here it is, here´s my first try at an aar! hope you like it...
In 1419 the Byzantine Empire lies in ruins. Our days of glory are long forgotten, the great roman armies are gone. Fortuna was not with us and so our empires fate lays in the hand of god. But neither the prayers of all the followers of the true faith nor the prayers of the beloved patriarach of Konstantinopel could save us from the impending doom.
On January, 1.we ordered to reestablish a fiscal beaurecracy to our three remaining provinces, while our diplomats tried to create a new alliance to counter the might of the turks. Cyprus was the first country to join this holy cause. New troops were raised in Thrace. No more could be done, before the turks decided to put an end to our empire.
On february, 2. the turks delcared war on us and immediately marched 23000 men to Thrace. The roman army under command of Basileus awaited the enemy on good positions, but... to no avail.
February, 18.: The turkish infantry charged up the hills and routed our infantry. Basileus now saw his only hope in the release of the famous byzatine heavy cavalry on the enemies infantry. But the heavy terrain hindered the charge and the counterattack of the 10000 turkish riders sealed the fate of the roman army. From 7500 inf 2500 inf and from 7500 cav 3500 cav could flee the battlefield, the turks losses were a meager ~800 men!
March, 23.:Basileus retreated his men to Rumelia and started a siege.
April, 1.: The traitors of the orthodox Duchy of Athens declared war on us! Obviously they were intended on taking Morea as their army was seen marching to corinth. In this time of need the emperor decided to call the help of a mercenary, the famous Günther Albrecht, a seasoned solider from the HRE and his battle hardened Landsknechte (4000 inf and 500 cav). Unfortunately the states treasury was already empty and a first loan from the bankers of venice had to be taken.
May 5.: Günther set a trap for Athen´s army... and it was a remarkable victory. From his 5000 men the Duke of Athens lost 2500 men. Günther´s Landsknechte mourn the loss of only 150 men! Now Günther´s men were eager to move into Athens... they already sensed the chance for looting, pillaging and and a large booty once Athens was captured.
June, 7.: Basileus, the Magister Militum of the roman army, suffered another defeat at the hands of 7000 (inf) recruits of the turks, as they moved through Rumelia to Dobrudja. His army, no longer strong enough to siege even the smallest fortifications retreas to bulgaria.
August: Reinforcements from Morea reached Günther´s Landsknechte in Hellas.
September, 27.: A turkish detachment covers the last free province of the byzantine empire, Morea. The small garrison of 2000 men was wiped out.
November, 16.: Basileus, who hided in some obscure and totally unimportant valley in Bulgaria was routed by freshly recruited turkish infantry. Now he´s on the move to macedonia, were another turkish army waits to slaughter the remains....
December, 4.: Basileus who wants clean his name with a glorious victory orders his troops to battle in Macedonia, but fortunately the troops do not follow his commands and retreat to Hellas, where Günther is waiting for them...
In 1419 the Byzantine Empire lies in ruins. Our days of glory are long forgotten, the great roman armies are gone. Fortuna was not with us and so our empires fate lays in the hand of god. But neither the prayers of all the followers of the true faith nor the prayers of the beloved patriarach of Konstantinopel could save us from the impending doom.
On January, 1.we ordered to reestablish a fiscal beaurecracy to our three remaining provinces, while our diplomats tried to create a new alliance to counter the might of the turks. Cyprus was the first country to join this holy cause. New troops were raised in Thrace. No more could be done, before the turks decided to put an end to our empire.
On february, 2. the turks delcared war on us and immediately marched 23000 men to Thrace. The roman army under command of Basileus awaited the enemy on good positions, but... to no avail.
February, 18.: The turkish infantry charged up the hills and routed our infantry. Basileus now saw his only hope in the release of the famous byzatine heavy cavalry on the enemies infantry. But the heavy terrain hindered the charge and the counterattack of the 10000 turkish riders sealed the fate of the roman army. From 7500 inf 2500 inf and from 7500 cav 3500 cav could flee the battlefield, the turks losses were a meager ~800 men!
March, 23.:Basileus retreated his men to Rumelia and started a siege.
April, 1.: The traitors of the orthodox Duchy of Athens declared war on us! Obviously they were intended on taking Morea as their army was seen marching to corinth. In this time of need the emperor decided to call the help of a mercenary, the famous Günther Albrecht, a seasoned solider from the HRE and his battle hardened Landsknechte (4000 inf and 500 cav). Unfortunately the states treasury was already empty and a first loan from the bankers of venice had to be taken.
May 5.: Günther set a trap for Athen´s army... and it was a remarkable victory. From his 5000 men the Duke of Athens lost 2500 men. Günther´s Landsknechte mourn the loss of only 150 men! Now Günther´s men were eager to move into Athens... they already sensed the chance for looting, pillaging and and a large booty once Athens was captured.
June, 7.: Basileus, the Magister Militum of the roman army, suffered another defeat at the hands of 7000 (inf) recruits of the turks, as they moved through Rumelia to Dobrudja. His army, no longer strong enough to siege even the smallest fortifications retreas to bulgaria.
August: Reinforcements from Morea reached Günther´s Landsknechte in Hellas.
September, 27.: A turkish detachment covers the last free province of the byzantine empire, Morea. The small garrison of 2000 men was wiped out.
November, 16.: Basileus, who hided in some obscure and totally unimportant valley in Bulgaria was routed by freshly recruited turkish infantry. Now he´s on the move to macedonia, were another turkish army waits to slaughter the remains....
December, 4.: Basileus who wants clean his name with a glorious victory orders his troops to battle in Macedonia, but fortunately the troops do not follow his commands and retreat to Hellas, where Günther is waiting for them...
