The Battle that turned the tide
Now I would like to revisit the Crusade and give a detailed description of my favourite battle - the one in which Thedoros killed the 'traitor' Manuel.
It is a wikipedia article-style thing, which I have seen in some of the timelines and always wanted to try it myself. It's just a sketch yet.
I also want a
plausibility check by you guys regarding the numbers and the course of the battle.
I haven't decided the exact time and location, but the other main factors are in place.
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Background____________________________________________________
The main thrust of the
Crusade was from Bulgaria to the south. The united armies composed of
Poland,
Hungary,
Bosnia,
Serbia,
Wallachia and
Bulgaria.
The secondary operational area was the southern part of the Balkans.
Epirus,
Morea,
Achaea,
Athens and
Albania provided the troops for this.
First, the Ottomans destroyed a smaller forward army of the Coalition in the secondary area. This happaned with the help of the new Byzantine Emperor,
Manuel III Megas Komnenos who was also. Emperor of
Trebizond.
Morean troops were placed between the main army advancing East and a smaller Albanian force, which was securing landing sites for Venetian and Genoese supply ships. Theodoros' goup acted as a fast respons reinforcement which was meant to help either of the two forces.
Theodoros, Despot of Morea was infuriated upon hearing from the Trapezuntine coup and their alliance with the Ottomans, so he forced a march to meet the primary army to the North before the Ottomans destroy it.
The battle____________________________________________________
The Coalition force is retreating from the larger Ottoman army, which is closing in fast. They are falling back to the direction where they can expect reinforcements, no matter how small it is. When they are forced to engage, they assume position on high ground and prepare for the clash.
The Ottoman left wing is commanded by Manuel, the Emperor of both Byzantium and Trebizond. They take the Colaition force in a death grip, slowly killing it off.
Theodoros arrives in this dire moment and attacks the left wing in the back, looking to kill Manuel. After some fighting, he succeeds; the Emperor was located further away from the main Coalition army, thus closer to Theodoros.
After killing the Emperor, the Imperial troops flee the battlefield.
He then proceeds to hack the Turks, but by this time, they manage to kill off almost half of the Christians. Theodoros falls, his troops, left without their commander and hearing only Latin and Turkish words, rout.
The rest of the Colaition army follows suit, the Ottoman disciple thriumps.
Aftermath____________________________________________________
The Byzantine/Trapezuntine soldiers fall back toward Constantinople. Suleyman's ally is dead, he no longer has their support. He also lost one third of his own army in the region. Had Theodoros arrive somewhat later, the main Coalition army would be destroyed and the Moreans would be next, then the small Albanian force at the shores. After that, he could've ransacked the defenseless states to the West or regroup to fight the main Crusader assault.
With Manuel's death, the brief unity of the two Empires and their alliance with Suleyman ceased.
Theodore is succeeded by
Helena Dragaš until their son comes of age. Manuel III's successor is his son,
Alexios IV Megas Komnenos. The young
John VIII Palaiologos is crowned as the new Byzantine Emperor.