Byzantium

[Languish]

Normal/Normal. EU 1.10 IGC 2.3. Byzantium. Enhanced IGC AI (r3).

I decided to take up Azale's idea of playing as Byzantium. When i first started this i must admit i was a little concerned at the Byzantine starting situation but after a closer examination, and the first 20 years of gameplay things have gone surprisingly well so far...

My aims for this AAR are as follows:

1. Defeat Turkey and utterly wipe them out!
2. Settle the Historic Byzantium Cores
3. Found a New Byzantium (somewhere)
4. Be an Orthodox "Leader"
   [/list=1]
   
   I didnt fancy doing anything as reckless as i did in the Poland-Lithuanian AAR (i.e. converting to an entirely different faith) but i am hoping to have a lot of fun once again

 

[Morpheus506]

Goin' crazy with the AARs, are we? Well, I hope you don't mind me doing AARs on some of the same countries that you have done, I assure you I have had these planned for months (34 AARs planned in all I had to do something when I was banned )

 

[Languish]

Part I. Making a Stand.

Byzantium is in a most interesting situation (Fig.1). Narrowly avoiding absorbtion in the last siege of Byzantium in 1453 they had eeked out an existance by carefully playing one nation off onto the other, forging alliances [Venice, Wallachia, Moldovia, Georgia and Serbia], gradually accumulating wealth [700d in 1492] and being vigorous in matters of the state [Good Tech, CoT and a Fine Arts Academy]. In 1492, at the dawn of a new age, it was ready to at least starting planning do something about the "turkish problem".

Thoroughout 1492 there was a suprising amount shuttle diplomacy at the behest of the Byzantine Nobility. Many of the sons and daughters of the upper echelons of the House Palaelogus were married into the royal/noble families of the various alliance member states to at least guarantee some form of commitment once battle was joined with the turk. Additional improvements in trading efficiency [Trade:2] were a most welcome development.

The careful build up of men was interrupted by the unexpected, and undesired, Venetian declaration of war on the large and distinctly unfriendly austrian alliance during July 1493. This development tied up a great deal of the alliance but was to never worry the city-state of Byzantium even indirectly. In January 1494 Byzantium declared war on the unaligned Turks, and as expected, all honoured the call to defend the honour of the old empire. The first months are considered key to the future prospects of the city and the troops, rallying to the call of emperor, fend off three attack admirably (Fig. 2). The empire is annoyingly forced to take out a loan in early 1496 when accepting peace with one of the combatants in the earlier venetian war. Around the same time, after some desperate to'ing and fro'ing between anatolia and thrace, the province of Anatolia falls to the Byzantine army. Much debate begins about whether to accept the offer of this province when turkey suggest it, but it is quickly refused when it is revelead the turkish army is weak, unorganised and badly demoralised in many places. The end of the Veneto-Austrian conflict in December 1496 only serve to remind the city-state of the freedom it now has to exact stronger terms of agreement with the Turks and battle once again picks up.

Sporadic Turkish resistance, and poorly organised defenses, allow the Byzantines to slowly dominate the conflict. Smyrna (May, 1497), Angora (Dec, 1497), Konya (May, 1498) and Rumelia (Dec, 1498) fall fairly quickly. The Venetians secure peace with the Turk by annexing Hellas (Fig. 3) and freeing the Greeks from Turkish rule. Following on from this development Macedonia (July, 1499), Trabzon (June 1502) and finally Adana (June 1503) fall to Byzantine forces. This leads to a now historic treaty in January 1504 with the Turks allowing Byzantine rule to be restored with the annexation of Smryna, Anatolia and Konya (Fig. 4). Byzantium is no longer a small city-state but in the early stages of a new empire.

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Fig. 1 - - - - - - Fig. 2 - - - - - - Fig. 3 - - - - - - Fig. 4​

 

[Languish]

Originally posted by Morpheus506
Goin' crazy with the AARs, are we? Well, I hope you don't mind me doing AARs on some of the same countries that you have done, I assure you I have had these planned for months (34 AARs planned in all I had to do something when I was banned )

I have had alot of time on my hands this week, what with being off ill... so with the Byzantium AAR you should notice quite a fair slowdown in posting frequency

Because of the nature of the AAR "business" it cannot be helped but to overlap with other peoples AAR past, present and future. The only way to make it special is to be a little different i guess but the key element for me is having fun and sharing that with others

 

[Judge]

Mmm a new AAR. Seems that the Byzantine situation pretty much sums up your position in the Solarium discussion (sorry but I could not resist that remark)

 

[Languish]

Originally posted by Judge
Mmm a new AAR. Seems that the Byzantine situation pretty much sums up your position in the Solarium discussion (sorry but I could not resist that remark)

Thanks for dropping by Judge.

... and yes the comparison is a good one

 

[Languish]

Part II. From the Acorn grows the Oak Tree.

Following on from the turkish defeat the Byzantium state needed to bring its house in order for the expected counter attack in a few years time, the reconstruction of the army, the repayment of the loan and the rebuilding of infrastructure in the recently caputured provinces. The new monarch, Emperor Constantine XIII, had other intentions though. He swiftly monopolised trade in Thrace and employed a brilliant General to prepare his army for invasion not defence.

On March 13 1507 the Byzantines [Venice, Georgia, and Serbia] once again declared war on the Turk. A quick thrust into the Turkish capital of Angora narrowly sees victory for the Byzantines as her allies attack across the weakened Turkish empire. By August 1510 the capital is once again in Byzantine hands. During this occasion it is noted with glee that serbia (Fig. 5) have carved out former Turkish territory for themselves by treaty. A year later in 1511 the loan is paid off and additional reinforcements are ordered. Shortly after the fall of Adana, in 1511, Georgia manage to secure Kerch (Fig. 6) from the increasingly under pressure Turks. The Emperor, wounded in Battle, is replaced by his brother Manuel III who continues his brothers war efforts. His leadership personally sees to the fall of Macedonia in June and of Rumelia placed in siege.

In 1512 the Turks, Under the personal leadership of Selim I, easily destroy (Fig. 7) a larger army of Byzantine soldiers in Albania. It is a shock to the Byzantines, so use to a spate of victories, that they leave the province to bolster the siege of Rumelia. Selim I, wise and victorious in battle, is unfortunately... too stupid to consolidate his success... opting to remain defending the poor and isolated albanian fortress. An exceptional year is followed by the expected conquest of Rumelia and following the fall, a Turkish emissary arrives in Byzantium. His offer is given with great difficulty... Adan, Rumelia and Macedonia are to be handed over to the Byzantium State for direct control and administration. The treaty is signed and war is formerly over. Byzantium has evolved from a city-state to state to empire (Fig. 8) in only twenty or so years.

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Fig. 5 - - - - - - Fig. 6 - - - - - - Fig. 7 - - - - - - Fig. 8​

 

[unmerged(15747)]

yay!!! you took my idea


hope your having fun, and great AAR

 

[Languish]

Originally posted by Azale
yay!!! you took my idea hope your having fun, and great AAR

I have never played Byzantium... and your idea seemed pretty good. Like you said, i am having a lot of fun with it. Thanks for dropping by

 

[Morpheus506]

Heh, the Byzantines are certainly turning back the sands of time...

 

[Judge]

Proper game play Languish

 

[Languish]

Thanks very much chaps

 

[Languish]

Part III. Byzantium, a Great Eastern Power.

The stage was set for the final conquest of the gravely wounded, but far from defeated, Turks. In late 1514 the Venetians finally ended their war with Poland-Lithuania for 48d, and from that year to 1517 the infrastructure [Tax Collectors & Exceptional Year in 1516] in the new provinces was substantially invested in yielding great profits.

It had been noted that the Turks had gone to war with the Mamelukes and were causing real damage in the levant region of the middle east. The Byzantine Alliance was looking like having to fight a re-enlarged Turkish state if they were not careful and preperations were made to do something to prevent this. Fearing such a possibility the Byzantium Empire, somewhat unready, declared war in July 1518. The war however would be a difficult affair initially that would take the entire alliance a decade of tough, bloody and gruelling warfare. In the first two years, despite the promising early fall of both Angora and Dobrudja, the eastern provinces come under serious and unwavering attack. Angora, the scene of capture and counter-capture throughout the war, becomes a battlefield of epic proportions. The Serbians prove to be the saviour of the empire in 1521 taking the capital and gaining Albania for their troubles (Fig. 9). A 400d state gift helps the byzantines build a credible army but it is sent packing by Suleymain himself. However during the battle, in 1523, he sustains heavy and unrecoverable losses.

From 1525 the war decisively turns in favour of the georgians in the north east and the byzantines to the west. Fighting a two front war proves virtually impossible even for Suleymain himself. In June 1525 the war is all but over with the final recapture of Adana, and of the recent turksih gain of Sivas from the Mamelukes. The Georgians finally manage to gain Trabzon from the Turks by Treaty (Fig. 10) as the Byzantines begin an attack on Kaffa across the Black Sea. When this finally falls in early 1528 the Turks are powerless to avoid annexation (Fig. 11).

Maps from the captured capital reveal what, in a few years since the last fall of Angora, how much the Turks had come to know of the world (Fig. 12). Recent portuguese settlements in Brazil... the Indian subcontinent... the entire africain subcontinent... were all revealed to the much surprised soldiers. It would not be long for the Byzantines to take advantage of this new knowledge.

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Fig. 9 - - - - - - Fig. 10 - - - - - - Fig. 11 - - - - - - Fig. 12​

 

[Morpheus506]

Is it just me, or does Poland seem to be getting.... bigger? Again?

 

[Languish]

Originally posted by Morpheus506
Is it just me, or does Poland seem to be getting.... bigger? Again?

... and bloody aggressive too...

 

[Languish]

Part IV. Out of Failure, comes Wisdom.

From 1530 to 1538 the byzantium empire set about developing its recent acquisitions. Kaffa was a constant source of revolt for the nation and troops were regularly deployed there. Throughout this period in time tax collectors were employed usually alongside legal counsels to ensure the money went the right way. Large deflation measures employed in 1533 helped immensely. Some of the collection methods were considered somewhat unjust and a precarious unhappiness prevalled in the lands in 1537 [unhapiness among the peasantry rr+5].

On September 28th in 1538 a long planned invasion of Mameluke territory was undertaken. It was to embroil a very large part of the balkans and of the anatolian hinterland. Massive alliances were activated [Byzantium, Venice, Georgia and Serbia vs. Mamelukes, Persia, Poland-Lithuania and the Hedjaz] and large amounts of troops started moving across the region towards their intended targets (Fig. 13). It was, eventually, to prove an incredibly frustrating conflict for the Byzantines.

It was clear to many that, although large armies had been raised, no proper attack plan was in place. Almost immediately the Byzantines are on a backfoot pressed in the north by the Poles, and in the south by the Mamelukes. It isnt until 1540 that the Poles are defeated in the gulf of Odessa and then pushed back entirely to thier homeland and the Mamelukes can only be contained, a war of expansion against them seemingly impossible. The Serbian acquisition of Aleppo (Fig. 14) lends insult to injury and the byzantines accept a demand of 147d from the Mamelukes to end a disastrous war.

It as at this point that the Byzantines consider punishing the serbians for taking advantage of the war in such a despicable manner. Kaffa is finally recaptured from rebels in 1544 and the trade posts in India are expanded (Fig. 15), although soon reduced by uprising to the original base in Goa. In 1546 the Serbians are banned from the Alliance in preparation for an invasion of these former friends.

In October of that year, before the Serbians can enter any helpful alliance, they are invaded by the Byzantines [Georgia accept, but the Venetians decline]. The war initially proves as hard as expected with the main thrust of the byzantine attack being securing Aleppo before the georgians and of a large containment force in the balkans. During 1547 Bulgaria and Serbia fall and in 1548 this is followed up by victories in Kosovo and Albania. In the latter years of the war the remaining lands are captured and the main serbia army engaged and annihilated. After the fall of Serbian controlled Sivas in June 1551 the serbian empire is forcefully annexed into the Byzantium Empire (Fig. 16) enlargening it significantly.

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Fig. 13 - - - - - - Fig. 14 - - - - - - Fig. 15 - - - - - - Fig. 16​

 

[Lord E]

Nice update Great work taking out Serbia

 

[Languish]

Originally posted by Lord E
Nice update Great work taking out Serbia

They were excellent allies... but a little too greedy for my liking

They did, posthumously, exact their own special revenge in the next couple of installments though...

 

[Languish]

Part V. Every Man and his Dog.

From 1552 to 1557 massive investment is diverted into the former serbian lands to ensure the flow of money is rigorously enforced. Fortifications are raised in the provinces to prevent quick enemy assaults or large rebel uprising. In 1555 byzantine traders manage to secure a monopoly in delhi. Unexpectedly, in 1558, the Mameluke declare war on the Byzantium Empire [France and the Hedjaz join them]. Georgia joins in the war which takes on an unusual and undesired edge with the involvement of a major (and powerful) western european state.

The reason for the mameluke invasion becomes painfully clear with a massive assault on Aleppo (Fig. 17), a province that is historically under their control. Incredibly a small byzantine garrisson manages to hold the invasion off repeatedly for almost two years before finally being expelled. In 1560 the tide is turned and large byzantine armies invade and secure control of syria, judea and samaria. The armies manage to replenish their losses before the climatic assault on the Mameluke homelands of Egypt itself. In late 1561 Egypt itself falls and in 1562 the Delta follows suite. Aggravatingly the Sinai is annexed by Georgia (repeating serbian problems several decades ago) in October 1562. A renewed offensove is carried out by Byzantine forces in the region culminating in the success capture of Alexandria, Cataract and the Nile in 1563. Quattara falls in 1564 and the Mameluke annexed in 1565. The Byzantium Empire is close to the ancient glory of Justinian... painfully close (Fig. 18).

The consequences of two recent and unnoticeable acquisition by the engorged byzantium empire are a declaration of war by every man and his dog as massive alliances simulataneously declare war on the byzantines (Fig. 19). The series of wars, now known as the "Great Deluge", last from 1565 to 1568 and cause some pain to the state but nothing that cant be fixed later. The province of Kaffa is lost to France, Syria to Persia and Cyrenaica to the Hafsids. The traders operating out of Goa are murdered and the post burnt to the ground by the angry Mughal empire. Monies are paid to Crimea and England ending their anger on the byzantines and the last of the "Great Deluge". It has been painful to the state but largely undamaging in the grand scheme of things.

Fortunately after this conflict attention was diverted away from the bloody nose of the byzantines and to endless regional conflicts elsewhere. Massive re-investment was plowed into the middle east in the wake of victory there culminating in the foundation of a new city in Quattara and of Georgia vassalisation attained in 1578. In 1579, with the west india trading post of Goa in ruins and reoccupation by the Venetians, focus was diverted to the unexplored east indian coastline. Yannam and the surrounding provinces were settled with traders and by 1585 the beginnings of a colony were finally founded in the region. The city was called "New Thrace" and it was hoped represented a new future for byzantine interests in the region. in 1587, during lebanons forced conversion to Orthodoxy, Madras also was invested with a Trade Post further securing Byzantine interest in East India (Fig. 20).

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Fig. 17 - - - - - - Fig. 18 - - - - - - Fig. 19 - - - - - - Fig. 20​

Literally every alliance that could declare war on me did... it was shocking and extremely difficult to deal with... but i managed to avoid real damage by paying alot of money to alot of countries... phew!

 

[Languish]

Part VI. Truth and Reconciliation.

The byzantines managed to keep their head down very well for the next few decades concentrating solely on rebuilding their empire and investing where investments needed to be made. In 1590, english west indian settlements (Fig. 21) spawns the creation of a centre of trade in Cochin, which is monopolised by the byzantines only a year later. The colony in Yannam is taken over by natives in 1592 to be regained a decade or so later.

In 1594, after much money spending and diplomatically bartering, the Georgians are diplo-annexed into the empire (Fig. 22). The acquisition fortunately goes un-noticed by the other nations in the region. Extreme measures are undertaken to buy up the relations with neighbouring nations to ensure this state of peace remains this way. By 1600 Georgia had been complety fortified and improved to ensure rebellion and tax collection were handled properly. In 1601 the ally-less wallachians are invited into an alliance that soon sees them vassalised in 1605.

In 1605 the army is able to use logistics in its operations and a small four thousand strong army based in Trivandrum (Southern India) is finally able to march northwards (Fig. 23) to reclaim the Yannam colony that was taken over by native rebels. The quickly restored order to the small settlement and massacre those that took control during the reign of chaos. It is a harsh lesson for those living in the region. In 1610 the rugged coast of Somalia was explored (Fig. 24) and a few years later Sinai was finally invested with a city. Things were quiet, too quiet.

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Fig. 21 - - - - - - Fig. 22 - - - - - - Fig. 23 - - - - - - Fig. 24​