Strategikon
Emperor Maurice
Following their peace treaty with the Empire, the Germans attempt to take back Vienna, though their small army barely outnumbers our garrison.
The diplomatic repercussions of their move are terrible for them, with both Milan going to war with them and Hungary abandoning their alliance. Elsewhere interesting things have been happening also; obviously the war Hungary has been prosecuting against Poland has gone well for them, the Polish King becomes their vassal.
With their final stronghold in Ajaccio taken, the Sicilians are no more, only a few renegades remain in the hills and forests.
Grave news from the East. The Mongols! They have arrived somewhere near Baghdad, but what direction they take is a mystery. We had hear news of their coming previously, but had expected them to appear near the Caspian Gates or beyond, not so near to our lands.
Fortunately I am in a position to strike back against the Germans, and after a brave sally from the Vienna garrison drives them off, our large army in Italy marches north towards their fortress in Innsbruck, while my army still besieges Venice. While attempting to take Bologna seems an obvious move, I know that once I take Innsbruck, the Germans' ability to withstand my military might in future will be severly curtailed.
A terrible storm strikes Venice, but while the garrison inside is saved from any damage, our besieging army is ravaged and many are drowned or burnt in the fires which follow in the storm's wake.
Threatening terrible retribution for their abortive attack on Vienna, the Germans sue for peace and concede the fortress of Innsbruck to us. This city shall prove the bulwark against all future attacks by the Germans, and will serve to stabilise northern Italy also.
The garrison of Venice sallied forth, and despite being outnumbered we trust in Modestos to hold his ground and crush the Venetian resistance to the return of Empire. The Venetians are helpless against us, even though their tactic of hiding behind pavises and shooting at us from the cover of their walls does worry us for a while.
Meanwhile another force under our Prince has embarked from Sicily to North Africa to put pressure on the Sicilians there, but despite besieging two of their cities the Venetians refuse to see sense and accept out terms. Now they are left with only the city of Milan.
Foolishly, seeing us under pressure from several fronts, the Hungarians attack us, blockading Nicaea with a strong fleet and sending an army south from Bucharest.
However several forces which were moving eastwards to counter the Mongol threat are in a position to disembark and fight them off. The Hungarians pay dearly for their opportunism, with Milan and the Turks abandoning their long-held alliances.
Our forces near Zagreb are even in a position to threaten Budapest itself
Admiral Voulgariotes has struck a miraculous blow against the Hungarians, destroyed their entire fleet coming out of the Nicaean harbour. Surely his name will be blessed by future generations!
The shock of this is such to give the Hungarians pause, and they concede Sofia, a great fortress overlooking Byzantium itself, through some hard bargaining by our emissary.
The Mongols have sacked Mosul, and not a single Turk is left! While the Turks have obviously done some damage to the Horde I think it unlikely that they will stop them before they reach the Euphrates and the Empire.
I have too armies in the region, fresh from conquering Gaza and Damascus, but I think some more will have reached there before the Mongols cut a swathe through the Turks.
I am now at war with the Moor, as they attempt (and fail) to take Cagliari, with some last minute assistance from our general leading a small force of cavalry. Despite our victory, this does not bode well for stability in the west.
The Mongols now send some number south around the frontier, and into the province of Jedda, where we have only light forces. This is the weak underbelly and from here they can advance on Jerusalem itself. I strengthen all the garrisons in the region and place an army at Jacob's Ford.
Meanwhile, Prince Ioannes, carried by fleet from the newly conquered city of Tripoli has arrived at Alexandria to continue our war with Egypt.
Hopefully his siege will go quickly and he will embark to arrive in Jerusalem to conduct out defence of the East...
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