Crusader Kings
Wrath of Khan
The Byzantine Golden Age continues and the Empire flourishes under the Palaiologoi dynasty. Kyrillos, energetic despite his growing age, works tirelessly for the continued growth of realm. His victory over the rebels in the recent civil war has allowed him to combat the insidious corruption of the Byzantine bureaucracy, a feat that would've been considered impossible a mere century ago. Now some of the Emperor's most ardent opposition laud his reforms and thus when Kyrillos' nephew and adviser, Dionysios Diogenes approaches the court with a plan to introduce new measures to combat tax avoidance, they are met with support from all sides & the Emperor is encouraged to adopt them. Under the Doukas, the Byzantine Empire & its' aristocracy built itself a reputation for decadence and corruption. That prejudice is now long gone, and the Greek nobles are now known across Europe from their honesty and diligence, with this event being a fine example of such.
The Empire is alive with a spirit of glory, and all view the Palaiologoi brothers as the catalysts for this transformation. Attempting to capitalize on this sentiment, Kyrillos announces the reconquest of Aleppo, a war long overdue, to finally bring the great Syrian city back into the fold of the Byzantine Empire.
The Emirate of Aleppo never stood a chance, with Kyrillos using an unnecessary amount of force to swiftly subjugate the small realm.
Since the death of his wife in childbirth, Kyrillos has never remarried, and has now lived most of his life a single man. However as he hosts a rather decadent celebratory feast in the Imperial palace, he catches the eye of a common, lowborn servant. Kyrillos decides that as God has granted victory, after victory, he is surely favored by the almighty Lord. As so he surely wouldn't mind just this one lapse in virtue, especially after such a long period of celibacy?
As Kyrillos busies himself with lovemaking, another Emperor also works diligently, but for an entirely different occupation.
Kyrillos is informed by one of his spies in the East, that the Mongol Khan has beat the Empire of Bukhara in a war and taken the sprawling lands of Kazakh for its' own. Rumors have it that these Horse lords are unbeatable on the battlefield, and are poised to conquer the entire Cuman steppes if they're not checked. Uncaring & perhaps a little overconfident, Kyrillos' responds that "those equestrians are welcomed to them. And if they should wander a little too west, then the might of Rome will send them cowering back to whence they came.,"
However, it does not take long for the Mongol situation to devolve into something far more serious. After returning from a late-night tryst with his lover, Theodora, Kyrillos is met by a messenger, all the way from Azerbaijan. Curious as to why the cowardly Persians would send a messenger before a declaration of war, Kyrillos hears the man out, despite the late hour. However this courier bares not a message of war, but instead a warning. The Mongol Khan, Temujin as he is called by his people, has invaded the Shahdom in a brutal conquest of rape & pillaging, and has taken the northern part of the realm. The Messenger is an articulate man, and well does he describe the horrific & brutal war against the nomadic conquerors, and their bloody-handed Khan. Kyrillos even feels himself tremble, as he describes a field in Itil, stained red by the blood of the Persian army following a battle with the Mongols.
Kyrillos is too prideful of his achievements as Basileus to admit that the Mongols pose a threat to his Empire. However in secret he commands his Marshal to make preparations for an invasion from the Steppes. Meanwhile he begins to grow stressed and paranoid at court, as the rest of the Empire grows more and more dismissive of the Mongol threat.
More and more messages & warnings come in from the East, speaking of more and more Mongol conquests. Eventually Kyrillos learns that the unsaitable horde has won another conquest against the Empire of Bukhara, gaining the lands of Turkestan. The once mighty realm of Bukhara, that has persevered since the 11th century, is now swiftly crumbling under the weight of thousands of hooves.
Finally Kyrillos acknowledges that the Empire must know about this grave threat. The Mongols are coming, and let the world know...
Developments of the War in Iberia continues to flock into the Empire. Abdul-Razzaq, has led the attack into Barcelona & has beaten the 1st Crusader army, and the important is under siege. However, the Crusaders where able to keep hold of the important Pyrenees mountain pass at Rosello, allowing for Crusaders & Frenchmen to cross the mountains and reinforce the defense of Barcelona . In Castille, there is yet to be a decisive battle between the Castillians & the Andalusians, however once again, reinforcements continue to arrive in Asturias & Galicia, from England & France, bolstering the catholic forces.
On the 12th of November, 1219, the court of Constantinople is sadden by the news of Kyrillos' death. Some whisper that it was inevitable, that the Basileus' agitated temperament was not compatible with old age. Still he will be remembered fondly, for living up to the legacy of Alexios II, and in many way surpassing it. A most blessed ruler, and most deserving of his Great title.
His son, Nikephoros Palaiologos inherits the throne as Basileus Nikephoros III. An unassuming character, Nikephoros is not considered to be as prodigious as his father or grandfather. He does not have Alexios' genius in military matters, nor Kyrillos' brilliance in administration - though he did inherit some of his father's skill in this regard. His is untalented in diplomacy, uninterested in theology & ignorant to the fine art of intrigue. However he is not an entirely lesser man than his predecessors. He is robust in build & strong in arms, a desirable trait for a populist ruler, and he carries on the almost hereditary characteristics of the Palaiologoi - an abundance of ambition, and the diligence to do something about it. The last notable essence of this new ruler is his zealous tendencies, unwittingly grown by his father's ceaseless conflicts with the Muslims. Nikephoros desires nothing more than to continue Byzantine expansion into the East, but also plans to turn the Empire's might against the verminous Papists, especially those who occupy the rightful Byzantine lands of the Levant.
Nikephoros is also well versed in the Imperial Bureaucracy, having dutifully served within it under his father's rule. While he has no apparent natural aptitude for stewardship, he can certainly boast substantial experience in it.
Nikephoros' coronation is promptly arranged, a rather temperate ceremony - as is the request of the new Basileus, who would rather place emphasis on the religious aspects of ruling & the greatness of God,instead of opulent & decedent displays of power that his father and grandfather reveled in.
Following the ceremony, there is celebration throughout Constantinople, and it seems that everyone is trying to hound Nikephoros into dancing with them. A lowborn lass is one of the reluctant Emperor's more persistent companions throughout the night, and by the end of the party, Nikephoros suspects that she has more than just dancing in mind...
Nikephoros is a man who considers religious virtues to be of the utmost importance. However, he has never had the greatness relationship with his wife, whom he was forced to marry by his father in order to formalize an alliance with Ethiopia against the Egyptians. Early in their relationship, she refused to abandon her heretical, Coptic beliefs - and while Nikephoros was eventually successful in badgering her to formally convert, with the aide of his father, she never truly embraced Orthodoxy - a matter of conflict in the marriage, with her openly zealous husband. This Athanasia, however, as well as being a women of beauty, is also a women of faith and she is able to impress the Basileus with her theological knowledge - especially since he in lacking in such, despite his borderline fanatical devotion. He accepts her invitation to return to her, somewhat humble, abode...
In Iberia, the 2nd Crusader Army has failed to relieve the siege of Barcelona & has been dealt a crushing defeat by Abdul-Razzaq - proving the Sultan's military brilliance. However things are turning for the worse in Castille, where the Sultan is not present & the Andalusians are commanded by lesser men. While the Knights of Santiago & Calatrava have been repulsed in their invasion of Porto, the Andalusian invasion of Castille has been thoroughly beaten by an English-Castillian army at the battle of Villablino, and now the Queen of Castille prepares to counter-attack into Al-Andalus.
Nikephoros begins to crack down on the Bogomilist faith in the Empire, which has been allowed to fester too long, in his opinion. By threatening forceful action against his Bogomilist vassals, Nikephoros is able to get the Doux of Trebizond to convert.
However the other major Bogomilist vassal in the Empire, the Doux of Cilicia, rebuffs his Emperor's attempts at peaceful conversion. Nikephoros decides that there is only one option left for the heretic, the Oubliette...
Unfortunately, the Basileus' actions are too predictable, and when Martial Pelagios arrives in Cilicia to arrest the Doux, he is ambushed by Cilician forces & forced to flee back to Constantinople, while the Doux raises his flag in rebellion.
In the Baltics, King Kugis of Lithuania is victorious in his war against the Christians & has united Prusas' realm once again. This causes widespread fear among the nobles of northern Christendom. Clearly something has to be done against these indomitable Pagans!
In 1212, Kyrillos is informed that his brother, Kallinikos of Epirus, has usurped the Sicilian throne from King Berto of Sicily and has added the vast Kingdom to the Empire. This is an almost alarming turn of events for the Emperor, who did not expect such a victory, and the same can be said for the Sicilian populace, who almost instantly rebel against their new Epirotian overlord. Not since the Muslim Conquest, has the Empire ruled over such a great amount of land, and the people of Constantinople, as well as the nobles of the court, hail Kyrillos as "the Great"!
The Empire is alive with a spirit of glory, and all view the Palaiologoi brothers as the catalysts for this transformation. Attempting to capitalize on this sentiment, Kyrillos announces the reconquest of Aleppo, a war long overdue, to finally bring the great Syrian city back into the fold of the Byzantine Empire.
Since the death of his wife in childbirth, Kyrillos has never remarried, and has now lived most of his life a single man. However as he hosts a rather decadent celebratory feast in the Imperial palace, he catches the eye of a common, lowborn servant. Kyrillos decides that as God has granted victory, after victory, he is surely favored by the almighty Lord. As so he surely wouldn't mind just this one lapse in virtue, especially after such a long period of celibacy?
As Kyrillos busies himself with lovemaking, another Emperor also works diligently, but for an entirely different occupation.
Kyrillos is informed by one of his spies in the East, that the Mongol Khan has beat the Empire of Bukhara in a war and taken the sprawling lands of Kazakh for its' own. Rumors have it that these Horse lords are unbeatable on the battlefield, and are poised to conquer the entire Cuman steppes if they're not checked. Uncaring & perhaps a little overconfident, Kyrillos' responds that "those equestrians are welcomed to them. And if they should wander a little too west, then the might of Rome will send them cowering back to whence they came.,"
However, it does not take long for the Mongol situation to devolve into something far more serious. After returning from a late-night tryst with his lover, Theodora, Kyrillos is met by a messenger, all the way from Azerbaijan. Curious as to why the cowardly Persians would send a messenger before a declaration of war, Kyrillos hears the man out, despite the late hour. However this courier bares not a message of war, but instead a warning. The Mongol Khan, Temujin as he is called by his people, has invaded the Shahdom in a brutal conquest of rape & pillaging, and has taken the northern part of the realm. The Messenger is an articulate man, and well does he describe the horrific & brutal war against the nomadic conquerors, and their bloody-handed Khan. Kyrillos even feels himself tremble, as he describes a field in Itil, stained red by the blood of the Persian army following a battle with the Mongols.
Kyrillos is too prideful of his achievements as Basileus to admit that the Mongols pose a threat to his Empire. However in secret he commands his Marshal to make preparations for an invasion from the Steppes. Meanwhile he begins to grow stressed and paranoid at court, as the rest of the Empire grows more and more dismissive of the Mongol threat.
More and more messages & warnings come in from the East, speaking of more and more Mongol conquests. Eventually Kyrillos learns that the unsaitable horde has won another conquest against the Empire of Bukhara, gaining the lands of Turkestan. The once mighty realm of Bukhara, that has persevered since the 11th century, is now swiftly crumbling under the weight of thousands of hooves.
Finally Kyrillos acknowledges that the Empire must know about this grave threat. The Mongols are coming, and let the world know...
Rumors about uncountable atrocities the Mongols have committed spread through the Empire like Wildfire. From entire Kingdoms slaughtered to last man, to the Horse Lords using the anger of the dead to plague cities that refuse to submit to them. Whatever to tale is, it guaranteed to achieve widespread panic and many take comfort in the Church. Seizing this as an opportunity to prosper, Ecclesiarch Leon begins charging extortionate amounts of money to perform sermons, where he tells the frightened people of the Empire that the Mongols are simply God's weapon to punish the Mohammedan & Hindu infidels, and will not touch Christian soil. Kyrillos is furious when he hears about this practice, given his infamous hard-line stance against corruption. However, he finds himself too stressed & too troubled to do anything about it.
The Emir of Toledo, Abdul-Hakam, and his competent rule was the only thing keeping the Emirate from becoming formally annexed by Al-Andalus. However, with his untimely death, the new Emir could not resist the overwhelming influence of Andalusia and its' brilliant soldier Sultan, Abdul-Razzaq, and was soon made a vassal. Upon hearing this, the Christian Kings of Spain become worried that now nothing stands between them and the great Muslim realm and appeal to the Pope for assistance to finally drive the expansionist Moors back for good. The Pope consents, especially since Christianity's resurgence on the peninsular is still fledgling & fragile,and a Crusade is called, to decisively conquer Hispania for Christendom. The Reconquestia is reaching its' climax and the fate of Iberia could be decided in the following war. Can Abdul-Razzaq prove himself as the true successor of Abbad I, or will Islam be doomed to loose its' foothold in Europe?
The Crusade starts poorly for the Christians, with Abdul-Rassaq displaying his martial prowess by defeating the forces of Aragon & Navarra, and launching an invasion of the two Kingdoms. Aragon is swiftly conquered, with the Castle of Zaragoza falling before the first few months of the war are through. The Sultan then splits his army in two, one to invade Castille, the remaining Christian Kingdom, and the other to invade Barcelona, where the crusading forces are beginning to muster.
Meanwhile Kyrillos is informed by his allies in Epirus, that a bunch of dastardly rouge ambushed Kallinikos' carriage & kidnapped the Despot, as he toured a Sicillian city. Apparently, Guy, the leader of the revolt against Epirotian rule, has taken responsibility for the kidnapping the Emperor's brother & announces Kallinikos' abdication. The realm of Epirus is split between Kallinikos' two sons, Tiberios - who is granted Epirus, and Pelagios - who is granted Sicily. Kyrillos knows it would be folly to revoke a abdication, especially if it risks infuriating his powerful nephews who will inherit one day, regardless. However, his brother is dear to him, and Kyrillos will have vengeance for this treasonous & dishonorable crime.
Kyrillos declares Guy a traitor of the Imperial Crown and sends out orders for his arrest & execution. This vengeful and violent retaliation stirs a murmur through the Imperial court upon its' proclamation, especially considering that Kallinikos had not made himself too popular with his invasion of Sicily, for many said that he greedily hungered for too much power. However, most would say that Kyrillos' response was justified & Guy of Calabria had made a grave error in admitting to his treason, even if the Basileus had not been put in such a bitter mood by current events. Matters are made worst by news that Guy was forewarned of his fate by sympathizers in the Sicilian nobility, and was able to escape his sentence.
Kyrillos has become known around the court for his stressful nature & terrible mood-swings. Perhaps the most effected by this, is his lover, Theodora. Eventually she has had enough and after a night of heated arguing, she breaks off the affair. Evidently even the Basileus is not immune to people tiring of his ways.
Meanwhile Kyrillos is informed by his allies in Epirus, that a bunch of dastardly rouge ambushed Kallinikos' carriage & kidnapped the Despot, as he toured a Sicillian city. Apparently, Guy, the leader of the revolt against Epirotian rule, has taken responsibility for the kidnapping the Emperor's brother & announces Kallinikos' abdication. The realm of Epirus is split between Kallinikos' two sons, Tiberios - who is granted Epirus, and Pelagios - who is granted Sicily. Kyrillos knows it would be folly to revoke a abdication, especially if it risks infuriating his powerful nephews who will inherit one day, regardless. However, his brother is dear to him, and Kyrillos will have vengeance for this treasonous & dishonorable crime.
Kyrillos declares Guy a traitor of the Imperial Crown and sends out orders for his arrest & execution. This vengeful and violent retaliation stirs a murmur through the Imperial court upon its' proclamation, especially considering that Kallinikos had not made himself too popular with his invasion of Sicily, for many said that he greedily hungered for too much power. However, most would say that Kyrillos' response was justified & Guy of Calabria had made a grave error in admitting to his treason, even if the Basileus had not been put in such a bitter mood by current events. Matters are made worst by news that Guy was forewarned of his fate by sympathizers in the Sicilian nobility, and was able to escape his sentence.
Kyrillos has become known around the court for his stressful nature & terrible mood-swings. Perhaps the most effected by this, is his lover, Theodora. Eventually she has had enough and after a night of heated arguing, she breaks off the affair. Evidently even the Basileus is not immune to people tiring of his ways.
Developments of the War in Iberia continues to flock into the Empire. Abdul-Razzaq, has led the attack into Barcelona & has beaten the 1st Crusader army, and the important is under siege. However, the Crusaders where able to keep hold of the important Pyrenees mountain pass at Rosello, allowing for Crusaders & Frenchmen to cross the mountains and reinforce the defense of Barcelona . In Castille, there is yet to be a decisive battle between the Castillians & the Andalusians, however once again, reinforcements continue to arrive in Asturias & Galicia, from England & France, bolstering the catholic forces.
On the 12th of November, 1219, the court of Constantinople is sadden by the news of Kyrillos' death. Some whisper that it was inevitable, that the Basileus' agitated temperament was not compatible with old age. Still he will be remembered fondly, for living up to the legacy of Alexios II, and in many way surpassing it. A most blessed ruler, and most deserving of his Great title.
His son, Nikephoros Palaiologos inherits the throne as Basileus Nikephoros III. An unassuming character, Nikephoros is not considered to be as prodigious as his father or grandfather. He does not have Alexios' genius in military matters, nor Kyrillos' brilliance in administration - though he did inherit some of his father's skill in this regard. His is untalented in diplomacy, uninterested in theology & ignorant to the fine art of intrigue. However he is not an entirely lesser man than his predecessors. He is robust in build & strong in arms, a desirable trait for a populist ruler, and he carries on the almost hereditary characteristics of the Palaiologoi - an abundance of ambition, and the diligence to do something about it. The last notable essence of this new ruler is his zealous tendencies, unwittingly grown by his father's ceaseless conflicts with the Muslims. Nikephoros desires nothing more than to continue Byzantine expansion into the East, but also plans to turn the Empire's might against the verminous Papists, especially those who occupy the rightful Byzantine lands of the Levant.
Nikephoros is also well versed in the Imperial Bureaucracy, having dutifully served within it under his father's rule. While he has no apparent natural aptitude for stewardship, he can certainly boast substantial experience in it.
Nikephoros' coronation is promptly arranged, a rather temperate ceremony - as is the request of the new Basileus, who would rather place emphasis on the religious aspects of ruling & the greatness of God,instead of opulent & decedent displays of power that his father and grandfather reveled in.
Following the ceremony, there is celebration throughout Constantinople, and it seems that everyone is trying to hound Nikephoros into dancing with them. A lowborn lass is one of the reluctant Emperor's more persistent companions throughout the night, and by the end of the party, Nikephoros suspects that she has more than just dancing in mind...
Nikephoros is a man who considers religious virtues to be of the utmost importance. However, he has never had the greatness relationship with his wife, whom he was forced to marry by his father in order to formalize an alliance with Ethiopia against the Egyptians. Early in their relationship, she refused to abandon her heretical, Coptic beliefs - and while Nikephoros was eventually successful in badgering her to formally convert, with the aide of his father, she never truly embraced Orthodoxy - a matter of conflict in the marriage, with her openly zealous husband. This Athanasia, however, as well as being a women of beauty, is also a women of faith and she is able to impress the Basileus with her theological knowledge - especially since he in lacking in such, despite his borderline fanatical devotion. He accepts her invitation to return to her, somewhat humble, abode...
In Iberia, the 2nd Crusader Army has failed to relieve the siege of Barcelona & has been dealt a crushing defeat by Abdul-Razzaq - proving the Sultan's military brilliance. However things are turning for the worse in Castille, where the Sultan is not present & the Andalusians are commanded by lesser men. While the Knights of Santiago & Calatrava have been repulsed in their invasion of Porto, the Andalusian invasion of Castille has been thoroughly beaten by an English-Castillian army at the battle of Villablino, and now the Queen of Castille prepares to counter-attack into Al-Andalus.
Nikephoros begins to crack down on the Bogomilist faith in the Empire, which has been allowed to fester too long, in his opinion. By threatening forceful action against his Bogomilist vassals, Nikephoros is able to get the Doux of Trebizond to convert.
However the other major Bogomilist vassal in the Empire, the Doux of Cilicia, rebuffs his Emperor's attempts at peaceful conversion. Nikephoros decides that there is only one option left for the heretic, the Oubliette...
Unfortunately, the Basileus' actions are too predictable, and when Martial Pelagios arrives in Cilicia to arrest the Doux, he is ambushed by Cilician forces & forced to flee back to Constantinople, while the Doux raises his flag in rebellion.
Things get even more embarrassing for the Basileus when he learns that Athanasia has fallen pregnant with his child, and even worse, her husband knows about it. Nikephoros is informed of this from a aggressive and derogatory letter from the husband, but thankfully the affair is not yet public knowledge, giving Nikephoros time to prepare. He determines that it would probably be advantageous to do away with the husband also, in case he leaks the truth of the affair before Nikephoros is ready, he could also be a potential danger to child.
Nikephoros defeats the Cilician army in battle & begins to besiege Tarsos. While Cilicia's rebellion will be rather short-lived, it effects echo throughout the Empire, with many expressing concern over Nikephoros' brutality towards the Bogomilists, which up until now had been an accepted denomination in the Empire.
While Nikephoros has been dealing with Internal & Personal issues alike, he has been confessedly distracted from the wider world. As result, when he asks his agents to present him on a report of the Mongol conquests, from which he observed to be a sizable threat from his father's reaction to them, he is decidedly shocked. The Genghis Khan stands victorious after a swift and brutal campaign for the lands of Khiva. The Seljuk Empire is reeling from this blow, while the Empire of Bukhara is merely a shell of its' former self. Nikephoros decides that something must be done to check this unstoppable Horde, or the Byzantine Empire could end up being consumed by the Mongol warpath, just like the other two.
However almost instantly, the Basileus' attention is distracted by an external crisis. King Hugo of Jerusalem has died, and the cowardly Egyptians have made use of this death - and the peace treaties that are made redundant by it, to invade the Holy Kingdom. The Young Queen of Jerusalem, Gerberga, appeals to Nikephoros for aide. However the Egyptians, lead by the capable Sultan Zaia II, are quickly making gains, and Nikephoros will need to act quickly, least all the work of his father be undone.
Nikephoros quickly conducts an alliance with the young queen, and musters the Empire's forces for war. The Basileus realizes, that the may be too far gone for a victory, but perhaps Byzantine reinforcements will allow for the war to be fought to a white peace. Sultan Zaia is a brilliant commander & tactician, however as the first Sunni Sultan of Fatamid Egypt, having been installed by the Seljuks after Caliph Biktor's mismanagement of the realm nearly tore it apart, he is relatively unpopular for his harsh methods used to convert the Isma'ili people. Nikephoros wonders if he can exploit this to his benefit.
Nikephoros' 1st army makes landfall at Darum, near to the main Egyptian army. Taking a page out of Alexios' book, Nikephoros splits his army in two, ordering the 2nd half to capture to Seljuk province of Beersheb. The Castle in the area falls quickly, and curiously there is no response from the Turks. Nikephoros then does his best to spread rumors to the Egyptian camp of Byzantine weakness. Zaia is not a cautious man, but is too experienced to fall for such a simple trick. However, he takes the bait of his own accord, relying on his brilliance as a field commander to secure a crushing victory over the Greeks, and show to his subject that he can redeem Egypt of Biktor's failings.
Zaia engages the 1st Byzantine army, commanded by Nikephoros himself, at a place known as the Gaza strip. Quickly the Basileus springs his "trap" bringing in reinforcements from Beerhab to tip the scale of battle. The Byzantines now have numerical superiority and have supposedly caught the Egyptians in their trap. However Zaia was prepared for this, and is not so easily defeated.
Nikephoros proves himself to be a capable commander, battling the Egyptians with a religious fervor. His men rally to their Basileus, as he boldly carves his way into the Egyptian centre flank.
However Zaia is unfazed by Nikephoros rash charge, and quickly adapts his own tactics, withdrawing his troops, before encircling the Basileus as he foolishly overextends. Cut off from the majority of his army, Nikephoros fights like a mad thing, bellowing war cries such as "Deus Vult" and "Crush the infidels". By some miracle, the Byzantines are able to break-out of the Egyptian barricade, but casualties on both sides are high. Nikephoros orders a general withdrawal back to defensive positions, but finds that many of his reserves have fled - thinking that the Emperor had been overcome by the Egyptians. The Byzantines begin an organised retreat, and thankfully the Egyptians are too exhausted to pursue.
However, it is a Pyrrhic victory for the Egyptians. Queen Gerberga is able to secure assistance from the Holy Roman Emperor and German reinforcements soon begin to sail into the sea of Palestine, reclaiming the land lost to the Fataminds. Furthermore, the rest of the Byzantine army also begins to arrive in the Holy Lands. Zaia finds himself hopelessly outnumbered and partially due to the high Egyptian casualties at Gaza. With no other choice, he retreats from Sinai to raise more troops, as a last resort to continue the war.
However an urgent development forces the Emperor to leave his men & return to Constantinople. His son & heir, Prince Bardas, has been caught by the recent outbreak of Consumption. By the time the Emperor return home to his capital, his son is dead.
However, a much greater problem soon becomes apparent, when Athanasia informs Nikephoros that she has given birth to a boy. With Bardas being Niekphoros' only son, and with the Basilissia' health taking turn for the worse ever since the news of his death, this bastard could possibly be Nikephoros' only chance for a male heir. After thinking long & hard about the situation, Nikephoros finals decides to legitimize Athanasia's son, Pelagios Palaiologos, much to the despair of his wife.
In Jerusalem, Zaia II returns with a force, barely larger than the one he left with. Despite his brilliance of command, he lacked the diplomatic capabilities in order to raise more troops, a task made especially hard as the Isma'ili Caliph declared that all Isma'ili faithful should refuse to fight. Seeing the hopelessness of his situation, as German & Greek forces siege down the last of his captured holdings, the Sultan agrees to White peace with Queen Gerberga. remaining cordial as he respects the resilience of his Christian foes.
Jerusalem is now at the strongest point it has ever been, after the prosperous reign of King Hugo. It is also at its' greatest extent yet, having added the Seljuk province of Beerhab to its' realm, after almost no resistance for the Seljuks.
Nikephoros soon learns the reason for this. The Seljuk Empire has been decisively beaten by Genghis Khan, and Persia has been lost the Mongols!
It does not take long for the Muslim to react. Nikephoros is informed by his spies in Arabia that many of the serfs, and even some of the religious heads, view the Mongols as a doomsday. However Caliph Al-Muqtafi declares that this is just Allah's greatest test of faith for the Muslim faithful, and now that the heretics of Egypt have been converted, there is no chance of failure. He declares a Jihad to reclaim Persia.
However on the 25th March 1226, another event happens that shakes the Muslim World...
The Castillian-Crusader army, having beaten the Andalusian one at Villablino, swiftly marched down to besiege the Andalusian capital of Gibraltar. Sultan Abdul-Razzaq was forced to abandon the siege of Barcelona and march across the entire peninsular to stop the Christians. The two forces clashed near Gibraltar, at Algeciras. The Sultan would, for a final time, prove his mastery of tactics, and the Castillians would be swept from the field by Abdul-Razzaq, in a chaotic retreat. However as the rumors would have it, in the shattered Castillian retreat, a lone crusader from Wales, would come upon the hastily established Muslim camp, and would find Abdul-Razzaq praying in his tent. The Welshman would sneak up upon the Sultan and kill him, in an act of pragmatic cowardice which would have tremendous consequences for the west. Abdul-Razzaq's son, Abdul-Hasan, would inherit the throne, however he would be replaced in a few weeks, by Abu-Bakr, the Emir of Granada, who claimed that the boy-Sultan was not fit to lead the Muslim armies against the Crusader threat. This action would cause a rebellion in Algarve & Murcia, consuming the capability of Al-Andulas to resist the Crusade. All while this was happening, the Castillian army regrouped itself at Caceres, and prepared for another attack. Aragon would be reconquered by a Navarra-Aragon-Crusader army, and King Erramun would be restored to his throne, ready to lead an attack on Valencia, and the French would invade Mallorca, and add the islands to their realm. Al-Andalus was falling apart at the seams.
In the two months following that fateful encounter, the Castilllians would besiege and sack Gibraltar, while the Aragonese would fight a parallel battle in Valencia. Tens of Thousands of Andalusians would flee across the strait of Gibraltar to Morocco & Mauritania. However many more would flee into Beja & Portucale, where the Emir of Portucale, Abbad of the Banu Abbad dynasty, had rallied his men in defense of the last Muslim stronghold in Iberia.On the 3rd June, 1226, a joint Castillian-Crusader army would march into Portucale, only to be decidedly beaten by Abbad. Only then would peace by finally made in Iberia, the Crusade for Al-Andulas had succeeded. Meanwhile, Abbad of Portucale would crown himself Sultan of Portugàlia, otherwise know as the Sultan of Portugal.
Back in the Byzantine Empire, the Basilissa, Yehudit, would fall into a deep depression, following the death of Bardas & his husband's simultaneous legitimization of his bastard replacement. Isolating herself from Nikephoros & the court, none are surprised to find out that she soon commits suicide. Ridden with guilt for her death, Nikephoros declares that he will not remarry.
However, the Emperor cannot stop rumors from spreading about his wife's untimely death. One rumor that is particularly interesting, is that Patriarch Leon has been using the Basilissa's death as evidence to his claim that the Genghis Khan is punishment from God. If this was not deceitful & detestable enough, the Patriarch has also begun a practice of providing indulgences, in order to comfort the peasantry if the Mongols finally invade the Empire, that promises whoever donates their wealth to the church will be awarded a place by God's side in heaven.
Suffice to say, once this comes to light, Leon does not remain as Patriarch for long. A lesser man than his father, Nikephoros may be, but he certainly does not have the weakness that bound Kyrillos to inaction in his old age.
However other rumors about the Basileus are even more dangerous. Nikephoros soon hears word that Strategos Nikephoros IV of Cibyrrhaeot has claimed the Byzantine Throne, calling Basileus Nikephoros a corrupt ruler, an adulterer & a zealous tyrant, among many other derogatory terms. Nikephoros knows that Cibyrrhaeot's words cannot be allowed to fester in the Imperial court, and plots swift action.
However, Cibyrrhaeot acts first, not knowing that Nikephoros has heard of his treachery. He invites the Emperor to a small gathering at Atteleia. Of course this is just a deception to kidnap Nikephoros, the moment he lets down his guard, and steal the throne. Nikephoros politely declines and prepares his own plan to do away with the traitor.
However it is not Nikephoros who strikes next, nor Cibyrrhaeot, but instead Strategos Prokopios of Thessalonika. Prokopios, who heads the Court faction of the Empire, has long been an advocate for increasing the power of the council, which has been only a puppet government for some time now. With the influx of disparaging rumors about the Emperor, Prokopios gambled that Nikephoros would not have the support to resist the Court Faction, and so gave Nikephoros an ultimatum: Increase the power of the council, or been overthrown. Nikephoros, of course, refused to give in to such faithless blackmail.
The rebellion has roughly twice the amount of men that the loyalist have, with many of the Empire's most powerful vassals being swayed by Prokopios' fantasy of realm ruled by the aristocrats. Included among these delusional fools, is the Exarch of Georgia, the most powerful vassal in the realm - as Epirus & Sicily persist in fighting against one another. Trebizond also joins, but for a different reason to the others - as Prokopios announces that once Nikephoros is overthrown, the council will reinstate Basil III's law of toleration toward Bogomilists. The most powerful non-rebels in the Empire, Epirus & Sicily, remain neutral - in a dreadful betrayal of their fellow Palaiogoloi. However Nikephoros is not without supporters, the most important of these being Strategitissa Eirene, the 'Lion' of Moesia.
While Prokopios' preaching is popular to the aristocracy, it achieves the opposite effect among the small-folk, town-dwellers & petty nobles, who see Prokopios' rebellion for the power grab that it is, and flock to Constantinople in support of Nikephoros' cause.
As civil war rages on in the Empire, events continue unfold elsewhere in the world in the wake of the world-shaking developments of Iberia and the Mongol Horde.
The Sultanate of Portugal has reaffirmed its' independence after repelling yet another invasion from the Knights of Calatrava and Santiago. Through shrewd negotiations & displays of military power, Sultan Abbad of Portugal has kept neutral relations with Castille, while he builds up the strength of his realm. With Al-Andulas fallen, there is little to stop the Christian powers from assaulting Moorish Africa, and King Erramun of Aragon has already lead a successful conquest of Tlemcen. Under the competent rule of the House of Carcassonne, France has begun to prosper, with King Gilbert successfully taking Dauphine from the Holy Roman Empire, which is constantly weakened by civil war. The energetic King also continues his mother's policy of centralizing the French realm, however, as consequence, Barcelona begins to drift further away from the France-centric crown. Lastly, under the Martial King Alan, England begins to expand more & more into the Occitant, taking lands from the Duchy of Poitou while France is too distracted with other matters.
In Scandinavia, the decline of Norge has been halted for now, by the wise rule of King Haldor II - fierce Warrior King, who has successfully beaten Sweden in battle & prevented its' rise into the North. The Teutonic Order continues to expand against the Pagans, having finally crushed the tribes of Kola & taken lands of the Estonian Prussians. This success is partially due to another split between the Kingdoms of Pruthenia & Lithuania, following the death of King Kugis II. Religious tensions heighten the divide between the two Prussian Kingdoms, as the Lithuanian nobles have elected Christian to rule them, in the form of King Kugis III. Rus has expanded its' borders against the Mordvin tribes, and now shares a border with the Mongol Horde. King Vladimir II, still dismisses the Mongols as a threat, and instead distracts himself with an invasion of Byzantine Azov, which is currently controlled by rebel forces.
The first large battle of the Byzantine rebellion takes place near Constantinople, as Nikephoros engages in a campaign to push the rebellion out of Europe. The strategy was employed by his father in his rebellion, and allows the loyalists to make a single front against the rebels, where they can easily be reinforced by mercenaries from Constantinople.
The 2nd loyalist army engages the rebels at Prokopios' seat of Thessalonike. Outnumbered, the rebels are easily defeat and are completely expelled from Greece. With this achieved, Nikephoros orders his 1st to take the Bosphorus strait, and completely bar off rebel reinforcements to their de facto capital. As he does so, he hires two mercenary companies to reinforce his positions, and rumor has it that the main rebel army is approaching Constantinople.
Nikephoros has so far lead his men from the front, earning himself the reputation of a Strong & Bold warrior, and a soldier King of the likes of Nikephoros II & John Tzimiskes.
Nikephoros hears news from Iberia, that Queen Blanka of Castille, being by far the greatest power on the Peninsular, has crowned herself of Queen, or Empress, of all of Hispania. Only France contests this title, but with Aragon remaining a buffer state between the Greater powers, there is little King Gilbert can do without declaring war on all of Iberia.
Back in the Empire, Nikephoros' pan to seize Nikomedia & take the Bosphoros strait has come to a halt, as the main rebel army appeared to contest it. Boldly, and perhaps foolishly, the Emperor decides to attack the rebels, as he is now reinforced by Mercenaries and has a greater force. However another rebel army waits nearby to reinforce the 1st. Perhaps his new-found reputation as a Brave leader, has gotten the better of the Basileus.
However, it what will be considered the decisive battle of the war, Nikephoros pulls off a masterful assault, taking the rebels completely by surprise with his bold move, before sweeping the from the field with his aggressive leadership. The rebels take roughly 10,000 casualties and are mass retreat. As they scatter from the battlefield, they encounter the reinforcing army, which is informed of Nikephoros' triumph & halts its' march. The war is practically won in one bold stroke.
With a swift forced march, the loyalist army is able to catch the 2nd Rebel army before it can retreat and destroys it at the battle of Polis. Meanwhile the 2nd Loyalist army besieges down Thessalonike. Prokopios asks for white peace, however Nikephoros denies him. Soon he faced with no other choice, as the loyalist army storms into the rebel heartland, quickly besieging down Georgia & Trebizond.
In reward for their loyalty, Nikephoros grants his supporter tax privileges. Nikephoros decides to be more lenient on the rebels than his father was, and he believes that his father's great shakeup of the political landscape contributed to this rebellion as being one of the reasons why Prokopios' ideals where so attractive. Instead he takes a more moderate approach to dealing out justice, with very limited sentence compared to what Kyrillos gave, even going far as to completely pardon some of the rebels.
The years following the rebellion prove to be the height of Nikephoros reign. Once given the chance, he proves to be a fair & energetic ruler, involving himself in the many issues that plague the Empire, and earning the respect of many who had dismissed him as an inferior man to his father. Nikephoros' rule also proves to be a flourishing time for the church, which benefits under its' zealous Emperor. Nikephoros oft spends his time wandering Thrace, visiting the nearby churches & monasteries and offering his services. On one of these visits, the Emperor finds himself leading a search party for bandits that had robbed church, and while it would turn out that his efforts where in vain, it is clear that the clergy of the Empire, value their Basileus highly.
Nikephoros' spies tell the Emperor that the Jihad for Persia has been met with defeat after defeat and soon threatens to collapse. Seizing the moment, Nikephoros decides this is the perfect time to strike at the Empire's implacable enemy, the Seljuk Sultanate, as they waste themselves on foolish wars. With a Zealous passion, Nikephoros announces the war.
As Nikephoros orders the army to be raised, his attention is briefly drawn elsewhere. Ever since the Civil War, Cibyrrhaeot has been quiet about his planned treason, and has yet to make another move. However, Nikephoros is certain that the snake had planned for the Civil War, and had Nikephoros been beaten, then he would risen to take the throne. Finally, Mystikos Jibril of Antioch has forged enough evidence to implicate Cibyrrhaeot as one of the leading figures behind the war, and that he's plotting another one. Jibril has even managed to obtain a testament from Prokopios, saying that Cibyrrhaeot plotted with him, in return from a lessened jail time.
However, clearly Cibyrrhaeot is not alone in his plots - or maybe even Jibril harbors sympathies for the traitor, for as soon as the rumors begin to spread about Cibyrrhaeot, counter rumors supporting the Doux also appear on people's lips, that accuse the Basileus of being tyrannical & inventing false plots. Then disaster strikes, as one of Jibril's agents is caught red-handed, attempting to slip implicating evidence on Cibyrrhaeot into the Doux of Chasianon's door.
Bad things always seem to come in pairs, it would seem. As Nikephoros is informed of the death of Genghis Khan. This has caused his great Empire to split, and also means that the Seljuks are no longer distracted & will be able to send their full force against the Empire, though significantly weakened by the Mongols.
Everyone hopes with bated breath that the Genghis Khan's death will mean the end of the Mongol conquest. The East has been ravaged by these foreign conquerors, and now most of it is occupied by these savage barbarians. The West is safe for now, and undergoing many great changes in the wake of the Crusade, but will they fair any better, if the thundering Horde should turns its' attention to their stone houses?
One thing is certain however, the World has been irrevocably changed by the Wrath of the Khan...
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