A History of Byzantium
- Thread starter VILenin
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Just for that, no update today.cthulhu said:Yeah, what's the matter with you?I would never let my readers wait this long!
It's taken me some time to get back into the swing of things after Easter weekend but there'll be something soon, I promise. 
VILenin said:Just for that, no update today.
Yeah, seems like you got the same slow-bug that I often get.
Not an update, sorry, but I wanted to let everyone know that the story will be coming back from hiatus in a week or so's time. I'm in the middle of exams right now but once they're out of the way I'll start posting again. So until then...
All caught up! Looking forward to the next chapter! I hope Alexios is able to defeat the Emir.
Let's be patient. He's probably really busy right now. My AAR recently went 3 months without an update because I was too busy to even get on the forums! Maybe VILenin is now in a similar boat. He'll update soon enough. Good things come to those who wait.Vincent Julien said:
crusaderknight said:Good things come to those who wait.
Whoever gave you that crazy idea?
Thanks to everyone for expressing interest in this AAR. Like crusaderknight suggested I've been really busy all summer long but now things have settled down a little and I should be able to spend some time on the forums again.
That's great news, VILenin. Turns out your hiatus was a bit of a break for me so I didn't miss too much while I was on my own. Looking forward to the story getting back up and running.
Looking forward to the story getting back up and running.
Alright, I've got a surprise in the form of an update (it surprised me at any rate) that details the end of the Sicilian campaign and finally gets us to the First Crusade which is, after all, the title of the chapter. Let me apologize in advance for the somewhat poorer quality and ask your indulgence as I get back into the swing of writing.
EDIT: Oh, and I'm working on a campaign map, nothing too fancy but I figure pictures are always appreciated by the confused and befuddled readers.
Let me apologize in advance for the somewhat poorer quality and ask your indulgence as I get back into the swing of writing. EDIT: Oh, and I'm working on a campaign map, nothing too fancy but I figure pictures are always appreciated by the confused and befuddled readers.
Chapter VII (v)
The battle in front of Palermo continued to rage fiercely, with the Saracens slowly pushing back the Byzantine line. The Emperor, with his bodyguard, were situated in the center where the fighting was fiercest, struggling to hold the battle line. The Emir of Palermo was likewise concentrating his attack there, knowing that Alexius was the only thing keeping the Byzantine army on the field. The battle hung in the balance throughout the day until the timely arrival of the Byzantine reinforcements tipped the scales. The Megas Domestikos had landed his troops near Palermo and quickly marched inland in the direction he believed his sovereign to be in. Luck was with him and in the late afternoon he ran headlong into the battle and smashed into the Saracen’s left flank. Tired and now heavily outnumbered the Saracen army broke and scattered in all directions. Content with victory Alexius reigned in his army after only a short pursuit and settled in to finish the siege of Palermo. With most of its defenders either slain or fled the city put up little resistance and surrendered in a matter of days.
The fall of Palermo sealed the fate of the Emirate though the affair had been bloody for both sides. The Byzantines had suffered nearly 4,500 casualties while the Saracens had lost over 5,600. The Emir was now left without an army to fight with and Sicily quickly fragmented into several petty states under local Muslim lords. While Alexius led his army south to capture the great port of Syracuse one of these lords was able to consolidate power in the western half of the island, establishing the Sheikdom of Agrigento. It was shortlived, however. Hearing of the events at Palermo, the Greek citizens of Syracuse were quick to throw off their overlords and opened the city gates to the Byzantine army two weeks into the siege. The capture was quick and bloodless. With Sicily’s two major cities now under his control Alexius moved to mop up the rest of the island. The Sheik of Agrigento, Sabal al-Yahwar, had managed to assemble an army of several thousand but it was mostly poorly trained light infantry conscripted from the peasantry. They fought the Byzantines at Trapani and later Agrigento but were defeated heavily both times. In December of 1089 all major cities and strongholds had been taken and Alexius set sail back to Constantinople, leaving the Megas Domestikos the finish the final pacification.
On his return trip, Alexius could congratulate himself on reasserting Byzantine authority in the Central Mediterranean and restoring Imperial control of the island. One part of Sicily, however, remained outside the Imperial fold. The city of Messina and the land surrounding it in the northeastern corner of the island was currently in the hands of Normans of Apulia. Conquered by Robert the Guiscard some years earlier they were now part of the dominion of his son Roger Borsa; a blemish of the Basileus’ triumph and a reminder of work yet to be done. But that was in the future, in the meantime the citizens cheered their victorious Emperor and praised his rule. Celebrations were held in Constaninople including a week of games in the Hippodrome. The celebrations had scarcely ended when a most unexpected visitor arrived in the city. Knud Knytling, King of Denmark and champion of the Cross, had come with an army to free the Holy Land.
When we last left Italy the peninsula had just begun to settle down from the chaos caused by the struggle between Heinrich, King of the Romans, and Pope Urban II. With this threat dealt with the Pope was able to turn to affairs further abroad and contemplate the state of Christendom. Heinrich’s overweening ambition had brought home to Urban the inherit danger of having too many feudal lords with nothing to do. Invariably they would end up fighting each other or worse try challenging established powers like the Catholic Church. A great endeavor was needed to redirect their energies towards more beneficial ends. It was with this mindset that Urban II decided to resurrect and expand upon the idea of Gregory VII of united action against the heathen states. Rather than a joint Papal-Byzantine venture in Sicily (which at the time the Byzantines were in the process of re-conquering anyway) or Asia Minor Urban envisioned nothing less than a great campaign by all the Princes of Europe that would restore the word of Christ in the Eastern Patriarchates.
While Alexius was fighting the Muslims in Sicily, Urban II held a great council in Clermont where he preached immediate action against the forces of Islam in Egypt and the Levant. Promising that all those who fought for the cross in this holy war would be granted forgiveness for their sins, Urban II was able to quickly whip up a great deal of support among the peasantry and lower nobility. Many people pledged themselves on the spot, promising not to return until they had freed the Holy Land. The First Crusade was born.
The battle in front of Palermo continued to rage fiercely, with the Saracens slowly pushing back the Byzantine line. The Emperor, with his bodyguard, were situated in the center where the fighting was fiercest, struggling to hold the battle line. The Emir of Palermo was likewise concentrating his attack there, knowing that Alexius was the only thing keeping the Byzantine army on the field. The battle hung in the balance throughout the day until the timely arrival of the Byzantine reinforcements tipped the scales. The Megas Domestikos had landed his troops near Palermo and quickly marched inland in the direction he believed his sovereign to be in. Luck was with him and in the late afternoon he ran headlong into the battle and smashed into the Saracen’s left flank. Tired and now heavily outnumbered the Saracen army broke and scattered in all directions. Content with victory Alexius reigned in his army after only a short pursuit and settled in to finish the siege of Palermo. With most of its defenders either slain or fled the city put up little resistance and surrendered in a matter of days.
The fall of Palermo sealed the fate of the Emirate though the affair had been bloody for both sides. The Byzantines had suffered nearly 4,500 casualties while the Saracens had lost over 5,600. The Emir was now left without an army to fight with and Sicily quickly fragmented into several petty states under local Muslim lords. While Alexius led his army south to capture the great port of Syracuse one of these lords was able to consolidate power in the western half of the island, establishing the Sheikdom of Agrigento. It was shortlived, however. Hearing of the events at Palermo, the Greek citizens of Syracuse were quick to throw off their overlords and opened the city gates to the Byzantine army two weeks into the siege. The capture was quick and bloodless. With Sicily’s two major cities now under his control Alexius moved to mop up the rest of the island. The Sheik of Agrigento, Sabal al-Yahwar, had managed to assemble an army of several thousand but it was mostly poorly trained light infantry conscripted from the peasantry. They fought the Byzantines at Trapani and later Agrigento but were defeated heavily both times. In December of 1089 all major cities and strongholds had been taken and Alexius set sail back to Constantinople, leaving the Megas Domestikos the finish the final pacification.
On his return trip, Alexius could congratulate himself on reasserting Byzantine authority in the Central Mediterranean and restoring Imperial control of the island. One part of Sicily, however, remained outside the Imperial fold. The city of Messina and the land surrounding it in the northeastern corner of the island was currently in the hands of Normans of Apulia. Conquered by Robert the Guiscard some years earlier they were now part of the dominion of his son Roger Borsa; a blemish of the Basileus’ triumph and a reminder of work yet to be done. But that was in the future, in the meantime the citizens cheered their victorious Emperor and praised his rule. Celebrations were held in Constaninople including a week of games in the Hippodrome. The celebrations had scarcely ended when a most unexpected visitor arrived in the city. Knud Knytling, King of Denmark and champion of the Cross, had come with an army to free the Holy Land.
When we last left Italy the peninsula had just begun to settle down from the chaos caused by the struggle between Heinrich, King of the Romans, and Pope Urban II. With this threat dealt with the Pope was able to turn to affairs further abroad and contemplate the state of Christendom. Heinrich’s overweening ambition had brought home to Urban the inherit danger of having too many feudal lords with nothing to do. Invariably they would end up fighting each other or worse try challenging established powers like the Catholic Church. A great endeavor was needed to redirect their energies towards more beneficial ends. It was with this mindset that Urban II decided to resurrect and expand upon the idea of Gregory VII of united action against the heathen states. Rather than a joint Papal-Byzantine venture in Sicily (which at the time the Byzantines were in the process of re-conquering anyway) or Asia Minor Urban envisioned nothing less than a great campaign by all the Princes of Europe that would restore the word of Christ in the Eastern Patriarchates.
While Alexius was fighting the Muslims in Sicily, Urban II held a great council in Clermont where he preached immediate action against the forces of Islam in Egypt and the Levant. Promising that all those who fought for the cross in this holy war would be granted forgiveness for their sins, Urban II was able to quickly whip up a great deal of support among the peasantry and lower nobility. Many people pledged themselves on the spot, promising not to return until they had freed the Holy Land. The First Crusade was born.
Oooh, I can hear it. The thunder of thousands upon thousands of European Knights storming across the desert. If I where you, I would try and make it to Jerusalem before the schismatics.
It can't be the real Knud! I guess instead of sending his problems to church, he decided this time to escape them by going on crusade instead.
I enjoyed the bloody battle at Palermo. Will be interesting to see the First Crusade in the context of Alexius' (or VI's) empire.
Uh uh. I foresee a briefly Danish Jerusalem quickly followed by a thoroughly Arab Denmark.