The Eastern Roman Emperors

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Alright, well this is my first attempt at an AAR so we will see how it goes.

I am going to try something different here. I know many of you are big Byzantine history buffs, so forgive me for my reaching back to an older time. I am going to write this AAR with a more Romanesque tint. That means I will be referring to some things differently. Now I am no Byzantine history buff, nor do I claim to know a lot about the Roman empire, but 100bce to 400ce are my favorite times and I am going to be writing with that type of flavor. You will get the idea when I begin. I am going to be referring to titles and positions differently so here is the new guide.

Emperor=Augustus
Emperor Elect(for elective first in line) = Caeser
Dukes = Senators; senatorial governor
Counts = Equestrian; equestrian governor
Steward= Quaestor
Marshal= Consul Legatus
Spymaster= Censor
Chancellor= Consul Prefectus


Also once I learn how to post pics, I will draw provinces onto the maps and designate the main governors and such.

Also I am going to be tackling this as a history of the (Eastern) Roman Empire, leader by leader. As was common, the best (or worst) prospect was adopted or appointed in a will as the new emperor, sometimes not from the same family. So I will actually be playing different dynasties. I will save and reload as the Byzantine empire whenever someone new takes over.

Anyways, I hope it works out well.
I know this is a stretch on historical correctness! But I want to try it for fun.

Lets begin…

 

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Konstantinos Dukas (1006-1067) reign 1059-1067

Perhaps the greatest deed that can be said of Konstantinos 8 year reign was his bypassing of his son as Caeser and instead appointing Alexios Komnenus as his heir. The decision appeared to be partly based upon the idea that Konstantinos had an infatuation with the young Alexios when he came to Constantinople on an errand for his father in 1062, for after that time up until his death, Konstantinos and Alexios were together frequently for matters of teaching and state.
Yet not much else can be said of Konstantinos reign as Augustus. He instituted no building projects nor did he engage in any wars. Silvanus, author of the “Historia Roma” indicates that Konstantinos, spent much of his time in his palace indulging himself on fine foods and fine women. Rarely was he seen in public, for he was too ashamed of his crooked feet. His pale skin also accounted for many stories of being cursed, and that God was punishing him for his sinful ways.

With the Emperor locked away in his palace indulging in pleasures of life, the weight of his power mainly rested with the City Prefect Andronikos Spanogregores, who was attempting to secure for himself the appointment as Caeser. Andronikos was a cool and calculated tyrant. He would incite mobs in Constantianople against the Emperor with his agents and then have the mob slaughtered and declare himself protector of the Roman Empire.
This brought Andronikos into contest with the Senatorial Governors who were being branded as the instigators of the mobs. Many a senator met his death by the command of Andronikos Spanogregores. His failure came when he was accused of plotting the murder of Alexios Komnenus. He was cleared of those charges, but the suspicion remained.

It appears that during this time Konstantinos had a bout of self-discovery, He rededicated his life to the almighty God, and began to wrest himself from his drunken stupor he had been living in for 4 years. After Christmas of 1066, Konstantinos made the bold decision of wresting the title of City Prefect from Andronikos Spanogregores, having him beheaded, and reclaiming much of his imperial power.

He began to speak of expanding the borders of the Roman Empire, He claimed that the western portion of the empire had been under the yoke of barbarians long enough. It seemed like the 61 year old Emperor believed he would take the empire into a new era. On Jan 1, 1067 He awarded the title of Caeser to Alexios Komnenus. Jan. 2 he began the call to the legions to prepare, and on the night of jan 3 Konstantinos Dukas went to bed dreaming of glory, never to awake.

His reign is perhaps not the most exciting, yet this man who never saw the light of the sun for a period of 2 years while he trapped himself in his palace, chose wisely in his heir. Something “greater” emperors failed to accomplish. Yet for all his vices, he left an empire intact, and ready to expand.

 

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Alright, got that out of the way. This first one isn't that great probably, but I really didn't have alot to go with. the reign of Alexios Komnenus will be better because i have a better history to work with. And I am still learning so my style should get better as I go.