Episode 112
Even the notoriously slippery Philip II pledged his full cooperation, and the army’s organization proceeded without a hitch.
Richard, in particular, seemed genuinely eager for war, his sincerity evident from the very start of preparations.
The warning that a disaster greater than Attila’s might befall them seemed to have hit home.
“Your Majesty… if the prophet’s prediction of a calamity akin to the Hunnic invasions comes true, won’t our losses be catastrophic?”
“Forget the losses… can we even hope to fend it off?”
“Ah! That’s precisely why God has commanded us to form the army of Christ, isn’t it, Your Majesty?”
As expected, the gathered nobles, summoned to discuss the Crusade, feigned indifference while subtly gauging each other’s reactions.
It was a stark reminder of the terror the name Attila still held for Europeans of this era.
Yet, our lion-hearted king seemed to grow more invigorated by the day.
“The prophecy has been given, and we must fight with all our might. As the count said, this is an opportunity for us. How often has God warned us of an impending invasion? If we fail to prepare, we could be swept away like autumn leaves. Surely, that’s why God has given us this warning.”
“Then…”
“But the warning has been issued, and we’ve decided to follow Christ’s will. Speaking of Attila, if Rome had known of the Hunnic invasion well in advance and prepared, would they have been caught so off guard?”
Considering Rome’s situation at the time, one might question whether they could have prepared at all, but knowing is certainly better than ignorance.
Seizing the moment, I added my own thoughts.
“I understand your concerns. But as His Majesty said, the situation now is different from the past. Not only our homeland but also France and the Holy Roman Empire are at their peak. Even the Byzantine Empire is spreading its wings after a long dark period.”
“Indeed, as Marshal said. Unlike previous Crusades, this time even the Byzantines will be part of our united army. Supplies will be ample, so there’s no need to worry.”
“But if we rely entirely on the Byzantines for supplies and they betray us again, won’t the damage be too great?”
“Of course, we won’t leave everything to them. We’ve already arranged with the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire to supply provisions from various Italian cities. Additionally, we’ll deploy our own ships to transport supplies, so rest assured.”
Historically, Richard was exceptionally attentive to logistics among European commanders of his time.
He brought over 200 ships from England, securing sea routes and ensuring the supply lines to his troops remained unthreatened.
This meticulous attention to logistics is why Richard’s forces were sometimes called the embodiment of Satan.
Unlike other European Crusaders, Richard’s army maintained peak condition, both physically and in terms of weaponry.
This aspect was overshadowed by Richard’s legendary feats in battle, where he single-handedly decimated Islamic forces.
If not for these incredible exploits, Richard might have been celebrated as the greatest strategist of the medieval era.
“As His Majesty Richard said, if we stand united, there’s little chance of defeat. So cast aside your fears and rally your strength under the banner of the cross.”
With the Pope and the monarchs of various nations in agreement, the nobles had little room to voice dissent.
Initially, it was just Western Europe, but Pope Peter II extended his influence to include the Iberian Peninsula.
Even if they didn’t send troops, they were asked to deploy their navy to ensure smooth supply lines for Western European soldiers.
If they demonstrated their faith this time, the Papacy would support the realization of the Reconquista after the war.
This war, unlike others, was a defensive one commanded by Christ.
Christian nations, even if not directly involved, had a sacred duty to respond.
The duty to protect Christianity from Islamic attacks.
The duty to shield Europe from the unknown terror that once plunged it into fear.
The duty to unite Europe’s fragmented power to uphold true justice.
And the majority of Europeans were fervent in their support of the Papacy’s proclamation.
“Yeah!”
“Let’s drive out those Islamic invaders!”
“God is with us!”
“Europe must unite to survive!”
Throughout history, creating an external enemy has been the best way to foster internal unity.
Add to that the narrative of executing justice against evil, and it’s a perfect recipe for boosting morale.
“People! The time for judgment has come! To sweep away those wicked Islamic invaders in one fell swoop! If we overcome this trial, God will bestow eternal blessings upon us! Why have you lived in poverty until now? It’s because of the sins we’ve committed. But this long period of hardship ends here! With this war, our sins will be washed away, and your lives will change completely, I promise you in the name of Richard I!”
Richard’s fiery speech spread across the nation, and those who could read eagerly shared it with others.
“Hmm… what do you think?”
“Is that really true?”
Fatima shook her head as she listened to Richard’s speech.
“Winning the war is great, but will it really lead to an explosive increase in agricultural productivity? Sure, if God grants us grace, it could happen, but the Apostle never said anything like that, did he?”
“That’s right.”
“Now that it’s in writing, there’s no backing out, is there?”
“It’s fine. I said it was okay to include it.”
In truth, it wasn’t just permission; I had encouraged it.
Regardless of the war, the spread of new agricultural methods was already set to dramatically increase production in England and France.
By linking this to the war’s outcome, both Richard’s and my own reputation would soar.
It’s crucial to prepare for the post-war world now.
Ending a war is often more important than starting one.
The year 1200 marked the dawn of the historic 13th century.
With the Sultan’s command to invade Anatolia, the looming war in Asia finally took shape.
Ironically, the first target of Khwarezm was not the Byzantine Empire but the remnants of the Seljuks caught in between. Yet, this mattered little to Khwarezm.
With Tekish’s twisted logic, Khwarezm’s army boldly crushed the Seljuks.
The Seljuks, whose power was already a shadow of its former self, crumbled without any real resistance.
Both the Abbasid Caliphate and Saladin’s Ayyubids were aware of Khwarezm’s advance but chose to ignore it.
Neither the Ayyubids nor the Caliphate had any reason to intervene, as Khwarezm was depleting its own strength by clashing with Europe.
In fact, the Caliph secretly hoped for Khwarezm and the Byzantine Empire to destroy each other, leaving the Ayyubids, who were friendly to the Caliphate, as the dominant Islamic power.
“Now, the remnants of the past, the Seljuks, have vanished from history!”
Having seized Ankara, the last bastion of the Seljuks, Tekish roared triumphantly.
“Behold! The land we stand on was once ruled by the Achaemenid Empire of Persia. This city has thrived for countless years. It was the Greek invaders, claiming the name of Rome, who defiled this land. For many years, it was the land of invaders until the Seljuk Turks reclaimed it. But they eventually fell. Why?
Because they failed to fulfill the sacred duty given by Allah and became complacent. Their power lasted barely a century. They did not follow Allah’s command to cover this land with the paradise of Islam!”
Tekish’s speech, upon closer inspection, was full of contradictions, but that was irrelevant.
Frankly, what did it matter to the amirs or soldiers about the precise history or changes in governance of this land?
The crucial point was that Khwarezm’s current power exceeded that of the Seljuks at their peak, a feat impossible without Allah’s blessing.
‘Weak losers.’
He had long despised those who failed to achieve something so simple.
Tekish did not even truly respect Saladin, the wise ruler praised by all.
He acknowledged that Saladin was smarter than him.
That had been proven several times, and he had even received help from him.
Despite possessing such power, the failure to extend it outward ultimately comes down to a lack of courage, doesn’t it?
If they advance into Anatolia, the Catholics might unite with the Orthodox Church, unlike before. Who wouldn’t know such an obvious fact?
Tekish was already receiving continuous intelligence on the Byzantine Empire from merchants in disguise. He had even heard that envoys from the Papacy had recently visited Constantinople.
However, Tekish was well aware of how disastrously the Crusaders had conducted their wars so far. The idea of them uniting was as unlikely as the Shiites and Sunnis coming together again. Of course, with that noisy prophet Marshall stirring things up, they might eventually consolidate their forces. But the European armies harmonizing with the Byzantines? That was never going to be easy.
With his extensive experience leading armies, he was certain of this. “So, the plan is simple: crush the Byzantines before their reinforcements arrive.”
If they could push the Byzantines out of Anatolia, Asia would fall completely into the hands of Islam. Even if European reinforcements arrived, they wouldn’t be able to switch to the offensive so easily.
“Your Majesty, we’ve received word from the Mongols that they intend to start a campaign against the Western Xia.”
“Good. That means even if we go to war with the Byzantines, the Western Xia won’t have the resources to interfere.”
“But won’t the Mongols demand we keep our promise to attack the Western Xia together?”
“Tell them we wanted to, but the Europeans have allied with the Western Xia and are attacking us, making it difficult. Anyway, those Mongol barbarians won’t be able to grasp the full situation.”
If the truth came out, those barbarians would be furious, but what could they do? The war had already begun, and it was too late to back out now.
“I will establish the great Islamic empire that no one else has achieved.”
Everyone echoed in agreement, confident it would be so.
In the warm spring of 1200, under the bright Anatolian sun, the Byzantine Empire formally declared war against the invading Khwarazm. The curtain rose on a great war that would set the world ablaze.