Wizard of Evil
01-29-2003, 12:24
Hello,
As there are not many Turkish players registered to these forums i would like to give some information about the structure of the Turkish faction in the years that the game passes.
In the early era the Turkish faction was in fact a dependant part of the Seljuks which was originally founded in Asia near the borders of the China. It continued its expansion in the next 3 centuries after its founded, till its borders met the Byzantine Empire in the 11th century. In early 11th century for about 30 - 40 years Byzantine borders in the eastern Asia minor (Rum province in the game) were skirmished by Turkish light cavalaries. It lasted for a long time after Byzantines were defeated in 1064 in Malazgirt in a major battle. So the Anotolian Seljuks were founded as a dependant part of the Seljuks. It lasted its expansion to west and defended against the crusades passing from Constantinapole. Anatolian Seljuks were invaded and plundered by the Mongols in late 13th century, which made them independant states.
Ottomans were one of these independant states bordering the weak Byzantines. Ottomans led by Osman, expanded their borders in the west, claiming land from Byzantines. This was the start of the Ottoman Empire which lasted for more than 600 years. Osman's son Orhan took Bursa, which is only 200 kms from Istanbul (Constantinapole) and stopped the Ottoman clan from being nomads, and established Bursa as their capital. The expansion of the Ottoman empire continued to the west till the late 14th century and only Constantinapole was left for the Byzantines, they were surrounded by the Ottomans.
Mongol invasion led by Timur in the very early 15th century came again and the Ottomans were defeated in Ankara in a major battle and their Sultan, Bayezid, was captured and eventually killed. Mongols, as usual came, invaded, plundered and left, leaving the Ottomans in a civil war between the heirs of Bayezid. After 10 years of struggle and civil war, Ottomans again started to become a major power in Asia minor and threaten the eastern Europe and Constantinapole.
Eventually Constantinapole was taken in 1453 by Mehmed II, giving him the nickname of Fatih - The Conqueror. It was named Istanbul after then. (It comes from Islambol, which means many islam people, then changed to Istanbul in time)
As for the Turkish army;
In the early era it was full of nomadic horse archers and light cavalary, which used mobility and hit and run tactics as their advantage against the slow Byzantine armies. The famous tactic used by the Turkish armies were the retreating of some of their forces to their main force and ambushing the disorganised attacking forces.
But when the empire started to become bigger the need for organised troops becom vital for keeping the empire secure. Proffesional soldiers named Jannisaries started to be trained and become the main punch of the army. Medium cavalaries named Sipahi were in fact landowners. They were given their lands by the Ottoman Sultan and in return they do farming and train other sipahis in their lands, send them to battle when needed.
Jannisaries were proffesional soldiers and do nothing in peace times, they take their salaries. Janissaries were a feared force by most European factions. Sipahis were medium cavalary, they were also a powerful force (IMO they are a little powerless in the game).
Maybe the most important part of the Ottoman army is their light cavalaries, Akinci. They were sent to enemy lands long before the real army came. Their job is to keep enemy busy and make them tired by hitting and running, plundering. They were no professional soldiers, they took whatever they plunder, of course giving the share to their Sultan.
In its peak, Ottoman Empire's army were full of 300 thousand of Jannisaries and Sipahis along with the most advanced artillery, and more than 50 thousand Akincis.
As there are not many Turkish players registered to these forums i would like to give some information about the structure of the Turkish faction in the years that the game passes.
In the early era the Turkish faction was in fact a dependant part of the Seljuks which was originally founded in Asia near the borders of the China. It continued its expansion in the next 3 centuries after its founded, till its borders met the Byzantine Empire in the 11th century. In early 11th century for about 30 - 40 years Byzantine borders in the eastern Asia minor (Rum province in the game) were skirmished by Turkish light cavalaries. It lasted for a long time after Byzantines were defeated in 1064 in Malazgirt in a major battle. So the Anotolian Seljuks were founded as a dependant part of the Seljuks. It lasted its expansion to west and defended against the crusades passing from Constantinapole. Anatolian Seljuks were invaded and plundered by the Mongols in late 13th century, which made them independant states.
Ottomans were one of these independant states bordering the weak Byzantines. Ottomans led by Osman, expanded their borders in the west, claiming land from Byzantines. This was the start of the Ottoman Empire which lasted for more than 600 years. Osman's son Orhan took Bursa, which is only 200 kms from Istanbul (Constantinapole) and stopped the Ottoman clan from being nomads, and established Bursa as their capital. The expansion of the Ottoman empire continued to the west till the late 14th century and only Constantinapole was left for the Byzantines, they were surrounded by the Ottomans.
Mongol invasion led by Timur in the very early 15th century came again and the Ottomans were defeated in Ankara in a major battle and their Sultan, Bayezid, was captured and eventually killed. Mongols, as usual came, invaded, plundered and left, leaving the Ottomans in a civil war between the heirs of Bayezid. After 10 years of struggle and civil war, Ottomans again started to become a major power in Asia minor and threaten the eastern Europe and Constantinapole.
Eventually Constantinapole was taken in 1453 by Mehmed II, giving him the nickname of Fatih - The Conqueror. It was named Istanbul after then. (It comes from Islambol, which means many islam people, then changed to Istanbul in time)
As for the Turkish army;
In the early era it was full of nomadic horse archers and light cavalary, which used mobility and hit and run tactics as their advantage against the slow Byzantine armies. The famous tactic used by the Turkish armies were the retreating of some of their forces to their main force and ambushing the disorganised attacking forces.
But when the empire started to become bigger the need for organised troops becom vital for keeping the empire secure. Proffesional soldiers named Jannisaries started to be trained and become the main punch of the army. Medium cavalaries named Sipahi were in fact landowners. They were given their lands by the Ottoman Sultan and in return they do farming and train other sipahis in their lands, send them to battle when needed.
Jannisaries were proffesional soldiers and do nothing in peace times, they take their salaries. Janissaries were a feared force by most European factions. Sipahis were medium cavalary, they were also a powerful force (IMO they are a little powerless in the game).
Maybe the most important part of the Ottoman army is their light cavalaries, Akinci. They were sent to enemy lands long before the real army came. Their job is to keep enemy busy and make them tired by hitting and running, plundering. They were no professional soldiers, they took whatever they plunder, of course giving the share to their Sultan.
In its peak, Ottoman Empire's army were full of 300 thousand of Jannisaries and Sipahis along with the most advanced artillery, and more than 50 thousand Akincis.