"...Two kingdoms that helped trample the Roman Empire years ago, were themselves ground underneath the boots of conquerors, this Spring of 531 A.D. The Franks, inheritors of Roman Gaul, had declined steadily, worn down by their war with the Visigoths. As their final province fell, proud Frankish warriors bent knee to Visigothic overlords. In Italy, the Ostrogothic successors of Odacer, the barbarian warlord who deposed the last Western emperor, were themselves dispossessed of their lands. It was with a smile that Emperor Justinian heard that it was his troops that evicted them from their last holdings. Elsewhere, there was little else to smile upon. Although successful in retaking Cappodokia, Byzantine armies retreated elsewhere from Persians, Vandals and Slavs. Finally, in the hills of Central Europe, the last enclave of Bavarians withstood a Lombard invasion, saving themselves from being the third nation to fall this Spring..."
"A Warrior's Death"
Up and down the battleline, the last army of Franks hefted their franciscas and took deep breaths. When the horn boomed out, they sprinted forward, yelling war cries as if their kingdom depended on it -- which it did. The plans was for a furious advance, hoping to surprise and chase off the Visigothic invaders before their speedier light troops and cavalry could collapse the battleline's flanks. It nearly worked. Squadrons of horse galloped frantically out of the way, or went down, plunging, in the tribal mass. However, as they had done many times before, the Visigoths drove in the Frankish flanks and sliced into their rear. The Franks and their kingdom went down fighting, a warrior's death for a warrior people.
"Dying Upon the Spears"
In Italy, the Ostrogothic kingdom was being overrun from all directions. The Visigoths trampled the West, the Byzantines the East, and the Vandals the South. Their last enclave was in the mountain passes of Venetia. Gloom was thick in the camps as they waited to see which would arrive first to finish them. In the end, it was the Byzantines, led by the Empress Theodora. The Ostrogoths climbed into the saddle, and risked all on a sweeping flank march. Theodora's military advisors were wise, though, and Byzantine spears were waiting for them. The Ostrogothic nobility threw themselves on the spears bravely, though, and their kingdom died with them. Their capital of Rome still held out against Vandal siege in the south, but all hope perished with their last army.
"Open Warfare at Last"
Almost as quickly as the crows gathered in Venetia, a Visigothic host arrived. Their warlord Iadoric demanded that the Empress yield the mountain passes of Venetia to him. For years, the two great powers had fenced in the courts of the kingdoms of Europe, but Theodora knew it was open warfare at last. She refused, and readied her troops for battle. In the swirling, hard-fought battle, Iadoric paid for his boldness and was wounded. Used to victory, the superb Visigoth army fought on without its general, but the handicap was too great. The Visigoths finally withdrew, back to Liguria. Theodora was pleased with the second victory of the season, but worried that the empire had exchanged a weak neighbor in the Ostrogoths for a strong and vigorous one in the Visigoths.
"The Reconquest Begun"
As he rode out of Carthage, Huneric swore to his army this would be the year they regained their kingdom from the Byzantines. Cheered, his army filed behind him into the mountainous region of Mauretania. There, Narses' lieutenant Tiberius awaited them. The steep slopes hampered both armies' mobility, but Huneric was able to concentrate his force against one section of the Byzantine line and put it to flight. As the rest of the army followed the rout, Tiberius salvaged what he could. He led the tattered remnants southeast to Tripolitania and joined Narses. Meanwhile, Huneric's army shouted their acclaim of their warhero -- all North Africa would soon be theirs!
"Risky Landing"
Although Huneric was thought the best of the Vandal warleaders, Gaeseric was sent on the riskiest mission of the Spring. His men and their horses were ferried across from Sicilia to the sands of Libya. There, if Gaeseric failed, there would be almost no chance of retreat -- his entire army would be slain or taken prisoner. Theodosius, governor of Libya, hastily recruited levies and mercenaries to fill out the ranks of his small force. When battle was joined, the green troops wavered. Theodosius rode forward to rally them, but was slain in the confusion. The disorder spread into a rout, Gaeseric's army chasing the Byzantines across the desert. Soon, they'd reestablished their control of the towns and oases of the province.
"Hampered by Terrain"
The arid, hilly interior of Cappodokia was hardly ideal terrain for either the Byzantine or Persian cavalry and spearmen. Control of the province would be decided by which general overcame the confused battle amidst the steep slopes and isolated valleys. The Persian general Shapur seemed more troubled by the terrain -- his attacks were untimed and piecemeal. Byzantine General Martinus observed each one forming and crushed them in detail. When the Persian's force was spent, Martinus followed up their retreat, hunting them down mercilessly. Shapur's army streamed northeast, allowing Martinus to retake control of the province at his leisure.
"Hills Sold Dearly"
While Martinus was reconquering Cappodokia, the Persian General Nabedes was assembling an army to retake Armenia. General Bessas was not worried, despite his forces being depleted from last season's defeat. An Armenian by birth, he was familiar with the steep hills, and would sell them dearly. The battle raged across the uplands, both sides taking grievous casualties. Nabedes hurled the expensive, royal elephant squadrons into the midst of the enemy. It was their presence, trumpeting echoing off cliff faces, that turned the day. Bessas' cavalry could not stand up to them, their lines scattered by the elephants repeatedly. Bessas knew it was time to retreat, and reluctantly filed south through the passes towards Syria.
"Ambush Beneath the Trees"
It was a natural border, many said. Let the Slavs have the forests of Dneister and beyond -- the Empire would stick to the plains. Sensible as it seemed, General Diogenes knew empires do not grow that way. So his army crossed into the damp woodlands of the north, their scouts nervously pacing ahead. Watching from the thickets, the Slavic warleader Piastes smiled. Now they had these effete Greeks! When Diogenes' cavalry filed in a compact mass through a clearing between two woods, the Slavs struck. Tribesmen blocked their exit and more swarmed their flanks. It was an ambush, simple as that. Diogenes knew he should have seen it. He galloped here and there, organizing a retreat. It was through dint of their discipline that his army got away with only a bloody nose -- and not losing its entire head!
"Mounted Marauders Put to Flight"
The warlord Ragnaris had heard the news -- the Franks were dead, their kingdom trampled by horsemen from Spain. How long before the riders came for Bavarian lands? His musing proved prophetic, as the Lombards were on the march. He arrayed the tribal leaders and their followers in one thick line on a great hill which loomed over their camp. Their flanks were guarded by the king's household troops, the light troops sheltering behind. When the Lombards galloped into view, his army erupted in abuse, jeers, and taunts, as instructed. Infuriated, the Lombards charged up the hill, into their teeth, rather than trying to encircle them. Their initial charge drove the Bavarian battleline back, but Ragnaris' position was too good. The Lombards were pushed back down the hill, several squadrons fleeing the field. Ragnaris' men followed them, and after slaughter on both sides, eventually put them to flight. Bavarian lands were safe from marauding horsemen at least for awhile longer.