Siege of Thessaloniky (Premysloides Dynasty)

Background
Thessaloniky. Large imperial shipyard, large imperial port city with 200,000 inhabitants and massive walls, one of last imperial bastion on road to Constantinople, became target of long and bloody winter siege in 1270.

Command over imperial forces were granted to Thrakian military governor and newly promoted Stratégos Alexius Claudius Camillius. Alexius dismissed any idea of "experimental warfare" and decided to leading classical defense of besieged city. Alexius admitted he can not repel Manuel attack, but he wanted to weaken Manuel Army as much as he can.

Manuel decided to use his whole force for this battle and siege. Already before Adrianople, Manuel commanded his fleet waiting on orders in Adriatic Sea, to move near Thessaloniky and wait for signal. He wanted to strike Thessaloniky from land and sea.

Siege
Siege of Thessaloniky was long and destructive. All children and old people were evacuated, while remained combat-able population and imperial garrison. Commander Alexius personally led defense and used also shipyards and ports, rearmed and refitted all available ships to battle situation.

Because of walls thickness, military preparation, defense and high morale, siege was very prolonged. Manuel expected fall of city in 1 month. Instead, city fall after three months of bloody fighting, walls collapsing and conquering districts. Every and each district was defended, building by building, street by street.

During conquering of city, general Valle was mortally wounded and died on infection, while Teutonic Master was killed by own archers.

However, as False Emperor Manuel decide to led naval and land battle of Thessaloniky and while land siege he won and captured, plundered and ruined most of city, in naval battle, he was destroyed and his fleet scattered by joint Imperial-Mongol fleet.

Aftermath
Siege of Thessaloniky, despite Manuel victory and capture of city, became swan song of Manuel invasion. Destruction of his fleet prevented his army to split and land in Galata and pass through Golden Horn. Without naval support and transport capabilities, Manuel campaign freeze on deadlock. He can not send his army to Constantinople, as city walls was equiped with artillery and he need to encircle city from all side and bombard city from Galata with siege weapons.

Manuel Angelos ordered loot Thessaloniky, took as much gold as possible and retreat to Kosovo and then move to Adriatic coasts, to build new war fleet.

Stratégos Alexius survived, as he was despite his intention and will, evacuated from city shortly before fall of defense.

Alexius, Emperor Romanos, Il Khan Abaqa and top military command of Mongols and Romans met in Constantinople to discusse about next steps. Romanos denied suggestion to relocate Asia Minor garrisons to reinforce Imperial Army in Europe, as it could very weaken defense of eastern borders. Instead, on Alexius and Constantine suggestions, he ordered to sent fleet for garrisons in Achaea and on Aegean islands and land them in destroyed Thessaloniki, where they will merge with Army sent from Constantinople. From interrogation of captured admiral Cortéz, Emperor and Imperial Intelligence found out that gathering point of Manuel Army for retreat is in Mitrovica and from there, where they will wait for better weather, as winter was cold.