Eagle Byzantium

Needless to say, the location that Gawain chose to build the blockade fortress was the only peninsula "Athos" connecting Mount Athos and the mainland. The middle waist of the island here is very long and narrow. On the east side is a circular reef bay where ships can anchor and take shelter from the wind. Beyond the "middle waist" and heading south, there is another large piece of land. When the sea water is not high tide, it is enough for many soldiers and camps to garrison. A little further to the north, there is a protruding cape like a "branch", namely Cape Aramis.

The northern ridge of the holy mountain of Athos is only 2,500 feet away from this large piece of land. There are gently undulating terraces and hills everywhere. The road leading to the depths of the island is divided into two from here, as if it was split by the mountain.

Originally there was a fortress here called "Olaro", but it was abandoned due to disrepair. When Gawain's army drove past along the road, Patriarch Masdas, who occupied the Holy Mountain, was not afraid at all, but because he was too superstitious about religious authority, he did not set up defenses in the key area of ​​Olaro.

However, Masdas had no way to set up defenses. There were a total of 20 monasteries in the entire Ato Peninsula, with about 800 monks and priests, and only about 2,000 to 3,000 monastery slaves and islanders who could provide armed forces. But these 20 monasteries were not united. At least half of the monastery deacons were ready to surrender in time after hearing that the new emperor's army was approaching.

So Masdas' mood was changing dramatically: when he received the news of the alliance between Sicily, Venice and Crete John, he was very excited and first sent envoys to reach a reconciliation with John and continued to recognize him as the emperor of the empire; but soon when two brigades of soldiers from Gawain appeared near Philippi, Masdas became a little nervous and issued a mobilization order. At this time, only seven or eight monasteries responded to his call, and many followers advised him to escape.

"No, you must not escape. If Gawain rushes to the Holy Mountain, I want to see how he judges me. The more cruel he is, the more he will be at a disadvantage morally."

Later, Bordin raised his army again, and Masdas became energetic again. He openly wore a purple robe and stood in the Lavra Monastery at the southernmost tip of the peninsula with a scepter in his hand. He shouted to the rows of clergy that he never recognized Gawain's throne, and called on Anna to turn back and sever ties with the barbarians as soon as possible. Then he felt unsatisfied, and simply "brazenly and ridiculously deposed Gawain's throne" in the name of the empire's patriarch (words in the book of Andeodate Nicetas).

Later, Ceces of Thessalonica was lured to surrender. After Gawain obtained this rich city, he promptly led the main force back to attack the Athos Peninsula.

This time, Masdas hurriedly issued a second mobilization order.

At this moment, Gawain set up his camp and the "Grand Palace Guards" in Philippi, and then sent Melo as the commander-in-chief of the island attack.

Melo climbed the peak in the northwest of the Ato Peninsula with a trace of fear. He saw that the Orarro Terrace below was already covered with soldiers' tents and wooden fences. Four detachments of Red Hand Brigade soldiers occupied this place and prepared to attack in depth.

Another detachment of brigade soldiers set up camp at Cape Aramis and built a sentry tower with a bonfire to provide instructions to the incoming ships.

The last detachment of soldiers accompanied Melo and built a wall horizontally at the intersection of the Ato Peninsula and the mainland to ensure the advance and retreat of the main force attacking the island.

The land on the terrace is dark gray. Going further south, the undulating rocks and soil of this color are all undulating, with clusters of dark green shrubs scattered on it, and then there is a dirt road extending on both sides of the peninsula. With the dirt road as the axis, most of the monasteries are distributed on both sides of the peninsula near the sea, like two strings of pearls.

The peninsula is surrounded by gray ocean on three sides, and above it is a deep blue sky. There is a layer of white light between the sea and the sky, covering the entire island. In Melo's eyes, the coastline stretches to the southeast, and the innermost part is the towering "Holy Mountain". In its southeast corner is the famous Lavra Monastery, where Masdas lives.

While the commander was looking at it, Masdas was also standing on the hillside of the Holy Mountain, looking northwest.

Masdas could see the swarm of clippers and flat-bottomed boats rushing over from the other side of the ocean. They carried sailors, food and various equipment, and were providing assistance to the villains who attacked the island.

Turning to the back, several islands were seen ablaze from a distance. Warships were coming from Crete and Moria, with various battle flags hanging from the bows. They were sent by Venice and Sicily to rescue here, but they were attacked by "jaegers" hidden in scattered islands. The trajectory of the gunpowder spears and the rising columns of fire from the explosions of the ships kept coming into the eyes of the Patriarch.

Three days later, fifty elite soldiers of the Red Hand Brigade rowed small boats and took the lead in landing on the east side of the peninsula, setting fire to the Asphigomelos Monastery. The monastery stood on the seashore and had a five-story building that was very eye-catching. However, the monastery was defeated by the Red Hands' scattered soldiers. The deacon of the monastery quickly requested surrender and handed over all the property, books and thirty craftsmen and servants in the monastery.

After the surrender of the Asphigomelos Monastery, the eight monasteries next to it followed suit.

The Zoglav Monastery, the foremost monastery on the east side of the peninsula, initially resisted. However, the tower of the anchorage was shot down by several light artillery pieces in a moment. Then the shells whizzed in a graceful arc and flew into the layered pavilions within the monastery walls, destroying them completely. More than a dozen monks were killed or injured. It bravely held out for two hours but was forced to surrender.

After the surrender of Zoglav Monastery, the red-handed soldiers of the two detachments were overwhelming. After conquering and surrendering five monasteries in the west of the island, they camped after nightfall.

As a result, there was a night attack at night!

The warning firecrackers from the sentry post in the camp broke the tranquility. The guard team and the incoming team fought on the rocks near the sea. They fought for an hour before the other parties retreated one after another. This was by no means a temporarily armed temple. servant. Early the next morning, the campsite was surprised to find that a huge rock 500 feet across from it was also covered with brown tent scaffolding. Behind the rocks were dozens of warships, with their sails furled and dense ropes tying them to the shore. Last night's night attack was initiated by this group of people.

And the tent style is from the Crescent Church!

Check out the 16-9 book bar to see the correct version!

"That's the Guards of the Norman King of Sicily. They are all Mohammedans." Merlot was very surprised after receiving the news. It seemed that Old Roger had spent a lot of money in Palermo and sent all his Guards here. .

Mero did not dare to neglect and hurriedly sent his horse to camp at Philippi to report the news to His Majesty Basileus.

At this time, the Sicilian Pagan Guards were already flying their flags, shooting dense and fierce arrows, and fighting with the red-handed soldiers of the two detachments at the front along the broad land in the southwest corner of the peninsula!