In Relation to killerdude's question, I raised an army of 100000 by taking lots of bank loans and recruiting mercenary companies. Now please take your seats ladies and gentlemen and enjoy the battle.
The Trumpets Sounded from both sides, The Byzantine Heralds Rode Forth to meet their Turkish counterparts in the ditch. It was really quite pointless. A long planned and anticipated battle was not going to be called off just like that. As the Heralds fruitlessly tried to arrange a truce, Manuel looked out to the west over the rolling plains in hope of seeing General Diogenes and his men. Alas no, only the open lands for miles around.
Suddenly a faint cry issued from the centre of the field. Some sort of Commotion was apparently taking place. Manuel squinted and saw a single horsemen galloping back up the slope. It Seemed somehow Smaller than a usual horsemen. The Horse rode up past Manuel and the front line and then he saw it. The man had been decapitated severely. Manuel recoiled in disgust. And then it began. From the opposing hill, arrows began to fly. The Battle had begun.
The Turkish Cavally Charged, with many men following their lead or advancing around to the sides of the charge. Manuel drew his sword and yelled, "The Hour of Doom is upon us, now ride, Ride for the Empire!!!!" and with that, the Byzantines charged as well, following Manuals lead. The Two forces rumbled down the slopes, kicking up a dust storm as they went. The bloodthirsty war cries of the Turks could now be heard. Both sides reached the centre and struck. The Clash was spectacular. Arrows and spears Whirled, horses crashed and swords clanged, No mercy was shown by either side.
The Byzantine army had the numbers, and the Turks found themselves being flanked upon the sides of the front line. As Manuel fought, the unthinkable happened. An arrow flew forth from out of nowhere and struck his horse in the Side. The Horse Reared and fell backwards, knocking manual to the side, luckily not crushing him. He immediately clambered up and went to draw his sword, but before he could do so he was hammered hard on the back of his helmet by something hard. He did not stumble however, and he whirled around to come face to face with Murad the Second himself, Sultan of the Turks. Murad reared his horse around and came at Manual with a charge. Manual drew his sword and swung at Murad as he passed, barely scraping the edge of his sword. Murad Turned and charged again, but this time, Manual was ready. The horse was almost upon him. Murad raised his sword but before he could strike, Manual Fell backwards as the horse crashed into him. And thrust his sword upwards in the beast’s heart. It screamed a cry of pain and fell clear over Manual, again not crushing him. Murad climbed out of the mess and drew his scimitar. He ran at Manual with a great cry and the two clashed swords and began to fight.
The Battle raged around them as they did. The Turkish where still holding their position, but they could not last for long. For every man that was killed, 3 more would take his place, Numbers where with the Byzantines.
The Two Royals Continued to fight, Swinging Furiously at each other and as their swords clashed, sparks issued forth from them. Manual swung at Murad but as he did, Murad ducked and he fell forward. The Sultan raised his sword above his head and went for the final blow, but Manual kicked and knocked him back. He jumped up; He fought an exhausted Murad backwards, punched him in the face, knocked his sword from his hand and pointed his blade to his neck. Murad froze; Manual simply stared, as if to say "I Am the Victor". Manual was about to strike when He was knocked to the ground for a fourth time by a passing Turk on a horse. Murad quickly clambered onto the back of the horse and then he was gone. Manual Got up and began to Curse. If Only he had not waited, Murad would be dead. He Was Furious with himself. In His anger he went and felled a few nearby Turks who where duelling with Other Byzantines. He had just finished off yet another Turk when a trumpet blew. The Turks where running back up the hill. Thinking that the Turks where defeated, the Byzantine soldiers followed.
During the Time in which Manuel had been Duelling, The Turkish line had been broken and had begun to retreat, However this was Feigned, For the Commanding Turkish General knew that they could win if they had elevation on their side. He made a wall of spears with Troops in the back lines. The Byzantines would there be defeated. Fear Struck Manuals heart. His soldiers would be slaughtered on the slopes by fresh Turkish troops. They would run straight into a wall of spears and what was worse, the Turks had the advantage of Elevation. He recalled that something Similar had happened at the Battle of Hastings in England, almost 400 years ago.
Colonel Basilues Rode Past and Manual cried out to him "Basilues! Tell The Men and the other Commanders Not to run up the hill! Bring them back out of the slope onto our own side of the ditch. There we may wear them down with our Longbow men"
"Yes Sir" Cried Basilues as he rode of on his errand. The Troops began to heed these Commands and withdrew to the other side of the ditch. Manual Had Been sent a new Horse and had ridden back to the top of the Hill. The Air was thick with Arrows and he had to keep a shield up in case one flew at him.
Manual Was Quite pleased with himself. He thought he had saved the day, Saved Constantinople. He looked around to the city for a moment and something caught his eye. Boats! Their where boats in the Straight! Some were still sailing to the shore while others where already unloading their troops upon the shore near the city. Horns blew in the City and men turned to see what was happening, and dismay overtook them. Manual ordered men off to the city to fight at its gates. About 20000 detached to battle the 20000 that would land, leaving 40000 behind. The Turks had about 30000 troops left, and seeing that their reinforcements had arrived, they charged up the hill after the fleeing Byzantines. Manual ordered a wall of spears but he knew that it might not hold.
He was in dismay. His troops where confused and panicking, he now had 2 flanks to fight upon and it was now his 60000 against 50000. Victory was being snatched from his hand as he reached out to grab it. He looked around west in despair, and then he saw them. General Diogenes and his forces. They where already charging towards the Turks in the ditch. The Turks had not noticed them until it was to late and Diogenes was able to crash into them without so much as a sword clang from the Turks. Hope now filled the men. The Turks turned from the hill to fight Diogenes and now Manual ordered his forces to charge back down on the Turks while his archers fired upon them.
The Rest is noted quickly. The Turks at the walls of Byzantium where caught between Manuals forces and the archers on the walls. They either fled back into their boats and where sunk or went to drown in the river. The Turks in The Gully where simply overcome by the two forces and the few that survived fled far over the hills and across to Maybe Bulgaria or Rumelia. The Battle had cost much. 50000 Byzantines and 75000 Turks where dead. The Gully was transformed into a lake of blood. Manual never again saw Col Basilues or many others that he knew quite well. But the victory meant much. The Roman Empire was saved! And it could now take the fight to the Turks.
