I agree with Mett that the way you weave story and game elements together is very well done. I think the Basileus is determined to sabotage his legacy to the Empire by screwing things up. Hopefully this campaign will be his last.
Rome AARisen - a Byzantine AAR
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Wow! One big intrigue has come to its end and another is already about to begin. 
However I can't help but think that Nikolaos might not be the only one who regards a campaign as a perfect opportunity to liquidate potential troublemakers unsuspectidly.
~Lord Valentine~
However I can't help but think that Nikolaos might not be the only one who regards a campaign as a perfect opportunity to liquidate potential troublemakers unsuspectidly.
~Lord Valentine~
Lord Valentine - Warfare's historically been a good venue for not only taking the land of others, but settling scores amongst one's own side, and believe me, this war is not going to be any different
VILenin - Thank you for the compliment - I'm trying to keep things balanced between the narrative and the game, sometimes its a juggling act. As for Demetrios, he's a Megos, a conqueror, why shouldn't he ride north against a bunch of pitiful barbarians without any cities to their name? They couldn't stop an Empire...
Estonianzulu - Demetrios is busily searching for an heir like himself. Like many rulers, since he's been successful, he thinks someone with his formula (conquer and conquer more) is the best successor, and it doesn't hurt that those people tend to be yes-men. Unfortunately, that means he doesn't realize the Empire might need a consolidator, not a conqueror...
Mettermrck - The 'encounter' was the hardest part to balance into the update - it needed to be covered, but it didn't fit with some of the rest, so it was a tough balancing act. And yes, it will come up again, at one of the worst possible moments for Nikolaios...
RGB - Angstiness, and in general overthinking things are going to be Nikolaios' big weaknesses in life. He's hyper-intelligent, extremely well educated, which means in this time frame he's extremely well versed in church doctrine. This educated side of him will always be in conflict with the side of him that wants and needs, and he does the thing I find many fellow grad students doing when they encounter a conflict between their minds and hearts - overthinking and complaining instead of acting on it. Don't worry though, he won't forget his end goal.
Fulcrumvale - Nikolaios is a scheming machine. 'Nuff said.
VILenin - Thank you for the compliment - I'm trying to keep things balanced between the narrative and the game, sometimes its a juggling act.
As for Demetrios, he's a Megos, a conqueror, why shouldn't he ride north against a bunch of pitiful barbarians without any cities to their name? They couldn't stop an Empire... Estonianzulu - Demetrios is busily searching for an heir like himself. Like many rulers, since he's been successful, he thinks someone with his formula (conquer and conquer more) is the best successor, and it doesn't hurt that those people tend to be yes-men. Unfortunately, that means he doesn't realize the Empire might need a consolidator, not a conqueror...
Mettermrck - The 'encounter' was the hardest part to balance into the update - it needed to be covered, but it didn't fit with some of the rest, so it was a tough balancing act. And yes, it will come up again, at one of the worst possible moments for Nikolaios...
RGB - Angstiness, and in general overthinking things are going to be Nikolaios' big weaknesses in life. He's hyper-intelligent, extremely well educated, which means in this time frame he's extremely well versed in church doctrine. This educated side of him will always be in conflict with the side of him that wants and needs, and he does the thing I find many fellow grad students doing when they encounter a conflict between their minds and hearts - overthinking and complaining instead of acting on it.
Don't worry though, he won't forget his end goal. Fulcrumvale - Nikolaios is a scheming machine. 'Nuff said.
Well played update and the kind of nadir was exemplified here . The disconnection from Constantinople and the 'bedding' kind of points to the low point . Slowing down giving a breath in the depression before rising into more action . It was good calculation .
Sorry for the long delay, but here is the next update - its a little shorter than those of the past, but hopefully now that the holidays are over I can go back to my usual posting self!
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"The difference between a good general and a great conqueror is that the general can win battles, but will overextend his reach, while a great conqueror knows the limits of his men and strength, and while taxing his state and people, will not push them to their limits."
- Demetrios Komnenos Megos, Strategikon ou Basilieos
The great invasion planned by Demetrios in early 1109. Obviously, the goals of the invasion were locally set - beyond these initial objectives little was planned, and no contingency plans existed.
The great plan for the Cuman War involved a three pronged invasion of the Cuman lands while their armies were to the north, in the midst of their annual raids on the lands of the Rus. One column, some 18,000 strong led by the Byzantion tagmata and the Basilieus himself. This force would invade Chortiza from Romanoi Bessarabia, then split, seizing Pereslavyl and Chernigov with a main force pushing deep into Cuman lands. A second prong, some 10,000 strong and led by the Prince of Cherson, would march to seize all the Crimea for Romanion. Finally, just before thee forces commenced their attacks, a much smaller force, no more than 5,000 under a committee of comes from around the Empire, would land in Abkhazia to act as a diversion.
Nikolaios, as Comes of Hebron, would participate in this third attack.
The Crown Prince was not pleased at this plan – in fact he thought it was foolish. Foolish enough that he wondered if it was a thinly veiled attempt at getting him assassinated or captured in battle. When this third wing, called the Abkhazia Army marshaled in Trebizond in April of 1109, Nikolaios was among several of the comes who proposed electing a leader, and few were willing to oppose Nikolaios’ command. After all, if the expedition failed, they could all blame him – a charge they knew his father would have little problem believing.
Nikolaios’ contingent left in May of 1109 for a 20 day voyage across the Black Sea – yet when they arrived in Sochi on the Abkhazian coast and the Crown Prince had dispatched his scouts, they found no trace of the Cuman army – or almost any Cumans whatsoever. Indeed, the only Cumans in the town were the local Khan, an elderly man named Thoros, and his small retinue. Nikolaios settled in to siege the fortress, but as he gained more information about the local area, the more he sensed an opportunity.
Thoros was a pagan, an animist like most of the Cuman elite, while most of the local population were Georgians, and Orthodox. The locals were near revolt as it already stood, and Thoros could sense the end of his rule was nigh. The fortress stood high on a cliff above the village, and reducing it by siege would take months, if it ever fell. Though of Nikolaios could talk to the man…
On June 18th, 1109, riders went up to the catle under a flag of truce, with a request for a meeting…
======================= =======================================
The rest of the campaign began with brilliant results. Demetrios met the young Khagan of the Cumans in battle in Chortiza on June 13th, 1109. The Khagan was rushing south with 9,000 riders, and the huge Imperial army of some 15,000 caught them by surprise. The Cumans let loose with their horse archers, hoping to harass the Imperial troops into breaking ranks, yet Demetrios held his ground, letting his own archers shower the Cuman riders with arrows. After several hours of ineffectual battle, the Cuman light riders broke off, and the Imperial battleline began to rumble forward to drums and pipes. The young Khagan Kutan, inexperienced in battle, panicked and unleashed his heavy horse onto the Roman lines, where they were broken up by the javelins of the menalavoi before being slaughtered by the massed spearpoints of the skoutatoi. As they recoiled, Demetrios, at the head of the hetaratoi launched a furious countercharge that swept the enemy from the field. The Khagan managed to only escape due to the press of his own fleeing men.
Demetrios utterly crushing Khagan Kutan in battle. Near the bottom center, however, one can see the armies of the Prince of Cherson in the midst of their catastrophic defeat.
Demetrios was overjoyed, reportedly claiming he had re-earned the respect and fear of his opponents. He was so overjoyed that after a drunken celebration of the victory by the Emperor and his advisors, he gave in to the temptation of Siddiqa’s loins – a sin that in nine months would bear fruit.
Demetrios celebrates by impregnating his Master of Spies...
However, this early success abruptly met a tragic end. Further to the south, the Prince of Cherson met the Khagan’s fearsome brother Atalug in battle – and the Prince’s army of 10,000 lost half of its number to 7,000 Cumans. The Romanoi had held firm under an hour of heavy attack by Atalug’s horse archers, when the Cuman had suddenly called off his attack and retired. The Prince of Cherson, young and impetuous, immediately went into pursuit, and his army was caught in column by Atalug’s ambush. The Prince fell in the confusion, and the Romanoi retired confused and disillusioned.
As word of the disaster spread, the Khagan authorized all the Cuman princes to marshal their forces under Atalug, to crush Cherson and teach the Romanoi a lesson. The Emperor, meanwhile, scrambled desperately to marshal the forces to repel this sudden attack, and save Cherson from destruction…
============================== ==============================
The large keep that dominated the small seaside village of Sochi was already ancient by the time Nikolaios and his entourage walked within its walls. The first forts had been built there in the 6th century, and this edifice was the result of an 8th century Byzantine trade mission. Now, Thoros, calling himself the Mighty yet hardly mighty anymore, had set himself up within its walls.
Several Cuman guards let Nikolaios and a small retinue of his personal guard into the castle. Very quickly they were brought into a modest throne realm resplendent with plundered goods and riches from over fifty years in the saddle.
Thoros, son of Kugan, was one of the richest of the Cuman lords. Well into his fifties, contemporaries describe him as a great bear of a man, with a dark beard streaked with white, a good swordarm and a keen mind. He had ridden with no less than four Khagans, and a lifetime of plunder now laid about the castle. He’d settled in Imeretia, the last of his conquests, and attempted to start a family of his own, however only a single daughter was the result.
Nikolaios greeted Thoros with kind words, carefully observing ritual and protocol to impress the old man. The two conversed quietly, and soon thereafter, Nikolaios and Thoros both asked that their respective retinues leave the room, that they could discuss business in private.
No one to this day knows for sure what Nikolaios said to Thoros, but it is known the two spent fie hours in the Cuman lord’s private room, and to this day, the results have been heavily debated by scholars. Some say Thoros had become Hellenized during his twenty year rule of the region – many citing his relatively Hellenic name as evidence. Others say that Nikolaios merely persuaded the elderly lord what he should do. Similarly, from what we understand, the end results for Nikolaios were not pleasing either. What is known are the details of the arrangement.
Thoros agreed to make Nikolaios heir to his position as Khan of Imeretia, in return for gifts of money, weapons and soldiers from Romanion. Nikolaios in return would not command his tagmata to attack Thoros or any person to whom Thoros was allied. The agreement was to be sealed with Nikolaios’ marriage to Thoros’ daughter, Edmuhl. Among the Cumans, it was felt that blood ties were the strongest, something Nikolaios remembered from his days as a youth studying the neighbors of the Empire – likely that aspect of the deal was proposed by the prince himself, no matter how much he might have viewed it with repugnance.
The Romanoi, being clever at trickery and spies themselves, had no doubt that Thoros was planning on building a quick empire and a suitable death for Nikolaios before handing the realm off to a member of his clan. Nikolaios had a suitable counterplan, which quickly went into action. Nikolaios, obviously not eager to see certain parts of the deal consummated, instructed some of his men to begin stirring the Orthodox residents of the town, encouraging them to come witness the event while simultaneously cajoling Thoros to leave his keep to officiate the ceremonies. Secretly Nikolaios hoped the girl was as ugly as her father – there would then be an easy excuse for him to never bed her.
A coin from 1137 depicting the marriage of Nikolaios Komnenos and Egmuhl, who would adopt the Christian name of Jacinta
That very night the pagan Thoros recruited one of the Orthodox priests in the city to perform a proper ceremony – Nikoliaos refused to go through the pagan rites Thoros initially asked. It was abrupt and brief, the bride and groom only first laying eyes on each other only as the ceremony began. To Nikolaios chagrin, Edmuhl would have been, to many other men, a ravishly beautiful woman – dark mysterious eyes framed perfectly in an oval face, with a healthy bosom and long legs. The Prince cursed – the ugliness excuse had disappeared.
Immediately after the ceremony, Thoros pronounced Nikolaios heir to his title as Khan of Imeretia, an announcement that provoked applause from the gathered Orthodox Georgians present. Thoros then mistakenly said some unfortunate words about how he hoped his new son-in-law would adopt animism and abandon his Christian faith. Of course it didn’t help that Nikolaios’ men had been amongst the crowd stirring trouble, inciting the mob so that if Thoros had taken up the cross they would have accused him of blasphemy, and the Georgians surged forward through the small retinue of guards and beat the old man to death. Nikolaios ordered the instigators arrested, but secretly they were released that very night, and a few even received monetary rewards from their new liege lord, the Prince of Imeretia.
Nikolaios assumes the title of Prince of Imeretia, officially at the behest of the Basilieus - even though the Emperor had no idea what his son was doing at the time.
Under his new title, Nikolaios gained the service of several hundred Cuman cavalrymen, as well as thousands of Georgians, who hailed him as a liberator from the hands of their pagan masters. Within the month, the Crown Prince had assembled a motley personal army of 4,000, which coupled with the comes (who were suitably rewarded from old Thoros’ vaults) gave him an overall force of 8,000 soldiers – more than enough for many of the tasks he had in mind.
Yet history has a way of making its own conspiracies as to how things will change, and once again, the dice of chance rolled. Unknown to Nikolaios or any of his fellow conspirators, the Basilieus had met Asalup in a series of battles in Lukomorie, some 15,000 Romanoi versus an equal number of Cumans.
The initial stage of the great encounter with Asalup - the Emperor has the advantage. Notice, however, how the Cumans are literally swarming the area... some are even laying siege to Cherson!
While the first two engagements were decidedly in favor of the Romanoi, Demetrios had no idea their entire purpose was to pull the Roman army away from the Black Sea and its supplies, and further north into Cuman lands. As Demetrios pursued his retreating enemy, his scouts failed to notice Cuman riders slowly encircling the Roman tagmata until it was too late. In a great battle near the tiny Harslup River on the 13th of July, the Cumans thundered in on all sides, surprising the vaunted Roman army. Demetrios desperately launched charge after charge to break out of the vice, but the Cuman horse archers dodged his heavy cavalry, while showering his infantry with arrows. Over the course of three days, the Cumans whittled and wore the Romanoi down until only a few thousand survivors were left, before charging home with their own heavy cavalry.
A few days later. Asalup has continually recieved reinforcements, and while Imperial morale is high, Demetrios' forces have been whittled down. The coup de grace was shortly thereafter.
The Emperor and his Megos Domestikos were captured, slaying twenty Cumans before he could be wrestled to the ground in his gilded armor – just as Asalup had planned it.
When the news of the disaster reached Sochi, Nikolaios realized there was an opportunity for him. He had been trained since child that to build a dynasty was the ultimate goal of an Emperor, and setting a precedent of marching on the capital would hardly build stability. Yet there was another precedent in Roman tradition he hoped to force even his father to recognize him as heir – no more bastards, no more Christophoros.
Nikolaios marched out on the 1st of September with the backbone of his force, and sailed across the Sea of Azov some two weeks later, putting himself behind the Cuman forces. Through a series of quick forced marches that would’ve made his father proud, the Prince sides-stepped the Cumans and united with the remains of the Prince of Cherson’s forces. The next day, despite his marginal superiority in numbers, the Prince himself approached the Cuman lines under a flag of truce, intending to talk with Asalug himself…
============================================================
"The difference between a good general and a great conqueror is that the general can win battles, but will overextend his reach, while a great conqueror knows the limits of his men and strength, and while taxing his state and people, will not push them to their limits."
- Demetrios Komnenos Megos, Strategikon ou Basilieos
The great invasion planned by Demetrios in early 1109. Obviously, the goals of the invasion were locally set - beyond these initial objectives little was planned, and no contingency plans existed.
The great plan for the Cuman War involved a three pronged invasion of the Cuman lands while their armies were to the north, in the midst of their annual raids on the lands of the Rus. One column, some 18,000 strong led by the Byzantion tagmata and the Basilieus himself. This force would invade Chortiza from Romanoi Bessarabia, then split, seizing Pereslavyl and Chernigov with a main force pushing deep into Cuman lands. A second prong, some 10,000 strong and led by the Prince of Cherson, would march to seize all the Crimea for Romanion. Finally, just before thee forces commenced their attacks, a much smaller force, no more than 5,000 under a committee of comes from around the Empire, would land in Abkhazia to act as a diversion.
Nikolaios, as Comes of Hebron, would participate in this third attack.
The Crown Prince was not pleased at this plan – in fact he thought it was foolish. Foolish enough that he wondered if it was a thinly veiled attempt at getting him assassinated or captured in battle. When this third wing, called the Abkhazia Army marshaled in Trebizond in April of 1109, Nikolaios was among several of the comes who proposed electing a leader, and few were willing to oppose Nikolaios’ command. After all, if the expedition failed, they could all blame him – a charge they knew his father would have little problem believing.
Nikolaios’ contingent left in May of 1109 for a 20 day voyage across the Black Sea – yet when they arrived in Sochi on the Abkhazian coast and the Crown Prince had dispatched his scouts, they found no trace of the Cuman army – or almost any Cumans whatsoever. Indeed, the only Cumans in the town were the local Khan, an elderly man named Thoros, and his small retinue. Nikolaios settled in to siege the fortress, but as he gained more information about the local area, the more he sensed an opportunity.
Thoros was a pagan, an animist like most of the Cuman elite, while most of the local population were Georgians, and Orthodox. The locals were near revolt as it already stood, and Thoros could sense the end of his rule was nigh. The fortress stood high on a cliff above the village, and reducing it by siege would take months, if it ever fell. Though of Nikolaios could talk to the man…
On June 18th, 1109, riders went up to the catle under a flag of truce, with a request for a meeting…
======================= =======================================
The rest of the campaign began with brilliant results. Demetrios met the young Khagan of the Cumans in battle in Chortiza on June 13th, 1109. The Khagan was rushing south with 9,000 riders, and the huge Imperial army of some 15,000 caught them by surprise. The Cumans let loose with their horse archers, hoping to harass the Imperial troops into breaking ranks, yet Demetrios held his ground, letting his own archers shower the Cuman riders with arrows. After several hours of ineffectual battle, the Cuman light riders broke off, and the Imperial battleline began to rumble forward to drums and pipes. The young Khagan Kutan, inexperienced in battle, panicked and unleashed his heavy horse onto the Roman lines, where they were broken up by the javelins of the menalavoi before being slaughtered by the massed spearpoints of the skoutatoi. As they recoiled, Demetrios, at the head of the hetaratoi launched a furious countercharge that swept the enemy from the field. The Khagan managed to only escape due to the press of his own fleeing men.
Demetrios utterly crushing Khagan Kutan in battle. Near the bottom center, however, one can see the armies of the Prince of Cherson in the midst of their catastrophic defeat.
Demetrios was overjoyed, reportedly claiming he had re-earned the respect and fear of his opponents. He was so overjoyed that after a drunken celebration of the victory by the Emperor and his advisors, he gave in to the temptation of Siddiqa’s loins – a sin that in nine months would bear fruit.
Demetrios celebrates by impregnating his Master of Spies...
However, this early success abruptly met a tragic end. Further to the south, the Prince of Cherson met the Khagan’s fearsome brother Atalug in battle – and the Prince’s army of 10,000 lost half of its number to 7,000 Cumans. The Romanoi had held firm under an hour of heavy attack by Atalug’s horse archers, when the Cuman had suddenly called off his attack and retired. The Prince of Cherson, young and impetuous, immediately went into pursuit, and his army was caught in column by Atalug’s ambush. The Prince fell in the confusion, and the Romanoi retired confused and disillusioned.
As word of the disaster spread, the Khagan authorized all the Cuman princes to marshal their forces under Atalug, to crush Cherson and teach the Romanoi a lesson. The Emperor, meanwhile, scrambled desperately to marshal the forces to repel this sudden attack, and save Cherson from destruction…
============================== ==============================
The large keep that dominated the small seaside village of Sochi was already ancient by the time Nikolaios and his entourage walked within its walls. The first forts had been built there in the 6th century, and this edifice was the result of an 8th century Byzantine trade mission. Now, Thoros, calling himself the Mighty yet hardly mighty anymore, had set himself up within its walls.
Several Cuman guards let Nikolaios and a small retinue of his personal guard into the castle. Very quickly they were brought into a modest throne realm resplendent with plundered goods and riches from over fifty years in the saddle.
Thoros, son of Kugan, was one of the richest of the Cuman lords. Well into his fifties, contemporaries describe him as a great bear of a man, with a dark beard streaked with white, a good swordarm and a keen mind. He had ridden with no less than four Khagans, and a lifetime of plunder now laid about the castle. He’d settled in Imeretia, the last of his conquests, and attempted to start a family of his own, however only a single daughter was the result.
Nikolaios greeted Thoros with kind words, carefully observing ritual and protocol to impress the old man. The two conversed quietly, and soon thereafter, Nikolaios and Thoros both asked that their respective retinues leave the room, that they could discuss business in private.
No one to this day knows for sure what Nikolaios said to Thoros, but it is known the two spent fie hours in the Cuman lord’s private room, and to this day, the results have been heavily debated by scholars. Some say Thoros had become Hellenized during his twenty year rule of the region – many citing his relatively Hellenic name as evidence. Others say that Nikolaios merely persuaded the elderly lord what he should do. Similarly, from what we understand, the end results for Nikolaios were not pleasing either. What is known are the details of the arrangement.
Thoros agreed to make Nikolaios heir to his position as Khan of Imeretia, in return for gifts of money, weapons and soldiers from Romanion. Nikolaios in return would not command his tagmata to attack Thoros or any person to whom Thoros was allied. The agreement was to be sealed with Nikolaios’ marriage to Thoros’ daughter, Edmuhl. Among the Cumans, it was felt that blood ties were the strongest, something Nikolaios remembered from his days as a youth studying the neighbors of the Empire – likely that aspect of the deal was proposed by the prince himself, no matter how much he might have viewed it with repugnance.
The Romanoi, being clever at trickery and spies themselves, had no doubt that Thoros was planning on building a quick empire and a suitable death for Nikolaios before handing the realm off to a member of his clan. Nikolaios had a suitable counterplan, which quickly went into action. Nikolaios, obviously not eager to see certain parts of the deal consummated, instructed some of his men to begin stirring the Orthodox residents of the town, encouraging them to come witness the event while simultaneously cajoling Thoros to leave his keep to officiate the ceremonies. Secretly Nikolaios hoped the girl was as ugly as her father – there would then be an easy excuse for him to never bed her.
A coin from 1137 depicting the marriage of Nikolaios Komnenos and Egmuhl, who would adopt the Christian name of Jacinta
That very night the pagan Thoros recruited one of the Orthodox priests in the city to perform a proper ceremony – Nikoliaos refused to go through the pagan rites Thoros initially asked. It was abrupt and brief, the bride and groom only first laying eyes on each other only as the ceremony began. To Nikolaios chagrin, Edmuhl would have been, to many other men, a ravishly beautiful woman – dark mysterious eyes framed perfectly in an oval face, with a healthy bosom and long legs. The Prince cursed – the ugliness excuse had disappeared.
Immediately after the ceremony, Thoros pronounced Nikolaios heir to his title as Khan of Imeretia, an announcement that provoked applause from the gathered Orthodox Georgians present. Thoros then mistakenly said some unfortunate words about how he hoped his new son-in-law would adopt animism and abandon his Christian faith. Of course it didn’t help that Nikolaios’ men had been amongst the crowd stirring trouble, inciting the mob so that if Thoros had taken up the cross they would have accused him of blasphemy, and the Georgians surged forward through the small retinue of guards and beat the old man to death. Nikolaios ordered the instigators arrested, but secretly they were released that very night, and a few even received monetary rewards from their new liege lord, the Prince of Imeretia.
Nikolaios assumes the title of Prince of Imeretia, officially at the behest of the Basilieus - even though the Emperor had no idea what his son was doing at the time.
Under his new title, Nikolaios gained the service of several hundred Cuman cavalrymen, as well as thousands of Georgians, who hailed him as a liberator from the hands of their pagan masters. Within the month, the Crown Prince had assembled a motley personal army of 4,000, which coupled with the comes (who were suitably rewarded from old Thoros’ vaults) gave him an overall force of 8,000 soldiers – more than enough for many of the tasks he had in mind.
Yet history has a way of making its own conspiracies as to how things will change, and once again, the dice of chance rolled. Unknown to Nikolaios or any of his fellow conspirators, the Basilieus had met Asalup in a series of battles in Lukomorie, some 15,000 Romanoi versus an equal number of Cumans.
The initial stage of the great encounter with Asalup - the Emperor has the advantage. Notice, however, how the Cumans are literally swarming the area... some are even laying siege to Cherson!
While the first two engagements were decidedly in favor of the Romanoi, Demetrios had no idea their entire purpose was to pull the Roman army away from the Black Sea and its supplies, and further north into Cuman lands. As Demetrios pursued his retreating enemy, his scouts failed to notice Cuman riders slowly encircling the Roman tagmata until it was too late. In a great battle near the tiny Harslup River on the 13th of July, the Cumans thundered in on all sides, surprising the vaunted Roman army. Demetrios desperately launched charge after charge to break out of the vice, but the Cuman horse archers dodged his heavy cavalry, while showering his infantry with arrows. Over the course of three days, the Cumans whittled and wore the Romanoi down until only a few thousand survivors were left, before charging home with their own heavy cavalry.
A few days later. Asalup has continually recieved reinforcements, and while Imperial morale is high, Demetrios' forces have been whittled down. The coup de grace was shortly thereafter.
The Emperor and his Megos Domestikos were captured, slaying twenty Cumans before he could be wrestled to the ground in his gilded armor – just as Asalup had planned it.
When the news of the disaster reached Sochi, Nikolaios realized there was an opportunity for him. He had been trained since child that to build a dynasty was the ultimate goal of an Emperor, and setting a precedent of marching on the capital would hardly build stability. Yet there was another precedent in Roman tradition he hoped to force even his father to recognize him as heir – no more bastards, no more Christophoros.
Nikolaios marched out on the 1st of September with the backbone of his force, and sailed across the Sea of Azov some two weeks later, putting himself behind the Cuman forces. Through a series of quick forced marches that would’ve made his father proud, the Prince sides-stepped the Cumans and united with the remains of the Prince of Cherson’s forces. The next day, despite his marginal superiority in numbers, the Prince himself approached the Cuman lines under a flag of truce, intending to talk with Asalug himself…
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Hmm, if I was Nikolaios I would leave Demetrios to die and then assume the keys of power himself.
The reign of Demetrios would end with a civil war, just as it had begun. How poetic.Severance said:
Hmm , first intrigue to take Imerita which was in itself cutthroat although ruling over so many orthodox , it was to be expected to work . But now , an opportunity opens itself up . However , that bastard son 9 months after might prove to be another loose end ..
I doubt Demetrios will be suitably grateful, no matter what happens. It's not in him to be.
It appears Nik's victory may be close at hand. Guess Demetrios will soon be very unhappy with his decision to cast out his true son.
Just when I thought Demetrios was going to have an illegitimate son with that nearly irresistible wench , he gets himself captured. I wonder if that'll have some long-term consequences or is the door now open for Nikolaios to strike!
, he gets himself captured. I wonder if that'll have some long-term consequences or is the door now open for Nikolaios to strike!
I can't help but think of what happened to the Emperor Romanos IV and the empire when the Turks captured him at Mantzikert. I hope that for Demetrios and the empires sake, that the consequences will be less dramatic.
~Lord Valentine~
~Lord Valentine~
The Cuman War so far has been a series of coups for Nikolaios but can he translate those victories into a firm grip on the throne? While rescuing his father is the honorable thing to do, and would probably make him popular with the people, leaving him to his fate might be a better course of action. Ideally, of course, would be for Demetrios to reconcile himself with his son and name Nik his heir but I'm doubtful that would happen. The Cumans could do the dirty work, though the risk of subsequent civil war is very real. Regardless, I think Siddiqa needs to have an "accident" in the very near future. She's too dangerous to be left to her own devices.
And speaking of women, now that Nikolaios is married he's going to need to get around to ravishing his ravishing wife. Establishing a dynasty is of utmost importance to the stability of the Empire and having a son would be the best way to do it. Look at Richard the Lionheart who, for all his triumphs, left England in ruins because he couldn't muster himself to producing an heir. I know the act will be disagreeable but Nikolaios will have to just close his eyes and think of Rome.
And speaking of women, now that Nikolaios is married he's going to need to get around to ravishing his ravishing wife.
Establishing a dynasty is of utmost importance to the stability of the Empire and having a son would be the best way to do it. Look at Richard the Lionheart who, for all his triumphs, left England in ruins because he couldn't muster himself to producing an heir. I know the act will be disagreeable but Nikolaios will have to just close his eyes and think of Rome.
VILenin said:
Snort..giggle.
Excellent application of the amusing ditty. And yes, heirs are important, just make sure they grow up respectful. Otherwise you might just have to make them Kings of Jerusalem.
I second the Heir issue, without one the more powerful nobles may close in for the kill without the stability could project..
All I have to say is:
LMAO at the comment "He should close his eyes and think of Rome" That was hilarious!
============================================================
"Konstantinos Megos had co-Emperors. Diocletian had a Tetrarchy. The office of Emperor has changed much in Roman history, why be surprised that it has changed now?" - attributed to Nikolaios Komnenos on his return after the Cuman campaign.
The meeting between Prince Nikolaios and Khan Asalup of the Cuman Horde
September 20th, 1109
Nikolaios trotted forward into the darkness, towards the pair of waiting horsemen. Behind him, he could hear the subtle half-whinnies of Ioannis' intrigued charger. The Cumans, like most steppe peoples, used mares as mounts, a fact that obviously hadn't simply passed Ioannis' stallion by. It was strange, the Prince thought, that the ancient Egyptians supposedly used mares to throw off the stallions pulling enemy chariots - just as men used women, or other men, as it may be, to throw off their opponents.
Nikolaios winced when the immediate afterthought of Jacinta entered his mind. She was described by other men with adjectives like beautiful, gorgeous, amazing, along with private ones he didn't doubt leaned to the vulgar side of Greek. Part of him thought it was altogether sad he didn't appreciate that rather curvaceous side of her. He could appreciate her quick wit, the willingness and speed with which she learned Greek, and her dedication to him.
And that was the major problem - Nikolaios had a long memory, and from what he'd heard, it bore quite a resemblance to his own mother when she first arrived in Konstantinopolis. While the official word was that the ship carrying her to her exile had sunk during a storm, Nikolaios was not a fool and knew exactly how that story ended.
With her death, plots about the empire, and the nobility waiting in the wings... he thought.
He would not repeat that - but he could not bring himself to sleep with her, despite her constant requests and attempts at seducing him. Her first sentence in Greek had been asking him to come to her tent. He'd had to slowly explain his reply that "military matters" would keep him up all night.
In reality, he'd spent several hours with Ioannis in the woods on the edge of camp.
It'd turned out Ioannis had fully know what he had been doing that night almost a year prior, and the two had carefully hidden a transition from mere friendship to something more. Their actual liasons were infrequent, as the opportunities for it to happen safely were rare in Konstantinopolis (even with the excuse they could use that Ioannis was Nikolaios' bodyguard) or camps filled with thousands of soldiers, but even know Nikolaios was sure that he had a closeness with Ioannis he would never find with Jacinta - or any other woman, for that matter. Nikolaios' marriage had made that aspect of things even tougher, and the ever cautious Nikolaios was becoming more and more concerned about it all.
How could he keep his marriage together, sire heirs, and stay with Ioannis without arousing too much suspicion? It was a conundrum, a very delicate one that could put the Empire and his personal sanity at risk. That night Nikolaios had decided to talk things over with Ioannis.
The grown up Ioannis Thrakesios, Nikolaios' bodyguard and secret lover
It'd be a frank and harsh conversation, in many ways, and Nikolaios walked away with the plan of telling his wife he was impotent, It was patently untrue, but she never knew that, and would likely never know of it, if he had his way. Ioannis had disagreed and called it a foolish thing, and even now Nikolaios could feel the burning eyes of his bodyguard on the back of his neck. The Prince had explained his scheme, and Ioannis had pointed out its flaws - the chief of which being that no matter what Nikolaios did, the Empire needed an heir, otherwise the line of Komnenos would be two Emperors long. Nikolaios explained he wanted a precedent for transition that later Emperors could look on, a building block for a dynasty.
That ruled out leaving his father to sit and rot. The last thing a dynasty needed was the pseudo-legalisation of a mere "march on Konstantinopolis" as the means of dynastic transfer. Yet it was through the simple "eldest son" route that the beast Michael came to the throne. Something else was needed - where not the eldest, but ablest son took over - they happily overlapped in this case, but Nikolaios was sure that wouldn't necessarily exist in the future. He was sure he was the ablest of Demetrios sons, as well as being the eldest, but he needed to supervise the next transfer of power.
Yet he didn't want to sire any children.
His mind had already hit upon a solution to that problem, that involved his father's old habits and needs. The Prince permitted himself a smile as they up to the waiting Asalup himself, and some underling Nikolaios did not know or care to learn more about. The Khan was dressed in his finest chain armor, wolf and bear pelts cushioning his saddle. It was an attempt to look as imposing as possible as the two rode into the camp.
"What are you grinning about?" Asalup asked in broken Greek from next to Nikolaios. The Cuman's eyebrow was raised in suspicion, and Nikolaios could see his eyes quickly scouting the Prince's body, checking to see if Nikolaios was reaching for a hidden dagger or some Roman contraption to cause mayhem or havoc.
"I am merely looking at the array of your soldiers - it is a fine display," Nikolaios lied. All around he saw signs of chaos - soldiers did not have their
horses tethered, scouts were galloping away from the Roman army. Moments later they rode past two Cumans who sported Roman helmets and heavy armor, likely commanders, who were chattering away in their native tongue about moving north soon.
Away from the Romans.
Nikolaios' eyes widened slightly, but he bit his tongue. None of the Cumans knew that he could speak a smattering of their language, nor that he could understand it completely. He processed the information, came to a conclusion, and quickly the plans within his mind changed. He hit upon a new idea, a better idea, which only caused his grin to widen.
Slowly the small cavalcade rode through the Cuman camp, Nikolaios quietly noting all the signs that the Cumans were about to move. They finally reached an especially fine tent, with gold tassels and trim from its flaps. Inside, bearskin rugs laid about, piled thickly to form a comfortable bed. Gold, jewels, and even the Imperial sword were placed inside, and sitting on fine wooden chair in the midst of the finery was Demetrios Komnenos, called Megos, a fine, harsh frown covering his face.
"I leave you and father," Asalup muttered, before adding a few choice things in Cuman, thinking neither could understand. "I hope this goes quickly, as I must move quickly."
Nikolaios nodded, and thanked the Khan for his hospitality, before turning to his father.
"You marched quickly," Demetrios said gruffly. "Maybe there's some of me in you yet." The frown disappeared for a second, replaced by something else Nikolaios couldn't really recognize.
"Father, if you want to survive captivity and return home a conquering hero, you will do as I say," Nikolaios said quietly and confidently when he was sure the Cumans were gone. It felt good to be the one with power in the relationship, and the Prince realized he would have to get used to it.
"Not even a greeting for you father, a question about how I've been treated? If I'm injured?" Demetrios grumbled, shifting in his chair. The frown returned.
"I'm pressed for time, father, and I need you to pay..." the Prince started, but Demetrios glowered and spoke over him.
"Bah, what can you do?" Demetrios started to challenge, but Nikolaios ignored him. The Prince realized he would have to talk over his father possibly to get the points across. So be it.
"...if you want to die here, and have me alone return as a conqueror hero, as well as sole Basilieus, then by all means, ignore my words."
The Emperor fell silent, his mouth slightly agape at the harsh words from his son. Nikolaios used the gap.
"First, you will crown me co-Emperor tomorrow at sunrise."
"What?!" Demetrios was on his feet, eyes ablaze. Just as he started towards the Prince, there was the slight noise of steel on leather - Ioannis' hand rested firmly on his partly drawn sword. The Emperor stopped his murderous advance.
"Why?" he finally spat.
"That will legitimize what I will shortly negotiate to Asalup," Nikolaios replied. "I will offer him Roman aid and support in his upcoming war to overthrow his
brother, if he recognizes my claims to Imeretia, and your claims to the rest of the Crimean peninsula."
"So, for mostly your own -" Demetrios started.
"What you get out of this is yet another successful war of conquest, and a reputation as a man that can negotiate when backed into a corner, things that are invaluable as a leader, for right now you are known as a great general, but not a great statesman. You also get my loyalty and trust - for I shall manage the Empire's foreign policy and economy. You may have as much free rein over the military as you want, for believe me, they will not back you in a civil war with me."
"How do..."
"Isaakios Thrakesios," Nikolaios threw out the name of his father's best friend, "as well as most of the other strategos back the new arrangement. I've gone so far as to ask them."
Demetrios sunk to the floor, bewildered. The Prince forged onward.
"Also, if you had ever paid attention to information, you would have known the changes going on in the West."
"What changes?" Demetrios asked, still stuck on the idea that the army no longer supported him.
"The Pope has crowned a new Western Emperor, a man who is King of the Germans, the Hungarians, the Burgundians and the Italians. You might have heard of him - mine own uncle, Kalman, brother of your late wife," Nikolaios tightened the noose even more. "I am Arpad as much as I am Komnenos, father, and I have no doubt should anything happen to me, the fury of the West will come tumbling down onto your head."
The Arpad Empire in the West. With the exception of the Duke of Bavaria, who feels compelled to resist, the Arpads now hold four royal thrones, and undoubtedly received the Western Imperial throne as well.
Demetrios merely stared into the distance, his mind clearly still comprehending how his son now had him firmly in a bind.
"In case you have missed the signs, Asalup is planning to dethrone his brother Kutan as Khagan - you provided the final push for that when you crushed the hapless Kutan in battle, and lost to the impeccable Asalup," Nikolaios smiled. "He's dispatched scouts to track what remains of his brothers army, and he's already issued orders to his commanders to be prepared to march north soon - things I thought you would've noticed instead of wallowing in self-pity. I'm surprised you didn't try to negotiate that from the start when you were captured. I'm fairly sure thats why Asalup specifically ordered your capture, and not your death."
A modern painting of what Asalup might have looked like.
"He what?" Demetrios asked quietly.
"He had you in your power for quite some time, he could have easily killed you if he wished, but he's kept you alive. He wanted to negotiate this whole time, and you've misread the signs," Nikolaios sighed. "This is why I will manage the Empire's foreign policy - it has clearly slipped past your means."
"And all that is left for me is to sit on a throne, and look imposing?" Demetrios asked weakly after a moment. By his eyes, Nikolaios could tell the Emperor expected far worse. As much as it might be useful, the Crown Prince would not let himself do that - it would set a bad precedent for future Komnenids.
"What you will do, and soon, is take another wife," Nikolaios said. "A pretty one, a fertile one, one you will have no problem sleeping with every night until you have five, six more sons. If she dies, you'll find another one. Your job in this new joint arrangement will be to command the army in battle, and father sons. You are still the face of the Empire, Demetrios Megos. Clear?"
"The army doesn't back me..." Demetrios stared ahead. "The West..."
"Then we're clear," Nikolaios rose from his chair, and poked his head outside of the tent. "You," he motioned for one of the Cuman guards outside, "take me to lord Asalup."
Nikolaios felt Ioannis fall in step behind him, and it wasn't long before his friend was within whispering range.
"Did you really talk to my father?" Ioannis asked in ancient Greek, as an added security between the two. While some of the Cumans might have understood the Greek spoken in Konstantinopolis, they assumed none would be able to understand the dialect that was spoken by Plato.
"No," Nikolaios answered, gazing at the tents all about them. The signs indeed were all there - the horsemen were grooming their steeds, packs were neatly set about, partly filled and ready to go at a moments notice. Asalup intended to move out, and with speed. "My father will not check when we return to Konstantinopolis, not until it is too late. I'm counting on you to get him to come to my side."
"He's commented before that sometimes the Basilieus is dangerous," Ioannis replied, "and he likes you, Nik. I don't think it will be much trouble at all."
"Good... our heads rest on it," Nikolaios said.
"Are you still going to say the bit about the 'legions of the West' coming to our aid?" Ioannis hissed quietly. Nikolaios had explained his plans for Asalup as well - the threat of the West was the first fallback plan. "You know there are no..."
"Asalup does not know that, but he does know I am the nephew of the Western Emperor," Nikolaios whispered wickedly. "He also knows the longer he is in the field here opposing my army, the more Kutan can rebuild his powerbase amongst all the Khans, as well as rebuild the army my father conveniently shattered. Asalup wants to leave the field more than we do."
"Its the Seljuk War in reverse?" Ioannis asked.
"Exactly," Nikolaios smiled grimly just before they entered the gilt tent of the Khan.
========================================= ======================================
From Oxford History of the Roman Empire, volume 4 -
On September 22nd, 1109, the Roman Emperor was released by his Cuman captors after his sons famous forced march into the Crimea. Robert Conquest has theorized that the speed and power of the Roman advance, along with the secure Roman line of succession was enough to persuade the Cuman leader, Asalup, to consider negotiating with the Roman leaders. Konstantinopolis promised the Cuman leader 5,000 soldiers for a war against his inept brother - in return, Asalup recognized the Crown Prince's claim to Imeretia, as well as granted the Roman Empire the province of Lukomerie, in the north of the Crimea.
Humbled by the experience of capture and to secure the succession in case a disaster happened, the Basilieus on the 21st had called the Metropolitan of Baalbek, his brother Manuel, to perform an impromptu ceremony crowning Nikolaios co-Emperor, co-Augustus of the Roman Empire.
An Emperor in the final ceremony of coronation, being acclaimed and lifted by the army. Nikolaios likely underwent this ceremony as well.
Thus Roman succession was secured, and the position of Caesar relegated to secondary importance. The impressive Roman force then set to sea, Nikolaios arriving several weeks ahead of his father, to prepare yet another triumph - this time for himself. There was no immense parade, but a solemn religious service, as well as games for the populace. By the time Demetrios, formally the senior Emperor, arrived in the city, his son had already assuaged a disillusioned populace that had only heard the Emperor had been captured. Most importantly it appears Nikolaios, through some means or other, kept the dynatoi and nobility on the Imperial line, an amazing feat considering their normal raucous behavior. Everything seemed to be falling into place - yet things would not necessarily be smooth.
While quiet, the dynatoi were scheming as much as ever, and now the Romans faced a renewed Western Empire of sorts, based out of Germany, with a Magyar Emperor and dozens of feudal lords. Venice and her merchants were slowly encroaching on Imperial trading rights, and the Seljuk civil war was still as disturbing. Most importantly, Egypt was in a confused state - partly Roman and partly Norman, with individual cities often backing whichever lord seemed convenient. The time seemed ripe for a clash on one of these many fronts - yet the next Imperial struggle is one that would come in Konstantinopolis, from a usual source.
Roman Empresses always had a significant role in politics, and Jacinta, wife of Nikolaios, was to prove no different...
Jacinta of the Cumans, wife of Nikolaios Komnenos
LMAO at the comment "He should close his eyes and think of Rome"
That was hilarious!============================================================
"Konstantinos Megos had co-Emperors. Diocletian had a Tetrarchy. The office of Emperor has changed much in Roman history, why be surprised that it has changed now?" - attributed to Nikolaios Komnenos on his return after the Cuman campaign.
The meeting between Prince Nikolaios and Khan Asalup of the Cuman Horde
September 20th, 1109
Nikolaios trotted forward into the darkness, towards the pair of waiting horsemen. Behind him, he could hear the subtle half-whinnies of Ioannis' intrigued charger. The Cumans, like most steppe peoples, used mares as mounts, a fact that obviously hadn't simply passed Ioannis' stallion by. It was strange, the Prince thought, that the ancient Egyptians supposedly used mares to throw off the stallions pulling enemy chariots - just as men used women, or other men, as it may be, to throw off their opponents.
Nikolaios winced when the immediate afterthought of Jacinta entered his mind. She was described by other men with adjectives like beautiful, gorgeous, amazing, along with private ones he didn't doubt leaned to the vulgar side of Greek. Part of him thought it was altogether sad he didn't appreciate that rather curvaceous side of her. He could appreciate her quick wit, the willingness and speed with which she learned Greek, and her dedication to him.
And that was the major problem - Nikolaios had a long memory, and from what he'd heard, it bore quite a resemblance to his own mother when she first arrived in Konstantinopolis. While the official word was that the ship carrying her to her exile had sunk during a storm, Nikolaios was not a fool and knew exactly how that story ended.
With her death, plots about the empire, and the nobility waiting in the wings... he thought.
He would not repeat that - but he could not bring himself to sleep with her, despite her constant requests and attempts at seducing him. Her first sentence in Greek had been asking him to come to her tent. He'd had to slowly explain his reply that "military matters" would keep him up all night.
In reality, he'd spent several hours with Ioannis in the woods on the edge of camp.
It'd turned out Ioannis had fully know what he had been doing that night almost a year prior, and the two had carefully hidden a transition from mere friendship to something more. Their actual liasons were infrequent, as the opportunities for it to happen safely were rare in Konstantinopolis (even with the excuse they could use that Ioannis was Nikolaios' bodyguard) or camps filled with thousands of soldiers, but even know Nikolaios was sure that he had a closeness with Ioannis he would never find with Jacinta - or any other woman, for that matter. Nikolaios' marriage had made that aspect of things even tougher, and the ever cautious Nikolaios was becoming more and more concerned about it all.
How could he keep his marriage together, sire heirs, and stay with Ioannis without arousing too much suspicion? It was a conundrum, a very delicate one that could put the Empire and his personal sanity at risk. That night Nikolaios had decided to talk things over with Ioannis.
The grown up Ioannis Thrakesios, Nikolaios' bodyguard and secret lover
It'd be a frank and harsh conversation, in many ways, and Nikolaios walked away with the plan of telling his wife he was impotent, It was patently untrue, but she never knew that, and would likely never know of it, if he had his way. Ioannis had disagreed and called it a foolish thing, and even now Nikolaios could feel the burning eyes of his bodyguard on the back of his neck. The Prince had explained his scheme, and Ioannis had pointed out its flaws - the chief of which being that no matter what Nikolaios did, the Empire needed an heir, otherwise the line of Komnenos would be two Emperors long. Nikolaios explained he wanted a precedent for transition that later Emperors could look on, a building block for a dynasty.
That ruled out leaving his father to sit and rot. The last thing a dynasty needed was the pseudo-legalisation of a mere "march on Konstantinopolis" as the means of dynastic transfer. Yet it was through the simple "eldest son" route that the beast Michael came to the throne. Something else was needed - where not the eldest, but ablest son took over - they happily overlapped in this case, but Nikolaios was sure that wouldn't necessarily exist in the future. He was sure he was the ablest of Demetrios sons, as well as being the eldest, but he needed to supervise the next transfer of power.
Yet he didn't want to sire any children.
His mind had already hit upon a solution to that problem, that involved his father's old habits and needs. The Prince permitted himself a smile as they up to the waiting Asalup himself, and some underling Nikolaios did not know or care to learn more about. The Khan was dressed in his finest chain armor, wolf and bear pelts cushioning his saddle. It was an attempt to look as imposing as possible as the two rode into the camp.
"What are you grinning about?" Asalup asked in broken Greek from next to Nikolaios. The Cuman's eyebrow was raised in suspicion, and Nikolaios could see his eyes quickly scouting the Prince's body, checking to see if Nikolaios was reaching for a hidden dagger or some Roman contraption to cause mayhem or havoc.
"I am merely looking at the array of your soldiers - it is a fine display," Nikolaios lied. All around he saw signs of chaos - soldiers did not have their
horses tethered, scouts were galloping away from the Roman army. Moments later they rode past two Cumans who sported Roman helmets and heavy armor, likely commanders, who were chattering away in their native tongue about moving north soon.
Away from the Romans.
Nikolaios' eyes widened slightly, but he bit his tongue. None of the Cumans knew that he could speak a smattering of their language, nor that he could understand it completely. He processed the information, came to a conclusion, and quickly the plans within his mind changed. He hit upon a new idea, a better idea, which only caused his grin to widen.
Slowly the small cavalcade rode through the Cuman camp, Nikolaios quietly noting all the signs that the Cumans were about to move. They finally reached an especially fine tent, with gold tassels and trim from its flaps. Inside, bearskin rugs laid about, piled thickly to form a comfortable bed. Gold, jewels, and even the Imperial sword were placed inside, and sitting on fine wooden chair in the midst of the finery was Demetrios Komnenos, called Megos, a fine, harsh frown covering his face.
"I leave you and father," Asalup muttered, before adding a few choice things in Cuman, thinking neither could understand. "I hope this goes quickly, as I must move quickly."
Nikolaios nodded, and thanked the Khan for his hospitality, before turning to his father.
"You marched quickly," Demetrios said gruffly. "Maybe there's some of me in you yet." The frown disappeared for a second, replaced by something else Nikolaios couldn't really recognize.
"Father, if you want to survive captivity and return home a conquering hero, you will do as I say," Nikolaios said quietly and confidently when he was sure the Cumans were gone. It felt good to be the one with power in the relationship, and the Prince realized he would have to get used to it.
"Not even a greeting for you father, a question about how I've been treated? If I'm injured?" Demetrios grumbled, shifting in his chair. The frown returned.
"I'm pressed for time, father, and I need you to pay..." the Prince started, but Demetrios glowered and spoke over him.
"Bah, what can you do?" Demetrios started to challenge, but Nikolaios ignored him. The Prince realized he would have to talk over his father possibly to get the points across. So be it.
"...if you want to die here, and have me alone return as a conqueror hero, as well as sole Basilieus, then by all means, ignore my words."
The Emperor fell silent, his mouth slightly agape at the harsh words from his son. Nikolaios used the gap.
"First, you will crown me co-Emperor tomorrow at sunrise."
"What?!" Demetrios was on his feet, eyes ablaze. Just as he started towards the Prince, there was the slight noise of steel on leather - Ioannis' hand rested firmly on his partly drawn sword. The Emperor stopped his murderous advance.
"Why?" he finally spat.
"That will legitimize what I will shortly negotiate to Asalup," Nikolaios replied. "I will offer him Roman aid and support in his upcoming war to overthrow his
brother, if he recognizes my claims to Imeretia, and your claims to the rest of the Crimean peninsula."
"So, for mostly your own -" Demetrios started.
"What you get out of this is yet another successful war of conquest, and a reputation as a man that can negotiate when backed into a corner, things that are invaluable as a leader, for right now you are known as a great general, but not a great statesman. You also get my loyalty and trust - for I shall manage the Empire's foreign policy and economy. You may have as much free rein over the military as you want, for believe me, they will not back you in a civil war with me."
"How do..."
"Isaakios Thrakesios," Nikolaios threw out the name of his father's best friend, "as well as most of the other strategos back the new arrangement. I've gone so far as to ask them."
Demetrios sunk to the floor, bewildered. The Prince forged onward.
"Also, if you had ever paid attention to information, you would have known the changes going on in the West."
"What changes?" Demetrios asked, still stuck on the idea that the army no longer supported him.
"The Pope has crowned a new Western Emperor, a man who is King of the Germans, the Hungarians, the Burgundians and the Italians. You might have heard of him - mine own uncle, Kalman, brother of your late wife," Nikolaios tightened the noose even more. "I am Arpad as much as I am Komnenos, father, and I have no doubt should anything happen to me, the fury of the West will come tumbling down onto your head."
The Arpad Empire in the West. With the exception of the Duke of Bavaria, who feels compelled to resist, the Arpads now hold four royal thrones, and undoubtedly received the Western Imperial throne as well.
Demetrios merely stared into the distance, his mind clearly still comprehending how his son now had him firmly in a bind.
"In case you have missed the signs, Asalup is planning to dethrone his brother Kutan as Khagan - you provided the final push for that when you crushed the hapless Kutan in battle, and lost to the impeccable Asalup," Nikolaios smiled. "He's dispatched scouts to track what remains of his brothers army, and he's already issued orders to his commanders to be prepared to march north soon - things I thought you would've noticed instead of wallowing in self-pity. I'm surprised you didn't try to negotiate that from the start when you were captured. I'm fairly sure thats why Asalup specifically ordered your capture, and not your death."
A modern painting of what Asalup might have looked like.
"He what?" Demetrios asked quietly.
"He had you in your power for quite some time, he could have easily killed you if he wished, but he's kept you alive. He wanted to negotiate this whole time, and you've misread the signs," Nikolaios sighed. "This is why I will manage the Empire's foreign policy - it has clearly slipped past your means."
"And all that is left for me is to sit on a throne, and look imposing?" Demetrios asked weakly after a moment. By his eyes, Nikolaios could tell the Emperor expected far worse. As much as it might be useful, the Crown Prince would not let himself do that - it would set a bad precedent for future Komnenids.
"What you will do, and soon, is take another wife," Nikolaios said. "A pretty one, a fertile one, one you will have no problem sleeping with every night until you have five, six more sons. If she dies, you'll find another one. Your job in this new joint arrangement will be to command the army in battle, and father sons. You are still the face of the Empire, Demetrios Megos. Clear?"
"The army doesn't back me..." Demetrios stared ahead. "The West..."
"Then we're clear," Nikolaios rose from his chair, and poked his head outside of the tent. "You," he motioned for one of the Cuman guards outside, "take me to lord Asalup."
Nikolaios felt Ioannis fall in step behind him, and it wasn't long before his friend was within whispering range.
"Did you really talk to my father?" Ioannis asked in ancient Greek, as an added security between the two. While some of the Cumans might have understood the Greek spoken in Konstantinopolis, they assumed none would be able to understand the dialect that was spoken by Plato.
"No," Nikolaios answered, gazing at the tents all about them. The signs indeed were all there - the horsemen were grooming their steeds, packs were neatly set about, partly filled and ready to go at a moments notice. Asalup intended to move out, and with speed. "My father will not check when we return to Konstantinopolis, not until it is too late. I'm counting on you to get him to come to my side."
"He's commented before that sometimes the Basilieus is dangerous," Ioannis replied, "and he likes you, Nik. I don't think it will be much trouble at all."
"Good... our heads rest on it," Nikolaios said.
"Are you still going to say the bit about the 'legions of the West' coming to our aid?" Ioannis hissed quietly. Nikolaios had explained his plans for Asalup as well - the threat of the West was the first fallback plan. "You know there are no..."
"Asalup does not know that, but he does know I am the nephew of the Western Emperor," Nikolaios whispered wickedly. "He also knows the longer he is in the field here opposing my army, the more Kutan can rebuild his powerbase amongst all the Khans, as well as rebuild the army my father conveniently shattered. Asalup wants to leave the field more than we do."
"Its the Seljuk War in reverse?" Ioannis asked.
"Exactly," Nikolaios smiled grimly just before they entered the gilt tent of the Khan.
========================================= ======================================
From Oxford History of the Roman Empire, volume 4 -
On September 22nd, 1109, the Roman Emperor was released by his Cuman captors after his sons famous forced march into the Crimea. Robert Conquest has theorized that the speed and power of the Roman advance, along with the secure Roman line of succession was enough to persuade the Cuman leader, Asalup, to consider negotiating with the Roman leaders. Konstantinopolis promised the Cuman leader 5,000 soldiers for a war against his inept brother - in return, Asalup recognized the Crown Prince's claim to Imeretia, as well as granted the Roman Empire the province of Lukomerie, in the north of the Crimea.
Humbled by the experience of capture and to secure the succession in case a disaster happened, the Basilieus on the 21st had called the Metropolitan of Baalbek, his brother Manuel, to perform an impromptu ceremony crowning Nikolaios co-Emperor, co-Augustus of the Roman Empire.
An Emperor in the final ceremony of coronation, being acclaimed and lifted by the army. Nikolaios likely underwent this ceremony as well.
Thus Roman succession was secured, and the position of Caesar relegated to secondary importance. The impressive Roman force then set to sea, Nikolaios arriving several weeks ahead of his father, to prepare yet another triumph - this time for himself. There was no immense parade, but a solemn religious service, as well as games for the populace. By the time Demetrios, formally the senior Emperor, arrived in the city, his son had already assuaged a disillusioned populace that had only heard the Emperor had been captured. Most importantly it appears Nikolaios, through some means or other, kept the dynatoi and nobility on the Imperial line, an amazing feat considering their normal raucous behavior. Everything seemed to be falling into place - yet things would not necessarily be smooth.
While quiet, the dynatoi were scheming as much as ever, and now the Romans faced a renewed Western Empire of sorts, based out of Germany, with a Magyar Emperor and dozens of feudal lords. Venice and her merchants were slowly encroaching on Imperial trading rights, and the Seljuk civil war was still as disturbing. Most importantly, Egypt was in a confused state - partly Roman and partly Norman, with individual cities often backing whichever lord seemed convenient. The time seemed ripe for a clash on one of these many fronts - yet the next Imperial struggle is one that would come in Konstantinopolis, from a usual source.
Roman Empresses always had a significant role in politics, and Jacinta, wife of Nikolaios, was to prove no different...
Jacinta of the Cumans, wife of Nikolaios Komnenos
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Nik got his victory, now he needs his father to produce him some heirs. But I wonder if this plan wont backfire. Too many brothers may lead to some serious civil strife in the future. Unless of course the Byzantines go Turkish on us and start assassinating all their brothers.
And it will be interesting to see what conflict starts up, will the Turks return to the field?
And it will be interesting to see what conflict starts up, will the Turks return to the field?