The True Sons of Rome!

[Wzard]

Chapter Sixteen - A Lesson to the World

On September 2nd upon return to Constantinople with the traitors dealt with, Basileus Niketas had wanted to flaunt his victory further. A grand tournament to celebrate the Imperial Thrones victory was held, among the typical festivities of duels and jousts, traitors were also brought from the dungeon and humiliated before the common folk. A lowborn Greek commander who traveled from the faraway Kingdom of Hausaland by the name of Andronikos came in third place with his impressive spear throwing. A lowborn Gothic commander from the Duchy of Abkhazia by the name of Ataulphus came in second place with his skills during the skirmish. A Greek nobleman, Ioustinos Kamsarakan from the Duchy of Armenia was crowned the winner when he unhorsed any man to challenge him to a joust! He was not only awarded a large sum of money, he was brought into the service of the Basileus.

After the tournament the empire started the long process of recovering from a Civil War. The separation of lands held by traitors had resurfaced the issue of officials being overreached. To spare Imperial Officials without giving up centralization a new Exrach was established. Dionysios Kamsarakan of Mesopotamia was made Exrach of Armenia on January 12th of 955.

On September 18th of 955 a son was born named Himerios but the child suffered a clubfoot and will never be a legitimate heir to the empire.

On November 24th of 955 news reached the Imperial Court that the Khazaria Khanate had collapsed. With the death of Bashtwa ‘the Butcher’ the nomads were not able to keep control of all those they had subjugated. The Imperial Court will watch to see if anyone of importance rises out of the chaos to the North.

On September 13th of 956 news reached the Imperial Court that a new Caliph has been in place for the Sunnit faith since 940! The Imperial Court had no idea that someone had reclaimed the title but it matters not, as long as Caliph Nizam Hasimid does not interfere with the empire then he shall be left alone.

Basileus Niketas was not known as the kindest man in the empire. Princess Gregoria Isauros does not believe he is the man to rule the empire and after voicing such thoughts she fled Constantinople and sought to live her life in Venice. This outraged Niketas and his wrathful eyes fell on the Merchant Republic.

While thinking over his disagreements with Gregoria a messenger burst into the Imperial Court and delivered news that would change the course of history. On January 13th of 961, word had come that the Catholic world was preparing for another Crusade, the whole court awaited to hear which lands the Catholics were going to retake from the Sunnis. However, Pope Stephanus VI had called upon the Catholic world to rally in a Crusade for the Kingdom of Thrace! They dare oppose Byzantium while their lands are fewer almost every year? Niketas’ rage knew no bounds with the news. Every Imperial Lord and Levy was called upon to Constantinople to defend the empire. On January 12th of 962, Pope Stephanus VI canceled his call for the Crusade against Byzantium after pressure from many voices of the Catholic World. However, Basileus Niketas was not one to forgive those who have wronged him or the empire.

On June 7th of 962, Basileus Niketas and the Imperial Armies and Levies who arrived in defense of the empire, marched against the Papacy. Niketas would teach the Pope and all those who come after him to not anger the true sons of the Roman Empire. On July 1st Niketas and the Imperial Army engaged the Papacy's army at Sutri outside of Rome. The Pope was routed and Rome was put to siege!

By September 29th of 962, Rome was fully under occupation of Imperial Forces and the armies continued further into the Papacy. On January 31st of 963, the battle of Osimo was won further north and it is said that Niketas personally beat the Pope at single combat during the battle but it is unclear if that truly happened or not. On March 27th of 963, Pope Stephanus VI surrendered to Niketas and Rome was brought back to the empire! Stephanus also swore that the Papacy would never again call a Crusade upon Byzantium.

Upon taking over Rome all Catholics were stripped of their lands and Orthodox Greeks were put into power in the region. While many feel that Orthodox men should be in charge of the lands many disagree with Niketas unjust removal of the Catholics.

On August 10th of 963, Doux Pamphilios Argyros of Moesia created the Kingdom of Bulgaria with the aid of his council while he rots in the Imperial Dungeon. Niketas believes that a Despot should rule over his land and thus he was released from the Dungeons, although his eyes would not be leaving with him…

Shortly after this another messenger brought news to the Imperial Court, news that would lead the empire onto another Civil War…

 

[Cromwell]

The eternal city was reclaimed far earlier than we could have imagined! Well done. Another civil war on the other hand is very unsettling news.

 

[Wzard]

Chapter Seventeen - The Age of Fear and Death

On September 13th of 964, the Serene Doge Philippos Ravelli of Sicily among many others felt that the sack of Rome, the Imperial Council desperately needs more say in Roman politics and decisions. Niketas has proven to them that the Imperial Throne can abuse his power and sway on the world and that must be changed. Basileus Niketas had already defeated one Civil War and screamed in outrage that that lesson had already been forgotten so soon. The loyal Imperial Armies and Levies are called upon once again to deal with the traitors of the empire.

The Serene Doge Philippos Ravelli of Sicily stood with the Despot Pamphilios Argyros of Bulgaria, Doux Petros Notaras of Muntenia, Doux Philippos of Constantinople of Karvuna, Doux Gerasimos Rangabes of Epirus, Doux Zacharias Synkellos of Hellas, Duchess Athanasia Bardouchos of the Aegean Islands, Doux Anthemios Myxares II of Abydos, Doux Ioannes Kamsarakan of Thracesia, Doux Eutathios Agallon of Cibyrrhaeot, Doux Tryhon Melissenos III of Anatolia, Doux Germanos Leontares of Paphlagonia, Doux Antonios Ooryphas II of Charsianon, Doux Germanos Argyros of Ascalon, Doux Georgios Chameas of Damascus, Doux Epophanios of Irenopolis of Palmyra, Doux Ataulphus Kamateros of Mudar, Doux Anthimos Kladas of Tabriz and Doux Hippolytos Lachanodrakon of Azerbaijan. A much larger force than the last rebels had managed to gather but Niketas did not fear the weak rebels.

Byzantine Civil War of 964, September 964

Reports flooded in once again as skirmishes were fought across the entire empire. Victories and defeats came back in the hundreds, a minor battle was even fought at Hieron near Constantinople itself! The rebels dare attempt to attack the Imperial City?

On December 13th of 964, the Imperial Armies began to march out of Constantinople. As they leave twelve prisoners of Italians captured in the Papal war and Rebel Commanders are hung outside the walls of Constantinople to warn any other armies brave enough to look at the city. Niketa’s reign continues to be one of blood and death.

On March 22nd of 965, another rebel army led by Philippos himself was pushed away from reaching Constantinople. The nerve of them to continue to sack the greatest city in the world! Again on May 4th the rebels were pushed out of Thrake as a battle took place at Syrallum. Another victory against the rebel bastards!

The rebels attempting to still reach Constantinople were defeated for a second time at Hieron on June 9th. On August 5th across the straits at Chalkedon another battle was won for the Imperial Armies. Philippos unable to take Constantinople has finally fled south. The Imperial Armies launched a pursuit but lost sight of him in southern Anatolia. On October 30th the county of Moesia was occupied by Imperial Levies. Being the seat of the traitor Despot of Bulgaria it was a great loss for the rebels. On January 10th of 966, a small force of levies was reported to have found Philippos’ army of traitors and attempted a valiant stand against his forces. They lost but the Imperial Army was sent south to seek out Philippos. On June 30th of 966, Philippos was once again surrounded and faced off against the Imperial Armies. Instead of having a valiant last stand the traitor surrendered to Niketas. Another Civil War was won and the traitors of the empire were stripped of all land and titles. Once again Greek bodies littered the lands of the empire…

After the Civil War was over the empire continued to start on its path to rebuilding itself. However on April 11th of 967 Pope Stephanus VI declared war on the empire with the ambition of reclaiming Rome from us. Niketas and the Imperial Armies marched west yet again, only this time to defend Rome. On June 15th, Pope Stephanus died of an infected wound he had and his successor Pope Innocentius II surrendered to Niketas to avoid the Papacy being sacked yet again. He gave Niketas a large sum of Catholic gold as well as swore the Papacy would never again use the means of Crusades against the Byzantine Empire.

On May 30th of 968, Bishop Ioannikios reported back to the Imperial Court that the majority of people living in Rome now follow the Orthodox faith. Yet again the Catholic faith has been shown to be the weaker branch of Chiristainty.

On June 23rd of 970, Niketas’ wife Apollonia Kalaphates passed away due to cancer. Niketas was saddened by her loss but still had hoped to have a son as heir to the empire. He married a young french woman named Richardis Wegelenzi on September 21st.

On April 9th of 971, A messenger brought news to the Imperial Council that some far away region of India is dealing with a doom plague of some kind. Many to the east fear what is to come. Ecumenical Patriarch Germanos II assured the Court that there is nothing to fear, God is simply punishing the heathens of the east and our empire will see no harm. The messenger looked scared out of his mind but the Court gave him no more notice.

On August 5th of 971, Pope Innocentius II had shown more sense than his predecessor, the Catholic World had launched another Crusade for France. It is sad that they have to fight for lands they had won in the last Crusade.

To help with the ever expanding empire the Kingdom of Syria was created and Phokas Makrembolites was granted the Title of Exarch of Syria on May 29th of 972.

On July 1st of 972, word reached the Imperial Throne that the Catholics had succeeded again in taking over the region of France. Arcambald Jerome-Karling, brother to the Emperor Gastone Jerome-Karling of the Holy Roman Empire, was made the new King of France. Only time will tell if the Italains will be able to hold on to the Kingdom or if the Catholics will need a third Crusade for France.

On September 16th of 972, A messenger burst into the Imperial Court announcing that a plague had reached our far away holdings in Persia. It is said that it is the same plague that has been ravenging acros India and many in the Imperial Court fear what is to come. On May 7th of 973, Exarch Maurikios Kamsarkan of Armenia died of the plague as it grew ever closer to Constantinople. On June 16th, Basileus Niketas and the Imperial Court sealed themselves into the Imperial Palace hoping to avoid what the world had been calling the “Black Death”. By September of 973 the first deaths in Constantinople were being reported.

The Black Death had ravaged the empire which had already been struggling with depopulation from the recent Civil Wars. Peasants who were outraged that the Imperial Council had shut themselves off from the world sought to harm the Imperial Court. On February 8th of 974 some peasants had snuck themselves into the Imperial Palace and attempted to open the gates. They were however caught and a battle ensued inside the Palace walls. One peasant even struck Niketas and cut off Basileus' left hand. Every peasant involved was hanged and the Varangian Guard was given full permission to kill anyone found inside the Palace walls henceforth.

On June 18th of 974, a son was born to Niketas and Richarids named Artemios and he was a strong and healthy young baby despite the times he was born in.

On April 19th of 976, Basileus Niketas claimed to have had a dream from God who demanded he open the Palace Gates and return to helping the people of the Empire. Niketas who had never forgiven the peasants who cut off his hand, headed the word of God and opened the Gates. Ecumenical Patriarch Polyeukros called Niketas a mad man and fled farther into the Palace to seclude himself further.

On June 15th word had come in that all of Western Europe and even the Isles of Britannia had suffered from the Black Death. Many believed that it was truly the end of times.

After opening the Gates by the will of God many of the Imperial Court had gotten the plague and died from it. Even baby Aremios was not spared and died on July 14th at the age of two. On February 6th of 977 even Niketas himself had gotten the plague. He managed to overcome the plague but was in bed rest until late June of the year. By August of 977, thousands had died of the Black Death in Constantinople but the disease seemed to have left the city. The plague seemed to have been dying off from the east as those still alive had been cured or became immune to its effects. Over time more and more of the Empire was freed of the disease as it continued to ravage Western Europe and Scandinavia.

Now with the end of the Black Death after two Civil Wars, the Byzantine Empire hung in a declined state of power. Much was needed to be done to rebuild from all of the devastation suffered.

On August 20th of 979, word had reached the Imperial Court that in the midst of the Black Death the Holy Roman Empire was having a massive civil war. Gauzbert Trimirovic was elected to the throne of the HRE on January 20th of 978 as the first German to sit on the throne. Since his inauguration he proclaimed himself not only Emperor of the HRE but as Kaiser of Germania. This title claim, many in the HRE found odd but did not have a great issue with. However, Kaiser Gauzbert proclaimed both empires to be officially Cathar and no longer Catholic. His actions tore the HRE apart Completely.

On April 16th of 980, Zenobio Klads was made Exarch of Hyrcania as thanks for his efforts of spreading the empire eastward.

On March 5th of 981, word had reached the Imperial Court that the Civil War in the Holy Roman Empire was over. The rebels had won the war and kicked Gauzbert off the throne but the west would never be the same again. The electors could not agree on who to elect as the next Emperor. A Frankish man named Sigebald Hailinga won the hearts of the west and was elected as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. However, another Frankish man named Frothari Theodnid won the hearts of the east and was elected Emperor of Germania. With this the HRE was split into two empires and would be weaker than ever before.

The Holy Roman Empire and Empire of Germania, March 981

On May 15th of 981, to create a stronger hold against the Nomads of the North the Kingdom of Alania was created and Makarios Klads was made Exarch of the Kingdom.

On January 18th of 985, another son was born to Niketas and Richardis named Kyros.

On February 10th of 986, while being treated for Consumption Niketas’ heart gave out during the surgery. Dying at the age of 56 his reign will always be remembered as one of fear and death. Loukas Isaruros, Exarch of AFrica had lobbied enough support of the Imperial Lords to rise to the Throne after Niketas’ death. His closest ties to the Imperial Branch of the Isauros house was that his grandfather was the older brother of Niketas. Many wonder if with his reign if the hold the Isauros have on the Imperial Throne is becoming weaker.

 

[Cromwell]

A rather disappointing end for the emperor, loosing a son to the black death and nigh constant civil war. On the bright side your biggest potential competition has split up.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Rebels and Popes are far easier to defeat than Disease and Old Age. Good Luck, Basileus (is this correct title) Loukas.

 

[Wzard]

A rather disappointing end for the emperor, loosing a son to the black death and nigh constant civil war. On the bright side your biggest potential competition has split up.

Its really a shame to see what happened to the HRE. I'm really curious to see if they actually do better and see the HRE focus on reclaiming southern France and seeing Germania push east. But AI rarely do the best thing for themselves lol

 

[Wzard]

Loukas I 986 - 1012

Chapter Eighteen - An Ever Changing World

On February 10th of 986, Loukas Isauros rose to the Imperial Throne after the death of Basileus Niketas. A far distant family member of Niketas many were not even sure who the man was, but at least he was an Isauros. He promised the Imperial Court to focus on internal matters and would avoid civil wars at all cost. So much Greek lives had been lost under Basileus Niketas and the Black Death that ruined the world itself.

On April 2nd of 986, Loukas decided he wanted to clean up the Imperial Borders of Italy and declared war on Pope Innocentius II to take Foggia from the Papacy. While battling the Papacy's forces on November 8th, Basileus Loukas dueled and killed Cardinal Bassiano of Ferrara, an insulting blow to the Cahtolic Church. Pope Innocentius II surrendered soon after to avoid any more destruction of the Church.

Upon returning to Constantinople it was discovered that Loukas’ wife Basilissa Beatrici had been committing adultery ever since arriving at the Imperial Court. Ecumenical Patriarch Makarios agreed to allow a divorce from such a woman.

On January 21st of 990, Basileus Loukas betrothed himself to the future Queen of Pictland Uluen Uuidoch.

On April 28th of 992, it was reported to the Imperial Council that a vast majority of the people living in Rome had embraced Greek culture rapidly. Abandoning many Italian traditions, Rome is considered Greek by all.

On August 8th of 992, the Sunni Caliph Nizam II called for a Jihad for England. The Imperial Court and perhaps the world laughed at such foolishness of the Sunni World.

On March 23rd of 995, Basileus Loukas married Queen Uluen Uuidoch of Pictland when she came of age. This union would hopefully open up a peaceful way of uniting the Kingdom of Pictland to the Imperial Throne.

On October 2nd of 997, Jerusalem followed suit of those living in Rome and became Greek as well! Greek Culture has become one of the largest groups of people in the world surely!

On December 21st of 998, the Sunni Caliph Nizam II declared his foolishness a failure and the Jihad for England was over.

On January 24th of 1000, Shaiban Umayyad of the Umayyad Empire was overthrown in a violent Civil War. Yahya Mirzid II won the bloody conflict and declared the dawn of the Mirzid Empire.

On January 13th of 1005, Queen Uluen of Pictland had passed away from Pneumonia. The few times her and Loukas were able to meet did not result in a child sadly. Pictland is out of Imperial grasps for now. That April Loukas remarried to a young German woman named Richenza von Rendsburg.

The Slavic King Seslav Bijelahrvatskic II of Galicia-Volhynia came to Basileus Loukas on May 27th of 1006 asking to have his kingdom converted to the Orthodox Church. Loukas set up preparations at once and welcomed King Seslav II to the Church. In late October a Pagan revolt kicked off in the Kingdom and after hearing the pleas for help, Loukas sent Imperial forces to kill some of the Pagan Armies. Sadly on February 2nd of 1007, King Seslav II was slain by one of the Pagan Revolters in battle, his sister Mare ascended to the Throne and kept with the Orthodox Church.

With the empire expanding even further East, Loukas established Doux Narses of Fars as Exarch of Persia in thanks to his efforts of expanding the Empire!

November 24th of 1007 saw the beginnings of another Crusade from the Catholic World. Pope Marinus IV of the Catholic Church called for a Crusade to take Aquitaine from the Mirzid Empire. Only time will tell if they will take back southern France.

The year of 1008 saw two children born to Loukas and Basilissa Richenza. A son named Michael and a daughter named Thekla.

News reached the Imperial Court on August 23rd of 1009 that the Catholic Crusade was another success for the Catholic Warriors. The King of Sweden Gudrodr was meant to inherit the Kingdom, however he feared he would not be able to control a region so far away. King Gudrodr gave up the Kingdom and handed it to Pope Marinus and the Papacy! The Pope now holds southern France as well as central Italy, only time will tell what the Catholic Church does with this level of Power. During the fighting of the Crusade, count Mukhran Kamsarakan of our empire managed to secure the port of Thouars in the named of Byzanitum! He was rewarded handsomely for his daring adventure.

To help with centralization efforts Doux Petros II of Muntenia was established as Exarch of Wallachia on October 27th of 1009.

On June 9th of 1012, Basilissa Richenza had been exposed as an adultress! Consorting and bedding different Patricians of the Merchant Republics of the empire. Ecumenical Patriarch Theodoros III allowed Loukas his second divorce in his life.

While searching the Imperial treasury in his spare time Loukas had discovered something quite unusual. A crown he had never seen before was hidden in the back of the Imperial Treasury. It was none other than the Holy Roman Empire’s Imperial Reichskrone! The Reichskrone was said to have been lost since the Heretic Gauzbert ran off with it after losing his Empires in 978. What was it doing here and how could Niketas possibly have gotten it? Holding the Reichskrone could allow Loukas to lay claim to the Holy Roman Empire itself but that would be a long and bloody conflict that would possibly never end. Another plan was hatched however. A descendant of Basileus Niketas and Emperor Gastone of the HRE ruled the Kingdom of Franconia in the HRE. Loukas sent his long distant family member King Chrysogonos Isauros of Franconia the Reichskrone in the dead of night. A letter attached told his kin to use it to lay claim to the HRE itself and one day we shall unite the two empires peacefully!

(I was really shocked to see this in my treasury lol)

Loukas would never learn if the Reichskrone reached Chrysogonos. On November 25th of 1012 a maid raised the alarm and the Varaginian Guard burst into the Imperial Bedchamber to find Loukas had been stabbed to death in his bed. No one was able to learn the identity of the assassin or who hired them. Having only one son of age but living their life in Genoa of the HRE, Loukas had no direct family lobbying for the support of the Imperial Lords. Even distant Isauros members had barely been attempting to gain favor in the Imperial Court. Was this the end of the Isauros Dynasty’s rule over Byzantium? Doux Michael of Galilee and Mystikos of the Imperial Council with no real competition had gotten the support of the Imperial Lords and was elected to the Imperial Throne! All hail Basileus Michael Boilas!

 

[Zamarak500]

Djihad in England? The Pope owns Aquitaine? What a weird Europe.

Also, this guy looks like Mario if he was byzantine emperor. Somehow I can't get that thought out of my head.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Rome goes Greek, as they should. I consider the Romans to be Barbarian Greeks. How was the Caliph even able to call an England Jihad? Basileus Loukas, great success outside but little at home. Did you mod Aquitaine to the Pope? What role will you continue as?

 

[Midnite Duke]

Djihad in England? The Pope owns Aquitaine? What a weird Europe.

Also, this guy looks like Mario if he was byzantine emperor. Somehow I can't get that thought out of my head.

Papal Aquitaine is fairly historical. I agree on Mario and Luigi was one of the Reichskrone owners.

 

[Wzard]

Rome goes Greek, as they should. I consider the Romans to be Barbarian Greeks. How was the Caliph even able to call an England Jihad? Basileus Loukas, great success outside but little at home. Did you mod Aquitaine to the Pope? What role will you continue as?

I believe that they were able to Jihad England because the Sunni still hold the kingdom of Britney which is crazy it hasn't been touched yet. Also I didn't mess with the Crusade at all. It was probably some weird bug that happened cause I was honestly really shocked to see Papal France in CK2 (I've never seen the Pope get land from a Crusade after over a thousand hours of gameplay). I am continuing now as Michael Boilas, I've used console commands to switch over.

 

[Wzard]

I am also curious on reader's thoughts, do you think its a bit much to mend the Schism and make Catholic a Hersey? I quite like keeping the Catholic and Orthodox sorta rivalry but I am very tempted to click the Schism button lol

 

[Midnite Duke]

I believe that they were able to Jihad England because the Sunni still hold the kingdom of Britney which is crazy it hasn't been touched yet. Also I didn't mess with the Crusade at all. It was probably some weird bug that happened cause I was honestly really shocked to see Papal France in CK2 (I've never seen the Pope get land from a Crusade after over a thousand hours of gameplay). I am continuing now as Michael Boilas, I've used console commands to switch over.

thank you

 

[Midnite Duke]

I am also curious on reader's thoughts, do you think its a bit much to mend the Schism and make Catholic a Hersey? I quite like keeping the Catholic and Orthodox sorta rivalry but I am very tempted to click the Schism button lol

I vote for mend. The Papal Aquitaine may be the result of Pope losing Rome.

 

[Cromwell]

What a shame he was killed, that was a fine regal mustache. Also another vote for mending the schism. You have Rome after all, you know what to do.

 

[Wzard]

Michael I ‘the True Knight’ Boilas 1012 - 1038

Chapter Nineteen - A man of the Faith

On November 16th of 1012 the Imperial Lords were at a crossroad on who to bring up to the Imperial Throne. Many had wanted another Isauros but with Basileus’ Loukas only son living in the Holy Roman Empire and no other distant Isauros family member wanting the Throne, the Imperial Lords had to choose someone else. So they chose among themselves and Michael Boilas rose to the Throne. Only time will tell if the Boilas dynasty will amount to much.

Michael’s life as the center of the Imperial Court had a difficult start. Within his first year of living directly in Constantinople his wife Martha Makrembolites had been discovered committing adultery with several servants. Ecumenical Patriarch Theodoros III granted Michael a divorce. On July 14th of 1014 Michael married a young Lombard woman named Glismoda Varbertingi.

In late August of 1016 Basileus Michael joined the Community of Saint Basil in order to become closer to the Orthodox Church.

October 14th, 1017 a son was born to Michael and Glismoda who they named Gabriel.

In late 1018, Michael began to plan out a pilgrimage to hopefully become more attuned with God. Due to some health conditions the Imperial Council warned him against such a journey but he did not listen to them and began planning to go to Saint Hildevold’s tomb in Liege. In January of 1019 Michael set out leaving his older brother Pantoleon Boilas as regent of the empire. While away he missed the birth of his daughter Kyra on February 14th.

By June of the same year Michael returned to Constantinople from his pilgrimage to Liege in the Holy Roman Empire. He came back a changed man many would say kinder and softer. However he told the Imperial Court dire news from the empires of the Holy Roman Empire and Germany. The West was full of religious struggle, Emperor Ingomer Welf of the HRE had installed his own Pope in Cologne. News on the tongue of every commoner is that there will be all out war in the Catholic world over it. Hersey runs rampant while different Pope’s bicker over who is in control of the Church, even the very Duek over Liege was openly Cathar. The Imperial Court no longer fears that the West could be a threat to the empire if they are so disarrayed.

Later that same year Michael began working on a writing that he referred to as his very own great work that would please God himself. Many wondered what he could be spending so much of his freetime writing. By the next year Michael was awarded the rank of Rasophoros within the Community of Saint Basil. During that same year a daughter was born named Markia.

During the year of 1023 envoys from the African Kingdom of Songhay reached Constantinople that they had heard tales of the powers of God and wished to be taught the Orthodox Faith. Missionaries were dispatched to begin the conversion of the Kingdom. That same year twin daughters were born named Sergia and Konstanita. With these efforts Michael was again moved up in the Community of Saint Basil to the rank of Stavrophoros. He was apprenticed to the Megaloschemos himself.

In the early months of 1026, the Imperial Council and Michael began to draft up a new way of running the empire. To become stronger it was agreed that more centralization was needed. Long had Doux and even Counts held great sway within Imperial territory, but in recent years those men are nothing compared to the list of ever growing Exarchs of the empire. Michael’s entire council just so happened to be some of those powerful Exarchs. Done were the old ways of allowing Duchies to hold political power. The kingdoms of Greece, Trebizond and Anatolia were gifted to the strongest of the old political system. The very core of Greek politics were now at the hands of the few.

On September 14th, of 1028 Basilissa Glismoda passed away after battling a terrible flu. Michael fell into a deep depression at the loss of his lover. Michael swore himself to celibacy and to never take another woman to his beloved's throne.

During his time of mourning that year, a spy was brought before Michael with dire news. News around the Holy Roman Empire is that King Chrysogonos Isauros of Franconia was gathering mercenaries to his court. Many thought he was preparing to take over the HRE, but it was leaked that Prince Michael, second son of Basileus Loukas was the actual man gathering an army. He was preparing to retake the Imperial Throne of his father… in July of 1029 Prince Michael Isauros declared his uprising against the Byzantine Empire!

* I am so sorry this took so so so long to get out! I got really backed up with my summer college courses but now that they have ended I plan on returning to my grand epic! I apologize to Michael here as his story may not be told as in-depth as other emperor's since I finished his time before my classes begun. I hope to continue a good story for those who were reading this originally. Thank you all this has been such a fun project and I look forward to continuing! - Mr. Wiz

 

[Nikolai]

He's back! Excellent!

 

[TWR97]

Defeat the pretender scum and bring glory to the Empire! Maybe help the Catholics take down that massive Hispanian blob too.

 

[Midnite Duke]

I had just unwatched this. Glad to see back. Is that a Greek King of Franconia?

 

[Wzard]

Chapter Twenty - The War of Michaels

The entire Imperial Army was summoned back to Constantinople expecting that Michael Isauros (The Rebel Prince) to launch a full assault against the city. However the attack never came, a rider brought the news that the Rebel Prince had begun to lay siege to the Imperial Port of Thouars in the HRE. The entire court was confused at what the Rebel Prince could possibly be doing over there. Some of the Imperial Court had even served for the Rebel Prince’s father Loukas and were confused by his tactics.

Basileus Michael let the traitor sit in Francia, but kept the Imperial Army in Constantinople. After waiting a year and a half, the Rebel Prince attempted a sneak attack. On July 10th of 1030, a mercenary band stormed the city harbor by boat. Basileus Michael with sword and hand led the Imperial Army to victory. The Rebel Prince was not found but a lowborn Frenchman in charge of the army was captured and locked away.

A messenger brought news that another rebel army was launching a siege on the city of Rome. The Basileus and the Imperial Army marched west at once. On January 18th of 1031, the rebels were caught outside of the city of Ostia. The army was crushed and once again the Rebel Prince was not found again, but another Frenchman commander was locked away.

On March 30th of 1031, while the Basileus was retaking the Rome area another rebel force attempted to land at Phinopolis but were routed by Imperial Forces. Once more the Rebel Prince was not with them.

On July 11th of 1031, a strange battle took place in the city of Gaeta. Another hired company of mercenaries of the Ton-Tigi Army launched a surprise attack on the Imperial Army resting there. Their forces' names are remembered because a Mande warrior named Bassarou personally engaged the Basileus in combat. The battle was won but Basileus Michael was greatly wounded by the warrior Bassarou.

Even while in the midst of fighting the mercenary armies trying to steal his throne, not a day went by that he forgot his duties to God. Always writing to the Community of Saint Basil and continuing to write his journals of his faith. His devotion was rewarded by becoming one of the very community leaders as a Megaloschemos and an honorific title as ‘the True Knight’ in late August of 1031.

After years of fighting constant mercenary companies, a lucky break was had in Transylvania. The Rebel Prince was finally leading an actual army of his mercenaries and during the battle was finally caught. Michael Isauros was locked in shackles and brought before Basileus Michael Boilas’ command tent. The once Prince of the Byzantine Empire was brought to his knees in front of his Basileus. All in attendance awaiting to hear the Basileus’ punishment for the traitor. They say that as if God spoke through the Basileus, but the Rebel Prince was sentenced to be sent to the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre.

On August 9th of 1033, after almost a decade of writing, Basileus Michael finished writing his book “How to Worship God” which has become a great read for those who have access to the Imperial Library. After securing his throne and finishing his work he began to devote his time to peace and the faith.

On August 31st of 1038, while traveling the countryside of Greece preaching to the locals, Basileus Michael took a rest at a local inn. While resting there the inn burst into flames killing the Basileus! The entire empire was shocked that another Basileus met their end to assassination. The assassin proved to be a Catholic man who blamed the Imperial Throne for the conversion of Italy to Orthodoxy. The second oldest daughter of Michael, Markia Boilas had the most support of the Imperial Lords. Having secured the Imperial Throne for herself the Boilas dynasty continues ruling the empire!