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Anno Domini 828,June-9-16
About five days had passed since the last siege attempt, which had ended in a catastrophic failure for the Sarakenoi. The dead were now counted in the tens of thousands, while I had only a few hundred wounded by arrows and a few dozen dead.
Between deceiving them about our numbers and their commander being more concerned with not appearing like a fool before his superiors, everything had gone well for us. So well, in fact, that the Abbasid fleet appeared to blockade the port only to discover that there was no longer a siege. It withdrew quickly toward its northern ports when the imperial fleet arrived, sank a couple of ships, and forced it to retreat.
In the days that followed, news of the Abbasid army's defeat before the walls of Antarados spread rapidly. This was largely because, using networks of informants and merchants, I began spreading the rumor that a massive imperial army was operating in the region.
The effect was almost immediate. Several cities began to surrender their walls without a fight, fearing they would be next. The Abbasid Empire did not respond, partly because days or weeks would pass before the information reached them, and partly because they were fully engaged in campaigns in Anatolia, while the new Byzantine emperor struggled to contain them.
Thus, without lifting a sword and using only rumors and collaborators, Gabala, Balanaia, and Laodikeia, all port cities, opened their gates. Collaborators within the local garrisons allowed us to enter, take control of the cities, and secure the ports.
Tens of thousands of Sarakenoi were captured and enslaved, beginning their transport to Crete to be sold or sent with the Varangians, where they would work the fields.
After taking these lands and reorganizing the Christian population under a basic themata system, managing to place around seven thousand men into service, we marched toward the walls of Raphanei and then toward the city of Emesa, where the military governor of the region of Homs, as the Sarakenoi called it, the provincial capital, had taken refuge.
There were many collaborators inside the city, and with news of our victories spreading quickly, Homs also opened its gates. The Christian garrison allowed us to enter, making it appear as though it were a direct order from the governor to surrender the city.
For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine how Alexander the Great must have felt after winning at Gaugamela or Issus and seeing Persian cities open their gates without resistance. It felt similar, although in my case it had required constant intervention to persuade the Christian population of the region to switch sides.
Of course, we had not yet taken cities like Tripoli, Aleppo, Damascus, or Antioch, the largest in the region. But the entire Orontes River valley was ours, and now it had to be exploited more than ever.
Patrols continued to be sent out to watch for any renewed Abbasid presence. The governor of Damascus or Aleppo might try to salvage the situation, so caution was still required. Meanwhile, we combed through every village in the area, initiating a massive capture of Sarakenoi to sell them and put them to work in imperial territories, slowly shifting the balance of the region.
"So, in Emesa we can raise another two thousand men," I said as I observed one of the local notables, Christians who still retained much of their wealth.
"Yes, strategos. We can finance armor and weapons for those loyal to your cause and distribute the lands according to your will," replied one of the wealthiest merchants in the city.
"That is my task, distributing the land. In any case, I am considering moving the entire population toward the coastal territories," I replied while studying the map.
"But why, my strategos? The Abbasids are defeated in the region, and surely an imperial army will soon arrive to support us, will it not?" said another of the notables, clearly nervous.
"The imperial army is in Anatolia, and I have no way of knowing whether it intends to launch a campaign here to liberate Cilicia and then Antioch. That would leave this region exposed. For the moment, I cannot guarantee protection. We have nine thousand themata, my seven thousand men, and a few hundred wounded who have not yet recovered. We do not have the numbers to defeat a Sarakenoi army like the one that appeared here," I replied, pointing on the map to the governorships of Aleppo and Damascus.
"But I am certain you could convince the emperor to carry out a campaign here. Thousands of Christians would be willing to open the gates of their cities to him. If you appear before Antioch or Tarsus, they should open their gates to their rightful ruler," the merchant insisted, his tone growing increasingly anxious.
"I could, certainly. But I would have to send a letter to the emperor. That would take months. It would have to be sent by sea to an Anatolian port under our control and then delivered by mounted messenger, without even knowing where his headquarters are. Then we would have to wait for a reply. By the time that happened, every Sarakenoi force in the region would already be upon us, trying to regain control," I replied calmly.
"For now, until that message reaches the emperor, we must withdraw to the ports. There we can secure supplies and withstand sieges," I added.
"But… this is not what we were promised," said another of the notables, visibly upset.
"If you wish, you may stay and govern as you see fit. But do not come asking me for help when the Sarakenoi return. I will take all available population behind the walls of the port cities to reinforce the area and work the land there, sustaining operations through the spring. Much of those fields are already sown, so it will be enough to maintain the crops for a few months and secure control against the Sarakenoi," I said as I began searching for the governor's account books.
"But we risked everything to help you," one of the notables finally burst out.
"And you will be generously rewarded when the time comes. But that time is not now, nor will it be soon. It will come if the emperor responds. Until then, we must remain strong so that we can join his forces and liberate Antioch and Aleppo. Only then could we consider retaking Emesa. So for now, we must leave behind an empty city, stripped of anything of value or resources that could serve them in future campaigns. Within five years, I should be able to repay your cooperation with the Empire generously," I said as I began reviewing the ledgers.
"Damned bastard," someone muttered under his breath.
"I regret not being a strategos with greater forces. I rule only an island that can barely mobilize eight thousand men. If I had more, believe me, they would already be here. You may leave. I no longer need you," I replied without even lifting my eyes toward the one who had muttered.
The notables withdrew one by one, glaring at me with hatred. They had clearly believed that all of this would be immediately backed by the Empire and that they would enjoy privileges for changing sides. It did not matter. This was part of the mission. We had eliminated local forces, generated pressure on the Abbasid governorships, and uprooted tens of thousands of productive people, perhaps hundreds of thousands, who would now work in imperial fields and mines, sustaining the war industry.
"Now every Sarakenoi will work until his back breaks for the Empire. Is that not so, my dear governor of Homs?" I said, grabbing the governor by the neck. He was bound and gagged, his eyes filled with hatred.
With his mouth stuffed with cloth, all that could be heard was his ragged breathing. His reddened eyes never left mine.
"Chained by sunset. Were those not your words, you idiot? But look at you now. Chained by those you swore to destroy. Your own subjects betrayed you. Now you and your entire family will be sold as slaves. Though I suspect you will end up in a war galley, rowing until the last day of your life, while who knows what fate awaits them," I said with a smile, studying his face without looking away.
The air that escaped from his nose was the only answer he could give. Pure rage, incapable of expression beyond growls and eyes heavy with hatred.
"Take him away. Let him cry in silence," I said as I began organizing everything for our withdrawal.
I spoke with the city's notables and with lesser merchants, explaining that, due to lack of forces, it was not feasible to defend so much territory. Either they evacuated toward the coastal ports and rebuilt their lives there, or they were offered free passage into imperial territory. Those who chose to remain and cooperate with the network of informants and spies within the Syrian cities were promised generous rewards when the time came.
There was every kind of response. Some chose to leave for imperial lands. Others decided to remain in Syria. Some accepted living in cities stripped of value, while others continued working as informants, merchants, or intermediaries to feed the network.
Once everyone had been informed, we began the systematic emptying of Emesa. Everything of value or utility was taken. The entire city library was dismantled and loaded. All available wood was removed, doors, planks, beams. Every piece of iron that could be found was extracted, nails, fittings, structural reinforcements. Granaries and warehouses were emptied. All pack animals belonging to the Sarakenoi were seized, horses, mules, and camels. Every resource that could serve a future siege was removed without exception.
The same was done in the surrounding villages. The region was cleared methodically. Long caravans began moving toward the ports under our control, reinforcing them. The population would be employed in quarries, in raising secondary walls, and in strengthening existing defenses. The coastal cities would have to absorb the new population and remain secure behind reinforced walls.
Plans were already being drawn up to extend smaller walls around labor fields, with cultivated land inside the defensive perimeter. We could not rely entirely on naval supremacy for supplies. If we lost it, we would be trapped. The cities had to be capable of sustaining themselves for months, even under blockade.
So, taking advantage of the time it would take for information to spread, thousands of people were resettled behind the walls, and thousands of workers began laboring under the unforgiving sun of the region. Some were sent to the fields, others to raise walls, binding stone with mortar and raising defenses without rest.
Meanwhile, our patrols swept through every last village in the area, concentrating the population into four cities and enslaving every Sarakenoi without exception. None remained outside imperial control.
All of this inevitably caused a demographic explosion in those cities. The ports filled with slaves and with desperate people seeking passage to the Empire. Constantly, large groups departed toward imperial territory or toward Crete, depending on what each chose
I managed to convince several thousand to relocate to Crete, assuring them that they would truly be safe there. I took advantage of the situation to repopulate the island, while also filling my coffers with the sale of slaves.
There was still much to be done. Even my own men were helping in the construction of walls, reinforcing gates, assisting blacksmiths in everything necessary to ensure that each city had solid access points and proper defenses. When the next wave of Sarakenoi arrived, they would not find open towns, but true bastions. If they wanted to retake them, they would have to spend enormous amounts of men and resources.
That was my duty. To occupy the Abbasid forces as much as possible while using the smallest number of our own troops.
Once the basic fortifications were completed, we marched south to continue the raiding. Tripoli would likely be the next target, where we would repeat the entire process until we received a clear response from the Empire.
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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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