[Sapphire]

Chapter 1, Part 3: The Venetian-Byzantium War.

On the 23rd April 1419, the fleet arrived in the Cyclades poised to strike at Morea and it main city, Nafplion.

Earlier, at the dawn of 6th of April, Luciano’s ship arrived on the harbour of the golden city of Constantinople. At the morning court of Emperor Manuel II. Each new arrival was announced by a stirring fanfare and booming voice of a grey-haired herald so thin that it almost appeared that a lifetime of shouting had worn him down to a shadow. “Venetian Ambassador Luciano.” The herald declaimed grandly, and the trumpets blared. He entered into the throne room, bowing to Emperor. “I bought a terrible new which would threaten last of Byzantium Empire.” Luciano told him and Emperor with the worried expression on his face. “Then tell me this terrible new which threaten my Empire.” Luciano grinned evilly and said “As on this day, Venetian Republic declared war on Byzantium Empire. The purpose of this war it to recover what is our by right.” Manuel II whose face, full of rage said, “Would you like to have your head cut off?” Luciano replied “No, but thank you for your excellent offer. What about your ally, which I believed called Trebizond?” At that moment, the ambassador of Trebizond came forward and said quite sadly, “We would not support you in this war against Venetian Republic. As you should know that the Military Alliance between us is forged against Moslem such as Ottoman Empire but it did not said that we would also support you in the war against Catholic nation. So you are alone in this war against Venetian Republic.” Manuel yelled at Trebizond Ambassador, “Then this so-called Military Alliance is broken for ever. Now get out of my sight, both of you” Luciano and Trebizond Ambassador bowed to the Emperor and went out of the room rather quickly.

They went down to the harbour and just before Luciano board his ship, he asked the Trebizond Ambassador, “Why would you betray Byzantium?” He replied “Look around this harbour and the buildings, they are decaying into ruin. Once Byzantium once ruled entire Asia Minor, but now they are dying. The Crusades caused by the Western Europe against Moslem have failed and Byzantium now pays the prices of persuading the Pope to help them. As I recalled, the Fourth Crusades did even attacked Constantinople at your country’s order, against us rather than Moslem.” He sighed and said “Let see how long Trebizond can hold up against Moslem?” Luciano replied “Well then I would keep a very close eye to your country. Have a good day, Ambassador” Luciano boarded his ship and his ship went speedily out of the harbour toward the fleet in Cyclades.

On the 7th of June 1419, on Loredan’s private warship, Angelo walked in to the cabin and sat on the Loredan’s personal table, for his breakfast and said happily. “Good morning, Admiral.” Loredan stared at him thinking to have one of the sailors to throw Angelo overboard and yelled at him “Why are you so happy right now?” and Angelo replied “Well, we got Luciano coming aboard this ship. He just got back from Constantinople.” With that news, Loredan brightened up and ran outside onto the deck. Angelo sighed and grabbed his bread and walked after him. It was nice weather with sun shining brightly on them. Luciano grinned as he talked to Enrico. “Emperor was actually threatened to cut my head off, when I told him that we are at war. But luckily, Trebizond Ambassador stepped in and told him that his country would not support him in this war. This made Emperor even more furious and we wisely gone to the harbour and went to our different ways.” Loredan were happy as a child with a new toy. He called his captains and passed the message that the army must land at Morea now and quickly. It would take a month to finish unloading and initiated a siege against Nafplion, the city of Morea. However on 4th of August 1419, Ottoman Empire declared war on Byzantium Empire and initiated a siege against Constantinople and sends 1000 Cavalry to Morea. Angelo wanted to attacked Ottoman Cavalry but Luciano stopped him and advising him that no war been declared between Venetian Republic and Ottoman Empire and it would been foolish to started attacking Ottoman Empire while they actually help Venetian Republic by initiated a siege against Constantinople. Angelo saw the point and agreed with Luciano. Times passed and scores died in army until on 11th February 1420, Venetian Republic captured Nafplion, Hence, Morea. The army was so annoyed for so long that they actually looting and start burning the town down. Enrico shook his head in disgust and told Angelo “I don’t mind looting but must they always start burning the town down.” Angelo replied “Let them have their fun!” He then looked at Luciano, “Where are we going next?” Luciano replied “We go to Constantinople and meet the Emperor of Byzantium Empire and tell him what we wanted. Also let bring the army with us shall we?” And so the troops boarded the fleet although it took 20 days to finish loading.

On the 23rd of June 1420, the fleet entered Sea of Marmara and started to unload the troops onto Thrace and to help the Ottoman with the siege. Angelo grumbled that he didn’t like to help Ottoman; it would take another 21 days to finish unloading the troops. The Ottoman Imperial Army is very nervous of having Venetian Republican Army looking over their shoulder but on the 14th July 1420, Luciano met with the Colonel Karim, the leader of Ottoman Imperial Army and asked him very politely not to attack the Venetian and agreed that Venetian Republic would have Morea while Ottoman Empire would have Thrace. This would spell the end of Byzantium Empire. And so Venetian Republican Army waited for the fall of Constantinople. The Byzantium Imperial Army is broken beyond repair. However out on the sea, it is a different story.

On the 4th of September 1420, Loredan were sleeping soundly in his cabin when suddenly there was an alarm that Byzantium Imperial Navy attacked Venetian Republican Navy. He was swearing as he went on the deck and into the dawn of the day. He saw that Byzantium fleet of 11 Galleys and 5 Transports attacking his fleet of 5 Warships, 30 Galleys and 5 Transport. He started swearing at Byzantium idiot who commanded the fleet and ordered his captains to destroy the Byzantium fleet into pile of driftwood. They did so gladly, destroyed all but 2 transports left. That two annoying transports rushed out toward Aegean Sea. Loredan ordered his entire fleet to followed two ships; finally, the two transports were destroyed into nothingness. However, there are no triumphs without loss. Five Venetian Galleys were destroyed. For every ship they lost, they destroyed just more than three ships.

On the 12th of October 1420, the Venetian-Byzantium War is finished after 16 months of war. Constantinople fallen on that day due to Ottoman treachery and they of course started burning everything in sight and looting the city. On that day, Ottoman and Venetian walked into Manuel II’s throne room. Luciano, Angelo and Enrico met with the Colonel Karim and his captains around him. Luciano stood in the front of Manuel II and said, “I demand Morea, it is after our.” Manuel II replied scornfully ““Why, are you working with the God’s hated people. Their so-called god, it is nothing compared with our God.” Luciano shook his head and said “We are not allied; we are just walking the same path at the moment. Sooner or later, Ottoman and Venetian will face one other in battlefield” Manuel II shouted back to him “Fine, you can have Morea.” Luciano smiled sadly “Colonel Karim” speaking in Ottoman tongues. “He called your Allah weak, Colonel Karim. Do what is customary.” Karim were furious and took out his sabre and beheaded Emperor. The blood coming out of the neck was ruining the carpet. Luciano said to Karim “Thank you for your co-operation, Colonel Karim” Luciano, Angelo and Enrico walked out of the throne room.

On 16th May 1421, the whole city were celebrated the end of the Venetian-Byzantium War when the army got back. There are victory parades, and everyone was singing a war song.

Venetian Republic war song

Forward the Griffon, forward the Griffon, the Golden Griffon takes the field.
Scream defiance at the Enemies.
Forward the Griffon, forward, Venetian Republic triumphant.

On the next day, the High Council meeting was called. Mocenigo was busy putting praise on Enrico, Angelo and Luciano. They look at him with pleased expression but with sadness in their eyes. Mocenigo said “What wrong?” Angelo replied to him, “We have lost so many people just to recover one small province. We lost 7000 Infantry and 3000 Cavalry. This means that 1 in 3 went off to war and never to return. And what it so silly, that we never even fought a single battle against Byzantium.” Enrico took over for him “However, we did only lose 5 Galleys but also we destroyed Byzantium Imperial Navy into firewood. So in naval matter, we are luckily at the moment.” Luciano took over and said, “Do we thought that taking over Morea and helping the Ottoman Empire to destroyed last of Byzantium. This allowed a foothold to Europe. They are very good fighters, anyway it would be fun to see what happened shall we?”

In Rome, Pope was talking to one of his servant then suddenly a courier rushed in and kneed in his presence. Pope Martinus V frowned in annoyance. “Yes, what you got to tell?” “Your most holiness, Byzantium Empire is finally destroyed” Pope brightened up. “And pray what happened?” Courier replied “By the co-operation of Venetian and Ottoman, they overthrown last of Byzantium Empire and spilt the empire between them. Venetian got Morea while Ottoman got Thrace. At last the Ottoman at last got a foothold.” Pope paled and asked the courier to leave. He then started swearing every language he knew. He was furious about the course of event. He wrote a message to Rinaldo, Religion Councillor explaining about what he thought. Late that day, new courier is riding hard he could toward capital of Venetian Republic.