Turn 4: Winter 1301
1st Gothic-Genovese War
Previous Resolutions:-- The Princes decide on war with Genoa.
-- A proposal for the renovation of the capital is tabled.
-- *really good roll for this one* 1500 new recruits are inducted as
Énoploi Taxidiótes, heavy horse archers maintained by local nobility.
Foreign News:-- War continues to rage across the remains of the Byzantine Empire, which is making small gains in the Balkans.
Local News:-- Theodoro declares war on Genoa. Trebizond is quick to declare their support. Allegedly, there are celebrations in Venetia...
-- The towns of Caulita, Lusta, and Soldaia shrink due to the Trapezuntine raids. Cembalo does not suffer as badly due to occupation. Theodosia does not suffer as badly due to its primarily Gothic population. The town of Vosporo grows into a small city of over ten thousand.
Summer 1301: The Caffa Campaign
Starting forces.Theodoro: 11,500 -- Mustered in Doros, 13 ships -- at Kalamita
Trebizond: 30,000 -- Embarked at Trebizond (Sailing for Kalamita), 40 ships -- at Trebizond
Genoa: 12,000 -- Spread evenly among settlements in Crimea (2000 in each), 20 ships -- Blockading Kalamita
Battle of the Coast of Kalamita.
Summary.
Following the Theodoran declaration of war, a small Genovese squadron of 20 ships is dispatched to blockade the port at Kalamita. They are caught off guard by an aggressive naval landing by the Trapezuntine War Fleet.
10AM March 7th -- The Genovese squadron breaks their blockade after spotting the Trapezuntine Fleet, they are chased down by the Trapezuntines and the Theodoran fleet.
11AM -- 15 Trapezuntine ships engage the rearmost Genovese squadron. 10 Trapezuntine ships quickly catch up with the next one. The 13 Theodoran ships engage the Genovese rear guard shortly after. The rest of the Trapezuntine fleet forms a rearguard to pick up survivors and prevent any surprise attacks.
12AM -- The battle is over quickly. Three Genovese squadrons, 15 ships, are destroyed entirely. The Trapezuntines lose 3 ships in the process. The Theodorans lose 1. The Genovese admiral escapes with his personal squadron.
Late March.-- The Trapezuntine Army lands at Kalamita--28,000 make it ashore.
-- Caulita, Lusta, and Soldaia are emptied of their fighting men. 4000 Genovese garrison Cembalo, and 8000 man the walls of Caffa.
-- Half of the Trapezuntine Army (14,000) besieges Cembalo. The other half joins up with the army of Theodoro (25,500 together) and besieges Caffa. They plan an assault on the city.
April.-- Genoa maintains naval supremacy, blockading Kalamita with 100 ships. Both the Theodoran and Trapezuntine fleets remain at port.
-- Cembalo is evacuated by sea. The 14,000 Trapezuntines loot the town and remain quartered there. The 4000 Genovese are transferred to Caffa. Almost the entire garrison consists of medium and heavy infantry.
-- The Trapezuntine general wins the post of commander of the Siege of Caffa, to the disgruntlement of the Theodoran forces. Luckily, he is as aggressively minded as the Princes.
-- Prince Teja is given command of the Theodoran forces.
-- The combined Theodoran-Trapezuntine army encircles Caffa. They begin building siege equipment. Several siege towers in particular.
May.-- Caffa is bombarded with arrows and stones. The Genovese maintain their discipline.
-- The army at Kalamita as well as the combined forces raid the coast between Caffa and Cembalo. The entire region's Genovese population is either evacuated, enslaved, or killed.
June.-- Caffa is bombarded with arrows and stones. The bombardment takes its toll.
-- Small trapezuntine garrisons are left along the coast. Most of Theodoro's manpower is tied down at Caffa.
July.-- The Theodoran and Trapezuntine commanders decide to begin the assault on July 4th at noon. 4 siege towers have been constructed.
The Battle of Caffa.The situation by 1PM.
The Theodoran and Trapezuntine forces lose 1000 men each. The genovese lose 1900. A number of fleeing regiments causes a rout that causes the reserves to panic. They nearly clog the interior gate to the upper city, but the Genovese commander orders his men to push back the panicked troops... at any cost. In the end, they surrender without further blood shed. Over 5000 men are disarmed and held prisoner at the North gate. After losses from bombardment, only four thousand men remain to guard the upper city and citadel.
2PM -- The commanders of both sides call for a ceasefire, but negotiations for a peaceful end to the siege fizzle out in anger. The next assault commences at 3PM.
The situation by 4PM.
Using ladders, the second assault commences. Assaulting the inner gate, the Theodoran and Trapezuntine forces lose 600 and 500 men, respectively--the Genovese lose 1400 and rout.
Assaulting the South gate, the Theodoran and Trapezuntine forces lose 500 men each, while the Genovese regiment is destroyed entirely.
The Genovese commander is killed during the assault, and the remaining soldiers cannot reach the citadel gate before they are encircled. Many die before they surrender. Ultimately, over 7000 men are taken prisoner.
Ending forces.Theodoro: 9,400 -- Garrisoned in Caffa (now Theodosia), 12 ships -- at Kalamita
Trebizond: 26,000 -- Garrisoned in Caffa (now Theodosia) and Cembalo, 37 ships -- at Kalamita
Genoa: 0 (7000 imprisoned), 100 ships -- Maintaining naval superiority
OOC: This first operation has gone CRAZY well.Campaign Result: Outstanding Success.Caffa, now Theodosia, has been recaptured and the Genovese largely ousted from our shores. We have even defeated them at sea, though their superior navy has forced us to remain in port. The Siege of Caffa was one of the bloodiest battles in the region with over 10,000 men dead or injured, and yet it was a battle for the chronicles as the descendants of Rome proved their might against all odds. But it is not over yet... the Genovese still hold territory nearby. Who knows what is next. Our aggressive military policy and synergy with our Pontic cousins has granted us a historic victory!
Updated Map:
UPDATES:
Report on the Army of Theodoro at the start of the Coastal Campaign:The venerable Prince Papu has taken the initiative to organize the training of the 1500 new recruits from Kalamita. It is decided that they will train as horse archers. Mongolian and Hungarian advisors are brought in, as well as local nobles. The stock of local horses is appraised and rather suddenly a great debate about the best implementation of mounted archers begin. When all is said and done, everyone is convinced of the usefulness of a cavalry unit more similar to the Rus' Druzhina than the Mongolian horse archer. They are drawn from the ranks of wealthy landowners, gentry, and local or regional nobility--losses to other units are replaced by the Kalamitan recruits. They have sturdy horses that are suited to traveling, but neither particularly fast nor brave. They are heavily armed, possessing bows, swords, and shields, and moderate-to-well armored--suited mostly in metal lamellar and chainmail. They are organized into companies of 500, led by the leaders of Doros, Funa, and Kalamita, respectively. They are known as Énoploi Taxidiótes.
All in all, the Army of Theodoro is able to muster 11,500 men.
-- 2000 are heavily armed and armored professional footsoldiers
-- 4000 are moderately armed and armored semi-professional levies
-- 4000 are lightly mixed slingers
-- 1500 are the versatile Énoploi Taxidiótes
Factions:
Theodoro: Players (Green)
Ships: 12
Soldiers: 9,400 (Max 11,500)
Genoa: At War (Red)
Ships: 135
Soldiers: 4,000 (7,000 imprisoned) (Max 16,000)
Golden Horde Khans: Distracted (Blue)
Ships: 0
Soldiers: 80,000
Foreign:
Moldovia: Unaligned
Power: Low
Wallachia: Unaligned
Power: Low
Byzantium: Uninterested
Power: High
Anatolian Turks: Uninterested
Power: Medium
Trebizond: Allied
Power: Medium
Georgia: Unaligned
Power: Medium
Settlements:
1- Doros: Theodoro (Capital)
Strong Defenses.
x10^4 Population
Large Garrison.
2- Kalamita: Theodoro
Moderate Defenses.
x10^4 Population.
Small Garrison.
3- Funa: Theodoro
Strong Defenses.
x10^3 Population.
Moderate Garrison.
4- Cembalo: Theodor
Weak Defenses.
x10^2 Population.
Small Garrison.
5- Caulita: Theodoro
Weak Defenses.
x10^1 Population.
Small Garrison.
6- Lusta: Theodoro
Weak Defenses.
x10^1 Population.
Small Garrison.
7- Soldaia: Theodoro
Weak Defenses.
x10^1 Population.
Small Garrison.
8- Theodosia (Caffa): Theodoro
Moderate Defenses.
x10^3 Population.
Small Garrison.
9- Vosporo: Genoa (Regional Capital)
Moderate Defenses.
x10^4 Population.
Small Garrison.
10- Qirq Yer: Khans (Regional Capital)
Weak Defenses.
x10^3 Population.
Large Garrison.
11- Solkhat: Khans
Weak Defenses.
x10^2 Population.
Small Garrison.
12- Matrega: Genoa
Moderate Defenses.
x10^3 Population.
Small Garrison.
13- Copa: Genoa
Weak Defenses.
x10^2
Small Garrison.
Current Resolutions:
Resolution 1: The Customary Olive Branch.With the shocking success of both our land and sea forces these past sixth months perhaps it is time to try and force an early peace on Genoa. The loss of so many regular infantry is sure to leave them vulnerable elsewhere, and they will be desperate for more men to defend their far-flung colonies. On the other hand, the Trapezuntines have further interests in the area, and will be keen on our continued assistance against Genoa. Those are but a few points, there is much to consider in the question of peace. Of course, there is no guarantee they won't fight on to secure better terms...
A.) Offer a harsh treaty, conceding all of their colonies to us and forcing a war indemnity upon them. Attempt to negotiate for Matrega or another Tamanian colony to appease our Trapezuntine allies.
B.) Offer a mild meaty, conceding all or most of their colonies to us, but with no further conditions.
C.) There will be no peace! The Genovese are now blood enemies of Theodoro, and having shown their weakness, must be crushed for their insolence.
Author
Topic: Princes of Theodoro: An Alternate History Game (Turn 7) (Read 3581 times)