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Anno Domini 828, September-25-October-5
I remained expectant beside most of the army as it finished forming in the field. At first glance our numbers seemed evenly matched. Even after the thousands of casualties we had inflicted on the sarakenoi the depth of both battle lines was almost identical and the cavalry appeared balanced. If a battle broke out victory could tilt either way.
We also had the troops inside the city who could prove decisive in combat. From within Antioch they could sally out and perfectly flank the Abbasid rear.
I began analyzing the battlefield searching for a break in the Abbasid lines. They seemed well formed. I could not detect clear weaknesses without spies inside their camp and I had none. I did not know whether their men were hungry or exhausted. If they were a direct cavalry charge against their archer lines could reduce our losses from projectiles but it would be a risky gamble.
Time passed as I continued studying the terrain distracted only by the movement of my horse when one of the scholai approached.
"The Basileus Rhōmaiōn summons you to his presence strategos Basil" he said pointing toward the large tent between both armies.
I nodded and rode toward the indicated tent. I dismounted and as soon as I approached the sarakenoi guards disarmed me searching for weapons.
"You missed one" I said looking at one of them as I removed the two daggers hidden along the forearms of my armor and the one in my boot before handing them over.
I entered the tent.
The emperor and the caliph were surrounded by their respective personal guards.
"Here is strategos Basil commander of the Roman forces in Syria" said Theophilos. An interpreter translated his words to the caliph who wore black robes and bore a long white beard that revealed his age. The contrast between the young Byzantine emperor and the Muslim leader was evident.
The caliph stared at me. His eyes scanned my figure several times as if searching for something.
"Eyes full of determination…" he murmured without looking away.
"Then having fulfilled your request do we have an agreement or shall we let the swords speak where words failed?" said Theophilos confidently leaning firmly against his chair.
"I thought Allah would grant us victory but it seems He has abandoned us. My conduct has been sinful and now I must pay for my actions" the caliph said after sighing. "I accept those conditions emperor of the Romans. But the sword of Allah will reclaim what is His. Do not revel in your laurels. This victory will give you nothing."
He signed the document and placed his seal upon it.
Theophilos began to smile covering his mouth in an attempt to hide a grin he could barely contain.
The caliph and his men rose and left the tent.
"We won… we won…" said Theophilos with a huge smile rising abruptly to his feet. He was clearly exhilarated his hands moving without pause.
"It seems we have finally taken the first step. What exactly did you agree upon? I hope something worthwhile considering we had them where we wanted" I said looking at him.
"I know that very well. The caliph knew that if he fought there was a great possibility he would lose. A defeat or the loss of a large portion of his army could provoke many of his governors to attempt rebellion against him. We are not blind that man is old and may die at any moment. When that happens there will be a struggle of succession between his sons and other claimants. Losing such a large army would be devastating for his position. So wisely he chose to concede and much in order to save his men" said Theophilos still smiling.
"But will that not complicate matters next year? With his army intact he could launch another offensive and we would be in serious trouble…" I said thoughtfully.
"Yes… but he lost and that can provoke rebellions everywhere. There is no need for excessive concern. Now we must return to Constantinople to celebrate this great victory and begin organizing how to divide and administer these lands so they begin paying taxes and can nourish the military system of the Empire for future campaigns" replied Theophilos.
"And what exactly did the Empire ultimately gain?" I asked as we walked toward the exit.
"Well we secured all possessions in Cilicia up to the Pyramos river. After that all the territories of Germanikeia and from there south to the Orontes. Everything on the Roman side of the river is our property. There is not much more to add they mainly ceded things we already controlled or would control shortly. Here is where we gained the greater concessions. He flatly refused the idea of ceding territory in Egypt he believed we might use it to attack Abbasid trade and preferred not to take that risk" said Theophilos.
"My intention was to trade peacefully not to raid like a madman. That may serve the Varangians but there are far greater benefits in collecting taxes and obtaining goods through trade via Egypt. High quality goods pass through there that the Empire needs" I replied crossing my arms.
"Yes but you know in times of war one always assumes the worst of the other. After demanding he return the fortresses he had captured in Anatolia and that he cede certain positions to adjust the defense of the region we finally agreed that he would grant us additional gains in exchange for sparing his army. As you requested we have Jerusalem. A religious victory. In addition the entire coastal strip with direct connection Tripoli Byblos Beirut Sidon Tyre Acre Tiberias Caesarea and Jerusalem. I could not ask for more but even that is enormous gain. Everything beyond Cilicia and Anatolia is an extra" said Theophilos with clear satisfaction.
"I see. It is a vast amount of territory… though not Damascus nor Aleppo which are the most important cities from which future attacks against us could come. And how long will this peace agreement last?" I asked.
"Five years. During that time the Abbasids will pay us 250,000 nomismata each year. A generous tribute. For now I will return to Constantinople. There we will calmly discuss what comes next. But first we must let the people know that we won, that under my rule Rome will return to its greatest splendor. With almost the entire coast secured we may never again face pirate attacks in Anatolia. The economic and military heart of the Empire will be protected" said Theophilos.
"That is good news. I will call my men to send them back to Crete and see what happens next. I suppose another military campaign will begin now. Where will we march?" I asked as we left the tent.
"Bulgaria as I promised you. You have proven that I can trust you and I will grant you the privilege of leading the campaign as you see fit. It will be a hard battle to recover the Balkan territories but once the Danube is secured against the barbarian hordes we will have time to prosper. First however we must take advantage of the benefits of this war. We will let the men celebrate work their lands. We will allow a year to pass to better equip them recruit more and secure our borders. When we are ready we will strike Bulgaria" Theophilos replied.
"Excellent… damn it… the sarakenoi took my sword and my daggers" I said looking around without finding any of the men who had disarmed me.
"Ha ha ha" I heard Theophilos laugh no longer trying to contain himself.
"Hey that is not funny. I forged them myself. They were weapons of great quality. It took me a long time to give them a fine finish and they were perfectly balanced" I said searching in case they had left them somewhere else.
"It seems you were not invincible in war… you lost your sword" said Theophilos.
"What a mess… I will have to make another one. It was made for show and I had never even used it" I muttered cursing silently the sarakenoi who had stolen it.
"Go prepare everything to return. I will leave some generals and forces to secure the new territories. That way you can return to Crete as soon as possible" said Theophilos.
I nodded and without wasting time mounted my horse and began organizing everything for the return.
I called my veterans and removed them from the posts they held. I reviewed the state they were in after the siege of Antioch. There were many wounded and some dead from the fighting but the losses were not alarming. This time we had the privilege of defending rather than attacking.
Gathering all my men in the area around seven thousand we held the proper funerals and began organizing the acquired loot to sell or transport back home.
I also sent messengers to look for the Varangians. They could still continue launching raids seeking slaves and plunder. Until word reached them that the war had ended they would likely keep doing what they did best.
So gathering all my men and the Varangian warriors we boarded the ships and began the journey back to Crete leaving behind the administration of the region where new governors would probably be appointed.
I knew my reward would be decided in the capital and with some luck they might grant me the holy city of Jerusalem. If that happened I could take the business away from the Templars and create a bank so pilgrims could deposit their wealth and I could charge a commission for safeguarding their money while they traveled to the Holy Land. I would only need to ensure the routes and the waters were secure and the profits could surpass even the trade we were already conducting.
After a relatively short voyage and feeling the drop in temperature that autumn brought we arrived in Crete. I caught up on all the duties I had left behind after months away.
I inspected the forge. I checked how the printing press was functioning which was going very well producing enormous quantities of copies of the Bible that could be sold alongside the protection business for pilgrims.
I reviewed the local harvest which had increased enormously compared to previous years. More people better tools and more refined techniques had resulted in a plentiful and generous yield.
But the greatest surprise besides resting for a few days in my fortress eating with my parents and watching my brother grow was the port of Heraklion which had already become the jewel I had long desired.
The harbor was full even before I arrived with the ships from the Levant. Merchants traveled toward Egypt to the market of Alexandria or toward Constantinople stopping to conduct business and purchase goods.
According to Lysander my revenues from maritime taxes and sales had risen enormously. What had once been barely a few thousand coins in my coffers now easily approached six figures. Crete had finally entered a new stage of prosperity. Merchants from all across Europe were beginning to arrive especially after the sarakenoi invasion of Sicily had failed. I learned that a couple of months earlier they had expelled the sarakenoi from their last stronghold securing the thema as Roman territory.
That made it clear that Theophilos could aim to recover Rome once he secured the Balkans. And if I could march to Bulgaria and return the favor of slavery to the zhupan if he was still alive I could say that everything I had to do in this life would be fulfilled.
As much as I would have liked to remain longer besides granting lands to the Varangian warriors who counted their enormous gains in plunder and slaves giving me my share and distributing it as Sigurd recommended I took the portion of the treasure that belonged to the emperor and loaded it onto the ships.
Now I had to travel to Constantinople. Theophilos would want to celebrate his victory and I would have to be present at those festivities.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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