Urgh! My computer was taken in for fixing and I just got it back, so I immediately updated.
It was the 20th of June 1448.
General Giustiniani strolled across the battlements of the city walls around Ankara, weaving his way thought the guards there, and staring out West into the fading sunlight. Somewhere over the horizon lay the Ottoman city of Bursa, the last Turkish possession, which at this moment was under siege from the Armies of Candar, and had been for the past month. The Ottomans where now allied with Byzantium, a remarkable turn of events, against the "Holy" Islamic alliance led by Egypt. 6 months ago in January, Emperor Konstantinos had mobilized the Empires forces after receiving knowledge of Egypt’s plans for war, and declared war itself with a legal case for war, over something stupid like a trade dispute, before Egypt was ready. Konstantinos had marched south and destroyed the fledgling armies of Karaman and had demanded the province of Konya in peace, finally connecting Ankara with the rest of the Empire. Egypt by April had sent and army of 40000 strong north into Dulkadir and marched into Byzantine lands. Konstantinos then led his army with Demetrios, Diogenes and Alex into Ankara, and with the combined forces of his own Western army, a small VERY small force of Ottomans and that of Giustiniani's Eastern army, they defeated the Egyptians in a colossal and bloody battle outside the gates of Ankara. The Battle of Ankara was perhaps even bloodier then the Second battle of Thrace, with all but 3500 Egyptians remaining, and 6000 of the 42000 strong Byzantine army. Both sides where ordered, even by the generally lenient Konstantinos, that no prisoners where to be taken, and the fields turned red with human blood.
Though despite this defeat, Egypt refused to sign peace. A second force had landed in Athens at the same time of the attack on Ankara, and they had laid siege to the city there. By now, new troops had been recruited from Constantinople, and Konstantinos marched to Thessalonica with 3000 men and linked up with the new army of 15000 men, before marching south to Athens to fight of an inferior number of 6000 Egyptians. However, before leaving, the Army of Candar North of Bursa had sent 18000 men into the undefended ottoman province, and where making quick progress in their siege. Fresh forces where trained in Ankara and conscripts moved up from Konya and Giustiniani had roughly 14000 men at his command, most of which where cavalry. His orders where to take this army to the aid of the Ottomans, and drive back the Armies of Candar from Bursa. Ottoman emissaries that had somehow slipped past the siege reported that the enemy was poorly equipped in the way of cavalry, and so even with a smaller army Giustiniani would ride them down like grass on the flat plains, but decided upon something that would forever change the political balance of Anatolia.
Giustiniani did not send his army. Konstantinos had left, and could do nothing about it. It was not in defence against the Egyptians, for their scattered forces where in no threat to Byzantium’s eastern lands. By June, when Konstantinos arrived in Thessalonica, he had received word of Giustiniani's disobedience, and sent him a warning and again told him to attack the Candarians, but still Giustiniani did nothing. Anyway, why should they march to the aid of the Turkish?
Giustiniani had long nurtured a deep hatred for the Turkish, and was profoundly racist, though many people during the Byzantine Renaissance where. The "Evil" Turks, as he saw them, had almost destroyed the empire, and now Konstantinos wanted to reconcile with them! Bah! He thought. They should be punished, not forgiven! Wanted the Turks run out of Byzantium, by force if necessary. Though as completely misguided as Giustiniani was, he genuinely thought that his ideas where for the greater good. However, his twisted sense of good and evil was not what stayed his army.
The Empires reputation was slightly tarnished after its various ventures around south Eastern Europe. The Ottoman "Empire" had remained independent because of its powerful alliance, but also largely because annexing it in war would rather badly damage Byzantium’s reputation. The Way Giustiniani figured, was that if, or rather when Candar captured Bursa, they would annex the Ottoman Empire for Byzantium. Giustiniani would then destroy the Candarian army and capture Bursa, which the Empire had a legal claim upon, and claim it in peace. Egypt would then be defeated shortly afterwards, and Giustiniani would gain a reputation in his growing career of the man who finally overran the Ottoman Empire, even though in fact it would be the Candarians who achieved this. Byzantium would suffer no loss of face, and he was sure Konstantinos would agree with this logic. Three days ago Giustiniani received word, the Emperor had defeated the Egyptians at Athens and was hastily hurrying back to Constantinople and then on to Bursa, but Giustiniani doubted he would get there in time. To safeguard his fame by being to one to capture Bursa, Giustiniani had prepared his army so that they could depart on his word.
Just then, an aid came rushing up the stone steps of the wall, pushing past the soldiers as he ran. He stopped before Giustiniani and blurted aloud.
"General! Our spies have arrived in the city. Bursa has fallen, naught but a day ago. The Emperor is not yet in Constantinople and will not arrive first."
Giustiniani's face lit up.
"Excellent! Give word to my captains. We march and ride for Bursa immediately!"
It was the 20th of June 1448.
General Giustiniani strolled across the battlements of the city walls around Ankara, weaving his way thought the guards there, and staring out West into the fading sunlight. Somewhere over the horizon lay the Ottoman city of Bursa, the last Turkish possession, which at this moment was under siege from the Armies of Candar, and had been for the past month. The Ottomans where now allied with Byzantium, a remarkable turn of events, against the "Holy" Islamic alliance led by Egypt. 6 months ago in January, Emperor Konstantinos had mobilized the Empires forces after receiving knowledge of Egypt’s plans for war, and declared war itself with a legal case for war, over something stupid like a trade dispute, before Egypt was ready. Konstantinos had marched south and destroyed the fledgling armies of Karaman and had demanded the province of Konya in peace, finally connecting Ankara with the rest of the Empire. Egypt by April had sent and army of 40000 strong north into Dulkadir and marched into Byzantine lands. Konstantinos then led his army with Demetrios, Diogenes and Alex into Ankara, and with the combined forces of his own Western army, a small VERY small force of Ottomans and that of Giustiniani's Eastern army, they defeated the Egyptians in a colossal and bloody battle outside the gates of Ankara. The Battle of Ankara was perhaps even bloodier then the Second battle of Thrace, with all but 3500 Egyptians remaining, and 6000 of the 42000 strong Byzantine army. Both sides where ordered, even by the generally lenient Konstantinos, that no prisoners where to be taken, and the fields turned red with human blood.
Though despite this defeat, Egypt refused to sign peace. A second force had landed in Athens at the same time of the attack on Ankara, and they had laid siege to the city there. By now, new troops had been recruited from Constantinople, and Konstantinos marched to Thessalonica with 3000 men and linked up with the new army of 15000 men, before marching south to Athens to fight of an inferior number of 6000 Egyptians. However, before leaving, the Army of Candar North of Bursa had sent 18000 men into the undefended ottoman province, and where making quick progress in their siege. Fresh forces where trained in Ankara and conscripts moved up from Konya and Giustiniani had roughly 14000 men at his command, most of which where cavalry. His orders where to take this army to the aid of the Ottomans, and drive back the Armies of Candar from Bursa. Ottoman emissaries that had somehow slipped past the siege reported that the enemy was poorly equipped in the way of cavalry, and so even with a smaller army Giustiniani would ride them down like grass on the flat plains, but decided upon something that would forever change the political balance of Anatolia.
Giustiniani did not send his army. Konstantinos had left, and could do nothing about it. It was not in defence against the Egyptians, for their scattered forces where in no threat to Byzantium’s eastern lands. By June, when Konstantinos arrived in Thessalonica, he had received word of Giustiniani's disobedience, and sent him a warning and again told him to attack the Candarians, but still Giustiniani did nothing. Anyway, why should they march to the aid of the Turkish?
Giustiniani had long nurtured a deep hatred for the Turkish, and was profoundly racist, though many people during the Byzantine Renaissance where. The "Evil" Turks, as he saw them, had almost destroyed the empire, and now Konstantinos wanted to reconcile with them! Bah! He thought. They should be punished, not forgiven! Wanted the Turks run out of Byzantium, by force if necessary. Though as completely misguided as Giustiniani was, he genuinely thought that his ideas where for the greater good. However, his twisted sense of good and evil was not what stayed his army.
The Empires reputation was slightly tarnished after its various ventures around south Eastern Europe. The Ottoman "Empire" had remained independent because of its powerful alliance, but also largely because annexing it in war would rather badly damage Byzantium’s reputation. The Way Giustiniani figured, was that if, or rather when Candar captured Bursa, they would annex the Ottoman Empire for Byzantium. Giustiniani would then destroy the Candarian army and capture Bursa, which the Empire had a legal claim upon, and claim it in peace. Egypt would then be defeated shortly afterwards, and Giustiniani would gain a reputation in his growing career of the man who finally overran the Ottoman Empire, even though in fact it would be the Candarians who achieved this. Byzantium would suffer no loss of face, and he was sure Konstantinos would agree with this logic. Three days ago Giustiniani received word, the Emperor had defeated the Egyptians at Athens and was hastily hurrying back to Constantinople and then on to Bursa, but Giustiniani doubted he would get there in time. To safeguard his fame by being to one to capture Bursa, Giustiniani had prepared his army so that they could depart on his word.
Just then, an aid came rushing up the stone steps of the wall, pushing past the soldiers as he ran. He stopped before Giustiniani and blurted aloud.
"General! Our spies have arrived in the city. Bursa has fallen, naught but a day ago. The Emperor is not yet in Constantinople and will not arrive first."
Giustiniani's face lit up.
"Excellent! Give word to my captains. We march and ride for Bursa immediately!"
Doesn't sound too good. Will we see a upside-down repeat of the old days?