Doomstacks on Horizon, Part I
Might of the Norman armies
The war on Mongols was declared on January 1275. Original plan was to send in personal armies of Adelise and end the war quickly, but before the plan was put into motion, the news from Crimea changed that plan very quickly. A Mongol Horde, over 100 000 soldiers in strength, was spotted in Tmutarakan, just across the Crimean peninsula. That meant that personal armies of Adelise would be totally inadequate for the task. Instead, the Normans begun mobilization of their fleets and armies. Not total mobilization, but selected armies and fleets from vassals all over the Norman holdings.
First sighting of the Doomstack
King of Jerusalem gave about 20 000 soldiers, Kings of Egypt and Nubia also managed to get about 15 000 troops in total. The vassals from around Palermo (Italy and Sicily and Croatia and Africa) gave about 50 000, with personal hosts of Adelise. The Mauretanian and Iberian Kings, Dukes and Doges gave about 30 000 soldiers. Thus was formed the Grand Army of Normans, totalling to about 165 000 soldiers. Making it the biggest army the world had seen since the ancient times.
It also showed the diversity of the Empire. Of course, there were Normans. Most of them were Normans, be it from Sicily, Jerusalem, Egypt of Africa (most properly Normanized), but there was also plenty of Italians, Croats, Levantines, Egyptians, Andalusians, Castilians, Greeks, Mauritanians, Bedouins, even some Catalans and Basques. In total, there was 11 different languages spoken, but most of the soldiers understood a language called the Mediterranean Norman, with French and Scandinavian roots, but taking great influence from the different cultures of Mediterranean and overall, becoming the trade and science language of the whole Mediterranean area.
To transport these troops, a total 2000 ships were used, also a fleet not seen since the ancient times. And in this war, fleets payed the most important role. Since the war was fought on the shores of the Black Sea, and Mongols lacked any meaningful fleets, it gave the Normans a huge advantage in mobility and speed- but only if they remained in coastal provinces...
Invasion of Crimea
In June 1275, most of the fleets had gathered in the area around Crimea. By that time, it was also clear that Mongols had 2 armies operating in the area- the Horde itself, with 100 000 soldiers, and a vanguard, collection of vassal troops from conquered lands, with about 40 000 soldiers.
It was decided to lure them in- to give them a solid target. So, in the beginning of June, all of Adelise’s personal armies landed in Crimea, sieging the province there. The castle of Bakhchisaray, their main target, was heavily defended, with over 3000 defenders. But there was also over 50 000 Normans and now, it was Mongol time to watch in desperation as the attackers, not even bothering with envoys, just assaulted the castle walls. Good on horseback, not so good on solid ground, the Mongols were no match to Normans. Every soldiers defending the castle was killed, so were killed any people who looked like Mongols (and some who didn’t, of course). After the massacre of Bakhchisaray, Normans had an open port and ability to bring troops in at moment’s notice. Two armies were sent back to the ships, while one remained in province, taking the rest of holdings and happily pillaging the province.
News of the enemy on their soil still reached the Kagan- as was intended. And both the Golden Horde vanguard and the main Horde itself begun moving towards the Crimea. Both armies moves slowly, especially the Horde. It was only by August when vanguard had reached the province of Lower Dnieper and started their march to Crimea, expecting to find only 15 000 Normans in province. Horde was still entering the lands of Crimea, being stuck in Tana.
Mongols are slowly advancing
Battle of Dzhankoy
The Mongol vanguard met the Normans in fields outside the city of Dzhankoy. As was predicted, the vanguard was mostly Mongol vassals, consisting of various troops from their conquered nations. Precious little horse archers, the backbone of Mongol forces. Plenty of other troops, though also lacking in proper heavy knights. Led my Mongols, but consisting of mostly Russians and Cumans.
Still, there were 40 000 of them. Enough to be called a huge army in Europe, but in Mongol terms, just a vanguard, expendable troops. Not with the highest morale, or the best skills. Their Mongol generals thought the pure number of the soldiers would be enough, after all, they were outnumbering the Normans almost 3:1. So, the Mongols charged...
... and Normans endured. Until the night put an end to fighting. Both sides took some losses, but neither managed to achieve anything. When Mongols saw the dawn rising, what they saw made their hearts sank. Under the cover of the night, rest of Norman troops had been landed and they had moved quietly to positions few kilometers from Mongol positions. Mongols were surrounded and their hearts sank as they saw the amount of Norman troops.
The battle in the beginning and when suddenly, more Normans arrive
Slowly, the wall of steel started moving towards the Mongols. Sun glinted on the armour and shields of Normans as they marched towards the enemy. Ground was trembling and air was filled with Normans singing Cathar hymns and some recently made-up rude songs about the Mongols. The sight alone was enough to wet the pants of the non-Mongol part of the Mongol army, but when Norman heavy cavalry did what they did best- charge, then the battle was decided.
Norman light cavalrymen charging the famous horse archers
Instead of fighting, Mongols fled, thus exposing their vulnerable backs to Normans, who hunted them down without mercy. By noon, Normans held the field of battle, victorious, while over 30 000 Mongol minions laid dead on the field, with a bit over 10 000 running for their lives.
Battle of Dzhankoy, fought in September of 1275, saw an end to Mongol vanguard- and end of the legend of undefeated Mongols.
The end of the battle
The Mongol Horde
Two armies of Adelise were sent to hunt down the Mongols, who fled to the Lower Dnieper province. Rest of the soldiers were sent back to the ships. In 1st October, the armies managed to reach the surviving vanguard and in a battle of Kyzyl-Yar, surrounded the desperate soldiers and killed them to the last men. The vanguard was beaten.
The armies had quite a specific tasks- after dealing with vanguard, they were to break hell in the province. Take the cities and castles, burn them, burn the villages, force villagers to flee, kill cattle, poison wells. Then retreat back to the Isthmus of Perekop. The armies had very little time, for the Horde was approaching, but they managed to pull it off. Before the Horde arrived, the province was in ruins.
Normans burning Lower Dnieper to the ground
Still, 103 000 of best Mongol soldiers, lead by Kagan himself, were approaching... The greatest battle in all of Europe and Asia was approaching. In this battle, the fate of people in both continents would be decided...
Doomstack, not on horizon anymore