821 CE/205AH: An Ordinary Year in the Early Middle Ages Introduction: Overview: This is a diplomatic game meant for seminar-sized classes to strengthen their grasp of early medieval geo-politics. Please feel free to correct, adapt, or otherwise modify as you wish—it is hardly perfect, though my students were unanimous that it was both fun and educational. I adapted it myself from the Napoleonic diplomacy game created by my colleagues at West Point, and used by some instructors to simulate coalition warfare in 1813. In the medieval case, of course, there are no clear coalitions, complicating things considerably. I happened on 821 CE somewhat by accident, but I think it turned out to be a fortuitous occurrence, since as you can see in the “country” overview below a number of interesting political developments were taking place in this year. Hence the title of the scenario is deliberately evocative of Traina’s brilliant book 428 AD. I framed the title in both Roman Christian and Islamic calendars to stress the multiple cultures of the (European) Middle Ages, especially around the Mediterranean. Course of play: The game worked quite well by giving 10-15 minutes to prep, 20-25 minutes to actual diplomacy, 5-10 minutes to concluding treaties and negotiations, and as much time as was left in the session to integration and going over points results, often to vigorous debate among the students themselves. The longer the integration phase the better, in my opinion. Areas for improvement: A better and more effective use of money and military points. Proper accounting will likely go to the birds fairly quickly, which I worked with since that could have been a discussion point on its own. But a more structured approach to soldiers and money would be good. Some negotiations will strike the instructor/umpire as decidedly unrealistic and outlandish, but that tends to be the nature of these games. More religious/cultural consequences for certain actions would be a plus, as would another game element or two that made the teams think seriously about how “honor” was constructed, gained, and lost in the ninth century. Abbasid Caliphate: Caliph Al-Ma’mun has ruled since 813 CE/197AH; governor of Khurasan while half-brother Al-Amin was caliph; Al-Ma’mun was victorious in the civil war, taking Baghdad, executing Al-Amin in 813. Ruled from Merv till 819; murdered his grand vizier and Imam Reza, the leader of the Shiites. Major revolt in Khurasan results; General Tahir ibn Husayn made governor in 821, but now a threat to Abbasid power. Baghdad unstable; unrest in Arabia. Al-Ma’mun needs a new court and new court culture. Roman problems are an opportunity; Thomas the Slav is requesting an alliance. Roman Empire: Michael II has ruled for one year, after murdering Leo V. Currently facing a major revolt from Thomas the Slav in Anatolia and Thrace; Thomas has the navy, and is trying to obtain Abbasid support. Michael looks to the Bulgars for help; Frankish aggression is worrying. Concern that Muslim powers in North Africa will threaten Sicily and Crete. Michael is of peasant-soldier stock, and a Judeo-Christian sect; moderate iconoclast. Empire of the Franks: Louis I has ruled since 813: son of Charles the Great. Close relationship with Rome; divided empire among his sons in 816; sons currently fear that Louis’ new wife Judith will bear sons; suffering remorse for the death of his nephew Bernard, king of Italy, in 818; Slavs have been in rebellion on the eastern frontier since 816. Council votes in 820 to launch campaign against Cordoba caliphate. Bulgar Khanate: Omurtag has ruled since 814; major building projects; very hostile to Christianity. A 30-year peace with the Roman Empire is in place, after major wars that saw the capital of Pliska destroyed in 811 and the Bulgar army defeated at Burtodizos in 814. Supportive of Slavic tribes’ struggles against the Franks. In 821, Omurtag has a major decision to make: assist Slavic rebellion against Michael II, or assist the Roman Emperor. Rules: 1. You are required to come up with a strategy for achieving your policy goals. Every team has strengths and weaknesses. Your strategy should include but is not limited to the following points: Land: provinces gained or lost Money: spending vs saving Religion: advancing the cause or giving up advantages Military power: using or not using Internal support: making sure that you do not alienate essential supporters 2. Heads of State, with the exception of the Bulgar Khan and Thomas the Slav, cannot leave their home country. They are limited to receiving diplomats and sending their diplomats with their instructions. Their military advisors may act in a diplomatic capacity. There are few other restrictions. Use your imagination, but also your common sense. 3. You may not show your country sheet to players from other countries or discuss the number of points you will get for certain actions. 4. Just because something isn’t listed as one of your national goals doesn’t mean to ignore it if another country brings it up. Again, use your imagination and your common sense. 5. Questions not answerable from the readings or the information sheets will be resolved by the instructor. Any requirement for the Umayyads, the environment, or any “act of God” will be accomplished by the instructor. All decisions by the instructor are final and unappealable. 6. For the next fifty minutes, for the purposes of the game, the honor code does not apply. Feel free to lie, mislead, and double cross to preserve your realm’s best interest. Be aware, however, that other realms may try to bribe or corrupt your messengers and ambassadors. 7. Money and Military Points. Each power has a set number of financial and military resources, which you may assign to support your diplomatic initiatives as you see fit. a. You may never commit more military points than your team total. b. However, in the course of play you may commit more money points than your team total, if you want to take a calculated risk that some ventures will succeed and others fail. Going into bankruptcy will not advance your cause, while having a positive balance in your bank account will gain you points. c. You must expend a money point for each military point you use. d. Example: The Bulgar Khan has already committed 7 military points to the Roman Empire, and has 3 left with which to threaten the Frankish Empire. This leaves the Khan with 5 money points left for other initiatives. However, the precise use of Bulgar resources remains hidden from both the Frankish and the Roman teams. 8. At the end of the game, all treaties will be concluded and formally signed. There is no *requirement* for a team to sign a treaty, but there are various incentives to do so. Treaty Sheet I. Treaty between ____________________ and ____________________________. II. Money transfer A._____________________ gives ______ money to B.______________ III. Land transfer ___________________ gives __________ province(s) to B._____________ IV. Trade ___________________ and B.________________ create a new trade network V. Support ___________________ agrees to support B.__________________ against C._____________ VI. Marriage Alliance ___________________ and B.____________________ agree to form a marriage alliance. VII. Other conditions Signatories to the treaty: ROMAN EMPIRE Characters Students Emperor Michael II Head of State ________________________ Antony I Patriarch of Constantinople ________________________ Courtier 1 Parakoimomenos ________________________ Base Score: +5 per treaty with another power at the end of the game; +2 per trade agreement; +1 per defection from another team to your realm. _____________ Base Score Policy Goals: ____ You want to prevent recognition of Thomas the Slav [+5 if achieved; -3 per team that recognizes him] ____ You want to advance Christianity in the Bulgar Khanate [+3 if achieved, -5 if not achieved] ____ You want to obtain at least one province from the Abbasid Caliphate [+3 if achieved] ____ You want to persuade Thomas the Slav to end his war against you [+15 if you succeed, -5 if you don’t] ____ You want to keep all your current territory [+5 if achieved, -3 per province lost] SCORE ___________ Resources: Start Money: 25 Start Military: 15 Expended Reason Expended Reason Diplomatic Potential: Franks: may want peace on their eastern frontiers, could pay money to secure that; Lothair dissatisfied with his father. Bulgars: will likely demand land or money to support you against Thomas. Abbasids: will be difficult to negotiate with, as they have an interest in promoting Thomas’ claims to your throne. Byzantine Rebels: will be very difficult to negotiate with. . ABBASID CALIPHATE Characters Students Caliph Al-Ma’mun Head of State ________________ Tahir ibn Husayn General of the Armies ________________ Courtier 1 Chamberlain ________________ Courtier 2 Mayor of Baghdad ________________ Base Score: +4 per treaty with another power at the end of the game; +2 per trade agreement; +1 per defection from another team to your realm. _____________ Base Score Policy Goals ___ Regain at least one province from the Roman Empire (+5 per province) ___ Obtain monetary tribute from the Roman Empire or the Byzantine Rebels [+2 per money point of tribute] ___ Rebuild Baghdad’s cultural and scientific infrastructure, achieved with a treasury of 20 or higher (+6 points) ___ Prevent any defections from your team (-5 per defection) ___ Keep the Franks from gaining provinces in Spain or the Mediterranean [+3 if achieved, -1 per province lost] ___ Retain control of Arabia and Persia; requires allocation of 4 military points per province [+10 if both are achieved, +5 if one is achieved, -10 if neither is achieved] SCORE ___________ Resources: Start Money: 30 Start Military: 20 Expended Reason Expended Reason Diplomatic Potential: Franks: may want a secure southern frontier, could pay money to secure that; Lothair dissatisfied with his father. Romans: likely to trade money and land for assistance in fighting the rebels. Bulgars: will probably be difficult to negotiate with, but everyone likes trade, right? Byzantine Rebels: probably desperate for assistance, possible to secure territory and money for support.  BULGAR KHANATE: Characters Students: Omurtag of Bulgaria Great Khan _____________________ Base Score: +2 per other Power at peace at the end of the game; +2 per trade agreement; +1 per defection from another team to your realm. _____________ Base Score Policy Goals: _____ You want the Roman Empire to halt its missionary efforts in your lands [+5 if achieved, -2 if not] _____ You want to rebuild Pliska, which can be achieved if your treasury is +10 or greater [+10 if achieved] _____ You want to stop Frankish aggression in Hungary and Romania by diplomacy [+5 if achieved, -5 if not] _____ You want to enlarge your borders by at least one province, taken from either the Romans or the Franks [+3 if achieved] _____ You want a weaker Roman Empire, in both land and money [+7 if achieved, -7 if not] SCORE ___________ Resources: Start Money: 15 Start Military: 10 Expended Reason Expended Reason Diplomatic Potential: Franks: may want peace on their eastern frontiers, could pay money to secure that; Lothair dissatisfied with his father. Romans: likely to trade money and land for assistance in fighting the rebels. Abbasids: will be difficult to negotiate with, as you are just above the 44th parallel; perhaps cut a deal regarding the rebels Byzantine Rebels: probably desperate for assistance, possible to secure territory and money for support. EMPIRE OF THE FRANKS Characters Students Emperor Louis I “the Pious” Head of State _______________________ Ebbo of Reims Archbishop of Reims _______________________ Lothair I Co-emperor, heir apparent _______________________ Base Score: +5 per alliance; +5 if no more than 15 military points are deployed; +2 per trade agreement; +1 per defection from another team to your realm. _____________ Base Score Policy Goals: ___ You want the Bulgars to withdraw support from the eastern Slavic tribes [+3 if achieved, -5 if not] ___ You want the Abbasid Caliphate to withdraw support from the Umayyads [+1 if achieved] ___ You want stronger trade ties with the Abbasid Caliphate [+3 if achieved, -2 if not] ___ You want Lothar to remain loyal [+5 if achieved, -10 if not] ___ You want at least one province from the Roman Empire [+3 if achieved, -2 if not] ___ You want to have at least 5 Money points in your treasury by the end [+3 if achieved, -3 if not] SCORE ___________ Resources Start Money: 25 Start Military: 20 Expended Reason Expended Reason Diplomatic Potential: Bulgars: might want a quiet western frontier in order to develop Roman situation Romans: likely to trade money and land for assistance in fighting the rebels. Abbasids: wild card in your Mediterranean diplomacy; possibly amenable to offers of land from conquests of Umayyads and Byzantines Byzantine Rebels: probably desperate for assistance, possible to secure territory and money for support. BYZANTINE REBELS Characters Students General Thomas the Slav Rightful heir to the Roman Empire ____________________ Base score: +5 per other Power joining you; -4 per Power joining Roman Empire; +2 per trade agreement; +1 per defection from another team to your realm. __________ Base Score Policy goals: ____ Form at least one alliance whose goal is the deposition of Michael II [+5 points] ____ Gain the support of the Abbasid Caliphate without surrendering Roman territory [+5 if achieved, +2 if territory is lost] ____ Gain the support of the Bulgars without surrendering Roman territory [+5 if achieved, -5 if not achieved] ____ Gain the support of the Frankish empire [+2 if achieved] SCORE ___________ Resources Start Money: 20 Start Military: 15 Expended Reason Expended Reason Diplomatic Potential: Bulgars: might want a quiet western frontier in order to develop Roman situation Romans: very unlikely to want any kind of diplomatic solution. Abbasids: wild card in your Mediterranean diplomacy; possibly amenable to offers of land from conquests of Umayyads and Byzantines Franks: probably desperate for assistance, possible to secure territory and money for support.