[RFC:E] . The Roman Emperors

[Gruekiller]

Clockwise, it's Italias (Italy), Makedonias (Macedonia), Achaia (Greece), Thraki (Thrace), Asiani (Asia Minor), Pontos (Pontus), Syrioi (Syria), Palaistini (Palestine), Egyptos (Egypt), and Kyrini (Cyrenaica).

 

[AbsintheRed]

@Danger Bird
Wow, great to see an RFCE story
You are playing with Beta 13, right?

 

[Tigranes]

After the copper I always hook gold, not salt And I don't improve Jerusalem before the flip.

I kept telling RFCE team to replace not historical independent Rhodes with Byzantine one, flipping to Arabs, perhaps...

 

[christos200]

er, can you turn the Greek into something we can read please?

I can read it.

 

[Tigranes]

Any math/science major can read it as well, if he knows a little English and history

 

[Danger Bird]

Gruekiller, Oohforf, and AbsintheRed, welcome. Thanks also for the translation, Gruekiller. @Civ'ed: I will use English for anything that is really important.

@AbsintheRed: Yes, I am using the beta 13. Looking forward to lots of surprises and perhaps a steep learning curve.

@Tigranes: Salt was a priority when I saw that there were not many health-enhancing resources around. I guess I will have to get used to unhealthy cities in RFC:E, but I have an instinct to keep cities excessively healthy, as that is a strategy I use in regular RFC to keep the length of the plague to a minimum.

And I had a feeling that investments in Jerusalem might be in vain, but my early leaders are confident in their ability to keep the eastern possessions.

 

[Gruekiller]

Huh! So my transliterations were correct? I winged it just a little. I can read Cyrillic, but not necessarily the Greek alphabet.

 

[filli_noctus]

Huh! So my transliterations were correct? I winged it just a little. I can read Cyrillic, but not necessarily the Greek alphabet.

Very close, you transliterated eta (H) as I instead of E but everything else is correct.

 

[AbsintheRed]

@AbsintheRed: Yes, I am using the beta 13. Looking forward to lots of surprises and perhaps a steep learning curve.

I hope you will enjoy it
These type of games are also perfect for feedback
With so many people commenting on everything that happens, it's a gold mine
Only negative thing is the speed - many things will already be changed/improved by the time your game is finished...

 

[Tigranes]

And I had a feeling that investments in Jerusalem might be in vain, but my early leaders are confident in their ability to keep the eastern possessions.

Are you going to refuse the flip?

 

[Danger Bird]

The words of comes excubitorum Flavius Tiberius Constantinus - on the occasion of his being appointed regent, after the abdication of Justin II in 574* - according to the obscure scribe Marcellus of Sycae:

*Other historians have recorded insanity as the most likely reason for Justin's abdication. It is reported that he had on numerous occasions bit his court attendants, sometimes causing significant loss of blood. In a moment of rare lucidity, he delivered a repentant and uplifting speech, which many belief was penned by his wife Sophia. Tiberius was responding to this speech.

The hand of God gives supreme power, and splendour, and for a time the grace hold power and to reflect splendour, but as the passionate but tender Justinus Junior Augustus has taught us, we are, all of us, too weak of will and tarnished by sin to be unfailing stewards of God's power. In his modesty he has dwelt on his shortcomings, but I will speak to his graciousness and steadfastness as a leader.

As he has bid us - "Love your people like yourself; cultivate the affections, maintain the discipline, of the army; protect the fortunes of the rich, relieve the necessities of the poor." - so were his deeds.

Our emperor has loved the realm from Apulia to Palestine, and utilised every resource to defend the people, whether from the barbarians who are plundering Illyria, the horsemen of the east, or the heretics who still hold sway over most of Italy. Indeed, I have received word just this week that our emperor has directed an expedition to scout the lands beyond Roma in the hope that he might extend his benevolence there as well, to the people who now langour under the yoke of the Goths and yearn for the restoration of Roman rule.

The 1st Thraki Tourma scouts the borders of Tuscany.

Our emperor has cultivated the affection of all, inviting the Nestorians and the Monophysites to his court and tirelessly pleading with them to reconcile.

Our emperor has maintained the discipline of the army, which of late has only been victorious in itts skirmishes with the forces of chaos at the borders of our realm. Justin II has rewarded bravery, as his promotion of the 1st Hadrianopolis Tourma attests. He has not given to protests, and has graciously funded the Thracian 2nd Tourma, which selflessly maintains a steely eye on the eastern frontier.

The 2nd Thraki Tourma, from 568, funded by the citizens of the capital, maintains battle-readiness in Antioch

And our emperor has been a friend to rich and poor alike, guarding the fortunes and estates from harm, upholding the market laws of the empire, and providing sustenance and shelter to the weak.

I am honoured to serve this emperor who I may also be bold enough to call a dear friend, to accept his wisest counsels, to confer respectfully with his cherished Sophia, and fear the almighty hand of God.

The Empire at 578:
Shaky. State religion: Christianity.
Treasury: 630 million solidi. Total commerce: 190.
Tax income: 55, Research: 117, Espionage: 18.
Expenses: 77 (Military maintenance: 13, Military supply: 1, City maintenance: 9, Civic maintenance: 54).

 

[Gruekiller]

Your stability is improving, I see! Hopefully when the Arabs show up, Rhomanion will manage to keep it that way.

 

[Tigranes]

I really like your unique style, even the way you crop pictures to leave them without interface. However at times I feel like checking how many turns are left for Horse Archers or how much of the mini map have you scouted. Do you crop your pictures just for the sake of style, or you simply dislike posting big pictures?

 

[Danger Bird]

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust does corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Matthew 6:20​

Excerpt from a letter (dated c. 582) from a prominent merchant of Athens, who had lost his timber estate to pirates raiding by sea from Epirus, appealing to a military tribune in Constantinopolis for aid:

...And I don't want to run on about 'our dear emperor', but as I have entrusted this letter to a most reliable servant, forgive me if I do just a little.
Tiberius may have talked his lofty talk, and there are still a few morons around here who call him a great emperor, but I am not among them. He was a shifty character from the beginning. Soon as he took up the co-regency (he wouldn't say it that way, but he had to share power with the wife) he started giving away the treasury to anyone who could help him hold on to power. I think he called it 'cultivating the affections' or something. I am astounded the patricians in the capital let him get away with it, 'cause it's not exactly a secret. I mean, the empire is more or less at peace, honest merchants are doing their jobs and keeping the cargo ships full of wool and wine and what have you, and we know that taxes are still plenty high, but even so - were losing money? How can this be? And here in Athens they have just built this new barracks, bright shiny new stones they were hauling up from the port for the last year or so, and what do they do? They send our Tourma up to Thessalonica to deal with some 'crisis' and so now we have a shiny new building with nobody staying there, nobody training there, and no call for new recruits - nothing. And that's why there was no help when the bandits started landing at my estate and chopping and dragging away whatever they please. I guess this Tiberius isn't interested in cultivating my affections. Someone should just put him out of his misery because I don't think I can take much more of seeing his smug little face on every solidus that passes through my hands.
All right, I have gone on a bit, haven't I? So, I know you've got some say in the military council, and you know I'd make it worth your while, so...

The Empire at 582:
Shaky. State religion: Christianity.
Treasury: 608 million solidi. Total commerce: 190.
Tax income: 55, Research: 117, Espionage: 18.
Expenses: 78 (Military maintenance: 14, Military supply: 1, City maintenance: 9, Civic maintenance: 54).

 

[Danger Bird]

I really like your unique style, even the way you crop pictures to leave them without interface. However at times I feel like checking how many turns are left for Horse Archers or how much of the mini map have you scouted. Do you crop your pictures just for the sake of style, or you simply dislike posting big pictures?

Stirrup is now researched, so horse archers are available, but I haven't trained one yet. You've mentioned horse archers more than onece, so something tells me I should get a few, and quick.

As for the style, I don't really like the look of the interface in the pictures with the text, and I like to keep the pictures small (I have a low-res laptop screen). But maybe I should put a whole screen picture in a spoiler on each update. I'll try that.

 

[christos200]

Great update.

 

[Tigranes]

Stirrup is now researched, so horse archers are available, but I haven't trained one yet. You've mentioned horse archers more than onece, so something tells me I should get a few, and quick.

I mean, you need some mobile troops to shift between Arabs, Bulgarians and Barbarians quickly. Plus check your Mercenary screen -- some Avar Horse Archers become available after your research. And finally you want to have some Cataphracts one day, better sooner than later

 

[hoplitejoe]

All the Byz fans must be so upset you can't conquer rome

 

[Danger Bird]

There are very few sources for the Maurician period, possibly due to the relative security from threats without, and the lack of plots of intrigue within. Biographers are forced to piece together a picture of the empire from fragmented military records and bureaucratic ledgers.

From the records of the Military Tribunal in Antioch, c. 590:

...covering the ground of the foothills and wheatfields to our north. We have put the archers on the ramparts facing upriver and downriver; they aren't likely to attempt a river crossing very near the town. Urgently need assistance of the Tourma stationed there. We will do our utmost to prevent them from entering the town, but have ordered an evacuation to the forested hills to our south, and the garrison will follow if the Persians break through. Even if the reinforcements are late and we are forced to retreat, we can retake the town with their aid. We know not what is in the heathens' minds though - do they want the town, or our heads. Pray for God's deliverance.
(Demetrius 'Strabo', Captain, Charsiadon Garrison)

Arrived in Caesarea to be greeted by 'Strabo', as they call him there. An imposing man indeed, to match his name, even if he was missing an arm. We owe the salvation of the town to him and his brave men. According to his lieutenants, Strabo was fighting the horsemen at arm's length as they galloped up from the river, and took down over 12 horses before he was cut by the sword. They say the Persians fought like madmen, having lost two thirds of their number while crossing the river, the ones that entered the town struck down many a good man.
(John Mystacon, Commander of the 2nd Thraki Tourma)

From a letter from John Mystacon to the High Tribunal in Constantinopolis.

... If ever a garrison deserved to be honoured by triumph, this is one. They have been valiant in the defence of the emperor's homeland, emulating the best qualities of Mauricius Tiberius while he was magister militum in the east. ...

The Charsiadon Archers, honoured after fighting off the 5th Sassanid incursion.

From the records of reports from bureaucrats sent to the provinces to monitor their economic development:

Anatolikon: ...Irrigation and opening up of farmland progressing swiftly. This will be one of the empire's most proseperous regions. ...

Syria: ...The governor reported that iron is now being mined in the Golan hills. I was dubious at first, but was taken with armed escort to see the shafts in operation. Due to risk of raids from the desert, they must have constant military escort. I am fearful for the safety of Jerusalem, and recommended that they put all available resources into raising extra tourmai for their defence. ...
...We cannot be their guardians forever. ...

The development of the regions of Iconium and Jerusalem.

Antiochia: ...Workers have repaired the road to Aleppo, and a makeshift fort has been established at its halfway point. It is from here that the tourma from Thraki will maintain the security of the region. I can report that I am very optimistic that the worst of the Persian raids is over, now that our attention is focussed and the bravery of our men unquestioned. ...

Aleppo Road and 2nd Thraki Tourma.

Thessaloniki: ...We have succeeded, with your lordship's insight, in creating an industrial powerhouse in Thessalonica. The second mines are in operation, and the production of weapons by the ironworkers of the city, and the recently refurbished barracks, makes this a reliable base for building our military might. ...

Opsikion: ... Gangs of plebians have been rounded up and given useful work to do, preparing the roads and mine shafts to exploit the great seam of iron ore to the north of the city Smyrna. There is still work to be done here, to discipline the people: this region may shed its slothful and epicurean ways soon, but only under the constant eye and rod of the masters. ...

Thessalonica and Smyrna.

Egypt: ...Since my last visit the most remarkable change I have noted is the growing mercantile sector, which rivals that of the capital city itself. Five whole rows of buildings that were part of the fish market back in 582, have been given over to the selling and buying of wares. There are people here from Italy and Pontus buying for their masters at home. This is a promising setting for a revision of the tax code. Of course we do not want to stifle their activity, but some of their wealth must be properly steered into preparations for the empire's security. ...

The growing mercantile sector in Alexandria.

From the naval records of the military port of Piraeus:

Completed the assignation of galleys to the two fleets which will replace the Classis Thracia. One, the Classis Aegea, will remain close to home, stationed here in Piraeus, to serve the needs of the emperor and protect the growing merchant trade. The other, the Classis Italia, will be charged with the security of the seaways to Italy and the west coast of Hellas, and to the task of ferrying our troops on their military expeditions westward, of which I have heard but of which in detail I know nothing. Their commander is seasoned and well-liked by his men.

The Classis Italia sailing for Sicily and beyond, with the Athinai and Thessalonica Tourmai.

The Empire at 600:
Shaky. State religion: Christianity.
Treasury: 499 million solidi. Total commerce: 210.
Tax income: 63, Research: 129, Espionage: 18.
Expenses: 84 (Military maintenance: 14, Military supply: 1, City maintenance: 9, Civic maintenance: 60).

Spoiler Overview - full screenshot :

 

[Danger Bird]

I mean, you need some mobile troops to shift between Arabs, Bulgarians and Barbarians quickly. Plus check your Mercenary screen -- some Avar Horse Archers become available after your research. And finally you want to have some Cataphracts one day, better sooner than later

You can probably see that I am taking your advice.

All the Byz fans must be so upset you can't conquer rome

* Note to those not familiar with RFC:Europe: No one can declare war on Rome, that is, the Papal State.

I am upset, but I'll live with it. I might just pretend that they have capitulated to me (and I've allowed them nominal independence) - that is, if I take more of the Western Empire.