The Wizard]

Yes, the supposed father of John also had that situation. Surrounded by the Tartars in Trebizond, he was nearly killed if not for the Varangian Guard.

Anyway, I'm currently a bit lacking in the inspiration department, and I'm asking for help:
What would be better? A story told from the viewpoint of a soldier under Romanus, or as a sort of history of the good man?



~Wiz http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[econ21]

Quote[/b] (The Wizard @ Feb. 24 2004,15:02)]What would be better? A story told from the viewpoint of a soldier under Romanus, or as a sort of history of the good man?:
I find there is a trade off between how much of the game you want to communicate and how much fun you want the story to be to read. When relatively little happens in a reign, you have more freedom to invent something interesting, eg a soldier's story. When your reign is very lively just cataloguing the conquests (and losses) can be overwhelming. From what you've indicated, I believe your reign was definately of the latter kind. A history told from the Emperor's point of view might strike a balance between getting the facts down and making it fun to read.

[econ21]

Just a holding update - I'm been manually fighting all battles, so it's taking a while. The Byzantine Emperor is 60 and racing the grim reaper to see if he can end this campaign.

[econ21]

OK, it's a wrap - Europe is united under the Byzantine Empire in the year 1276, with Emperor John II aged 62. I'll write up the story of his reign soon, but for now some screenshots.

Before:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/JohnII.jpg

After:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BJohn61.jpg

The payoff:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/Bvictory.jpg

[The_Emperor]

Great Stuff Simon. I am glad that this campaign has finally finished. great Stuff http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/bigthumb.gif

[econ21]

The Prelude to the War with Germany

Moldavia, 1250

John levelled the heavy crossbow at the powerful armour of the kataphractoi.

“Squeeze the trigger gently, my Lord.” Whispered Lord Tzimisces, Count of Tripoli.

John pulled the lever and heard a thud as the crossbow bolt slammed through the double chain and padding of the kataphractoi.

The Emperor walked over to the suit of armour and pulled out the bolt, spilling some of the straw from the dummy wearing the armour.

“I am impressed.” John smiled “And you say our facility in Bulgaria can finally produce enough of these arbalests to start equipping our men?”

“At last we can strike at the Germans” interrupted Lord Murtzuphlus, Duke of Rum and Commander of the Fleet. The recent sinking of four Roman ships – and with them the finest admiral of the fleet - by the Germans had enraged Murtzuphlus.

John exchanged a sceptical look with the Count of Tripoli. Tzimisces held his glance, expectantly.

John turned back “Lord Murtzuphlus, how many soldiers have the Germans mustered in Poland?”

“Over four thousand, my Lord” replied Murtzuphlus uncomfortably.

“And while we currently field no arbalesters, how many do the Germans have in Poland?”

Murtzuphlus shook his head. The blusterer was never one for detail, but the Emperor’s point had been made. The massive German army was well equipped with arbalesters, knights and Chilvaric spearmen. John wanted more time before confronting it.

“The Germans must wait, Commander of the Fleet. First, we must secure our eastern front. Chamberlain of the Palace, can you present your plan to the Council?”

The wily Chamberlain had watched the exchange with amused detachment. The elder brother of the Count of Tripoli, he was the finest general in the Empire and far exceeded the “butcher” in acumen. Nonetheless, he had agreed to his younger brother’s ruthless scheme to free up their garrisons in the steppes by an unprovoked attack on Novogorod.

“Your Excellency and my Lords, the plan is simple. Next year we strike Novogorod in all four neighbouring provinces: Smolensk, Ryazan, Chernigov and Lithuania. They will not stand against us…”

The conference was brief. As the generals left the meeting, Lord Murtzuphlus quietly approached the Emperor.

“My Lord, forgive my persistence. But are you sure this new war is wise? Novogorod is no threat to us. The Count of Tripoli is bold, but he lacks his brother’s wisdom.”

John turned to watch the Count of Tripoli. “The butcher” was affectionately ruffling the hair of the ten-year old Prince Nicephorous, who cowered with scarcely concealed dread.

“Nicephorous” John called, “Are you not required at mass?” The boy ran off, relieved at the intervention, followed by the lingering look of the Count of Tripoli.

“My dear friend, Lord Murtzuphlus,” John whispered. “I share your unease with the Count of Tripoli, but if his proposal ultimately frees five of our Steppe armies for the war against Germany, then I am prepared to make this pact with the devil.”


Venice, 1255

“Come, take a trip round the canals with me, Nicephorous” John called.

The fifteen year old smiled happily at his uncle and clambered unsteadily into the large gondola.

“I want your advice”, John said solicitously. “As you know, now the war with Novogorod is over, we are free to strike against the Germans.”

“Yes, my Lord. Lord Tzimisces performed a great service to the Empire – routing the Russians in Lithuania and hounding them until he had driven them to ground in Finland.”

“Yes, the Chamberlain of the Palace is a most formidable fighter. I only wish his late brother had had half of his sense.”

A shiver ran over Nicephorous at the memory of the butcher. The Count of Tripoli had died soon after the onset of the war he had agitated for. Some say he died in his sleep … others that more sinister deeds had led to his body being found in his bed in Muscovy. Regardless, he had not lived to see that the war he had proposed had led to a pyrrhic victory. Although Novogorod had been vanquished, the hoped for five armies had not been freed from the steppes to aid in the war against Germany. Substantial garrisons had had to be left in Finland, Novogorod and Lithuania to counter the large pocket of Germans in Livonia and the ever-present threat of sea landings from the German’s fleet in the Baltic. Moreover, even in the interior, the fierce people of the steppes resented the invaders and large garrisons had to be stationed there, with little prospect of being reduced in the future.

“Those who use logic to argue for awful deeds frequently have awful logic.” Nicephorous quipped. John gave him a sharp look. John had had the same reaction when Tzimisces had wrecked his army attacking the Mongols over the bridges of Muscovy. Although not his own son, the heir to the throne clearly had the acumen to be a fine Emperor.

“Nicephorous, I have three options for the invasion of the Holy Roman Empire. Let me explain them and then give me your advice on which I should follow. First, I could confront the massive German salient in Poland, seeking to crush them in an opening titanic battle. This might decide the outcome of the invasion in its first year, but at a great cost. Second, I could strike through the Baltic ports and on past Denmark and into Flanders. This would cut off the Germans’ trade income and prevent them augmenting their piratical fleets. However, it would expose a long line of communications to assault from their main army in Poland. Thirdly, I could strike in the South, where they are weakest – invading Bavaria and playing havoc in their western territories, far away from their main army in Poland.”

“Strike them where they are weakest, uncle” the youth said simply.

John smiled at his devious nephew and laughed. “Bring this young man a glass of wine” he called out to his servants and Nicephorous’s eyes glowed with anticipation.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BGermany.jpg

The war against Germany begins to be prosecuted in earnest, as Roman forces strike the vulnerable hinterland of the HRE in Bavaria

[The Wizard]

Romanus shifted uneasily on his horse. He was sixty now, and still the prelude to a battle made him uneasy.
He had seen his fair share of battle alright. As emperor of the Byzantines, he believed it was his duty to always be involved in battle. It was this mentality to emperor that had led to some hard situations for the empire.

Tell me, Diogenes, will these Mongols ever give up? he said, calmly.

I do not know, my lord. Maybe if we crush them here, they will learn that the Byzantines will not be messed with. said Diogenes, commander of the fleet and Prince of Bulgaria.

We defeated them at Trebizond to save the garrisson, yet still they refuse to relinquish hold of provinces of ours. Romanus was not happy about the recent turn of events. The Mongols had trounced his armies at several occassions, the most notable being here, in Georgia, a year earlier. There, he had withdrawn from battle, followed by his troops under Diogenes, after nearly having died at the hands of the devils from the East.

Maybe it would suffice better to tell the history of this war.

It was early fall in the year 1234. Since year and day to most soldiers, Romanus V Melissenus, the Basileus of Constantinople, emperor of a vast empire, had waged war against the armies of the Holy Roman Empire, a force which Romanus saw as willing to question his sovereignity.

So he invaded.

He had made good progress, and had crushed the Germans in Bohemia, where a German force, superior in number, had laid in wait, entrenched upon a hill, determined to defeat the Byzantine forces. Yet an ambush in the rear of the Germans had surprised them, and they were cut up. Yet Romanus, an honourable warrior, had spared those who surrendered, and made a lot of money on ransoming them back to the duke of Bohemia, now in exile in Swabia.

By 1234, his forces were advancing into Bavaria, and they had recently conquered Saxony.

Romanus could still remember that day well.

He was in the imperial tent, discussing with his highest generals what the next moves should be. He had heard of the slow naval war in the central mediterranean against German and English ships, and was at the moment that the messenger burst in busily discussing a quick way to end the war, for back in the City, grumbles were arising amongst his political adversaries, because the treasury was being stretched quite far by his incessant campaigning. The war had lasted for over twenty years by then.

Suddenly, there was a short commotion outside the tent. He didn't pay much heed to it, he was busier with discussing plans to end the Holy Roman Empire once and for all.

A moment later, a man burst into the tent, looking tired and distraught. Romanus guessed it was a messenger.

The man made a hasty bow, and waited for the emperor's answer.

What is it, good man?

As if a great weight was being taken off of his shoulders, the man spoke quickly and quite incomprehensively: My lord, I bring urgent news from the eastern frontier of the empire.

And... what may this news bear?

Georgia has been taken.

By the Germans? Go back, or send another messenger, and tell my commanders there, if they have not already taken the initiative, to retake it and conquer Khazar He already looked back at the assortiment of maps and pieces detailing his campaign.

No, my lord. It was another force. They call themselves the Golden Horde, and they are vast in number. They threaten the City.

Romanus was dumbstruck. An attack in his back?

[econ21]

Swabia, 1258

The portly Lord Branas sat unsteadily on his long suffering horse. So it had fallen to him to be the unlikely champion of the Roman Empire in the first battle of its invasion of Germany. The advance guard under Lord Commenus had driven through to Lorraine without the Germans giving battle and already was besieging the German castle of Nancy. Branas had thought it unlikely that he would see action while guarding the Roman lines of communication in Swabia. The thought of gathering more of those fine German wines and meats had made Branas an enthusiastic volunteer for the posting. But his hopes of enjoying a quiet life had been dashed. An energetic German general, Lord Kassel, had organised a pincer movement using troops from both north and south of Swabia, seeking to cut off the head of the Roman invasion. Already Branas could see the German army advance down the valley. Branas nervously gulped down a large smoked German sausage. It really was exceptionally good, he thought, before turning his attention to the composition of the approaching German army.

The German army outnumbered the Romans by nearly two to one, but was of mixed quality – mainly spearmen and archers. As it arrived in front of the Roman lines, the German army halted and the archers behind the spearwall began to take aim at Branas’s army. Let them shoot, thought Branas. His own force was well-endowed with missile troops, although only one wielded arbalests, and so he was prepared to endure the preparatory exchange of arrow and bolt. Probably got time for another sausage, Branas mused.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BSwabia1.jpg

The battle of Swabia opens with a duel between German archers and Roman crossbowmen.

The Germans came off worst in this exchange and so eventually began to close on the Roman lines. Massed ranks of German spearmen charged towards the Roman. Branas was unconcerned about these – his swordsmen could hold their own against the German spears. His eye was fixed instead on the two companies of Royal Knights in the German army. These armoured horsemen could wreck the Roman legions. Yes, they were moving. Here they come. Branas shouted to his arbalesters:

“The knights Shoot the knights”

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BSwabia2.jpg

German knights threaten to overrun the infantry at the centre of the Roman line.

With the German knights committed, Lord Branas signalled to his cavalry:

“Forward Forward Now is your chance”

On the Roman left, Pronoiai Allagion began to canter forward and careened into the German flank. On the Roman right, Byzantine lancers moved up round the German left. In the centre, slow lumbering kataphractoi started to move to intercept the German knights.

Branas was not a religious man, so he saw no hand of God in the directing the bolt that struck down Lord Kassel.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BSwabia3.jpg

Lord Kassel dies from a crossbow bolt as the battle is in the balance.

The death of the German commander coincided with the onrush of the Roman cavalry from the centre and both flanks. It was more than the Germans could stand and almost immediately, they scattered. In the rout, even Branas was spurred to temporary abandon his luncheon and join in the pursuit. Although German reinforcements would later arrive, they would be driven off and the day would belong to Rome and its unlikely hero.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BSwabia4.jpg

Lord Branas belatedly joins in the pursuit of the defeated German army.

[PS: Wizard - I'll cut and paste later so my account is not interspersed with yours.]

[MiniKiller]

*claps*

If we are to start another one I say we vote for what faction in a poll which I would glady setup.

I would like to do this again to BUT this time post a proper rein. I cant lie back then when I had it I was going through a real ruff time, i dont really want to say why but i ohpe u guys understand.

[econ21]

The Conquest of the Holy Roman Empire

The annihilation of Lord Kassel’s pincer movement opened up the western front, allowing Roman armies to strike the depleted German forces defending Flanders, Friesland, Switzerland and Tyrol. The Emperor’s only sadness concerned Prince Nicephorus, heir to the throne and the youth who had recommended striking the soft underbelly of Germany. Excluded from the invasion for his own safety, the young man was increasingly to be found taking comfort out of a bottle and was often drunk. But the Emperor had to put aside these concerns as he personally led an army into Burgundy, cutting off the southern most possessions of the German kingdom. Meanwhile Lord Lascaris took a largely mercenary force into Saxony, crossing the Rhine and easing the subsequent invasion of Franconia. The Holy Roman Emperor himself, King Adolf I, led a determined defence of Franconia in 1261 with a fine force that included many knights. But Lascaris’s mercenaries prevailed, with their arbalesters ruthlessly targeting the knights while being protected by a wall of Italian and armoured spearmen.

The following year, in 1262, the Papacy entered the war on the side of the Germans and mounted a surprise invasion of Naples. However, it was easily beaten back by the Roman garrison, who inflicted ten times more losses on the Papists than they suffered themselves.

The southern most pocket of the Holy Roman Empire was seized in 1263, with John marching into Provence while simultaneously Lord Palaeologus took Genoa and Lord Branas entered Milan. Only Lord Branas was opposed, but the portly general performed his second great service to the Empire and secured another decisive victory, delivered yet again largely by the power of arbalest. In the north, Roman forces took Denmark and Brandenberg, while in Italy, they seized Rome from the Papacy.

Over the next few years, the Romans captured Silesia, Pomerania, Prussia and Bohemia. John rejoiced in these unopposed conquests, although reports that Nicephorus was now always to be found drunk dismayed him. All his victories, however, had done nothing to reduce the massive German pocket in Poland and indeed had strengthened it with the garrisons driven from Germany’s western provinces. The prospect of confronting the main German army, located in Poland, still daunted the Roman Emperor. As it transpired, this was one decision John did not have to make. The loss of Bohemia enraged Emperor Adolf I and he led 7000 of his men out of Poland to recapture the key province.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BBohemia1.jpg

The battle for Bohemia: the climatic struggle in the war with Germany

The defending Roman commander, Lord Bulgaroctonus, was a rather undistinguished commander. The finest Roman generals had been left garrisoning the dormant eastern front. Indeed it was probably the threat from them that had pinned the main German army in Poland, while the rest of the HRE was overrun from the west. However, Bulgaroctonus’s army was endowed with fine soldiers, including 300 of the Varangian guard and 120 Kataphractoi. Bulgaroctonus deployed these troops on a hill as the hard shell behind which he placed 120 arbalesters and four catapults.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BBohemia2.jpg

The Varangian guard await Emperor Adolf I’s assault.

The German attack was led by Slav javelinmen whose weapons caused fearsome damage to the Varangians but whom the guards were unable to catch. Ranks of mailed German spearmen followed the Slavs, supported by knights. The resulting melee was fierce and most of the Varangians fell. Emperor Adolf I fought with astonishing bravery. In the chaotic fighting on the slopes of the hill, he cleaved through a company of Varangians. All his escort perished in the fighting, but the Emperor himself broke through and spurred his horse towards the now unprotected arbalesters at the summit of the hill. The arbalesters had been ordered to hold their formation and hold their position, so they launched a hail of bolts at the unfortunate Emperor. Several bolts found their mark and the brave ruler fell.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BBohemia3.jpg

The body of Emperor Adolf I lies broken on the slope. The Varangian Guards have been shattered, but the first wave of the German assault has been stopped.

Despite the fall of their Emperor, the Germans renewed their attacks again and again. But each time, they were driven off by the Romans until eventually the Germans fled the field.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BBohemia4.jpg

The climatic battle of the war with Germany is a decisive Roman victory.

The following year, in 1270, Lord Lascaris led an army of 6500 men into Poland.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BPoland1.jpg

The Romans move to destroy the remnants of the main German army in Poland.

The battle took place in winter around a windmill besides a lake. The Romans led with arbalesters, using lancers to drive off German skirmishers.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BPoland2.jpg

The Romans fire on the German army, using lancers to drive off German arbalesters.

In response, the Germans moved from their defensive position and launched heavy infantry to attack the Roman arbalesters. In doing so, they advanced a large number of German arbalesters to the left of their assault, unprotected by infantry or cavalry.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BPoland3.jpg

The German advance exposes a vulnerable left flank behind which are rows of massed arbalesters.

While Varangian Guards fought off the German charge, Lord Lascaris seized his opportunity and propelled his cavalry towards the vulnerable German left.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BPoland4.jpg

Roman cavalry, spearheaded by mercenary Khwarazmians, move past the German front, towards the arbalesters massed behind on the left.

Soon the Roman heavy cavalry had utterly routed the German left and although the defenders received reinforcements, these were driven off by arbalesters and the battered remnants of the Varagangian Guard.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BPoland5.jpg

Roman heavy cavalry flows past the German left to rout the unprotected German arbalesters.

The main German army was decisively broken.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BPoland6.jpg

The next year, Livonia, the last remaining German outpost, fell to an invasion headed by Lord Tzimisces. Although a few German outposts remained in the British Isles, no trace of the Holy Roman Empire remained on the continent.

[econ21]

The Fall of the West

Provence, 1271

“Father, you must end this now.”

John turned to look at Alexius, his only son and, now that he had come of age, his heir. John was grateful that the throne would no longer pass to the drunkard Nicephorus or his other nephew, the spineless Commenus. But something in the strange and ruthless manner of Alexius made him uneasy.

“What do you mean, Alexius?”

“Father, last night I had a vision. A spirit spoke to me – it said that now we are unrivalled in Europe, we must fulfil our destiny. Think of it, father. The Germans are reduced to hiding in the English Isles. Last year you marched to support our allies the French in their war with England. But how did the French repay you? By breaking our alliance and trying to seize Flanders. These petty Catholic states must all be subjugated. Not just the English and the French, but let us be finally rid of the Pope and sweep the renascent Danes back to oblivion.”

“And what of our trading partners, the Spanish, the Italians and the Almohads?”

“They must go too.” Alexius replied shortly.

John sighed. There was a logic to what his son said. With the defeat of Germany on the continent, no power could challenge the Roman army. Why not finish his work now and unite Europe within the Empire?

“Alexius, I am getting old. I no longer have much time for war.”

“Don’t worry, father. I will help you. And if you should die, I will happily finish what you have started.”

Something in the cold enthusiasm of his son’s voice sent a shiver down John’s spine.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/B1271.jpg

The strategic situation as Prince Alexius comes of age.

And so, Western Europe was reduced to flames, as the Roman armies ravaged through France and the English Isles. Even the strong resurgent Danish army in its mountain redoubt in Norway fell easily to the Roman onslaught.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BNorway1.jpg

The Romans attack the renascent Danish faction in Norway.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BNorway2.jpg

The Romans manage to scale the mountains above the Danish position and rain arbalest bolts down on their hapless enemy.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BNorway3.jpg

Lord Lascaris, the conqueror of Poland, adds another great victory to his honours.

Cordoba, 1274

John watched from afar as the serried ranks of Almohad warriors knelt to face Mecca. Short of the invasion of Novogorod, no other action troubled John as much as this unprovoked invasion of the Almohad lands. The piratical attack by Spain on his shipping three years ago had obviated the need for any similar pangs of conscience over his invasion of the north of the Ibernian peninsular. But the decision to also overrun the south of Ibernia troubled John. Still, this was no day for hesitancy – before him stood a mighty Almohad army, ready to die to stop him.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BCordoba1.jpg

Emperor and Kalipha face off in the battle for Cordoba.

The enemy first line was composed almost exclusively of well trained and well armoured Almohad urban militia. They had no response to the fire of the Roman arbalesters except to run forward and charge.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BCordoba2.jpg

The Romans manage to expend only a few arbalest bolts before the Almohads attack.

Soon the entire Roman line was locked in vicious hand-to-hand fighting, entire companies of mercenaries, Varangians and kataphractoi dissolving as their members fought to the last man. Emperor John signalled earnestly for reinforcements but he knew they would take too long – he had to hold with what he had or be driven from the field. He ordered his escort to charge into the centre of his line, where the Almohad militia were over-running the Roman infantry. As John weighed into the scrummage on his large armoured horse, he saw racing towards the melee, the flag of the Almohad Kalipha at the head of a company of Ghulam bodyguards.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BCordoba3.jpg

As the battle lies in the balance, Kalipha Yusuf IV joins the fray.

The savage melee and constant barrage from the Roman arbalests extracted a dreadful toll on all warriors in the battle. Soon in the centre of the line, there remained only the two leaders and a handful of their escorts. John rallied his bodyguard and turned to face the Kalipha: “Charge” he screamed.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BCordoba4.jpg

Emperor John II charges Kalipha Yusuf IV.

The heavy kontos of the kataphractoi clashed with the lance and scimitars of the ghulams, until at last the superior armour and numbers of the Romans began to tell. Finally bereft of all followers, Kalipha Yusuf spurred his horse towards the rear and fled.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BCordoba5.jpg

So rides Kalipha Yusuf IV, off the battlefield and out of history.

With moral ascendancy gained, John gathered his surviving arbalesters around a small gnoll in the ground and screened them with his few surviving bodyguard and the pitifully few remaining Roman infantry. Slowly reinforced by Pronoiai Allagion and Byzantine infantry, this force held off waves of Almohad reinforcements until finally the battle was won.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/simon.appleton1/BCordoba6.jpg

Emperor John’s last battle: a costly but decisive victory.

And with that, Emperor John’s fighting days were over. He retired to his favoured haunt by the beach in Nice, Provence. The Mediterranean sea air was kind to the old man. There, news reached him of the success of his armies against Spain and Italy. In 1276, hostilities ceased and Rome was restored to a glory that surpassed even that of old.