The St. John Order builds a Chapter House in the Capital Tortosa. The Templar Knights will need all the high quality troops they can obtain from all the corners of the Outremer.
The Mongols are spotted and the first army is investigated so many horse riders.
The Thebes Region is secured and the ecomomy starts to pick up.
Though rioting continues in Cairo and the Master Theologians Guild is damaged again with other religious buildings. The Crusade grows Crown of Aragon joins it’s Catholic Brethren
The Order looses a faithful servant in the Damascus Region. Some say the news of the tide of the threatening Horde caused his heart to stop. There is panic in the city.
The Grandmaster receives the Diplomatic News of 1233 but nothing on the Mongol Faction
Besides war death affects the Royal Courts of Europe.
Pope Lucius III is getting old and feeels the current religious Orders are not following the true word and begins his Papal Inquistion.
The Younger d’Alvarez comes of age and removes the Rebel Army from the Gaza Region.
The Council makes a new request after the failure to remove the Crown Prince of the Moors a new target is identified the leader of the Horde Khanzada Jebe the Tyrant.
1234 Damascus is under siege by the Mongol Horde the panic of the populace is now in frenzy. Many people had fled hearing of the incoming army. Two regiments of Crossbowmen arrived from Jerusalem. Will it be enough?
The Order is now at war with the Mongols.
Hungary joins the Crusade and relations between the Order and the Hungarians improve possible strengthening their relations. Diplomats and Princess are in Hungarian lands to negotiate.
Fearing for his land the King of Jerusalem decides to leaves Cairo and heads back to the Holy City. His son Phillip is granted the title Duke of Cairo.
1234 Siege of Damascus.
Garrison Captain Jobst was the senior Army Officer and in command of the city defenses what he was about to face was something no European soldier had experienced.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
The enemy reached the wall with their ladder there were only the Missile Regiments on the walls. The rest of the units were bracing for the breach at the gates.
The enemy was repelled from the walls the Crossbow Regiments proved their worth but the gate could not hold to the assault of the battering ram. The fight for the city began.
The Knights fought valiantly and the Mongols were pinned in the tight quarters. The second army began to move for the open gates.
The Mongols were too many and they began their foothold on the main throughway. The two Army leaders clashed and both were killed by each others sword. The men on either side continued but the superior numbers of the Mongols overcame the garrison. The city was lost. The Valiant efforts of Captain Jobst will not be forgotten by the Grandmaster.
It was a close battle.
Prisoners executed and the city populace terminated. However, the Mongols did not try to pacify the town after their destruction they moved on and the city was under Rebel control.
The Crusade ends Pope Lucius III dies in Rome elections are called and the College of Cardinals convenes in Rome.
Cardinal Engles does some heavy politicking to get himself in position to succeed his Templar Brother has Pope.
His candidates do not stand well with the other Catholic Factions. Denmark is contacted and maps are gifted to them. Hungary is promised an alliance and will vote for the Templar candidate.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Jonas Engel age 27 is elected Pope Nicholas IV and the Grandmaster does not have to concern huimself with Papal relations for a long time.
An alliance is formalized with Hungary and the Byzantine Hungarian War ends. Other nations are reconciled.
Medina 1236
The Duke of Alexandria arrives at Medina to face the Rebel Army holding the city. A large force has been assembled because after Median was Mecca the last Caliphate city was next The Spy opened the gates and the siege equipment was not required. The city was captured with minimal casualties.
Mecca was next for the Grandmaster of the Hospitalier Order.
One concern was no leadership from the Fatimid Caliphate could be located. Where are they hiding? At at unknown city or at sea?
Report on the Horde not far from the capital
Pope Nicholas IV chooses an Order of the Knights Templar clergy to replace his Cardinal seat in the College.
Diplomatic news formal trade rights are agreed upon with the Kingdom of Leon-Castille Spanish. War breaks out between the Hungarians and Byzantines a side must be chosen. The Grandmaster elects to stay with the Byzantines; Constantinople is in a precarious situation. Even though this allaince breahces the Charter of the Order to have an alliance with an Orthodox Faction.
Princess Mayer has been doing an excellent job in her diplomatic work and in her old age her charm has increased.
The final diplomatic report to the Grandmaster and some relations have improved.
The 1240 start with a new weapon intriguing the Grandmaster and orders the development of this weapon to be incorporated into the army. Edessa is the first production centre.
The Cardinal reports a new Cardinal to the College
A new family member Dimarus Herden son of Silvestro da Parma and Princess Brasia
The City of Antioch is besieged by the Mongols.
Damascus is recaptured and occupied from the Rebels. The Prince is severely wounded in the fight.
The Duke of Alexandria moves out of Medina and sets course to Mecca and the final blow. The large Caliphate Forces along the coast poses a threat but the duke gambles for the city.
The Battle of Medina 1240
The Duke arrived at the city walls and wasted no time in attacking the city. He was equipped with catapults and trebuchets and did not require to build rams and ladders.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
The wall was breached and the Knights made a 2 prong attack for the Town Square. There was some resistance with the light cavalry garrison but the centre was reached.
The battle was fierce with many casualties on both sides.
The Caliphate Garrison Captain was stricken down in the battle.
The last 2 spear regiments remained to defend the St John Order infantry continue to push supported by the Templar Spearmen.
The city was captured and resistance was futile. The Fatimid Caliphate was no more.
Overview and Pope meter
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Things are going very well with the Order and the Papacy.
A financial report for 1240
War breaks out between the Seljuk and Republic of Novograd. The Grandmaster debates this issue he would like to finish his work against the Seljuk however that would be another alliance with an Orthodox Faction. There is jealously amongst the European Brothers and are suspicious and cautious to openly support the Templar Knights and the work in the Outremer.
Ansehelm d’Alvarez accepts another title Duke of Mecca. He will remain in the city to secure public order and law before heading north.
By 1242 the Order of the Templar Knights is the most advance faction.
The Grandmaster leaves the capital Tortosa to aid Antioch. Upon arrival the Mongol Armies retreated.
1243 Constantinople
Rioting engulfs the city and the noble Silvestro da Parma is killed trying to quell the rioters. The future of the city leadership is in jeopardy. The aging Duke final brings calm and stability to the city.
Civil Disobedience also occurs in the France on news that King Milobor was excommunicated. There is no chance of a Templar French Alliance.
Another male is born into the family to the Duke of Constantinople.
A marriage proposal is accepted. The aging Princess was married the Grandmaster needed generals to lead his armies. There was also news of an available Princess from the Aragonese Court. Both sons are still bachelors and concerns are raised by their father.
A state of war still exists with the Moors and news received that the Capital of Cordoba has fallen.
A couple birth announcements of 1246
The Grandmaster followed the last Mongol Army east to the Seljuk – Templar border and a watchtower was erected. The rest of the Army was located and appeared to be regrouping.
Albrecht the Unorthodox a known witch hunter failed a second time to clear the Heretic from the Constantinople Region.
Is his faith lacking???
A suitor approached the Grandmaster for the hand of Monica de Payns who was doing diplomat duty in Rome. The young noble appeared to be a strong character and accepted the marriage proposal. The Prince of Antioch was enraged that another obstacle could be in his way for succession. The Order was in need of strong leaders but there is discord among the successors.
There was another marriage proposal in the works with Princess Felipa niece of the Grandmaster. She has a particular Hungarian noble in mind.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
The proposal backfired and the Princess remained in Hungary with the noble. It is a disgrace to the Grandmaster’s family.
Another Cardinal from the Order was promoted to the College. Things were going extremely well with the Papacy. There was a succession of French kings and King Michel successor to King Milobor remained excommunicated. France has a great distrust for the Tempalr Knights.
The Mongols appeared to have regrouped and were heading west again. The City of Edessa was being prepared for an attack and the new Duke in charge of the garrison.
The Grandmaster and the Prince of Antioch formed a defensive position at the bridge effectively blocking the most direct route west. The Order of the old guard is aging and it is time for succession to the younger members but are they ready?
Re: The Da Vinci Code a Templar Knights AAR
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