Oh the bitter irony of Flamula's father using Latins to try and take the throne. I'm glad, in a way, that he failed, since success that way would've but an terrible black mark on the Batatzes.
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Flamula deserved better. Do you have many dynasty members left in case of assassinations?
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Strategitissa Eustathia “the Hideous” (1292-1311)
Strategitissa Eustathia “the Hideous” (1292-1311)
The reign of strategitissa Eustathia was a continued walking of a tightrope. In 1294 her father and the Latins were fought off, and the realm was again at peace. But in 1299 the strategitissa did the unthinkable and went to war on behalf of her father and his claim. The war lasted for several years and was at one time close to victory, but slowly the forces of Eustathia were forced back. When her father died and there was only a question of time before the war was lost, Eustathia negotiated a white peace with the Basileus.
Her new, and ultimately more successful, ploy were to place relatives in charge of the various themes in the Empire, of which there were more and more of, as the successors on the throne of Caesar kept expanding the Empire. The first success, one of several, was her half-brother in 1310. More were to come, some to fruiting after she died.
For in 1311 Eustathia was murdered by unknown assailants. Although suspicsions were drawn to the Imperial palace, nothing was ever proved, as the assailants disappeared in the darkness of history. Her four-year-old daughter inherited the now dwindling coffers of her grandfather and his economically untenable retinue.
But our story now shifts to a cadet branch of the Batatzes dynasty, the ruler of the Alexandria theme – Strategos Sabas, aged 41, of the cadet branch Batatzes-Siwa.
The reign of strategitissa Eustathia was a continued walking of a tightrope. In 1294 her father and the Latins were fought off, and the realm was again at peace. But in 1299 the strategitissa did the unthinkable and went to war on behalf of her father and his claim. The war lasted for several years and was at one time close to victory, but slowly the forces of Eustathia were forced back. When her father died and there was only a question of time before the war was lost, Eustathia negotiated a white peace with the Basileus.
Her new, and ultimately more successful, ploy were to place relatives in charge of the various themes in the Empire, of which there were more and more of, as the successors on the throne of Caesar kept expanding the Empire. The first success, one of several, was her half-brother in 1310. More were to come, some to fruiting after she died.
For in 1311 Eustathia was murdered by unknown assailants. Although suspicsions were drawn to the Imperial palace, nothing was ever proved, as the assailants disappeared in the darkness of history. Her four-year-old daughter inherited the now dwindling coffers of her grandfather and his economically untenable retinue.
But our story now shifts to a cadet branch of the Batatzes dynasty, the ruler of the Alexandria theme – Strategos Sabas, aged 41, of the cadet branch Batatzes-Siwa.
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But the empire grows stronger! The Batatzes renaissance survives them!
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Not a great situation. But sounds like you're playing the long game with those other themes.
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Yes! And now switching to another heir. Too many women underage.
The girl she left was like 4. Great new feature btw in the new patch, to have your primary heir, but also up to 3 alternative heirs to choose from within your dynasty.- 1
The Empire continues to prosper, although I imagine that's cold comfort to the Batatzes. Let's see if the Alexandrine branch of the family has better luck restoring the family fortunes.
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Strategos and Catepan Sabas “the Impaler” of Alexandria (1311-1332)
Strategos Sabas “the Impaler” of Alexandria (1311-1332)
Catepan Sabas “the Impaler” of Ruthenia (1321-1332)
Sabas’ first order of business after his inheritance was to travel to Constantinople in 1311 and ask the Basileus to grant his family primacy on the theme of Alexandria for the next 100 years. And the Basileus agreed graciously!
For the next few years he slowly grew his alliances, before he to everyone’s surprise sent his entire army north from Egypt to the Russian steppes after the Patriarch himself granted him a claim on the kingdom of Ruthenia! Ruthenia had just come out of a devastating war and was virtually defenseless. Sabas and his allies thus could conquer the kingdom pretty much unopposed and in 1321 Sabas was crowned Catepan – the kingdom level administrative ruler – of Ruthenia by the Basileus and the Patriarch.
In 1323 disaster struck again, as another crusade for the Eastern Roman Empire was spearheaded by the Venetians in the name of the pretender Prince Dagonis of Chelmno. The Empire was once again under dire threat and the war would last for six long years.
Catepan Sabas did not directly partake in the defense of the Empire though, instead focusing on pacifying his newfound kingdom. Rebels were mercilessly impaled on stakes, striking fear into anyone who dared oppose him. This is when he got his moniker “the Impaler”.
In 1327, while the crusade raged against the Basileus, Sabas moved deeper into Egypt. His ambitions were hindered, however, when the Catholics showed up for a real crusade, going on simultaneously as the one against Constantinople, with the intent to subdue Egypt. The crusaders did not differentiate between Muslims and Christians and killed his entire army.
In 1329 the crusade against Constantinople ended in a white peace, and Sabas saw that going into Egypt were no longer possible, with the crusade there still raging, and going the way towards victory for the crusaders.
He thus invaded the kingdom of Jerusalem against the Mongol successor state in the area, the Ilkhanate. While this war was still raging, and going well for his forces, Sabas died of old age. His kingdom was left to another dynasty, him not managing to secure his son’s inheritance of Ruthenia, but his son Andronikos inherited the theme of Mesopotamia as well as the war against the Ilkhanate. Andronikos was 40 years old at the time, and to his late father’s dismay, in an offensive war against the Basileus to depose him for another pretender.
Catepan Sabas “the Impaler” of Ruthenia (1321-1332)
Sabas’ first order of business after his inheritance was to travel to Constantinople in 1311 and ask the Basileus to grant his family primacy on the theme of Alexandria for the next 100 years. And the Basileus agreed graciously!
For the next few years he slowly grew his alliances, before he to everyone’s surprise sent his entire army north from Egypt to the Russian steppes after the Patriarch himself granted him a claim on the kingdom of Ruthenia! Ruthenia had just come out of a devastating war and was virtually defenseless. Sabas and his allies thus could conquer the kingdom pretty much unopposed and in 1321 Sabas was crowned Catepan – the kingdom level administrative ruler – of Ruthenia by the Basileus and the Patriarch.
In 1323 disaster struck again, as another crusade for the Eastern Roman Empire was spearheaded by the Venetians in the name of the pretender Prince Dagonis of Chelmno. The Empire was once again under dire threat and the war would last for six long years.
Catepan Sabas did not directly partake in the defense of the Empire though, instead focusing on pacifying his newfound kingdom. Rebels were mercilessly impaled on stakes, striking fear into anyone who dared oppose him. This is when he got his moniker “the Impaler”.
In 1327, while the crusade raged against the Basileus, Sabas moved deeper into Egypt. His ambitions were hindered, however, when the Catholics showed up for a real crusade, going on simultaneously as the one against Constantinople, with the intent to subdue Egypt. The crusaders did not differentiate between Muslims and Christians and killed his entire army.
In 1329 the crusade against Constantinople ended in a white peace, and Sabas saw that going into Egypt were no longer possible, with the crusade there still raging, and going the way towards victory for the crusaders.
He thus invaded the kingdom of Jerusalem against the Mongol successor state in the area, the Ilkhanate. While this war was still raging, and going well for his forces, Sabas died of old age. His kingdom was left to another dynasty, him not managing to secure his son’s inheritance of Ruthenia, but his son Andronikos inherited the theme of Mesopotamia as well as the war against the Ilkhanate. Andronikos was 40 years old at the time, and to his late father’s dismay, in an offensive war against the Basileus to depose him for another pretender.
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At least Andronikos' war isn't a crusade, meaning the Empire won't collapse if he wins.
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If it was, and I was the one winning, then I'd make sure to pay my due, no matter what. IIUC there is the option to do that, but the AI seldom opts for it for historical reasons.
By the way folks, just LOOK at the ERE!
Much expansion by the AI. - 1
They're allowed to do that?! Doesn't seem right.
Quite the succession to be thrown into.
Persia, Libya, and Mesopotamia, all within Sabas' lifetime too! Even if the Batatzes don't take back the throne, the ERE seems set to dominate regardless.By the way folks, just LOOK at the ERE!
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That is starting to look like a CK3 1.0 Byzantium. Honestly impressive.
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I was surprised too...
Right?
Thankfully the fool did not go into it alone.As long as no new splintered crusade kills it, that is. Notice even with the strength the Empire has now it only fought it to a white peace after six years of fighting.
Yes, and only some is due to me! (Well, a lot of it is, but still, the AI did well with what I left it with!)
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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 ! Can't wait to read more!
! Can't wait to read more!- 1