Rebellion and Reunion.
With War coming swift upon Emperor Manual’s core provinces, Konstantinos Diogenes, Marshall of Byzantium, knew one thing. He had to dig his beloved older brother out of the shit-hole he had buried himself in. It would take Marshall Prowess, Intrigue and most of all; Luck, to win a victory over Michael Palaeologus and Edvilas of Zhmud, both skilled tacticians in their own right. What’s more difficult, Konstantinos thought, was going to win a victory over said Rebellious Vassals without any other vassals help. Manual disagreed with his Marshall’s notion that they not call a Grand Mobilization, but due to Manual’s recent mishaps due to not taking his brother’s advice, The Emperor conceded.
Konstantinos knew that calling a grand mobilization would greatly de-stabilize the Empire in the long run, even if it would provide them with the Manpower they needed to win the war. It was difficult, especially so because the combined might of The Prince of Achaea and the Prince of the Aegean was greater that the strength of the Emperor alone without his vassals. But, numbers do not win wars, even if they do give an almost invaluable advantage.
Erdvilas of the Aegean was the one they needed to deal with first. Marshall Konstantinos knew Erdvilas would draw all his armies up to Abydos and launch and assault on the nearest European province, Kaliopolis, one of the core Byzantine provinces. But this quaint fishing province would be the downfall of Erdvilas.
Kaliopolis was poor; you could not field large armies without suffering major Attrition, as this was the rule of war. Konstantinos counted on this. The Marshall of Byzantium moved his Troops to Byzantion, a rich province that could support tens of thousands of Troops. By the time his two Regiments reached the Eternal City, Emperor Manual himself led two more Regiments to reinforce the Jewel of Byzantium.
These combined Armies made a host of approximately 14,000 men, a number not worthy to be a Van-Guard in the Glory days of old, but in this situation, it was a force to be reckoned with. To make it seem less obvious that Konstantinos was trying to abandon Kaliopolis, to his Enemy and to the Public, he left a single Regiment of 2,000 men in the poor fishing village.
Across the Marmara, Romanos of Zhmud, Marshall of the Aegean Isles, was gathering an Invasion force. In Abydos he had gathered nearly 15,000 men, an Impressive force for a single Prince, especially since the Regiment coming from Erdvilas’ Capital province hadn’t even arrived yet. Konstantinos expected Romanos of Zhmud to wait for the final portion of his army, a 1,500 man regiment led by Edvilas himself, to arrive before he attacked. Romanos however, was a genius of Warfare, despite never actually having been trained in the Army.
As such, Romanos of Zhmud was a prodigy in his youth, and was one of the most competent Military leaders in all Byzantium. He was, also, however proud. He attacked early, most likely to spite his Liege for reasons Konstantinos did not know nor did care. He needed a Military Commander able to hold off Romanos of Zhmud for a few more days.
No man would answer Konstantinos’ call. It wasn’t hard to believe they didn’t. No man wishes to lead 2,000 Troops onto the Battlefield against 15,000 enemy Warriors. But the Marshall of Byzantium didn’t have time to play games; he needed a leader willing to put his life on the line. Emperor Manual, although willing, could not. To lose the Emperor during a Rebellion? You may as well tell the Rebels they have won! But no other Commander was willing to take this small band of men to hold off a full fledged Invasion Force.
At last, Konstantinos conceded. It would have to be him to lead this force. Holding off Romanos of Zhmud was vital for his plan to work, even if he, the plan’s maker, needed to die for it to happen. But it was not in Konstantinos’ hands, but in God’s own, or so Isaakios Diogenes thought. Isaakios, another Son of the late Romanos V Diogenes, was not given land like Manual or his brother Zeno had. He, like Konstantinos, was given a place in the court for their valuable abilities. As Konstantinos’ abilities were obviously war and Strategy, Isaakios’ ability was his communion with God. Thus named the Diocese Bishop of Byzantium, a title that Isaakios had held for many years.
Isaakios was also the wisest of all his Brothers. He knew his brother Konstantinos was too valuable to lose on the battlefield. And he also knew that whoever took this mission was going to die… sooner than expected, as he liked to put it. And so it was Isaakios volunteered to lead 2,000 men into a losing battle.
Though sad about his brother’s decision, Konstantinos stayed focused, and set in motion the second part to his plan.
Manual quickly sent out the word, by his Militarily genius brother’s advice, to call Theophilos Bourtzes, Prince of Anatolia and probably the last great and loyal Vassal of Byzantium still loyal to the Emperor, to arms. Without a second thought, Theophilos, an all around amazing man of many talents and traits, readied his Armies. His armies mustered in Dorylaion, and Konstantinos sent a Regiment from the province of Sozopolis to Dorylaion also, which was given under the Prince of Anatolia’s command.
Once the Theophilos’ Army was mobilized (numbering around 5,000) they marched on Kyzikos, an abandoned Aegean province.
The battle of Kaliopolis was bloody, brutal, and possibly the most glorious battle in The Byzantine Civil War. Isaakios’ Troops positioned themselves on the hills overlooking the beach where Romanos of Zhmud and his 15,000-man Invasion Force were to arrive.
Isaakios, though like Romanos and not trained in the Army, was a competent Military Leader. He had not the mind his brother Konstantinos had, but he had help greater than any Sword or any Army. He had God behind him. Some say it must have been God that had intervened, for this battle was certainly unusual, if not radical.
The battle lasted for a full Week. The first day was brutal fighting, and the swords of Byzantium took many Aegean lives, their brother’s lives. Isaakios had placed his men in easily defendable positions, namely the many hills and cliffs overlooking the Beach Romanos of Zhmud landed on with his Invasion force.
At the end of the 7 days, 900 Byzantion Soldiers died, and many more wounded. Yet the victory played its part. 1,500 Aegean’s died in the brutal onslaught. Isaakios’ Regiment fell back to Adrianopolis when it was clear they had lost. After the battle, Romanos of Zhmud besieged Kaliopolis’ meager wooden Castle, ultimately losing more men than necessary, due to the Attrition Konstantinos Diogenes had counted on.
Alas, Isaakios brave display on the battlefield, the morale and vigilance he impressed upon his men during the fight, was his last great deed. The God-Fearing Diogenes was seriously wounded during the battle. A crushed leg, and a shattered right shoulder that held an arm without a hand. He carried these Wounds years after the battle, and finally died due to his injuries, at age 35. Sooner than he expected.
But his injuries, though severe, were not in vain. By the time Romanos of Zhmud was done taking Kaliopolis, Theophilos Prince of Anatolia had already captured Kyzikos, and was marching on the province of Smyrna. Romanos then realized he was caught in a trap. He could not go back to help the abandoned provinces, not with Konstantinos Army of 15,000 staring at him from Byzantion. However, neither could he stay. He had already lost 4,000 men to Attrition in Kaliopolis, and the fact that his Soldiers looted the Land dry did not help.
Then, Romanos of Zhmud made the single most stupid decision of his Military Career. He split his Army. With an Army of 10,000 Aegean Troops left, he sent 4,000 men under his most competent Captain to stop Theophilos from taking Smyrne. It was too late however. Smyrna was already under Byzantine control, and even when Romanos’ detachment got there, they were routed easily, for the Troops of Byzantion were rested and of high morale, unlike the hard marched and hard pressed Aegean Troops.
Under such Circumstances, with Romanos of Zhmud’s army reduced to the size of 6,000, Konstantinos Diogenes decided to put the last part of his plan into Action. He finally moved his Army to attack the dwindling Aegean Army.
The battle was short. Konstantinos quickly overwhelmed Romanos with superior numbers and force, and Romanos’ starving Troops had not the will to Fight as well as the Byzantine Troops. The second battle of Kaliopolis was over, Konstantinos sustained 200 Casualties, while Romanos suffered little more than 500 Deaths before retreating back across the Marmara, into Abydos.
Peace was concluded with Erdvilas of Zhmud, Prince of the Aegean Isles. Manual, thanks to his brother’s advice, had forgiven Erdvilas, and publicly renounced his claims on the lands of the Aegean, and the Vassal was reunited with its former Liege.
During the conflict, the Achaean front was less lively. The regiments of Epieros and Dyrrachion were conscripted to fight Michael of Achaea, and while the Prince of Achaea thought this Army would be attacking from land, assaulting the Rich and Heavily fortified province of Korinthos, the Western Armies of Byzantion sailed into the Ionian Sea, and attacked the province of Methone. Michael Palaeologus drew to the conclusion that without additional Support from Erdvilas, Prince of the Aegean, he was destined to lose the war. Peace was made, and Emperor Manual of Byzantium again renounced his claims on Achaean lands, and made Michael of Achaea a vassal once more.
And so ended the Byzantine Civil War.
For a year’s time, peace was known throughout Byzantium. Save for a quickly put down revolt by the ever-Rebellious Balin Banffy, Count of Constantinia. Manual became more forgiving with his Subjects and Vassals, giving away Titles and Land. But it seemed Fate or perhaps God was determined to keep Byzantium in War. Michael Palaeologus soon renewed his War against Emperor Manual; feeling assured that he could start a tremendous Nationwide Revolt across Byzantium. He was wrong. Manual had gotten on the good side of his Subjects, and they were more loyal to him then they ever had been, save for Michael Prince of Achaea of course.
Konstantinos Sailed across the Aegean Sea with an Army of 6,000 Troops, most from Byzantion and Thrake, and laid Siege upon Korinthos, meeting up with Troops conscripted from Basileios Chrysaphes, Prince of Epirus. Now with a full 9,000 Troops, the fairly medium-sized Castle in Korinthos fell with a Month, and besides a short skirmish with some Achaean Soldier’s, there was no other conflict. Michael again agreed to a peace treaty, once again making Achaea a Vassal under Manual of Byzantium.
Another year of peace graced Byzantium, and in it much was done to restore prosperity. The rebuilding of Constantinople was taking its slow time, but things were getting done. A Library was re-erected there, and it became one of the most important Libraries in the Western World, after the one in Rome and the one in Alexandria of course. A monastery was also built, and many other slight improvements, culminating to make the Late Emperor Romanos V Diogenes dream of a fully restored Constantinople, a reality. Thing’s were not going as well in the Family of Byzantine protectors, the Diogenes. Konstantinos’ wife Milka was having an affair with another man. Konstantinos was a proud man, and as such, had his wife banished from the Court. It was not long before Konstantinos found a new Wife in Venla of Zhmud, Prince Erdvilas of the Aegean Isles’ own Daughter.
But things were not going so well in said realm of the Aegean Isles. Erdvilas of Zhmud, died. His son, Ringaudas of Zhmud, was now the new Prince of the Aegean Isles. A young, rebellious and misguided young man, Ringaudas became discontent with his father’s complacency on the note of being a Byzantine Vassal again. Some say Ringaudas might have killed his own father, for Erdvilas was only 40 year’s of age at his death. Regardless, Ringaudas brooded in his realm, and skillfully started rebuilding its strength.
It was not long before Ringaudas declared War on Emperor Manual. What was left of the Diogenes Dynasty felt their Heart sink into their stomachs. Byzantium has already seen too much War in the late years, especially War’s with their very own Subjects. The Diogenes Son’s fought long and hard to keep Byzantium in one piece, losing wives, body parts and their own Lives.
Of the 6 Sons of Emperor Romanos V Diogenes, 3 remained living. Emperor Manual, Marshall Konstantinos, and Zeno Count of Vidin. The rest died serving Byzantium, Isaakios being the latest one. It seemed it was their curse, their families Curse, to protect Byzantium. It was a difficult Curse to have, Byzantium was unstable, and the Roman Empire it echoes is no longer living, having been replaced with other Empire’s, stronger by far than what remains of the Imperium Romanorum. Yet, every Diogenes, of every generation, will bear this Curse without hesitation or regret. No Diogenes will ever give up on the Empire, and the quest of the father; to Restore The Roman Empire to it’s former might, became the quest of the Entire Diogenes Dynasty, for years to come.
And so, Emperor Manual, Marshall Konstantinos, and all Loyal to them, set out to restore Peace to Byzantium once again.
OOC:
I haven't decided on an AAR reward yet, so when I do I'll post it in the main Forum.
