Introduction
If one seeks to pinpoint the exact moment in history when Roman Civilization was born they must look beyond antiquated tales of twin brothers and Trojan Princes. The foundation of the society that would come to dominate the known world was not laid with any cornerstone. The true conception of the enlightened world can be traced to the marble steps of Athens and its great orators.
These men laid the very fiber of the Roman world and their contribution is not to be dismissed. As these Hellenic ideals melded with the native Roman the true Roman culture as we view it today was formed. Republic came and went, ushering in the Emperors. The Empire grew and withered through time and ultimately one quarter of the worlds population would come to live and die under the rule of the Caesars. When Rome convulsed the aftershocks were felt through the entire known world.
And so when the barbarian tribes finally shattered the walls of the greatest city on earth, the world descended into an unprecedented darkness. Learning and philosophy were cast aside as the cruel and sadistic natures of the Gallic tribes took root. The great advances of the Empire were lost in the shuffle of the new Europe.
In all places, that was, except for the East. In the magnificent city of Constantinople the Roman world survived in all its splendor. But over time the men on the Bosporus' power waned and the Roman citizens sought answers. In this new world they found their ancient Greek heritage, and embraced it.
This new generation was still Roman, but the severing of ties with their city had weakened their cultural identity. They would bring a new set of Sovereigns to the helm of the Empire. Most would prove inadequate, but a select few would answer the call of the people and set about the restoration of Roman glory.
The Ducas family was not among them. Their name would become synonymous with disaster to future historians, but as the dust settled over Hastings the elderly Emperor Constantine Ducas was known to his people simply as their glorious Sovereign.
Our tale begins here as the remnants of the Imperium Romanum prepare to usher in the most tumultuous period of their history.
If one seeks to pinpoint the exact moment in history when Roman Civilization was born they must look beyond antiquated tales of twin brothers and Trojan Princes. The foundation of the society that would come to dominate the known world was not laid with any cornerstone. The true conception of the enlightened world can be traced to the marble steps of Athens and its great orators.
These men laid the very fiber of the Roman world and their contribution is not to be dismissed. As these Hellenic ideals melded with the native Roman the true Roman culture as we view it today was formed. Republic came and went, ushering in the Emperors. The Empire grew and withered through time and ultimately one quarter of the worlds population would come to live and die under the rule of the Caesars. When Rome convulsed the aftershocks were felt through the entire known world.
And so when the barbarian tribes finally shattered the walls of the greatest city on earth, the world descended into an unprecedented darkness. Learning and philosophy were cast aside as the cruel and sadistic natures of the Gallic tribes took root. The great advances of the Empire were lost in the shuffle of the new Europe.
In all places, that was, except for the East. In the magnificent city of Constantinople the Roman world survived in all its splendor. But over time the men on the Bosporus' power waned and the Roman citizens sought answers. In this new world they found their ancient Greek heritage, and embraced it.
This new generation was still Roman, but the severing of ties with their city had weakened their cultural identity. They would bring a new set of Sovereigns to the helm of the Empire. Most would prove inadequate, but a select few would answer the call of the people and set about the restoration of Roman glory.
The Ducas family was not among them. Their name would become synonymous with disaster to future historians, but as the dust settled over Hastings the elderly Emperor Constantine Ducas was known to his people simply as their glorious Sovereign.
Our tale begins here as the remnants of the Imperium Romanum prepare to usher in the most tumultuous period of their history.
