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Reclaiming the Empire: A Byzantine AAR

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In my experience, whenever a faction is at 30% or more, there's a chance they will push it. Quite a low chance to happen at 30, but more likely at 40 or so. If the faction is particularly strong, they'll get additional troops as well. I even got a doomstack of 120k in my last game... At least, they suffer attrition.

If a revolt happens, first thing is to quickly gather your troops before they do. With luck, you can strike at smaller groups before they become a threat. My advice is if you can afford to split your forces, use your strongest units (usually retinues) to eliminate their armies while your secondary force sieges the leader's personal holdings. If you can't afford to split your forces, then it'll be up to strategy.

The biggest danger besides the rebels are the neighbor countries. Sometimes, they'll jump on your frontier vassals and unleash a blitz assault before you can end the rebellion. Keep an eye on your frontiers just in case.
 
Mithfir said:
In my experience, whenever a faction is at 30% or more, there's a chance they will push it. Quite a low chance to happen at 30, but more likely at 40 or so. If the faction is particularly strong, they'll get additional troops as well. I even got a doomstack of 120k in my last game... At least, they suffer attrition.

If a revolt happens, first thing is to quickly gather your troops before they do. With luck, you can strike at smaller groups before they become a threat. My advice is if you can afford to split your forces, use your strongest units (usually retinues) to eliminate their armies while your secondary force sieges the leader's personal holdings. If you can't afford to split your forces, then it'll be up to strategy.

The biggest danger besides the rebels are the neighbor countries. Sometimes, they'll jump on your frontier vassals and unleash a blitz assault before you can end the rebellion. Keep an eye on your frontiers just in case.
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Thanks for that, though it seems civil war may not come for a while; all the factions hover just under 30%, but never reach it. The Lower Crown Authority Faction managed 29.7%, but then an older member died and it dropped again. Their are too many old people in the Empire!

The next chapter will not be today. As I was playing it all of a sudden starting lagging, and upon checking, it would seem that my computer is overheating a bit. So it will have to be cleaned of the dust collecting inside it. Hopefully it will be fine after that, and the next chapter will come soon.
 
Chapter 13: Mortality and other Issues





1163 was a pleasant year for the Empire; on the 24th of January, Philippos sponsored a religious icon depicting John the Baptist. Much to the zealous Emperors delight, a few days later he found out his wife was with child, a daughter who was born on the 30th of August that year. She was named Eirene in honour of her aunt Eirene Komnenos. As she grew older, she would be noticed for her quick mind and sharp wit.

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Surely this is God's reward for our devotion to him?


Even the embarrassment of Philippos at the chariot races; where the team he supported, the Blues, lost to the Green Team, was but a small episode of unhappiness during the year.


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Don't be rude to an Emperor known for cruelty


To finish the year, a rebellion was launched in Tripolitania against Philippos younger brother, Prince Archbishop Manuel I of Tripolitania, who was known to desire the throne for himself. Of course, Philippos intervened, and destroyed the rebel army, but not after letting them do a little looting.

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He had it coming


1164 started with a different tune however. On the 28th of January, the namesake of Eirene, Philippos only sister and favourite sibling Duchess Eirene of Armenia Minor, the wife of the Chancellor, died a natural death. Only a few months before, she had seen her eldest son, Bartol Arpad, married to a daughter of Count Iordanes of Cairo, a kinsman of hers.


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The only sibling who liked us


This was followed by the death of Grand Mayor Eirensios of Damietta, a loyal supporter and a close friend of the Emperor. His successor, Grand Mayor Petros, was a celibate cynic, missing a leg and renowned for his laziness. His lack of faith hardly endeared him to the Emperor, nor was he overly fond of the Emperor; however they were both agreed to work with each other, though neither felt he could completely trust the other.


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Celibacy is not helpful in a merchant republic


Philippos despaired at the loss of both his beloved sister Eirene and close friend Eirensios, leading him once again to thoughts of his own mortality.

"I am old, and the people of my childhood are rapidly disappearing. How much longer will I live? Theodora is still just a child, and I cannot bear the thought of her being thrust into my position, alone and without friends."

Philippos began to desire a civil war. If it was to break out, he wanted it now, so he could deal with it and leave a stable Empire for his daughter(at this point, Philippos doubted a son, and even feared it). "Why do they not strike? What are they waiting for?"

Then it hit him. The numerous factions, they did not desire to strike against him. They desired to strike against Theodora. They knew that the Komnenos had never lived long past their 50's, and were hoping that Philippos would continue this tradition, to make it easier for them bring the Empire to it's knees; for their own gain of course.





I'm going to do a little restructuring of the Chapters, by making Theochariste's Story Part I into a normal chapter; so it will be Chapter 11 now. All future parts of Theochariste's Story will be part of the normal chapters. ​
 
Youy speka for rebellions with such a massive empire ! Just wait to see my own problems with greedy Italians :D I wait eagerly your next update
 
Hastings1066 said:
I have been busy lately, but I should have the next chapter up either later today or tomorrow.
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Take your time. It sure is a bigger project than I expected to write an AAR...
 
Sorry for the delay; yesterday I had a headache and took a nap, and thus never got to post the update.


mike the knight said:
Youy speka for rebellions with such a massive empire ! Just wait to see my own problems with greedy Italians :D I wait eagerly your next update
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At least Italian rebels do something; Greek rebels just tie a rope around you and stop you from doing anything! :laugh:

Mithfir said:
Take your time. It sure is a bigger project than I expected to write an AAR...
Click to expand...

Indeed, which is why I'm trying to cover more time in each chapter. Earlier chapters often covered just a few months, but now I'm trying to cover a few years in each chapter, otherwise I'll never finish!:laugh:
 
Chapter 14: Pregnancies and Plots



The Emperor marched down the corridor, surrounded by Varangian Guards. Due to the dislike, and even downright hatred of Philippos by many nobles, the Emperor had old Captain Arnbjorn of the Guards at his side, along with a number of other guards. Philippos had just come from his wife's bedchamber - she was again, pregnant - and was heading back to his own bedchamber.

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"Another blessing on the way. I hope and pray that God blesses me with another girl, and not a son." As odd as it might seem, a male heir seemed like the worst possibility to Philippos. He had doubts of seeing his eldest child Theodora's 16th birthday, and a son would usurp her place in the line of succession; he would certainly not see a son's 16th birthday.

Philippos was determined to live as long as possible; so that Theodora could grow, and be prepared for the long job ahead of her. To prevent any unnatural ends, security had been tightened, and the Guards kept at a constant state of alert. The Emperor however, did not realize the effect this had upon the highly capable Captain Arnbjorn.

Within seconds, Philippos found himself being whisked away into a nearby room by his guards, and noticed that Arnbjorn was not with him. Outside the room, guardsmen inspected their fallen Captain, while other guardsmen shut off the ways in and out of the palace, fearing an assassin. One of the servants was mistaken for such a person and was killed before he could object.

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It is a stressful duty to protect someone like Philippos


It was in vain. Their was no assassin; the stress of the situation had been too much for the aged Captain. The physician for the Guards determined he had died from a malady of the heart. This not also caused concern in many of the guards who feared to be struck down in such a ignoble way, but also in the Emperor. "Arnbjorn was but a few years older... could I not be taken in the same way?"




Theochariste sat in a ugly, beaten chair, cradling her swollen stomach in her arms. She was reading a letter from her father, about court life in the capitol.

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"Poor Arnbjorn. I can still recall my days as freckled child, me and the other children would run round Arnbjorn and he would play with us; he would tie a cloth around his head and try to catch us. He was big and burly, but we knew was he really was; a big teddy bear. Those days the Empire was so calm, it was at peace. Alexios was a good Emperor, and what is more, the father I never truly had. Not like Philippos; weaselly, villainous, cruel Philippos. I try to like him, I truly do, but he makes it difficult; his unnecessary cruelty, and his paranoia. How many nobles has he accused of plotting so far? A hundred? Two hundred? He treats people so distrustfully, and so coldly that they are almost forced to dislike, even hate him. I can see why my husband wishes to decrease the authority of the Emperor. He has too much power, it has gone to his head. That daughter of his though, Theodora, she seems like a nice girl. Not proud at all, very modest. She will do well."

"Ah, and what's this? Another daughter for Philippos and his barbarian wife? I bet his hates that. Theodora's too good, he wants a son to knock her out of the way and accomplish his silly dream of conquering Europe! And then where next? Off into the seas? Silly man."

[URL=http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/MapleLeaf16/media/AnnaKomnenosBorn1164_zps36571ce1.jpg.html][/URL]


"I would so want a daughter though. My husband want's a son of course, but I should like to at least have one daughter. Another woman to talk to, besides my terrible Mother-In-Law and servants.




The year 1160 had been a tumultuous time for Muslims. The civil war in the Uqaylid Emirate, one of the dominant powers in the region; came to an end, the Uqaylids lost Syria to a family by the name of Gauhar Ayin, who also ruled land in Arabia.

With the Muslims in disarray, the Empire easily captured Chaldea in 1165, connecting Trebizond to the Empire once again.

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Legally, Chaldea was dejure part of Trebizond, but the Doux was known for his intense hatred of the Emperor. Instead, the land was granted to Adrianos of Eilat, a noted poet and eccentric.

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This of course offended the Doux of Trebizond; soon information reached the Palace that the Doux was plotting to take the crown of Anatolia for himself. When pressed however, he quickly caved in.

The Doux of Armeniacon was different however. The Doux of Armeniacon despised the idea of a the Greek Emperor simply being replaced by a Greek King, so he decided, that since he was the eldest of the Anatolian dukes, as well as the head of the independence faction, it was only right that he should be King, and began his own plot.




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Map of the Empire 1165​
 
Very close to being able to mend the Great Schism.
 
Certainly you are close but you shoudl take care of the growinf rebellions first !
 
Chapter 15: Blackmail and Bloodshed




In 1165, alarmed by dissident behavior and concerned over his legacy, the Emperor decided to embark on a series of small scale but important wars so as to strengthen his and his daughter's position, and to weaken his enemies.

Recently, Queen Mare 'the Great' of Croatia had died, leaving the throne to her son, Prince Gaspar, who ascended as King Gaspar I. However, his claim had been disputed by Queen Silvija of Hungary, and it seemed likely that Croatia would become joined with the more powerful Hungary.

However Queen Silvija soon had to face succession problems of her own, and soon was engaged in a civil war she could not possibly win.

The Empire declared war on Croatia on the 11th of June, claiming ownership of the province of Attienities, known as Senj by the Croats; it was over by the 19th of November.

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More of Croatia brought into the protective bosom of the Empire


Control of Attienities was given to Count Georgios Basilakios of Zachlumia, a newcomer to the world of Byzantine politics, having been lowborn, and his father a devout Muslim.


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You can deal with the locals


Queen Silivija of Hungary meanwhile found her self now just the Duchess Silvija of Ungvar, and in a very tricky position: she had been imprisoned, cut off from communications with her court, and was unable to find out the coarse of the war with Croatia. It was about to get much worse for her; Philippos and he council decided to move the Imperial forces into Ungvar on the 23rd of December.

Meanwhile Philippos found himself confronted with increasingly hostile vassals; on the 11th of December Philipos received two letters, one from Prince Archbishop Georgios I of Coloneia- a heretic- and another from Count Tachat of Selukia- a descendant of Armenian nobility. Both had discovered the Emperor's plans to assassinate Baron Leon of Castillon, the son and heir of the Duke of Armeniacon. "This has to end; they should fear me, not I fear them!"

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I'm being blackmailed by a dwarf heretic-priest and drunk scholar...


This did not hamper his plans however, and troops marched into Ungvar on the 23rd. "Some may say it is wrong to go to war against fellow Christians while there are plenty of infidels, but they are only Catholic, and any Orthodox who will die will not have died in vain."​




Next chapter should be tomorrow, as long as I do not procrastinate. Sorry for the smaller chapter, it was originally supposed to be larger but I decided to split it into two.
 
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Chapter 16: The Spectre of Death






Battle commenced on the 11th of February at Zagreb, in the Kingdom of Croatia; causing alarm amongst the Croatians. The Imperial army was superior in everyway; but on the 19th, grave news reached the Emperor.

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Only in the turbulent world of Byzantine politics can a lunatic rise from nobody to Doux and Marshal


The oldest general of the Imperial army, Meletios Athrun of Oultrejourdain, died. He had served as a general for Alexios II and had finished his career serving Philippos. His value had been questioned though; he had recommended outrageous plans involving moving the imperial court to Iceland, resurrecting the dead to create an army, and was prone to believing anyone who voiced dissent against one of his opinions was "out to get him". He also sometimes forgot to wear clothing in public. Nevertheless, he was still one of the great generals of the army, though his skill had waned in recent years. His son, Zenobios succeeded him as both Marshal and Doux of Oultrejourdain.

The Battle of Zagreb ended with an Imperial victory on the 24th of February, but when the news reached the court the Emperor cared little. He had fallen ill and taken to bed.

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"I can see the spectre of death before me, oh God, oh, oh, why me, why..."-Philippos


Theodora continued to come to her father for her education, though he could provide little; as he talked, his nose would suddenly explode in a burst of wet waste, desecrating his blankets. He destroyed all of Theodora's pencils in a fit of rage, annoyed by the sound of the pencils scratching on the parchment. Yet he continued, though it was noticed that when she needed help, Theodora went to others for help, and not her frightful father.

The event of Philippos sickness brought memories back of his father's sickness and death eleven years ago. Without consciously realizing it, all those who remembered Alexios II started preparing for Philippos own death.

However, these preparations were premature. Though his illness was a sign of his age, this would not be the illness that killed him. By the 25th of March he was feeling better again, though he had missed both the funerals of Marshal Meletios and also of the court chaplain, Bishop Pyrros of Edessa.

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It's quite the feat to live to such an age in Byzantium


Old Pyrros had been a target of jokesters for some time. First it had been because of him having been born a commoner, and then for his grotesque facial scars, and then finally for his advanced age. A common joke, was that Pyrros scars came from his service under Julius Caesar in the Gallic Wars. He was also known to be very ambitious and dreamt of becoming the Ecumenical Patriarch. Despite this, he had been one of Philippos most trusted and loyal advisors, surprising considering that Philippos mocked Pyrros the most of all; in fact, many of the Bishop's worst bullies believed that sometimes Philippos went to far in his mockery. He was replaced by the Patriarch of Alexandria Ioustinos Enochos, a masterful theologian and a competent diplomat and economist. More importantly, he was absolutely loyal to the Emperor.

On the 9th of May the now ex-Duchess of Ungvar surrendered Usora to the Empire, and was reduced to a member of the unlanded nobility. In an attempt to save face, King Gaspar I send a condescending letter to the Imperial Court, requesting support for increasing the power of the King, stating that the Emperor was a dejure vassal of himself. The letter was thrown aside and soon became an often heard joke at formal dinners.

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Gaspar should be worried that he might end up like Silvija




June of 1166 saw the beginning of the Byzantine-Pisan Dejure War for Brendesion(known as Leece to the Italians), a war that would have a surprising result. In July the capitol of Brendesion was captured, and word was sent back that the Contessa of Leece was nowhere to be found, having presumably fled some time ago. But then a young footman came in with surprising news: the Contessa was waiting outside the Council Chambers and was requesting an audience with 'her sovereign lord'.

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Visconti? I wonder if the Serene Doge has a knight named Michael(or Mike for short) in his court.^


The doors opened, and in strutted a beautiful and richly dressed young woman, with raven black hair and intelligent green eyes; Philippos noticed she moved somewhat clumsily. As he inspected the rest of her body he realized it was because she was carrying a child. A step behind her followed an uneasy looking old man with a beard. "Her father, perhaps?"

"Your Imperial Majesty, I have a proposal to present to you. "




The Emperor, the Countess, and the Council stood around a map of Sicily laid out on a elaborately carved table. The Contessa had proved invaluable, providing detailed information to them; she had also convinced a number of her serfs and her court to defect from the Pisans, leaving the castles scarcely defended. The Emperor had also gone to the bedchambers provided to her multiple times(she had since given birth), but each time had left, as his conscious had taken over, admonishing him over considering infidelity as his own wife lay pregnant (again).

The Imperial forces assaulting Bari were on the move again, heading back to Brendision; the Pisans had moved a mercenary force there in hopes of retaking it.

As they watched the Contessa, or pretended not to, the Spymaster, Patriarch Matthaios of Antioch came in.

"Your Imperial Majesty, may I have a word with you?" he whispered.

Once they were out of earshot from the others, Matthaios broke the news to Philippos. "Our co-conspirator Beatritz d'Ivrea* has managed to sabotage the Baron's carriage, Your Imperial Majesty. He is dead." Philippos mind disparaged him for this murder, reminding him of the 6th Commandant. He quickly pushed this from his mind; after all, he was 'the Apostle' and if he wanted to do God's work some people had to die. What's good for the Empire is good for God.

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Nothing personal, just business




^ This is a reference to mike the knight's AAR, The Pale Serpent: A Visconti AAR .
* I forget what Beatritz actual surname was, and I cannot find where she is now (very suspicious) so I decided to make her into a reference to Mithfir's AAR, Anscarid d'Ivrea, the Free Count of France.



Next chapter will probably be next week, I shall update later.​
 
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hahaha great update ! With a lunatic general and a stunningly beautiful traitor (I wonder if the old man feels man enough at this age :rolleyes:) I am sure that he has a full wing of knights to protect but Iam not sure about their commander :p
 
mike the knight said:
hahaha great update ! With a lunatic general and a stunningly beautiful traitor (I wonder if the old man feels man enough at this age :rolleyes:) I am sure that he has a full wing of knights to protect but Iam not sure about their commander :p
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Well, Philippos does keep getting his wife pregnant, but his religious feelings might prevent him from action.



Next chapter will be on Wednesday; for the year 1170 I'll think we'll have a world update, so you can all see what's happening elsewhere in the world.
 
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