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Anno Domini 828,April-22-23
The voyage to Cyprus was swift. With the spring winds, we made good speed, allowing us to reach the Mediterranean island quickly. As we had done in Malta, we prepared everything for a raid, taking control of several local warehouses and organizing a temporary settlement for the ships that would return once we had taken the first Sarakenoi prisoners, since I assumed we would need to supply the market of Heraklion with its most prized commodity: Sarakenoi slaves.
"Strategos Herakleios, it is a pleasure to meet you under circumstances somewhat less grim, although it seems this will be just as bloody," I said when I met the strategos of Cyprus.
"The feeling is mutual, strategos Basil. I assume you bring orders, considering you have already begun moving within one of my cities," Herakleios replied, watching my ships.
"To divert Abbasid attention away from Anatolia. I doubt we will encounter a very high level of resistance, but we should be able to inflict enough damage to force them to divert forces to stop us," I answered, walking as I watched my men unload supplies.
"Good. It seems our orders align. I have been assigned several dromons from the imperial navy. They expect me to locate the Abbasid fleet and stop it, and if possible, to deliver a decisive blow should I find them disorganized. I have eighty dromons under my command, and ten fitted with siphons loaded with Greek fire, so with your ships we are close to a hundred. I will not be able to rely on your vessels while you pursue your mission, but we will remain in contact through messengers, and I expect you to share all information about your plans with me so that we may coordinate more effectively," said strategos Herakleios, studying my ships closely.
"Of course. I have no desire to be caught between a large Abbasid fleet that must be anchored in one of their ports in the region. Any recommendations?" I asked with a faint smile.
"Let me think," said the strategos of Cyprus as he reflected. "Pompeiupolis is a strong possibility for where the Abbasid fleet might be anchored, so it must be heavily fortified, even if it were not so by default, since it is a key port. Alexandretta is another city where the fleet could be stationed, and it would also be very well defended. I would try my luck farther south. Rosos is another possibility, though it is not certain that it is the main Abbasid port," he began, listing viable coastal cities as potential targets.
"I would recommend starting with Laodikeia, a city that is part of the Abbasid defensive system: walled, with a single circuit and an inner fortress. Gabala, Balanaia, and Antarados are also walled cities, with internal fortresses and important ports. If we manage to reclaim them, or simply destroy them, we could strike directly at the Abbasid navy by denying them several key ports for maneuvering. How many men did you bring for combat?" asked the strategos of Cyprus.
"Around eight thousand, if we include my sailors," I replied, weighing the options.
"You could attempt to besiege one of the ports. I doubt they have more than one or two thousand men on the walls; the cities are not large enough to justify larger garrisons. Even so, with those numbers there is little we can do. I have twice you have, but I must remain alert for any sighting of the Abbasid fleet, since at the moment we do not know how many ships they command. Act carefully," said the strategos.
"What about going farther south? Cities like Tripoli or Acre?" I asked, to see whether he had any information on the matter.
"No. That is beyond any realistic possibility. They are key cities within the Abbasid naval network. The port must be heavily defended, and the garrison substantial. For now, limit yourself to harassing the region enough to force the Sarakenoi to divert men to defend those cities, thereby reducing the pressure on Anatolia," said the strategos, turning away and returning to his kastro.
I nodded and returned to my men.
We had everything prepared for an intense raiding campaign. This region was densely populated, unlike the Balkans, which had been left severely depopulated by war, or parts of Anatolia, battered by constant attacks. There had been no major conflicts here since the loss of these territories, and the Empire had not gone on the offensive for years, so these lands were practically untouched.
That meant there were many opportunities for plunder, although we were in the sowing season, which was not as profitable as it would have been in autumn with the full harvest. Even so, the herds would likely make up the bulk of the loot.
I obtained old maps from when the area had still been under imperial rule, in order to identify roads, possible garrisons, and small settlements that could serve as initial targets.
I began planning what could be done. A siege might be feasible if everyone was occupied in Anatolia, but they would still have some form of local governance coordinating the defense of the region.
We had brought disassembled siege machinery, in case the opportunity arose to besiege a small city, breach the walls, and launch a general assault. However, in most cases, the most likely course of action would simply be to burn the countryside.
Once everything was ready, leaving behind the equipment we would not use and loading the ships only with supplies for the journey and a couple of extra days, we began to set sail to initiate the attack.
"Look… listen to me. I know I promised you plunder, and you will have it, believe me. This land is untouched," I said, looking into the eyes filled with greed of the Varangian jarls who listened attentively, as did the Varangian ship captains. "But there are Christians here. Even if most of them are Sarakenoi, you cannot kill Christians or enslave them. They are former Roman citizens, and that would land me in serious trouble."
I looked at each of the Varangians.
"And how do we tell who is who when all they do is scream and run for their lives?" one of the jarls asked.
"Try to listen to what they say. Greeks will ask for protection from Christ, from God, or from a saint. Clothing can be a sign as well. Those who wear turbans are usually Muslims, so keep that in mind. But the simplest solution is to leave them alive. Do not kill for the sake of killing. If you have the choice between killing and letting someone live, let them live, and afterward we will determine who they are," I replied.
"Very well… I understand," said one of the jarls, nodding as the sound of his mail armor echoed across the deck.
"Remember this: we go in and we get out. We are not here to stay for long. If you linger doing something that wastes time, we will not come back for you. So if it involves dropping your trousers, think very carefully," I said, looking at the Varangians.
They all nodded.
I returned to my men and began issuing orders to my kentarchoi and dekarchoi, explaining the situation and what needed to be done.
Once everything was organized and prepared, we continued the voyage by sea.
The plan was to strike a fishing village first and then send patrols to eliminate the coastal watchtowers, leaving the area blind while we moved through it. Following the strategos' recommendation, we would strike the area surrounding Antarados, which was the nearest port.
The day of sailing passed quickly, until we finally sighted land ahead of us.
The transport ships remained behind, guarded by a few vessels, while with the rest of the fleet, dromons, captured Sarakenoi ships, and drakkars, we launched the assault on the port.
We did not attack Antarados directly, but a nearby village that possessed its own fortress.
We entered as if it were our own home. The harbor guards fled at the sight of us, and everyone quickly ran to seek refuge in the ribat. Our fleet was so large that they had clearly seen us from afar and managed to reach safety.
But the village was far too small for the local garrison to be numerous. Even if they armed everyone capable of fighting, we still outnumbered them by at least eight to one.
While the others looted the houses and workshops of the area, I quickly sent several of my men on horseback to attack the nearby watchtowers.
From a distance, I watched as the siege of the small local fortress began.
Nearly fifteen hundred Varangian archers had taken position and were overwhelming the defenders, who could do almost nothing in response. With our archers alone, we already vastly outnumbered the local garrison.
Within minutes, the ladders, which had been quickly adjusted with saws after measuring the walls, were put in place, and we began to climb. On the ramparts, we found dozens of defenders' bodies.
When the gates were opened and the battering ram was brought forward, not an improvised one but a ram with a steel head and multiple gripping points, the ribat's gate was destroyed within minutes. Some of my crossbowmen began firing bolts inward at the defenders, who had formed a shield wall to block entry.
Blood began to flow as we pushed inside. Skulls shattered, screams of pain echoed everywhere. The dull crack of a bolt piercing a body rang through the corridors. At last, we reached the interior of the building, where the local population had gathered completely.
"Remember what I said… no unnecessary killing," I said as I approached the small bookshop and secured the few books that were there.
The people were quickly bound and pushed outside, while I examined the local account books to understand what was happening and which nearby places might be worth investigating.
"If there is any Christian who speaks Greek, come here immediately," I said, looking at the group that was already coming to terms with the reality of their capture.
One man nearly tore himself free from the mass and fell at my feet.
"I speak Greek, afenti," he said.
"Your creed… whom do you worship?" I asked, staring at him.
"Our almighty Lord…" he replied.
"Do you worship Jesus Christ?" I pressed, seeking a clear answer.
"Yes, afenti," he answered without hesitation.
"Good… is this true? Are you required to pay the taxes on your harvest in coin instead of in kind?" I asked, pointing to an entry in one of the books.
The man turned his head when he saw the book, which made it clear that he could not read.
"Yes… that is true. They force us to pay in coin, and the merchants take advantage of it, offering us next to nothing," the Greek prisoner replied.
"I see… do you have a family?" I asked, observing the group around him.
"Yes, afenti… my wife and my daughters and sons," he replied, remaining submissive.
I gestured for them to be brought forward.
"Here is what will happen. It is simple. You will go to the nearest city and tell them what happened, how quickly we won, and everything you saw. But you will also send me information about everything you observe. You will have to leave the city somehow and find discontented people, Christians in your same situation, who complain. The more people you gather, the more generously you will be rewarded. To ensure your cooperation, your family will come with me to Crete," I said, looking him straight in the eyes.
"But… they will kill me if they discover me," he said, trembling.
"The possibility of the Empire reclaiming these lands is at stake, and you could be an important part of the reason it happens. You will be generously rewarded. Do you really think that is not far better than continuing to live under the Abbasid yoke, exploited by merchants?" I said calmly, turning the pages of the book from time to time.
"I was born under the Abbasids… what is life like in Rome?" the prisoner asked.
"I cannot promise you much, since I do not control the threads of the Empire and can only influence them slightly. But you do not pay in coin, only in kind, so you have a very strong reason to report how the Abbasids move, do you not?" I said with a faint smile.
"Yes… yes… that sounds better," the prisoner replied.
"Fine. Does anyone else speak Greek?" I asked again, and more people raised their hands this time.
"Good. It seems we will be able to set a large distraction in motion," I said with a broad smile.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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