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Dreams of House Batatzes - A Roads to Power AAR

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All caught up. The Batatzes have certain been through some trying times. I feel particularly bad for those two sisters who ended up noseless (and friendless). A miserable end that they did not deserve. I hope your next heirs suffer less ignominious fates!
 
Tom D. said:
Caught up to speed, and this really makes me want to try starting as a family in the ERE and see what comes out of it :D ! Can't wait to read more!
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I'd read that story! :D
The Kingmaker said:
All caught up. The Batatzes have certain been through some trying times. I feel particularly bad for those two sisters who ended up noseless (and friendless). A miserable end that they did not deserve. I hope your next heirs suffer less ignominious fates!
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Ah, yes. They did get the short end of the stick. Can't promise anything other than ultimate victory! But before the rise comes the fall! Or somesuch.
 
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Strategos Andronikos of Mesopotamia (1332-1353)
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    • Strategos Andronikos of Mesopotamia (1332-1353)

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    At the start of his reign, strategos Andronikos was in a precarious situation. He had been convinced to try to overthrow the reigning Basileus, and now he inherited a war with the still mighty Ilkhanate. He did in the end decide to focus on Jerusalem, trusting his allies to overthrow the Basileus by themselves. And in the end, it panned out for him, with the civil war ending in the overthrowing of the old Basileus.

    In 1334 the war for Jerusalem was finally won, but to Andronikos’ chagrin the spoils of the war went to the new Catepan of Ruthenia on a technicality of his father being the Catepan at the start of the war. His new liege the Basileus decided against the poor strategos, probably due to him abandoning the quest for his elevation during the civil war.

    However, in 1335 Andronikos traveled to Constantinople to ask for his family to get primacy in election for the theme of Mesopotamia the next 100 years. And he managed to get it. Thus, both Mesopotamia and Alexandria were almost assured to be in aBatatzes’s hand for the foreseeable future.

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    In 1347 disaster struck though, as the Black Plague appeared in the realm and spread like wildfire. Millions died all over the known world and while Andronikos and his family would survive the plague itself, the upswing in self-flagellation would do them in. In 1353 the wife of Andronikos, eager to swipe out her sins by violence, flagellated herself to death. Mere months later, in March 1353, Andronikos did the same, out of his mind of sorrow over his beloved wife’s death and sure about his own sinfulness and God’s punishment in letting his wife die.

    His son strategos Sabas II “the Bald”, aged 32, inherited his titles and wealth.

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    • Nikolai said:
    However, in 1335 Andronikos traveled to Constantinople to ask for his family to get primacy in election for the theme of Mesopotamia the next 100 years. And he managed to get it. Thus, both Mesopotamia and Alexandria were almost assured to be in aBatatzes’s hand for the foreseeable future.
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    345 gold to make the election easier to win? If only it was that cheap irl (it would be easier than currently).
     
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    Getting Mesopotamia is a good investment. The Ilkhanate is divided and ready to be Romanized! :D
     
    They both beat themselves to death? Jeez, that’s pretty messed up, even for flagellants. Hopefully Sabas’ reign is less wretched.
     
    Whipping yourself to death sure is something, especially after your wife did it first with known results! If they don't die of the plague the game must have thought, I'll just let them do it themselves.
     
    jak7139 said:
    Getting Mesopotamia is a good investment. The Ilkhanate is divided and ready to be Romanized! :D
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    Yes! Surely Rome is too big to fail! :D
    The Kingmaker said:
    They both beat themselves to death? Jeez, that’s pretty messed up, even for flagellants. Hopefully Sabas’ reign is less wretched.
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    I guess the sorrow and guilt were too much to bear... It's messed up for sure.
    Tom D. said:
    Whipping yourself to death sure is something, especially after your wife did it first with known results! If they don't die of the plague the game must have thought, I'll just let them do it themselves.
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    Yeah, perhaps some would got infected. I know only what the game tells me. :p
     
    Strategos Sabas II “the Bald” (1353-1366)
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    • Strategos Sabas II “the Bald” (1353-1366)

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    The reign of Sabas II was a complete disaster. From early on, he plotted for the throne, but nothing ever came of it. In 1359 he was on friendly terms with the reigining Basileus, who knew nothing of his plots, but the next in line was a rival of Sabas II who hated his guts.

    The Empire kept expanding into the Middle East, as the Ilkhanate had imploded, and meanwhile Sabas II kept to his plotting. In 1360 his rival, the heir to the throne, was murdered by Sabas’ agents, but his involvement in the murder was revealed. From then on, he was on borrowed time.

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    In 1361 his brother even tried to kill him, vying for his theme, as he was Sabas’ heir at the time. Sabas discovered this, but was unable to move against his brother, who was far off and protected by powerful men.

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    In 1363 Sabas decided to expand himself, having gathered claims for lands in Mesopotamia. This war was another disaster, as his entire army was slaughtered the year after. At the same time his rival, the Catepanissa Zoe of Ruthenia, convinced the Patriarch to excommunicate Sabas II.

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    A year later, in 1365, the Basileus arrested Sabas for his crimes and revoked his title.

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    On May 17th, 1366 Sabas II “the Bald” was beheaded on the orders of the Basileus. His son Andronikos II took over the leadership of the family. His reign would see the world turned upside down.

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    • 100 years isn't a lot of time. But I believe!

    If the world is turned upside down by Andronikos, that might be a great opportunity.
     
    jak7139 said:
    100 years isn't a lot of time. But I believe!

    If the world is turned upside down by Andronikos, that might be a great opportunity.
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    The world is, indeed, turned upside down. By whom, you will soon know. :D
     
    "100 years isn't a lot of time" -- a statement that only makes sense in the context of CK3 (or geology)
     
    Cora Giantkiller said:
    "100 years isn't a lot of time" -- a statement that only makes sense in the context of CK3 (or geology)
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    lol, then again 100 years can see large changes - in both directions!
     
    Strategos Andronikos II (1366-1393)
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    • Strategos Andronikos II (1366-1393)

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    The reign of Andronikos II would see huge upheavals, great sorrows and a lingering hope.



    It started poorly personally for Andronikos as his inbred newborn son Sabad died of consumption in 1368. Within 1370 the rampant disease had killed all of his children, with his eldest, Zoe, dying that year. He did not give up though, and soon sired new children. The pain remained though.

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    In 1372 he decided to support the pretender Basileus for his bid to the throne, a no brainer since the new Basileus had five times the troops of the reigning one. Unfortunately, he gained nothing for his opportunism.

    His personal woes continued in 1373 when a new epidemic, this time smallpox, kills all his new children except one sole surviving son.

    More troublesome, the realm is weakened by ever new civil wars and new Basileuses come and go with mere months on the throne.

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    In 1375 he finally gets his goal of a theme of his own fulfilled, when he gains the appointment to the theme of Kibyrrhaiotai. There he reigns well and fair, as another crusade for the Eastern Roman Empire is started by the heretic West, to place the wretched Antonios on the throne. After merely two years of warfare, the weakened Empire is close to losing the crusade, something that is incredible knowing how huge it was at this time:

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    In 1383, after clinging on barely for years, the Empire is seized by the Franks…and soon dissolves in petty infighting! The Empire of the Caesars are no more. But many are the Greeks who vow to rebuild it. One of those is strategos Andronikos II, who with his powerbase of Kibyrrhaitai seems protection under the new king of the renewed sultanate of Rum. A disgrace, for sure, knowing the fall of the sultanate – then Muslim, now Christian – was the start of the rise of Rome to her greatest height.

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    Andronikos II is powerful though, and the next in line for the throne of Rum, should his liege die. He effectively controlled the realm due to his power. With this in mind, he went to war against Nikaea in 1385 for claims he had, wishing to rebuild the Eastern Roman Empire. In 1389 he won his war and went to war for Crete as well. The same year he became regent in Rum, as well as heir. Life was good.

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    Then the Eastern Roman Empire was restored, in a puny state though, by someone else than him. And by the man who made Rome fall no less; Basileus Antonios!

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    In Anatolia, wars were declared east and west, and the wars of Andronikos’ liege was a losing point. As was his own war against Crete. It was under these sorry circumstances Andronikos II died of a fatal apoplexy aged 50, and his 21-year-old son Ignatios had to continue his dream of a revived Eastern Rome under Batatzes rule.

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    • As painful as the fall of the empire must have been, I'll bet the loss of so many of his children would have been even more painful for the poor guy.
     
    The Kingmaker said:
    As painful as the fall of the empire must have been, I'll bet the loss of so many of his children would have been even more painful for the poor guy.
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    Yeah, it was a serious problem, as you can imagine. But look at that huge empire, and how shattered it got. :(
     
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