Despotate of Karthagos

The **Despotate of Karthagos**, also known as the **Karthagian Despotate** and **Karthagos**, is a mediterranean nation located on the northern coast of Aphracas. Formed in 475 IS from the remnants of the Empire that once dominated Greater Eurasa, the Despotate of Karthagos is the result of reforms passed down to prevent the same mistakes which dominated the Empire since its early founding. The trauma caused by the collapse of the Empire have led to the Karthagians to learn the lessons and the causes of its fall, which helped transform the Imperial remnants at Karthagos into the Despotate, starting with the end of serfdom and the people within its territories made citizens.

## History

Long before the collapse Karthagos was a region known for its status as a trading hub between the three different sides of the Empire and has a small but elite and competent army known for being the best of the best, second only to the Home Legions of Averisacas. Unlike the rest of the Empire, Karthagos also boast a powerful navy which allows it to control the Nostrum Sea, making it a useful asset of Imperator Nicanor during the Crisis of the Third Century. Karthagos is involved in the civil wars of the Tetrarchy, and the attack on the city of Karthagos forced the army and navy to raise its own Imperator, Nicanoneus, and even threatened to take control of Aegepticus and its farmlands until Imperatorii Konstantinos and Nicanoneus defeated the Phocasian armies; after which Imperator Nicanoneus abdicated voluntarily in favor of Konstantinos being the rightful emperor. It was only during the establishment of Konstantinopolis that Konstantinos established the rank of magister militum (or magister utriusque militae), declaring Nicanoneus the magister militum per Karthagos and making him the ruler of the autonomous province of Karthagos.

Karthagos is left alone in the post-Konstantinian Empire but, under the auspices of magister Nicanoneus, built its capital city up to the likeness of Konstantinopolis albeit small/medium-scale and has implemented reforms to help transform it into an economic and military hub and allowing some of the senatorial families to settle in exchange for their skills. However, the Empire began experiencing internal conflict between itself, the various barbarian tribes who began settling parts of the Empire, the rebellious legions, the senatorial aristocracy, and those who sought to save the state. Before long Karthagos sent troops to rescue Konstansia after becoming alarmed upon learning of various rebellions through several passengers and tradespersons. As a result of the rebellions on the mainland Empire the Karthagian army and navy began patrols of its borders and even established border outposts but were forbidden from ever engaging in open conflict due to Nicanoneus II's diplomatic stance.

### Imperial collapse and formation of the Despotate

It was only during the Chaos of the Fifth Century that a large barbarian horde arrived at Karthagos' western borders. Despite panic among the populace magister Aurelian negotiated with the barbarian leaders: in exchange for settlement and having its own leaders within its borders the barbarians are allowed a say in its senate so long as they do not cause instability. This fragile peace between the Karthagians and the barbarians is considered a hotbed of tensions, not helped by the arrival of refugees from Albion who fled after being abandoned by the Imperials.

It was after the fall of the Empire did Karthagos realize that it is the only Imperial remnant left. Despair mounted on the populace until the half-barbarian/half-Albionese magister militum per Karthagos Artorius, a radical reformist even by Imperial standards, ordered the army and navy to lock the state down before sending in representatives to find out what have truly caused the Empire's collapse. Three years after and the representatives came back with their findings, which revealed the true causes of the Imperial Collapse - serfdom, high taxes, binding sons to their fathers' professions, and the currency change from silver to gold. Realizing that Diokletianos and Konstantinos unknowingly contributed to the decline of the empire, magister Artorius ordered for the lowering of taxes, the elimination of serfdom, the return of silver as the currency, ending the sons' bindings to their fathers' professions, the granting of citizenship to refugees, and the reduction of taxes. Numerous reforms were made to transform the Imperial remnant of Karthagos into a developed state. Reforms were also made to give the people free education and efforts expended to establish trade. Through further studies on the Averisacan Republic Artorius also reformed the army and navy, reverting them back from a large but poorly-trained, poorly-equipped military into a small but highly-trained and highly-equipped military.

Finally, with the backing of the army and navy, Artorius was proclaimed Despot of Karthagos and has established the Despotate of Karthagos. Further reforms were made to the government, which transformed the senate from a hotbed of intrigues to an effective legislature, and helped root out corruption and improve tax collection. However, the last act Artorius made is the end of the Karthagians' reverence of the old Imperial ways; such reverence would have caused a repeat of the Imperial Collapse.

### Encounter with the Empire of Konstantinopolis

In 524 IS a few patrolling Karthagian ships spotted unidentified ships bearing the symbols of the fallen Empire and dispatched alongside seven other ships to intercept them. After taking the Imperial-marked ships to Karthagos the Karthagian government learned of the existence of the Empire of Konstantinopolis, another Imperial remnant. They learned that, not long after the Empire collapsed, Konstantinopolis has avoided outright collapse and has begun expanding and consolidating its territories, which takes two grueling decades to do so. Retaking Aegepticus and the Levant it experienced drastic reforms to allow it to stand on its own feet, but what greatly concerned the Karthagian despot Julius and his court and senators is that they realized the Empire of Konstantinopolis cling to its reverence of the old Imperial ways upon hearing from Claudius Bucellarius of his intentions to bring Karthagos back to the Imperial state under the belief that it has fallen into barbarian control.

Despot Julius talked to magister Bucellarius, explaining to him the story of Karthagos' side and how it transformed and humbled itself after learning of the causes of the Empire's collapse. Bucellarius is adamant that Karthagos is to return to the Empire's fold and Julius is adamant that Karthagos is to remain independent. In the end both agreed to allow the Konstantinopolitans access to Karthagos' ports for resupply and trade, but the despot requests Bucellarius to warn emperor Iustinian that trying to retake the western Imperial territories is but a fool's errand and adhering to the old ways will only lead to the Empire's decline. The warning was delivered to imperator Iustinianus a few decades later when Konstantinopolis' holdings in Averisacas were besieged by the Rorrards.

### Intervention

Representatives of the Empire of Konstantinopolis arrived at Karthagos to discuss matters on the Imperial holdings on Averisacas, wishing for their aid in ending the Rorrards' sieges of its cities. Hesitant to aid due to the Imperials not liking Karthagos' independence, despot Julius agreed to host diplomatic negotiations. The Rorrards and the Imperials started out with clashing at each other verbally while despot Julius talked both down to state their proposals and counterproposals. However, getting so fed up with the absolute idiocy of both sides, despot Julius slashed at one Rorrard and one Imperial and verbally crushed them for their idiocy and stupidity and threatened both sides with death if they do not agree to his requests-turned-demands for civilized talks. This they agreed, having never expected him to snap at them. As part of the agreement the Rorrards are allowed to settle within the Empire's Averisacan territories and the Imperials give citizenship, benefits and rights to the Rorrards in exchange.

While undergoing negotiations on trade deals with several mediterranean states, despotissa Konstantina learned of Phocas' overthrow and execution of imperator Maurice on 607-8 IS. Realizing that the emperor's wife and children were in great danger despotissa Konstantina sent for the emperor's wife and children. Using improvised explosives (barrels of gunpowder purchased from the Liqing Empire) at several locations timed to allow for more time, the despotissa's soldiers distracted the guards from the monastery and rescued the imperatrix and her children, though they have to dodge Imperial patrols sent by Phocas to stop them. They were able to get into a ship and sailed for Karthagos but were nearly intercepted by several Imperial ships sent by Phocas to stop them so he can torture and kill them all, and the timely arrival of the Karthagian fleet and Herakleian ships allowed the imperatrix and her children to escape.

However, the Karthagians weren't given any rest as they learned of the fall of the Levant and Aegepticus to the Khavadians. Forced to intervene for a second time despotissa Konstantina asked both the Khavadians and Konstantinopolitans for a ceasefire and diplomatic negotiations. However, the arrogance of the Khavadians caused numerous problems for her to deal with, and when the Khavadian shah made it clear he will not stop until he brings back the Achaemenid Empire, she, now unable to control her anger, finally snapped at him, calling off the negotiations and withdrew to Karthagos, where she gathered a majority of the Karthagian army and navy and announced a state of open war against the Khavadian Empire. Her rapid advance into Aegepticus shocked the shah, who didn't realize that the despotissa was really trying to come up various ways to appease both sides. In the end, her rapid advance saw the conquest of Aegepticus and the purge of every heretics and Khavadian sympathizers and soldiers present, to the shock of those who initially see her as a calm yet serious person.

The purge is so thorough and brutal that the shah unconditionally agreed to the negotiating table. As per her demands, all Imperial relics, pre-war territories and serfs were to be returned, both sides must pay reparations to each other and to Karthagos for three years for making it break its pro-diplomatic stance, and both must undergo reforms regardless of what they say lest they incur despotissa Konstantina's wrath further. While the Imperials and Khavadians still dislike each other as rivals, both sides knew that they nearly caused Karthagos to go on a war of conquest and thus careful dialogue between each other and Karthagos are to be maintained.

Two decades and a half later, the Despotate is involved in another war again, this time involving the Aeterneans. While undergoing reforms and expanding its farmlands and cities, refugees from Aegepticus arrived and begged to be taken in. When questioned they reported that the Sol Invictians, religious followers of the Middle Easterner cults of Aeternea, began their conquest of the Khavadian Empire and the Empire of Konstantinopolis' Aegeptican and Levantine territories and warned the Karthagians that they will also expand westward. Not even pleased with what's going on, three Karthagian armies were sent to meet the Sol Invictians with strict orders to meet contact with them and only engage if attacked. Both sides met at the Karthago-Aegeptican borders and negotiations between despot Agrippa and the leader of the Aeterneans. Both sides made demands and counter-demands on achieving peace, and it taxed both leaders to the point of exhaustion until the former's son, Marcellus, suggested allowing the Aeterneans settlement within Karthagian territory. Both sides agreed unconditionally, and citizenship is handed out. In exchange for twenty-five years of peace (that is, no oppression and no conflicts between the Karthagians and Aeterneans) between the Aeterneans and locals in the Despotate the Aeterneans agreed to cease conflict.

Tensions between the Aeterneans and Karthagians occur every week and were dealt with peacefully. Anti-Aeternean sentiments grew yet magister Marcellus shuts such sentiments down before they ever grew a threat. New settlements were set up to house the newly-arrived peoples. And while tensions flared up between them, no conflict or uprising occur due to reforms and policies passed to ensure social integrity. The Karthagian Islanders, however, have proved themselves more adaptive socially towards the Aeterneans, and magister Marcellus, seeing how they adapt, requested them for their aid in teaching the Karthagian mainlanders and Aeterneans on how to be socially adaptive. In twenty years the lessons of behavioral adaptability of the Karthagian islanders helped lessen the tensions, and by the end of the proposed time the Aeterneans within Karthagian territory grew acclimated to Karthagian society. The Aeternean leaders have reported their experiences to their Patriarch, who decides to attempt to live in Karthagos for three years. It is not known what the Patriarch is doing but when he returned to his fellow cultists he orders the establishment of various kingdoms and a few empires with respect to Karthagos' wishes of not being involved.

### The Negotiator and interbellum

Between the 7th century and the 14th century, Karthagos has taken up the mantle of chief negotiator for all parties involved in conflicts throughout Greater Eurasa. Only involved in diplomatic disputes, Karthagos maintained the balance and the status quo, only changing them should any of the parties were guilty of making false promises to each other, and embargoing any hostile parties. Despite this taxing task of maintain equal relations Karthagos has kept up with the times, ensuring that it is standing up to the likes of its neighbors. Even during peacetime it does not hesitate to send teachers to improve the living standards of many nations and bring them prosperity.

It was during this time that Karthagos reformed its strategies. Taking in lessons from classical times, it has adopted the phalangites, archers, horse archers, light infantry and various units. With this the Karthagian army is reformed and retrained based on such lessons, allowing for a more mobile, more flexible army.

In the 11th century, the Great Schism occur between the Ariestan Catholic Church and the Konstantinopolitan Orthodox Church. Both churches eyed Karthagos despite its lack of interest in being involved. Even worse, the Ariestan Catholic and Orthodox populations began clamoring for either side, and despot Nicanoneus IV, feeling incredibly conflicted, immediately stated that Karthagos will have its own church independent of both churches. The Karthagian Independent Church, which advocates for equality, was formed much to the dismay of the Ariestan and Konstantinopolitan churches, who were denied the chance of aligning it with either of them. Regardless both churches accepted Nicanoneus IV's decision, knowing well that Karthagos undergoing a religious civil war will only hurt many nations financially, economically, socially and politically in the long run.

### War in the 15th century

On 1455 IS, Karthagos becomes greatly concerned with its nearest neighbor, Sikilas, which now hungers for its prosperity despite all the trade agreements. A standoff ensued between the two nations for thirty-six years. While negotiating with Sikilas, Sikilan ships transporting troops destined for Karthagos under the cover of the night. However, two Aegeptican trade ships intended to arrive at one of Averisacas' ports spotted a Sikilan fleet en route towards Karthagos while also under the cover of darkness. Alarmed the two ships split up: the first Aegeptican trading ship headed for Aegepticus and the second trading ship went to Karthagos, both intended to alarm Aegepticus and Karthagos first about what is to come. The second trading ship is intercepted by a squadron of four Karthagian ships patrolling for any pirates, and the captain of the trading ship alarmed the Karthagian ship captain of Sikilan ships heading straight for Karthagos. With this information the five ships sped for Karthagos just in time to notify despot Arthur of the approaching Sikilans. Enraged by the Sikilans' betrayal he had the Sikilan ambassador imprisoned for questioning. Meanwhile the first trading ship had arrived back at Aegepticus to alert the autocrator of the Sikilans' betrayal and intent to invade Karthagos; response is delayed by one year and a half until the rest of the mediterranean community were alarmed by the Sikilan aggression against Karthagos after they discovered the presence of Sikilan spy rings.

Karthagos, fully alarmed, began sending out troops to hunt down any spy rings and interrogate them. Some were found but others sabotaged Karthagian military response and most committed suicide or escaped to avoid capture. However, the Sikilan spy networks in Karthagos failed to realize that the Aeterneans have inspired Karthagos to establish its own military reserve force, composed of civilians trained in warfare and ready to be called in for active service. By the time the Sikilan fleet arrived near Karthagos' shore they will find themselves driven back by an already alert Karthagian fleet. Shocked at this the Sikilan king assembled several fleets to overcome the Karthagian fleet and land at Karthagos. Naval battles occur between the Karthagian and Sikilan navies, with some fleets slipping by to allow the landing of troops at Karthagos. However, the invasion troops were beset by Karthagian legions, whose equipment were mixed Imperial, Sarassan and medieval equipment.

However, the war has taken a drastic turn for the worse when Karthagos is beset from the west by Ibaereia, which joined Sikilas to plunder Karthagos. With two fronts battering it the Karthagians adopted a defensive doctrine, using mobile cavalry and horse archers to harass Ibaereian and Sikilan armies. The Sikilans and Ibaereians countered with traps that forced the use of infantry to hold the line while the cavalry flank the enemy. War elephants were also brought in to devastating effect. The two-year stalemate caused casualties on both sides, but it was ultimately broken when reinforcements in the form of fleets and armies from the Empire of Konstantinopolis, Empire of the Outremer, Holy Ariestan Empire, Kingdom of Averisacas, Kingdom of Aegepticus, and the Papal States were sent to attack the Ibaereians and Sikilans and reinforce the Karthagians, allowing them to counterattack.

To end the war the Karthagians led an invasion of Sikilas, landing at the southern coast and attacking from three directions. At the same time a massive blockade blocked Sikilan ships from ever escaping and Sikilas is cut off from its peninsular territories, preventing any chances of escape. A series of scorched earth campaigns were initiated to deny the Karthagians from taking ground. However, king Maurice II have gathered a much larger army intended to breach the Karthagian-allied forces' defenses, thereby allowing him to escape and continue his reign of terror. However, ten legions under the command of magister Andronikos Palaiologos in pursuit of king Maurice II arrived before he launch his great escape. The last battle between Maurice II and Andronikos saw casualties on both sides, with the Karthagians and their allies suffering heavy casualties and the Sikilans and their mercenary allies and Ibaereian forces suffering even more casualties. Under the cover of battle king Maurice II made his escape but was followed by a group of equites catafractarii, led by 18-year-old Borealis Norsoutha (a nobleman and military officer very young for his age but a very skilled one), who answers directly to magister Andronikos. The chase ended in both Borealis and Maurice II being heavily wounded yet still alive, allowing for allied troops to capture the mad king.

Under the terms of the treaty Sikilas is to pay war reparations and sell nearly the entirety of its luxury goods to the victorious allied forces (especially the Karthagians), while Ibaereia collapsed after a civil war occurred thanks to its participation in the war. On the request of despot Arthur the kingdom of Sikilas is occupied, its house replaced with a far more honorable house and its cities rebuilt.

### The Expeditionary Force

Long before the war despot Nicanoneus VII became very interested in exploring the world and learning more about every cultures and societies but understood very well his inability to do so due to his status as despot. Thus he ordered the establishment of the Karthagian Expeditionary Force, or Karthagian Expeditionary Society. Because of Karthagos' ever-growing economy he is able to fund it and allow anyone to join and be a part of the expeditionary society. The first five expeditions were sent throughout the continent. The south and east were being explored but the north isn't.

Two years after the war Borealis, then 20-years-old, was approached by despot Konstantinos III, who replaced Arthur after he decided to resign in favor of teaching, with the intent of making him the leader of an expeditionary force that would be sent northwards. Doubting about it despot Konstantinos III convinced him that he may send letters to his families by bird mail, thus allowing him to be in touch with his families. After a few hours of consideration Borealis agreed. Konstantinos III then told him that accompanying him is the unnamed High Priestess (then 19-years-old), to whom Borealis in a relationship and who will serve as his expedition's chief of chaplain. Pessimistic, self-centered and distrustful but not always and yet having feelings for Borealis, he knew that having her as a member of his expedition would help him get through hard times. Discussing this further he learned that there will be three armies composed of the first army (two legions), the second army (two legions), and the third army (three legions and two holy orders); this is considered overkill even by Karthagian standards. It took Borealis a day to think before agreeing.