The One True Christendom - A Byzantine AAR
Hello everyone! M2:TW player here. I wanted to make an After Action Report for a long time and now I finally found the inspiration to do it. It will be about the Byzantine Empire of Lusted's Lands To Conquer's gold edition, early campaign, M/M as I am sadly not a very good player. I plan not to get Empire: Total War before finishing this AAR through defeat or victory, or before the gold edition is released, whichever comes first.
I hail from France and have therefore a French game, but with LTC Gold installed, the screenshots will be a mix of French and English; I will translate the French parts in the descriptions. Without further ado, here is my AAR!
THE ONE TRUE CHRISTENDOM
TURN 1 - YEAR 1080
Year 1080 of our Lord. The ashes of the Eastern Roman Empire are weak, divided and surrounded by enemies. Many are those thinking the empire lives its final hour. One man, however, seeks to prove to all the known world that the embers have not ceased to burn, that the fire can be rekindled, and that the fire shall be rekindled.
Alexius Komnenus is his name.
The empire is threatened by the Turks to the East and by the Sicilians to the West, both powers vying with each other in ferocity. Its provinces are, with the exception of the mighty Constantinople, barely developped. Its coffers, almost empty. Its faith, scorned by its western neighbours.
This shall not last.
Alexius' ambitions were simple: restore the majesty of the empire, vanquish the corrupt church of Rome and spread the one true Chistianity from Lisbonne to Warsaw. But before focusing on Europe, he needed to secure the empire's eastern front. So he entrusted his only daughter, Anna Komnenus, with the very important mission to make peace with the Turks at any price.
He focused next on the military. Fully expecting the Anatolian provinces to be handed to the Turks in exchange of peace, he sent Foteinos's fleet, making port near Thessalonica, towards Trebizond to bring Eleutherios Kamytzes to Durazzo, while he ordered Dragos' fleet, near Nicosia, to fetch Panagiotes Basilacius from Iraklion to bring him to Corinth.
Sofia made a tempting target, so Alexius ordered his son, John Komnenus, to conquer Sofia. The prince left Corinth with two spearmen detachments and one of Trebizond archers, while three spearmen detachments left Nicaea to join him en route, along with another group from Durazzo. Spy Kyriakos Loukites and priest Gavriel Branas were sent towards Sofia to ease the invasion.
The governor of Nicaea, Evangelos Exotrochos, would remain in Nicaea until it was surrendered to the Turks whereas Theotokios Olaskos stayed in Naples.
Now he could focus on a pressing matter: the empire's economy.
It was a disaster. Thus, Alexius ordered all the castles of the empire to be converted to towns, save for the well-developed castle of Corinth. It left his coffers empty, but the economy would hopefully be back on track soon enough. He also increased the taxes as much as possible without sparking discontent. Merchant Demetrios Calaphates started to trade silk near Nicaea.
TURN 2
Durazzo, Rhodes, Nicosia and Trebizond were now towns and Smyrna a village. Alexius immediately ordered it to be upgraded to the status of town. With what little money was left, he ordered the construction of a grain exchange in Thessalonica.
The new towns could be heavily taxed, however, in spite of low taxes, the inhabitants of Naples were not happy but merely content. With the Italians so near, a spy could be the cause.
Prince John reached Thessalonica, where he traded an unit of archers for the city's spearmen detachment, before continuing his march towards Sofia; the spearmen from Durazzo joined him at this moment. A spy managed to sneak into Sofia. The nobles were eager to see the land annexed.
Admiral Dragos dropped off Panagiotes near Corinth and then sailed to Smyrna for the upcoming evacuation, whereas Foteinos reached Trebizond.
TURN 3
Alexius accepted, savouring the irony that the money the Papal States would get them would then be used against the pope. On the other hand, Venice and Hungary grew wary of the empire.
Anna finally reached the Turks with her peace proposal.
She made her father proud. The money from the agreement, during which she polished her diplomatic skills, added to the gold recuperated from destroying the town watch in Nicaea before its cession permitted the towns of Durazzo, Iraklion, Rhodes and Nicosia to start the building of a grain exchange each.
West of the capital, Prince John and the spearmen from Nicaea got closer to Sofia while the forces drawn from the sold cities approached their destinations. One unit of peasants left Constantinople for Sofia to serve as garrison.
TURN 4
Alexius' suspicions were correct! The vile Italians had infiltrated his Italian foothold! Thankfully, the governor found them both and had them executed and from now on would be much more suspicious.
A priest ended his religious education and left the capital for Sofia, ready to help a fellow man of the cloth.
Foteinos's fleet finally neared Thessalonica and dropped off Evangelos as the new governor.
John Komnenus reaches Sofia and join the reinforcements.The spy unfortunately did not manage to open the gates, so the prince besieged the wooden castle.
TURN 5
Denying their espionage, the Venetians come to Naples with trade in mind. The roman economy does not have the luxury of refusal and a deal is quickly made. Soon after, a Venetian fleet blocked the access to Constantinople...
Anna found Acre and proposed trade agreements and an alliance, which are promptly approved by the new Sultan. She then turned on her heels, back towards the Turks, hoping to obtain an alliance which would secure the capital.
Thessalonica finishes a grain exchange. The money from the deal with Egypt is reserved for later constructions.
John assaults Sofia.
Victory!
The prince occupies the castle, succeeding the nobles' mission and proving himself fair in rule. Some money is spent to repair the ramparts and to build a mustering hall which will allow John's troops to be freed from garrison duty.
The four dromons sent by the nobles sink the pirates near the capital's port before being disbanded to decrease imperial upkeep cost.
TURN 6
The grain exchanges are finally completed! The economy will not complain. Added to the money scraped from destroying the catholic church in Naples, this permits Constantinople to start the building of a market while having enough gold left to muster two units of peasants in Sofia.
Admiral Dragos nears Bucharest, John's next target if the Hungarians do not outspeed him. Archers and spearmen are aboard, waiting for an attack on Palermo once Iasi, John's second target, is taken.
To the East, the Turks welcomed Anna again and accepted an alliance, effectively securing the eastern front and ceasing hostilities between them and Egypt. Anna will most likely become an important diplomatic asset. Her next stop shall be the court of a fellow orthodox power, Russia.
TURN 7
The Hungarian princess comes to Naples asking for trade rights; the governor manages to make Hungary pay for it, for the glory and welfare of the empire.
The nobles once again agree with Alexius' ambitions: those florins will be essential once Bucharest is captured. John leaves a now properly garrisoned Sofia to march towards the village.
Spy Loukites successfully infiltrates the motte and bailey of Iasi. Hopefully he will manage to open the gates.
Meanwhile, Dragos drops four detachments of Trebizond archers and two of spearmen near Bucharest before sailing towards Iasi. The latter will join John's forces whereas the former will be used to garrison the village while waiting for Sofia to train more peasants.
Alexius orders small churches to be built in Naples and Iraklion to please the population and subsequently rise the taxes as high as possible once they are completed.
Near Constantinople, Calaphates bankrupts a Milanese merchant.
TURN 8
On the other side of the world, the Sultan of the Moors dies.
The princess of the Holy Roman Empire brings a proposal. This time, Olaskos could not get any money from the deal.
Prince John invades Bucharest, beating the nearby Hungarians to the punch, and a swift victory is achieved. He immediately leaves the village for Iasi, leaving the archers behind to ensure the population does not rebel. The gold gained from occupying, achieving the nobles' mission and bankrupting a Venetian merchant allow Alexius to give vast construction orders: Durazzo, Rhodes and Nicosia start to build a town watch each to subdue corruption.
TURN 9
The lovely princess of France, Constance, brings trade agreements which are promptly accepted. In the meantime, a Polish force sent to conquer Iasi turns rebel in front of the settlement. John does not know whether this is a blessing or a curse.
The nobles' council, pleased with Alexius' rule, offer him 1000 florins. Constructions are achieved while Olaskos' low taxes policy proves his fairness.
The Polish revolt turns out to be a blessing. John attacks them in front of Iasi, and the garrison quits the motte to help them!
They are crushed.
John occupies the settlement and orders for a mustering hall to be built.
TURN 10
Anna will take a detour in the Polish lands before resuming her journey to Novgorod.
Corruption decreases slightly. Meanwhile, Olaskos begins the building of a market in Naples and starts training a diplomat while peasants are recruited in Sofia and Iasi. The four groups from Sofia reach Bucharest, allowing the four archer detachments to leave the village and march towards Dragos' fleet. As usual, the coffers are left nigh empty after the construction and recruitment orders are given.
TURN 11
The empire's allies decided to ally each other. Alexius will not have to choose one side if a war breaks out anymore.
A multilingual diplomat and a third priest finish their education in Naples and Constantinople respectively. This priest went to Sofia like his predecessors whereas the diplomat secured trade rights with Milanese princess Fiora Rossi.
John and his spearmen leave Iasi under the care of two groups of peasants and nears Dragos' fleet, which already welcomed the Trebizond archers. Foteinos' fleet, for its part, fetched merchant Calaphates from his silk trade to bring him to Antioch.
Alexius ordered a merchant's wharf in the capital.
TURN 12
Alexius wonders if an alliance with the Moors could be profitable.
Anna reaches Polish wooden castle Halych and obtains 2000 florins in exchange of trade rights, which added to the 500 from the council, permits her father to launch land clearances around Sofia, Durazzo, Iraklion, Rhodes and Nicosia.
John and his army finally embarked in Dragos' fleet and the ships sailed towards Constantinople whereas Foteinos sailed closer to Antioch.
TURN 13
Alexius Komnenus grew worried. While the crusade had not targeted directly any of his allies, Antioch was soon to fall in either Turkish or Egyptian hands. But either way, the crusading armies would most likely cross his lands before reaching his muslim allies. Letting them pass the detroit would be seen as a treason of the alliances whereas if he refused, his empire would suffer at the hands of the crusaders.
Should he cancel the invasion of Sicily and bring all of John's troops to the mainlands? No, he decided. The invasion would go on and succeed while he personally confronted the pope's lapdogs at the gates of Constantinople. He would destroy the corrupt christians or die trying.
To create a second army, powerful enough to fight off crusades after crusades, he needed to strengthen his economy firthermore and upgrade his castles. He ordered the erection of garrison quarters in Corinth and the establishment of roads around Thessalonica, which had just completed a market. All remaining gold was spent on spear militia in Naples and Constantinople.
Dragos' fleet destroyed pirates blocking the detroit and went on towards the Italian peninsula while Foteinos' neared Antioch.
TURN 14
Olaskos immediately informed the emperor of this proposition. Alexius thought it over longly. The Holy Roman Empire was the pope's enemy, but they might launch a crusade themselves that will force the alliance to be broken. After much thinking, he sent a counter offer for Olaskos.
He would never marry someone so ugly to his son, but took the risk of signing the alliance. Olaskos, true to himself, drawed off much gold from the proposition to the emperor's coffers. Profitable mines were to be built in Thessalonica.
On the western front, Milan went at war with Sicily. It was unknown who was the attacker, but with a little luck the Milanese would take Cagliari, thus allowing John to crush Sicily once and for all when he took down Palermo.
Calaphates disembarked near Antioch, which the muslim allies had not yet besieged for some reason, and started to trade sugar. The construction of a wooden palisade was started in Bucharest. All remaining money was once again being spent on militia in Naples and the capital.
Meanwhile, Anna secured an alliance and trade rights with Russia at Smolensk.
TURN 15
Alexius already started to worry about the alliance. He had plans for Venice, plans involving their complete destruction. Even if he planned to betray the Holy Roman Empire once it outlived its usefulness, he felt wary.
Antioch still remained independant. Maybe the Turkish and Egyptian sultans were smarter than the emperor expected. It happened that no country had yet joined the crusade, as well. Nevertheless, building his provinces militarily would not be a waste.
Many works were completed this year.
Alexius ordered roads in Bucharest, followed by the erection of a grain exchange, garrison quarters in Sofia, a drill square in Corinth and paved roads in Constantinople.
TURN 16
The motte and bailey of Iasi grew enough to need to be upgraded to the status of wooden castle. It required much gold, but Alexius could not afford an increasing squalor. He also called for roads in Durazzo.
Loukites managed to infiltrate Palermo, sharpening his stealth skills, though he failed once again to open the gates. At sea, Dragos sailed to Naples, took the two spearmen detachments on board and brought them to John before blockading the port of Palermo.
Meanwhile, the three priests in Sofia left for Bucharest.
TURN 17
Alexius swiftly allowed the merchants' guild to establish themselves in Constantinople.
War broke out between Milan and Venice. Hopefully, it will weaken the latter enough for their lands to be conquered once Sicily was dealt with. On the other hand, trade partner France grew wary of the empire, without a doubt because of the siege of Palermo.
Durazzo completed roads and Sofia garrison quarters while a merchant finished his training in Constantinople. Olaskos of Naples saw it fit to begin to build a market.
Anna embarked on Foteinos' fleet, which then went to the capital to welcome the new merchant. He would be dropped off with his fellow man in Antioch, then the ships would sail towards the Moors for an alliance.
John assaulted Palermo.
Sicilian king Roger stood no chance. John simply overran the castle, winning easily. Honourable as he was, John released his few prisoners and occupied the castle, like he always did in the past.
Unfortunately, the latest assault left him brutally scarred. But if did not slow him. He ordered the Trebizond archers to garrison Palermo and used what gold was left to order the reparation of the walls and the mustering of one group of peasants.
Then he left the castle and charged right at the remaining Sicilian forces on the island. Again, he prevailed. And again, he proved his fairness and released the prisoners. That done, he and his men hopped in Dragos' ships. Destination, Cagliari, last stronghold of the Sicilian nation. Spy Loukites embarked as well.
Alexius received news that Antioch was now under Egyptian rule. Worse, crusaders were sighted near Sofia!
What Alexius feared had happened. He was not strong enough to stop the crusade, launched by his own ally! He chose to wait in Constantinople, praying a for a miracle...
TURN 18
The Eastern Roman Empire was once again the biggest and most advanced power of Europe! But it would soon become the most hated power of Europe as well, for emperor Alexius Komnenos left the capital to face the crusade before the southern detroit with no army other than all the mercenaries he could muster.
Alexius' forces were outnumbered, but was constituted of professional soldiers whereas the crusaders were mostly militias and peasants.
Nova Roma prevailed.
And as foolish as it was, he released all the prisoners. The battle had inspired a man to bear Alexius' additional swords, but it also had inspired most of the western countries to hate him.
Alexius hoped his muslim allies realised the sacrifice he consented for them.
He disbanded all the mercenaries. He could not afford such an upkeep.
TURN 19
Despite their outrage at Alexius' attack on the crusaders, the Portugese came asking for trade agreements, which were accepted.
The merchants' guild had a mission.
Calaphates shall be brought from Antioch to his target by Foteinos' fleet once they reach Antioch and drop off a less skilled merchant. Hopefully he will reach the concurrent in time.
As if the crusade was not enough, two astrologers convinced two governors to let them in their retinue.
Some contructions were achieved. Next, a port shall be built in Thessalonica, a small church in Durazzo as well as in Palermo.
John besieged Cagliari.
TURN 20
The duke of Milan died, no doubt in battle against the Venetians.
Like Portugal, Spain seemed not to mind to trade with someone the pope hated. A deal was swiftly made.
Iasi finally becomes a wooden castle. The next development shall be roads.
The assault of Cagliari is a repeat of the one of Palermo. Attack, victory, prisoners released and castle occupied except this time...
This time, Sicily is no more.
Cagliari is to be converted to a town. However, it loses more money that it makes... if this does not change after the conversion, Alexius might need to select a new capital... Meanwhile, the current capital starts a fairground and Bucharest a small church to be able to increase the taxes.
RANKING
So, what do you think? Too many screenshots? Not enough? Too much description? Not enough? This is my first AAR ever, so criticism is welcome.
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Originally Posted by Dayve
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