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

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

This Interlude is rare in that it isn't from a POV of a character per say, but it is from the POV of the 'author'. I've seen a few commenters suggest that the AAR is taking a history-book format, so this Interlude is technically set in the Present (after the save), with the author of the history book we are reading explaining the Council to those with less of an interest in the history of the Restoration of Rome.

Interviewer: This is Claudius Anatolicus from the Roman Independent, the best news service in the Roman Empire, and I'm here to interview Julius Isauros, the author of the Complete History of the Isaurian Dynasty from 769-1453, the biggest and best book written about the Imperial Dynasty and the Empire.
Author: Hello Claudius, readers, listeners and viewers. If you don't know who I am, I'm the guy who writes all the history textbooks you had to read in college, Julius Isauros.
Interviewer: Obviously, by your surname, you are a member of the Isaurian dynasty. Do you think that makes you the most qualified historian on the matter?
Author: I suppose it does. As an Imperial Prince I had access to secret diaries, edicts and other troves of information that only people with security clearance (i.e members of the Imperial family) can access.
Interviewer: An Imperial Prince? That's a fancy title.
Author: Yes it is, but I am Her Imperial Majesty's nephew.
Interviewer: Surely you must have insider information about Her Imperial Majesty that outsiders don't know about.
Author: Yes, but I won't talk about it. If you want gossip you should interview Smbat Mamikonian, but I guess you don't want activists accusing you of supporting MRGA. I'm here to talk about the Second Ecumenical Council covered in my comprehensive history book, the 842 Council of Constantinople.
Interviewer: Alright.
Author: The 842 Council was convened in Constantinople after the death of Emperor Theophilus. The Regency Council led by his sisters Philippa and Elaiodora, alongside their husbands Nikephoros (the son of Michael I) and Athanasios (the son of Constantine VI), decided to renounce Iconoclasm once more in the name of the infant Michael III. The Ecumenical Patriarch gave a few words at the event, the Regents ordered slaves about. Michael probably soiled himself as he was likely not trained. Carpathia, which had been converted by Leo V, refused to attend and remained Iconoclast until the Great Slavic War conducted by Basil II. The Empire would continue to follow Orthodox Christianity until the Restoration, at which point the Religio Romana was reformed. It is suggested that followers of the Pontifex in Rome were pleased at the end of Iconoclasm in Constantinople, although they were aware it remained in Carpathia. Followers of Muhammad were outraged, however, accusing the Regents of idolatry. That should be an explanation of the Council and the surrounding context for entry level historians who might otherwise be overwhelmed by the dynastic jargon I often use in the books.
Interviewer: Thank you for your time. Ladies and gentlemen, give a round of applause to Julius Isauros.

Julius leaves the interview location and checks his phone for news. Of course the first thing to come up was Mamikonian suggesting that the influential Senator Alexander of Hibernia was only appointed because of his connections to the Imperial family. "Yes, he is Aunt Eudokia's maternal great-grandson, but it's not like Mamikonian was born a peasant now was it" Julius thought to himself. Mamikonian was a controversial figure in Imperial politics, as the leader of the Iconoclast Party and the 'Father of MRGA' as his opponents derided him. He saught to destabilise the Empire, whose boundaries had been as they were for centuries, by invading China and Sub-Saharan Africa. He was also a successful businessman who Aunt Eudokia had schemed against to prevent the Iconoclasts forming a coalition with the other Abrahamic parties, who were left as minorities after the brutal uprising against the Restoration of the Religio Romana centuries prior, but were becoming more influential due to outbreeding the Romans. Senators like Alexander had their jobs to prevent Mamikonian from starting a global conflict but also to protect the Imperial family, for Mamikonian was also opposed to anyone telling him what to do. Julius turned off his phone and went to sleep, dreaming of the next piece of Imperial history to explain on national news outlets....

 

[Midnite Duke]

The ASSASSIN still rides, now able to scare people to death. (This saves on dagger-cleaning.) Thank you for the update.

 

[Bullfilter]

Author: Yes it is, but I am Her Imperial Majesty's nephew.

Nephew? Then probably also her lover and eventual assassin, if the dynasty is still working in the same way it did a thousand years before!

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

@Bullfilter I don't plan on playing past the 1500s at the latest, so the dynasty will probably have mellowed out in the 500 years without my influence.

Spoiler: Rambling about the Interlude

(Also this Interlude is a bit more 'meta' and referential like one of the books I was writing until recently (writer's block and another book that would have to be released first to help the reader understand the author of the book in-universe), although I have referred to it in Chapter 0 (The strange men with the exception of Ben, who is from a third book which is even more referential and fantastical)

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

@Midnite Duke sorry, I forgot to reply to you earlier. Michael never cleaned the dagger, ever.

 

[HistoryDude]

Theophilos really liked hiding... maybe he was just antisocial?

What does MRGA stand for?

Will we learn more about this "Religio Romana"? How is it organized, other than being based on Roman Mythology and probably having a Pontifex Maximus? Is the emperor/empress the Pontifex Maximus?

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

@HistoryDude Theophilos wasn't antisocial, he liked to seclude himself to pray.
MRGA is a reference, as is its leader Smbat.
We'll hear nothing about the Religio Romana until the Restoration of the Roman Empire. The Empress is the Pontifex Maximus in the present, so yes it has Temporal leadership.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

842:
Michael III inherited the throne after the death of his father Theophilos, but a Regency Council was assembled due to his minority. It was led by his aunts Philippa and Elaiodora.

843:
Consumption broke out again. Elaiodora and her entire family perished, leaving Philippa and her husband Nikephoros in complete control over the Empire. The court entered self-isolation.

844:
Some vassals petitioned the Regent for land. They were told to go away before they were executed.

845:
Some Berber Emir decided to raid Neapolis. The local vassal decided to let him.

846:
The Croatians, vassals of Carpathia, decided it was their turn to raid the Empire, raiding the Dalmatian coast, with the Republic of Ragusa letting them go ahead.

847:
A late Strategos was declared a saint. The old governor of Trebizond (whose brother was sacrificed by Konstantinos VI) was awarded this honour for his piety.

848:
The lockdown ended.

849:
Another disease outbreak meant that one year to the day of the lockdown ending, another one was declared.

850:
Prince Bardas, the son of Leon V, had a stroke but recovered. At the age of 12, Michael was never more sure of Basileios becoming his successor should he die childless.

851:
More vassals asked for land and were turned away.

852:
The lockdown ended once more.

853:
Basileios became a grandfather after his daughter Basillike had a daughter named Markia. She was immediately betrothed to the Regent's newborn son Evangelos.

854:
Michael's sister Eirene came of age at the start of the year. She married their cousin Michael, the son of Philippa and Nikephoros. At the end of the year, Michael came of age and Philippa agreed to transfer power to him on January 1st 855, starting his sole reign over the Empire...

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

855:
Having finally came of age, Michael was able to do as he pleased. He started passionate affairs with four women in his court.

856:
One of Michael's mistresses gave birth to a daughter, Michael acknowledged her as his daughter.

857:
Another mistress gave birth to a son named Andreas, who Michael declared a legitimate child.

858:
Michael's other mistresses gave birth to daughters who were acknowledged by the Basileus.

859:
Andreas was joined by a full brother named Sebastianos who was also legitimised.

860:
Michael invaded Armenia to conquer Edessa. The war was long. A major battle took place at Manzikert which was being seiged by Armenia. The Imperial Army won the battle and moved on to occupy Edessa. Michael and a mistress had another daughter.

861:
The war in Armenia ended with Edessa and its surrounding provinces under Armenian control transferred to Byzantine control. The Caliph, who defended his tributary, was also forced to give up his holdings in Cyprus. The Emir of Kakheti declared independence from Armenia and the Kingdom was abolished. Kakheti was then conquered by Michael.

862:
Michael and his mistresses went to a retreat together in Thrake, where they could engage in 'conversation' to their heart's content.

863:
Basileios remarried as Michael did not see a suitable heir among the children of the Symbasileus.

864:
Basileios and his new wife had a son named Leon. Theophylaktos, Basileios' son from his first marriage, also got married.

865:
Michael and a mistress had a son named Theophilos after the Basileus' late father. Theophylaktos and his wife had a son named Romanos.

866 + January 1st 867:
The Ecumenical Patriarch had the cheek to ask the Basileus for money after some priests volunteered in the hospitals. Then he demanded that Michael be more proactive in wiping out Iconoclasm in the Empire. Michael remarked to his four mistresses, who were lying in his bed together, "That insolent bastard. I should have his head cut off for his trouble-making". The mistresses offered to help Michael through love-making. This led to two more daughters being conceived. In August, Bardas, the elderly and sickly father of Basileios, was killed in a duel by the Strategos of Samos. Michael ordered for Samos' arrest, but he rose up in rebellion, proclaiming himself Basileus. The rebellion was quickly crushed, and Samos was stripped of his titles and his life. Many courtiers seemed uneasy after this. On January 1st 867, Michael was planning to visit his mistresses when he was ambushed by a shadowy figure. The figure slit his throat. Michael bled out, and his body was discovered by his Symbasileus Basileios, who was now the sole Basileus of the Empire.

 

[Lord Durham]

And the assassinations continue...

MRGA: Make Rome Great Again?

 

[Midnite Duke]

MRGA: Most Rulers Get Assassinated?

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

@Lord Durham yes. @Midnite Duke I suppose it could have been, but why would a controversial businessman lead a movement about assassinations?

 

[Midnite Duke]

@Lord Durham yes. @Midnite Duke I suppose it could have been, but why would a controversial businessman lead a movement about assassinations?

To clean the muck from the swamp. Corruption is Evil!

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

To clean the muck from the swamp. Corruption is Evil!

Smbat just wants to go to war and smash icons, he's actually self-aware and knows he's corrupt. He is a convicted fraudster after all, but he plead guilty to get out of a jail sentence.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

867:
Basileios ascended to the throne following the sudden assassination of Michael III. His first act was to pass the Edict of Basileios, which would outlaw children from inheriting the throne, meaning his eldest son Theophylaktos would inherit if he died before his younger son Leon, who was born in the Purple Chamber at Michael's insistence, came of age. The new Basileus was obsessed with militaristic expansion, pledging to mop up the remnants of Armenia.

868:
Basileios' other obsession started. He began to search for the tomb of Alexander the Great. He had another son, named Alexandros after the legendary conqueror, but his wife died in childbirth. The Basileus fell into a deep depression and took a vow of celibacy.

869:
Basileios discovered the tomb of Alexander. He used this discovery to declare himself and the Isaurian dynasty as the heirs of the King of Macedon.

870:
Basileios declared war on the Caliphate to reconquer all of Syria. Many major battles were fought in Syria and neighbouring Assyria. The Empire occupied Syria, Assyria and the province of Suenik. Many of the Caliph's relatives were captured in the siege of the capital Damascus.

871:
The Caliph surrendered, giving Basileios all of the occupied territory in return for the safe release of his sons. Basileios turned his attention to Abkhazia, an Iconoclast former tributary of the Empire that broke free when Michael III was assassinated. A quick invasion led to Abkhazia being integrated fully into the Empire. The former Armenian King was forced to surrender Kartli after losing a war with Basileios.

872:
Basileios declared war on Khazaria to reclaim Eastern Cherson. The war lasted many months, but the provinces were reconquered and held by Basileios until a suitable date.

873:
Basileios had over a hundred prisoners captured during the wars he had fought. He decided to deal with the overpopulation problem by executing half of them.

874:
Andreas, the eldest (illegitimate) son of Michael III, was made the Strategos of Abkhazia. The Strategos of Cherson received Eastern Cherson.

875:
Basileios' depression deepened. He built a tavern at the Hagia Sophia so that he could drink his sorrows away while meeting the Ecumenical Patriarch.

876:
The deposed King of Armenia died, and Basileios went to war to quickly conquer Azerbaijan, which was successful.

877:
Another Pandemic started, leading to a lockdown. The Ecumenical Patriarch died.

878:
The new Ecumenical Patriarch died. Andreas was imprisoned after assassinating the Strategos of Thracesia, a distant relative and the last male descendant of the cannibal Basileus Nikephoros I (reigned 802-811). Basileios noticed that Leon had befriended Maurikios and Dionysia, two illegitimate children of Michael III.

879:
Basileios and Leon fell out over differences over the future of the Empire. Leon was upset that he had not been made Symbasileus yet, but Basileios told him that at 15 he was still too young. Basileios the Younger, the maternal grandson of the Basileus, attempted to intervene in the arguing, but to no avail. Theophylaktos refused to support his half-brother's claim of superiority in the line of succession, revealing his own ambitions for the throne. Another Ecumenical Patriarch died.

880:
Basileios the Younger was sent to Damascus to be the new Strategos. Leon came of age and was declared the new Symbasileus and heir, angering Theophylaktos. Andreas was finally punished for his crime by being covered in tar and put in the stocks. Basileios realised that Thracesia had a posthumous son, who could be given the land back when he would come of age. The boy was safe with his mother in Epirus, away from Andreas who was in a Constantinople jail cell.

881:
Maurikios was sent to be Strategos of Anatolia by Basileios. Leon felt that his father was isolating him from his allies in the court.

882:
The Ecumenical Patriarch died and Basileios had some drinks at the tavern in the Hagia Sophia.

883:
Basileios' daughter Sophia died, further increasing the elderly Basileus' depression. Leon began to prepare himself for the inevitable.

884:
The Pandemic ended, which was good as people were starving to death over the past year.

885 + January 1st 886:
Basileios was frequently at the tavern, drinking his sorrows away. After yet another Ecumenical Patriarch died, another lockdown was declared with a new Pandemic reaching Constantinople. Basileios decided that he had gone through enough in his life. On January 1st 886, he went to his chambers and drank and drank and drank. Leon discovered him drowned in his beer. The new Basileus decided that he would not just bury his father, but also the animosity between the two. Leon decided he wanted the Empire to be the most advanced country technologically and medically in the world...

 

[Midnite Duke]

Basileios had a nice reign (18yrs). He died not by the business end of a dagger, but rather by someone playing taps on a beer keg. Basileus Leon has noble intentions on day one. I wonder what truths day 2 hold. Thank you for Basileios' chronicle.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

@Midnite Duke Basileios will go down in history for his accomplishments: Basileus, Heir of Alexander, Reconqueror of Syria, War Hero (to Byzantines), War Criminal (to Arabians), Father, Husband and Alcoholic. As for Leon, I've played a year into his reign so far, and the first course of action has been more hospitals and tech advancements (in Construction and Shipbuilding).

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

886:
Leon VI was crowned as the sole Basileus. He immediately ordered for the expansion of Imperial hospitals.

887:
The hospital upgrades were finished.

888:
Alexandros was made Symbasileus at the age of 20, just in case Leon died heirless. Leon married his first wife, a half-sister of his friend Dionysia. She would give birth to a stillborn son.

889:
Leon got the Ecumenical Patriarch to grant him a divorce. Leon remarried later in the year. Romanos also got married.

890:
Leon's second wife became pregnant, but a stableboy was the father. The Basileus had both executed.

891:
Leon joined the Hermetic Society, led by his sister-in-law (Theophylaktos' wife). The duo would become friends as they bonded over their shared interests.

892:
Romanos' first son Christophoros was born. Theophylaktos died in an accident. A priest was murdered.

893:
Leon started observing the stars. He remarried again, but his third wife died a month after the wedding.

894:
Leon went to Arabia to buy a strange book off a mad monk, called the Necromonicon. Leon read it. Romanos' second son Stephanos was born. Leon married his first wife's niece, but quickly got a divorce as she was ugly.

895:
Leon and his widowed sister-in-law destroyed the laboratory of an Arabian mayor. Leon built his own observatory on an island. Romanos' third son Konstantinos was born. Andreas finally died in prison.

896:
Leon befriended a cannibal. He went to look at the stars again. Dionysia's son died suspiciously.

897:
The cannibal died. As did Leon's former sister-in-law. Romanos' wife replaced her mother-in-law as the Basileus' friend and fellow Hermetic. Another person's lab was destroyed. Leon married his fifth wife, but she repeated the second wife's mistake, so two executions were carried out.

898:
Leon looked at the stars. Leon considered sleeping with a mutual friend (they met a few years prior thanks to the cannibal), but decided against it.

899:
Leon went hunting for ingredients for his lab. He killed a deer and took all of its organs.

900:
Leon married his sixth wife, an older widow who was a friend of a vassal of the Strategos of Cherson. They had a son named Konstantinos, but she died in childbirth. Leon decided against remarrying again, and hoped to live to see his son come of age so he could send Alexandros to a monastery.

901:
Leon studied the stars again. Romanos and his wife had a daughter named Helene, who Leon decided would marry his son when they both came of age.

902:
Leon needed a new apprentice as Romanos' wife and a monk were killed on successive days. He choose his Steward. The Caliph declared a Jihad for India.

903:
The Jihad was successful. Leon studied the stars. Leon wrote a Magnum Opus on Alchemy.

904:
A man named Anaximandros asked Leon to take part in a chariot race. Leon did, but was nearly killed by a man named Spyridon. A pirate named Kyrillos stole the recipe for Greek Fire. Leon had him abducted. Anaximandros returned asking him to join another charity race, but Leon arrested him.

905:
Leon built more hospital upgrades. Construction techniques improved in Constantinople.

906:
Leon found out that China was in a Civil War. How did he find this out, you may ask? A refugee turned up in Constantinople, who was sent back to China to die. The Civil War ended in a few months, and the Liang Dynasty was established.

907:
Leon was confused to get a letter from an Army officer. It turned out that Basileios had sent an army into Russia during the war with Khazaria (whose Empire stretched from Scandinavia to the Urals), and the army had been abandoned there. Leon launched a rescue mission, and the soldiers returned to Imperial territory (Cherson).

908:
A vassal's son was murdered. Leon remarked "Is the Assassin back from the grave?".

909:
Leon looked at the stars.

910:
Leon ignored his friends and family to look at the stars.

911 + January 1st 912:
Leon decided to stop looking at the stars. He made up for lost time with friends and family. However, he died of a sudden heart attack on January 1st 912, leaving his younger brother Alexandros as the reigning guardian of young Konstantinos. However, Alexandros was a very sickly man, meaning things could get interesting...

 

[Lord Durham]

894:
Leon went to Arabia to buy a strange book off a mad monk, called the Necromonicon. Leon read it.

And kept his sanity? Abdul Alhazred must have sold him an abridged version .

Leon looked at the stars.

Searching for the Great Old Ones? Be careful what you wish for...

Leon certainly had an interesting reign.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

@Lord Durham I was surprised that Leon didn't go insane from reading the Necromonicon, but the event only gave him a 30% chance of insanity.
Leon's reign was interesting, but it's going to be followed up by the shortest reign in nearly a hundred years (as Alexandros doesn't have much left to live - he's probably only still alive thanks to one of the cheat mods)