Deliberations and Developments - 750 AD to 850 AD

750 AD: With the conflict against the Ottomans over Asia Minor needs to be incorporated into the Empire - but that is easier said than done!

The Russian city of St. Petersburg has expanded SW blocking a road link through the Caucasus and Catherine is not interested in an Open Borders agreement. Also the Persian "Colony" in Egypt prevents a road link to my N. African cities. I could either build a Harbour in Byzantium, (I've renamed Istanbul), or capture St. Petersburg but before I even think of attacking Russia I need to upgrade my Army. Catapults -> Trebuchets and Longswordsmen -> Musketmen. At the moment the Russians are only showing regular Swordsmen.
Thebes in Egypt is also an interesting target and that would complete my Mare Nostrum strategy but who knows what forces are hidden beneath the clouds over Persia - Darius also refuses an Open Border agreement.
The Ottoman Empire was sparsely developed so it is neccessary to move Workers there to upgrade the  Resource hexes. My Happiness level has also suffered so I need to liven up things ;-)

760 AD: I've completed researching the Education Tech - next is Physics which enables the Trebuchet build and leads to the Gunpowder -> Musketmen :-)

I also got some cash from Askia of the Songhai....

A whole bunch of events are beginning to change the situation in the Near East/S. Asia....
  785 AD: Arabia declares war on India.
  785 AD: Persia declares war on India.
  790 AD: England declares war on India - typical!!!
  790 AD: Russia declares war on India.
  795 AD: Persia declares war on China....
....and I declared war on nobody!
805 AD: Development of Asia Minor in full swing - 2 Workers N and S of Rostov and 4 Workers near Byzantium and Armenia.

825 AD: India and China have sgned a peace treaty - I guess India has other problems at the moment.
835 AD: Things are achanging folks - there are now only three Russian units on our common border and there are Persian units units leaving Egypt and heading home. Arabian units are also on the move eastwards. It looks like the Indian conflict is sucking in the reserves of the attackers - and I smell opportunity :-D

850 AD: My statistics 100 years after the end of the conflict with Suleiman....

....not much change really.

In the last screenshot I have just noticed that Genghis Khan is missing - I wonder who defeated the Mongols :-/

Also I have completed researching Physics and Gunpowder is my next Technology.

Events are getting interesting, folks - I'm sure my Legions will be marching soon but where and against who? More in my next bulletin - Ave!!!

Going West - 745 AD to 850 AD

745 AD: Meanwhile I have also been exploring my options in the Atlantic. I previously reported sighting a Barbarian Camp on Iceland and dispatched a Longswordsman to deal with it. Well, it has arrived and is about to kick ass...



750 AD: My victorious troops then eliminate the Barbarian Archer - Iceland is ours.

785 AD: A Settler is now ready and sent on its way to Iceland.....

....and 800 AD we had to squeeze past the English blockade but Elizabeth is not in the mood for war. Bottom right a Worker has been activated for services abroad.

810 AD: My Settler reaches the shores of Iceland....

....and 820 AD Reykjavik is founded and of course a Monument will be built first.

850 AD: The Worker arrives on Iceland and has an Iron mine to build.

Needless to say, the English aren't too happy with this development but I am also peeved because they have claimed a coastal hex at Normandy!!! I was too busy in the East and didn't notice the move.

With Iceland I now have a forward outpost when I set sail across the Ocean to discover new lands.

Ave, Caesar!!!

So long, Suleiman - 735 AD to 750 AD





735 AD: The situation after the fall of Istanbul. I only lost one Pikeman during the first phase of my Ottoman campaign...

Warchest time and seeing what Catherine is up to. If Russia does intend attacking let's grab all the Rubles first. Not very good prices but still better than shooting at me :-)

740 AD: Advance and barrage time :-)

Edirne barrages one of my Ballistas again...

745 AD: The assault on Edirne begins to take shape with Ballistas....

...then ground forces.

The city survived this round but unless Ottoman reinforcements arrive the end is near.

The Ottoman General is still alive and can witness the end of the Suleiman regime...

750 AD: We destroy an enemy Warrior in N. Africa - the unit gains experience points - then returns to the main front.

Edirne is subjected to intense Ballista fire...

....then a Longswordsman puts Suleiman out of his misery.

So long, Suleiman!

Rome's Legions have prevailed and more barbarian territory has been absorbed into the Empire.

My statistics are looking good - not too worried about my approval rating, after all this is not a popularity conquest. Our mission is to civilize the World, right?

Ave, Caesar!!!

Bathing the Turks - 720 AD to 735 AD

720 AD: The original intention was to provoke Catherine of Russia into some kind of action against me but apart from the expected denouncement nothing happened. Instead the Ottomans went crazy - not only denouncing me but accusing me of breaking all kinds of agreements and various insults. The last straw was to turn their back on me and start marching south towards Arabia, as if I posed no threat. Nobody turns their back on Caesar!!! Time to teach Suleiman some manners :-D

725 AD: War is declared! To avoid my transports being sunk like they were against Greece, my Trireme attacks the Turkish ship - a Ballista finishes it off.

My Trireme in the eastern Med. destroys an enemy Warrior....

 ....and the rest of my forces move forward.

 

 The Ottomans respond by pouncing on my Pikeman SSE of Istanbul....

....and city of Edirne barrages my Ballista in the Caucasus.

Catherine has decided to make Peace with Suleiman - does she have other plans? Babylon and India have declared war on Suleiman, neither are neighbours but they may have an Open Borders agreement with Persia so I can't drag my feet too much.

730 AD: The battle continues - first a Ballista supports an amphibious assault on an Archer Unit

 

 then a Trireme punishes the Warrior that bashed my Pikeman....

 Two Ballistas soften up the defences of Istanbul...

 

 ...then two Longswordsmen assault the city.

 

735 AD: Closing in on Istanbul but first I need to support my flanks. My southern flank is becoming active...an Archer in Egypt bites the dust and Mediterranean fleet bombards an Ottoman Catapult.

 

 

 Next an Archer east of Istanbul is cut down to size. Next the assault on Istanbul.

 

Two Ballistas open the next round again...

 

...then two Longswordsmen are enough to finish off the garrison.

 

 Istanbul is mine!!!

 

 Now I annihilate the pesky Warrior...

 ....and warn the Ottoman's Pikeman not to get too close.

That's the phase of my Ottoman campaign. The city of Edirne is now in my sights.

Ave, Caesar!!!