Enewald: ένα ιερό, according to an online translator. No idea what that actually means though.
IconofEvi: I’m just playing to character. If I take this into V2, high serfdom will really come back to bite me and keep things interesting. Making Ptolemaic a union of both cultures would be a bit overpowered.
Thanks for all of the replies!
The Pharaohs Return: An Alexandrian AAR
Chapter Twenty: Heart of the Beast
The war began with an immediate invasion of Malta, as the Scilian had far too many forces on their island for the Army of Alexandria to attack successfully. The aim was to allow some of the defenders to leave to another front and then strike. Milan led the defending alliance as a closer ally of Sicily than Spain.
Meanwhile Oman took the chance to invade. While a nuisance that would have to be dealt with in future, they could be fought to a standstill easily enough and then ignored.
The plan was a success and the Sicilian fleet was caught as it shipped troops out into the Gulf of Gabes. With the fleet routed sent into hiding in Tunisia the defenders were significantly weaker.
General Choniates led the troops ashore where they were met with a Scilian counterattack. The hills proved vital in securing victory, and the defenders were sent fleeing.
The Far East front initially seemed to be easy for the Alexandrian forces as they marched into northern Malacca with impunity. However, the appearance of a massive Spanish force forced them to retreat and fight defensively for the remainder of the war.
Portugal had served its purpose as a distraction for the invasion of Sicily, and made peace on the condition of giving up its control of Rhodes. Many were upset at treating such a long-standing ally this way, but the hardline Orthodox group that continued to dominate politics saw them as just more heretic Catholics.
Shortly afterwards Sicily surrendered, becoming Orthodox and surrendering Malta. Almost immediately diplomatic envoys arrived on the island to begin repairing relations and turning Scilly into a loyal Orthodox ally.
This victory was just in time, as the Spanish arrived in force shortly afterwards. Their fleet dominated the seas and they landed large armies in Tripoli. Luckily they were distracted by their ongoing war with the North African Muslims but it was only a matter of time before they began marching east.
Another one of the Empire’s eastern neighbours jumped into the fray, but this was a far bigger threat. The massive Indian kingdom of Kandesh sought to free their Hindu brothers in Kutch. (In Miscmods Hindus get Holy War vs any non-Hindu that owns a Hindu province) With the seas locked down by Spain and no land route through Persia there was nothing that could be done for the time being.
The defenders of Kutch were thankfully able to be saved. Rajputana, the largest remaining independent Indian nation, was more than happy to shelter Alexandrian forces if it harassed their rival.
Unfortunately for Spain, it only took a small slip in their naval dominance for the Alexandrian armies to slip away and land in Italy directly. General Choniates began carving a path of carnage straight towards Milan, which was occupied in a war with Austria-Byzantium.
With this threat looming at their back Milan offered a ceasefire so they could focus everything on the more immediate threat to them. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the Empire, as it was the verge of a decisive battle against Spain in Libya. Thirty thousand Spaniards, with another twenty in reserve, were marching on Alexandria itself and Kallinikos had personally gathered up twenty thousand men in a last-ditch attempt to hold them off. The showdown was averted, but it revealed that for all the bluster of the Spain still held the upper hand. More troops, more ships and more power would be needed to win out.
As soon as the armies were in order, the next phase of the plan could begin. Naples was cowed into submission by threats of invasion like Sicily and gave up military access, but as soon as they learned what the Alexandrians were planning they immediately tried to expel them. It was too late though. Rome would fall. The heart of Catholicism was now laid bare.
Spain was in the middle of some form of succession crisis and was unable to join the war, so the situation was far more favourable. General Choniates easily crushed the Papal and Neapolitan forces arrayed against him. His supply lines were secured by the new alliance with Sicily which further cemented Orthodox control of the Central Mediterranean.
The Pope could only watch as his city fell to invaders for the first time in centuries. While he outright refused to convert as that would tear Catholicism apart, he was willing to accept some form of subjugation. Clearly he hoped that the nations of Christendom would come to his rescue. Incidentally, outright annexing the city was out of the question as the Pope still had holdings in Sweden that he could retreat to.
Oman attempted an invasion, this time aided by Ethiopia. This time the war in the west was not even as serious, so the logic was even more questionable. Local forces were easily able to handle them.
Elsewhere the religious civil war in England ended with an Anglican victory. The remaining Klatovists left alive immediately began to flee to the newly free Kingdom of Ireland to the west out of fear of further suppression.
Ethiopia was forced to cede some territory to smooth out the borders. Hopefully the humiliation would keep them from attempting another attack. Oman was simply fought to a ceasefire once again.
While Naples fell and was converted, the invasion began to slow down as Burgundy made its appearance on the frontline with significant numbers of ships and men. It was decided that backing down and consolidating was the best choice for the time being. It didn’t matter too much even as they concede to Tuscany, the leader of the alliance. The Pope was an Orthodox puppet. The Empire had a foothold on Italy. Ultimate victory over the heretics was in sight and surely only a matter of time.
The year is now 1583.
To be continued…