Imperial Restoration of Cyprus (Premysloides Dynasty)

I5)
First Imperial Campaign was started in early 1302 and ended in 1305, because of Sixth Constantinople Council and Emperor focus on proposing "God-Emperor" title within Empire. Because of that, imperial government and military could not any more focus on conquering Persian province of Khuzestan.

Aside of controlling oil deposits, Empire wanted to establish full control over Persian Gulf and secure fees and connection to Asian naval trade routes.

Third and secret goal was using locals men in war to decline their population, sacrifice them in war to weaken Persians and to decrease manpower in former Abbasid Caliphate, that will be replenish by native born imperial citizens from western provinces (especially by Turks from Asia Minor, Greeks from Morea and Franks from Jerusaleme).

In this time, Khuzestan and Persia was under rule of Muzaffarids, dynasty of former vassals of fallen Il Khanate.

At first, Empire wanted reach control by peaceful way. Emperor Romanos proposed exchange of Khuzestan and Persian Gulf control over Azerbaijan and Caspian Sea influence, include special fee of 1,000 gold pounds per year for 25 years. Proposal led to coup in Persia, as moderates wanted to accept this, while radicals within Persian imperial court and rulling dynasty wanted to defend Persia at all costs.

Imperial Army was nominally under Emperor control, but under direct command of Andronikos Asen, Bulgarian-born imperial commander and military governor of newly formed Mesopotamia Military Province. Andronikos Asen was in imperial military service for long time. Joined Imperial Army as 15years old volunteer at start of Second Imperial Civil War, fought in Serbia, Kosovo and at Alma Mons, later graduated on military and naval academy, 8 years commander of Constantinople Garrison. After 1293 Conference, he led imperial troops against bandits plaguing Cilicia and successfully eliminated rebels and bandits. Awarded by titles - Hero of Imperial Army, Medal of Courage and Medal of Field Commander. From 1297 commander of Mesopotamia Military Province. In 1300 assigned to prepare invasion plan in to Khuzestan.

Persians were led by Shah Yusuf ibn Shah, former Crown Prince of fallen Atabeg dynasty and experienced military commander of Muzaffarid dynasty. Famed by encirceling and destroying Il Khanate Army at Yazd, where 11,000 Yusuf troops killed or captured 42,000 Mongol troops, because of deception, ambush and superior tactic and strategy, include using attrition and diseases against enemy. After victory, he was summoned by Muzaffarids and got terrible proposal - he will be castrated and appointed to position of supreme commander and creator of Persian Royal Army, with lifetime term, personal villa and luxurious salary, or he will be killed, as Muzaffarids feared his popularity, authority and threat that he will try to restored Atabeg dynasty. Yusuf accepted horrible condition and from 1286 until 1302, he fully focused on improving military capabilities, building centralized and unified armed forces and train peasants and villages for selfdefense.

Invasion started after end of Spring floods, at early April 1302, when two armies invaded Persia. 15,000 imperial troops moved to Khuzestan, 36,000 led deception invasion in to Hamadan and Ilam. In Southern Mesopotamia, Imperial Army gathered reinforcements and supplies for "Southern Army", while "Northern Army" was depend on local supplies and resources.

Andronikos Asen was brillant, but ruthless commander capable to sacrifice his army in to reaching goal. Because of that, he sent "Northern Army", mostly composed of troops from Baghdad, Basra, Caucasia and east Turkic territories, to Central Persia. "Southern Army" was composed of loyal natural imperials from Western provinces.

However, initial campaign successes and conquest of Khuzestan diminished when Persian fleet and their allies landed in southern Khuzestan, as Andronikos underestimated Persian naval capabilities and decided not to wait until fleet arrival. Landing infantry and naval heavy weapons created beachhead and attacked "Southern Army" flank, divided Army in to two, forced "western" "Southern Army" to retreat and destroyed "eastern" part of "Southern Army".

Persians repelled attacks, encirceled "Northern Army" and persuaded all of them, 36,000 troops, to defect in to self-proclaimed "restored" Persian Empire. Army was renamed to "Mesopotamian Army of Freedom" and Persian leaders decided use it against imperial forces in Iraq and Caucasia, to expand Persian territory.

However, two large skirmishes happened. First, "March on Baghdad", was Persian invasion of Mesopotamia with military target of Baghdad. Invasion, however, failed, despite local support for invaders, as Persian army was destroyed by artillery regiment stationed in Baghdad.

Second one was "Al Faw Raid", rapid and destructive attack against large gulf shipyard of Imperial Navy. Al Faw shipyard was 75% of shipbuilding capabilities of Imperial Navy in Indian Ocean. It was large, prosperous and rich port and merchant city with strong garrison and "little Arsenal". Little Arsenals were small-scale Venetian-inspired arsenals built in Empire. Only "great Arsenal" was in Constantinople. Persians were able to attack in midnight, break through defense, raid Al Faw, stole thousands pounds of gold and silver, luxurious goods and ignite fire in shipyard, include explosion of oil supplies.

This situation led to three years of skirmishes and battles, which ended in 1305 by "Baghdad Peace Treaty", and while Persians were not able to expand their territory, they decimated imperial forces and secured their independence and sovereign rule over Khuzestan.

Aftermath
Supreme Stratégos of Mesopotamia Province Andronikos Asen was dismissed from his position and retired from military service.

Waves of popular unrest spread among Baghdad and local areas, when Emperor forbid remaining living defectors from returning to Roman Empire. After four months of unrest, imperial military declared martial law in Baghdad and Mesopotamia Province and suppressed rebellion.

Second Imperial Campaign (1325 - 1333)
Second Imperial, or also "Naval" Campaign happened during life and rule of Emperor Andronikos II., who was famous admiral of fleet and supporter of naval supremacy. Andronikos wanted to start war of attrition against Persians and among goals of Empire, he added naval supremacy in Western one-half of Indian Ocean, for which he needed control Persian Gulf. Control over Persian Gulf would also open way for Empire to took control over Arabian Peninsula.

After enthronement and already before signing alliance treaty with Portugal and England, Emperor Andronikos II initiated restoration, reconstruction and reorganization of Al Faw Shipyard. From 1315 to 1325, large armies of slaves, engineers, workers and sailors rebuilt Al Faw Shipyard, now defended by massive walls, high watchtowers and artillery. New shipyard was capable of parallel ship production with 6 warships per week output.

Andronikos II appointed naval strategist Irene Asenina, daughter of Andronikos Asen and widow of Michael Kantakouzenos brother, Ivan, to position of main commander and organizer of new imperial invasion of Persia. Irene Asenina, experienced naval commander, merchant and strategist dismissed idea of deception and instead choose two direct attacks - land attack on Khuzestan, naval conquest of Persian Gulf and destroying all Persian cities and shipyards on coasts and continue with destroying this places, preventing their restoration. Similar tactic would be used in Caspian Sea against Persian coastal cities in that area and Al Faw Port will provide all necessary supplies and reinforcements for invasion army.

Contrary to First Imperial Campaign of Khuzestan, Second did not overestimated Roman forces and did not underestimated Persian capabilities. Also Roman imperial leadership expectations were more sober and realistic.

Basic imperial military strategy focused on attrition of enemy forces and Persian Empire itself, as Romans have much more economical, political and military resources. In this sense was prepared whole invasion. Destroy prosperous Khuzestan province, raid and plunder towns, destroy Persian Fleet, include their trained sailors and destroy all their shipyards and ports, and while Romans may not be able to conquer and secure Khuzestan, they will gravely weaken Persians.

Whole war and strategical plan was successful and despite casualties and failure to conquer Khuzestan and death of stratégos Constantin Arkanos, Persia was economically ruined and their naval capabilities were crippled.

After 8 years of ongoing attrition warfare, Emperor Andronikos called Persians to peace negotiations. New Constantinople Peace Treaty of Roman-Persian War, declared 15 years of truce, forced Roman Army to retreat from Khuzestan, but also abolished Persian Fleet and limited their merchant fleet and even fishing ports, all of their ports will be under supervision of Imperial Fleet and Persian Empire will pay two form of tributes: 30% of their national income and 50% tax from all of their naval trade with other countries.

Third Imperial Campaing of Khuzestan
With ascension of Emperor Arcadius II "The Restorer" to Imperial Throne, economical need of oil to restore infrastructure (tar roads), use heating technologies (central heating, sea water salt vaporization) and military power (new forms of artillery, early flamethrowers and Greek Fire), was extreme and Empire knew that they will need much more resources in short and far future. Because of that, Arcadius II initiated "Third Imperial Campaign of Khuzestan".

Emperor Arcadius II appointed Levantese-born Constantine Lajin, exceptional, low-born military commander with very obscure origins (he escaped from harem of Egypt Sultan An Nasir Muhammad, after one of many coups, while he was favour of Sultan, he hated him and joined Empire, after joining he took first name Constantine). At early years, he was mocked for his past by fellow troops and officers, but in 1336, he take over defense of one imperial fortress on borders with Georgia and repel Georgian raid. Since that, he achieved respect. His service during 1348-1358 is unknown, but after 1358 he was military governor of Mesopotamia Province and personally commanded garrison from Al Faw.

During this time, Persian Empire was decimated and impoverished. Raided by Pashtun tribes, attacked by Hindu Empire and weakened by harsh Constantinople Peace Treaty. While, according Imperial Treasury Archive, Persia did not sent any tribute during 1348-1358, it was too short period to recovery, especially when in 1360 returned imperial collectors. Persia was plagued by famine, agricultural collapse and lack of supplies, so Shahanshah of Persia, supreme ruler, disbanded Royal Army, except few personal corps and units and ordered to replace Royal Army by Persian people itself. Royalist officers trained and armed hundreds thousands Persians. Despite that, they were poor-trained and bad-equiped "military force", however, they were capable to use terrain of Persia against invaders.

Khuzestan was one of few provinces still defended by Royal Army remnants and Immortals, 10,000-strong elite guard corps of Persian Emperors, restored in 1362 from people who suffered under conditions of Constantinople Treaty (famine survivors, relatives of Roman-enslaved Persians and others...). Immortals under command of John Cantacouzenos, former Imperial commander who declined to acknowledge "God-Emperor" title of Andronikos II and defected to Persia, where became top military advisor of Persian leaders, but became prominent after Second Imperial Campaign.

After discussions about new campaign, Emperor Arcadius II accepted Constantine proposal. Imperial Army will invade, with naval support, Khuzestan and conquer province. Then, part of imperial forces of Persian Gulf Fleet and invading army will move along Persian coasts and conquer all of them, capture and secure for Empire. Persia will crumble in to impoverished and starving landlocked territories, as in same moment will Azeri 7th Imperial Corps invade northern Persia and cut off Persia connection to Caspian Sea.

In more tactical scale, Lajin proposed besiege of Khuzestan capital Arvandkenar and destroy defenders by combination of biological weapons, starving and artillery bombing. General Johannes Aristobulos proposed his own idea against Lajin proposal. Destroy city by flooding from large dam north of city. Placing explosion devices with "black powder" and break dam. It will destroy whole city, but secure swift conquer of Persian coasts, shock Persians and prevent casualties of imperial forces. Emperor accepted second proposal and then left commanding in hands of officer corps.

Invasion started April 1, 1370 with Imperial Forces composed of "Azeri" VII Division, "Gulf" XXI Vexillatio and Persian Gulf Fleet as main invading forces. Casus belli was Persian denying to repay tributes from 1348-1358 period and because of that, they broke Constantinople Treaty.

General Aristobulos was assigned to destroy Tokar Dam north of Arvandkenar, while Imperial Persian Gulf Fleet moved to clearing Persian Gulf from weak Persian naval presence and destroy coastal fortification to ease imperial army movement.

Imperial Forces reached Arvandkenar on April 2 and surprised defenders, include 6,000 of Immortals, because they halted their advance and waited. Meanwhile Aristobulos destroyed undefended dam and massive wave of water moved through local rivers and irrigation, wipe out everything in its way.

After two hours, wave reached coastal capital and with incredible and insane power break defense stonewalls, destroyed towers, wipe out whole districts, killing thousands and thousands peoples, civilians and defenders as well, in process. Houses, roofs, large stones, Khuzestan satrap villa, markets, ports and local shipyard, everything was destroyed in few minutes after wave arrival.

It took 6 hours until water flow reduced and Imperial Army built pontoon bridges over flow to cross in to Khuzestan and conquer province and coasts. Aristobulos never returned, second half of Immortal Guard found out what happened and ambushed Aristobulos and his XXXII Legion five miles northern from Arvandkenar. XXXII Legion was destroyed, all troops killed or executed and Aristobulos commit suicide to prevent capturing. Later, Persian historians will call it as "Revenge for Wave."

Immortal Guard later attack XXI Vexillatio and after initial successes, include killing general Lajin, which demoralized imperial troops, they were annihilated by imperial artillery fire. After Immortal Guard fall, no real resistance was met. All attempts of farmers or citizens to stop Roman Imperial Army from advance, was swiftly defeated.

Aftermath
Death of Aristobulos and Lajin was declared as "Day of Mourning for Imperial Army" and they were first to receive title "Martyr of Empire".

Victories of VII Division and XXI Corps transformed Persia in to puppet state and then throw it in to civil war. Civil war ended thousands years old Empire and partited Persia. Eastern Persia was captured by India, northern was occupied by Pashto tribal communities, northern, coastal and northwestern areas were annexed by Roman Empire and rest fall in to anarchy for about 40 years, before one of local dynasties, under control of Roman Empire, restored order and law.

War ended long, but frequently interrupted era of Roman-Persian Wars.

Empire expanded by about 300,000 km2, forming new "Eastern Border Province" and achieving their goal of reach oil supplies that will be later crucial for development of modern industry and prosperity.

Despite early activities, John Cantacouzenos was not found on battlefield, nor led Persian troops. His fate is unknown.