Bulgaria-Fight for liberty and The True God-A Megacampaign AAR

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Hello folks This is the beginning of my story about the greatest Tzardom of Bulgaria....through the centuries and....the games of Paradox.But the good old 2D based games -CK/DV-Eu2-Ricky and Doomsday.
The first part of the saga("Under a Byzanthine Rule") is coming soon.I hope you enjoy.

 

[Enewald]

How soon?

 

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This Week

 

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UNDER A BYZANTHINE RULE Part I

PROLOG

The First Bulgarian Kingdom in Europe was totally defeated and occupied after fifty years of war with the Eastern Roman Empire leaded in these times by one of the greatest representatives of the Macedonian dinasty.In the beginning of the 11th century,in 1018,the last bulgarian ruler, Tzar Ivan Vladislav, surrendered without conditions .Emperor Bassileos II finally reached his dream to conquer all bulgarian lands and to establish again the roman supremacy over the most lands of the Balkan peninsula...
Bulgarians rebeled in 1040, leaded by Peter II and suceeded to gain their indepedence.For a while...After two years of hope and glorious,bloodie fights the successors of the Imperium Romanum re-occupied the liberated territories.
A new uprising fell in 1066....But the Bulgarian population and their higher class- the aristocrats and the clargymen -demonstrated that they remembered the grandeur of his rulers and his country...

 

[Enewald]

So, under whom thee be playing?

 

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UNDER A BYZANTHINE RULE Part I

The old capital cities of Tzardom of Bulgaria(Pliska and Veliki Preslav)wasn't capable to become a new core of resistance.They were under byzanthine possession from the second half of the 10th century and were destroyed and rare populated. That new role was earmarked for the small town with good geographical position(for defence) of Tyrnovo in the same region as the previous two subjects (today's northern Bulgaria)...

The peasants and the other classes were ruled with a strong hand and good taxes forced by Petyr Asen.
The main goal for the count of Tyrnovo was to expand his borders and...when the first action is not possible-to encourage the good ralationships with his neighbours(especially these in Nikopolis and Dorostorum-a very good places for "rear").

The second half of 11th century was a harsh time for the romans.On East were the seljuks that attacked heavily the byzanthine possessions in Asia Minor.In the meantime most of the balkan vassals started uprisings and , in fact, they provoked a civil war.

Petyr Asen was a moderate loyalist and participated in the fight against the Macedonian Principality in 1075.But the sacriface of his troops in the name of the Emperor wasnt recompensated very well.He didnt receive anything.Even money.
In the next year the governor of Dorostorum entered in anti-byzanthine coalition.That was a chance for the ambitious and mean Petyr!

The ruler sent near 2000 men to occupy the important province.The Emperor didnt make a problem for that annexation...He had a lot of them in other directions.The bulgarian vassals didnt create or participate in a new armed conflict even after dead of Petyr in beginning of 1090's during this century.
In the last decade of this period ERE opened a new front, this time on west.They begun the first biggest conflict with the western powers.The romans declared war on England and France....
Western Europe in 1100(approximately):

And Byzanthine Empire:

As you see on the map- France occupied Vidin and England-Serdica and Strymon.

 

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So, under whom thee be playing?

I'm plaiyng as count of Tyrnovo.It's not so easy as count or principal of the peripheral provinces,but isnt very harsh...And,of course,this city is symbolic as the historical forth bulgarian capital...

 

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excellent a mega campaign

It will be especially good once you hit your stride

 

[Enewald]

Ah, eating disloyal neighbours. How lovely.

 

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10x for your comments I'll tray to accelerate the speed of posting, but I have to do a lot of other things.Next episode ;] is going to come tomorrow.

 

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UNDER BYZANTHINE RULE Part II

The future great bulgarian dinasty met a huge problem in his own development.The only heir of Tyrnovo was Roman Assen, the brother of the ruler, because the last had daughters only.

He died on the next year

Years passed, but the male child still wasnt born

Finally in year 1103 ,after 15 years of "hard" work by Dimitar Assen(including even the assassination of his first wife), the new ruler came to this world.

In the beginning of the century the title Prince of Tyrnovo was given to the count of Nikopolis and he was proclaimed as the new liege of Dimitar Assen.
In April 1104 he declared independence from the Easthern Roman Empire and the count of Tyrnovo followed his master.But the end of the summer of the same year brought a very harsh conflict between them.

The army of Dimitar Assen was better in quality and quantity.

In a short time Dimitar gained a new land and a new priceless title-Prince of Tyrnovo.

Meanwhile were happened some very interesting and unwelcome events...

La Citta Eterna was captured by the muslims and the other bulgarian state in Europe that was still independent lost territories.In 1108 Dimitar Assen decided to pledge alligance and to become vassal of the Emperor...again.

 

[Enewald]

Well, you can expand northwards... when the Emperor is doing something... else...

 

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For example-Karvuna's lands

 

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UNDER A BYZANTHINE RULE Part III

1109.The balkans were still fill with mess and disloyal vassals.

Next year the old and wise ruler of the principality died.His oldest son was Besar born 7 years before...In fact the real power was taken by the ministers

The situation in Europe was changed slowly in a byzantine disadvantage.In 1114 on the paninsula werent much the provinces under their rule.Except those who were close to the capital.

The western part was sphere of influence by the mighty Kingdom of Hungary.They atacked the croation state.

Meanwhile Besar Assen grew like a real dude

Five years later,in 1119,the bulgarian principality gained a casus belli against its neighbour-Principality of Macedonia.The governors of Tyrnovo didn't wait a second opportunity and declared war immediately.But NIkeforos, The Emperor, selected the side of his macedonian principal...

The war wit Konstantinopolis became irreversible....

 

[Enewald]

Now hope that the Emperor has no armies left to fight you.

 

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Now hope that the Emperor has no armies left to fight you.

Actually this is the root of my strategy :]]]]]]]]

 

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The Bulgarian Uprising Part I

The little military confict between the two principalities easy grew in a war for independence.The bulgarian forces quickly overpowered these of Nikeforos Prince of Macedonia.He recognized the Besar Assen as a liege.Bulgarians directed their forces toward Tzarigrad (Konstantinopolis).The year was 1119....

They didn't reach even the gates of the city.Nikeforos army met them in Kaliopolis and pushed back the rest of the troops.The army was disorganized-consisting more then a 6000 men in the beginning now its strenght was only around 2250...The lucky chance was that the byzantines went to Asia Minor and underrated the bulgarian threat.After that defeat Besar gave new orders.Attack on west and prevention of the future reinforcment from there.

Meanwhile he married Anna Tich - a daughter of his neighbour Prince of Karvuna.One enemy less...for now.

Same year he gained an opportunity to claim the trown of Konstantinopol

Immediately he ordered new march toward Tzarigrad

A two armies went to help the forces of Besar when suddenly:

In 15th of February 1121 Besar entered through the gates of the Second Rome...

A big success, but the war wasn't over! Next month bulgarians conquered the first province in Asia Minor.Nikomedia.Emperor Nikeforos counterattacked firstly with inferior troops in the region of Adrianopolis.

Besar divided his forces in two.He met the romans with the superior part of his army in Adrianopolis and the rest left as a garrison in Tzarigrad.
...But in the end of 1121 it was clear that even the all bulgarian soldiers were not enough to defend the important conquest of the capital against the huge armies of the byzantine vassals...

 

[Enewald]

Peace I say.
White peace could even work.

 

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Peace I say.
White peace could even work.

Nope...they refused :] ...in the beginning

 

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BULGARIAN UPRISING Part II - The Endless war

In the summer of 1122 they started offensive for liberation of their capital.

Despite the desperate resistance menaged by the bulgarian knights they were overpowered.Besar proposed many times peace deal, but they declined to ley down the arms.Finally he sent a self-humiliatang treaty... but it was too late- the romans were really angry at the bulgarian principality.

Next pictue is a quite strange

In december the same year Besar started a very risky campaign in north direction.

Bozidar Tich, count of Karvuna and heir for the trown of the same principality accepted easily the good conditions of Prince Besar Assen.After his defeat, of course...

The conflict with Prince Filip Tich was growing and Besar ordered march to Galaz with 2/3 of his army.

Finally they concluded peace each other , but next year when the weather was good Besar claimed the whole land left in the hands of Filip Tich

Count of Karvuna was at war with some cumans beyond the river Danube

In 1124 they were occupied.Chiefdom of Birlad recognized the supreme power of the bulgarian prince and because the cumans were at war with the count of Belgrade Besar saw a very good oportunity to casus belli against another vassal of Konstantinopolis...Another stab in the byzantine back...