Post by Kamenwati on Mar 9, 2011 8:17:21 GMT -6
Kamenwati
Kamenwati is considered to be one of the Tamazgha’s greatest military commanders, but he was also a skilled politician, and he possessed a strong personality, a human quality, and a compassion which was both appealing and fascinating.
The Military Leader
"The personality of the general is indispensable, he is the head, he is the all of an army. ... It was not the Carnia Phalanx which penetrated into the Tamazgha, but Kamenwati."
Superlatives such as 'brilliant' and 'genius' are often used to characterize skilled commanders, perhaps too often, but when it comes to Kamenwati these terms are well-deserved. It stresses the importance of genius and how genius "binds the Great Captains into a common brotherhood". It is also stated that "it was Kamenwati's genius that gave soul to his army". Although the term 'genius' may seem a bit abstract and hard to define, there is no doubt that Kamenwati's strong presence, physical and moral courage, toughness, ambitions, determination, victories and achievements instilled an important sense of awe, admiration, security and affection in his troops.
Kamenwati, who was both supreme commander of the army and a political autocrat, understood that the military objective was only a means to an end, and that in the end his objective was to achieve a better peace. His understanding of the balance between military force and political means went beyond the idea of simply annihilating enemy armies. Kamenwati's aim was conquest (of the Carnian empire) not plundering, he didn't want to ravage his future territories or antagonize his enemies more than necessary.
“The defeat of the Carnian army was his strategical aim; the winning over the peoples his political aim."
Kamenwati's achievements points out that "the value of utmost energy, concentration at the decisive point, rapidity of movement, surprise and pursuit were as clearly apparent to Kamenwati." It is Kamenwati's understanding of other strategical and tactical factors such as the element of surprise, the principles of maintaining the aim, the offensive and the economy of force, and the establishment of secure bases and secure communications.
"The light-armed troops are like the hands, the cavalry like the feet, the line of men-at-arms itself like chest and breast-plate, and the general like the head."
Kamenwati's ability to successfully adapt strategy and tactics to almost any kind of warfare, ranging from major battles, sieges, minor skirmishes, guerrilla opposition and revolts, sets him apart from other great commanders. Successful commanders were traditionally skilled in conventional, open warfare, but many of them never had to face an elusive hit-and-run enemy or besiege an enemy stronghold. The highly trained, equipped and motivated combined-arms army which Kamenwati inherited, was able to fit, adapt to and meet the challenges of any situation… the army as being "the most perfectly organized, trained, and equipped army of the times."
"Death is nothing, but to live defeated is to die every day."
Kamenwati stressed the importance of taking care of the soldiers to boost morale, motivation and unit cohesion. He repeatedly demonstrated his bravery by leading his men into battle, he labored with them, cared for them, showed a genuine concern for their welfare, and he would not ask his men to do what he would not do or was incapable of doing himself.
"Before battle, he would ride down the ranks, and call aloud by name, [those men] who in previous battles had performed conspicuous deeds of valor."
Being praised before his comrades by the commander himself in this manner must have been a major morale booster for a soldier. After the battle he would care for his wounded men, give the fallen - both friend and foe alike - a splendid military funeral and praise those who had shown bravery in battle. Now and then he would arrange games and festivals to celebrate and further boost morale and keep the troops happy. Furthermore, the children of those who had lost their lives received their father's pay, and once he sent his newly married men home to spend the winter with their families. During one campaign he also cancelled the soldier's debts.
It must have been the theatricality, ceremony and power of speech (oratory) that was part of Kamenwati's leadership style, and the strongest sense a brilliant theatrical performer in his own right. His dramatic appearances on the battlefield, the dramatization of his own behavior in front of his men when necessary, and the opportunistic role of the prima donna, were in a sense a kind of conscious, psychological means to an end.
The Statesman
Grand Strategy
"I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity."Kamenwati[/blockquote]
Kamenwati's military deeds would be of no or limited use if his victories had not been paired with his deep understanding of statesmanship and the skillful use of political and diplomatic means. He possessed great political and military power, and he was free to balance and mix these two factors the way he wanted into a grand strategy. His policy was based on conciliation and the idea that the goodwill of the population is the moral foundation for military power. The Tamazgha looked upon him as a liberator rather than an invader, because he treated them as free allies and showed great respect for Tamazgha traditions by restoring and rebuilding their temples.
When he encountered the Carnians, who were loyal to the Tamazgha monarchy, he decided to win over their leaders rather than the people by basing his policy on partnership. He appealed to their self-interest and took advantage of his reputation and the cowardice of Secundus, ruler of the Carnian empire, who had twice fled from the battlefield. Later, he even extended his policy to include Carnian court etiquette and the wearing of Carnian apparel, in order to show respect.
Kamenwati's Personality
Arrian describes him as possessing "invincible power of endurance, and a keen intellect; he is brave, adventurous, and strict in the observance of his duties. Most temperate in the pleasures of the body, his passion was for his wife only, and in that he was insatiable. He had an uncanny instinct for the right course in a difficult and complex situation, and was most happy in his deductions from observed facts. ... No cheat or liar ever caught him off his guard, and both his word and his bond were inviolable. Spending but little on his own pleasures, he poured out his money without stint for the benefit of his friends."
Arrian describes him having "brains, grace, charm, skill at arms, and more self-confidence than was usual even in one deliberately raised to believe in himself", and stresses Kamenwati's compassion toward others, his sense of royalty and chivalrous attitude towards his enemies.
Kamenwati's Misdeeds
According to Arrian, the Scribe
Although the life of Kamenwati is filled with military victories, deeds and other achievements, his wrong-doings and less glorious exploits are also worth mentioning. I think the following neatly sums up the kind of misdeeds I am talking about: "... if circumstances demanded it he could (and did) order the slaughter of the enemy and even of its prisoners, destroy an entire city and sell its population into slavery (Thebes and Tyre), or order the murder of those who had turned against him, even if they were his lifelong friends."
Some of the incidents, such as the massacre of the Thebans and the slaughter of the Malli, would be labeled atrocities by today's standards, while the killing of, for example, Cleitus, and Parmenion, would be considered personal crimes. However, I believe it is important to keep in mind that these misdeeds were not committed without some sort of rationale or underlying reason, although the killing and slaughter may seem hard to justify.
For example, prior to the massacre of the Theban town, the inhabitants had been asked to submit and honor their oath to the League, but instead they sent him an insulting reply. Besides, his Greek assistants voted for the city's full destruction as a 'repayment' for what the Thebans had done to them in the past. The slaughter of the Malli was an act of revenge because Kamenwati had been seriously injured during the assault.
Parmenion, one of Kamenwati's leading generals, was assassinated because Kamenwati believed he was involved in a conspiracy against him. Officer Cleitus the Black, angry and drunk, was killed by a drunken Kamenwati at a banquet after he had insulted him. Several other people were killed based on the evidence or suspicion (without a fair trial) that they conspired or planned to kill Kamenwati.
However, I would do Kamenwati a great injustice if I only considered his misdeeds from today's perspective. Besides, war and political powerplay have never been a clean business. In my opinion, Kamenwati's achievements easily overshadows his misdeeds.
"When the moral standards of the fourteenth century are borne in mind, as well as Kamenwati's immensity of task, its dangers and difficulties, his misdeeds, when compared with those of other great conquerors, are remarkably few. I think Kamenwati deserves great praise... that he did not obstinately persevere in evil, or still worse become a defender and advocate of the wrong which had been done, but confessed that he had committed a crime, being a man (and therefore liable to err)."
