A Noble Redeems Himself

Edessa 1195

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The city had been under Templar control for a couple years and the Prince of Antioch Friedrich de Payns was responsible for its defences. The Army of Antioch had no quite been up to full strength when another attack came on to the city.



The Seljuk was well equipped for a siege attack. The Knights split their defences to the walls and the city centre.



The fighting on the wall was fierce but the Knights held their ground restricting the enemy movements coming off the tower. The archers remained above the gates firing upon the enemy. However the ram made it safely to the gate and was pounding away.



The walls were secured from the enemy and the units either routed or died on the ramparts, unfortunately the battering ram did break through and the enemy entered.



The exhausted defenders came down off the walls and fought for the entrance way. Their efforts were heroic but they were outnumbered and could not hold the enemy back. The city was breached the only defenders that remained were two depleted spearmen regiments, a ballista crew and the Princes’ own Bodyguard. The enemy gathered itself but stopped on the main street to the Town Square.



The enemy archers fired into the square with little effect. The ballista crews returned fire with full effect.



The Seljuk remained holding their ground exchanging fire with two units in reserve. The Prince ordered a charge down the main street.




The enemy reserve units did not move from their position.



Finally the enemy Captain gave the order and charged down the main through fare. Under fire they reached the town square. A melee ensued committing the depleted Templar units. The Seljuk was getting the initiative forcing the Prince to commit his unit to fight again.




The enemy unit retreated. There was still one more reserve unit on the street. The ballista crews regrouped and fired upon the enemy. The Prince committed a final charge down the street.



The battle was over and the City of Edessa remained under Templar control.




Constantinople 1197

The Duke of Aleppo was in a sorry state.



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His army had all but deserted except a loyal veteran regiment of Spearmen. He had met with his allies and had been informed that the City of Constantinople was lightly garrisoned. The Duke reached into his own wealth and Christian persuasion and recruited what men he could to form an army to storm the city. The Byzantines had a substantial army ready to fight.



This group of mercenaries Crusaders were ready for anything.



The Templar Knights were storming the south gate and the Byzantines attacked the north gate under a barrage of heavy artillery support to pound the walls. The attack caused some confusion amongst the enemy garrison and the walls were quickly taken by the Knights.



The Knights rushed for the Town Square the Duke urging them on offering a reward to the regiment that gets there first. The Duke knew that control of the Square meant control of the city. The men rushed down shoulder to shoulder in excitement and greed. When they approached the opening an enemy unit of Javelin held them up. They could not get past because of the confined space. The Javelin Regiment was able to delay the Knights till the Duke charged up and pushed through to the square.



The enemy General Nazim Celebi countered and the two Bodyguard Units clashed in the square. The two enemies meet again face to face and the Duke was not to be defeated this time.



The Byzantine’s had also reached the Square and the enemy garrison was doomed.



A Clear Victory for the Knights and to take control of the city.



The troops were rewarded and the city was sacked for 10,500 florins. Then the Duke received the best news of all. He was granted the Duke of Constantinople and advised by the Pope that the Crusade had ended successfully. The Holy Roman Empire had conquered the Fortress of Thorn.





It was time to reorganize and see waht the prize city could do for the Order.

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