Nice, simple tactics. I just hope you don't end up chasing that little army all over the Danube. That could prove tiresome.
The Palaeologi
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I just noticed you already wrote 33 chapters and you're only in 1073... 
I can't even start calculating how many chapters you will have in 1400...
I can't even start calculating how many chapters you will have in 1400...
Feedback
Don’t bet the farm on it…
Next chapter
– later today.
Don’t know, perhaps because the Byzantines got a tech advantage, or that they have broken so many times their morale is in the basement – either way, I’m happy…Semi-Lobster said:
Don’t bet the farm on it…
Indeed.stnylan said:
For me – this is quick. To have some progress at all, I “normally” do 3 months to each chapter in this AAR story. Those that have read my other AARs, know this is fast-paced indeed. Also, unlike my other AARs, I’m hoping for a more graceful ending this time (a crazy emperor say) as playing until 1453 is out of the question. (NOTE: I’m not planning to end it any time soon!)Murmurandus said:I just noticed you already wrote 33 chapters and you're only in 1073...
I can't even start calculating how many chapters you will have in 1400...
Next chapter
– later today.
Chapter 34: The capture of Constantia
Autumn AD 1073,
Outside Pecheneg controlled Constantia
“Good God, I’m a father again,” Caesar George exclaimed and lowered the letter from his wife.
“Congratulation,” strategos Marapas said. “Boy or girl?”
“Girl,” Caesar George replied tonelessly. “Thera named her Ioanna – after her father I presume.”
“You don’t sound to happy?”
“Don’t get me wrong, general, I will love her too and I’m extremely happy my wife made it through all right, but…”
“But you need another boy – just in case…”
“Exactly.” He threw the letter down on the table and stood up. “I think I’ll drop in on Constantinople – for the christening if nothing else.”
“That’s a good explanation as any,” strategos Marapas laughed.
“Oh!?”
“I know you, George. Don’t get me wrong, but a christening is not the reason for you to go to Constantinople. You couldn’t care less about that really. You only do it to please your wife…amongst other things.”
“Such as?” Caesar George asked in a dangerous voice.
Strategos Marapas lifted his hands in mock-surrender and laughed again. “Relax, George, we been at for a long time now. I’ve learned a long time ago, you use any stage to plot politics – even a baptism. You’ll note down who turn up and who don’t and what kind of excuse they offer for not attending. You will probably even drop in on the Senate to give an – ‘accurate’ account of the war…”
“’Accurate’?” Caesar George mimicked, smiling now.
“You know what I mean!” strategos Marapas cried. “Like the real Caesar you know!”
“Okay,” Caesar George laughed now. “What else?”
“Let’s see. Being brought up to speed on other issues by the imperial chancellery and other officials – and to check them out now that the emperor is in the field. And last, but not least, to have some quality time with your wife – your reputation to the contrary. You miss her terribly.”
Caesar George shook his head in denial. “Very good, general. You really do know me. Let’s hope certain individuals are not as astute in their reading of the situation.”
“That depends on who advise them, no?”
“Right,” Caesar George said and sighed again. “You’ll be in charge here then. I cannot see any problems looming, but you never know.”
“I agree. With the imperial army finally moving north again, I don’t think the Pechenegs have the strength to do much about anything anymore.”
“Agree. Do we know where the imperial army is going?”
“Nope. Either here or perhaps to Belgorod would be my guess. I don’t think we can count on the evicting the besieging party in Peresechen again.”
“Right. Well, I wouldn’t mind getting some help here to speed things up,” Caesar George said, “but not if it means the emperor is coming as well. I want this province.”
“Does it really matter?” strategos Marapas asked. “It will all be yours soon enough anyway.”
“It does matter!” Caesar George said forcefully. “It’s the principle of the thing!” Strategos Marapas looked down, shrugged and let the matter delicately drop.
“A word, Alexios,” Caesar George said to Alexios Komnenus after the christening ceremony, stopping him from leaving. The Varangian guards discretely surrounding the two of them.
Alexios looked at the guards and frowned. “Am I under arrest, George?” he asked apprehensively.
“If it makes you feel any better,” Caesar George replied laughingly. “Don’t worry, old friend, I’ll just want to have a word with you and then you are free to go.”
“Yeah right,” Alexios said coldly. “Why the guards then?”
“Because I’ve tried to have a word with you for months,” Caesar George cried, “and you always wiggle yourself out of it somehow. Not this time – now come along!” They crossed over the square between Haghia Sophia and the Great Palace.
Soon they reached Caesar George’s study. “Sit!” Caesar George ordered pointing at a comfortable chair. He chatted briefly with a servant before sitting down next to Alexios with just a small table between them. Then he waved his guards away leaving the two of them alone. None of them said anything for a long time, until the servant returned with a flagon of wine and two cups. “Leave us,” Caesar George ordered. “I’ll pour myself.” He then proceeded to pour wine into the two cups and handed one to Alexios. “Take it, old friend, I’m not trying to poison you.”
Alexios grimaced, but took it. He sniffed briefly and then sat the cup down on the table. “What do you want…George?” he asked stressing the lack of a title.
Caesar George almost smiled. “I take it you have not…yet – reconciled yourself to the fact I’ll be emperor and you not?”
“Never!” Alexios spat.
“So what I want is your talents,” Caesar George continued smoothly, “which clearly outstrip anyone alive today.”
“Which is why I must be emp…”
“Forget that Alexios,” Caesar George interrupted harshly. “It’s too late. I will be the next emperor, but I refuse to let your talents go to waste.”
Alexios sighed. “Say your piece then. I have an appoi…”
“I want you to be my Belisarius.”
“WHAT!?” Alexios screamed and jumped up from the low chair.
“But unlike Justinian, I intend to reward you handsomely.”
“When did the imperial army show up?” Caesar George asked strategos Marapas one month later when he was back in Constantia. “I’ve hardly been gone a month and when I come back I find we have unexpected guests and Constantia is ours!?”
“A few weeks ago,” strategos Marapas answered. “They came just after you left. They were meant to move on to Belgorod, but I persuaded them to stick around until Constantia was liberated. The commander saw my point almost immediately.”
Caesar George laughed. “I’m sure he did. Well done, general. So they will move to Belgorod now?”
“Yes,” strategos Marapas answered. “The Emperor is there after all – which means we will not be going there?”
“Correct. We need to throw the Pechenegs besieging Peresechen once again – if they are still there?”
“They are!”
“And then move on to either Olvia or Oleshye. Since Oleshye is richer and got a bigger army, we’ll be taking her first.”
“Besides being further away from the emperor.”
“That too.” He stood up. “Give the order to start moving tomorrow.”
“Will do,” strategos Marapas said.
NOTES:
1) Ioanna Palaeologus – was actually born late in the summer, i.e. last chapter, but communications do take time sometimes As for the name Ioanna, if it really is derived from Ioannes, was perfectly acceptable storywise, so nothing was edited.
2) “I want you to be my Belisarius” – Flavius Belisarius (505-565) was probably the greatest general of the Byzantine Empire – but you all knew that, right? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belisarius)
3) the imperial army – showed up in Constantia – sans the emperor – all by themselves. Sometimes it works perfectly…
Autumn AD 1073,
Outside Pecheneg controlled Constantia
“Good God, I’m a father again,” Caesar George exclaimed and lowered the letter from his wife.
“Congratulation,” strategos Marapas said. “Boy or girl?”
“Girl,” Caesar George replied tonelessly. “Thera named her Ioanna – after her father I presume.”
“You don’t sound to happy?”
“Don’t get me wrong, general, I will love her too and I’m extremely happy my wife made it through all right, but…”
“But you need another boy – just in case…”
“Exactly.” He threw the letter down on the table and stood up. “I think I’ll drop in on Constantinople – for the christening if nothing else.”
“That’s a good explanation as any,” strategos Marapas laughed.
“Oh!?”
“I know you, George. Don’t get me wrong, but a christening is not the reason for you to go to Constantinople. You couldn’t care less about that really. You only do it to please your wife…amongst other things.”
“Such as?” Caesar George asked in a dangerous voice.
Strategos Marapas lifted his hands in mock-surrender and laughed again. “Relax, George, we been at for a long time now. I’ve learned a long time ago, you use any stage to plot politics – even a baptism. You’ll note down who turn up and who don’t and what kind of excuse they offer for not attending. You will probably even drop in on the Senate to give an – ‘accurate’ account of the war…”
“’Accurate’?” Caesar George mimicked, smiling now.
“You know what I mean!” strategos Marapas cried. “Like the real Caesar you know!”
“Okay,” Caesar George laughed now. “What else?”
“Let’s see. Being brought up to speed on other issues by the imperial chancellery and other officials – and to check them out now that the emperor is in the field. And last, but not least, to have some quality time with your wife – your reputation to the contrary. You miss her terribly.”
Caesar George shook his head in denial. “Very good, general. You really do know me. Let’s hope certain individuals are not as astute in their reading of the situation.”
“That depends on who advise them, no?”
“Right,” Caesar George said and sighed again. “You’ll be in charge here then. I cannot see any problems looming, but you never know.”
“I agree. With the imperial army finally moving north again, I don’t think the Pechenegs have the strength to do much about anything anymore.”
“Agree. Do we know where the imperial army is going?”
“Nope. Either here or perhaps to Belgorod would be my guess. I don’t think we can count on the evicting the besieging party in Peresechen again.”
“Right. Well, I wouldn’t mind getting some help here to speed things up,” Caesar George said, “but not if it means the emperor is coming as well. I want this province.”
“Does it really matter?” strategos Marapas asked. “It will all be yours soon enough anyway.”
“It does matter!” Caesar George said forcefully. “It’s the principle of the thing!” Strategos Marapas looked down, shrugged and let the matter delicately drop.
* * * * *
“A word, Alexios,” Caesar George said to Alexios Komnenus after the christening ceremony, stopping him from leaving. The Varangian guards discretely surrounding the two of them.
Alexios looked at the guards and frowned. “Am I under arrest, George?” he asked apprehensively.
“If it makes you feel any better,” Caesar George replied laughingly. “Don’t worry, old friend, I’ll just want to have a word with you and then you are free to go.”
“Yeah right,” Alexios said coldly. “Why the guards then?”
“Because I’ve tried to have a word with you for months,” Caesar George cried, “and you always wiggle yourself out of it somehow. Not this time – now come along!” They crossed over the square between Haghia Sophia and the Great Palace.
Soon they reached Caesar George’s study. “Sit!” Caesar George ordered pointing at a comfortable chair. He chatted briefly with a servant before sitting down next to Alexios with just a small table between them. Then he waved his guards away leaving the two of them alone. None of them said anything for a long time, until the servant returned with a flagon of wine and two cups. “Leave us,” Caesar George ordered. “I’ll pour myself.” He then proceeded to pour wine into the two cups and handed one to Alexios. “Take it, old friend, I’m not trying to poison you.”
Alexios grimaced, but took it. He sniffed briefly and then sat the cup down on the table. “What do you want…George?” he asked stressing the lack of a title.
Caesar George almost smiled. “I take it you have not…yet – reconciled yourself to the fact I’ll be emperor and you not?”
“Never!” Alexios spat.
“So what I want is your talents,” Caesar George continued smoothly, “which clearly outstrip anyone alive today.”
“Which is why I must be emp…”
“Forget that Alexios,” Caesar George interrupted harshly. “It’s too late. I will be the next emperor, but I refuse to let your talents go to waste.”
Alexios sighed. “Say your piece then. I have an appoi…”
“I want you to be my Belisarius.”
“WHAT!?” Alexios screamed and jumped up from the low chair.
“But unlike Justinian, I intend to reward you handsomely.”
* * * * *
“When did the imperial army show up?” Caesar George asked strategos Marapas one month later when he was back in Constantia. “I’ve hardly been gone a month and when I come back I find we have unexpected guests and Constantia is ours!?”
“A few weeks ago,” strategos Marapas answered. “They came just after you left. They were meant to move on to Belgorod, but I persuaded them to stick around until Constantia was liberated. The commander saw my point almost immediately.”
Caesar George laughed. “I’m sure he did. Well done, general. So they will move to Belgorod now?”
“Yes,” strategos Marapas answered. “The Emperor is there after all – which means we will not be going there?”
“Correct. We need to throw the Pechenegs besieging Peresechen once again – if they are still there?”
“They are!”
“And then move on to either Olvia or Oleshye. Since Oleshye is richer and got a bigger army, we’ll be taking her first.”
“Besides being further away from the emperor.”
“That too.” He stood up. “Give the order to start moving tomorrow.”
“Will do,” strategos Marapas said.
* * * * *
NOTES:
1) Ioanna Palaeologus – was actually born late in the summer, i.e. last chapter, but communications do take time sometimes
As for the name Ioanna, if it really is derived from Ioannes, was perfectly acceptable storywise, so nothing was edited.2) “I want you to be my Belisarius” – Flavius Belisarius (505-565) was probably the greatest general of the Byzantine Empire – but you all knew that, right? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belisarius)
3) the imperial army – showed up in Constantia – sans the emperor – all by themselves. Sometimes it works perfectly…
I just realised sometging.... I have no idea what those thins on your CoA are! BTW Grea update, it seems George want bygones to be bygones with his old friend
Soo... In story terms, you want Alexios to become your marshall. Which, in game terms, means you want him to give up his title (Prince of Kappadokia, right?) once George becomes emperor. That sounds like a tough bargain. Of course, once you start stomping on the Middle East, your Marshall could easily gain holdings fit for a king...
Do you think you could convince Alexios in-game to give up his title or will you 'influence' him by means of the savegame?
Good update and a nice little refresher link on Belisarius.
Do you think you could convince Alexios in-game to give up his title or will you 'influence' him by means of the savegame?
Good update and a nice little refresher link on Belisarius.
I can see another solution. He is a great commander right? He would get most sieges if he is a duke/prince, so maybe he will just get to be the man in charge during war?
If Alexios is going to Belisarius, Georgias Justinian, Thera Theodora, who, I wonder is going to play the role of Narses? Michael Dukas?
Perhaps if you conquer enough for a kingdom you could let Alexios become merrily independent.
Perhaps if you conquer enough for a kingdom you could let Alexios become merrily independent.
Feedback
Thanks
Besides, history never really repeats itself…
Independent? TRAITOR! (The Empire must be whole and undivided… )
Next chapter
…is finally here – well almost. It should arrive to a computer screen near you soon™.
If you are talking about Peloponnesos’ COA – then I think they are horses or cavalry. If memory serves, I think I’ve read in Constantine VII’s work: De Administrando Imperio that Peloponnesos was famous for its horses.Semi-Lobster said:
ThanksMurmurandus said:
ThanksNikolai said:
Answer, see belowStuyvesant said:
Thanks
Correct.Nikolai said:
Nah, I wouldn’t want to neuter him on top of all his other ‘defects’…stnylan said:
Besides, history never really repeats itself…
Independent? TRAITOR! (The Empire must be whole and undivided… )
Next chapter
…is finally here – well almost. It should arrive to a computer screen near you soon™.
Chapter 35: Dinner party
Winter AD 1073-74,
Outside Oleshye, Tribe of Pecheneg
A guard entered and saluted Caesar George. He looked up from the book he was reading raising one eyebrow in question. “Yes, what is it?”
“An imperial general is here to see you, Caesar. He’s waiting in the conference tent.” The guard handed over a sealed note.
Caesar George took it, opened it and read it quickly. “Find the rest of my staff and have them meet me there. I’ll be over shortly.”
“Yessir.” The guard saluted again and left promptly.
Five minutes later he entered the tent as the last one. His staff stood on one side of the long, rectangle-shaped table and the imperial general with his staff on the other. The temperature in the room was definitely chilly and not only because of the lack of heating. Caesar George marched up to the throne-like chair on the end and sat down. His guards took up position on either side of him, flanking him. “So, general Juraj,” Caesar George said in a slow drawl, “what brings you here to the arse end of the world?”
“Fun!”
“Fun!?” Caesar George repeated disbelievingly and then burst out laughing. “Definitely the wrong place for that. Nothing happens here. Ever! We’re bored out of our skulls waiting for the city to surrender.”
“Exactly,” general Juraj said. “But when it falls, then fun begins for the troops. My army…my boys are sick and tired of this war. You are famous for giving your men a three day long party after an enemy city surrenders. We want in on the fun.”
“Ah,” Caesar George said and smiled. “Now that makes sense. How many?”
“I started out with 3500 or so. Lost a few on the way, of course…” He smiled chilly. “It should speed up the process somewhat even so, don’t you think?”
“Hell yes,” Caesar George said and laughed.
“Do we have a deal?”
“Provided I get the province, I see no problem.”
General Juraj nodded. “So long as the Emperor doesn’t come here personally – and he’s busy in Belgorod last I heard – so I agree. It’s not like I could do anything about it anyway.”
“Excellent.” Caesar George said and stood up. “Strategos Marapas, help him get settled in and start enlarging the camp.”
“Yes, caesar,” strategos Marapas said neutrally.
“And I’ll host a formal dinner tonight for your staff and mine – we need to get…eh… acquainted.” He looked at his general. “Anything else?”
“Don’t leave the men out of it, caesar,” strategos Marapas replied. “Open the stores tonight, and give all the men a reason to celebrate as well. This will be short siege for once.”
“Yes…yes, you’re right of course. See to it will you?”
Strategos Marapas nodded.
“See!” the commander hissed, pointing down on the enemy camp, where a huge army could be seen marching in. “Have you foreseen this too, priest,” he sneered.
“Don’t insult the All-Seeing Tree God, commander,” the priest warned. “It could prove fatal.”
“Don’t give me that drivel, snake,” the commander said coldly. “It’s you who decided who lives or dies – not some illusive god. How many Christians have you sacrificed? A hundred? More? And still they come. Your god is impotent!”
“HOW DARE YOU!” the priest screamed.
“I dare – because we are dead men walking. The only difference between us, is that I get to see the great city of Constantinople before I’m executed, while you as pagan priest, will be executed the moment the city falls. Painfully. I’m told you will be executed the same way you have executed the Christians…”
“Sacrificed!” the priest hissed, his eyes bulging. “They were sacrificed in a holy rite…”
“They,” the commander pointed down on the enemy camp, “don’t see it like that. You have impaled and burned Christians alive – and they will surely do the same to you. If you don’t want that, I suggest you start praying to your god for deliverance, or neither of us we’ll see another summer!”
The priest lifted one finger. “I’m warning you…”
The commander turned around and pushed the priest towards a couple of soldiers. “Escort him to his temple. He’s not allowed out unless a solution presents itself.”
“Don’t touch me!” the priest screamed. “I’m a holy man. I’m the…”
“You are a dirty, old, impotent man – that’s all. Dismissed.” He turned around and stared hopelessly down on the enemy camp. “And so am I,” he muttered.
All through the afternoon he stood looking down on the enemy slowly entering the camp, where a feverish activity to accompanying them all, could be seen. As he watched the enemy, the commander felt his despair rising. The enemy was formidable and there was nothing he could do to stop them.
“God help us all,” he muttered. “Any god,” he added sourly.
“I heard you sent the Pechenegs in Peresechen packing yet again, before coming here?” general Juraj asked and took another swig from the cup. “Third time or something?”
“Our third time, yes,” Caesar George answered. “Officially the fourth battle of Peresechen in this war I believe. We easily sent them packing – only losing a handful in the process – but it’s such a fucking waste of time. The idiots never learn. I bet they are back again.”
“I don’t think so,” general Juraj said and started to laugh. “You see, this time they made a mistake. The province they fled to – Belgorod – just happened to be the one the emperor is in. The result was fairly predictable.”
The room shook with laughter. “Wiped out?” count Adrianos Atrapes of Methone asked eagerly.
“Unfortunately no,” general Juraj replied and drained his cup. He held up for a servant to refill. “They are far too craven to stay around that long, but the emperor did manage to reduce them quite a bit. They will not bother us much longer.”
“Excellent news, general,” Caesar George said. He grabbed his goblet and stood up and all around the table the men followed suit.. “All hail the Emperor!”
“HAIL TO THE EMPEROR!”
They sat down again. “Now then,” Caesar George said and leaned back in his chair. “How is he?” he asked conversationally.
“Good, bad. Hard to tell really,” general Juraj said sadly. “Some days he’s fine – just like the old days…and then he drinks too much and we’re…” He swallowed heavily. “His doctors have ordered him to stop drinking and go on a special diet, but to ask a Serb not to drink…” General Juraj shook his head. “Impossible!” He emptied his cup. “You will be emperor soon…sire!”
NOTES:
1) The All-Seeing Tree God – is of course completely bogus. I have no idea what the Pechenegs worshipped – though I have a faint memory of reading somewhere that they were some sort of Turks actually, so perhaps they weren’t pagans at all, but Muslims?
Anyway, my description of them is loosely (very loosely to be sure) based on how the pagan Prussians were described in a book about military religious orders.
2) Imperial help – turned up uninvited and unexpected – fortunately without the emperor. Caesar George is one lucky bastard…
Winter AD 1073-74,
Outside Oleshye, Tribe of Pecheneg
A guard entered and saluted Caesar George. He looked up from the book he was reading raising one eyebrow in question. “Yes, what is it?”
“An imperial general is here to see you, Caesar. He’s waiting in the conference tent.” The guard handed over a sealed note.
Caesar George took it, opened it and read it quickly. “Find the rest of my staff and have them meet me there. I’ll be over shortly.”
“Yessir.” The guard saluted again and left promptly.
Five minutes later he entered the tent as the last one. His staff stood on one side of the long, rectangle-shaped table and the imperial general with his staff on the other. The temperature in the room was definitely chilly and not only because of the lack of heating. Caesar George marched up to the throne-like chair on the end and sat down. His guards took up position on either side of him, flanking him. “So, general Juraj,” Caesar George said in a slow drawl, “what brings you here to the arse end of the world?”
“Fun!”
“Fun!?” Caesar George repeated disbelievingly and then burst out laughing. “Definitely the wrong place for that. Nothing happens here. Ever! We’re bored out of our skulls waiting for the city to surrender.”
“Exactly,” general Juraj said. “But when it falls, then fun begins for the troops. My army…my boys are sick and tired of this war. You are famous for giving your men a three day long party after an enemy city surrenders. We want in on the fun.”
“Ah,” Caesar George said and smiled. “Now that makes sense. How many?”
“I started out with 3500 or so. Lost a few on the way, of course…” He smiled chilly. “It should speed up the process somewhat even so, don’t you think?”
“Hell yes,” Caesar George said and laughed.
“Do we have a deal?”
“Provided I get the province, I see no problem.”
General Juraj nodded. “So long as the Emperor doesn’t come here personally – and he’s busy in Belgorod last I heard – so I agree. It’s not like I could do anything about it anyway.”
“Excellent.” Caesar George said and stood up. “Strategos Marapas, help him get settled in and start enlarging the camp.”
“Yes, caesar,” strategos Marapas said neutrally.
“And I’ll host a formal dinner tonight for your staff and mine – we need to get…eh… acquainted.” He looked at his general. “Anything else?”
“Don’t leave the men out of it, caesar,” strategos Marapas replied. “Open the stores tonight, and give all the men a reason to celebrate as well. This will be short siege for once.”
“Yes…yes, you’re right of course. See to it will you?”
Strategos Marapas nodded.
* * * * *
“See!” the commander hissed, pointing down on the enemy camp, where a huge army could be seen marching in. “Have you foreseen this too, priest,” he sneered.
“Don’t insult the All-Seeing Tree God, commander,” the priest warned. “It could prove fatal.”
“Don’t give me that drivel, snake,” the commander said coldly. “It’s you who decided who lives or dies – not some illusive god. How many Christians have you sacrificed? A hundred? More? And still they come. Your god is impotent!”
“HOW DARE YOU!” the priest screamed.
“I dare – because we are dead men walking. The only difference between us, is that I get to see the great city of Constantinople before I’m executed, while you as pagan priest, will be executed the moment the city falls. Painfully. I’m told you will be executed the same way you have executed the Christians…”
“Sacrificed!” the priest hissed, his eyes bulging. “They were sacrificed in a holy rite…”
“They,” the commander pointed down on the enemy camp, “don’t see it like that. You have impaled and burned Christians alive – and they will surely do the same to you. If you don’t want that, I suggest you start praying to your god for deliverance, or neither of us we’ll see another summer!”
The priest lifted one finger. “I’m warning you…”
The commander turned around and pushed the priest towards a couple of soldiers. “Escort him to his temple. He’s not allowed out unless a solution presents itself.”
“Don’t touch me!” the priest screamed. “I’m a holy man. I’m the…”
“You are a dirty, old, impotent man – that’s all. Dismissed.” He turned around and stared hopelessly down on the enemy camp. “And so am I,” he muttered.
All through the afternoon he stood looking down on the enemy slowly entering the camp, where a feverish activity to accompanying them all, could be seen. As he watched the enemy, the commander felt his despair rising. The enemy was formidable and there was nothing he could do to stop them.
“God help us all,” he muttered. “Any god,” he added sourly.
* * * * *
“I heard you sent the Pechenegs in Peresechen packing yet again, before coming here?” general Juraj asked and took another swig from the cup. “Third time or something?”
“Our third time, yes,” Caesar George answered. “Officially the fourth battle of Peresechen in this war I believe. We easily sent them packing – only losing a handful in the process – but it’s such a fucking waste of time. The idiots never learn. I bet they are back again.”
“I don’t think so,” general Juraj said and started to laugh. “You see, this time they made a mistake. The province they fled to – Belgorod – just happened to be the one the emperor is in. The result was fairly predictable.”
The room shook with laughter. “Wiped out?” count Adrianos Atrapes of Methone asked eagerly.
“Unfortunately no,” general Juraj replied and drained his cup. He held up for a servant to refill. “They are far too craven to stay around that long, but the emperor did manage to reduce them quite a bit. They will not bother us much longer.”
“Excellent news, general,” Caesar George said. He grabbed his goblet and stood up and all around the table the men followed suit.. “All hail the Emperor!”
“HAIL TO THE EMPEROR!”
They sat down again. “Now then,” Caesar George said and leaned back in his chair. “How is he?” he asked conversationally.
“Good, bad. Hard to tell really,” general Juraj said sadly. “Some days he’s fine – just like the old days…and then he drinks too much and we’re…” He swallowed heavily. “His doctors have ordered him to stop drinking and go on a special diet, but to ask a Serb not to drink…” General Juraj shook his head. “Impossible!” He emptied his cup. “You will be emperor soon…sire!”
* * * * *
NOTES:
1) The All-Seeing Tree God – is of course completely bogus. I have no idea what the Pechenegs worshipped – though I have a faint memory of reading somewhere that they were some sort of Turks actually, so perhaps they weren’t pagans at all, but Muslims?
Anyway, my description of them is loosely (very loosely to be sure) based on how the pagan Prussians were described in a book about military religious orders.
2) Imperial help – turned up uninvited and unexpected – fortunately without the emperor. Caesar George is one lucky bastard…
I don't believe the Pechenegs were Muslims, in fact, if I recall correctly, they were some sort of pagans, so you are probably not too far off with that description. Now if it were the Khazars you were fighting against (who are, sadly, not represented in the game - it would have been quite interesting to see them), they would have been following Judaism. As for the Turkic origin of the Pechenegs, if memory serves me correctly, they moved west before the mass conversion of Turkic people to Islam... another Turkic nation that migrated into Europe includes the Bulgars (although they were latter assimilated by the Slavs they ruled over - similarly to how the Norse were assimilated by the Russians by the XIth century).
thames1) The All-Seeing Tree God[/b said:
I seem to recall there were pagans too, but a turkic people nonetheless. One more bunch of barbarians moving westward off the steppes.
So, Imperial generals (well, at least one) is moving to back a winning horse. Got to be nice and comforting for our boy. Luck, I feel, of the good variety, is a veru useful characterist for emperors and prospective emperors to have. May it only desert him in the time of his greatest need!
So, Imperial generals (well, at least one) is moving to back a winning horse. Got to be nice and comforting for our boy. Luck, I feel, of the good variety, is a veru useful characterist for emperors and prospective emperors to have. May it only desert him in the time of his greatest need!
Midgardmetal said:
I am not quite sure, and truly, one cannot be very sure of the shamanist beliefs shared by the nomadic tribes of the Scythian steppe during that time, but from what I undestand, they believed in one Tengri (sp?), the God of Thunder as the supreme deity of their pantheon. Of course, like in any shamanistic/politheistic cult, the forces of nature are personified.
However, if they did not follow Islam officially, the Pechenegs and Cumans (Kipchaks) had among them many who followed this religion (as were many who followed Christianity (or a form of it, at least) and Judaism (the Khazars had collapsed only few decades earlier)). But you cannot speak of an official religion - there was no state apparatus to support such an institution.
Laur
The history of the Pechenegs is very interesting, they where used as basically a giant mercenary recruitment ground by the Byzantines against the Magyars and Russians but eventually they outlived their usefulness and in 1061 a combined Byzantine and Cuman army crushed them and they fractured into smaller tribes.
Their religion was probably similiar to the Cumans and other Central Asian peoples who where absorbed by the eclectic Mongol hordes who didn't give a crap about religion.
Their religion was probably similiar to the Cumans and other Central Asian peoples who where absorbed by the eclectic Mongol hordes who didn't give a crap about religion.
Good work, and your guy is sooo lucky! Make sure no green eyed people get near him, you never know what could happen.
Zeno of Cyprus said:
I am half egyptian and in there culture they hang blue stones shaped like eyes to keep away envy is this green eye something similar i would like it if someone who knows about could explain it to me please?
Thanks in advance
Well if your "green eyed" it means your extreemly envious and greedyish. Someone who is green eyed may just do something to even it up. Just an old expression that I've heard, not sure of the origin or anything like that. That's just a basic outline of it, I hope someone else will be able to give a better description.
