BC: Armenian PBM Writeup Thread

[Zim]

1174 was an important year for the fledgling Kingdom of Armenia. The ancient Kingdom of Armenia in the Caucausus had been wiped from the map many years before, but this new one had been born of migrations south to Silicia. Although long dominated by foreign rulers, most recently the Muslim Emir Mleh, the new Silician Kingdom of Armenia had managed to win its freedom through force of arms. Even now an army under Avag Sepuh Levon was marching to Vahka to defeat finally capture Mleh, the last vestige of the Kingdom's former subordinate status.

Mleh's army was small but experienced, and he was a great leader, and while Vahka hardly deserved the name castle its walls were fortified enough to make the assault difficult.



Heavily armed mercenaries from Venice and fierce men from the nearby mountains wielding axes formed the vanguard of the assault, distracting the Muslim forces to the left of the gate. Meanwhile spearmen climbed ladders on the other side of the walls. These men distracted the enemy infantry while cavalry poured in through the gate, opened by a sympathetic Christian from the town around the castle.



Levon and his bodyguards charged castle town's center, guarded by fast but light missile cavalry. Unable to take advantage of their mibility in the town's streets, they were easily slaughtered and Mleh himself fell to Levon's sword. Meanwhile, the enemies heavy infantry, consisting of Saracen Swordsmen in chainmail, were pinned between a unit of Armenian spearmen and Cavalry armed with javelins. Once they expended their ammo, the cavalry charged the rear of the Saracen unit. SHortly after, they routed and were captured.







The next years were peaceful. Trade was established with the Sultanate of Rum and Kingdom fo Jerusalem, and alliances with Georgia and the Eastern Roman Empire. The size of the Kingdom of Armenia would remain fairly stable for most of the decade, with only the the rebel held town of Famagusta in Cyprus added. This town would quickly become one of Armenia's main trading centers.

By 1184 Armenia had established itself as a power in the region, with five settlements and a reasonably sized army. Nothing but peace and prosperity was expected for future years, but fate would not always be kind to the small nation.