--------------------------------------------------------------------- God Wills It Brief for Byzantine team --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Alexius thought deeply about a project and then worked with tremendous energy to complete it. Such were the events of the Emperor's reign up to 1095. He had no time to relax before he heard a rumour that countless Frankish armies were approaching. He dreaded their arrival, knowing as he did their uncontrollable passion, their erratic character and their irresolution, not to mention the other peculiar traits of the Latins, with their inevitable consequences: their greed for money, for example, which always led them, it seemed to break their own agreements without scruple for any chance reason. He had consistently heard this of them and it was abundantly justified. So far from despairing however, he made every effort to prepare for war if need arose. What actually happened was more far-reaching and terrible than rumour suggested, for the whole of the West, and all the barbarians who lived between the Adriatic and the Straits of Gibraltar migrated in a body to Asia, marching across Europe country by country with all their households..." (The Alexiad of Anna Comnena, daughter of Alexius I) Contents Page No. Introduction 1. Background 2. The Imperial Army 3. The Imperial Navy 4. The Use of Diplomacy 5. The Imperial Treasury 6. The Imperial Civil Service - The Post - Intelligence - Petchenegs 7. Imperial Military Thinking - Strategy - Tactics 8. Objectives of the Imperial Team 9. Opinions of the Franks 10. Opinions of the Moslems 11. The Current Situation - The political situation in the East - The appeal to the West 12. The Byzantine Team - What you have to do - Characters 13. Other Key Characters - Seldjuks - Fatimids - Franks --------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the basic briefing for the Byzantine team, the Emperor Alexius and his advisors. It is June 1096 and you are all based in Constantinople, the biggest, wealthiest and most splendid city in the world, the city at the centre of the Great Empire of the East, the true heirs of Imperial Rome; civilised, rich beyond the imagining of lesser men, and still immensely powerful - but beset on all sides by the threats of semi civilised and barbarous races. It is your sacred duty to maintain the Empire's power and authority, to defend and rebuild the last glories of the great Roman Empire. In your strength is to be found the true strength of Christianity, the real defenders of the faith against the infidel hordes of Islam. But with all the wealth, culture and discipline of a great Empire, you suffer from a desperate shortage of manpower. To defend and rebuild Imperial strength, the Empire has come to make much use of mercenary troops over the last seventy or so years, sometimes with great success, (although sometimes at great cost as mercenaries have occasionally betrayed their masters). In the last few years many of these mercenaries have come from the West, and a year ago you sent ambassadors to your new friend, Pope Urban II, asking for Papal help in finding new recruits. Instead what seems to be coming your way is a huge movement of people; a rabble of adventurers led by Peter the Hermit has already entered the Imperial lands and is approaching Constantinople. But behind them you hear rumours of great armies being organised to come to Constantinople. This is not what you had planned; what you now have to do is to arrive at a strategy for using this flood of new blood to your own advantage and that of the Empire. This briefing gives you some background to the current situation, an outline of your resources, your team objectives, and some details for how your game will work. Personal briefs will be supplied on the day of the game. There are very few rules for how the Byzantines should play their game; it's up to you within the context of this brief and the general game handbook, and in consultation with your umpires. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Background --------------------------------------------------------------------- Alexius comes to the throne Nephew of the Emperor Romanus Diagenes, Alexius Comnenus was a veteran of the civil wars and intrigues that had followed the disaster at Manzikert in 1071. He had remained loyal to the new Emperors, Michael and then Nicephorus until court intrigues forced him into rebellion for his own safety. In 1081 he established himself as Emperor, forcing Nicephorus to retire to a monastery. He was a young man, not yet thirty years old, but he had already established himself as the Empire's foremost general. (It was in these early campaigns that he learned not to trust the Franks since twice he was deserted in battle by Frankish mercenaries). The Empire's military might had been destroyed at Manzikert, and the fabled treasury was almost empty. Palace intrigues and conspiracies dominated Byzantine politics, while the Imperial borders were threatened from the West by the Norman Robert Guiscard, from the East by the growing power of the Seldjuk Turks and from the North by the Serbs and the Petcheneg Turks. The organisation of the Empire was in chaos. Alexius consolidates his position From 1081 to 1085 Alexius was engaged in a war with the Normans of Sicily for control of his Western provinces. By 1085 he was free from this danger as the Normans started fighting among themselves after Robert Guiscard's death. But meanwhile the Eastern provinces had been lost, including Antioch, Edessa, Melitene, Nicaea, Nicomedia and the Anatolian shores of Marmora. Also the Empire was facing invasion from the North; it was not until 1091 that Alexius could really believe himself relatively secure in the North. With so much going on Alexius has had to rely on diplomacy to keep the Seldjuks in the East from extending their conquests further. Family dispute among the Seldjuk ruling family after the death of Suleiman ibn-Kutulmush left Alexius in his element, plotting with one chieftain against another, playing on their mutual jealousies, offering each in turn bribes and even hints of marriage alliances. This policy has been very successful in stabilising the situation and avoiding any further encroachment upon the Empire. Now, with the situation in the West and North under control, the army and navy rebuilt (albeit with mercenary troops) and a full treasury again, Alexius can turn his attention to regaining the Eastern provinces. The Empire in 1095 By 1095 the Emperor Alexius I has rebuilt Imperial power to an astonishing extent. He has strengthened his family's connections in the Byzantine aristocracy by marrying into the Ducas family, old enemies and rivals of the Comneni. He has created a new and elaborate system of titles to satisfy the ambitions and pretensions of other families with imperial connections. Despite being in constant danger from court intrigue he has survived and is now in a firmer position of power than at any previous time in his reign. He has also rebuilt the Imperial Treasury to an extraordinary extent by a mixture of taxation, forced loans, and the development of trade and industry. He can now easily afford to pay for a large administrative service as well as the rebuilt army and navy (see below). Most important of all he can afford to maintain a sumptuous court and to make lavish gifts in pursuit of his aims, to loyal subjects, to visiting envoys and to foreign rulers. For he knows that in the East prestige and power depends entirely on splendour and magnificence. Niggardliness is a sign of weakness and insecurity. It is easier to achieve objectives by the judicial use of money than by war, if you are very short of manpower! --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. The Imperial Army --------------------------------------------------------------------- In the years since Manzikert and the Civil Wars, Alexius has rebuilt the Imperial army and navy to an extraordinary extent, although he is still forced to rely to a very large extent on foreign mercenaries. However, good leadership and careful recruitment have created for Alexius a much more loyal mercenary army than previous Emperors have enjoyed, and in particular he receives almost fanatical loyalty from the largely Anglo- Saxon Varangian Guard and from the regiments of light cavalry recruited from the Petcheneg Turks whom he has so recently defeated. The Imperial army nucleus (i.e. the regular troops without calling out the provincial thema) now consists of the following units : - the Vardariots, a cavalry regiment (3,000 men) of Christianised Turks from Macedonia - the Latinikon, a cavalry regiment (3,000) of Frankish mercenaries, mainly at this date of Norman extraction, commanded by the Konastablos - the Turcopouli, a light cavalry regiment (3,000) comprised of the sons of Christianised Turks and Seldjuk and Turcoman mercenaries. - the Skythikon, five regiments of Petcheneg light horse (5 x 3,000 = 15,000), traditionally used as the Empire's light cavalry and as its military police force. - the Vestiaritae, two regiments of Greek heavy infantry (2 x 3,000 = 6,000) - the Varangia, the famous Imperial bodyguard, (3,000) The rest of the Imperial army is deployed on frontier and garrison duty, and is not available to the Emperor in this game. Calling out the thema is possible but only in the direst of emergencies, and in defence of the Empire. It will cost a lot, take time, and cause political friction in the Empire. Only the Emperor can do it and he must consult a control umpire first. The Emperor's deployable troops therefore consist of 6,000 heavy cavalry, 18,000 light cavalry, and 9,000 regular infantry. In addition the Emperor controls two siege trains (consisting of materials, and skilled engineers and miners). Each regiment is divided into three banda of 1,000 men each, and each banda into two pentarchiae of 500 men each. The pentarchiae are the smallest deployable unit in this game. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The Imperial Navy --------------------------------------------------------------------- Under previous emperors the navy had been neglected as much as the army, even being defeated by the Venetian allies of Robert Guiscard and his son Bohemond some fifteen years earlier. Alexius has rectified the situation now and the navy is stronger than it has been for thirty years. It now consists of : - - 50 dromons , the heavy battleships of the day. Two banks of oars, quite heavily armoured. - 40 pamphyli, the cruisers of the fleet. Also two banks of oars, but lighter and much more manoeuvrable than the dromon. - 100 galaiai, single banked light vessels, the frigates and sloops of the day. Besides conventional naval fighting (i.e. closing and boarding), the Byzantine navy has the great advantage of the dreaded Greek fire, an extremely early form of napalm. While other nationalities have got hold of some quantities of Greek Fire, it is pretty clear that only the Greeks have ready access and the capacity to manufacture in large quantities. The navy is therefore once again a powerful instrument of Imperial policy. It can be divided into up to three fleets. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. The Use of Diplomacy --------------------------------------------------------------------- Constantinople is the wealthiest, largest and most beautiful city in the world. It truly has inherited the 'glory that was Rome'. For many years one of the prime diplomatic tactics of the Emperors has been to use the wealth and splendour of the city and the court to impress and overwhelm foreigners. As one historian has described it, visitors always met "a precisely regulated and ceremonious etiquette from the moment of their arrival at Constantinople. The aim was to impress foreigners by the splendour of the capital and the pomp of the court and its ceremonial... an envoy's first impression of his reception by the Emperor must have been overwhelming. The foreigner was led into the Audience Hall of the Palace through rows of Imperial bodyguards and past the assembled throng of the high dignitaries in rich vestments. One final curtain was drawn aside to expose the Emperor clad in his robes of state seated on his throne". The whole purpose of Byzantine democracy is to get other people to do your dirty work for you; use your wealth and Imperial splendour to impress, overawe and bribe them. Using wealth to achieve your ends is not immoral; it is an absolutely normal arm of diplomacy. Bribing some to stay loyal and others to rebel; all of this is grist to the mill to a Byzantine diplomat! In negotiations, don't be afraid to promise things for the future (titles, etc.) but be cautious of what you commit to, since public oaths are important even to the Byzantine Court. It's much better to get oaths sworn to you. Avoid swearing oaths that commit you unless you can't avoid them! --------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. The Imperial Treasury --------------------------------------------------------------------- You have an annual income of 750,000 marks. Maintenance of the State (bureaucracy, army and navy) takes 400,000 marks a year. On top of that you have been spending around 100,000 marks a year on maintaining the splendour of the Court, although this could be cut back if necessary. This leaves you with a discretionary spending power of some 250,000 marks a year. Much of this you have traditionally spent on bribes and gifts, to keep dissension rife among your enemies. This you will need to continue to do, since you are all too well aware that should the Moslems ever truly unite, they could overwhelm the Empire - and therefore Christianity - by sheer numbers. Equally however, you are well aware that there are innumerable hordes of Franks travelling to the East to help reconquer the Holy Land. If you can enlist them to your cause it will cost money, which you will probably have to supply. From your experience with Frankish mercenaries you know that a knight can cost anything between twenty and thirty marks a year to support. Finding out exactly how large these armies approaching you are will be one of your first priorities. The horde being led by this Peter the Hermit is said by your agents to number 20,000 on foot and 500 cavalry. Your Governors have been spending 6,000 marks a month just to feed them as they advance through the Imperial Lands. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. The Imperial Civil Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Post The Imperial bureaucracy, reorganised in the last ten years, offers many advantages besides efficient tax collecting services. It also offers a very fast postal service within the Empire, and an ability to organise and build up supplies in key points that barbarians simply do not have. Imperial Messengers will be able to cross three areas per turn in this game. Intelligence You have an extremely efficient and paid for spy service within the old boundaries of the Empire; i.e. in the current Empire, and in Asia Minor, Anatolia, Syria and Palestine. You also have pretty efficient agents in Egypt and Baghdad. In addition any citizen travelling abroad is expected to bring back information for the Imperial government. Where your intelligence has traditionally been weakest is in the West, hence your lack of knowledge of exactly what is heading your way. Regular intelligence will come in from the Imperial Secret Service. Any special intelligence missions will cost extra money and should be discussed with your team umpire. Petchenegs Besides being part of your army, the Petcheneg light horsemen also form the Imperial Police. Almost fanatically loyal to the Imperial family, they are extremely good at obeying clear orders. There is a banda of Petchenegs currently watching Peter the Hermit's progress through the Empire, under strict instructions to keep the pilgrims in order, and to hurry them along, not allowing them to spend more than three days in one place. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Imperial Military Doctrine --------------------------------------------------------------------- Strategy The traditional strategy of the Emperors has been defensive, preferring to use money and allied troops for offensive operations outside the boundaries of the Empire. The Imperial forces have traditionally been organised in such a way that frontier forces are expected to try to hold off initial attacks until the light cavalry can come up. The job of the light cavalry is to harass and hinder the invaders until the strategus (commanding general) can bring up the main body of heavy troops, either regular or from the provincial thema. Tactics The past masters of military science in the Byzantine Empire have drawn up a number of rules for use in campaigns against the Turks. They are, put briefly, (1) always to take a steady and sufficient body of infantry into the field; (2) to maintain an elaborate screen of vendettes and pickets round the army, so as to guard against surprises; (3) to avoid fighting in broken ground where the enemy's dispositions cannot be described; (4) to keep large reserves and flank-guards; (5) to fight with the rear (and if possible the wings also) covered by natural obstacles, such as rivers, marshes, or cliffs, so as to foil the usual Turkish device of circular attacks on the wings or the camp-guard; (6) always to fortify the camp; (7) never to pursue rashly and allow the infantry and cavalry to get separated after a first success. You may, or may not, choose to share this hard won knowledge with the Pilgrims from the West! This will of course largely depend on how co-operative they are eventually going to be in helping you to achieve your objectives, and therefore how much you are going to be willing to help them with this and other intelligence. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. Objectives of the Imperial Team --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Regain Imperial possessions in Asia Minor, Syria and Palestine - especially those in Lydia, Phrygia and Upper Syria. The key cities for you are Nicaea, Nicomedia, Smyrna, Philomelium and Antioch. The cities of Cappadoccia are also old Imperial fiefs but the local Armenians are as hostile to you as they are to the Turks, and they are less vital to the security of the Empire. 2. Weaken the power of the Seldjuks, or rather, ensure that they do not come together again under a strong leader who can unite all the Eastern Turks. To this end you must continue your policy of divide and rule, and also play off the Fatimids against the Seldjuks. 3. Secure the pilgrim route to Jerusalem. You are after all the heirs of Constantine, the guardians of Christianity. Although you are not as fanatical about the sanctity of Jerusalem as the Latin Church is, you still believe very strongly that all pilgrims should be able to travel unmolested to worship at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 4. Strengthen the army with new recruits. This was your original intention in writing to the West at all. Although you have no good reason to trust Frankish mercenaries, you are all pragmatic Byzantine aristocrats and you will use whatever means there are at your disposal, including those who were your enemies previously. 5. Reconciliation with Rome. Recently relations between the Latin Church and the Orthodox Church have become a bit more friendly, as you have all had to face the much greater threat of the force of Islam. But there are still grave differences which should be resolved for the sake of Christianity throughout the world. What you are really looking for is for Rome to acknowledge the equality of the three great Patriarchs of the East (Jerusalem, Antioch and Constantinople), and to accept that there may have to be tolerance over differences in liturgy and theological interpretation. The best thing to do would to be to hold a Great Council of the Churches to discuss all these matters in holy and civilised debate. Constantinople would be the natural place for such a great Council, as the most pre-eminent city in the world. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Opinions of Franks --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Franks themselves "Between us and the Franks is set the widest gulf. We are poles apart. We have not a single thought in common. They are stiff necked, with a proud affection of an upright carriage, and they love to sneer at the smoothness and modesty of our manners. But we look on their arrogance, and boasting and pride as a flux of the snivel which keeps their noses in the air; and we tread them down by the might of Christ, who giveth unto us the power to trample upon the adder and upon the scorpion". (Nicholas Choniates) Of course the Franks are Christians, yes, but not of the true way. They are the direct descendants of the barbarians who destroyed the original Roman Empire and who would have destroyed all that was good about Roman values had it not been for the valour of the Eastern Empire. On the whole the Franks are like children, with very little understanding of the realities of the world. Like children they can be charming or cruel; like children they can be bribed to do what adults want, and like children they are very vain and proud of their petty ranks and lineage. Like all untrained children they lack culture, education and subtlety. Most of all, like children they need discipline, or they can turn on the very hand that feeds them. Massively brave and fierce warriors, their mounted charges make them deadly foes or very useful allies, but they are a tool at best and one that you have to very careful to ensure does not turn in the hand. Their way of fighting " The Franks and Lombards, are bold and daring to excess, though the latter are no longer all that they once were: they regard the smallest movement to the rear as a disgrace, and they will fight whenever you offer them battle. When their knights are hard put to it in a cavalry fight, they will turn their horses loose, dismount, and stand back to back against very superior numbers rather than fly. So formidable is the charge of the Frankish chivalry with their broadsword, lance, and shield, that it is best to decline a pitched battle with them till you have put all the chances on your own side. You should take advantage of their indiscipline and disorder; whether fighting on foot or on horseback, they charge in dense, unwieldy masses, which cannot manoeuvre, because they have neither organisation nor drill. Tribes and families stand together, or the sworn war-bands of chiefs, but there is nothing to compare to our own orderly division into battalions and brigades. Hence they readily fall into confusion if suddenly attacked in flank and rear - a thing easy to accomplish, as they are utterly careless and neglect the use of pickets and vendettes and the proper surveying of the countryside. They encamp, too, confusedly and without fortifying themselves, so that they can be easily cut up by a night attack. Nothing succeeds better against them than a feigned flight, which draws them into an ambush; for they follow hastily, and invariably fall into the snare. But perhaps the best tactics of all are to protract the campaign, and lead them into hills and desolate tracts, for they take no care about their commissariat, and when their stores run low their vigour melts away. They are impatient of hunger and thirst, and after a few days of privation desert their standards and steal away home as best they can. For they are destitute of all respect for their commanders, - one noble thinks himself as good as another, - and they will deliberately disobey orders when they grow discontented. Nor are their chiefs above the temptation of taking bribes; a moderate sum of money will frustrate one of their expeditions. On the whole, therefore, it is easier and less costly to wear out a Frankish army by skirmishes, protracted operations in desolate districts, and the cutting off of its supplies, than to attempt to destroy it at a single blow." Leo's Tactica --------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. Opinions of Moslems --------------------------------------------------------------------- Attitudes to Seldjuks "...the Turks are an arrogant people, with their heads almost in the clouds....they are dominated by Dionysos and Eros; they indulge readily in every kind of sexual licence, and if they are circumcised in the flesh, they are certainly not so in their passions..." The Alexiad Whatever Anna Comnena may have thought about the sexual habits of the Turks, there is no doubt that the Imperial government sees the Seldjuks as the major threat to the Empire's security. They are, for the most part, uncivilised barbarians, nomads and infidels, who have destroyed the culture of the Eastern provinces. Formidable fighters individually, and powerful foes if united, Imperial policy has been to keep them disunited and fighting against each other. This policy has been spectacularly successful in the last five years. The Seldjuk way of fighting "The Emperor knew from very long experience that the Turkish battle line differs from that of other peoples. It was not, as Homer says, 'buckler to buckler, helmet to helmet, man to man', but their right and left wings and their centre formed separate groups with the ranks cut off, as it were, from one another; whenever an attack was made on right or left, the centre leapt into action and all the rest of the army behind it, in a whirlwind onslaught that threw into confusion the accepted tradition of battle. As for the weapons they use in war, unlike the Franks they do not fight with lances but completely surround the enemy and shoot at him with arrows; they also defend themselves with arrows at a distance. In hot pursuit the Turk makes prisoners by using his bow; in flight he overwhelms his pursuer with the same weapon and when he shoots, the arrow in its course strikes either rider or horse, fired with such tremendous force that it passes clean through the body. So skilled are the Turkish archers". The Alexiad Attitudes to Fatimids Established for nearly 100 years in Egypt, the Byzantine attitude to the Fatimid Caliphate is very different to their attitude to the barbarian Seldjuks. The Fatimids are of course pagans and infidels, but at the same time they are seen as a cultured and learned race, with whom treaties have been in existence and honoured for some fifty years. The hatred that the Fatimids (Shiite Moslems) feel for the Sunni Seldjuks, is something that needs to be reinforced at all times, as is their rivalry in Southern Syria. The Fatimid Caliphate is no real threat to the Empire as long as it remains limited in its own ambitions to the South, and provided that they do not start to develop as a naval power to rival the Empire. Trade with the Fatimid Caliphate is profitable and should be encouraged at all times, as if between equals. The Fatimid Way of Fighting Unlike the Seldjuk Turks, the Fatimids have a largely mercenary army, recruited from Arabs, Berbers, Sudanese, and with a high proportion of infantry. The elite of the army is the Caliph's bodyguard, from various Turkish tribes who supply the mounted regiments, and the Sudanese guard of archers and foot soldiers. Beyond this elite they can field very large numbers of allied foot soldiers and light cavalry, mostly Arab and Berber. Unlike the Seldjuks the Fatimid armies do not have any horse archers, the cavalry fighting with light lance and scimitar --------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. The Current Situation --------------------------------------------------------------------- The political situation in the East The unity of the Seldjuk Turks has been declining ever since the death of the great Sultan Alp Arslan in 1072. His son, Malik Shah, allowed disagreement between his brother Tutush and his nephew Suleiman to break out into open warfare. In 1086 Tutush defeated and killed Suleiman in battle over who would control Aleppo. Other Turkish princes and emirs have been trying to establish their independence for some time, notably the Danishmend Emir in Caesarea and Sebastea, Menaguchek in Colonea, and the adventurer Chaka in Smyrna (who managed to get his daughter married to Suleiman's son, Kilij Arslan). Such a confused situation was tailor made for Byzantine diplomacy and the machinations of Alexius. 1092 was a key year in the disintegration of the old Seldjuk empire; Malik Shah managed to get Nicaea away from Tutush's nominee and install Kilij Arslan. In the same year Kilij Arslan had his father in law, Chaka, murdered (on the advice of Alexius who persuaded the young Sultan that no other Turk should be more powerful than he). Later in the same year Malik Shah died himself and civil war has diverted the whole race, as his two young sons fight over the inheritance of the Great Sultanate. Last year the Emir Tutush died and his possessions have been split between his two sons (who dislike each other intensely); Ridwan has taken Aleppo and Duqaq has got Damascus. Meanwhile a new Turkish warlord has arisen ; Kerbogha the Atabeg of Mosul who says that his only allegiance is to the Caliph in Baghdad. He has been encroaching upon Aleppo. In Southern Syria the situation is just as confusing and ripe for stirring up. Ortoq was Tutush's Governor in Jerusalem after he conquered it from the Fatimids in the late 1070's. . After his death in 1094 his territory has passed to his sons, Soqman and Ilghazi, the Ortoqids, who loosely acknowledge the suzerainty of Duqaq of Damascus. Their rule has been fairly incompetent, and although they still hold Jerusalem, the Fatimids have reconquered much of the rest of Southern Palestine. In addition, beneath the Turkish overlords, many of the local Arab Emirs are manoeuvring for more independence. Alexius has been keeping this pot boiling for the last five years while he waits for the right moment to take the initiative to regain the former Imperial territories. He has of course been working closely with the Fatimid Empire, now under the effective rule of Shah-an-Shah al-Afdal, who has succeeded his father as Vizier to the boy Sultan, al-Mustali. The appeal to the West Alexius judged early in 1095 that the chaotic situation among the Seldjuks could be exploited and that very soon the chance for reconquest would arise. Alexius was very conscious however of the Empire's chronic shortage of manpower, so he wrote to the Pope asking for reinforcements to do God's work. Unfortunately you have got more than you bargained for - or ever wanted. The first army of pilgrims to reach you is very ill-led, by Peter the Hermit, very ill disciplined and very badly equipped. It seems to have very few professional fighters, and no generals. It is being escorted currently towards Constantinople, and you must decide what to do with it. More reassuring, and more worrying at the same time, are the reports from Peter and from your agents, that vast armies are following, led by the Kings of the West. At present you haven't heard from any of these armies, but you have instructed all your agents and border governors to report back as soon as they know what's happening. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. The Byzantine Team --------------------------------------------------------------------- What you have to do As a team you must address the following issues: - how can you continue to ensure that the Seldjuks remain as disunited as they are at present? - how can you ensure that your Southern frontiers remain secure and your relations remain good with the Fatimids under their new ruler al-Afdal? - how can you control this influx from the West and use it to further the Empire's needs? - most immediate, what are you going to do with Peter's rabble? The Emperor exercises supreme power, although as in all despotic societies he needs the continued support of all the powerful factions in the land. He has enemies in Constantinople; although they follow him now, the first hint of failure or weakness and the opposition will become open again. In this game, some of the characters are generals, some admirals, and some just courtiers. In practice all of you are close Imperial advisers and well versed in politics and diplomacy. The Emperor could send off any of you on a diplomatic mission, and you would be well qualified to undertake it. Team Members Alexius Comnenus, Emperor since 1081, head of the House of the Comneni Caesar John Ducas, General and brother in law of Alexius, kinsman of the previous two Emperors, head of the most powerful house in Constantinople after the Comneni John Comnenus, nephew of Alexius, Governor of Dyrrachium. Experienced fighter against the Normans Constantine Ducas, soldier and son of ex-Emperor Michael and Maria Ducas. First betrothed to Helena, daughter of Robert Guiscard, and later to Anna Comnena. Neither marriage has taken place. George Paleologus, Diplomat and Courtier. Head of the House of the Paleologi; related to the Comneni and the Ducas by marriage. Nicetas, Soldier and Governor of Nish. Petcheneg by birth and ex commander of the Skythikon Manuel Butumites, General and Siege Engineer. Long term companion in arms of Alexius. Radulph Peeldelau, Frankish mercenary general from Flanders; stayed behind in Alexius's service after his master Count Robert I of Flanders went home after pilgrimage. Currently Konastablos of the Latinikon. Nicholas Mavrocatacalon, Megas Dux (Grand Admiral). Experienced sailor and soldier. Taticius Silvernose, General. Turkish Christian from Macedonia. Lost his nose in early fighting against the Seldjuks. Sworn enemy of all Seldjuks. Patriarch Nicholas III of Constantinople; one of the three major Patriarchs of the Orthodox Church. Anxious to establish superiority over Patriarchs of Antioch and Jerusalem. Very concerned that growing rapprochement with the Papacy by Alexius could lead to a weakening of the Orthodox Church's independence. Patriarch Symeon II of Jerusalem. Currently in exile in Constantinople. Desperate to return to Jerusalem and restore the authority of the Orthodox Church. (N.B. If more players turn up on the day, more roles can be allocated. Similarly, the team will work with less playes if it has to.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. Other Key Characters --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Seldjuks Kilij Arslan I - Sultan of the Seldjuks of Rum. Capital in Nicaea Kerbogha - Atabeg of Mosul, acknowledges only the caliph in Baghdad as an overlord Al Husaq - Emir of the Danishmend Turks, rivals to the Seldjuks, conquered by Malik Shah. Would like to get away from Seldjuk dominance Duqaq - Emir of Damascus. Older son of Tutush of Aleppo. Rival of his brother Ridwan. Nominal vassal of Kilij Arslan Ridwan - Emir of Aleppo. Younger son of Tutush but got Aleppo on his death. Resented by older brother Duqaq. Nominal vassal of Kilij Arslan. Yaghi-Siyan - Atabeg of Antioch. Owes allegiance to Aleppo, but has been playing off Aleppo against Damascus and Mosul. Has been a client of Constantinople in past. Ilghazi - Emir of Jerusalem. Older of the sons of Ortoq (the Ortoqids). The other is his brother, Soqman of Diarbekir. (N.B. These are the major Seldjuk characters. Various other minor Turkish and Arab Emirs will be played by umpires as and when necessary) The Fatimids al-Mustali - Sultan of Cairo. Still a young boy, only twelve years old. al-Afdal - Vizier of the Fatimids. Has effectively gathered all the reins of the Fatimid Empire into his own arms in the last three years. A useful ally against the Seldjuks, whom he fears and hates. The Franks Pope Urban II - the Pope who appears to have restored the authority of Rome in the West. A Frank himself, worked with the Normans to get his own power re-established in Italy. Has not directly interfered in the affairs of the Empire. Has written to you saying that he's sending a delegate, Adhemar of LePuy to talk to you about the great pilgrimage that's happening. Bohemond of Taranto. Old enemy, Norman of Sicily. Great warrior and great charisma, a useful ally but not to be trusted as far as you can throw him. A subtle politician who has learned his craft in the East. Count Robert of Flanders - son of the Emperor's old retainer. Has been in correspondence with you for some years; the most civilised of the Westerners coming towards the East. As trustworthy as any Frank will ever be. Godfrey of Bouillon - a different tribe of Frank to the Normans. Supported the so-called Holy Roman Emperor against the Pope in recent times. Your spies say that he is a genuinely religious and pious pilgrim. Count Robert of Normandy - head of the Normans but not respected or obeyed by many, as far as your spies can tell. But Robert of Flanders says he's a good fighter. Raymond de St. Gilles - From yet another Frankish tribe. An older and wealthy man by Frankish standards, has fought the infidel in Spain in the past. Said to be travelling with the Pope's representative. Nothing known against him, but he did say in the hearing of a trusted agent that he would not be returning to the West. Hugh de Vermandois - brother of the King of the Franks, but your agents say he is travelling with only a very small force. Nothing else known about him. --------------------------------------------------------------------- This game briefing/handbook is available for information to users of the internet, on the understanding it is (c) Terry Martin, and if used is credited appropriately. Thanks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------