Byzantine Empire (M2TW Faction)

Source: http://www.totalwar.com/

Faction Background

Byzantium is the shadow that remains of the old Roman Empire. It is a mere shadow because despite retaining the civilised ways of the Roman legacy, the Byzantines have done little to further it. In fact, it is their reverence of the old ways that has brought the empire to a point of stagnation, in a world that has gradually kept moving on. The differences between the thinking in Byzantium and the west were most profoundly highlighted with the Great Schism, the division of Christendom.

Despite boasting the world's trade capital and home of Orthodox Christianity in Constantinople, the Byzantine Empire is well past its zenith and is now in steady decline. The outer regions of the empire have been slipping from the Emperor's grasp for decades now. To the west, the Normans have taken southern Italy, and in the east the Turks have moved into Asia Minor after their decisive and terrible victory at Manzikert. The latter of these two losses was the worst defeat the Empire had suffered in its entire history. To make matters worse, general corruption, chaos and dissent has lead to some of the other provinces closer to home to rebel.

Arguably, the greatest threat to Byzantium lies in its independence from Rome. There is significant risk that the lords of the west will consider the lands of Orthodox Christianity to be fair game unless the Pope decrees otherwise. It is a true irony that Constantinople may now have to appease Rome after becoming the new capital of the Roman Empire centuries ago.

If the Byzantine Empire is to once again become the dominant power of the east again, then it will first need to reclaim its heartlands wholly before encroaching upon the borders of another power. The Byzantine legacy is long and predominantly proud, but unless the Emperor can turn things around and once again instill, it is a legacy that will soon end.

Campaign Strategy

The Byzantine Empire begins with 4 provinces under its control with castles at its capital in Constantinople and Corinth and the large towns of Nicaea and Thessalonica. Early plans for expansion involve the capture of rebel settlements to North, such as Sofia, and to the South East – Smyrna being a likely target. Once the Byzantines have expanded sufficiently they should set their sites on the Turks to the East whilst remaining wary of Hungarians to the North and the Italian factions to the West.

The early Byzantine forces consist mainly of Byzantine Spearmen and Trebizond Archers. These are supplemented by a set of highly effective cavalry units including the Byzantine cavalry, Vardariotai and Skythikon. Throughout the campaign it will be the Byzantine cavalry and missile troops that will be crucial to success in battle. These troops will have to compensate for the Byzantines lack of gunpowder units late in the campaign.

Grand Campaign Objective Hold 45 regions, including: Rome and Jerusalem.

Byzantine Units

Light Infantry:

Peasants

Life at the bottom rung of medieval society is not easy or healthy. In times of war peasants are forced from their farms and drafted into levies, and if they are lucky, given some kind of simple weapon to fight with. Unsurprisingly peasants are undisciplined troops who are better at fleeing than they are fighting.

Town Militia

Common throughout Europe, Town Militia are commoners and peasants who have been levied into local militias to defend towns, roads and bolster armies. Given some training and equipped with a spear and little to no armour these units are useful in support roles for heavier and better units.

Spear / Pike Infantry

Byzantine Spearmen

Byzantine Spearmen are a step up from spear militias, better trained and equipped these troops are able to form a defensive ring. These are longer serving soldiers, used to defending settlements and bolstering armies. Equipped with a spear and light armour these troops are a little more robust than local militias formed by peasants.

Spear Militia

These troops are peasants from villages and small towns across the Byzantine Empire who have been levied into local militias to defend towns, roads and bolster armies. Given some training and equipped with a spear and light little to no armour, these units are useful in support roles for heavier and better units.

Heavy Infantry

Byzantine Infantry

Made up of soldiers recruited with small 'pronoiai' land grants, these Infantry "made up of peoples from all lands", fight for the Byzantine Empire more for profit then any sense of loyalty. These soldiers are equipped with a sword and large shield and wear mail armour for protection.

Varangian Guard

The most famous of all Byzantine units, made up wholely of Norsemen, the Varangian guard were initially a military levy sent to the Byzantine emperor from the 'Rus' which are now a permanent unit often used as a royal bodyguards. These superbly skilled warriors wield two handed axes with vicious abandon, hacking down the Emperor's enemies.

Dismounted Byzantine Lancers

Well trained and well disciplined, Byzantine Lancers are well armoured and equipped with a lance and a sword. Common throughout the Byzantine Empire, their training and discipline allows makes them very useful on the battlefield, whether mounted or on foot.

Dismounted Latinkon

Latinkon is the collective term in Latin for western European troops, mostly mercenaries, in the Byzantine army. Despite fluctuating numbers, there are enough of them to warrant the position of Megas Konostabllos being created to oversee them. Wearing heavy armour these experienced and well trained fighters are armed with lances and swords and are effective both mounted or on foot.

Missile Infantry

Peasant Archers

While most peasants in Europe were levied into the army, at sword point if need be, some welcomed the opportunity to earn some pay, and travel. Peasant Archers are accustomed to using their bow for hunting. These peasant archers are armed with a small bow, knife, and if lucky enough, some armour.

Archer Militia

Members of such militias within the Byzantine Empire, are not career soldiers but a type of trained civilian guard called,' tzakones'. Responsible for protecting settlements, roads and forts, these archers are armed with a small bow and sword and wear padded armour.

Trebizond Archers

Hailing from the edge of the Black Sea and plying their trade in the service of Byzantium, these men are recruited from the peasantry but well trained in the use of the composite bow. They are effective against light infantry and when grouped in large numbers and can become a thorn in the side of any opponent.

Byzantine Guard Archers

Byzantine guard troops are financed by the Emperor himself and unlike many Byzantine units consist purely of Greek troops. Skilled in the use of the composite bow, these troops issue a challenge to all Byzantium's enemies at range. Also equipped with a sword and wearing mail, the Guard Archers can withstand more combat than many other missile units.

Heavy Cavalry

Kataphractoi

The Kataphractoi trace their origins back to Roman times and are normally recruited from amongst the middle classes, providing the Byzantine army with a force of well trained and well disciplined cavalry units. Well protected and armed with a lance and a mace and although somewhat outdated by modern heavy cavalry, they still make for formidable fighters on the battlefield.

Byzantine Lancers

Well trained and well disciplined, Byzantine Lancers are well armoured and equipped with a lance and a sword. Common throughout the Byzantine Empire, their training and discipline allows makes them very useful on the battlefield

Latinkon

Latinkon is the collective term in Latin for western European troops, mostly mercenaries, in the Byzantine army. Despite fluctuating numbers, there are enough of them to warrant the position of Megas Konostabllos being created to oversee them. Wearing heavy mail through to plate mail these experienced and well trained fighters are armed with lances and swords.

Militia Cavalry

Used throughout the Byzantine Empire to protect merchants, provincial towns and roads, Militia Cavalry are poorly trained and armoured in light mail armour and equipped with a spear. These men are very good at chasing down archers and light infantry and light cavalry.

General's Bodyguard

These truly formidable troops are the general's personal bodyguard who accompany him on the battlefield. Selected for their loyalty and martial prowess these elite warriors fear little and shrug off odds that would crush many other units. Wearing heavy mail or partial plate and wielding lances this unit is capable of devastating charges and riding down most foes.

Missile Cavalry

Byzantine Cavalry

Made up of soldiers with small land grants, 'pronoiai', these cavalrymen are a type of reservist who is called up from time to time. These medium cavalry are influenced by Turkish tactics and training exercises and are better than most horse archers in melee. They wear padded to heavy mail armour and are equipped with a composite bow and sword.

Skythikon

Skythikon is the Byzantine term used to describe the mainly Cuman, Asiatic Nomads, who serve the Byzantine Empire exclusively as horse archers. Accustomed to being on horseback in the plains and steppes of Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region, these cavalrymen wear little to no armour and are armed with a composite bow and a small sword.

Vardariotai

The Vardariotai are drawn mainly from the Magyars that settled in the Vardar Valley, and their descendents. Disciplined and highly trained, the Vardariotai are elite horse archers. They wear light mail to light brigandine armour and fire a composite bow from horseback. Able to relentlessly pepper their enemies with arrows and use their mobility to stay out of trouble.

Mercenary Units

Alan Light Cavalry

Alan Light Cavalry are hardy horsemen, accustomed to the plains and steppes of Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region. Having fought against the Byzantine Empire previously, now ironically they are highly valued as mercenaries by their former enemy. Allan Light Cavalrymen are equipped with spear and light armour, useful for skirmishing, raiding and ambushing tactics and for covering flanks.

Artillery

Catapult

Constructed of wood and capable of flinging stones large enough to crush a man's head, the catapult was a common site on the ancient Roman battlefield. Now in the medieval era the catapult is being replaced by newer and more powerful weapons. Trebuchet The counter-weight Trebuchet is an evolution of the man-powered mangonel and catapults dating back before the 11th century. It has quickly spread throughout the world as an effective siege engine capable of lobbing large wall- crushing boulders. The Trebuchet is also able to fling such things as burning missiles and rotten animal remains to devastate enemy units.

Ballista

Invented in ancient Greece and resembling nothing more than a giant crossbow, the Ballista is capable of flinging a javelin with lethal force well over 100 meters! Unlike the crossbow the Ballista derives its force from twisted animal sinew and not tension from the frontal arms. No matter where the power comes from this weapon can impale any unit.

Trebuchet

Trebuchet, probably the modern equivelent off a rocket launcher, these hard hitting "catapults" were Europes, best siege Artilary until the invention of gunpowder. The counter-weight Trebuchet is an evolution of the man-powered mangonel and catapults dating back before the 11th century. It has quickly spread throughout the world as an effective siege engine capable of lobbing large wall- crushing boulders. The Trebuchet is also able to fling such things as burning missiles and rotten animal remains to devastate enemy units.

Bombard

The first primitive gunpowder siege artillery, bombards were created in China and Western Europe in the early 14th century and spread to the rest of the world by the late 14th century. Forged from bronze or iron, and designed to fire stone balls to crumble enemy defences. They also shoot inaccurate flaming balls wrapped in pitch-soaked rags, that can incinerate enemy troops!