Insane_Panda
Deity
Wow, very nice das.
Love your writing
Love your writing
By a Single Decision (Alternate History)
- Thread starter das
- Start date
das
Regeneration In Process
I'd say it's outrageous. I often visited that thread, and didn't really notice any spam. The mods must be hallucinating! 
Anyway, I am, unfortunately, too busy to add a new chapter. Yet. But trust me - when I find time, I will compensate all the damage done.
Anyway, I am, unfortunately, too busy to add a new chapter. Yet. But trust me - when I find time, I will compensate all the damage done.
Jake5555555
Warlord
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2004
- Messages
- 149
keep it coming
das
Regeneration In Process
I'm no Daftpanzer, and this map is not meant to be a priceless masterpiece (although, if you are an arts proffesor and think that it is, please tell me 
). It is simply a map of Western Europ 755 AD (i.e. after Chapter Five), so that you understand just a little more.
Will have to update my NES now, so no chapter. Yet.
). It is simply a map of Western Europ 755 AD (i.e. after Chapter Five), so that you understand just a little more.Will have to update my NES now, so no chapter. Yet.
das
Regeneration In Process
OOC: I know, Loco. You can be sure Im doing it on purpose. Meanwhile, what about the map?
IC:
Chapter Six.
Wind blew across Pannonnia, but it did not get through the Avar Circle. The magnificent fortified settlement stood, as eternal as a mountain.
The Khan stood on the hill in the middle of the settlement. He tried to make out whatever was beyond the wind.
He dreamt of the old glory of the People of the Steppes. Days when the Huns rode with fire and sword through Europe. Days when the Avars themselves, assembling 80,000 warriors from different tribes, threatened Constantinople itself.
That glory was no more. Constantinople endured, and the Avars retreated to Pannonia. Their wars with Merovingians were unsuccesful, and their unity was shattering. The other Avars, those who remained in Caucasus, labelled them Kabars - rebels - and severed all links to them.
No longer are we great. To be great, peoples such as ours need a war. But whom to fight?
The Byzantines were fighting the Bulgars, but the Bulgars were on the rise. Avars would barely survive a war with them, and there was no other way of reaching Constantinople... for now. And later, it might just be too late. The Avar Khanate will fall apart, unless united in a victorious struggle.
The Lombards? Way too strong, and Avars would be too tired to fight them after crossing the Alps. Saxons in the north. They can easily ambush the Avar horsemen from their forests, and they are way too strong as well. Slavs to the east... they were disunited for now, but would easily unite against a common threat...
Bavarians? And maybe the Frankish lands beyond them? Raids have proven that the Bavarians are very weak - unable to protect their villages. If only there was strong enough an ally in such a struggle...
The Khan quickly dispatched a messanger. The messanger rode to the north.
He did not wait for the answer - he did not think the Saxons would refuse such an offer. Immediately, he yelled to arms!, and as always, this exclamation was passed between the many yurts of the Circle, and Avar warriors grabbed their weapons and mounted their horses. The Horde was assembled within but an hour.
IC:
Chapter Six.
Wind blew across Pannonnia, but it did not get through the Avar Circle. The magnificent fortified settlement stood, as eternal as a mountain.
The Khan stood on the hill in the middle of the settlement. He tried to make out whatever was beyond the wind.
He dreamt of the old glory of the People of the Steppes. Days when the Huns rode with fire and sword through Europe. Days when the Avars themselves, assembling 80,000 warriors from different tribes, threatened Constantinople itself.
That glory was no more. Constantinople endured, and the Avars retreated to Pannonia. Their wars with Merovingians were unsuccesful, and their unity was shattering. The other Avars, those who remained in Caucasus, labelled them Kabars - rebels - and severed all links to them.
No longer are we great. To be great, peoples such as ours need a war. But whom to fight?
The Byzantines were fighting the Bulgars, but the Bulgars were on the rise. Avars would barely survive a war with them, and there was no other way of reaching Constantinople... for now. And later, it might just be too late. The Avar Khanate will fall apart, unless united in a victorious struggle.
The Lombards? Way too strong, and Avars would be too tired to fight them after crossing the Alps. Saxons in the north. They can easily ambush the Avar horsemen from their forests, and they are way too strong as well. Slavs to the east... they were disunited for now, but would easily unite against a common threat...
Bavarians? And maybe the Frankish lands beyond them? Raids have proven that the Bavarians are very weak - unable to protect their villages. If only there was strong enough an ally in such a struggle...
The Khan quickly dispatched a messanger. The messanger rode to the north.
He did not wait for the answer - he did not think the Saxons would refuse such an offer. Immediately, he yelled to arms!, and as always, this exclamation was passed between the many yurts of the Circle, and Avar warriors grabbed their weapons and mounted their horses. The Horde was assembled within but an hour.
das
Regeneration In Process
Chapter Seven.
In 749, the Avars, led by Khan Obalik, decided to start yet another of their assaults on their neighbors. This time, however, there was no centralized Merovingian state to oppose them in the west. Bavaria, their immediate and first target, was weakened by the recent civil war which it's king, Tassilo I, won at the expense of a good part of his army.
Albeit a cunning intriguer and a competent commander, Tassilo realized that resisting to the 60,000 well-trained Avar horsemen was rather... pointless. Instead, he decided to submit to them, and to rebel against them when an opportunity appeared. They accepted his surrender, but did not take any chances and killed him, as well as the Bavarian nobility, as an example to all the others. The example worked.
The Avars have, meanwhile, secured an alliance with the Saxons (who secured Frisia at that point, allowing them to raid Neustria's trade centers). West of Bavaria there was Austrasia, the strongest of the Frankish nations. Led by Childerick IV, it experienced a temporary rise in agriculture and was centralizing. Nevertheless, Childerick failed to defeat the Avars decisevely in the draw at Mossele Valley. Soon enough, the Saxons won the battle at Worms and burned down the church there. This defeat, albeit not a final one, dismoralized the Austrasians. The Saxons then won the Battle at Verdun Forest, ambushing Neustrian reinforcements, while the Avars besieged Metz. Childerick continued to resist even after the fall of his capital and the following massacre, but his followers abandoned him in September 753. By then the Avars captured Besancon, and imposed a huge tribute on Burgundy. Orleans, despite being a part of Burgundy, continued to resist for two months. It's garrison and population expected a miracle, but it never came. The Avars entered the city, and struck into Neustria.
Saxons have been warded off by King Lothar of Neustria in 755 at Vinchy and at Ghent, but Vitukind, the king of the Saxons, merely reorganized his army and restarted the raids. Lothar headed by far the most succesful resistance faced by the Avars, and at some point, his paladins regained hope in a victory, similar to the one at Catalunian Fields. But those newly-proclaimed Huns were, perhaps, more lucky. In 758, albeit tired, the Avars produced a victory at Sena, pinning the Neustrians to the river just as a small raider group of Saxons arrived, causing panic. Lothar escaped to Rennes with his followers, and managed to hold to this last stronghold due to the large casualties inflicted on his foes. Nevertheless, after his death, his dismoralized followers abandoned Rennes and went into the hiding.
Paused in May 761 by the death of Obalik, the Avars nevertheless tried to resume their expansion. Nevertheless, the raids on the Emirate of Garonne were defeated, while the Breton clans, rallied by their chieftain Arlinoe, put an end to the incursions into their territory in late 762. The Avar Khanate, stretching from Pannonia to Rennes, from Danube to Caeser's Channel (i.e. English Channel), was there to stay (it seemed so, anyway), as was the newly-created Saxon Empire.
In 749, the Avars, led by Khan Obalik, decided to start yet another of their assaults on their neighbors. This time, however, there was no centralized Merovingian state to oppose them in the west. Bavaria, their immediate and first target, was weakened by the recent civil war which it's king, Tassilo I, won at the expense of a good part of his army.
Albeit a cunning intriguer and a competent commander, Tassilo realized that resisting to the 60,000 well-trained Avar horsemen was rather... pointless. Instead, he decided to submit to them, and to rebel against them when an opportunity appeared. They accepted his surrender, but did not take any chances and killed him, as well as the Bavarian nobility, as an example to all the others. The example worked.
The Avars have, meanwhile, secured an alliance with the Saxons (who secured Frisia at that point, allowing them to raid Neustria's trade centers). West of Bavaria there was Austrasia, the strongest of the Frankish nations. Led by Childerick IV, it experienced a temporary rise in agriculture and was centralizing. Nevertheless, Childerick failed to defeat the Avars decisevely in the draw at Mossele Valley. Soon enough, the Saxons won the battle at Worms and burned down the church there. This defeat, albeit not a final one, dismoralized the Austrasians. The Saxons then won the Battle at Verdun Forest, ambushing Neustrian reinforcements, while the Avars besieged Metz. Childerick continued to resist even after the fall of his capital and the following massacre, but his followers abandoned him in September 753. By then the Avars captured Besancon, and imposed a huge tribute on Burgundy. Orleans, despite being a part of Burgundy, continued to resist for two months. It's garrison and population expected a miracle, but it never came. The Avars entered the city, and struck into Neustria.
Saxons have been warded off by King Lothar of Neustria in 755 at Vinchy and at Ghent, but Vitukind, the king of the Saxons, merely reorganized his army and restarted the raids. Lothar headed by far the most succesful resistance faced by the Avars, and at some point, his paladins regained hope in a victory, similar to the one at Catalunian Fields. But those newly-proclaimed Huns were, perhaps, more lucky. In 758, albeit tired, the Avars produced a victory at Sena, pinning the Neustrians to the river just as a small raider group of Saxons arrived, causing panic. Lothar escaped to Rennes with his followers, and managed to hold to this last stronghold due to the large casualties inflicted on his foes. Nevertheless, after his death, his dismoralized followers abandoned Rennes and went into the hiding.
Paused in May 761 by the death of Obalik, the Avars nevertheless tried to resume their expansion. Nevertheless, the raids on the Emirate of Garonne were defeated, while the Breton clans, rallied by their chieftain Arlinoe, put an end to the incursions into their territory in late 762. The Avar Khanate, stretching from Pannonia to Rennes, from Danube to Caeser's Channel (i.e. English Channel), was there to stay (it seemed so, anyway), as was the newly-created Saxon Empire.
Cataphrak
Knight of RPG
@ El Loco: Don't spam we might lose this thread too, try to marshall what little sanity you have in you (El Loco get it?) and don't spam.
@ Das: It's good to see you have gotten over the loss of the peacekeepers thread and is Charemagne gonna be in this story?l
waaait, WHAT AM I SAYing? (typing,) sorry that was el loco's response on the LAST page
@ Das: It's good to see you have gotten over the loss of the peacekeepers thread and is Charemagne gonna be in this story?l
waaait, WHAT AM I SAYing? (typing,) sorry that was el loco's response on the LAST page
das
Regeneration In Process
OOC: Technically, his grandfather (Charles Martel) died before having any children (i.e. Pepin), and the Franks are getting beaten up right and left anyway. Sorry, no Charlemagne.
Please note that some locales have different names then in the real history. The Norse never settled in Normandy, so it's called East Armoria (Brittany) instead, for example.
IC:
Chapter Eight.
The Avar Khanate, however, did not outlive Obalik too long. In 766, it collapsed into anarchy and most of the Avars either settled down, blending in with the Franks, either returned to Pannonia. The end of the Avar Khanate's brief control over Franks led to anarchy in the conquered lands, and allowed Vitukind of the Saxons and Arlinoe of the Bretons to expand into former Frankish lands.
The newly-formed Kingdom of Brittany annexed Rennes and a large border area with it, while Vitukind's emerging Saxons expanded their empire into formerly-Avar Austrusia and Neustria. Burgundy managed to temporarily reclaim Besancon, but had to cede it to the Saxons.
Farther south, the Arabs, led by Fashid ad-Nushdin have realized the opportunity provided by the Avar collapse. Not counting the Saxons as a major threat, Fashid led his forces into Burgundy, with whose regent, Carloman, he allied against the Saxons. Soon enough, the joint forces defeated the Saxons at Nevers, and Fashid "persuaded" Carloman to convert to Islam and to surrender Burgundy to the Arabs (Emirate of Lonas (OOC: Lyons)).
Fashid was not as tolerant as the Arab commanders who came before him, and ordered numerous churches burned to the ground. This led to several uprisings that were crushed throughout 767 and early 768, allowing the Saxons to regroup. Fashid's forces consolidated control crushing the strongest rebel group, led by Carloman's son Dagobert, at Lake Geneva, and by seizing Orleans and Paris. Some Franks greeted them as liberators - others, resisted them as opressors.
At that point, Vitukind, from his new capital at Verdun, rallied a large Saxon army. That army shocked the Arabs by providing anambush, combined with a flank attack, at Loire. Nevertheless, the Arabs managed to escaped from Vitukind's grasp, and seized Metz in the east. They also signed a temporary alliance with Arlinoe, who secured East Armoria (OTL Normandy). By 770, Saxons seemed to be losing the war.
However, as the Arabs besieged Verdun and advanced towards Saxonia itself in April 771, the Saxons ambushed the Arabs in the Ardennes forest, using the same tactic as the one used long ago by the Teutons against the Romans at Teutoburg. Vitukind escaped from Verdun as it was captured and rallied the remaining Saxons in front of the threat, claiming that the Arabs will burn down the sacred groves of Irminsul and convert the Saxons by force. The Arabs were defeated by the Saxons as they entered Saxonia, unwisely attacking the Saxons near their sacred oak, Irminsul. The victory there in October 772 strengthened the Saxon pagan beliefs and their morale, allowing them to launch numerous counterattacks. Arabs suffered large casualties, including Fashid himself, and in Acquitaine, another rebellion begun, forcing the Arabs to retreat. Albeit the Bretons still held on to East Armoria, while the Arabs still had Burgundy (not counting Besancon), the Saxons claimed victory, which allowed them to create a centralized (more or less) state.
Please note that some locales have different names then in the real history. The Norse never settled in Normandy, so it's called East Armoria (Brittany) instead, for example.
IC:
Chapter Eight.
The Avar Khanate, however, did not outlive Obalik too long. In 766, it collapsed into anarchy and most of the Avars either settled down, blending in with the Franks, either returned to Pannonia. The end of the Avar Khanate's brief control over Franks led to anarchy in the conquered lands, and allowed Vitukind of the Saxons and Arlinoe of the Bretons to expand into former Frankish lands.
The newly-formed Kingdom of Brittany annexed Rennes and a large border area with it, while Vitukind's emerging Saxons expanded their empire into formerly-Avar Austrusia and Neustria. Burgundy managed to temporarily reclaim Besancon, but had to cede it to the Saxons.
Farther south, the Arabs, led by Fashid ad-Nushdin have realized the opportunity provided by the Avar collapse. Not counting the Saxons as a major threat, Fashid led his forces into Burgundy, with whose regent, Carloman, he allied against the Saxons. Soon enough, the joint forces defeated the Saxons at Nevers, and Fashid "persuaded" Carloman to convert to Islam and to surrender Burgundy to the Arabs (Emirate of Lonas (OOC: Lyons)).
Fashid was not as tolerant as the Arab commanders who came before him, and ordered numerous churches burned to the ground. This led to several uprisings that were crushed throughout 767 and early 768, allowing the Saxons to regroup. Fashid's forces consolidated control crushing the strongest rebel group, led by Carloman's son Dagobert, at Lake Geneva, and by seizing Orleans and Paris. Some Franks greeted them as liberators - others, resisted them as opressors.
At that point, Vitukind, from his new capital at Verdun, rallied a large Saxon army. That army shocked the Arabs by providing anambush, combined with a flank attack, at Loire. Nevertheless, the Arabs managed to escaped from Vitukind's grasp, and seized Metz in the east. They also signed a temporary alliance with Arlinoe, who secured East Armoria (OTL Normandy). By 770, Saxons seemed to be losing the war.
However, as the Arabs besieged Verdun and advanced towards Saxonia itself in April 771, the Saxons ambushed the Arabs in the Ardennes forest, using the same tactic as the one used long ago by the Teutons against the Romans at Teutoburg. Vitukind escaped from Verdun as it was captured and rallied the remaining Saxons in front of the threat, claiming that the Arabs will burn down the sacred groves of Irminsul and convert the Saxons by force. The Arabs were defeated by the Saxons as they entered Saxonia, unwisely attacking the Saxons near their sacred oak, Irminsul. The victory there in October 772 strengthened the Saxon pagan beliefs and their morale, allowing them to launch numerous counterattacks. Arabs suffered large casualties, including Fashid himself, and in Acquitaine, another rebellion begun, forcing the Arabs to retreat. Albeit the Bretons still held on to East Armoria, while the Arabs still had Burgundy (not counting Besancon), the Saxons claimed victory, which allowed them to create a centralized (more or less) state.
das
Regeneration In Process
Uh, anyone still reading this? Should I continue it?
Vanadorn
Motorcycling Paladin
Of course! Keep on writing, please.
V
V
majk-iii
Eeh?
yes, please do.
das
Regeneration In Process
Chapter Nine.
Meanwhile, in 763, many Byzantine politicians were awaiting the very end of it all. After the fall of Egypt to the Arabs, the Byzantines did not panic too much. Constantinople was safe. Even after two Arab sieges followed the nearly-succesful Avar one, the Byzantines continued to plot and intrigue. After the defeat at the hands of Liudprand in Italy, some gave thought to the possible fall of the Roman Empire. But they soon dismissed it as well. Even after Aistulf reduced their presence in Italy to Sicily alone, and after the Berbers seized Sardinia, Malta and the Balearic Islands having defeated the Byzantine fleet, most believed that it was but a temporary setback.
But now, there was panic. Badly-hidden panic.
Back in 681, the Byzantines officially acknowledged the Bulgar holdings between Danube and the Balkan Mountains. Bulgar capital was established at Pliska by their Khan, Asparukh. At first, the Bulgars were not particularily hostile, assisting Justinian II to retake control in the Byzantine Empire, something for which Tervel, Asparukh's successor, gained the title "caeser".
But Tervel passed away, and his successors were warmongering. Their raids and campaigns against Byzantine Empire were defeated with ease, until 761. Byzantine forces were away, defending Otranto from the Lombards. It was then that Khan Shumen (OOC: no information as to who really was the Bulgar khan in that year, unfortunately) decided to strike. The Bulgar horde was similar to the Avar one, but was even more swift. Soon enough, the horse-tail banners of the Bulgar Khan were seen near Adrinople. In February 762, Adrinople fell, and the road to Constantinople was wide open. The city was quickly besieged.
Constantine V Copronymus panicked when he received the news of the siege. Quickly accepting all the peace terms with the Lombards, he and his army immediately returned to Macedonnia. The Bulgars expected it, though, and the Byzantines were ambushed and slowed down along the way...
As of January 763, Constantinople's citizens were at the breaking point. The walls still held, but their imaginations told them that Bulgars no doubt have some way of breaking through. And what would come then? Death? Yes. Slow, painful death, replied the few survivors from Adrinople.
Constantine's Kataphraktoi, hastily assembled in Thessaloniki, arrived in February 763, one year and two days after the fall of Adrianople. They faced the Bulgar horde in a battle at Maritsa River. After a long and bloody massacre at the bridge leading over the river, the main part of the battle commenced as the Bulgars reorganized and received reinforcements...
Meanwhile, in 763, many Byzantine politicians were awaiting the very end of it all. After the fall of Egypt to the Arabs, the Byzantines did not panic too much. Constantinople was safe. Even after two Arab sieges followed the nearly-succesful Avar one, the Byzantines continued to plot and intrigue. After the defeat at the hands of Liudprand in Italy, some gave thought to the possible fall of the Roman Empire. But they soon dismissed it as well. Even after Aistulf reduced their presence in Italy to Sicily alone, and after the Berbers seized Sardinia, Malta and the Balearic Islands having defeated the Byzantine fleet, most believed that it was but a temporary setback.
But now, there was panic. Badly-hidden panic.
Back in 681, the Byzantines officially acknowledged the Bulgar holdings between Danube and the Balkan Mountains. Bulgar capital was established at Pliska by their Khan, Asparukh. At first, the Bulgars were not particularily hostile, assisting Justinian II to retake control in the Byzantine Empire, something for which Tervel, Asparukh's successor, gained the title "caeser".
But Tervel passed away, and his successors were warmongering. Their raids and campaigns against Byzantine Empire were defeated with ease, until 761. Byzantine forces were away, defending Otranto from the Lombards. It was then that Khan Shumen (OOC: no information as to who really was the Bulgar khan in that year, unfortunately) decided to strike. The Bulgar horde was similar to the Avar one, but was even more swift. Soon enough, the horse-tail banners of the Bulgar Khan were seen near Adrinople. In February 762, Adrinople fell, and the road to Constantinople was wide open. The city was quickly besieged.
Constantine V Copronymus panicked when he received the news of the siege. Quickly accepting all the peace terms with the Lombards, he and his army immediately returned to Macedonnia. The Bulgars expected it, though, and the Byzantines were ambushed and slowed down along the way...
As of January 763, Constantinople's citizens were at the breaking point. The walls still held, but their imaginations told them that Bulgars no doubt have some way of breaking through. And what would come then? Death? Yes. Slow, painful death, replied the few survivors from Adrinople.
Constantine's Kataphraktoi, hastily assembled in Thessaloniki, arrived in February 763, one year and two days after the fall of Adrianople. They faced the Bulgar horde in a battle at Maritsa River. After a long and bloody massacre at the bridge leading over the river, the main part of the battle commenced as the Bulgars reorganized and received reinforcements...
das
Regeneration In Process
If you want a new chapter, then say so.
Vanadorn
Motorcycling Paladin
From the Sultantate to the Kingdoms, from the Tribes and Councils and Senates, Lords and Ladies, Dukes and Emirs, Captains, Chiefs and common folk as well all give you a resounding:
There, we've all said so. Write damn you. Write until you're finished. There is nothing better that putting the word "finis" on a piece you've completed.
SO!
There, we've all said so. Write damn you. Write until you're finished. There is nothing better that putting the word "finis" on a piece you've completed.
das
Regeneration In Process
OOC: Actually, you should have made a "so" WITHOUT an exclamation mark. But I'll let that pass, knowing that if I do not post a new chapter, my life could be in danger.
IC:
Chapter Ten.
Patroklos charged next to the Emperor, all riding into the center of the Bulgar forces. This decisive charge could turn the tide of the battle. Infantry marched in from behind, but to break the enemy ranks, cavalry was needed. The Kataphraktoi.
Noises of the battle filled the air. The other Kataphraktois clashed with the Bulgar left-flank horsemen. Patraklos killed one of the Bulgar archers who failed to run away, his sword crushing the enemy's skull, and then chased the next archer. The archer suddenly dropped his bow and grabbed a spear that Patraklos somehow did not notice. The Bulgar tried to kill Patraklos' horse, but a Byzantine arrow killed him. This was just luck.
But luck was running out. The Bulgar spearmen were marching towards the Kataphraktoi. Byzantine archers fired away at them, but it did not help too much.
In a battle, rain can be a blessing or a curse. For Patraklos it was a curse, as Byzantine archers were farther away then the Bulgar ones. Their aim deteriorated, and one of their arrows killed Patraklos' horse. By a stroke of luck, Patraklos managed to stand on the ground, and faced the approaching spearmen. He realized that he himself was wounded as well, and charged at them, deciding to die in the heat of a battle. Killing one of the surprised Buglar spearmen, he was impaled by the next one.
Patraklos, a simple Kataphraktoi, died. He never saw the other Kataphraktoi retreat from the spearmen and wreak havoc on Bulgar right flank. Never saw the Imperial Guard tear through the Bulgar ranks. Never saw the Byzantine infantry follow them to crush the enemy. Never saw the nomad mercenaries capture Khan Shumen.
Never saw the victory at Maritsa River, the triumph in the style of Ancient Caesers in Constantinople, and the following victories. The capture of Pliska and the end of the Bulgar Empire.
Never did he witness the Constantine's great campaigns after it, securing the border first at Danube, and then the great victory at Savaria and the end of the crumbling Avar Khanate, the border moving to the Carpathian Mountains.
He never found out of this new Byzantine Revival, but it did happen. Constantine V, Constantine the Conqueror, rebuilt the Byzantine Empire through military reforms, the cessation of attempts to regain Italy in favor of an East European empire and through his great victories over barbarian Bulgars and Avars. The Byzantine Empire's spirit was revived in February 763 Anno Domini. He never saw it.
---
IC:
Chapter Ten.
Patroklos charged next to the Emperor, all riding into the center of the Bulgar forces. This decisive charge could turn the tide of the battle. Infantry marched in from behind, but to break the enemy ranks, cavalry was needed. The Kataphraktoi.
Noises of the battle filled the air. The other Kataphraktois clashed with the Bulgar left-flank horsemen. Patraklos killed one of the Bulgar archers who failed to run away, his sword crushing the enemy's skull, and then chased the next archer. The archer suddenly dropped his bow and grabbed a spear that Patraklos somehow did not notice. The Bulgar tried to kill Patraklos' horse, but a Byzantine arrow killed him. This was just luck.
But luck was running out. The Bulgar spearmen were marching towards the Kataphraktoi. Byzantine archers fired away at them, but it did not help too much.
In a battle, rain can be a blessing or a curse. For Patraklos it was a curse, as Byzantine archers were farther away then the Bulgar ones. Their aim deteriorated, and one of their arrows killed Patraklos' horse. By a stroke of luck, Patraklos managed to stand on the ground, and faced the approaching spearmen. He realized that he himself was wounded as well, and charged at them, deciding to die in the heat of a battle. Killing one of the surprised Buglar spearmen, he was impaled by the next one.
Patraklos, a simple Kataphraktoi, died. He never saw the other Kataphraktoi retreat from the spearmen and wreak havoc on Bulgar right flank. Never saw the Imperial Guard tear through the Bulgar ranks. Never saw the Byzantine infantry follow them to crush the enemy. Never saw the nomad mercenaries capture Khan Shumen.
Never saw the victory at Maritsa River, the triumph in the style of Ancient Caesers in Constantinople, and the following victories. The capture of Pliska and the end of the Bulgar Empire.
Never did he witness the Constantine's great campaigns after it, securing the border first at Danube, and then the great victory at Savaria and the end of the crumbling Avar Khanate, the border moving to the Carpathian Mountains.
He never found out of this new Byzantine Revival, but it did happen. Constantine V, Constantine the Conqueror, rebuilt the Byzantine Empire through military reforms, the cessation of attempts to regain Italy in favor of an East European empire and through his great victories over barbarian Bulgars and Avars. The Byzantine Empire's spirit was revived in February 763 Anno Domini. He never saw it.
---
das
Regeneration In Process
Sorry, no new chapter yet. But soon, I will have something for you.
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
It's getting better.
das
Regeneration In Process
Chapter Eleven.
In 772, the Lombard Renaissance is believed to have begun, as Queen Desiderata I, the Philosopher Queen, came to power. A patron of arts, she nevertheless also controlled the nation competently. However, her main aim during her rule was to improve Rome’s position as a center of culture, trade and minds.
Upon Desiderata inheriting the Lombard Italy in October 772, it’s rise somehow stagnated. Having gained the mainland Italy in 762, and later, in 765, using Leo IV’s failed coup in Constantinople, captured Sicily, Aistulf I had no longer the space to expand into. His son, Aistulf II, attempted to capture Sardinia, but failed and died, making his successor, Desirus, seek to avoid military campaigns. Thus, the Lombard expansion stagnated, and culture also made no particular advances.
As of 772, albeit the Christian church still was officially unified, the division between Western and Eastern (or Italian and Byzantine, or Iconic and Iconoclastic) churches grew, and greatly damaged the relations between religious officials of the Byzantine Empire and Lombard Italy. It is believed that in part, Desiderata organized the Renaissance having been persuaded by the Pope that the Iconic Church needs to gain a cultural advantage over the Byzantines (who, at the time, were somehow more culturally advanced then the Lombards).
Allowing general Valius (at that point, the Latin names were getting even more popular in all the layers of Lombard society) to command the military reforms (incorporation of Provence’s army, construction of fortifications there and in the port cities, rebuilding of the fleet after Sardinia disaster), Desiderata concentrated on improving the education. She formed academies throughout the land, and invited best philosophers and scholars to Italia. From as far as Mercia (in particular, Alquin), they came to her court.
Culture was getting a significant boom from this. Not only were numerous Roman cities restored to their former glory, and not only were palaces and academies built throughout Italia. As Latin slowly was being reincarnated, now as the Italian language, so were numerous advances made in literature. Old texts were copied and much seeked-after, while such epics as the anonymous “Liudprandiade” and Paulus the Deacon’s Historia Langobardorum Italia appeared. Humanist approaches also appeared, and poetry florished, in part under Alquin of York and the Lombard Arnulfus of Pavia.
Neither was trade neglected. With Valius rebuilding the fleet, Rome, Syracuse, Venice and Marseilles soon enough became important trade centers – especially after, despite the critique from several religious leaders, a treaty was signed with the Arab Caliphate in 781, enabling trade and making sure that the Berbers don’t raid Lombard territories (allowing them to switch to terrorizing Greece and the Aegean Sea).
When Desiderata passed away in 800 AD, the Lombards – albeit by then they were more Italians then Lombards – mourned her like only Liutprando before her. Albeit no territorial expansion took place during her reign, the final stage of the merge between Lombards and native Romans was complete, as Latin soon enough became, if not the most important, then the second language of Italia. Some even named this the restoration of the Western Roman Empire.
In 772, the Lombard Renaissance is believed to have begun, as Queen Desiderata I, the Philosopher Queen, came to power. A patron of arts, she nevertheless also controlled the nation competently. However, her main aim during her rule was to improve Rome’s position as a center of culture, trade and minds.
Upon Desiderata inheriting the Lombard Italy in October 772, it’s rise somehow stagnated. Having gained the mainland Italy in 762, and later, in 765, using Leo IV’s failed coup in Constantinople, captured Sicily, Aistulf I had no longer the space to expand into. His son, Aistulf II, attempted to capture Sardinia, but failed and died, making his successor, Desirus, seek to avoid military campaigns. Thus, the Lombard expansion stagnated, and culture also made no particular advances.
As of 772, albeit the Christian church still was officially unified, the division between Western and Eastern (or Italian and Byzantine, or Iconic and Iconoclastic) churches grew, and greatly damaged the relations between religious officials of the Byzantine Empire and Lombard Italy. It is believed that in part, Desiderata organized the Renaissance having been persuaded by the Pope that the Iconic Church needs to gain a cultural advantage over the Byzantines (who, at the time, were somehow more culturally advanced then the Lombards).
Allowing general Valius (at that point, the Latin names were getting even more popular in all the layers of Lombard society) to command the military reforms (incorporation of Provence’s army, construction of fortifications there and in the port cities, rebuilding of the fleet after Sardinia disaster), Desiderata concentrated on improving the education. She formed academies throughout the land, and invited best philosophers and scholars to Italia. From as far as Mercia (in particular, Alquin), they came to her court.
Culture was getting a significant boom from this. Not only were numerous Roman cities restored to their former glory, and not only were palaces and academies built throughout Italia. As Latin slowly was being reincarnated, now as the Italian language, so were numerous advances made in literature. Old texts were copied and much seeked-after, while such epics as the anonymous “Liudprandiade” and Paulus the Deacon’s Historia Langobardorum Italia appeared. Humanist approaches also appeared, and poetry florished, in part under Alquin of York and the Lombard Arnulfus of Pavia.
Neither was trade neglected. With Valius rebuilding the fleet, Rome, Syracuse, Venice and Marseilles soon enough became important trade centers – especially after, despite the critique from several religious leaders, a treaty was signed with the Arab Caliphate in 781, enabling trade and making sure that the Berbers don’t raid Lombard territories (allowing them to switch to terrorizing Greece and the Aegean Sea).
When Desiderata passed away in 800 AD, the Lombards – albeit by then they were more Italians then Lombards – mourned her like only Liutprando before her. Albeit no territorial expansion took place during her reign, the final stage of the merge between Lombards and native Romans was complete, as Latin soon enough became, if not the most important, then the second language of Italia. Some even named this the restoration of the Western Roman Empire.
