Chapter 43

The First Crusade

1095 Rome Papal States Italy

Pope Urban II had done it he had won over many of the Princes of Europe to launch a crusade on the last bastion of Heretics the Spartan Empire who refused to allow the true faith to spread through their lands.

They followed their old gods their false Idols, it would not stand with the might of the catholic armies and the Lords Blessing they would bring the word of God to the heretics his name would be remembered forever as the Pope who ended the Spartan Empire.

The poor misguided fool Sparta was quite aware of their plans it's amazing how many people would spy for you for a few gold coins a land-based invasion from western Europe was impossible so any invasion would have to come by sea.

Kassandra gave the order to mobilize her vast armies and fleets she would force the crusaders to fight on her terms it was also a very good time to test out her new warships a highly modified Trireme that was built for war it was far larger then any ship in the Mediterranean the Poseidon Class Triremes were the Pride of the Spartan Navy there only problem was they could not sail down the Nile due to their massive hulls.

Thankfully this problem was solved by Princess Diana who commissioned smaller versions of the triremes to patrol the Nile they were reclassified as Hapi-Class Triremes in Honour of the Egyptian god of the Nile much to the Delight of the People of Egypt.

1096 the battle of Crete

The Spartan war machine proved its strength the Crusader fleet was being smashed of the western coast of Crete the Imperial Navy Under the command of Princess Diana had forced the crusaders away from mainland Greece and now had them pinned between her fleet and Crete itself leaving the Catholic forces with very few options they needed to dock.

From the command deck Diana watched the battered catholic force limp its way towards the city of kydonia in a region the locals called little Egypt exactly as she had planned giving the order her fleet continued its assault on the retreating fleet made its way to its doom.

The crusaders docked there damaged vessels in the city getting its non-injured men off first ready to take the city only to be shocked by what they saw, the City was abandoned no animals no civilians or soldiers anywhere to be seen within the hour they would see the whole City was indeed abandoned.

It was at this moment the Trap was revealed as 20 thousand Heavy Spartan infantry effectively cutting the city from the crest of Crete while the navy cut them off from the Sea the surviving 4000 crusader's were alone without reinforcements and supply's it would not be long till they were too weak to fight.

However, the fight was far from finished, as a larger host of crusaders had sailed to New-Judea to launch a land invasion into Spartan Occupied Egyptian lands. While the force in Crete were mostly Italian this force was primarily French-Norman forces numbering just over 12 thousand against the Spartan Border force of 4 thousand Greek and 2 thousand Egyptian under the command of General Ptolemy the 2nd son of Vizier Ptolemy 24th and Veteran of the Arabian wars.

"General our Scouts report Crusader forces are on the move from the City of New-Jerusalem," the Messenger gasped out as he ran into the Generals tent. Standing from his chair the general smiled it was time to honour the Queen and the gods with the blood of the Enemy.

This campaign ended up in a siege as crusader forces attempted to lay siege to the Spartan Border forts the siege went nowhere as thousands died however Queen Kassandra decided to crush the assault once and for all.

The Islamic territory controlled southern Spain and most of the African coast however Tunis and the Northern half New-Judea remained independent purely because the Arabians did not want to attack a nation so close to the Spartan Borders.

However, Kassandra sent the Caliph a letter saying if the Athenian Line was respected then Sparta would not prevent their expansion. Many in her council and high command questioned her on this plan of action she merely smiled at them and said the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

By the year 1098 the Crusader Forces in Crete had been starved out and surrendered many were nobles and would be held hostage until the end of the war a year later in 1099 when the Crusaders in New-Judea were driving out by the Islamic invasion.

The Athenian Line was respected by the new rulers of the Holy land however this move by Kassandra would ensure many more crusades would happen while some would be against her the majority would be for control of the Holy land.

The First Crusade would end in a historical defeat for the Church and Princes of Europe and the loss of the Holy land to the Islamic invasion. It was said the Papal States wanted the crusade to continue they quickly changed their tune when word came of a Spartan invasion of Italy was being prepared 60 thousand men from all corners of the Empire for an occupation.

This however turned out to be a bit of Propaganda on the Spartan Mages part as Kassandra had no wish of invading Italy, she had other things on her mind for example at this point while she had vanished from her office in Sparta and now stood before the Gods of Mount Olympus.

Upon seeing the Gods once again she bowed only to here Zeus chuckle. "Please my champion that is not necessary you have done all we ask you as such we offer you a reward you and your family will be granted a very rare gift."

Kassandra was confused and the King of Olympus could see that. "Your family and you will be granted the ability to Travel to Elysium and see your parents and Brother."

(Modern Timeline)

Valley of the Kings Egypt

William Weasley was not sure they should be doing this he and a few friends had snuck into the Valley to break the magical Protections on the Tombs here the Gold they could bring back would see them promoted highly within Gringotts Bank.

You see the Spartan Empire had its own banking Systems and had no need for the Goblin banks bill and come with a few Goblins to meet with the Princess of Sparta and the Vizier of Egypt to see if the Empire would Lift its restrictions in Egypt only.

Afterall if the prospered in Egypt they would be allowed to set up Branches across the Empire, however in this case Bill turned to his friends and said they should not do this. "fine if you want to chicken-out go then I however am going to do this." Bills so-called friend Andrew spat out in disgust.

Little did Bill know it was this action that saved his life as he turned to leave he saw they were surrounded on all sides by men in a mixture of Armour and white hooded cloth on their breastplates the Symbol of the Medjay the Egyptian Secret Police tasked by the Immortal Queens with the Protection of the Kings of Old final resting place.

Bill found a sword at his neck, "Move and you die graverobber." The said Medjay snarled before giving orders to his men to seize the others. While Bill willing surrendered his fellow curse-Breakers did not hell Andrew tried to struggle only to be beaten by the Female Medjay who then tied him up.

The Medjay commander nodded. "all right you 6 will stay here to protect the site the rest of us will take these criminals to Kassandria to face Princess Diana."

(Authors note: hey people here is the next chapter hope you like It until next time.

Revan Shan 2077