[MOD] -ABBC- Additional Byzantine-Bulgarian Characters

[UMACI]

Added the family of Paul the Deacon. I may add the file for the tribes next, most of the ones I initially intended I've already completed but since they are almost entirely fictional characters to represent the tribes, I have been overzealous and added too many people to some of the groups. I intend to trim them down. I've also added some fictional marriages etc. between some of them, I may remove these entirely or move on the opposite direction and further increase them (at least between the tribes that lived within Byzantine Balkans).

There are many more families that I intend to add from this area but there are only two left that I intended to do immediately, Choirosphaktes family and family of Zoe Karbonopsina and I couldn't find much on either of these so probably won't do them at the moment. I intend to add missing members for all the 11th century Byzantine families(ones that actually existedi n 11th century) that I haven't yet touched and I'll post a list of those remaining families here soon but I'll probably not touch them in the next couple of months unless I find a lot of free time and finish some other families that I intend to do. I intend to continue with Lombards but before that will extend the scope of this a bit by adding some Norse and Anglo-Saxons. There are two in my mind at the moment, First is Sigfredian dynasty, which is represented in the game with Akra dynasty and also what is the Jute dynasty in game is a branch as well. This may take some time with so many members and no clear family tree. Second is Wessex, which I'll start by adding missing members from 9th century at, like Aethelred's children(he had two known children Æthelhelm and Æthelwold and Alfred's relative Osferth, "Osferth filius regis" may also have been his son) I may also implement the theory that Godwin is a descendant of Æthelweard the historian, who was a descendant of Æthelred, Alfred the Great's elder brother.

 

[UMACI]

Started on Wessex but will probably make an addition for the family of Romulus Augustulus, the last emperor of the West and also some connected families before posting that Added the family of Romulus Augustulus including his maternal family and some possible relatives through marriage.

 

[UMACI]

I will update this soon, for the past month I kept working on this, adding several more families that were missing entirely and many missing members to existing families, adding several hundred characters and hitting 2200+ historical characters and a few hundred fictional ones to fill the gaps in necessary places (such as a historical person and say his great grandson with no known family members between them), reaching 2500+ characters in total. The largest of these additions is done to the Ashina dynasty to which I have added a whopping 120+ missing historical members, no other family come even close to them, for comparison the next 3 largest families are Merohingi (Currently 50, will end up around 60 with the information I have), Wessex (slightly over 50 if I recall) and Sigfredian ( Akra dynasty in game, 30 members, may add some more but some historical members exist under Ragnar Lothbrok's dynasty in game). There is an additional 350 or so fictional characters to represent several historical Slavic, Turkic and Germanic tribes in Pannonia and Balkans ( more to be added on these with at least 2 Greek groups and at least 1 Arabic as well as at least 2 more Slavic) that are missing from the game.

I previously didn't think of releasing it as a mod but just as a resource of sorts people could implement in their mods but with some 3000 characters and at least several hundreds more to come, I now consider releasing it as a mod (primary intention is still that others implement it, in part or as a whole). Although I think it would still at least be 1-2 months for it to reach the condition I want for the first release (finding and adding the many missing connections between spouses and parent-children, leaving none missing for the currently existing characters) I may also release it much sooner and gradually update it.

 

[UMACI]

Something long overdue, I've added the file for tribes in the first post, will also update both the first post when I have some time and the latest version of the file for historical characters I think I'll update tomorrow or next day.

As previously mentioned, this has evolved well beyond the original scope of adding missing people to existing families from Byzantine Empire and Bulgaria and adding missing families I've found for them and includes missing members from the House of Wessex in Britain to Visigothic Balthes in Spain, Burgundians and Merovingians in France to Vandals in Africa, Sigfredian(Akra in game) dynasty in Denmark to Ashina in the Pontic Steppes.... adds missing families of Lombards, Gepid, Suebi, Anglo-Saxon and many more cultures from several regions and not just families that currently exist but families that have long died out (with condition of being connected to some family already existing in game, so they can be seen).

As a side project on top of this, I am also adding (seperate from historical characters) fictional descendants to several families that have died out by 867 (or 1066 if the family existed between 867 and 1066). Inspiration for this came from two things: First is while doing research for this, I run across several families that kind of went obscure at times, only to reappear a few generations later on, again holding high offices and how even after "losing" the imperial throne that Anastasius' family kept on existing in important positions for several generations, marrying into high nobility and people of important positions. Of course I won't go around randomly giving descendants to every other family, so to keep it plausible I've a few ground rules, someone who is stated to have died childless for example or last mentioned when he was old and with no spouse isn't getting children but someone who is last mentioned when he was very young, or is say middle aged and mentioned to have a spouse with no mention on whether or not if he had any children is eligible.

To give one historical example, last recorded member of Thuringian royal family is Artachis who was the son of Amalafrid. Amalafrid was son the last Thuringian king Hermenefrid and Amalaberga, niece of Theoderic the Great. After the fall of Thuringian capital in 531, Amalaberga fled to his brother Theodahad, then king of the Ostrogoths, and was sent alongside her son Amalafrid to the Byzantine Empire. Amalafrid later has a son Artachis but nothing further is known, so Artachis here is a perfect candidate for having descendants that faded into obscurity.

Amalafrid - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Another example comes from Merovingians, Theoderic II of the Merovingians had 4 sons Sigibert(only Sigibert existed in the game before I added the rest), Merovech, Corbus and Childebert, all children at the time of Theuderic's death, but another member of the family, Clothaire II, attacked them and captured 4 brothers. One of them , Childebert managed to escape and disappears from history and Clothaire kills Corbus and Sigibert, he only spares Merovech because he was his godson and Merovech is said to have lived for many years after that with nothing else said of his life (none that I could find). Childebert and Merovech both are suitable for this purpose.

Theuderic II - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[UMACI]

Updated the contents section and the main file. I hope to release this as a mod within a month or two, adding a few more families by then and making most of the family connections between existing characters and the ones that I've added but in case that I can't find the time to spare on this, I've also included the files for the additional houses and dynasties, as well as a seperate file for all the characters that already existed in the game but had some changes made so anyone who wants to use it, be it in a mod or on it's own, they can do so by just adding the files where they belong.

Edit: One small problem, I was keeping two versions, one for posting here, based on the base game and one for my own use where I've also made use of cultures added by the Cultures Expanded mod, unfortunately I can't find the newer version for base game (perhaps I forgot creating one) and the backup copy for version on base game is far outdated and I don't have time to find and change all the character cultures that make use of cultures from Cultures Expanded with the version I've posted so it'd be needed to play it properly with the current files I've posted.

 

[UMACI]

An update to sources section in the first post for those interested.

 

[UMACI]

Currently working on something I've previously mentioned, a few Norse families from 11th century known from runes and connected through marriage to each other. It is mostly done thanks to their connections to eachother being documented well enough but I don't know when I'll finish them because besides a couple or so, they don't exactly have dates on birth, death and marriages. I may make a few smaller additions before them.

For the families

Jarlabanke Runestones - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[UMACI]

The families above are coming along nicely, there are also several other people mentioned in some of those runestones, individuals and families, that don't seem to be related with the main group of families, I may add them as well if any of them would seem to be alive in 1066 or connected to some existing family.

Another family I intend to do is Immedingers, family of Widukind. I've already added a few so far but would later on add all the members I could find. I've also added some members for Ekbertiners so in the future I may perhaps work on more Saxon families.

 

[UMACI]

I can't remember if I have mentioned them before but I am also adding some, mostly fictional, families to represent the Crimean Anglo-Saxons. They were Anglo-Saxon refugees that fled from England to Byzantine Empire after William conquered England. 3 Earls and 8 Barons with a force consisting of 350 ships lead by Siward Earl of Gloucester, who may have been Siward Bearn. This would be a decade or two after the 1066 start date but since there are no later starts, I'll make them courtiers in Byzantine Empire and give them claims to counties they had settlements in. Currently I haven't yet done much on this as I don't have much spare time for the time being. If possible I would like to find names of all these people and any relations they may have had but if not, I'll go with some fictional families naming them after their settlements in Byzantine Empire that I could find of. So far I found 4 place names, one that was located in what is in game duchy of Bithynia, one in duchy of Crimea and two in duchy of Azov.

New England (medieval) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[UMACI]

Added a few members of King Salomon of Brittany's family. The son of his brother, his missing son and his daughter who married to count of Vannes. I knew of his daughter and wanted to add her for a while so while I checked to learn of her name I run across them and added them as well, nothing extensive really, just 5 minutes of work. I don't exactly have plans for the region (Brittany and France in general with exception of some vikings settled in Normandy and other areas) in the foreseeable future. But may occasionally make small additions like these if I run across anyone missing. I will also add to the first post my roadmap that I thought of when I decided to go ahead and make it a mod though it has since been outdated and I didn't exactly kept to it but just to give an idea of what else will come.

 

[UMACI]

A small update on progress, 2 of the 6 main families from the runestones are done, 1 family is either complete or near complete (it's progress depends on another family) 1 is more than half complete and another is halfway through. The Sixth House I haven't exactly started because it could be identical to another house from the Runestones, if it is identical than it would also add 2 more members to the house that I'm not sure if it's complete.

Also made a small addition to family of Rurik's mother. Previously I've added her father Gostomysl, her elder sister and younger sister as well as a son of the eldest sister. I've also found a daughter of the eldest sister and added her, as well as found a possible name of the eldest sister. Gostomysl also had sons but all died before him so later on I'll add them as well.

Making some additions to Ragnar Lothbroks family as well, firstly his two unnamed daughters from his first wife (but keeping them young so they could be married)
and later on would probably add all 3 of his remaining supposed wives and children he had from them.

 

[UMACI]

A small addition, added the family of Rodulf king of the Herules because Silinga, one of the wives of the Lombard King Wacho from the Lething dynasty (which I've previously added) was the daughter of a Herule king and this king is thought to be Rodulf. Rodulf died in battle in 508 fighting against Wacho's uncle, King Tato because Tato's daughter murdered Rodulf's brother.

Also added a small number of missing Karlings. I don't plan on going around searching for Karlings for the time being (at a later time when I have less on my plate I will) but if I come across any I'll add. Actually added just a single actual Karling but added all the family of Pepin the Old I could find and I may probably push Karlings before other things since there wouldn't be that many of them missing and I would probably find info on them easier.

 

[UMACI]

Started Karlings. As previously said added all the family members of Pepin the Old I could find, his father, his sister, his missing children and missing grandchildren from his sons. Also added all the missing children of Charlemagne I could find, these ones either died as babies or were sent to monasteries so no new branches with perhaps the exception of a daughter who may have been the mistress of another noble and may have had a son. Also added missing children of Arnulf of Carinthia, a daughter and a son. I'll go one branch at a time but may do other families between branches as there are a few families (mostly from England I've started weeks ago but are still not complete.

 

[UMACI]

Added a very small family, family of Haylwardus Snew who is thought to be identical to Aliwardus Maew, with the names thought to be a corruption of Æthelweard or Ælfweard. Aliwardus was a grandson of Edward, thought to be a bastard son of one of his sons. The family only has 3 generations and 3 known members with last member dying childless after 1062. I moved his death to 1067 so would be available at 1066 start.

Also added another small family, Aistulph and his son Albert the last king of "Jutii Vectiani", Jutes of Wight. Albert died around 880. I'll give him a claim for Isle of Wight and also add a fictional daugher or two.

And also added a single member to Normandy dynasty. Hrolfr is said to have visted or even lived for a while in Scotland during his youth and has had a daughter there so added him a bastard daughter.

One more addition, added two more missing members of Thuringen dynasty, two wives of Clotaire I. Will connect them with their children later on.

Currently working on the family of Æthelstan Mannessune, a landowner and the son of a priest named Manne. And also on Family of Oswald of Worchester, a relative of Æthelstan Mannessune's wife. Oswald's grandfather whose name is unknown was a Danish invader, but it seems the family quickly integrated by becoming Christians because in just one generation a member, Oswald's uncle Oda, became the Archbishop of Canterbury in 941 and another member of Oswald's family, Oscytel, became Archbishop of York in 958. Probably will add a few smaller families from Anglosaxon Bishops, Kings and Nobles as well if I encounter any. That would have members in 867 or 1066.

After this it is another generation of Karlings or if I have more time finishing one more family from the Runestones.

Edit: I totally forgot about it, there were a few more Merovingians left to add. I'll probably finish them in a couple of days if I don't forget again.

Edit2: So it seems I had the Merovingians at ready with just birth/date deaths to assign and a few names to unnamed ones. I finished all the Merovingians I could find and with them added as well, total of Merovingians I've added hit 54. I will check later on, hopefully within the week, to see if there are any branches that I have skipped and didn't search for missing members.

 

[UMACI]

So one problem I encountered now is that apparently the Thuringen dynasty I added already existed. I created the family out of scratch because there was only one member, Amalafrid whose mother was a member of the Ostrogothic Amali, however it seems he was a duplicate and a more complete family -although that doesn't have all the members I've added- including him also existed. I'll have to remove the duplicates sometime later. Another problem is Paradox merged 2 or 3 families that ruled Thuringia but had no known connection to eachother, I'll break at least the first royal family which Amalafrid was a member of from this.

 

[UMACI]

Another small progress update, on one of the side projects, the Tribals. I have vastly expanded Sermesianoi to represent that it included Romans, Germanic peoples (Franks and Gepids), Bolghars and possibly also Slavs (represented them with Croatians for the time being) and Avars. As far as I can remember only two tribes are left from what I intended for the first version, two Slavic tribes from Morea peninsula. After that the next additions on this line will probably West Slavs but I may go with a mix as well.
I am also adding some marriages between tribes that lived close to eachother.

Edit: Also finished 5 of the 6 families from the Runestones. Last family I'll do at a later time because the member connected to the other families could be identical to someone mentioned in other Runestones, if so meaning some more members to add both to her family and one of the completed families.

Slavic tribes from Morea can also be considered complete as it will be entirely fictional people since I couldn't find any name from members of the tribe. Will start adding families to represent missing West Slavic tribes when I have time to check which ones exist in game and which ones don't.

Edit2: Started on adding missing ancestors and descendants of Uhtred of Babbenburg. Made very good progress and mostly completed it. Finished adding members of Uhtred's family, if I find more members that would be alive in this period I'll add them as well.

Edit3: I've previously found some names of the chiefs of some of the Slavic tribes from Byzantine Empire I've added, I started giving these historical names to the ones I can match with his tribe.

Also added more Karlings, missing children of Lothaire I.

Will try to finish families of Æthelstan Mannessune and his wife after that may start adding some Western Slavic tribes

 

[UMACI]

I have finally finished adding all the Immedingers (Widukind's descendants) I could find. This was the last of the large families with this many missing members that I initially planned to do. Currently there are 2-3 more than half donefamilies from England left that I am currently still working on a couple or so small Norse ones and 2 Byzantine ones, Chryselios and Doukas, both of which are almost complete. I have previously decided not to do Sklerios until after I have finished most other things so I may focus on that after the Anglo-Saxon ones. There are still others that I plan to do eventually such as families of emperors before the Tetrarchs but when I'll get to them, I don't know, all the things I have initially planned and much more would be done with these.

 

[UMACI]

I have completed Doukas (could only find 5 missing members) and Chryselios families as well as the 2 families from England, Æthelstan Mannessune's family and family of his unnamed wife. The Norse family mentioned is the last main family remaining from the runestones that could be identical to another family but it doesn't seem to be so I will make them as two seperate families as well.

So with these ones complete as well, there are almost no families that I had any research done left. With the exception of Skleros family the last few remaining ones are filled with many gaps such as Zoe Karbonopsina's family where we know of her great-grandfather but no family member inbetween so I'll not be posting them until I decide what to do with them. I think I'll be finished with Skleros in a couple of days as well and then upload the latest changes. I will also move all the members of Krum (Balgarsko in game) and Kometopoulos dynasties under Dulo dynasty since Krum is thought to be a Dulo and Kometopuli are descended from Krum's family.

Since I don't have much time and don't have any researched family left, after these I won't be working as frequently on this and any time I spend working on this will be to mostly spot errors and missing connections between people and correct those to hopefully release this as a mod in a finished state within a couple of months. Since missing tribes are made up of mostly fictional members, I will probably occasionaly add a few ones as well but that's about it. When I have more time I will probably add more missing members from Saxon families or Hungarians but this will be, at earliest around late March.

Edit: I think I'll be finished with Skleroi tommorrow or the day after depending on how much time I can spare on them, of those I've found so far, I've added near half of them two thirds.

 

[UMACI]

Still some work to do with Skleroi but also added all the Billungs I could previously find, 10 or so.

 

[UMACI]

Since I'm mostly finished besides, some polishing and correcting errors etc. a return to something I was doing at the start but then dropped out, the decisions I have taken with some families and why. As mentioned before I try to add more than one theory if those aren't mutually exclusive both to represent as many as the theories I can and in some cases for flavor as well. Hre is one example of it being for flavor also, Tarchaneiotes family:

The origins of the family are uncertain with there being three theories, That the name derives from the Mongol word Targan (Bulgars and many other Turkics also have a title Tarkan), that the family is of Georgian origin and that the name derives from a village called Tarchaneion in Thrace. Since there wasn't any way to exactly represent the origin of being from Tarchaneion, I couldn't include it but I took the other two origins. The first known member is Gregorius Tarchaneiotes, I added him a fictional father of Georgian origin with the same dynasty as him and a fictional mother and maternal grandmother of Bulgar origin with a dynasty named Targan.

Tarchaneiotes - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org