Well, that was bad for the Empire. Especially as the Latins could come back.
- 1
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
The trajectory of his life is SO WILD. (Also tragic in many ways, but mostly, holy crap.)
- 1
Is CK3 one of those where it lets you play past the end date?
Classic Roman shenanigans.
After all that, the ERE just dissolved. Very anticlimactic. But this gives the Batatzes a great opportunity to rebuild!
- 1
Yes, but you have to select a game rule when making the save that lets you play past 1453.
- 2
Yeah, poor man. He had the world he knew crumble around him, at the same time as he lost all his kids except one. Tragedies will be written by future poets.
What he said. And I did not turn the toggle off due to achivements (I got a ton!), so the game and AAR ends somewhat soon.
And so, so unnecessary..
Yeah, it was a let down. I hope there is a certain % chance of the new Emperor paying his dues when he wins, even if low. But in any case, in this timeline he did not. And why of course, we will rebuild!
Strategos, despot and Basileus Ignatios I "the Quarreller" (1393-1435)
Strategos Ignatios (1393-1435)
Despot Ignatios I of Rum (1408-1435)
Basileus Ignatios I “the Quarreller” (1423-1435)
The start of Ignatios’ glorious reign was a major setback. His liege had gotten into a lot of wars, and he was losing. Worse, some of those wars was about Ignatios’ own lands as a vassal of Rum. Both in 1396 and 1399 this happened, the first time to the resurgent Eastern Roman Empire, and the second to the despotate of Anatolikon.
But in 1403, the first of many successes started. In that year Ignatios’ fellow vassal and kin in the theme of Opsikon won his war against his kin in the duchy of Anatolikon – not to be confused with the despotate of the same name. Thus, the family both lost and gained, but the ambitions of Ignatios won. No need to mention for anyone that Ignatios’ contribution to the war was to have his army wiped from the earth, though.
In 1406 Ignatios himself declared war on the duchy of Anatolikon, and two years later the war was won., with Anatolikon being reduced to a one county duchy. The ywar 1408 was also the year Ignatios became king of Rum, thus being – finally – in charge of his own destiny. This same year also saw a major win, when the uncle of Ignatios, who also was his vassal as strategos of Opsikon, won his own war against the resurgest Eastern Roman Empire, taking a whole theme and seeing the Empire reduced in size once again, now being a mere also ran around Constantinople.
This could not do, and in 1409 Ignatoios declared war on the false Eastern Roman Empire for Constantinople itself and its surrounding territory. And two years later the City of Men’s Desire was his. After a few years of peace, Ignatios went to war against the despotate of Nikaea for their lands close to Constantinople and won easily. In 1420 he then declared war on the despotate of Anatolikon, demanding the entire despotate. Again, he won easily after less than a year of fighting.
In 1421 he then founded the holy order Knights of the First Gospel, considerably rising in the eyes of the clergy and devout. He also declared war on the Latin Empire for parts of their holdings in Greece, and won within two years of fighting, reducing the Latins to a mere shell of their former selves.
Then, to everyone’s surprise he swallowed his own pride and swore fealty to the reigning Basileus of the Eastern Roman Empire, vowing to rebuild the Empire’s strength and power with whatever means. The Basileus must have been wary, his new vassal owning a majority of his Empire’s strength, but he had no choice but to agree and make his new vassal the next in line for the throne.
There are some proof, but not definitive, that Ignatios planned to murder the Basileus, but this never came to be, as the old and frail man on top died of natural causes two months after gaining his new vassal. Ignatios I was now Basileus of the resurgent Eastern Roman Empire.
He did not rest on his laurels and declared war for the rest of the despotate of Nikaea in 1424 and won within months. The next year he turned on his old ally for decades, the despotate of Pontus, to regain his claims as Roman Emperor, which was most of the Pontus lands. After a grueling, bloody war, he won in 1429.
The year after, in 1430, he declared war for the entirety of the kingdom of Georgia, and – again – he won, seizing the kingdom for himself in 1432. He then turned on Bulgaria, claiming all the historically Roman lands. And again he won after two years, in 1434.
Not satisfied, he then turned on the remains of the Latin Empire, claiming half of their lands, the theme of Thessali, for himself. The Latin Empire disintegrated into petty successor states during the war, and the new Latin duke of Thessali proved to be a pain to defeat, calling in numerous allies from the West, making the war a standstill. His army routed, Ignatios called in his allies and slowly drove the Latins back again.
But before he could win this war, he died of a fatal apoplexy, infirm and bound to his bed in Constantinople, in 1435. His son Basileios IV, aged 37 inherited an Eastern Roman Empire that was strong, ascending and vital, and in a war about to be won.
Despot Ignatios I of Rum (1408-1435)
Basileus Ignatios I “the Quarreller” (1423-1435)
The start of Ignatios’ glorious reign was a major setback. His liege had gotten into a lot of wars, and he was losing. Worse, some of those wars was about Ignatios’ own lands as a vassal of Rum. Both in 1396 and 1399 this happened, the first time to the resurgent Eastern Roman Empire, and the second to the despotate of Anatolikon.
But in 1403, the first of many successes started. In that year Ignatios’ fellow vassal and kin in the theme of Opsikon won his war against his kin in the duchy of Anatolikon – not to be confused with the despotate of the same name. Thus, the family both lost and gained, but the ambitions of Ignatios won. No need to mention for anyone that Ignatios’ contribution to the war was to have his army wiped from the earth, though.
In 1406 Ignatios himself declared war on the duchy of Anatolikon, and two years later the war was won., with Anatolikon being reduced to a one county duchy. The ywar 1408 was also the year Ignatios became king of Rum, thus being – finally – in charge of his own destiny. This same year also saw a major win, when the uncle of Ignatios, who also was his vassal as strategos of Opsikon, won his own war against the resurgest Eastern Roman Empire, taking a whole theme and seeing the Empire reduced in size once again, now being a mere also ran around Constantinople.
This could not do, and in 1409 Ignatoios declared war on the false Eastern Roman Empire for Constantinople itself and its surrounding territory. And two years later the City of Men’s Desire was his. After a few years of peace, Ignatios went to war against the despotate of Nikaea for their lands close to Constantinople and won easily. In 1420 he then declared war on the despotate of Anatolikon, demanding the entire despotate. Again, he won easily after less than a year of fighting.
In 1421 he then founded the holy order Knights of the First Gospel, considerably rising in the eyes of the clergy and devout. He also declared war on the Latin Empire for parts of their holdings in Greece, and won within two years of fighting, reducing the Latins to a mere shell of their former selves.
Then, to everyone’s surprise he swallowed his own pride and swore fealty to the reigning Basileus of the Eastern Roman Empire, vowing to rebuild the Empire’s strength and power with whatever means. The Basileus must have been wary, his new vassal owning a majority of his Empire’s strength, but he had no choice but to agree and make his new vassal the next in line for the throne.
There are some proof, but not definitive, that Ignatios planned to murder the Basileus, but this never came to be, as the old and frail man on top died of natural causes two months after gaining his new vassal. Ignatios I was now Basileus of the resurgent Eastern Roman Empire.
He did not rest on his laurels and declared war for the rest of the despotate of Nikaea in 1424 and won within months. The next year he turned on his old ally for decades, the despotate of Pontus, to regain his claims as Roman Emperor, which was most of the Pontus lands. After a grueling, bloody war, he won in 1429.
The year after, in 1430, he declared war for the entirety of the kingdom of Georgia, and – again – he won, seizing the kingdom for himself in 1432. He then turned on Bulgaria, claiming all the historically Roman lands. And again he won after two years, in 1434.
Not satisfied, he then turned on the remains of the Latin Empire, claiming half of their lands, the theme of Thessali, for himself. The Latin Empire disintegrated into petty successor states during the war, and the new Latin duke of Thessali proved to be a pain to defeat, calling in numerous allies from the West, making the war a standstill. His army routed, Ignatios called in his allies and slowly drove the Latins back again.
But before he could win this war, he died of a fatal apoplexy, infirm and bound to his bed in Constantinople, in 1435. His son Basileios IV, aged 37 inherited an Eastern Roman Empire that was strong, ascending and vital, and in a war about to be won.
- 3
- 1
It's honestly a shame that this save is finishing soon, because the ERE is so back.
- 3
I have only one ruler left to chronicle now. That one died in 1447, so you can imagine not much could be done in less than six years with the time limit on, and me wanting a full reign to retell.
- 1
Wow! Way to seize back the ERE. Well done. I hope your next monarch’s reign isn’t another retelling of the Book of Job.
- 1
I just startet a new AAR btw. https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...uture-tales-of-the-roccan-resistance.1718008/
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...uture-tales-of-the-roccan-resistance.1718008/- 1
Basileus Basileios IV (1435-1447)
Basileus Basileios IV (1435-1447)
The start of Basileus Basileios IV’s reign was a tumultuous time. As he ascended the throne, a typhus epidemic raged the country and Basileios lost not only two of three children, but also almost his own life. Bedridden and sick, with the countryside full of dead bodies, he was allegedly greatly tempted to convert to iconoclasm, but if that is the case, nothing ultimately came of it.
In 1437 the war his father had left him, a war Basileios had no chance of overseeing as he was sick for so long, finally was won. He then immediately went to war for the remains of the Latin Empire, which now was some counties in Thessalonika, and he won easily. Now only the strip of land in Anatolia, facing the Aegean Sea, and belonging to the mighty Holy Roman Empire, was still in Latin hands. Against the HRE, there was nothing to be done.
In 1438 Basileios then declared war on Krete, a successor state he as Eastern Roman Basileus had a definite claim on. The restoration of the ERE had to continue, he declared. And so it was. With Krete reclaimed the following year, Chandax, the Gem of the Med, was restored.
With this settled, another war, this time against Hayastan in the east, was declared, and two years later the war was won. During this time both the HRE and Syria began raids into Roman territory though, a constant headache, if not directly dangerous to the Empire in its small scale. Basileios did decide to not poke the Holy Roman bear though, and let the raids remain unanswered.
In 1441 to 1442 several smaller successor realms in Persia was peacefully vassalized, before a major push against the Muslim kingdom of Kirman within Persia was started in 1442. The ERE was at this time a mighty power again, and the war was won the following year.
With this, the despotate of Persia was proclaimed by Basileios IV, added to his many titles, and not given to any strategos. Basileus Basileios IV’s gaze then moved towards Egypt, where the theme of Delta was seized in 1446 and Cairo was almost finished conquered in 1447.
The latter war would not be won before the ageing Basileios IV died on consumption, though. His brother and heir Theocharistos I, aged 42, became the new Basileus.
With him, the medieval age slowly faded away, and Theocharistos I would lead the Eastern Roman Empire into the renaissance. That, however, is another story, for another time.
FIN
The start of Basileus Basileios IV’s reign was a tumultuous time. As he ascended the throne, a typhus epidemic raged the country and Basileios lost not only two of three children, but also almost his own life. Bedridden and sick, with the countryside full of dead bodies, he was allegedly greatly tempted to convert to iconoclasm, but if that is the case, nothing ultimately came of it.
In 1437 the war his father had left him, a war Basileios had no chance of overseeing as he was sick for so long, finally was won. He then immediately went to war for the remains of the Latin Empire, which now was some counties in Thessalonika, and he won easily. Now only the strip of land in Anatolia, facing the Aegean Sea, and belonging to the mighty Holy Roman Empire, was still in Latin hands. Against the HRE, there was nothing to be done.
In 1438 Basileios then declared war on Krete, a successor state he as Eastern Roman Basileus had a definite claim on. The restoration of the ERE had to continue, he declared. And so it was. With Krete reclaimed the following year, Chandax, the Gem of the Med, was restored.
With this settled, another war, this time against Hayastan in the east, was declared, and two years later the war was won. During this time both the HRE and Syria began raids into Roman territory though, a constant headache, if not directly dangerous to the Empire in its small scale. Basileios did decide to not poke the Holy Roman bear though, and let the raids remain unanswered.
In 1441 to 1442 several smaller successor realms in Persia was peacefully vassalized, before a major push against the Muslim kingdom of Kirman within Persia was started in 1442. The ERE was at this time a mighty power again, and the war was won the following year.
With this, the despotate of Persia was proclaimed by Basileios IV, added to his many titles, and not given to any strategos. Basileus Basileios IV’s gaze then moved towards Egypt, where the theme of Delta was seized in 1446 and Cairo was almost finished conquered in 1447.
The latter war would not be won before the ageing Basileios IV died on consumption, though. His brother and heir Theocharistos I, aged 42, became the new Basileus.
With him, the medieval age slowly faded away, and Theocharistos I would lead the Eastern Roman Empire into the renaissance. That, however, is another story, for another time.
FIN
- 4
- 1
And so the epic comes to an end. Basil Basil (Basil 2x? Basil Squared?) did a good job. Remarkable that he completely bypassed Syria and Mesopotamia to conquer Persia via Armenia. The true legacy of House Batatzes, though appears to have been the vast promulgation of the Byzantine brand of Christianity.
Well done, sir. I always enjoy your stories.
Well done, sir. I always enjoy your stories.
- 1
Opportunism, in that I got half of it for free due to their willingness to get vassalized. Syria is much more powerful than you might think, and they were at times an ally. So I didn't focus on taking them on.
True, the Orthodox creed is huge, even though it has been reconverted to Catholic in Italy and Tripolitania.
Thank you my friend! Always a pleasure to have you reading.
- 1
- 1
That HRE is huge. They'd definitely be your main rival if this continued.
And it's good to see Persia reclaimed even if Syria remains outside the empire. RP-wise they're probably just a really autonomous vassal (because they're still Greek and Orthodox).
And it's good to see Persia reclaimed even if Syria remains outside the empire. RP-wise they're probably just a really autonomous vassal (because they're still Greek and Orthodox).
- 1
Congratulations on reaching the end!
The greatest what-if has to be regarding the successful Latin Crusade. Had it not succeeded, what would the state of the Empire be like now?
The greatest what-if has to be regarding the successful Latin Crusade. Had it not succeeded, what would the state of the Empire be like now?
- 3