Thanks!, i hope to continue this with no further interruptions.
Thanks for your continued support across the years
Thanks!
I intend to continue with this one until HOI4°!
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Thanks!, i hope to continue this with no further interruptions.
Thanks for your continued support across the years
Thanks!
Chapter X The Sack of Stragona (120-123)
Chapter X The Sack of Stragona (120-123)
With Roman influence waning, the Macedonian leadership, eager to expand its influence, turned their attention to Albania and the Black Sea, both crucial to controlling regional trade routes. The lack of immediate Roman pressure gave Macedon the freedom to pursue its ambitions aggressively, and they set their sights on Albania, whose internal instability made it an attractive target. However, this move caused friction with Vandal clans who had already established a strong presence in the Black Sea region and considered it essential to the Republic’s growing influence. Despite this tension, Macedon pressed forward, calculating that Vandalia, as a fragile but long-time ally, would ultimately align with them. The Macedonians believed the Republic would join them to maintain a united front against common threats, including a weakened but still dangerous Roman influence.
Despite the internal discord over who should dominate the Black Sea trade, the Vandals ultimately chose to align with Macedon. The Senate, while divided, understood the strategic necessity of maintaining the alliance to protect the Balkans from potential Roman incursions. By the year 120, Vandalia had committed its forces to the war, entering into battle against Albania and its allies, Apasiacae and Suionia.
Gelonia is not allied with Macedon, Apasiacae is revolting against them, so they are "in our same side".
Apasiacae, a formidable Sarmatian tribe, marked the Vandals' first significant confrontation with the powerful nomads of the eastern steppes. Unlike the Macedonians, who sought to conquer these vast and inhospitable lands through direct invasion, the Vandals adopted a more calculated approach. Understanding the strength and mobility of the nomadic cavalry, they refrained from engaging the Sarmatians in open terrain, where the Vandals' more rigid military formations would be at a disadvantage. Instead, they opted for a strategy of defensive fortifications. By constructing and maintaining well-guarded forts in key positions, the Vandals could lure the Sarmatians into attacks and then launch counteroffensives against their settlements, retreating to the safety of the forts when necessary.
This defensive strategy proved effective in containing the Sarmatian threat without overextending Vandal forces into the treacherous steppe territory. The nomads, though fierce in battle, struggled against the Vandals' fortified positions, and their raids became less effective as time passed.
While a third of the Vandal armies held fast in Crimea, the rest advanced into Scandinavian territory, their sights set on Stragona—the once-glorious capital of Old Vandalia. But unlike their previous, unchallenged marches, this time the Republican forces were met with fierce resistance. Stragona had become a bastion for the Pagan Vandals loyal to Suionia, a last stand for those who clung to the old ways and rejected the growing influence of the Samaritan faith. These defenders, proud of their ancient heritage, prepared to defend the city to the last breath. The streets of Stragona, once peaceful, were soon filled with the clash of steel and the cries of battle as the Republican Vandals, hardened by their faith and hunger for victory, stormed the city.
The Pagan Vandals loyal to Suionia fought with a fierce, almost primal desperation, defending every inch of their sacred city and the revered Shrine to Angwaz. Their ancient faith, deeply rooted in the land and the city’s walls, drove them to swear they would die before allowing their holy site to fall to the Samaritan Vandals, whom they viewed as heretics. The battle was merciless and prolonged, with the defenders making the Republican forces pay dearly for every street, every wall, every sacred corner of Stragona. But despite their valor, they were no match for the disciplined and numerically superior army of the Republic. As the streets ran red with blood, the defenders fell one by one, their sacrifices unable to halt the relentless advance of the invaders. For the Republicans, this was not just a victory in war, it was a purge, a holy mission to extinguish the last embers of paganism from their people.
When the Republican forces finally reached the Shrine of Angwaz, no mercy was given. Soldiers, driven by a fervor that matched their hatred for the old gods, desecrated the shrine. What had been a symbol of pride and spirituality for the Pagan Vandals was torn apart, its relics looted and treated as war trophies, symbols of the Republic’s triumph over what they saw as idolatry. The shrine, once revered as the heart of Old Vandalia, was set ablaze, its ancient stones crumbling into ash beneath the weight of religious zeal. The relics were sent to Byzantium as proof of the Samaritan Triple Republic’s dominance, while Stragona, once a beacon of Vandal heritage, was erased from the map. This act of destruction was a clear and brutal message to all who opposed the faith and power of the Republic.
Once the capital of the unified Germanic world, now sacked by the same people that built it.
As the war neared its conclusion, the Macedon-Vandal alliance had weathered fierce opposition from Albania and its allies. For years, the conflict raged across the Balkans, the Black Sea, and the steppes of Albania, with both sides suffering heavy losses. Yet, despite the combined efforts of their enemies, the disciplined military tactics of Macedon and the strategic cunning of the Vandal Republic slowly turned the tide. The entrance of Gelonia, the dominant nomadic power of the eastern steppes, into the conflict had threatened to prolong the war and potentially shift the balance in favor of Albania. The Sarmatian cavalry of Gelonia, feared for their speed and devastating raids, struck deep into allied territories, complicating the alliance's plans for a quick victory.
It was about to become a bloodier conflict.
However, even Gelonia's fearsome warriors could not stem the relentless advance of the Macedon-Vandal forces. Macedon, under the leadership of its shrewd generals, managed to negotiate a peace with Albania just as Gelonia entered the fray. Faced with the possibility of a prolonged and costly conflict, the Albanian leadership reluctantly came to the negotiating table. The terms were clear: Albania would cede strategic territories to both Macedon and Vandalia in order to avoid further destruction. Macedon secured vital lands around the Sea of Azov, strengthening its control over key trade routes and expanding its influence in the region. Meanwhile, the Vandal Republic was awarded two Albanian provinces in Anatolia, solidifying their foothold in the east and further establishing their dominance over Black Sea commerce.
The Suionian leadership seethed with anger at the peace agreement signed by Albania, viewing it as a betrayal of their shared struggle against the Vandals. The recent sack of Stragona, a brutal assault on their ancestral faith, ignited a fierce desire for vengeance within their ranks.
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Just caught up to your AAR. Nice work. The Vandal-Macedon combination is quite the power house. How long before they fall out with each other? Are there any other threats on the horizon?
Wars between the Vandals and the Macedonians are on the menú, it's only a matter of time.
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Democracy is on the ropes or dead everywhere. Perhaps it will have a resurgence eventually...
Barcid Carthage is interesting.
What's Suionia's position on Israel?
Congrats on defeating Suionia. Will a future war destroy their great state?
Will Suionia attempt to build a new temple to their old gods?
Barcid Carthage is interesting.
What's Suionia's position on Israel?
Congrats on defeating Suionia. Will a future war destroy their great state?
Will Suionia attempt to build a new temple to their old gods?
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Suionia views Israel as part of the Vandal Triple Republic, harboring the same animosity towards them as they do toward the other "southern" Vandals they have fought. Suionia, being one of the strongest powers of the time, is unlikely to see a 'minor' war like this as a threat to their stability, though only time will tell. They will build a new temple in the future, but the crime committed by the Vandals will not be easily forgotten.
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Chapter XI. Germanic Rivalry 127-155
Chapter XI. Germanic Rivalry 127-155
A decade after the Macedonian war against Albania, rising tensions with Suionia over the control of Clepia in the Scythian region ( in modern-day Bessarabia) divided the Vandal Senate. The Traditionalists, eager for expansion, warned that Suionian control jeopardized Vandalia's dominance in the Black Sea and demanded military action to secure vital trade routes. The Democrats, however, cautioned against another war, fearing it would burden the lower classes with taxes and conscription, destabilizing the Republic. But the decisive voice came from the Oligarchs, led by the wealthy Hasdingi clan, who saw in war the chance to tighten their grip on the region’s economy. With the promise of financial backing, the Senate voted for conflict, and the Republic’s armies marched north to confront Suionia.Unlike previous campaigns, Suionia had been meticulously preparing for this war, amassing its full military might under the indomitable King Thunrisegaz. The king, known for his tactical brilliance, had rallied 72,950 of Suionia's finest Scandinavian warriors, forging an unstoppable force of disciplined soldiers hardened by years of training and conquest. When the two armies finally met at the Battle of Olitis in 139, the Vandals, boasting an army of 57,977 troops, were brimming with overconfidence, convinced that their previous victories made them invincible.
These Scandinavians are a threat.
The clash was nothing short of catastrophic for the Vandals. Within hours, their lines were shattered, their strategies crumbling before the assault of Thunrisegaz’s disciplined forces. Panic spread like wildfire as the once-proud Vandal soldiers, accustomed to victory, found themselves surrounded and outmaneuvered. It wasn’t just their army that faltered—it was their very identity. Their arrogance, so long a defining feature of their republic, shattered in the face of defeat. The humiliation was total, and for the first time in their storied history, the Vandals were forced to rely on mercenaries to rebuild their battered forces, a bitter reminder of how far they had fallen. The Republic's leaders, once so certain of their supremacy, were now grappling with the unthinkable: a future where their dominance could no longer be taken for granted.
The first defeat
Despite the crushing defeat at Olitis, the Vandal Republic's immense wealth allowed it to quickly recover. While their military pride was shattered, their deep coffers enabled them to hire mercenaries at will, a luxury their enemies, like Albania, could not match. Emboldened by the Vandals’ apparent weakness, Albania sought to reclaim Crimea, confident the Republic was too weak to resist. However, the Vandal Senate, in a swift maneuver, dispatched mercenary forces that decisively crushed the Albanian invasion at the Battle of Chersonesos, securing Crimea once again.
By 140, Vandal generals were determined to avenge their humiliation at Olitis. Marshaling every available soldier—mercenaries, levies from the Triple Republic, and even distant armies from Uruk—they confronted Suionia again at the Battle of Nobiodounos. This time, 78,423 Vandal troops faced 75,558 Scandinavians. In a brutal, bloody struggle, the Vandals finally emerged victorious, with nearly half the Scandinavian forces annihilated. Though the Vandals restored their honor, the battle revealed the cost of pride and the fragility of even their strongest armies.
With Suionia defeated, the Vandals turned their gaze to the remaining obstacles to Black Sea dominance: Carthage and Macedon. Heated debate erupted in the Senate, but there was consensus on one thing—control of the Black Sea was essential for the Republic's survival. Carthage’s presence in the region, they believed, could unite their enemies against them. To secure their future, the Vandals prepared for war once more.
Too far from home. (151-155)
For decades, the Vandal Republic had been meticulously preparing a grand fleet, believing that naval power would be key to expanding their influence across the Mediterranean. Two hundred ships were built, each outfitted for war, and for years the Republic invested heavily in training and resources to challenge the maritime dominance of Carthage. Yet, as the inevitable conflict loomed closer, a harsh realization dawned: despite their efforts, the Vandals could never compete with Carthage’s seasoned naval prowess, cultivated over centuries of uninterrupted control of the seas. Knowing that direct confrontation at sea would end in disaster, the Vandal Senate made the painful decision to abandon their naval ambitions and shift to a more calculated, land-based strategy.
Their attention turned to the vulnerable Carthaginian colonies in the Caucasus. Far from Carthage’s core defenses, these territories presented a perfect target for Vandal forces, which swiftly captured them with minimal resistance. But just as the Republic began to secure victories on land, Suionia, the Vandals’ sworn rival, re-entered the war. Suionia allied with Carthage in a bid to crush their common enemy, launching a full-scale invasion of Moesia. In 151, at the Battle of Utkennita, Suionia once again proved its strength, dealing a devastating blow to the Vandal troops stationed there and reasserting its dominance as the strongest land power of the era. The rivalry between Suionia and the Vandal Republic now burned hotter than ever.
These Scandinavians are asking for a Total War!
Yet, where the Vandals faltered militarily, they excelled diplomatically. Though Suionia won battles, it lacked the resources to sustain a prolonged war beyond its borders, and the Danube’s fortifications proved an insurmountable barrier. Meanwhile, Carthage, with its mighty navy, struggled to defend its distant colonies on land. The Vandals exploited this weakness, deploying every diplomatic tool to pressure Carthage into surrendering its Black Sea colonies. Reluctantly, Carthage conceded, choosing to preserve its naval dominance closer to home rather than risk further land losses.
The Vandals emerged victorious, their grip on the Black Sea tightening, but their ambitions were far from satisfied. Their next target lay closer to home: Macedon, their long-time ally, who had been instrumental in their rise. Yet now, in the shifting landscape of power, the Vandals saw Macedon not as a friend but as a stepping stone. Plans were already in motion to betray their ally, securing complete dominance over the region by turning against the very power that had stood by them for years. In the eyes of the Vandal Senate, there could be no true allies—only future conquests.
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Suionia achieved a victory, and they've cemented their place as a thorn in Vandalia's side. Will they ever be more than that? Or will the Vandals assemble the greatest army known to man to crush them and erase the humiliation of defeat? Or will they remain a mere annoyance?
Congrats on defeating Carthage...
How long will it take Vandalia to become overextended?
Congrats on defeating Carthage...
How long will it take Vandalia to become overextended?
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Abandoning their maritime aspirations, though probably sound in a strategic sense, must have hurt financially. Did they scuttle the ships? What was the deciding factor with Carthage? Numbers? Technological advantage? Soundly whipped in a skirmish or two? At least the Vandals managed their victory through diplomacy. How strong is Macedon versus the Vandals?
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Vandalia was already overextended, that was the reason why the Triple Republic was created. And I think that a period of civil wars is coming because of it.
Wars between the Scandinavians and Vandalia will continue until the end of the game, the northerners are a threat.
Carthage lost because their "homeland" was too far from the front lines, making troop transport difficult—like if the Vandals had colonies in India. Every time they managed to land troops in the Caucasus, the Vandals were ready and waiting to attack.
The Vandal fleet was initially created to block access to the Black Sea, but when they saw the Carthaginians sending three times as many ships toward them, the fleet remained in the port of Byzantium. This didn’t hurt them economically, as their economy is strong and gold is not an issue for now. It's likely they will continue investing in fleet construction to control the eastern Mediterranean.
Macedon is strong, but it doesn’t compare to the Vandals at this moment.
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Chapter XII. The Vandal Sea 155-161
Chapter XII. The Vandal Sea 155-161
Confident in their dominion over the land, the Senate made the audacious choice to scuttle their naval fleet, believing it an unnecessary drain on resources. With the vast majority of the Black Sea coastline securely under their control, they felt invincible, convinced that even the most daring pirates would think twice before provoking the wrath of the Vandals.
The Vandal Triple Republic had always been focused on land supremacy, and now their unwavering focus shifted to fortifying their armies. They vowed that they would never again taste defeat at the hands of the Suonians. The memory of past losses burned fiercely within their hearts, fueling a relentless ambition to forge an unassailable military might that would secure their legacy for generations to come.
With Carthage defeated, the Vandals turned their gaze toward Macedon, the last significant obstacle in their quest for total control of the Black Sea. For years, the Vandals and Macedon had maintained a powerful alliance, forged in the aftermath of the Vandals’ arrival to pacify the shattered remnants of Alexander the Great’s once-mighty empire. This partnership had allowed both powers to flourish, bound by a shared reverence for Alexander’s legacy. The Vandals had even embraced many Hellenic customs, melding their Samaritan faith with Greek philosophy, while their language became increasingly influenced by the refined tongue of the Macedonians. Many believed it was only a matter of time before Greek replaced the ancient Eastern Gothic dialect spoken by the Vandal elite.
Yet beneath this veneer of cultural harmony, a deep political divide simmered. The Vandals, with their democratic ideals, offered citizens, especially merchants, greater civil rights, local representation, and lower taxes. Macedonians living in Vandal-controlled territories thrived under these trade-friendly policies. In stark contrast, the rigid hierarchy of the Macedonian monarchy imposed heavy taxes and stifled local governance. Macedonian merchants, burdened by royal decrees, saw their profits dwindle and their influence diminish. In the Vandal Republic, they discovered a more flexible system that granted them autonomy and opportunities they could never dream of under their oppressive king.
As tensions escalated, this political divide, Vandal democracy versus Macedonian monarchy, became the crucible that ignited conflict. The Vandals’ governance, with its blend of aristocratic power and mercantile influence, proved far more adaptable and appealing, especially to the Macedonian merchants living under Vandal rule. Many of these merchants, resentful of the monarchy’s oppressive taxation, petitioned the Vandal Senate to liberate them from their king’s tyranny. Seizing this opportunity, the Senate framed the burgeoning unrest as a moral imperative, claiming it was their duty to extend the freedoms of the Republic to their Macedonian allies. This rhetoric united the Senate in a fervent call for war, shattering the once unbreakable alliance with Macedon.
The severing of this alliance was nothing short of scandalous. Blindsided by the betrayal, Macedon sent a letter of protest, decrying the treachery of a nation they had fought alongside to rid the region of barbarian threats. For decades, the two powers had stood together, bound by blood and history. Yet now, the Vandals turned their backs on their only true ally. This act of betrayal was a deliberate, calculated move by the Senate, driven by an insatiable ambition for total control over the Black Sea.
Realizing war was inevitable, Macedon sought alliances with two former enemies: Albania and Carthage, hoping to deter their former allies from launching an assault. However, the Senate understood that the Carthaginians would never send troops so far into the Black Sea, and Albania was but a shadow of its former glory.
Carthage, worst ally ever.
In a show of force, the Vandal Republic dispatched small armies to Anatolia to contain Albania and to the Caucasus to seize the last Carthaginian and Macedonian colonies. The central stage of this impending war, however, would be the Balkans, the heart of Macedonian power. The Senate had a symbolic objective: the capture of Pella, the ancient capital of Alexander the Great’s empire. They intended to make it clear that the true successor to the Hellenistic legacy was the Vandal Republic.
The Republic had no real enemies during this era.
The war in the Caucasus and Anatolia was merely a formality, with Vandal forces easily invading Macedonian, Carthaginian, and Albanian territories. In the Balkans, despite fierce resistance, Macedonian forces were overwhelmed by the tide of hundreds of thousands of Vandal warriors. After 138 grueling days of siege, Pella fell, and the Macedonians surrendered their lands in the Caucasus and Moesia with ease, for Vandal diplomats warned that any prolonged conflict would lead to the Republic claiming half of Macedon as their own.
With the conquest of the Black Sea complete, the sea was proclaimed “The Vandal Sea,” a name that signified the zenith of Vandal power, a monumental shift marking the end of an era and the dawn of a golden age of civilization.
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Congrats on defeating Macedon and obtaining your own Mare Nostrum, so to speak.
Why do I feel like scrapping the navy is going to backfire later?
How deadly will this plague be, and what will its political implications be?
Why do I feel like scrapping the navy is going to backfire later?
How deadly will this plague be, and what will its political implications be?
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The scrapping of the navy is due to its irrelevance. Vandals see themselves as invincible and have the means to hire mercenaries in any region they control. This will surely backfire, and they will face consequences for their pride, the plague will hit them hard.
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Chapter XIII. The Great Crisis (161-186)
Chapter XIII. The Great Crisis (161-186)
Byzantium, the jewel of the world and capital of the Vandal Triple Republic, had grown into the most magnificent city of its age. Its beautiful streets echoed with the voices of traders from distant lands, while its vast ports bustled with ships laden with treasures from every corner of the earth. The citizens of the Republic reveled in a golden age, convinced that their dominance was eternal. No rival remained to challenge their supremacy; no kingdom left to wage war against their unmatched power.
Byzantium at its peak.
This sense of security shattered in 162 when a Roman ship arrived from the East, claiming to be a peaceful trader but carrying a deadly plague, later known as the "Roman Plague." The outbreak began among the slaves unloading goods at the docks, who suffered brutal symptoms like fever and bloody diarrhea. As the disease spread, it quickly crossed social barriers, affecting not only the vulnerable but also wealthy merchants and powerful citizens who believed they were immune. What started as isolated cases escalated into widespread chaos. Within weeks, the streets were filled with the bodies of the dead and dying. The once-bustling markets fell silent, overtaken by the cries of the sick. Families were torn apart as parents, children, and leaders succumbed to the relentless plague, turning a thriving city into a scene of despair.
In just two months, half of Byzantium's population had been wiped out. The Republic, once seen as invincible, now stood on the brink of collapse. The Senate, which had been the backbone of governance, was decimated, leaving a power vacuum. Without strong leadership, chaos spread throughout the provinces, with rebellions erupting as desperate citizens sought to reclaim control. What had once seemed like an eternal golden age had devolved into a nightmare of instability and fear.
In this moment of crisis, the people turned to the only authority left: the Rabbis, spiritual leaders whose influence ran deep within Vandal society. As the Republic's secular leaders fell to the plague and revolt, the Rabbis took on an unexpected role of political power. They appointed local governors as kings, hoping to restore some order by granting these men divine authority. Yet even this intervention could not shield the new rulers from the plague’s reach. Many of these kings fell as swiftly as they rose, their reigns cut short by the relentless advance of death.
The Republic fractured into a patchwork of competing fiefdoms, each ruled by desperate kings. Despite the Rabbis’ blessings, no leader could reverse the tide of decay. The Senate crumbled under the weight of its losses, and the heart of the Republic—Byzantium itself—was now a shadow of its former glory, filled with mourners rather than merchants.
Decades of chaotic revolts, at one point the Vandal Republic was about to collapse due to lack of manpower and exhaustion, but then they relied exclusively on Mercs.
In 182, after losing numerous provinces to rebellion and enduring the devastation of the Roman Plague, the Senate sought to salvage what remained of the Republic. In their desperation, they elected a new Archon, Grimaz Swinthijaz, a man known for his ambition. Hailing from the powerful Hasdingi Clan, Grimaz had a reputation for decisiveness and the economic means to secure support for his ideas. He was backed by both Traditionalists and Oligarchs, who saw in him the strength needed to reunite the fractured Republic.
Grimaz wasted no time consolidating his power. A conservative by nature, he viewed the Republic as the rightful domain of the Vandals and believed their supremacy must be preserved at all costs. His first act as Archon was to revoke the citizenship of the Republic's remaining Macedonians, a people long regarded as enemies. This bold move delighted his Vandal supporters but angered the Democrats, led by the fiery Thurizawaldas Bergingaz, Governor of Dacia. The Democrats, who had long championed more inclusive policies, decried Grimaz’s actions as tyrannical and warned that his rule threatened the very foundations of the Republic.
In response, Grimaz shifted the blame for the Republic's recent chaos onto the Democrats. He accused them of fostering the complacency that had allowed the plague to spread unchecked and the provinces to rebel. Seizing on this narrative, Grimaz began persecuting Democratic leaders, imprisoning those who dared oppose him. Lands seized from Democratic politicians were redistributed to his loyal allies in the Senate, thereby strengthening his base of support.
As his power grew, so did his ambitions. Grimaz passed laws extending his term as Archon, an unprecedented move that drew immediate backlash from the Democrats. Thurizawaldas accused him of seeking to crown himself king, an act that would violate the very constitution of the Republic. Grimaz, unperturbed, struck back. He charged Thurizawaldas with embezzling funds from the province of Dacia, a move widely seen as politically motivated. The trial that followed was highly controversial, with many accusing Grimaz of using it as a pretext to eliminate his greatest rival.
Grimaz strenghtens his position.
Yet despite the scandal, Grimaz’s control over the military and the Senate left little room for effective resistance. The Hasdingi Clan, bolstered by Grimaz’s rise, now commanded the Republic’s armed forces, ensuring that any opposition would be swiftly crushed. It seemed the very chaos brought by the plague had only served to strengthen Grimaz’s grip on power.
Fearing the collapse of their faction, the Democrats rallied around Thurizawaldas, launching rebellions in Dacia and Anatolia during the spring of 186. These uprisings, though initially small, quickly spread. The Democrats framed their cause as a fight for freedom, a rebellion against the creeping authoritarianism of Grimaz’s rule. What began as scattered revolts soon grew into a full-scale rebellion, as province after province took up arms against the Archon.
Grimaz, however, was not easily cowed. With the support of the Senate and his allies in the military, he prepared to crush the rebellion and restore the Republic to what he saw as its rightful order. The stage was set for a final confrontation between Grimaz’s authoritarian regime and the forces of democracy, a battle that would determine the future of the Republic.
Rome is now a stable power while the Vandals are fighting each other.
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This war will be interesting. Will other powers get involved? Macedon still exists, and the Democrats are technically supporting their people.
Poor Byzantium. Plague can cause many tragedies...
Did the Roman ship deliberately spread the plague to harm Vandalia? Did they even know that they were carrying it?
How is the plague affecting Rome?
Poor Byzantium. Plague can cause many tragedies...
Did the Roman ship deliberately spread the plague to harm Vandalia? Did they even know that they were carrying it?
How is the plague affecting Rome?
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After months of falling behind on the forums, I just caught up with this AAR. It's been well worth the read!
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The other powers are weakened by the same plague. They all face civil wars and revolts during the Great Crisis, Rome too.
Thanks!
Chapter XIV. The Vandal Civil War 186-193
Chapter XIV. The Vandal Civil War 186-193
Archon Grimaz had anticipated more resilience from the rebels, but years of crisis had weakened their support base. Decades of revolts had already driven many traditional Democratic strongholds to secede from the Republic. Only a few territories, Dacia, parts of southern Anatolia, and some isolated towns in the Caucasus, joined the rebel cause. The populace, exhausted by war, plague, and rebellion, had little will be left to defend democracy through violence. Many saw the authoritarian rule of the Traditionalist-Oligarch alliance as a necessary response to the unprecedented chaos. Grimaz, ever calculating, took full advantage of the people's weariness.
To swiftly contain the revolt, Grimaz dispatched mercenary armies to crush the rebels in Dacia, achieving a decisive victory. Yet, the greatest obstacle to restoring order was not the rebels themselves but the Republic's vast geography; crossing the Danube took longer than securing a province. Grimaz decided to lead the campaign in Anatolia himself, pressing against rebel strongholds with determination. His approach was calculated: in each liberated town, he spared the populace and restored local nobles as custodians of the Republic, portraying himself as a bringer of peace and reconciliation, not retribution. The civil war was to be ended with the immediate reconciliation of Vandalia's political establishment; political division was not only unnecessary in the Archon's plans, it was an obstacle.
Thurizawaldas Bergingaz, leader of the rebels, was losing the war. Seeking to increase his meager forces, he sent letters to the other nations of the Triple Republic, Israel and Uruk, offering them greater autonomy in exchange for military support.
In 187, the Republic of Uruk seized the moment and sided with the rebels, hoping for greater autonomy. Meanwhile, Israel, seeing the Triple Republic as a dead project, declared its independence, quickly dispatching emissaries to Byzantium and forming an alliance with Grimaz’s conservative forces to secure its newfound sovereignty. With the Triple Republic splintered and his forces stretched thin, Grimaz could do little to address these breakaways; his lack of a navy left him unable to project power across the Mediterranean.
After crushing most of the resistance in Moesia and Anatolia, the loyalists pursued the remnants of the rebel armies into the mountainous Caucasus. There, Thurizawaldas’ son, Sunnonriks Bergingaz, fortified the final Democratic stronghold after the mysterious death of his father. Facing logistical challenges in reaching this remote region, Grimaz turned to diplomacy, forging a treaty with Albania that allowed Vandal troops to access the Caucasus through Albanian territory.
In the climactic Battle of Apsaros of 193, loyalist forces delivered a crushing blow, decimating the main rebel army. Yet Sunnonriks refused to surrender, retreating into the Armenian mountains and prolonging the conflict. Meanwhile, in the east, the armies of Uruk and Israel clashed in a low-intensity war.
Archon Grimaz knew that if the civil war continued, he could avoid calling for a new election. Assuming emergency powers, he was proclaimed Dictator of the Republic. The rebels allowed him to remain in power if the conflict persisted, so he isolated them in small mountainous towns in the Armenian highlands, all the while plotting new ways to achieve greater glory for himself and his family.
The rivals of Vandalia faced similar challenges, civil war, famine, and unrest. With more than a hundred thousand soldiers at his disposal, Dictator Grimaz Swinthijaz had the power to reconquer the land lost during the Great Crisis, invade and weaken his rivals, or perhaps pursue both ambitions if he desired.
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The people may not be able to get rid of him once he is no longer needed, his dictatorship may be the end of the Republic.