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Nation: Imperium Romanorum
Year: 640 Anno Domini
Imperator: Flavius Heracles Augustus [ADM:8/DIP:7/MAR:9]
Heir: Constantine III (26 Years) [ADM:2/DIP:9/MAR:7); Heraklonas (14 Years) [ADM:6/DIP:2/MAR:10]
Population: 15,000,000
Imperial Provinces [For province and name references] Yes. I am unquestionably unable to figure out how to update maps in this part, don't worry I learn eventually.
After the Persian wars ended everyone sighed in relief, the status quo was restored and the nations could recover and rebuild after more than a decade of occupation and disruption. You didn’t expect this. The Persians didn’t expect this. The Arabs didn’t expect this.
With a snort you sat down, agitation leaving your body as you look at the tactical map, fucking Arabs just who did these unwashed savages think they were? Attacking the Empire whilst they were exhausted, her armies were finally returning when the news came and now Jerusalem alongside majority of Syria was in the hands of Barbarians.
The situation was dire, the empire you gave up everything for was on the brink of disaster, but all was not lost yet. The Imperial Eagle still had life left in it, your armies were reduced but they were there.
After all, the Empire didn’t collapse at Teutoburg nor at Adrianople or at Edessa. Disasters have hit your empire again and again for Centuries, Rome wasn’t a leaf to be blown away by the latest in the line of a long series of enemies that dared to assail the empire.
Your army is still intact, though their ability to launch an offensive is under question. So is the willingness of a Roman commander to do the same after Yarmouk.
Army Disposition: aprox. 100,000 Infantry; 20,000 Cavalry.
The army is divided into Meros, with each Meros being 5000 Infantry and 1000 Cavalry.
Asia Minor: 12 Meros (60k Infantry, 12k Cavalry)
Balkans: 6 Meros (30k Inf, 6k Cavalry)
Africa proconsularis: 2 Meros (10k Infantry, 2k Cavalry)
~o~
Unfortunately large though the Roman army may be the frontiers have been infuriatingly unforgiving to it, the loss of Syria and the dismal morale has forced the vast majority of the professional army into Anatolia whilst the 2 Meros held in Africa are in Carthago.
The armies have left for Aegyptus but it is under question if they will arrive in time to rescue Aegyptus and its garrisons, as it stands there are a few strong garrisons in Aegyptus that might slow down the Arabs:
Memphis 1,000
The invading force of Arabs is lead by ‘Amir Ibn al-’asn who has brought with him, 4,000 men. He is advancing on Arish in great cheer, confident that the conquest of Egypt will be as swift as the fall of Palestine and Syria.
The nearest professional army is held up in Carthago and though they make for Aegyptus with great speed they might not arrive in time to truly save Aegyptus as they are harried by Berbers. The nearest army by sea is held up in Tarsus, unfortunately, they are held up entirely by Khalid’s offensive in Northern Syria and the threat to Jazira.
Though Cyrus is the Prefect of Aegyptus he has no martial skill and the military command falls to Strategos Aretion, a decent commander. He can carry out three strategies:
[ ] Gather your men and surrender, then in the dark of the night abandon all honour and slaughter the Arabs. For they are few and you many, it would be a stain on the Honour of Roma, but then again. Dead men tell no tales.
[ ] Hold the forts, make the barbarians pay in blood for each fort they take. Hope that the Carthaginian armies arrive in good time. Be warned though, the Prefect Cyrus has no stomach for blood and may surrender soon.
[ ] Abandon Arish and Pelousion, empty Bilbies, Babylon and Heliopolis to gather at Memphis. Force the Arabs to battle you before their reinforcements arrive.
-- [ ] Empty half of Alexandria’s garrison, but once more beware, Cyrus, is only loyal till victory looks plausible.
Of course, life would be pathetically easy if the only crisis was in Aegyptus. Fate it seems wishes to test the Empire more, Edessa is under threat from Khalid and his cohort of 17,000 men. Here Strategos Theodore was in effective command of the 12 Meros that guarded the Anatolian border and Armenian frontier
Though supply is scarce Theodore can afford to give battle to Khalid with the aid of 4 Meros. Theodore knows the terrain well and this might be the only chance to repel the Arabs from Osroene, a province that continued to provide valuable revenue.
[ ] Defend Edessa with 4 Meros (effectively 20k Infantry and 4k Cavalry), you have the defensive advantage and Khalid is reliably going to attack due to the high morale of the string of victories.
[ ] Abandon Orsoene, Euphratensis and Mesopotamia to retreat to the Anatolian mountains, here it is nearly assured that the line will be held regardless of Khalid’s efforts to do otherwise.
Thankfully not all news is bad for the Empire, Jabalah, the client king of the Ghassanids has rebelled against his new masters to declare for Heraclius, he is moving North to join the Anatolian Meros with 15,000 soldiers, but he can be diverted:
[ ] Command him to march on Egypt, reclaiming Sina on the way there. He will attack them in the back, hopefully preventing the loss of Aegyptus.
[ ] He shall march to the besieged cities of Caesarea and Tyre, after regrouping with local forces he is to attack Arab forces in Damascus and Jerusalem. Pushing out the unprepared local defenders and cutting off reinforcements for Khalid.
[ ] Ask him to continue marching North and attack the lightly guarded Antioch, the locals do not love their infidel overlords and the queen of the Levant would do well back in Roman hands.
[ ] He is to make haste for the Cilician gates and reinforce the men guarding the Anatolian frontline.
In the West and the North things are more peaceful, the Persians too are fighting against the Arabs and though Ctesiphon has fallen effective resistance may yet be possible. The Slavs and the Lombards have maintained peace due to the reputation surrounding Heraclius, word of the Eastern disaster is yet to spread East, after which the Lombards and the Slavs might take actions against Roman positions in the Balkans and Italia.
Treasury: 10,000 Solidius
Income: 10,000 Solidius
+150,000 Taxes
+50,000 Production
+10,000 Trade
-140,000 Army
-20,000 Navy
-40,000 Imperial Administration
Projects: (Can take as many, the Imperator can focus on any one and reduce cost by 50%)
[ ] (Cost 10,000 Solidius for three turns) The recent Persian War has damaged all of Oriens, Asiana and Aegyptus, the infrastructure lost has caused a loss in revenue and logistical ability to field large armies, this needs to be remedied. (Significantly Increases Revenue)
[ ] (Cost 2000 Solidius) The secret Greek Fire is being prepared in Constantinople in the worst case scenario, but the deployment of cheirosiphōn, hand-held fire throwers, is impeded by the current instability of the formula. Rumours of a young alchemist in occupied Heliopolis persist and have reached the Imperator through his spies, you can try and find him through discrete methods.
[ ] (Cost 8000; Upkeep 8000) Aegyptus is a valuable province, its grain is the reason Constantinople remains the most populated city in the world outside China, losing it is not a viable option. The Empire can raise further 8,000 Infantry in Aegyptus, but they will be green and barely trained, not up to the usual quality of Roman troops.
[ ] (Cost 7000) The Imperator is not amused by the loss of Levant to a bunch of unwashed savages from the desert, gather supplies for a push… into Ctesiphon! None shall expect this manoeuvre and the troops accompanied by local Armenian garrisons and auxiliaries can circle around with allied Persians to reclaim the Levant. The feelers are responding positively, the Persians are desperate enough to ally with you, and you are desperate enough to ally with them.
[ ] (Cost 8000; Upkeep 8000 ) Hire 4,000 Nubian Cavalry to supplement the forces of Aegyptus against the Barbarians, should you win there they will aid you till the termination of their contract.
[ ] (Cost 15000) Invest into diplomatically vassalising the Berber tribes once more and coax the coastline back into rightful Roman hands
[ ] (Cost 20000) Invest into Italia to revitalise the lost heartland of the Empire.
[ ] (Cost 20000) Invest into the four queens, or at least the three you control. (Invests into Thessalonica, Ephesus and Alexandria
Imperator’s private actions:
[ ] Heraklonus is a decent heir, a military prodigy, the boy is not yet as capable as his co-emperor at diplomacy. You should train him to be better at the art of ruling.
[ ] You are spry for a 65-Year-Old man but after Yarmouk depression has gripped you, perhaps it is not unwise to let your heirs govern for a while and gather yourself back.
[ ] Send a letter of encouragement to Strategos Aretion of Aegyptus, your legend is not as strong as it was after the Great War but it is still fairly strong.
-- [ ] (Cost 2000) Additionally you can offer a bonus to each man for fighting to defend the food of the Empire and her heart (Constantinople)
~o~
Please plan votes only, happy to receive any corrections and feedback!