View Full Version : Chronica regni Armenorum-Armenian AAR(1200)
Hi. Since there is noway how to post images here, I started my AAR of kingdom of Armenia in Paradox KoH forums (http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?t=195095)
Hope you'll like my AfterActionReport from HolyRome mod (now testing version HR1.03)
Tompskij
07-05-2005, 15:07
Great story! :go:
Very interesting to read.
Chapter 1
This is a chronicle about painfull but also glorious fates of kingdom of Lesser Armenia, written by monks from Cilician town of Tarsus. But before we will start the tale of our says, we will summarize what we find important from previous times:
Chapter 2 - times up to days of king Levon II
Armenians, one of the firsh nations which accepted word of Jesus Christ, our Lord, built up powerfull kingdoms long ago. Also many great men were born from Armenian nation to serve and help Romans (Byzantines) in their christian rule over the world before infidel Seljuks invaded our lands and defeated Roman and also our armies.
It happened that Romans from the west, called Franks (who celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ too, but in a different way) decided to conquer Jerusalem and the Holy Land from infidels. On their way they crossed Cilicia and encouraged our peoples, who suffered under cruel rule of infidels, to restore glory of Armenia. So it happened that Armenia became an independent kingdom. We were helping our christian brothers in their struggle against infidels who outnumbered them, so 8 years ago our blessed prince Levon got crown from the most powerfull ruler of Franks, emperor Barbarossa, who call himself Holy Roman Emperor.
But this year, anno domini 1204m just before tale of our days starts, Franks turned their arms against christian true Romans in Constantinople, our friends, and divided their empire among their leaders. So here our story starts, 1204 years after birth of our lord, Jesus Christ.
Here is at least starting screen... before another will come
http://img136.echo.cx/img136/2568/armenia0sz.jpg
Chronica regni Armenorum
Chapter 3: King Levon in 1204-1208
IN the autumn of 1204 old patriarch of Armenia died and patriarch Antranig was elected by priests to lead our church. He was the one who ordered us to write this chronicle.
It was peaceful time for Armenia, our king had good or calm relations with most of neighbouring and near countries, so he - with heart filled by sorrow - decided to discharge doux Ara from his services because our kingdom treasury couldn't afford to pay such brilliant marshal.
Instead of him, king Levon hired another knight, doux Arshavir, as merchant to earn some gold coins for Armenia. In that time patriarch Anrtanig settled down in town of Tarsus and started to write books of wisdom for his people and king and his knights.
As soon as the weather enabled it - in the spring of 1205, king Levon started very ambitious project. He sent two messangers, one on a ship to cross the sea to Cairo, residence of Sallah ad Din, sultan of Ayyubids and second on a horseback to cross Anatolia and the Balkans to reach glorious court of Friedrich Barbarossa, most powerfull king of the world, emperor of Franks who calls himself Holy Roman Emperor. So the messangers rushed and they offered to both powerfull monarchs a trade agreements.
Even the king Levon didn't expected how sucessfull this campaign cold be and he celebrated good news that both of them signed Trade agreements with Armenia. So he immediately asked doux Arshavir to bring gold from Ayyubid markets. Then he called his son Hethum adn told him:
"My dearest and only son. You are the hope and future of our kingdoms. As our kingdom is small and poor we got one of greatest opportunities of our time. Holy Roman emperor himself signed a trade agreement with us. I know the way on the west is long and dangerous, though I decided to send you, my son to trade with Western Romans. Many kingdoms lie on the journey on west to Holy Roman markets and many kings rule there, some better, some worse. On your way you will not only bring money to our kingdom, but also, what is even more important, experiences for you, my only son and future king."
"so pleased I am that I got your trust, my father and my king," replied prince Hethum. "I will do all my best to bring our kingdom wealth and prosperity."
So in falling autumn of 1205 Armenia traded with HolyRomanEmpire and Ayyubids and on Christmass of this year, king Levon gave patriarch Antranig the right to govern his kingdom while he is away, because he planned to start another gold trade.So it happened and in the early spring of 1206 king Levon crossed the northern border and started a trade with Seljuks.
Now, kingdom income was satisfactory high so just when royal treasury enabled it, patriarch Anrtanig followed order of Levon and started building of Inn in Tarsus to bring happines and more workers to Cilicia.
http://img148.echo.cx/img148/4904/armenia020cb.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
The time pased inpeace n the east mediterranean so kingdom of Armenia prospered and waited for Inn to be built and gathered as many gold as possible to continue in development of Tarsus. And in the new year of 1207 Inn was finally done, so patriarch Antranig ordered to build Toll smithy, another basic structure for further development-necessary for salt mine which could bring Armenia first valuable trade good: salt.
Then patriarch has written anough books to educate the first knight (Elvain:it was 600 but now it is changed to be more) so it was doux Arshavir who first arrived to Tarsus with gold from Ayyubids.
Also the work on Toll smithy took more time than expected and when in the treasury was enough gold, king ordered to increase kingdom power to 1.
So the peace lasted in Armeina, but not in the world around. Armenian trading partners became even more powerfull when emperor Barbarossa led his armies from one victory to another against England and so sultan Sallah ad Din defeated Jerusalem at war so he got Lebanon and forced Jerusalem to be Ayyubid vassal. So king Levon offered pacts of non agression to both of them. And while Ayyubids agreed, Barbarossa's reaction didn't please Levon II
http://img187.echo.cx/img187/1287/armenia046rh.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
Then some stranger from the north emerged in Tarsus and waited for the king Levon to arrive from Seljuks and he showed himself as messanger from pagan Lithuania:
http://img185.echo.cx/img185/1843/armenia050pu.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
so in fall of 1207 king Levon has signed a trade agreement with Lithuania.
Chronica regni Armenorum
It was the end of summer 1208 Anno Domini when king Levon II tried again to sign NonAgression pact with the Holy Roman emperor Barbarossa. And because the kingdom already grown to some importance and Holy Roman Empire started to have problems, emperor Barbarossa enjoyed having non-agresion pact eith Armenia.
All following years were in the name of growth and development of city of Tarsus to a wealthy trading centre of eastern Mediterranean. Salt mine was finished and it increased the income of my kingdom from trade, because finally my traders have something more valuable to offer than just Cilician grain. When the income increased, so king Levon now could afford to spend even more money on town(and kingdom) development:
He ordered to build Town watch, to have Tarsus protected and also boosted economy by building fishmonger.
It happened that patriarch Antranig have written so he gave some to Doux Arshavir and he improved his skills in trading. Although the kingdom was prospering, the king decided to hire another merchant - doux Artaxaind - and sent him on far north to trade for Lithuanian gold. This all happened untill the Easter of 1212.
As the patriarch was very active in this time, doux Antranig studied and studied his books and he got the level that he could now teach other traders his skills and share his experience, while the tax collector emerged in Tarsus and to compensate lower hapines, king invested his money and piety to boost the kingdom power to 2 in summer 1213.
After that prosperity of Armenia became well known across the Mediterranean and Pontus(Black Sea) so tribe of Cumans sent their mesanger to offer king Levon a Trade agreement. As the power of Comans seemed to grow as they conquered whole principality of Kiev, king Levon agreed and hired another new merchant - Doux Athangelos, who was sent to northern Pontus to bring some more gold from Cuman markets.
http://img225.echo.cx/img225/8141/armenia067hi.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
Then people of Tarsus demended partiarch to build Training grounds as they wanted to train their fighting abilities and skills. And the king, when returned from another journey from Seljuk markets, agreed and financed it.
Finally it appeared as very wise decission (or maybe even wise plan of the king). King tried to improve his relations with mighty emperor of Nicaea, his west neighbour and the best way was to declare war on heretic empire of Latins. It pleased emperor of Nicaea, so they signed pact of non agression and another new merchant was sent to Nicaea.
King was happy to have another strong friend, but there was a dark shadow of war on powerfull empire of Latins while our kingdom has no army yet. So the king ordered to build spear maker in Tarsus as soon as it was possible...
http://img205.echo.cx/img205/456/armenia074na.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
unfortunately not many screenshots were taken from this period as it was always the same, new buildings and hiring merchants... most of time in those "years" I observed how my friends deal with their power: Holy Roman empire temporarily Ruled over whole southern England, Normandy and Croatia(in original game Istria) But then many rebellions came ito HRE and it lost all conquered realms except Mercia.
The next part is right the opposite. Many interesting things happened and many screenshots are taken from it....
Chronica regni Armenorum
As the diplomatical situation of Armenia was constant with no big changes, king Levon concentrated mostly on home and development and growth of the kingdom. But as he was getting old, he started to worry about future of his kingdombecause his son Hethum had still no wife and lived very free life on his journeys on the west. The harder it was then, when king wanted to find some good princess for him. All orthodox kingdoms already have no free princesses so the only choice was to offer royal marriage to infidel Seljuks. King would accept it if Handije, princess of Seljuks would accept armenian christianity what made sultan Dana Halil to ask more for the marriage. So he asked for Non-agression pact.
"Pleased we are to sign non-agression pact with you," replied king Levon. So the marriage could be celebrated in Tarsus.
Another prove that Armenia was no longer unimportant local kingdom was a mesage from Buda in which king of Hungary himself offered a trade agreement to Levon II. Sure that Levon agreed.
http://img15.echo.cx/img15/4544/armenia082mi.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
War against Latins required more money from royal treasury, so the king decided to raise taxes high. It became even more needed whan false king of Jerusalem broke his vassalage to Ayyubids and declared his kingdom independent.
"We will never forgive such traitor of our friends as you are, Guillaume of Jerusalem" wrote king Levon in war declaration. "So since now we are at war with you, heretic king of Jerusalem."
Then prince Hethum returned home from his trading route, mounted his horse, called kings men in arms and boarded a ship to sail to Palestine in july of 1219.
Prince Hethum was just near isle of Cyprus, when his wife Handije started to cry when recieved a letter from her mother that Dana Halil, sultan of Seljuks has died of old age. As Handije was the oldest child of Dana Halil, she and her children had right to rule Rum and Cappadocia, so those lands were offered to Hethum, prince of Armenia. He agreed that he will gvern them as regent for his children, heirs of good Dana Halil, what in other hand made new sultan of Seljuks very angry.
http://img220.echo.cx/img220/3/armenia126vh.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
Then Prince Hethum landed in Palestine and saw that whole country is plundered so he can't take anything. He was afraid of strong walls of Jerusalem so he camped and waited what would happen. In that time in Tarsus king called another of his noblemen, doux Ara to be a cleric and successor of patriarch Antranig and gave him books of wisdom to learn some cleric skills.
In town of Tarsus a fletcher was started to be built in the march of 1220 and Sallah ad Din of Ayyubids was pleased by prince Hethum's presence inPalestina that he agreed to alliance pact with Armenia. Another great news it was for venerable king Levon.
http://img176.echo.cx/img176/1583/armenia135hs.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
But then prince Hethum had to stand an attack of Lorin, prince of Jerusalem. Hethum ordered his soldiers to stay as close to each other as possible and it worked fine. One enemy attack by another was defeated and when the situation was going bad, prince himself rode his knights to reinforce his tired men. It decided the battle: soldiers of Jerusalem cowardly started to flee and prince Lorin was finally forced to follow his men.
Prince Hethum wanted to profit from the first battle so he immediately attacked Lorin again, but the prince of Jerusalem has already consolidated his men and caused many loses in squads of armenian army, so prince Hethum rather retreated and boarded a ship back home and learned in leadership.
http://img176.echo.cx/img176/6148/armenia149oc.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
War in Palestine pleased emperor of Nicaea so old king Levon tried to offer them an Alliance what he agreed. Also while the prince was fighting in Palestine, king hired first squad of brave Akyndji in Tarsus and also educated Doux Artaxaid trading with Lithuania.
In early spring of 1222 people in Rum and Cappadocia finally subordinated ot authority of prince Hethum as regent of future heirs of Dana Halil.
Grannary in Cappadocia was the built and in Easter town of Ikonion in Rum has welcomed their new governor, doux Ara, a cleric from Tarsus. He ordered to bulid hunter's huts in the country of Rum which seemed to be very poor under rule of Seljuks.
http://img183.echo.cx/img183/1331/armenia158sn.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
Then prince Hethum returned in Glory to Tarsus and everybody celebrated his lucky return from hostile Palestine. Many fresh men entered his army so all his squads were again complete. In the atmosphere of happiness a messanger from Cyprus has arrived and it was easy for him to get a trade agreement from king Levon, happy from seing his young and strong son.
But unfortunately it was the last time they met each other, because in 18 june, king Levon has left world of mortal men and went to see his fathers in heaven after all good he did for Armenia.
http://img183.echo.cx/img183/9576/armenia168nk.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
He was the first great king of Lesser Armenia and without any doubt he fully deserves to be called Levon II the Great!
Here the chapter 5 ends.
Chronica regni Armenorum
Chapter 6 - king Hethum tries to rule in peace (1221-1225)
As the young king Hethum wanted to be known as king of peace, first his action was an offer of peace to Latins. But as they were still at war with armenian ally Nicaea, he gave them only one choice:
"I would agree to sign a peace if you would give us the maximum of money you can," said king Hethum to Latin delegate.
"His majesty, emperor Baldewin agrees to your conditions," replied the delegate. "But our economy is now weak due to long and exhausting plundering, so we can't pay you more than poor 360 of gold florenes."
"So we are pleased to sign a peace," agreed king Hethum.
Another step to peace was done in Easter 1223. To show his christian solidarity with kingdom of Jerusalem, king Hethum offered them peace if they would accept to become his vassals. Long was king Guillaume deciding, but finaly his barons adviced him to agree to such benevolent offer, so Armenia got it's first vassal.
But time of peace didn't last long. When merchant Ara was getting second degree of merchant skills, he refered in Tarsus about behaviour of Latins towards Nicaeans and it moved peaceful king Hethum to anger so he decided to start a war with Latins again.
At the right time, one must say. The building of fletcher was just finnished
in Tarsus, so king Hethum could hire 2 squads of bowmen and one more squad of Akyndji there and sail to Thrace and help Nicaeans. Before he landed near Constantinople, doux Avarair red enough books to get another degree and hunter's huts in Rum allowed our kingdom to export another trade good: Hides
http://img17.echo.cx/img17/5698/armenia179kb.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
Also kingdomgot offers from Antioch and Estonia to sign trade agreements, but only Antioch, keeping good relations with ally of Armenia-Ayyubids was considered as perspective trading partner while weak and barbarian Estonia was not found as worthy to trade with it, so was refused.
http://img177.echo.cx/img177/2269/armenia190he.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
When king Hethum landed in Thrace, he saw Nicaean emperor Bardas sieging mighty city of Constantinople so he rushed with his men to reinforce him. But neither this help was enough to turn the advantage to our side, so the king rather fleed from the battle to keep the morale high and to consider another strategy of conquest.
But before anything could be decided, emperor Bardas of Nicaea started to siege the Constantinople again. Our king didn't want to repeat the same scenario but he didn't want to lose his honor so he marched again towards the mighty capital of the true Romans occupied by foul Latins.
http://img177.echo.cx/img177/8905/armenia202vn.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
And on this march, he got pleasing message: "Queen Handije of Armenia has given birth to a daughter"
This encouraged the king so right after joining the siege he ordered his army to assault Constantinople and try the the Ordeal of battle...
Chronica regni Armenorum
In his whole life king Hethum have seen many towns and cities from Syria, Palestine and Armenia to Italy and Alps. But only 2 of cities were comparable to city of Constantinople. Fame of mighty Rome was already gone when the capital of empire was translocated to the East and walls of Jerusalem were way too weak in comparison to Constantinople, eventhough 6 years ago on his campaign in Palestine, the king wasn't courageous enough to attack them(but with weaker army, to say for his honour)
But as said, walls of Constantinople were even stronger - higher and firmer but also protected by ballista towers and high stone gate towers.
http://img40.echo.cx/img40/2941/armenia212gp.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
Nicaean emperor Bardas, who besieged the City and got reinforced by our honourable king, led his men unwisely straight ahead - towards death under arrows of balista towers. King Hethum was more careful in chosing the target and found weaker place near south gate, the only place not protected by balista towers. But even this weak place was hard to break without any siege weapondry.
The only choice was to break in through the gate. King risked and sent 2squads of peasants to the gate. One in narrow formation to be more effective in breaking the gate and the second in normal formation to be ready to attack the gate steadily in case of cauldrons being used by the enemy.
But what happened was even worse than the worst expactations of the king. Latin defenders pored the hot oil down on his men just when they reached the gate. Almost whole first squad of peasants died in the hot bath and also the second suffered frightening loses and morale of both squads dropped drastically down.
http://img113.echo.cx/img113/13/armenia221vl.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
"Attack the gate! the cauldron must be empty now!" ordered the king. But the first squad was so hardly damaged that instead of charging they ran away and also the other refused the order.
So the king left the first at the place and pulled the second off to rest in a camp while another squad was moved close to the gate. The rest of the first squad was then organised into wide formation and sent to the gate again - sacrifised to empty the cauldron and enable another attack.
The second attack was - as expected - pushed off by hot oil, so another strike o fresh men could come right then having some time before the cauldron would be refilled.
http://img73.echo.cx/img73/8486/armenia239wk.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
But the defenders were unbelievably fast and poured the oil again on wide formations of Armenians and then, after another attempt in few seconds again. So the king found any other such attempt senseless. He pulled his men off and then tried the last chance: moved his bowmen in front of the gate and ordered to fire, but their arrows caused no damage to cauldrons.
So as the last chance has failed and the same or even worse bloodbath happened near western wall where Nicaeans were atacking, king Hethum rather held up white flag and retreated with his men
Chronica regni Armenorum
Chapter 8 - Hard ten years
part 1
As if in answer to king's defeat in front of Constantinople a Seljuk noble Abbas started to rebel in Rum as he wanted to restore the sultanate after it's eastern part was conquered by Georgia. While the king was returning with his demoralized army to Cappadocian Malatya, doux Ara (who was governing Ikonion in Rum) started to build Town watch in order to protect the town from potential attack of rebels.
http://img141.echo.cx/img141/8264/armenia245mh.jpg
King arrived toMalatya just before Christmas. And right after Christmas the king called up fresh men of Malatya to join his exhausted army and marched south to meet rebel Abbas who has just started plundering farms.
But before he reached the enemy, many other things happened:
Emperor of Latins finally accepted our demands and agreed to tribute of 680 gold for peace, Armoury in Tarsus was built as well as Town watch in Ikonion, where building of apiary was started then.
The battle against rebel Abbas was left to nobles in king's army, but they apeared to be bad tactics and were losing the battle, so the king rather ordered to retreat. However he got enough experience to learn strategist skill level 2.
Then a delegation of catholic Cyprus asked our king for Audience.
"Our kingdoms always were in peace, we could declare our will to stay in peace forever and sign Pact of Non agression," said the legate of Everard, king of Cyprus. "Would the king Hethum agree to our offer?"
It was not hard to decide. King Hethum knew Cyprus as perspective and promissing trading partner, so he agreed: "We are very pleased by your king's offer and certainly we agree."
http://img121.echo.cx/img121/4505/armenia256gf.jpg
Chronica regni Armenorum
Chapter 8, part 2 (1228-1230)
But Latins were not as kind as catholic Cyprus. Furthermore they fought ruthlessly against our ally Nicaea so in november A.D.1228 king Hethum declared war on them, only 2 years after his attempt to convince them about advantages of peace.
http://img29.echo.cx/img29/5776/armenia269tz.th.jpg (http://img29.echo.cx/my.php?image=armenia269tz.jpg)
After he recieved a message that Apiary has been built in Rum and Honey was another won trade good, he boarded a ship to support Nicaean campaign in Thrace, but when sailing into Aegean sea he saw that another ally - Ayyubids - is in serious need of help. Ayyubid province of Hellas had very hard time: 3 rebel armies were plundering Hellen villages when fourth enemy army - crusader from Denmark - invaded there.
King Hethum landed near Athens to help his ally, but the situation was really tough. Even at night it was evident that each of rebel armies outnumbers Armenian contingent or has stronger units. So the king rather camped his army and for whole night prayed prayers for help when a messanger announced him that so called christians from catholic Estonia started a crusade against Nicaea. Imediately the king declared them war and in prayers waited for new day to come.
And he was very thankful to the Lord who listened his prayers when the morning came. One rebel army was camping near his positions while other two marched on north and Denmark signed peace with Ayyubids, so the crusader went home. There was a hope that if he attacks the camping rebel, the others won't have enough time to reinforce himin he battle. So very early in the morning king Hethum ambushed camp of rebel Carlo.
But right then he fell into pessimism when everything seemed to be a trap where he got caught when rebel Bastiano rushed to enter the battle as soon as possible. Now the king proved how brilliant tactic he was. All his men led by 2 squads of akyndji were sent to charge tent of rebel Carlo and cause chaos in his camp. This sudden strike was a perfect surprise. Carlo's scouts oversleaped and Armenians caught the rebel and his knights just in the mid of breakfast - armed only by daggers and with no armour on them.
Death of rebel Carlo turned his army into chaos and all his men fled. But rebel Bastiano has just arrived and sent all his men towards the camp where the king was with his army.
And here the second crucial decision was made: the king risked his own life and sent his best squads of akyndji away to hire in forest and march towards unprotected Bastiano. All his peasants in the camp were formed in narrow formations to stand attack of enemy peasants who were almost twice a numerous as they.
Long they held rebel offensive, but then their rows were broken finally. There was no other choice for the king than to charge right into the worse melee with his knights. Fortunately this changed the advantage on his side for a while. And in this very short time Armenian akyndji finaly got rebel Bastiano. Bastiano was so surprised by this attack that he couldn't effectively defend himself against akyndji pikes and whenking Hethum stayed with his last 3 knights and 10 peasants in the middle of 3 enemy squads, Bastiano died the battle was won.
It was brilliant piece of tactic with significant help of the Lord, but neither this victory enabled king Hethum to celebrate his daughter Anahid 6th birthday - age in which she could be married...
PS: unfortunately also this battle has no screenshots. I was so concentrated to do everything properly that I forgot to take screenies. To give you at least something, here is screenshot of political situation of western Europe in the spring of 1232.
http://img25.echo.cx/img25/2111/armenia285qg.th.jpg (http://img25.echo.cx/my.php?image=armenia285qg.jpg)
Holy Roman Empire which was far most powerfull kingdom only 10 years ago, ruling from Croatian coast through norh Italy and Germany to Mercia in England splited in several small states after longlasting rebellions.
Chronica regni Armenorum
Chapter 8 - Hard 10 years, part 3 (1230-1235)
While king Hethum was in Hellas, his kingdom was growing. When the king landed there, an Apiary was built in Rum, as we announced in previous part of this chapter. Right after that cleric Ara supported the idea of Ikonion municipal authorities to make Hemp fields another source of income in Rum. Town of Tarsus in Kilikia got Hostel finaly upgraded and local workers started to upgrade actual fishmonger to Docks.
1231: When whole kingdom was celebrating 6th (first adult) birthday of princes Anahid, king Hethum recieved a letter from 2 Turkish noblemen form Cappadocia, Hassan and Husein:
"The province of Cappadocia was given to you 12 years ago. You were chosen to govern it for Seljuk princess Handije, your wife and in the name of her future sons. But you don't seem to care of your family, family of Handije, daughter of our dead sultan Dana Halil. Your daughter and our princess Anahid celebrates her first adult birthday and you don't bother yourself to celebrate it with her and you don't even spend your time with our queen Handije to have rightful heirs of Seljuk and Armenian lands. So we decided to join Seljuk noblemen inRum, Vaspourakan and Armenia and fight to restore our sultanate on our own!"
http://img71.echo.cx/img71/7849/armenia276qg.th.jpg (http://img71.echo.cx/my.php?image=armenia276qg.jpg)
After this letter full of lies the king got so angry that he only kissed his loved wife and daughter, called all strong men from Kilikia and just one month after his letter was written, rebel Hassan was defeated and killed and Hethum marched from Malatya with reinforced army ready to meet rebel Husein who died in a battle just one week later.
But in the summer of A.D.1232 separatist tendences in muslim regions of former seljuk sultanate culminated after king of Georgia died and Seljuks in Vaspourakan restored the sultanate under new, unrightfull, dynasty and muslim Cappadocia joined them. Also another separatists succeeded after death of Georgian king and false kingdom of Armenia emerged.
http://img25.echo.cx/img25/8606/armenia295tx.th.jpg (http://img25.echo.cx/my.php?image=armenia295tx.jpg)
"Such kingdom can't be accepted," said king Hethum, so after he accepted Trade agreement with Jerusalem and educated doux Avarair, he declared war on false Armenia.
However the war reuired strong economy so when Hemp fields were done in Rum, doux Ara ordered to build also Toolsmith.
In 1233 Dock have been built in Kilikia and while recruiting peasants in Ikonion the king recieved offer from Saloniki to sign trade agreement. He had no interest in trading with former vassal of Latins, but when they offered him 350 gold, he finaly agreed.
http://img73.echo.cx/img73/2185/armenia304zq.th.jpg (http://img73.echo.cx/my.php?image=armenia304zq.jpg)
In autumn of the same year, king Hethum started diplomatical war against false Armenia. He invoked his alliances with Ayyubids and Nicaea. Sultan Sallah-ad-Din gladly agreed, but Nicaea refused to follow us in the war(despite gift of 1200 gold!)
After some time king of false Armenia died after having serious problems with local rebels and his successor felt so weak that he agreed to embarassing tribute of 1600 gold florenes. Nicaea was then forgiven and in following 2 years they accepted Trade agreement, but also Non agression pact.
The peace with false Armenia was very important. King Hethum got enough money to build up army and in spring of 1235 he left Ikonion with strong army and was ready to engage last battle with rebel Abbas.
http://img107.echo.cx/img107/8658/armenia314pc.th.jpg (http://img107.echo.cx/my.php?image=armenia314pc.jpg)
Abbas awaited the king in fortified camp what gave him significant advantage, but king Hethum already knew how to deal with such situations. He charged with all his men directly to Abbases tent and didn't care how big the losses would be. The only goal was to kill Abbas sooner than his men leave their tents.
http://img39.echo.cx/img39/3408/armenia328iq.th.jpg (http://img39.echo.cx/my.php?image=armenia328iq.jpg)
The fight was cruel, but rebel Abbas had no place where to run away, so finally he was knocked down of horseback and killed by brave company of Armenian peasants.
And this was the end of rebellion that lasted 10 years and caused many suffering in the province of Rum.
Ignoramus
11-05-2005, 13:19
Thanks Elvain! You've helped me get a good look at the game. The story is great too!
thanks. I'm affraid I made you all a bit tired by copying whole story at once from Paradoxplaza forums... in parts it would have been better.
I'm pleased that at least one, Ignoramus, was patient enough to read it all.
If anybody has questions or comments, I will be pleased to see them :cheers:
batulimaboy
12-05-2005, 20:24
Nice story...
Well done!!!
Nice job!
I'm here at work waiting for the postman to arrive with my own copy of KoH, so reading your AAR was a great relief :-)
Best regards,
//Valdi
Sir Sigmund
17-05-2005, 09:23
Elvain this is a very good story indeed. All I can say is wow, this is really good. :) Keep up the good work, and thanks so much.
:go:
Thank you for the AAR. It makes for some great reading as I anticipate getting the game this weekend.
... but do we not get to hear any more of the Kindom of Lesser Armenia?
yes, you will...
I just prefered completing of my mod for some time
Very nice AAR. :cool:
I thought that this was a Paradox Forum tradition only :wink:
Chronica regni Armenorum
Chapter 9 - Things are turning better...(?) 1235-1238
The defeat of Seljuk loyalist Abbas was understood as a symbol of end of hard decade after hard defeat under Constantinople's walls during which king Hethum had no rest and so all people in Rum celebrated the death of cruel rebel.
But as we said in previous chapters, this success had roots in enforcing position of Armenia in Europe, especially in re-signemnt of Non-agression pact with Nicea and peace with false Armenia which brought our kingdom 1600 florenes.
1036
After victorious battle, the king learned engineering skill and then he settled down in Tarsus for over one yearand finally could manage all his home duties. Main townsmen of Tarsus welcomedhis presence and asked him for audience
"Hail to you, our lord and king! We welcome improvement of reputation of Armenia in abroad. We deeply respect your right to lead the diplomacy, but as we know you are wise king who cares of his subjects, we would like to offer you an advice to sign a peace treaty with Estonia. We have no benefit from this war and our traders in Lithuania suffer of this war and are exhausted by it," said leader of townsmen, our honorable abbot Gevorg.
"Your words are wise," admitted the king. "I will consider your advice," he promised.
And only few days later abot Gevorg himself was asked to lead Armenian diplomatical mission to Estonia.
3 months later, in may 1236, he returnedwith good news.
"My lord and king!" said abbot Gevorg when returned to royal palace. "Great news we have for you. Estonian king was pleased to see us as he, as he said, wanted to offer the peace to us. So when we saw this his reaction, excuse me please for such courage my lord, I told them that you demand a tribute from them. I deserve to be punnished, but here are 480 gold florenes they gave us as a tribute, my king."
"You deserve!" replied the king, "you deserve everything but punnishment, my dear abbot. I promise you and all townsmen of Tarsus that I will use this money to build a stable in here as soon as it will be possible."
Then the king consolidated situation in his kingdom and rested in Tarsus. But in august he called his men in arms again and boarded a ship in order to suooprt Nicaeans in Latin Thrace. And again when he was on a way to Thrace he recieved sad news from allied Ayyubid sultanate.
Small boat of refugees caught king's fleet near Cyprus and king Hethum recognised face of Ayyubid governor of Lebanon.
"My lord, terrible thing happened to our sultan. Big rebellion fired up in Syria and as flame of the Devil himself expanded into Lebanon and Jordan. We hardly saved our lifes from bestiality of those rebels."
The king was consterned by this shocking news. He gave one ship to refugees to enable them honourable way to Cairo, Ayyubid capital, and sent a messanger with war declaration to Syria immediately.
Then he landed with his army in Thrace, but now when being at war also with Syria he rather camped and waited for Latin reaction. And really, soon a messanger from Constantinople has arrived.
"Hail to you, king of Armenia. This war causes only bad between us and gives none of us any benefit. Would you agree to sign a peace with us?" asked the messanger. Although the king prefered the peace, he replied: "And do you and your emperor think that I came here with this whole army in order to sign some poor peace with you?! I won't agree unless you offer us something valuable!"
So the messanger who was not here to negotiate mounted his horse and rode back to Constantinople. But king Hethum himself followed his soon. In fromt of the gate where Armens were heavily masacred 11 years ago he was awaited by emperor of Latins.
"Did you agree to our peace offer afterall, king of Armenia?"
"As I said to your messanger, I didn't come here to sign white peace. I am here to hear what can you offer to my kingdom. Either you pay us some tribute or we, with sadness in our hearts will be forced to take something by force."
"But our economy is too weak, dear king Hethum. We cannot offer you more than 310 gold and it will already ruin our economy."
"So you have a choice, dear emperor. You can keep your money in treasury and have your villages burnt or you can pay us 310 florenes as tribute and hope that your villages will pey it to you in taxes soon."
The king knew that there is only one choice for Latins, to pay. And the emperor really agreed and payed us tribute of 310 florenes.
When the king was comming back to his army, he saw a mercenary camp near, so he went there with new money and used them to buy 2 squads of strong Steppe cevalry (in order to free space in his army he had to release 2 squads of peasants from his services).
1237
Not only emperor of Latins and king of Armenia were pleased by the peace abetween christians. Our Lord showed his pleasure when a son was born to queen Handije in Tarsus in february, so our kingdom finally got an heir. So the king boarded his ship back home and finally ordered to build stable in honour of his son (when finally wnough money was collected)
http://img266.echo.cx/img266/7533/armenia343fi.th.jpg (http://img266.echo.cx/my.php?image=armenia343fi.jpg)
1238
whole year was calm as on year before. King stayed in Tarsus and was collecting taxes and observing situation in international policy, considering what would be the best to do next...
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PS: elbasto:
it was originaly put there, but here much more people gather information about Knights of Honor (and also I'm used to this forum). So when I got a chance to put my AAR also here, I used it :cheers:
I hope other, even better AAR's are about to come....
PPS: I am sorry, sometimes I forget to take screenshots. I hope you will forgive me. I don't know how could I reach number of 100 screenshots after 2 and half hours of play :sctratch:
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