Conquest in The War with Sicily, and Profitable Diplomacy

Mistakes made in ordinary affairs can generally be remedied in a short while, but errors made in war cause lasting harm
Strategikon
Emperor Maurice

With the Germans vile betrayal, alliances break up because of it. The Turks stay loyal to us, perhaps out of fear, with our Prince prowling the frontier with his hardened army.
The Milanese stay with the Germans, not surprisingly as they are under the Eagle's talons. The Hungarians too, remain allied to the Germans, and this we will not forgive. They are our earliest allies, and married our beloved daughter Anna. We will mark their names, and crush them when the time is right.



We clear the seas of the Sicilian fleet, their last army abroad will not return to its shores.



Meanwhile in the East the Limes are complete: any attack from the Turks will be known well in advance and our forts will slow them to give our armies the chance to respond. But it looks like we are being assaulted by an army of German emissaries.



Our council of nobles know no dissuading of the perils of fighting multiple enemies, as they give us a most unusual mission: to take Jerusalem through diplomacy. If our emissary Maleses were nearby, he would do it without any trouble to be sure, but here some noble's son is entrusted with the task.



We receive a charming Sicilian Princess at Naples, asking for a ceasefire (just as the garrison of Palermo is ready to drop from hunger). But she is proud and will accept no reasonable terms given their position, and the garrison is forced to sally forth. Even with a small relief force send from Cagliari, they are hopelessly outnumbered



The Sicilian advance up the steep hill overlooking Palermo is undone even before they reach our lines.



As we countercharge, their foolish King Simon is wounded and captured, and two of his kinsmen are slain.



Our troops cheer in exultation, they have retaken Italian territory, for the first time in a generation, but something our people have held since the days when Hannibal threatened the gates of Rome.



Our young emissary Balentes is successful, and Jerusalem is handed over to us for the cost of three tributes of almost five thousand florins and a promise to attack local rebels. A high price, but we are sure it is worth it to have The Holy City back in Christian hands (also Jerusalem will have earned the tribute within 10 years)



Our army, just victorious from Naples, marches northwards to invade the German province of Bologna, and meanwhile our army in Ragusa prepares to march northwards to Vienna. The Germans will pay for their behaviour.



With these two experienced and large armies marching towards their borders, the Germans think twice (give that they are also at war with England and Denmark (our recent allies). And concede Vienna to us for a lasting peace.



Milan are only too pleased to reaffirm their alliance with us. Hopefully they will be wise enough to recognise the stronger party next time.



We transport our army, reprovisioned in the newly conquered city of Palermo, to conquer Cagliari.



Our advisors announce that we are now the strongest, most influential power in the known world.



A quick trip north and we are ready to besiege the last Sicilian stronghold. Our name will be feared across the Mediterranean, and theirs will be ground into dust.



Our brave Emperor John has lead some picked men to Jedda, making our treaty commitment to the Egyptians and his quest to restore the glory of the Empire work hand in hand



Soon we shall be able to return our attention to Venice who continue to thwart us diplomatically.