CHAPTER X: Battle of Poimanenon.
It is the late of 1223, I, Demetrios followed Justinian and the Emperor Vatatzes to the land called Poemanenum, during the last past years, we did not succeeded in assassinating the traitor named Lekapenos and he had supported the sebastokratores Alexios Lascaris and Isaac Lascaris, who rose up in revolt and requested the aid of the Latin emperor, Robert of Courtenay. They were traitors to the empire and must be eradicated at once, so during in the closing years of 1223, the traitors at the head of a Latin army, they marched against us. Then it has led to this battle that will decide the fates of Emperor Vatatzes and us as well.
We have marched too onwards to them and prepared for battle, our army was formed into 3 contingents of footmen, archers and the cavalry. Our armies were located near the church dedicated to the Archangel Michael. I prayed to the beloved saint to give us his strength to win the battle ad the enemy suddenly charged towards us. Justinian's kontaratoi repelled them almost instantly after their first contact inflicting many casualties on the Latins.
We have acheived a decisive victory against the Latins, among the captives taken were the two Laskaris brothers, who were blinded and executed shortly after. The news about their defeat at Poimanenon caused panic in the Latins besieging Serres from the Despotate of Epirus, which withdrew in chaos in the direction of Constantinople and was therefore defeated decisively by the troops of the Epirote ruler, Theodore Komnenos Doukas. This victory opened up the way for the recovery of most of the Latin possessions in Asia. Threatened both by Nicaea in Asia and Epirus in Europe, the Latin emperor sued for peace, which was concluded in 1225. According to its terms, the Latins abandoned all their Asian possessions except for the eastern shore of the Bosporus and the city of Nicomedia with the surrounding region.
However we didn't find Lekapenos within the bodies or even the captured troops, George's Knights tried to chase him but they failed in the process, so therefore we went back to our territories with Emperor Vatatzes and our army and went on the reconquer the Latin's possessions in Asia. Forts after forts we took control of them, however Justinian and I faced a big problem, we were running out of men so heeded an advice from George that we must boost the population on our fiefs. We agreed on that idea and instantly took an action, George left in the next day with his bodyguards in attempts to persuade other Crusader orders to support us with men and finally get rid of the Venetians in Crete.
The next month we were called by Emperor Vatatzes for an important matter, we instantly went to his palace and he ordered his men to shut block every doors, and he stood up and told Justinian, "My favorite Strategos, I have discovered something about you. You have named yourself as an Komenoian and therefore an enemy of the empire." I was in shock when they found out, and attempted to explain, but he signaled his hand to be quiet.
The Emperor spoke again, "However, Justinian... That you are not a Komnenoian, therefore you belong to the family of Phocas. The bringer of victories!" The Emperor gave Justinian a sword that is too foreign for us. Then the Emperor explained "This is the sword of Nikephoros Phocas, and the sword of John Tzimiskes, I give it to you, Justinian Nikephoros Phocas!" He grabbed Justinian's hand and placed the sword on his hand, he proclaimed him a Megas Domestikos: The Commander of all armies.
The palace guards cheered for him, and they moved from the doors and the Emperor sat down on his throne, and before we walked out he said: "Reconquer our beloved cities in God's name, Justinian." Justinian nodded, bowed to him and soon he walked out of the palace soon after, I followed him too. As wherever he goes, I will go.
I have been hearing rumors of nomads on their way to Europe, I wonder if it will end up like the barbarian invasions of Rome or a peaceful one?