Apologies for the wait, but i had a bit of trouble:
Chapter 11: Considerations For War
During the later months of 1178, Manuel is feeling energetic despite his old age and generally wants to finish of the remnants of the Seljuks, who are currently led by Kaykhusraw, who have managed to keep his realm under control and has been able to somehow convince the Turcomans into raiding west into Rhomaios lands and south into the Principality of Antioch, who is a vassal of the Rhomaioi. Any war with the Turks, once the treaty peace is up, would most likely be directed at Amasya (Amassia in Greek), as that is where the Seljuk Sultan is located currently located. However, it will be a few years before the 5 year peace will be up, there are also issues with ambushes by Turcomans and by the Turks, which weakened the Rhomaios during the Central Plateau campaign.
Another choice that has r4ecently been given consideration is the Kingdom of Armenian Cilicia which currently has a troubled history with the empire, due to Manuel and his father John's invasion of Armenian Cilicia in the years before Myriokephalon. Manuel, much like his father, considers Cilicia a rightful part of the Empire despite the treaty signed with the Armenians, the provisions of the treaty being that the Rhomaioi give up all claims to Cilicia in exchange for the Rhomaioi having access to ports on the Gulf of Alexandretta and the Cilician Kingdom becoming formally a vassal. However, enforcing the vassal status of the Armenians can be difficult at times, depending on the situation, often when the Rhomaioi are busy dealing with other matters.
The considerations that are given to each target are extensive, but priority is given on two factors in particular, namely how the Armenians and Turkish lands can benefit the Rhomaioi the most in terms of security to the Empire and the economic benefits of the conquered lands, with immediate benefit from the re-conquests. Another consideration is whether the Armenians or Turks have circumstances that allow them to being conquered at the quickest possible opportunity. However, a casus-belli will be required to help legitimize the re-conquest in the eyes of the peasants and nobles in the areas, along with foreign powers in the area.
3 January 1179:
It is decided by Manuel in January to invade Cilicia in July of that year, with the main targets of the campaign being Iskenderun (Alexandretta in Greek), Tarsus, Kozan (Sision in Greek) and Mersin (Zephyrion in Greek). It is also decided to invade from several directions, with one army attacking from Ikonion, one from Kalonoros and the final army being put in the Principality of Antioch (a vassal) and invading from Antiocheia. It is hoped by this that the Armenians will split their forces and could be defeated by superior Rhomaios forces, which would be supplemented by vassals and allies, such as Antioch. The armies would be headed by Manuel who would be leading the army going out of Antioch while accompanied by Alexios, Andronikos Kontostephanos is to lead the army out of Ikonion and John Vatatzes is to command the army from Kalonoros. The Antiocheia army is to invade and go north and capture Alexandretta, then move north again and try and capture Sis. The Ikonion army is to invade and capture the cities of Cybistra, then move east to Tyana and Gamar, then go through the mountains and capture Gouglak and then move onto the Cilician Plains and capture any settlements and clear a path towards Sis. The Kalonoros army is to move along the coast until it captures Zephyrium, then move north east and capture Tarsus and Adana (Tarsos in Greek).
Before any war with the Cilician Armenians can begin however, there needs to be a casus-belli. Only three casus-belli's can perhaps be used: One is that the Armenians have reneged on their side of a previous treaty, which is to allow merchants and Rhomaios ships have access to the Gulf of Alexandretta and to the ports there. Since the Armenians have kept to their side of the bargain in this instance, that is not available. Another casus-belli is that the Armenians have tried to break free from Rhomaios suzeranity, with the Rhomaioi going to war to enforce vassalige over the Armenians. There is problems with this, since the Armenians have remained de jure vassals, but de facto they are vassals when the Rhomaioi are in a position to enforce it, the other problem is that the Rhomaioi want to conquer Cilicia, not put it under vassalige again.
It is eventually decided to use the casus-belli of re-conquest, since Cilicia was Rhomaios before Manzikert and it is in a position to enforce that claim. It would also be useful to share a border with the troublesome Antioch Principality and to use it a potential springboard into Eastern Anatolia and Syria. It also allows for direct control from Konstantinoupolis (under a Strategos at least) and is useful for defence from the mountains from any invasions from that area.
Any feedback will be appreciated.