Chapter 28 - Carrion for the Vultures (1177-1179)
Chapter 28 - Carrion for the Vultures (1177-1179)
The knights of Sicily arriving at the shores of Fatimid North Africa
Now free from the yoke of the Armenian Empire, the rebel leaders concluded their alliance, with each lord retreating to their small realms. Believing the storm to be over, Sparapet Vartam would march toward Tannah, hoping to start a reconquest of these lost territories, as most could not muster enough men individually to challenge the remaining Imperial forces.
The Count of Tannah, a Danish noble who was granted lands in Egypt for his participation in the Second Crusade
The battle against the treacherous Dane would be fairly simple, destroy their smaller armies and siege his fortress until he surrenders. Unfortunately for the Regency Council, as the battle against Ernst's forces took place, a few envoys arrived in Cairo, looking to take advantage of the frail and battered Empire.
The first of these came from the Fatimid court in Arabia, announcing their rightful claim to the areas near Cyrenaica and their intent of taking them by force. The Fatimid Caliphate had been on a downward spiral for the past couple of decades, having been the target of the Second Crusade as well as multiple Norman invasions. Despite this, they still remained the strongest realm in North Africa following the decline of the Armenians, and with a recently signed tributary agreement with the Normans in Sicily, there was nothing that could stop the Fatimids from retaking what was theirs.
The Fatimid declare war, February of 1178
Soon after, a few city guards bolted inside the court of Regent Thoros, speaking of a massive uprising by the Egyptian Ismai'lis, more than likely supported by their brethren in the Fatimid Empire.
The Great Ismai'li Uprising, March of 1178
Faced with both an internal and an external threat, Vartam sent word to all the Empire's vassals to raise their armies in defense of the Egyptian lands. This request would be outright ignored or refused by most, claiming that it was not their war to fight, for the Kingdom of Egypt was but a far-flung province that was neither Armenian nor Catholic.
Armenia had been ravaged by the previous civil war, and it would surely fall if another took place, thus the Regency Council could not refuse when a faction within the Empire promised their support in Egypt if the succession laws were to change to Elective Monarchy, wanting to prevent the Empire to pass unto the Norman de Hautevilles, preferring to elect an emperor from within the Empire.
The new succession law is enacted by the council under threat of another civil war
The Armenian armies would experience a short period of success, defeating the Caliphate and the Muslim rebels multiple times, as their poor leadership failed to combine their armies into a large enough force to threaten Sparapet Vartam. This streak of victories can be largely contributed to the aid many of the Catholic realms in the vicinity provided the Armenians, including the Venetian Doge and many of the lords who had recently fought for their independence against the Empire. They must've figured that if the Empire was to fall to the Fatimids, they would surely be next.
The Kingdom of Egypt at the onset of the war
The Battle of Ibyar, April of 1178
The Battle of Qartasa, May of 1178
Battle of Al-Mahallah, June of 1178
The Battle of Banha, July of 1178
Just when victory seemed within the grasp of the Armenians, the suzerain of the Caliphate joined the war on their side, aiding the Mohammedans in the conquest of the Crusader Kingdom of Egypt. Having been recently excommunicated over territorial disputes with the Pope, the de Hauteville monarch saw fit to destroy any legacy the Second Crusade could have by siding with the Muslims, shoving it to the Pope.
The Sicilians join the fray, August of 1178
Hoping to expand his realm at the expense of the Empire, the Atabeg of Trebizond would declare war shortly after, hoping to exploit the lack of armies in the region, as they all had been relocated to Egypt. Despite the relatively small size of his realm, his armies were as numerous as those of the rebels or the Caliphate, further complicating matters for the Empire.
The Atabeg of Trebizond, September of 1178
The Atabeglik of Trebizond, and the target of his conquest in Asia Minor.
Upon hearing of the treacherous Normans alliance with the Fatimids, the Pope sought to stop his advances by requesting the aid of the Holy Orders located within the region, greatly bolstering the armies of Sparapet Vartam, and bringing much needed leadership to the Armenian forces.
The Holy Orders join the war on the side of Armenia
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Regent Thoros sure was desperate. With the Empire having been ravaged by the years of constant warfare within the realm, the influx of gold had all but drained up, emptying the coffers of the Empire. Unable to pay the interest of the loans he had requested from the Jewish merchants, and the Armenian armies growing restless due to the lack of pay, Thoros would have many of the clerical lands and properties seized, hoping their riches could last him for the remaining of the war, after which he'd request absolution from such a heinous crime.
The desecration of the Armenian clergy, December of 1178
As the Norman armies landed in the coasts of Egypt, they would encounter the remaining Armenian forces, who would use their advantageous position to hold the land until the arrival of the Holy Knights, despite their defensive position and numeric advantage, the Normans would break the Armenian ranks, forcing them to retreat to Cairo.
The Battle of Tobruk, February of 1179
The Battle of Tobruk, February of 1179
As soon as Rome heard of the atrocities the clergy was undergoing in Armenia, the Pope retracted his support, excommunicating Sparapet Vartam, Regent Thoros, and the comatose Emperor Leonardo. Denouncing the crimes against the faith their Armenian counterparts had committed, the Holy Knights would depart from Egypt, leaving the Empire to its demise.
The excommunication of the Armenian leaders, March of 1179
The departure of the Holy Orders, March of 1179
As their allies departed from the land, a defeat against the Fatimid-Norman coalition seemed inevitable, forcing the council to capitulate on the loss of Cyrenaica and the surrounding lands.
The Empire signs peace with the Caliphate, April of 1179
With the lands in Egypt now secured, the Armenian forces and what remained of their allies marched North, clashing against the armies of the ambitious Trebizondian Atabaeg, but were soundly defeated at every turn.
The Battle of Satala, August of 1179
Fearing yet another defeat to be inevitable, Regent Thoros prepared to announce their surrender, ceding the lands around Koloneia to the upstart Turk. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately?) for the Empire, this would never came to pass, as the Imperial physicians were left astounded at the recovery of Emperor Leonardo, who had just awoken from his long slumber.
The Emperor awakens, October of 1179