The Restoration of the Roman Empire in Just Over 50 Rulers - Modded Byzantium to Rome AAR (Gameplay Cancelled due to Save Breaking)

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

775:
Whilst in the middle of a period of mourning for his late father, Leon was enraged to be interrupted by the return of the Strategos of Adrianopolis, once more asking for land. Leon fought back his tears and his brief desire to punch the man to diplomatically refuse his request. The lockdown started in 773 continued.

776:
Leon was initially overjoyed to hear that his younger sister Anthousa was expecting a second child, but joy turned to tragedy when she died giving birth to a daughter named after her mother Eudokia. Leon refused to speak to anyone for a week after losing his sister. When he finally left his chambers, he decided to host a small family get together with his two adult brothers still residing in Constantinople, Nikephoros and Niketas. The event was a success and the brothers were never closer.

777:
Leon hated the idea of wars, and only went along with his father's wars as Symbasileus to prevent conflict. Therefore he wrote to the rulers of Armenia and Antioch, who were plagued by invasions from the frontier Themes. He offered to help them end their wars by arresting and delivering the unruly Strategoi to them. This plan succeeded. Leon also took note at the end of the Bulgarian civil war between two royal princes, which ended with Serbia subjugating Bulgaria.

778:
Leon conducted a census of the Empire and was thrilled to discover that his friend Ben was still alive, living in the Theme of Armeniacon. However, he was shocked to discover that Ben never wanted to speak to him again. Leon didn't know what he had done wrong. He also discovered that his other friends had perished in the Great Measles Plague, also wanting nothing to do with him. Leon went to his chambers and asked himself "Why does everyone hate me?"

779 and January 1st 780:
At the start of the year, Leon was informed that the never-ending Measles Plague had been joined by a Plague of Consumption. It was estimated that the Empire would be on lockdown until at least 783. In July, Leon contracted Consumption from a contaminated corpse brought into the Palace by the Court Physician. Leon asked him to do anything he could to help his ailing physique and constant coughs. When he realised he didn't have much time left in this world, Leon formally appointed his eldest son Konstantinos as Symbasileus, declared his future widow Eirene to be the leader of their son's Regency Council and asked his younger brother Christophoros, the Strategos of Epirus, to safeguard the military. Leon's health slowly declined as the year progressed, to the point where he stopped breathing on January 1st 780, surrounded by his wife, children, Court Physician and siblings. Eirene and Christophoros were in total command for now, as Konstantinos was just 10 years old...

 

[Midnite Duke]

Leon had a short and rather uneventful reign. Thank you for the update.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

@Midnite Duke nothing much happened in Leon's reign, but I can't say the same for Konstantinos VI - I'm actually going to split it into two parts - the Regency and his Sole Reign (with maybe an Interlude in between). The non-martial, non-intrigue rulers are probably going to be boring (no expansion and no intrigue shenanigans)

 

[Lord Durham]

Leon fought back his tears and his brief desire to punch the man to diplomatically refuse his request.

Might be a short, uneventful reign, but I love this diplomatic solution. It should be a go-to response in the real world as opposed to "We protest your actions vehemently, have a nice day."

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

@Lord Durham Leon was an interesting character to roleplay, even if nothing much of note happened in his reign. Having the kind trait and family focus meant that Leon wasn't going to threaten to execute the Strategos like his father (or as a minor spoiler - his son) but was still going to be unhappy at the military governor's lack of respect for the recently deceased (who he had made the same request to).

 

[Chac1]

What a sad short chapter. Leon showed a lot of character despite the challenges of his reign.

However, he was shocked to discover that Ben never wanted to speak to him again.

This added some real depth to the sadness of this chapter. Interesting how you turned this game quirk into something that helped the story.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

780:
Konstantinos VI was crowned as the sole Basileus at the age of 10 following his father's death. His reaction to the coronation ceremony was "Can we get this over and done with, I want to play with my toys". The ceremony was attended only by members of the court as the lockdown continued.

781:
Konstantinos turned 12 in the fall, and a monumental event occurred. The young Basileus had become enamored with the daughter of a carpenter who lived in the court as a result of the lockdown. He requested that she join him in a barn near the Imperial Palace. Here he suggested that they 'cuddle'. She agreed, and they 'cuddled' in the barn for many hours. Konstantinos knew that nobody could learn of this, he was the Basileus, she was just the carpenter's daughter, he was 12 and she was 16. Luckily for him (as he had lost interest in her after the 'cuddle') there was no evidence of the event happening.

782:
Konstantinos was in the middle of the constant arguing between his mother Eirene and his uncle Christophoros. Eirene wanted to focus on the unruly vassals and bring them into line, Christophoros wanted to expand the Empire. The young Basileus said to himself "I can't wait to grow up so I can have both of these idiots banished".

783:
Christophoros managed to get his way, but he had to make a compromise. The Empire declared war on the young Chief of Avlonas, whose father had lost Epirus during the Slavic wars. This war ended in about 4 weeks. The lockdown continued, as although the Measles and Consumption were gone, they were replaced by Typhoid, Typhus and Smallpox.

784:
Konstantinos had been betrothed to a vassal, the Stratigessa of Abydos, but she died in the Great Pandemic. When Konstantinos heard the news, his reaction was "Oh no, anyway" as he inherited the entirety of Abydos as a result.

785:
Konstantinos came of age in October, and he decided to celebrate by seducing his aunt Eustathia. She was not amused. "Jesus Christ Konstantinos, I'm your aunt" she told him when he said that he loved her. He decided he needed to get experience in the art of seduction, so he found Zdenka, a Serbian 'recruit' who was the mother of his uncle Ioannes (Kasjan). As she was his 'recruit', he could have just ordered her to his chambers, but he wanted to learn how to make women adore him. In the mind of Konstantinos, Zdenka would be an easy target as no man but the Basileus could have their way with the 'recruits' and his father refused to do this, meaning she hadn't been with a man since his grandfather's reign. She eagerly engaged in 'conversation' with him.

786:
The Regency continued despite Konstantinos' majority, but he had a plan for the following year where he would end it. Zdenka gave birth to a son, but Konstantinos refused to acknowledge it was his, saying "Do you think I would touch that glutton?". Instead he focused on the next target of his affections, his sister. He had declared Eirene as his heir, because he had the following opinions of his brothers: "Leon would be a better general, Michael is bald and nobody wants a bald emperor (ironic) and Ioustinianos needs to be sent away before he finds a friend named Belisarios." Konstantinos managed to meet with his sister at a small lockdown party. He asked "Would you like to come to my chambers for a drink?", to which she agreed. After a couple of drinks on both ends, the two had a 'cuddle' in the Basileus' bed. However he lost interest in her after this and moved on to the next target, which his master plan relied on...

 

[Nikolai]

This is no nice fellow.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

@Nikolai I know right, but he actually gets worse as he gets older.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Guys, he is a cuddler. He probably likes ponies and unicorns. The AI seduction focus is evil. Thank you for the update.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

The AI seduction focus is evil.

I agree, which is why I always turn it (and AI Intrigue Focus) off.

 

[Chac1]

What a turn this AAR has taken! The Basileus is an absolute scoundrel.

I know right, but he actually gets worse as he gets older.

Worse! I shudder at what awaits. Because this is just barely dipping a toe into all that CK2 can give us on the dark side of what rulers do.

I agree, which is why I always turn it (and AI Intrigue Focus) off.

No. Don't turn off the fun parts.

So how is it these events happened if those parts are switched off? Or have you made an exception for this AAR?

I do have to ask about the "cuddling" at 12. Is this event in the game? From a mod? Or literary license?

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

So how is it these events happened if those parts are switched off?

I was playing as Konstantinos at the time, having it off for the AI doesn't keep it off for me.

I do have to ask about the "cuddling" at 12. Is this event in the game? From a mod? Or literary license?

I think it is in the base game. The event is a short chain that lets you first choose your ruler's sexuality (carpenter's daughter versus farmer's son) and then between the chaste and lustful trait (kiss on cheek versus 'cuddle'). The event usually fires before the ruler comes of age. The literary license was making it make sense in the context of the fact the court was isolated for nearly a decade at that point.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

This interlude is from the point of view of Basileus Konstantinos VI, rather than the usual point of view of the player.

Warning: Some scenes may be NSFW

Everyone had gathered in the Imperial Palace. Patriarchs, Strategoi, foreign dignitaries (even non-Christian ones) and family members. I, on the other hand, couldn't wait to leave. The Ecumenical Patriarch approached me, asking "Are we ready for you to open the Council?" I replied, "Yes, but I need a favour." "Anything for you, my Basileus" "Good". As some of the dignitaries were busy conversing with one another, I approached the makeshift stage that was made for me. "Welcome to the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople". Not everyone seemed to hear me, so I shouted, "Silence, morons".

After getting the Council underway, I was greeted by a diplomat representing Radoslav the Blind, the self-proclaimed 'Tsar of Carpathia'. I refuse to acknowledge his fake Imperial title (the blind shouldn't be allowed to rule and there is only room for one Empire in the Mediterranean). He is just the King of Serbia, Bulgaria and Pannonia. I couldn't understand the diplomat so I got that serving woman Zdenka to get rid of him in any way.

The Ecumenical Patriarch began talking about the need to reunite the Church and address the Iconoclast Controversy. Many of the Patriarchs agreed that Iconoclasm needed to be renounced and declared a heresy. The Patriarch stated that on my behalf, the traditional Orthodox doctrine would be restored. And it was with that act the Regency Council was disbanded and my sole reign could begin.

I thought to myself "Keep talking Patriarch, so I can implement my next plan". I started to look at ways to leave the Palace undetected. I then approached my aunt Melissa, asking if she would take a walk with me to the coast. She agreed to join me. The walk took about an hour, although it would have been quicker if I wasn't trying to keep my disappearance from the Council a secret. Eventually we reached the coast. We started talking about the beautiful view and the fresh sea air. Melissa said "It's been years since I was last out of the Palace, hopefully the Pandemic ends at some point." I agreed, not letting her know about my escapades in a barn a couple of years ago.
I then asked her about love. "Is there anyone in the court that takes your fancy? Let me know and I can arrange something". She started to blush, saying "Yes there is, but I'm not sure he sees me that way". I told her "I'm sure he does" while biting my lip. Her face became a brighter shade of red. "He probably thinks I'm inexperienced in matters of love" she said. I mean, she is inexperienced, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I told her, "everyone has to start somewhere". She said "What if I become pregnant, though, then I'd be ruined". "No you wouldn't, and there are ways of love-making that you cannot become pregnant from, you could start there" I replied. "How do you know?". "Experience, a lot of experience, if you want I could show you" and she started kissing me as soon as I said that. "Show me Konstantinos, show me how to make love". I tell her to turn around and remove her dress. She obliges and then I remove my clothes. I told her "It often hurts the first time, especially in the NPZ" "The what?" "The No Pregnancy Zone" "Okay, do it". I unsheathed my sword and impaled her with it. She groaned "That's not that bad, can you go harder Konstantinos?" I increased my pace and her groans turned to screams of pleasure. After a few minutes she collapsed on the sand in climax. "Can we go again?" she asked. I said "give me a few minutes". Five minutes later I ask, "Ready for Round 2? This time we'll do it risky" "But what if I get pregnant?" "Then I'll marry you because I love you" She looked delighted when I said that and eagerly presented her front for me to impale with my sharp blade. I pushed her down on the sand and bit her neck, causing her to scream again. When we finished I told her we have to make our way back to the Palace.

We returned to the Palace and the Patriarch was still talking about Church unity. My new paramour entered through a different passageway, leaving none the wiser, until what I said once the Patriarch had finished speaking. "I need to call in that favour now, Your Holiness." "Of course, my Basileus, what is it for?" "Dispensation to marry my aunt". "Your aunt, Konstantinos? If I hadn't agreed already and if I could tell I had a choice I would not grant dispensation, but I know you're not one for taking no for an answer". I was thrilled and couldn't wait to tell her that we were going to be married. Little did I know that getting the dispensation now and causing a minor scandal would go on to prevent a major one....

 

[Nikolai]

Well, yes. Definitely nsfw.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

@Nikolai I have a feeling that the Interludes are going to end up being more NSFW than the regular chapters (as they're from the point of view of characters). It'll be back to regular chapters for the remainder of Konstantinos' reign, the reign of his successor and her successor. The Interludes will mark the end of parts which represent specific eras (such as the First Iconoclastic Period) and help with the transition between these eras. I'll have a minor spoiler below as to who the protagonists of the next Interlude will be (we've already met them):

Spoiler: Interlude 2 Protagonists

Konstantinos VI's brother Leon, their uncle Michael (the son of a 'recruit') and a mysterious assassin officially introduced in the next chapter who is a member of the Imperial dynasty.

 

[jak7139]

Konstantinos is an...interesting character.

I'm curious about how this minor scandal will prevent a larger one later. Intriguing.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

So I log back onto the forums to check this AAR, and notice I've been nominated for the Best Character Writer of the Week Award. I've already thanked those who nominated me, but I would like to thank everyone else, whether they have commented on the AAR or they are just silent readers. To celebrate, I'm going to start writing up the next chapter, and will post it as soon as it is completed.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

787:
The marriage of nephew and aunt created a minor scandal due to the need for a dispensation from the Ecumenical Patriarch. However Konstantinos breathed a sigh of relief that he had gone ahead with the marriage when Melissa showed signs of pregnancy within weeks of the wedding. Eventually the Imperial couple welcomed a baby boy, named Leon after the previous Basileus. The little prince would have been scandalous if his parents hadn't married, as Konstantinos was seriously considering declaring his son as his heir.

788:
Melissa suffered from extreme jealousy, and Konstantinos realised she feared the current heir to the Empire; his sister Eirene. Of course the siblings had a dirty secret they planned on keeping to themselves. So Konstantinos had Eirene locked up, but he decided against removing her as his heir as there was already concerns over the health of young Prince Leon. Religious leaders suggested his deformities were caused by his parents' incestuous relationship. By Konstantinos' own logic, his son was ineligible to be Basileus (disliking Radoslav for being blind (see Interlude 1))

789:
The Pandemic seemed to never end, as Consumption returned to plague the lands. Konstantinos and Melissa welcomed another son, named after his father and completely healthy. The temptation to declare the newborn as his heir was great, but Melissa realised she would have to fight her brothers for control of the Regency if anything happened to her husband. The risk of Christophoros destabilising the Empire again was deemed too great to have an heir under the age of 16. Eirene remained the heiress, even though she was under house arrest, as she was popular among the vassals, the military and the Church, so she was seen as the compromise candidate.

790:
Konstantinos was bored so he decided to join a secret society known as Lucifer's Own. To join, he had to engage in 'conversation' with a random Persian woman. Konstantinos gladly took part and was able to become a member of the cult. When this didn't relieve his boredom, he engaged in 'conversation' with two 'recruits' simultaneously. These 'recruits' were twin sisters and both became pregnant. Konstantinos denounced the children when they were born.

791:
Konstantinos met the Persian woman again, and they began an affair. Melissa decided to gain her husband's attention by assassinating a minor Baron. This was discovered, and Konstantinos faced calls to punish his aunt-wife. His response: "Oh I'll punish her alright" while seductively winking at her. This led to the conception of another son, named Kaisarios.

792:
The Persian woman became pregnant, but her husband discovered the affair. He wrote a letter to Konstantinos asking "Are you sleeping with my wife?" Konstantinos wrote a reply letter denying the allegations. When the child was born, he refused to acknowledge it, but continued the affair. The Grandmaster of Lucifer's Own asked Konstantinos to sacrifice a dwarf, the Basileus obliged by kidnapping one from one of his vassals' courts.

793:
Konstantinos and Melissa celebrated the good news for their progeny. Christophoros had died in the Great Pandemic. The Imperial couple celebrated by holding a lockdown party. This wasn't good though, as a few members of the family became infected with Consumption. Melissa caught it but recovered, a cousin died, and his uncle Nikephoros, a wise man who Konstantinos had considered making Ecumenical Patriarch if the job became available, was left permanently bed-ridden.

794:
Konstantinos was greeted by a man in a cloak who offered to be his personal assassin. The Basileus hired the shadow man to kill for him, but told him there wouldn't be a mission for at least a year. What Konstantinos did not know was that this man was someone very close to him.

795:
The Great Pandemic finally ended, and the lockdown finished after more than twenty years. Everyone was able to go outside again, and Konstantinos decided to send his youngest brother Ioustinianos away to govern the Theme of Cherson, after the local governor's recent heirless death. The succession to Christophoros as military strongman of the family was a three-way contest between the Strategos of Cherson, Prince Leon (the Basileus' brother, not his son) and Cousin Staurakios, the son of the incapacitated Nikephoros. Melissa warned him he could be creating their son's worst nightmare. Konstantinos dismissed it, asking if she thought herself incapable of handling her three unruly nephews.

796 + January 1st 797:
Konstantinos began the year by welcoming a daughter, named Eudokia after Melissa's mother. The Grandmaster of Lucifer's Own returned, seeking another dwarf sacrifice. "This woman sure has a thing for dwarves" remarked Konstantinos. This time he convinced the brother of the Strategos of Trebizond to join his court, where he was then imprisoned and sacrificed. In the summer, Konstantinos realised his vassals were allying with each other via strategic marriages. He went to his assassin and said "I've got some jobs for you. Make sure you wipe out the dynasties of Thessalonika, Mallorca and Charsianon". The shadow man quickly got to work and the deeds were done by November. Konstantinos integrated these provinces into his personal demesne. Unbeknownst to him, a plot was brewing. On January 1st 797, Konstantinos was meeting his mother Eirene (who he was on very bad terms with), when he was ambushed by his assassin. He heard a commotion coming from his sister's quarters. The younger Eirene joined their mother and the assassin in cornering the Basileus. "Please, what do you want?" Konstantinos screamed out. Eirene the Younger stated "Everything, brother, just like you took everything from me. I'm going to take your crown, your sword and your life". The Empress Dowager grabbed the Imperial Crown and placed it on her daughter's head. Eirene grabbed a dagger and cut Konstantinos' sword off, and the assassin took the dagger to slit his liege's throat. Basileus Konstantinos VI instantly dropped to the floor and slowly bled out. Eirene said "Throw his corpse in the sea and let us find his aunt"....

 

[HistoryDude]

Well, Leon's reign was peaceful and uneventful. Konstantinos clearly decided that he could still have an interesting reign even if he remained at peace. I can't imagine that anyone likes him much.

Were the Catholics invited to this "Ecumenical" Council?

Konstantinos's death was... predictable. Most of the realm is probably relieved. Maybe Lucifer's Own is annoyed? Will they do anything about the death of their... useful... acolyte?

782:
Konstantinos was in the middle of the constant arguing between his mother Eirene and his uncle Christophoros. Eirene wanted to focus on the unruly vassals and bring them into line, Christophoros wanted to expand the Empire. The young Basileus said to himself "I can't wait to grow up so I can have both of these idiots banished".

Konstantinos is a terrible person, but this part makes me sympathize a bit with him. It doesn't make up for all the other stuff, though.

What happened to those imprisoned strategoi that were attacking Antioch and Armenia?