Chapter I: 1066-1073
The War of the Three Kingdoms is a popular misnomer for this conflict. It was supposedly called this because three kings were allied against the Muslims in Sicily and Tunisia. In fact, one of the three, Robert de Hauteville, was the DUKE of Apula. Despite this, the title remains thanks to popular history.
Not a king
The Byzantine Empire, once the remaining half of the great Roman Empire, was now nothing more than a shadow of the past. The Muslims had stripped them of much of their land in the Middle East and Africa, despite pleas from the government in Constantinople for help from the west. Seeking aide during his reign, the aging Emperor Konstantinos Dukas turned to two nearby neighbors, Croatia and Apula. The Duchy of Apula, ruled by Orthodox Christians, was happy to go in with the Byzantines in hopes of spreading control over the Mediterranean, though the Kingdom of Croatia was a little less enthusiastic. Kresimir was worried that the Byzantines may attempt to enforce their sovereignty over Croatia again, seeking to expand into the Balkans. He was also worried about relations with the Latin Church in Rome if he were to ally with an Orthodox power.
Croatia, Byzantine, and Apula.
It was indeed a motley group of nations. Even more strange was the combination of leaders. Konstantinos had a fairly good grasp on military matters, but was old and club-footed, making him useless on the battlefield and having to rely on his generals. Robert de Hauteville was by all means a greater tactician than the other two, but also had a mean streak and was not well liked by his inferiors. Petar Kresimir, on the other hand, was a fairly competent commander and had a great asset: his half brother Stjepan, the marshal, who was a competent field commander and knew how to work Petar’s personality to get things done.
Croatia’s capable marshal, and Petar’s younger brother
The War of Three Kingdoms erupted when the small Muslim nations of the Shiekdom of Siracuse and the Shiekdom of Trapani attacked Byzantine fiefs. Konstantinos called on his allies for assistance. The Duchy of Apula aptly accepted and prepared to send troops into the nearby island of Sicily, but Petar was more hesitant. Eventually he was persuaded by his Bishop to take part in the war in the name of God. This holy man was Soimir of Zadar, a bit of a strange priest who knew more about dying for God than he did about praying to Him. Many times during the war his personality would take on an almost violent heir of fanaticism that would foreshadow the madness to overtake him later.
He looks sane now…
Convinced that it was time to spread the word of God to the Italian region, Petar raised an army of 3300 men and prepared them for the Mediterranean trip. They were made up of the King’s Regiment, 1800 men commanded by Petar himself, the Croatian Force, 900 men commanded by Marshal Stjepan, and 600 men from Split that Bishop Soimir had raised after preaching the end of heretics in the region. The boats left the shores of Croatia at the start of June, 1067, and headed towards Sicily. Their goal: Trapani, the most westernmost point of Sicily.
The opening invasions
Landing ashore on July 26, Petar moved inland and met with 473 men under the Muslim general Ayyub. The Muslim army was a poor lot, and were no match for the superior numbers of Petar’s army. The Croatian swordsman first rushed through the small group of archers the Muslims had brought up, then tore through the line of peasants before decimating the rest of the army. All Muslims who fought that day were killed, while Petar lost only 200 troops.
Trapani castle was put to siege, though after the Battle of Trapani the Muslims were in no mood to hold out. A peace treaty was offered from the Skiekdom of Trapani on August 23, which Petar accepted. This put Bishop Soimir into a terrible rage - how could the King of Croatia have accepted peace with infidels who had desecrated Christian land? Petar did have his reasons - the war was costing him, and he did not want to see his treasury eaten up by a prolonged conflict. He also believed in the Byzantine and Apula troops to the west, who would most likely end the war by the time Croatian boats arrived back home.
However, things changed later that week when the Kingdom of Zirid, located in modern-day Tunisia, declared war in defense of the Muslims in Sicily. Bishop Soimir told Petar this was a sign that the infidels were growing bolder, seeing that any offense would get easy appeasement. Petar had to admit that he did not want the entire Mediterranean coast turning against him, and the campaign in eastern Sicily was going horribly. Konstantinos and Robert were incapable of coordinating their armies, and Byzantine and Apula troops were cut up peacemeal as they headed inland. Petar broke camp and had his troops prepare to embark towards the city of Tunis.
Someone decides to join in on the fun…
The Croatian army, now 2951 men, landed on the Tunisian shores and moved towards the city of Tunis. King Murtaza, the leader of Zirid himself, had formed an army of 705 men and was waiting for the Christians to come. The battle opened up on October 7 with a determined Muslim cavalry charge that almost turned the Croatian flank. When all seemed lost, Marshal Stjepan rode out and smashed into the Muslim cavalry, decimating them and sending them sprawling back. Soon the rest of the enemy army gave way, and Murtaza abandoned his army, and later the city of Tunis. It fell on January 18, 1068, after a three month siege.
Told you he was capable
Petar received a messenger telling him that a small - a very small - Apula force had landed west of him and was besieging the city of Bizerte. Knowing the small force would delay the Muslims on his western flank, Petar moved south to Mahdia. No army opposed him, and the city was besieged in March. When it finally fell in May Bishop Soimir took matters into his own hands and ordered his army of fanatics to burn the city to the ground. When Petar received word of this he was furious and sent footmen to control Soimir’s army. Though order was restored the damage was done, with many buildings - and people - put to the torch.
Christ was forgiving so we don’t have to be!
With his remaining army of 2289 men, Petar turned north and marched along the coast until he linked up with the Apula army in Bizerte. When the city fell in July it was a Croatian banner that rose up on the walls of the fortress. The Kingdom of Zirid was now part of Petar’s personal desmense.
Petar had hoped to return home, but he received news that a Muslim army of 234 men from the Shiekdom of Syracuse had invaded Mahdia. Enraged at the incompetence of his allies, Petar sent the rest of his troops home and led his personal army of 1300 men towards the Muslim force. He defeated it on February 23, 1069 and then, wasting little time, set sail for Sicily. The defenders of Syracuse saw the Croatian troops appear off the coast of their city on May 22, and the Croatian banner flew atop Syracuse in mid-August. Petar then prepared to move along the island’s coast when he received word that a large Byzantine army had finally secured the island. The War of the Three Kingdoms was over.
Croatia now held land in Africa and Italy. Profiting more than their allies, Petar had nabbed Tunisia as well as one of the most ancient and profitable cities in Sicily. After financing several building projects, Petar sailed back to Croatia to deal with matters at home.
Sicily and Tunisia after the war. Croatian gains are in blue; Byzantine in purple and Apula in yellow