1186 -

The Kingdom

The Kingdom of Jerusalem's borders have now grown substantialy. In 12 years, King Baldwin has acquired Antioch, Baalbek, Hama, Damascus, Homs, Aqaba and Gaza.


Ceasefire?!
Just directly after the fall of Saladin, the new Sultan of the Ayyubids , who is not yet known to Baldwin, sent an emissary through to Hama to try and bargain a ceasefire. Unfortunately, Baldwin's plans do not include the existence of the Ayyubids. The Ayyubid emissary was stripped naked and tied to his horse and led back to Damyut. This was an open insult to any muslim, even they would not want peace now.


The Push West
Now fully provisioned, Baldwin with Balian de Ibelin in tow marches west to encounter the Ayyubid forces that remain in the Gaza area.
The first group retreats but could not run fast enough.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


The battle is practically over within minutes.

It was a total rout.



Baldwin releases the prisoners.


Damyut Falls
Experiencing a lot of luck logistically, Baldwin arrives at the gates of Damyut and thanks to Kingdom spies, all the gates are wide open for Baldwin to march straight in.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 




Using a pincer maneuver, Baldwin attacks at the south gate with most of the men.

Whilst Balian de Ibelin infiltrates through the City's west gate.

Most of the fierce fighting is at the main South gate.


Balians force go straight through the west gate when they are encoutered by the Ayyubid's mounted Ghulam Archer Cavalry.

Seargent spearmen are bought to the front and the horse archers are easily overcome.

Balian's Secondry force then encounters a fierce defence in the city streets.

The defenders have left a big gap though and Balian and his cavalry are able to slip through the side streets and into the rear of the defenders at the south gate.

The pressure becomes too much and the defense starts to falter.

Seeing his enemy run for the centre, Baldwin charges through the streets neglecting his own safety and fights with his bodyguard in the city centre against the spears alone until the rest of the force catches up.

Finally catching up to their King, the remaining Ayyubids are killed.



Baldwin then ordered his prisoners to be set free to bear arms at the next encounter, should they be foolish enough.

A man of great honour, Baldwin spares the city. Something of the likes which not many of the former Ayyubid provinces had come to known through Prince Guy de Lusignan!


With anyone they could spare Balian then set out to rid Damyut of any Ayyubid resistance. He did come across one small detachment however they managed to slip the net to begin with.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

It did not last though as Balian caught up. The battle was again short.




After cleansing the area of resistance, Balian than moves west to guard the bridge from any counterattack. Although with such a small force, defense may not be an option.


A King to Remember
No longer a child. Baldwin's popularity was not only increasing in the Kingdom for his Noble deeds. Word had started to spread to the far reaches of Europe, where stories of a young ironclad King ruled his realm with great dignity and chivalry. Reports started to surface that maybe the King was not as healthy as he portrayed to be though.


The Great Seljuks
An emissary visits the Court of Antioch where he speaks to Raymond de Tripoli. Trade Rights are granted between the two Kingdoms.

Also in the city of Antioch, an Assassins Guild had been established. It had become apparent to Raymond that protection of Kingdom Merchants required some 'uderhanded' strategies.


Not Noble Enough
Baldwin had spread word earlier in the year that he desired to inherit or 'adopt' another man of noble birth into the Royal family. Tancred de Cyprus was offered to the King by his father. The de Cyprus name was not up to Baldwins standards though and in the past, Tancred's father was a supporter of imposing another King on the throne, just before Baldwin came to power. Seeing that the de Cyprus' were just trying to consolidate power Baldwin ordered sir Tancred to return home, he was not needed here.


A Gifted Spy
A report has come back that our gifted spy who infiltrated Damyut has also infiltrated the castle of Bilbeis. This should come in handy in the advancing months, when the plan for further attack comes about.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


Finally, Another Chance
Sick and tired of not being allowed to advance himself, the old Lord of Kerak, Raynald de Chatillon is now in the strategic position of being able to successfully take the settlement of Tayma which he tried to take so many years ago. Gathering what troops he could, Raynald marched east down the long desert road.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


Edessa attacked by the Turkish Sultanate
Our scouts have reported the increasing threat of the Turkish Sultanate grows as they have now begun seige of Edessa. In comparative size, the Turks hold just as many key provinces as what the Kingdom does. The only territory that seperates the two kingdoms is the independant province of Aleppo, a province which Raymond de Tripoli has had his eyes on for years. Let us pray we can acquire that territory before them.