Sorry for the delay. I went to buy a new keyboard, so now I have a new keyboard.
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Anno Domini 828, November-17-December-4
The days passed quickly when there was so much to do in these lands. The plunder carried out by the imperial forces had been widespread throughout the region, leaving many fields burned and settlements looted, even those of Christians. We were beginning with one foot already in disaster, considering that much of the population had been lost to the cruelty of the soldiers who had first entered the territory.
General Andronikos had lost control of his men, and once resistance in Jerusalem was crushed, they had done as they pleased. When the census was completed, the results were grim. According to imperial sources and Abbasid records, there should have been around four hundred thousand people living in the region. In reality, I had barely the same population as Crete, roughly one hundred and fifty thousand souls: a mixture of Arameans, Hebrews, and other minor cultures present in the area. There was very little to work with.
Moreover, thematic land contracts could not be granted to the Jews due to restrictions imposed by previous emperors to limit their influence. They were not religiously persecuted, but the system was designed so they would carry no political weight and hold no significant administrative posts. From them I could demand nothing beyond the taxes the emperor ordered collected.
For the time being, I would depend heavily on the investments the Byzantine Church had promised. I would need that support, as pilgrims might become a means of recruiting warriors and perhaps even establishing religious orders to defend the Holy City, composed of men from across Europe. Of course, that also opened the door to the possibility that such orders might attempt to seize power one day if the Empire weakened. That option would remain the last among my alternatives.
I had no choice but to evacuate certain cities and leave them as permanent military outposts. It made no sense to keep the population so dispersed, yet we could not abandon vital fortifications that might easily fall to the Sarakenoi. What I lacked were soldiers. My original plan had been to form the themata, assign my officers, and depart, but now it seemed I would have to leave nearly the entire force I had brought in order to hold the region.
Over the following days I rode through the territory searching for resources, but the land felt cursed. In every place where I wished to establish control, there was no decent iron mine to exploit. Once again I was forced to import iron from mines owned by imperial aristocrats or by the emperor himself.
The only material found in abundance was limestone, useful for producing cement. Combined with sacks of volcanic ash and seawater that could be obtained without difficulty, we had the ideal mixture for Roman concrete, perfect for the walls and buildings I intended to raise. But beyond that, we lacked nearly everything required to sustain a permanent military force in the region. There was insufficient iron, no solid agricultural system to rely upon, and labor was scarce.
Reluctantly, I had to take the harder path. I began forming a personal tagma force in the region. I would need to inform Theophilos of this, as there was a significant difference between maintaining a personal tagma in Crete, where all the land was mine and no contracts had to be respected, and sustaining one in Jerusalem, where the lands belonged to the imperial patrimony entrusted to my custody.
Yet I could not establish thematic forces for defense. If I did, the men would have to tend their fields, meaning six to eight months during which they would farm instead of train. In that time, the Sarakenoi could prepare thousands for a renewed assault. It was not viable. Furthermore, it would weigh heavily on my treasury and might appear threatening to the emperor. It would not take long for someone to accuse me of imperial ambitions if I did not explain every step with absolute clarity.
Therefore, I quickly sent heralds to every city in the region to begin a mass recruitment, offering six silver coins to any man willing to enlist. I focused primarily on married men, so that later it would be easier to transition them into thematic forces and relocate their families as well. Ideally, the themata required numerous children so that one might inherit the contract. All this would come once the fields were properly restored.
I also began recruiting laborers at four silver coins, targeting unmarried youths. Most would work throughout the region clearing rubble and beginning to plow the fields for olive groves, the most visible mark of Roman influence. Preparations were also made for grain cultivation, copying the cooperative system I had implemented in Crete, where experienced farmers shared their knowledge with newcomers. In that way, when thematic contracts were eventually granted, there would be a stable agricultural foundation to sustain the defense of the region.
Unlike Antioch, there was nothing here even to lease. This was the only path to maintain the war effort.
I was balancing countless matters to stabilize the territory: requesting shipments of iron from the nearest mines, purchasing weapons from local markets to equip the new tagmata forces in the region.
Finally, I organized a military administrative system to manage salaries and calculate precisely how much gold would need to be sent each month once I departed for the Bulgarian campaign.
Where most of my forces were concentrated was in the port of Joppa, which had become the headquarters of the region, as it was the safest point in case of siege. A large portion of the investment was directed there. Many workers were leveling the ground and beginning the preparation of massive walls to protect the harbor. At the same time, we began expanding it to increase both its size and the number of ships it could accommodate.
In addition, the ten thousand men recruited among the Arameans arrived there with their families, as did much of the population from the city of Tiberias, where only a garrison of about one thousand Varangians remained.
"That is correct, strategos. I fear the wali of Egypt has plans, as he is forming an army in his territory. I have also noticed significant troop movements in other Abbasid regions," Shimon said, holding his cotton hood in his hands.
"What have you heard from Baghdad? Any news about al-Ma'mun? Is he planning another attack? Because by Theophilos' decision, the Abbasid army remained intact and could be used in the next campaign," I asked while sitting beneath the windcatcher of the fortress.
"I believe I have good news, my strategos. Al-Ma'mun was suppressing rebellions in Persia. After the defeat, several rebel groups rose in arms, and now the Abbasid caliph is struggling to quell them. There are also peasant revolts in Mesopotamia. Many complaints about having to pay their harvests in coin. They are demanding changes to the law, and numerous farmers are in rebellion," Shimon reported.
"Excellent news. Then the caliph will be occupied for quite some time, especially with two rebellions already active. By any chance, have you learned whether the wali of Egypt is acting as an auxiliary force of the caliph? Because if not, I fear we will face serious trouble and that he may attempt to retake Jerusalem," I said thoughtfully.
"Nothing of the sort, strategos. My network is still young in that region, so the information I can obtain is limited. If you grant me more time, I may secure more relevant intelligence. For now, many troops have gathered in the Nile delta, where they seem to be preparing for something, but I have not been able to determine their intentions," Shimon replied, grimacing slightly.
"My theory is that it is an attack. But what of the walīs of Damascus and Aleppo?" I asked, tapping the map with my finger.
"Nothing unusual. Patrols come and go from their cities, they guard the frontier, trade continues normally. There have been no mass calls for soldiers, no excess weapons in the markets, no stockpiling of supplies in the cities. Everything appears normal in those regions under their walīs," Shimon answered calmly.
"He is going to rebel," I said, rising from the chair.
"How?" Shimon asked, clutching his hood tightly.
"If it were an attack ordered by the caliph, there would likely be coordinated supply lines and assaults on other fronts, perhaps a movement against Tiberias or even the thema of Antioch. That thema is well organized and had a capable strategos. It is strong and could withstand a sudden blow until the imperial army responded. But here we are weak: few men, small garrisons, walls under reconstruction. If it were a coordinated attack, the logical move would be to strike at multiple points simultaneously to collapse defenses and supply lines. Since there are no movements from the other walīs, all signs indicate that this governor is preparing for rebellion," I said with certainty.
"Or a solitary attack?" Shimon asked.
"That would be foolish. Even gathering all the forces he can concentrate in rich and fertile Egypt and along the Nile valley, he could not inflict decisive damage. The imperial army would arrive within one or two months, and I doubt he could cause serious losses if we retain access to supplies from the north, provided the other walīs do not cut them off. That is why I believe it is a rebellion," I replied firmly.
"Very well. Then I will reinforce my network of spies and collaborators in that region. I will remain vigilant and report any unusual movements," Shimon said, lowering his head as he put on his hood.
He was about to leave when the large figure of someone whose presence I always welcomed filled the doorway. Shimon observed him for a moment before stepping aside.
"Hakon, my good friend, how was the journey to the northern realms?" I asked with a broad smile.
Hakon entered with a grin and walked toward me. Shimon quickly exited the room.
"Better this time. Your people were far more courteous when I passed through their capital. The journey went well. We crossed just before the rivers began to freeze, so we avoided being trapped in the ice. As you requested, I brought as many as I could. While I was there recruiting settlers for your lands, several jarls who served beside you arrived. They told stories of the riches of the south, of how easy it was to seize the wealth of the Sarakenoi, and of your leadership, which impressed many, saying that the gods favored you with victories," Hakon said with a smile as he embraced me firmly.
"It is called tactics and having a strong intelligence network in the region. That is why I won those victories. Tell me, how many Varangians do we have here? Are they families or only young men?" I asked, hoping for a significant number.
"Twenty-four thousand. Mostly families. As for warriors, about seven thousand. All in Crete. That man, Lysandros, said he would handle their relocation. In fact, he mentioned that a great city is being built by a man you brought from the Roman capital, and that it would be useful for them to settle in that area," Hakon replied.
"Yes, a city is being constructed there. I assigned a governor who seeks to raise it as a center of scientific research and education. He is no stranger to followers of the Norse pantheon. He is a genius. Who knows what wonders might arise there. Good. I hope more will come afterward, because I remind you that next year, likely in spring, in just a few months, the campaign in Bulgaria will begin. There will be much more plunder and slaves for those who wish to take them," I said with a smile.
"Believe me, they will come in great numbers. The jarls who returned could not stop speaking well of you. The only complaint they mentioned was that they had to endure your leadership, but then they would add that you were the finest leader they had served in many years and that never had their ships been so full that they had to choose between loading more gold or more slaves," Hakon said, laughing as he slapped my shoulder.
"I hope so. I truly do," I replied, rising to my feet. "Come, I assume you want beer," I added, gesturing toward the door.
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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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