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Observations of an Alien realm

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Negotiations were complex and mutual, until Robert was burned

Spartenos blood stir in the...

Viceroy of Syria

Dementios grew old and passed away. Guigues his francophilic and catholic son, de-facto took the mantle. He was the scorn of the Orthodoxists, who proceeded to whinge loudly. Events in Italy would rivet his attention, Roberts only son vanished and with him Norman hopes to continue their authority. Depressed, spies reported Robert grew mad and zealous. One evening a messenger rushed in, declaring to Guigues that not only was Orthodoxy illegal but it was heathen; an "Religious Inquisition" had begun by the zealous Friar sect. Orthodox counts were uprooted and burned, new rulers from Flanders and France grew into their estates, Friars questioned burning villages enmasse; Guigues breathed a sigh of relief. Messina, Taranto and Naples reconverted to catholicism, Rome looked close to toppling. But two factors set him into action: Naples debt had hit the -5000 mark (Notes 3.1) and Robert became papal controller, he now had the power to excommunicate any catholic ruler from succession. The risk was too great, one night in Benvento Robert was dragged out of bed. Twelve Orthodoxists, former priests but now hunted heathens swathed him in an oily sack, then set it alight with Greek fire. The Spartenos coup-de-etait had begun.
Robert.gif

An late 16th Century Puglian picture,
dipicting Robert taken from bed and burned.
Research has shown that he was actually "sacked"
rather then staked


Notes​

3.1 AI don't go into debt, stupid!
Ever notice how if you inherit a title you follow AI rules? Well an AI inheriting a human follows human rules... I guess its a good thing that AI don't fall into debt!
 
Isn't it amazing how the AI never goes into debt though? So frustrating. The Sparteos are handling themselves quite well, they've reached critical mass.
 
The return of Orthdoxy

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After two catholic kings, Orthodoxy had returned to Naples

Spartenos blood stir in the...

Prince of Benvento

Not expected to reign, Leo makes him Prince of Benvento. Clergical education and hate of father (Notes 4.1) alligns him with Orthodoxists, diplomatical talents and prestige make him champion of the ideology. Brought to line by Robert, Isaakios powerless "travelled" with his soverign watching him appoint catholic lords and Ducs. Every night he would engage in fierce theological debates with Hautville, fanatic priests as they were. Pensions cut, his brother Demetrios kept him afloat, sending each other coded letters both united in desire to remove the Normans. Isaakios was shattered then when Demetrios signed the "September accords" with Hautville, promising to catholize Naples. Visiting Neapolis, reconverted to catholism Isaakios fell into stress. Naturaly Isaakios became enemies with Demetrios son, absent from his cordination. In highly published exploits, Isaakios revolted six times from his dirt-poor estates and reigned ten-years of anarchy; Exhusted, Issakios and Guigues made final peace, both fighting in the fourth crusade. With their king wounded, the Orthodox and Catholic parties of the Kingdom negotiated a historic moment. Issakios would have Naples, Guigues son would have Syria. His first action was to erase the elective law, sealing off alien succession.

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In 1805, Isaakios was collectively sainted by each metropolitan, (excluding Coptic, Ethopian)

Notes 2.1 Why the hate?
Isaakios loved his mother, at twenty he learned that his father had sired three bastards and cheated consitantly. Thurthermore, he grew in Neapolis, feeling more Greek then his French-speaking brothers and father.
 
Three Kingdoms, one family

Spartenos blood stir in the...

King of Venice
King of Naples
King of Aram


King of Venice

With Orthodoxy triamphant and Isakios's purging of the catholics, the last hope for Catholics lay in Barados Spartenos. Isaakios saw this instantly and successfully converted him personally. It was a diplomatic shockwave when Barados's 16 year old catholic son succeeded the recently established kingdom of Venice. Konstaninos had Italic ambitions, meeting the pope they negotiated to destroy his brothers. Both the Papal States and Venice declared war onto Naples, the king met Isaakios II twice in Neapolitan fields.
Both soverign experianced defeat, but the second parry left Konstaninos with 1000 men. He retired to Salerno, getting word that 30k Italians had fallen in three battles, to 13k Neapolitans. Even worse news would follow: The Swiss-Burgundian commonwealth had taken arms against them. Konstantinos solder-king, still possessed Political inctincts; yes let the Neapolitans rule Napoli, he was going home. Burgundy at first, made progress slipping up by war-hardened Konstantinos at Trento. Innovative planning resulted in a Venetian victory for the first large pikeman battle in history. Fortunes changed with Neapolis allying with Bern against Venice. Isaakios thrust to Venice caught him off guard, Neapolitan armies overcame his marshalls at Taranto soon the beams began to crack.

King of Naples

Issakios II was born in violent times, violent times call for violent education. He escaped assisination by enemies twice, resolving to leave the court and join the army. Isaakios agreed reluctantly, to his delight he became tough at both war and diplomacy: as esential as bread and water in a feudal kingdom. In the army, Issakios befriended an talented marshal "Zeno" who would lead his armies. After ascending an iron throne he vowed to continue his fathers religious projects. His strongest vassal, Barbas Prince of Campania vowed alliagence whilst his armies strangled the life out republican Venice. Nothing could prepare Issakios for Barbas elevating himself to a kingdom and shoving the loose Neapolitan coils. Barbas stepped down in favour of his younger son, who owned fiefs in Naples. Naples never recognised Catholic Venice. Nether side seemed willing to kill its relatives. The Veneto-Neapoli war spilled ample blood, driving Issakios towards bankrupcy. He sold his possessions recklessly feeding the cities to the flames of war. Naples brushed close to defeat, an original army of 35,000 dwindled to 10,000 men in a year. Issakios broke his treaties, reigniting war which looted Campania. Venitan solders would destroy Napoli flood defences contaminating the country with Malaria. (Notes 1.1)

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Europe 1220

King of Aram

Leoist brood, established/trapped or exiled could fit any description. Their country was Arab, they were installed leaders in a country where less then 800 people in Damascus could call themselves Neapolitan. Through bloody torture encrust into tradition: 1/4 Syrians believed Jesus was the head of church, 1/15 Syrians believed the pope, the rest pooled trust in Allah. A good move was the handing of fiefs to Orthodox relatives. Warming to his neighboors, the turks were appeased by joint control over Anticheta.

Notes
1.1 The treaty of San Marino

The Venatians would hand over their south Italian possessions, completely renouncing ownership of Napoli. They would pay the sum of 256k ducats to Naples. The Neapolitans in return would recongnize Venice and renounce all claims towards its throne. The Neapolitans would vow not to support the Swiss-Burgardian Commonwealth.

1.2 Aram?
Is the name of biblical syria. Originaly catholic, its king converted to Orthodoxy to be more in tune with Damascus.
 
A most powerful state, definitely in a good position.