-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
One not directly to the Assassin at least, Zoe's heartbreak was still caused by the Assassin though.
- 1
- 1
With what money?
Good to see that the rusty dagger is still in use after all this time. That thing belongs in a museum!
- 2
It looks like Basileios the Assassin achieved his goals.
How large was Carpathia before its annexation?
I'm glad you continued without gameplay. This ending is looking pretty realistic.
Who is the newest assassin?
Will the Mongols make an appearance later?
How large was Carpathia before its annexation?
I'm glad you continued without gameplay. This ending is looking pretty realistic.
Who is the newest assassin?
Will the Mongols make an appearance later?
- 1
That's the thing, there was no money. It was a (good/bad depending on your opinion of Romanos and Michael) thing that nobody knew anything except for the assassin himself.With what money?
Good to see that the rusty dagger is still in use after all this time. That thing belongs in a museum
I'd say the dagger ends up in a museum by the end of the AAR, when rulers are no longer assassinated.
Yeah, I guess he did.
Carpathia had the de jure kingdoms of Bulgaria, Serbia, Wallachia, Pannonia (Avaria/Hungary), Croatia (except for the parts that start as part of Byzantium), an exclave in Poland and the duchies of Odessa and Kiev.
Thank you. Although I suppose I should cancel the return of Basileus Leon IV's friends that I had planned.
Kallistos
They should, I can see Temujin and his children being 'recruited' by whoever is reigning when I decide to have the invasion happen.
I plan to have the Mongol invasion coincide with a reference to the 'Medieval Schlieffen' achievement
- 1
The (Many) Final Chapters: A Convoluted Summary of What I Imagined Would Happen in the Future (991-(Bonus)2024) Part 5:
Konstantinos IX (996-1055 (Reigned 1042-1055)):
Kallistos and Ecumenical Patriarch Athanasios offered the throne to Zoe's widower Konstantinos, a nephew of Romanos III. He accepted the throne and was crowned as Basileus. Zoe's sister Theodora and her son Michael were outraged at this development. However, as they were aware of the power wielded by Kallistos and Athanasios, they did not publicly oppose the new Basileus. Konstantinos levied a special tithe on all peasants that would be paid to him rather than the church. Using this tithe, he invaded Sweden, the last remaining Catholic realm (Scotland was Fraticelli and Genoa was Cathar). This war, which saw battles in the Swedish heartlands as well as their colony in York, lasted 2 years and ended with the complete annexation of the Swedish realm. After the war, Konstantinos sired 50 sons with 'recruits'. In 1049, Ecumenical Patriarch Athanasios died in his sleep. His successor was none other than his beloved nephew Kallistos. By 1052, Konstantinos withdrew from public life to focus on 'conversation' with 'recruits'. However, he made one final public appearance on January 1st 1054, to open an Ecumenical Council. Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos urged the leaders of the other Christian churches to accept the primacy of Constantinople. Growing fears of a formal schism were dashed when all Catholic, Miaphysite, Nestorian and Orthodox leaders agreed to unite the churches. Konstantinos withdrew back to his chambers and 'conversation' with his 'recruits'. On January 1st 1055, Konstantinos was engaging in 'conversation' with 7 young 'recruits' when his heart gave out. He was instantly dead, and Kallistos knew what to do....
Kallistos and Ecumenical Patriarch Athanasios offered the throne to Zoe's widower Konstantinos, a nephew of Romanos III. He accepted the throne and was crowned as Basileus. Zoe's sister Theodora and her son Michael were outraged at this development. However, as they were aware of the power wielded by Kallistos and Athanasios, they did not publicly oppose the new Basileus. Konstantinos levied a special tithe on all peasants that would be paid to him rather than the church. Using this tithe, he invaded Sweden, the last remaining Catholic realm (Scotland was Fraticelli and Genoa was Cathar). This war, which saw battles in the Swedish heartlands as well as their colony in York, lasted 2 years and ended with the complete annexation of the Swedish realm. After the war, Konstantinos sired 50 sons with 'recruits'. In 1049, Ecumenical Patriarch Athanasios died in his sleep. His successor was none other than his beloved nephew Kallistos. By 1052, Konstantinos withdrew from public life to focus on 'conversation' with 'recruits'. However, he made one final public appearance on January 1st 1054, to open an Ecumenical Council. Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos urged the leaders of the other Christian churches to accept the primacy of Constantinople. Growing fears of a formal schism were dashed when all Catholic, Miaphysite, Nestorian and Orthodox leaders agreed to unite the churches. Konstantinos withdrew back to his chambers and 'conversation' with his 'recruits'. On January 1st 1055, Konstantinos was engaging in 'conversation' with 7 young 'recruits' when his heart gave out. He was instantly dead, and Kallistos knew what to do....
Last edited:
- 1
The (Many) Final Chapters: A Convoluted Summary of What I Imagined Would Happen in the Future (991-(Bonus)2024) Part 6:
Theodora (979-1056 (Reigned 1055-1056)):
Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos decided to crown Theodora as the new Basilissa. As she was 75 years old, she was not expected to reign for long. To Kallistos, this meant that he would retain control over the day-to-day administration of the Empire. Theodora was known for her piety and was beloved by the people of Constantinople. She abolished the unpopular tithe established by her predecessor and donated portions of her monthly income to charities across the Empire. She decreed for improvements to be made to hospitals. On January 1st 1056, Theodora went to sleep and never woke up.
Michael VI (999-1057 (Reigned 1056-1057)):
Michael VI was crowned by Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos, but his reign was filled with strife. Isaakios, an illegitimate son of Basileios II, started a civil war to claim the throne from his first cousin-once removed. Isaakios was backed up by his many half-brothers, as well as the other descendants of Basileios II, while the descendants of Konstantinos VIII sided with Michael. Konstantinos IX's sons were all too young to take a side in the conflict, while the descendants of other rulers (Stephanos, Nikephoros II and Romanos II's illegitimate sons), who were military governors like Isaakios' brothers decided to wait it out and pledge loyalty to the winner. Kallistos thought about choosing a third candidate, as Michael never forgave him for snubbing his mother in favour of Konstantinos IX, while Isaakios publicly accused Kallistos of being the assassin of Romanos III and Michael IV and promised to execute him if he took over. Many battles were fought, with neither side getting a clear advantage. However, at the end of the year, the armies clashed at Manzikert, governed by a half-brother of Isaakios. As the battle began, Kallistos approached Nikephoros, a great-grandson of Ioannes I and offered him the throne. Nikephoros was a respected officer due to his accomplishments in the Sweden campaign and a prominent courtier due to his lineage. The Second Battle of Manzikert (the first was during a war against the Caliphate) lasted a month, from December 1st 1056 to January 1st 1057, and ended with Michael VI being beheaded by soldiers loyal to Isaakios, who became the new Basileus, despite Kallistos' objections.
Isaakios I (1004-1059 (Reigned 1057-1059)):
Isaakios I was crowned by the Patriarch of Antioch, who was an enemy of Kallistos. Isaakios, the Patriarchs of Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria and Rome, Isaakios' full brothers Ioannes and Konstantinos (who remained by his side at all times and were not Strategoi) and the new Basileus' trusted confidante, a priest named Zenon, came up with a plan to deal with Kallistos. Nikephoros, whose daughter Eudokia had just married Isaakios' brother Konstantinos, declined the nomination by Kallistos. The supporters of Michael VI, who had rallied around his son, stood down in March 1057, allowing Isaakios to return to Constantinople. Isaakios and his supporters triumphantly entered the Imperial City in July, where Kallistos begrudgingly accepted Isaakios as the ruler of the Empire. However, their relationship was dominated by conflict. Kallistos tried to restore Konstantinos IX's tithe, except that it would be paid to him instead, but Isaakios refused. Isaakios wanted to reform the bureaucracy, but Kallistos refused as it would have meant that his appointees, chosen for their loyalty, would be replaced. In 1058, Isaakios offered to split the Empire's income and lands with his two younger brothers. Ioannes refused the appointment as he wished to stay in Constantinople with his young family, while Konstantinos took himself and his wife to Persepolis, where as Symbasileus, he would govern the territories east of Mesopotamia on Isaakios' behalf. Isaakios had never married, nor did he intend to, instead he was content with his position as an unmarried Basileus. "After all", he remarked once, "Staurakios never married and was seen as one of the Empire's best generals before he ascended to the throne". The comparison to Staurakios may have been apt, because on January 1st 1059, the assassin entered his chambers and slit his throat with the rusty old dagger. Kallistos called for Konstantinos to return from Persepolis. At Isaakios' funeral, a young boy vowed to carry on his work, while holding back tears...
Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos decided to crown Theodora as the new Basilissa. As she was 75 years old, she was not expected to reign for long. To Kallistos, this meant that he would retain control over the day-to-day administration of the Empire. Theodora was known for her piety and was beloved by the people of Constantinople. She abolished the unpopular tithe established by her predecessor and donated portions of her monthly income to charities across the Empire. She decreed for improvements to be made to hospitals. On January 1st 1056, Theodora went to sleep and never woke up.
Michael VI (999-1057 (Reigned 1056-1057)):
Michael VI was crowned by Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos, but his reign was filled with strife. Isaakios, an illegitimate son of Basileios II, started a civil war to claim the throne from his first cousin-once removed. Isaakios was backed up by his many half-brothers, as well as the other descendants of Basileios II, while the descendants of Konstantinos VIII sided with Michael. Konstantinos IX's sons were all too young to take a side in the conflict, while the descendants of other rulers (Stephanos, Nikephoros II and Romanos II's illegitimate sons), who were military governors like Isaakios' brothers decided to wait it out and pledge loyalty to the winner. Kallistos thought about choosing a third candidate, as Michael never forgave him for snubbing his mother in favour of Konstantinos IX, while Isaakios publicly accused Kallistos of being the assassin of Romanos III and Michael IV and promised to execute him if he took over. Many battles were fought, with neither side getting a clear advantage. However, at the end of the year, the armies clashed at Manzikert, governed by a half-brother of Isaakios. As the battle began, Kallistos approached Nikephoros, a great-grandson of Ioannes I and offered him the throne. Nikephoros was a respected officer due to his accomplishments in the Sweden campaign and a prominent courtier due to his lineage. The Second Battle of Manzikert (the first was during a war against the Caliphate) lasted a month, from December 1st 1056 to January 1st 1057, and ended with Michael VI being beheaded by soldiers loyal to Isaakios, who became the new Basileus, despite Kallistos' objections.
Isaakios I (1004-1059 (Reigned 1057-1059)):
Isaakios I was crowned by the Patriarch of Antioch, who was an enemy of Kallistos. Isaakios, the Patriarchs of Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria and Rome, Isaakios' full brothers Ioannes and Konstantinos (who remained by his side at all times and were not Strategoi) and the new Basileus' trusted confidante, a priest named Zenon, came up with a plan to deal with Kallistos. Nikephoros, whose daughter Eudokia had just married Isaakios' brother Konstantinos, declined the nomination by Kallistos. The supporters of Michael VI, who had rallied around his son, stood down in March 1057, allowing Isaakios to return to Constantinople. Isaakios and his supporters triumphantly entered the Imperial City in July, where Kallistos begrudgingly accepted Isaakios as the ruler of the Empire. However, their relationship was dominated by conflict. Kallistos tried to restore Konstantinos IX's tithe, except that it would be paid to him instead, but Isaakios refused. Isaakios wanted to reform the bureaucracy, but Kallistos refused as it would have meant that his appointees, chosen for their loyalty, would be replaced. In 1058, Isaakios offered to split the Empire's income and lands with his two younger brothers. Ioannes refused the appointment as he wished to stay in Constantinople with his young family, while Konstantinos took himself and his wife to Persepolis, where as Symbasileus, he would govern the territories east of Mesopotamia on Isaakios' behalf. Isaakios had never married, nor did he intend to, instead he was content with his position as an unmarried Basileus. "After all", he remarked once, "Staurakios never married and was seen as one of the Empire's best generals before he ascended to the throne". The comparison to Staurakios may have been apt, because on January 1st 1059, the assassin entered his chambers and slit his throat with the rusty old dagger. Kallistos called for Konstantinos to return from Persepolis. At Isaakios' funeral, a young boy vowed to carry on his work, while holding back tears...
- 1
- 1
The (Many) Final Chapters: A Convoluted Summary of What I Imagined Would Happen in the Future (991-(Bonus)2024) Part 7:
Konstantinos X (1006-1067 (Reigned 1059-1067)):
Konstantinos X was crowned by Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos. He renounced his older brother's desire to reform the Empire, which may have been genuine, or may have been in a desire to get the throne. His wife Eudokia gave birth to their first son Michael shortly after the coronation. Konstantinos appointed his father-in-law Nikephoros as a Special Military Advisor, recognising his achievements, while enabling him to retire from frontline duties. The Basileus decided to invade Kanem-Bornu to seize the North African coastline Kingdom of Africa. This war lasted until 1064. Konstantinos and Eudokia welcomed a number of children until 1064, when their youngest daughter Eirene was born. After this, the relationship became unusually chilly, with Konstantinos visiting young 'recruits' while it was alleged that Eudokia was unfaithful too. While the Basileus' infidelity could be proved, as Eudokia didn't get pregnant nothing could be proven. In 1066, the descendants of Ignatios (c.976-c.1040), the son of the 'recruit' Seljuk and a daughter of Romanos II, rose up against the Empire, seeking to carve out their own realm in Persia and India, where they dominated local politics. On January 1st 1067, Konstantinos X died in his sleep while the rebellion raged on. As his son was still young, Eudokia was left in charge...
Konstantinos X was crowned by Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos. He renounced his older brother's desire to reform the Empire, which may have been genuine, or may have been in a desire to get the throne. His wife Eudokia gave birth to their first son Michael shortly after the coronation. Konstantinos appointed his father-in-law Nikephoros as a Special Military Advisor, recognising his achievements, while enabling him to retire from frontline duties. The Basileus decided to invade Kanem-Bornu to seize the North African coastline Kingdom of Africa. This war lasted until 1064. Konstantinos and Eudokia welcomed a number of children until 1064, when their youngest daughter Eirene was born. After this, the relationship became unusually chilly, with Konstantinos visiting young 'recruits' while it was alleged that Eudokia was unfaithful too. While the Basileus' infidelity could be proved, as Eudokia didn't get pregnant nothing could be proven. In 1066, the descendants of Ignatios (c.976-c.1040), the son of the 'recruit' Seljuk and a daughter of Romanos II, rose up against the Empire, seeking to carve out their own realm in Persia and India, where they dominated local politics. On January 1st 1067, Konstantinos X died in his sleep while the rebellion raged on. As his son was still young, Eudokia was left in charge...
- 1
- 1
The (Many) Final Chapters: A Convoluted Summary of What I Imagined Would Happen in the Future (991-(Bonus)2024) Part 8: (NSFW Warning)
Eudokia I (1040-1068 (Reigned 1067-1068)):
Eudokia I became the ruler of the Empire on behalf of her young son Michael. She brought back Konstantinos IX's tithe and used it to fund the Imperial treasury. Eudokia was also renowned as a diarist, and fragments of her diaries exist to this day. This diary entry seems to disprove the allegations that she was unfaithful to her husband Konstantinos X.
In June Eudokia started to show signs of pregnancy (See spoiler for context). This caused a scandal because it was far too late for Konstantinos X to have been the father, so who could it have been? Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos was not happy, and excommunicated Eudokia. With this, he invited her brother Romanos to take over as Regent for his nephew Michael. However, Romanos refused to depose his sister and warned Kallistos that he would have to watch his back if Romanos took over. Eudokia proceeded with her pregnancy and began thinking of names for her newest progeny. On January 1st 1068, Eudokia gave birth to twin boys, named Leon and Diogenes. However, Eudokia died shortly after giving birth, so Romanos took over the Regency.
Romanos IV (1040-1072 (Reigned 1068-1072)):
Romanos IV took over as Regent for his young nephew Michael. The rebellion of the descendants of Ignatios was still raging. In 1069, a battle was fought at Persepolis, which the rebels won. Romanos considered adopting his younger nephews Leon and Diogenes, but decided against it. In 1071, Kallistos decided to strike at Romanos before Romanos struck at him. He told Romanos that he was needed at Manzikert, where the rebels' army was currently besieging. Romanos made way to Manzikert, where the Governor, also named Romanos, was struggling to hold off the rebels. As the Basileus was younger than the Strategos, he elected to go by his cognomen, which was the name of his maternal grandfather, Diogenes. A conversation between the two was recorded on parchment that now resides at the Imperial Museum of Constantinople. It goes as follows. "Diogenes, my Basileus, thank you for arriving to save Manzikert. Think nothing of it Romanos, my faithful Strategos". The Third Battle of Manzikert lasted from December 1st to December 27th 1071. Romanos was taken captive by Akakios, a grandson of Ignatios and the leader of the rebellion. On January 1st 1072, a letter from Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos reached Manzikert in which he implored Akakios to "do the right thing". When Romanos heard this, he thought he would hear the rebels' demands, but instead they beheaded him.
Michael VII (1059-1078 (Reigned 1072-1078)):
Meanwhile, back in Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos decided to disregard the Edict of Basileios and crown the 12-year old Michael as Basileus. His new guardian was his elderly maternal grandfather Nikephoros. Kallistos and Nikephoros became close friends during their Co-Regency, and both made blatant efforts to undermine Michael's authority. As Michael got older, his hatred of Kallistos strengthened. He found an ally in Alexios, the betrothed of his sister Eirene and his cousin (Alexios' father was Ioannes). Alexios had vowed from a young age to avenge their uncle Isaakios I and finally deal with Kallistos. Although Michael came of age in 1075, Kallistos and Nikephoros continued to over-rule him. On January 1st 1078, Michael rallied a mob behind him to depose his Regents and become the sole ruler of the Empire. Kallistos had heard of this plot beforehand, and responded by personally entering Michael's chambers as he slept and slitting his throat with the rusty old dagger.
Nikephoros III (997-1081 (Reigned 1078-1081)):
As part of an agreement with Kallistos, Nikephoros III became the new Basileus following the murder of his grandson Michael VII. Nikephoros was already 80 years old, so he was not expected to reign for very long. The new Basileus' physical and mental prowess had left him by the time he ascended to the throne, and everyone knew he was nothing more than a puppet for the "Eunuch Patriarch" Kallistos. In 1080, following his marriage to Michael's sister Eirene, Alexios emerged as the leader of the resistance against Kallistos. The descendants of Ignatios stood down after Nikephoros became Basileus, so this new rebellion consisted of the nobility, the church (outside of Greece and Anatolia) and the populace. Alexios declared himself the new Basileus, and with the support of the rest of the church, he demanded that Nikephoros execute Kallistos, or stand aside and let Alexios do it himself. A civil war broke out, but it was never going to last for long when it was Greece and Anatolia against the rest of the Empire. However, it ended quicker than anyone expected when, on January 1st 1081, Nikephoros died in his sleep while the city of Constantinople was besieged. Alexios marched in and the commoners proclaimed him as their new Basileus. Alexios declared to the crowd "Now we deal with the corrupt Patriarch"...
Eudokia I became the ruler of the Empire on behalf of her young son Michael. She brought back Konstantinos IX's tithe and used it to fund the Imperial treasury. Eudokia was also renowned as a diarist, and fragments of her diaries exist to this day. This diary entry seems to disprove the allegations that she was unfaithful to her husband Konstantinos X.
April 1st 1067: Dear Diary, last night I held a masquerade ball and invited courtiers and Strategoi. Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos wasn't invited, though, because he has no sense of fun. Ever since Konstantinos died I have been so lonely, craving for a man. So I decided to take the man I danced with at the ball to bed. I wore a purple dress and a purple mask which gave away my position. As I looked around at the ball, I noticed the most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes on. I asked him to dance with me. He agreed to dance. For about an hour we danced and talked to each other. As the ball ended, I whispered in his ear "Care to follow me to my bedchambers?". He whispered back "Lead the way, my Basilissa". We went to my chambers and I started kissing him. I ordered him to take his clothes off so I could see him in his naked glory. He acquiesced on the condition that I took my dress off. Of course I was going to take my dress off. However, we agreed that we would keep our masks on. He placed his hands on my hips and kissed my lips. i then lied down on my bed and he penetrated me with his enormous sword. Our love-making lasted the whole night. When I woke up the following morning, I found a short note beside my bed that said "I'm sorry, Diogenes". So I made love to a man named Diogenes. That's all for now, Eudokia.
Romanos IV (1040-1072 (Reigned 1068-1072)):
Romanos IV took over as Regent for his young nephew Michael. The rebellion of the descendants of Ignatios was still raging. In 1069, a battle was fought at Persepolis, which the rebels won. Romanos considered adopting his younger nephews Leon and Diogenes, but decided against it. In 1071, Kallistos decided to strike at Romanos before Romanos struck at him. He told Romanos that he was needed at Manzikert, where the rebels' army was currently besieging. Romanos made way to Manzikert, where the Governor, also named Romanos, was struggling to hold off the rebels. As the Basileus was younger than the Strategos, he elected to go by his cognomen, which was the name of his maternal grandfather, Diogenes. A conversation between the two was recorded on parchment that now resides at the Imperial Museum of Constantinople. It goes as follows. "Diogenes, my Basileus, thank you for arriving to save Manzikert. Think nothing of it Romanos, my faithful Strategos". The Third Battle of Manzikert lasted from December 1st to December 27th 1071. Romanos was taken captive by Akakios, a grandson of Ignatios and the leader of the rebellion. On January 1st 1072, a letter from Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos reached Manzikert in which he implored Akakios to "do the right thing". When Romanos heard this, he thought he would hear the rebels' demands, but instead they beheaded him.
Michael VII (1059-1078 (Reigned 1072-1078)):
Meanwhile, back in Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos decided to disregard the Edict of Basileios and crown the 12-year old Michael as Basileus. His new guardian was his elderly maternal grandfather Nikephoros. Kallistos and Nikephoros became close friends during their Co-Regency, and both made blatant efforts to undermine Michael's authority. As Michael got older, his hatred of Kallistos strengthened. He found an ally in Alexios, the betrothed of his sister Eirene and his cousin (Alexios' father was Ioannes). Alexios had vowed from a young age to avenge their uncle Isaakios I and finally deal with Kallistos. Although Michael came of age in 1075, Kallistos and Nikephoros continued to over-rule him. On January 1st 1078, Michael rallied a mob behind him to depose his Regents and become the sole ruler of the Empire. Kallistos had heard of this plot beforehand, and responded by personally entering Michael's chambers as he slept and slitting his throat with the rusty old dagger.
Nikephoros III (997-1081 (Reigned 1078-1081)):
As part of an agreement with Kallistos, Nikephoros III became the new Basileus following the murder of his grandson Michael VII. Nikephoros was already 80 years old, so he was not expected to reign for very long. The new Basileus' physical and mental prowess had left him by the time he ascended to the throne, and everyone knew he was nothing more than a puppet for the "Eunuch Patriarch" Kallistos. In 1080, following his marriage to Michael's sister Eirene, Alexios emerged as the leader of the resistance against Kallistos. The descendants of Ignatios stood down after Nikephoros became Basileus, so this new rebellion consisted of the nobility, the church (outside of Greece and Anatolia) and the populace. Alexios declared himself the new Basileus, and with the support of the rest of the church, he demanded that Nikephoros execute Kallistos, or stand aside and let Alexios do it himself. A civil war broke out, but it was never going to last for long when it was Greece and Anatolia against the rest of the Empire. However, it ended quicker than anyone expected when, on January 1st 1081, Nikephoros died in his sleep while the city of Constantinople was besieged. Alexios marched in and the commoners proclaimed him as their new Basileus. Alexios declared to the crowd "Now we deal with the corrupt Patriarch"...
- 2
- 1
The (Many) Final Chapters: A Convoluted Summary of What I Imagined Would Happen in the Future (991-(Bonus)2024) Part 9:
Alexios I (1055-1118 (Reigned 1081-1118)):
Alexios I was crowned by the same Patriarch of Antioch who had crowned his uncle Isaakios I. His first act as the supreme ruler of the Empire was to revoke the Edict of Basileios, seeing as it was useless (see Michael VII's reign). Next, he arrested Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos, who pleaded for mercy, but Alexios decreed that he would be executed. On January 6th 1081, Alexios had Kallistos publicly ripped apart by tying him to horses who spread away from the centre of Constantinople. His third act was to appoint a new Ecumenical Patriarch. He chose Isaakios' confidante Zenon, who upon the appointment collapsed to the ground. When he got up, he revealed that he was actually Pope Sergios (see the very first post), who had went into hiding to be saved from a mysterious figure known as 'the Dark Lord'. Every member of the group had fled, but now Pope Sergios, Ben, Jeff Richperson and Fred the Unreliable were back to help save the Empire. The others went back to their original worlds in the universe. Ben said to Alexios "Pope Sergios is originally from a world quite like yours, where your family conquered Rome much earlier and didn't bother going past Persia. In this world he was immortal but he was killed by some random fellow immortal. Therefore I saved him using magic. Jeff, Fred and I can exist in multiple worlds simultaneously, in Jeff and Fred's cases because of their species and in my case because of cloning magic. President Jones, President Smith and the Archdruid have returned to their world where Jones and Smith are the 47th and 48th Presidents of the United States of America, while the Archdruid is the 12th President of Ireland. For context, in our worlds, I was the 5th and 7th Prime Minister of my planet and Jeff will be the 50th President of America, a billionaire businessman, a father of six, a legendary owner of (actual) football clubs worldwide in just some of the worlds he resides in." Alexios took this information in and used it to realise that there was another continent, as Jeff told him about a place called Greenland. Alexios ordered his men to follow Jeff's instructions to travel from Iceland to Greenland, where a Byzantine colony was set up. Alexios then invaded Nubia, seizing it from Kanem-Bornu. In 1082, Alexios and his wife Eirene had their first child, a daughter named Anna. The Imperial couple would go on to have 18 children, 9 sons and 9 daughters, throughout their marriage. In 1090, Abyssinia declared independence from Kanem-Bornu, however the Kingdom was fractured on ducal lines, leading to Alexios quickly conquering them. By 1100, the Greenland colony was now self-sustainable, and only Kanem-Bornu, Maghreb, Mali, Hispania and Genoa stood in the way of the Empire's ambitions. Alexios didn't do any further conquests though, as he took up a new hobby of falconry. On January 1st 1118, Alexios died in his sleep, succeeded by his eldest son Ioannes, who at 36, was ready to have a long reign.
Alexios I was crowned by the same Patriarch of Antioch who had crowned his uncle Isaakios I. His first act as the supreme ruler of the Empire was to revoke the Edict of Basileios, seeing as it was useless (see Michael VII's reign). Next, he arrested Ecumenical Patriarch Kallistos, who pleaded for mercy, but Alexios decreed that he would be executed. On January 6th 1081, Alexios had Kallistos publicly ripped apart by tying him to horses who spread away from the centre of Constantinople. His third act was to appoint a new Ecumenical Patriarch. He chose Isaakios' confidante Zenon, who upon the appointment collapsed to the ground. When he got up, he revealed that he was actually Pope Sergios (see the very first post), who had went into hiding to be saved from a mysterious figure known as 'the Dark Lord'. Every member of the group had fled, but now Pope Sergios, Ben, Jeff Richperson and Fred the Unreliable were back to help save the Empire. The others went back to their original worlds in the universe. Ben said to Alexios "Pope Sergios is originally from a world quite like yours, where your family conquered Rome much earlier and didn't bother going past Persia. In this world he was immortal but he was killed by some random fellow immortal. Therefore I saved him using magic. Jeff, Fred and I can exist in multiple worlds simultaneously, in Jeff and Fred's cases because of their species and in my case because of cloning magic. President Jones, President Smith and the Archdruid have returned to their world where Jones and Smith are the 47th and 48th Presidents of the United States of America, while the Archdruid is the 12th President of Ireland. For context, in our worlds, I was the 5th and 7th Prime Minister of my planet and Jeff will be the 50th President of America, a billionaire businessman, a father of six, a legendary owner of (actual) football clubs worldwide in just some of the worlds he resides in." Alexios took this information in and used it to realise that there was another continent, as Jeff told him about a place called Greenland. Alexios ordered his men to follow Jeff's instructions to travel from Iceland to Greenland, where a Byzantine colony was set up. Alexios then invaded Nubia, seizing it from Kanem-Bornu. In 1082, Alexios and his wife Eirene had their first child, a daughter named Anna. The Imperial couple would go on to have 18 children, 9 sons and 9 daughters, throughout their marriage. In 1090, Abyssinia declared independence from Kanem-Bornu, however the Kingdom was fractured on ducal lines, leading to Alexios quickly conquering them. By 1100, the Greenland colony was now self-sustainable, and only Kanem-Bornu, Maghreb, Mali, Hispania and Genoa stood in the way of the Empire's ambitions. Alexios didn't do any further conquests though, as he took up a new hobby of falconry. On January 1st 1118, Alexios died in his sleep, succeeded by his eldest son Ioannes, who at 36, was ready to have a long reign.
- 1
- 1
- 1
Alexios must not be phased by much. If I learned about an entirely new continent and immortal, magical beings, I'd definitely not believe it at first.
- 1
To be fair, he would have known about the magical beings (He just didn't know they were immortal). Seeing as they were friends of Leon IV, their existence was known to everyone with any semblance of a historical education. Also out of the original 250k troops, about 100k still exist 300 years after they spawned, only magic could explain that. And when he knew they were magical, how unbelievable is another continent?
- 1
The Final Chapter: Summarizing the Empire from 1118 to 2024:
Ioannes II (1082-1143 (Reigned 1118-1143)):
Ioannes II conquered Hispania in a war lasting from 1118 to 1126. He had 10 children, 7 sons and 3 daughters, with his wife, and 90 sons with 'recruits'. Other than that, he didn't really do anything. He died on January 1st 1143 of heart failure.
Manuel I (1120-1180 (Reigned 1143-1180)):
The eldest son of Ioannes II (Alexios I never let any of his sons to get married, meaning he had to wait until after he inherited), Manuel I conquered Maghreb. Jeff told him of an island called Newfoundland, which was colonised by the Empire. Manuel had 8 daughters and 1 son from his three marriages, and had no acknowledged children with recruits (meaning there was no sons). He died of pneumonia on January 1st 1180 after falling into the winter sea a few weeks earlier.
Alexios II (1170-1183 (Reigned 1180-1183)):
The only son of Manuel I, Alexios II was dominated by Regents, first his mother and then Andronikos, a cousin of his father. On January 1st 1183, Andronikos seized the throne for himself and strangled Alexios.
Andronikos I (1119-1185 (Reigned 1183-1185)):
Son of Isaakios, the fourth son of Alexios I, after seizing power he purged much of the bureaucracy, which disapproved of his killing of Alexios II (as they had been loyal to Manuel I). Suffered from extreme paranoia, believed that Isaakios, the grandson of Angelos (who was the son of Anna) was plotting against him. Andronikos ordered for Isaakios' arrest but he rose up, and with support from the general population, deposed and executed Andronikos on January 1st 1185.
Isaakios II (1145-1195 (Reigned 1185-1195)):
According to most historians, Isaakios II was the most incompetent Basileus in the Empire's history. The treasury was mismanaged, the Indo-Iranian, Steppe and Tibetan Themes became de facto independent, even if they still nominally recognised Constantinople's authority. The Emperor of China is said to have laughed at Isaakios' plight. In 1189, the longest Civil War in Imperial history started, with Isaakios' younger brother Alexios declaring himself Basileus. On January 1st 1195, Isaakios was captured, deposed and executed by his brother.
Alexios III (1147-1203 (Reigned 1195-1203)):
Alexios III wasn't much better than his brother. The Civil War raged on, with Alexios the Younger, the eldest son of Isaakios II taking up the mantle of pretender. Alexios tried to kowtow to China in the hope of securing support from either the Great Song or the Great Jin, who had taken power in the north earlier in the 1100s. Neither Emperor entertained Alexios, even when he offered to become their tributary, knowing that his reign was doomed. On January 1st 1203, shortly after returning to Constantinople, Alexios III was ambushed by supporters of his nephew. They cut his head off.
Alexios IV (1177-1204 (Reigned 1203-1204)):
While he wasn't exactly competent, Alexios IV was among the unluckiest rulers of the Empire. More Themes stopped paying taxes and supplying levies to Constantinople, and Alexios III's son-in-law, also called Alexios, (Alexios III had no legitimate sons, and his children by 'recruits' were extremely young) started a palace coup. This coup was successful, and on January 1st 1204, Alexios IV was deposed and strangled.
Alexios V (1165-1204 (Reigned 1204)):
His reign only lasted 3 months. On April 1st 1204, a new pretender arose, Theodoros, another son-in-law of Alexios III. He quickly dealt with and executed Alexios V. It was no wonder that no other member of the family was ever named Alexios after this.
Theodoros I (1171-1221 (Reigned 1204-1221)):
Theodoros restored a sense of normality to the Empire. He began the long and arduous task of reigning in the unruly Themes. A Mongol chieftain named Temujin rose in Theodoros' reign, although he focused on defeating the two Empires in China. Technically, the Civil War hadn't ended, but it had shifted from a war between pretenders to a war of secession (or independence, depending on your point of view). On January 1st 1221, Theodoros I died in his sleep.
Ioannes III (1192-1254 (Reigned 1221-1254)):
Like Alexios III, Theodoros I had no legitimate sons, so he chose Ioannes, the husband of his eldest daughter, as his successor. Ioannes III successfully subdued the Indo-Iranian and Eastern European Themes, reigning them in. He had just one son who survived childhood, his youngest, and 7 daughters. On January 1st 1254, Ioannes III died of a heart attack.
Theodoros II (1222-1258 (Reigned 1254-1258)):
Theodoros II subdued even more of the Themes in his short reign (by the end of it only the Tibetan Themes remained). Theodoros suffered from epilepsy, so he entrusted a number of responsibilities to his friend and kinsman, Michael (by this stage everyone in the court who was a member of the Isaurian dynasty was descended from Alexios I, as part of his purges he sent away the descendants of earlier rulers to be Strategoi). On January 1st 1258, Theodoros II had a fatal seizure.
Ioannes IV (1253-1261 (Reigned 1258-1261)):
The only child of Theodoros II, the boy Basileus was under the guardianship of Michael, who used his authority as Regent to finish off the Civil War in late 1260 by reigning in the Tibetan Themes. On January 1st 1261, Michael decided he wasn't satisfied with being Regent. He had Ioannes IV deposed, blinded and fed to snakes.
Michael VIII (1227-1282 (Reigned 1261-1282)):
Having ascended in deplorable fashion, Michael VIII was keen to not become another Andronikos I. He built many churches and donated to charities. He also thought he could get around curses by naming his first three sons Andronikos, Ioannes and Theodoros. In total, Michael VIII had 40 sons and 26 daughters (he was the first Basileus to acknowledge his daughters with 'recruits' since Basileios II). He died while praying in a church he built on January 1st 1282.
Andronikos II (1263-1328 (Reigned 1282-1328)):
Andronikos II sent his brothers away to become Strategoi as soon as they came of age, ending the tradition of requiring a son first. In 1285, Andronikos faced one of the greatest challenges of his reign. The descendants of Temujin, now the Yuan dynasty of China, decided to invade the Empire, demanding its subjugation. Then, strange men in boats arrived in Britain. These 'Aztecs' as the Byzantines called them, although studies of their language indicate they were called the 'Mexica', sought to take Britain off of Andronikos' hands. When the Basileus turned them down, they indicated that it wasn't an offer. Thus the Aztecs invaded the Empire too. This two-front war lasted until 1293, ending with Andronikos signing a treaty of eternal peace with China, which set their borders at what they currently are today (China has everything east of the playable CK2 map). However, the Aztecs were brutally chased back to their homeland, where Andronikos' armies destroyed their capital Tenochtitlan and 'recruited' most of the survivors. Throughout the reign of Andronikos II, until 1446, the twin continents of Andronika (OTL America) were colonised by the Byzantines. Andronikos had 200 sons due to the number of 'recruits' he had 'conversation' with. But in the end, it was a grandson that would be his undoing. Andronikos' eldest son Michael had died in 1320, leaving his eldest son Andronikos as the next ruler of the Empire. On January 1st 1328, wishing to speed up his ascendance to the throne, the younger Andronikos poisoned the elder.
Andronikos III (1300-1341 (Reigned 1328-1341)):
Andronikos III conquered Kanem-Bornu. In 1330, his eldest son Ioannes was born. He had a friendship with a kinsman also named Ioannes, when the friend had a daughter later in 1330, they agreed to betroth their two children. On January 1st 1341, he died suddenly from a fever.
Ioannes V (1330-1354 (Reigned 1341-1354)):
Ioannes V married the daughter of his father's friend (and his Regent) in 1346, they would go on to have 6 children, 3 sons and 3 daughters. The younger Ioannes was content to let the elder do the day-to-day running of the Empire. The Regent conquered Maghreb. On January 1st 1354, Ioannes died while on holidays in Egypt, protecting his sons from a large crocodile.
Ioannes VI (1297-1376 (Reigned 1354-1376)):
Ioannes VI became the guardian for his grandson Andronikos, who was regarded as too young to rule. The Ecumenical Patriarch offered to crown Ioannes as Basileus, which he agreed to. In his sole reign, he created many churches, hospitals and the house of the modern Senate (which while only advisory, allows the public to have some say in the running of the Empire). On February 1st 1369, the first Senators were elected since the old one was abolished exactly 600 years earlier. The elderly Basileus presided over the first Senate meeting. In the future, it became the authority of the Symbasileus to meet with the Senate and pass on the advice to the Basileus. On January 1st 1376, Ioannes VI died of cancer aged 78. Civilians came from all over the Empire to attend his funeral.
Andronikos IV (1348-1385 (Reigned 1376-1385)):
Andronikos IV was a forgettable Basileus, when compared to his grandfathers and younger brother. Even his father was more memorable for his sacrifice. Other then Senate stuff and the canonisation of Ioannes V and Ioannes VI in 1379, nothing really happened in his reign. On January 1st 1385, he died of unknown causes (presumed to be cancer).
Ioannes VII (1369-1390 (Reigned 1385-1390)):
Only child of Andronikos IV (along with his father and maternal grandfather, Andronikos IV was an abolitionist, and Ioannes VII continued in this tradition), he was forgettable like his father. On January 1st 1390 he died in a minor outbreak of plague in Constantinople. Never married or had children.
Manuel II (1350-1425 (Reigned 1390-1425)):
The second son of Ioannes V, he was much more memorable. He conquered Mali. Unlike most of his relatives, he supported using 'recruits' to produce many back-up heirs if needed. As a result, the issue of 'recruits' was kicked down the can. From the 1410s onwards, his sons became more and more influential in the administration of the Empire as he became more and more incapacitated by a series of strokes. On January 1st 1425, he died of his 9th and final stroke.
Ioannes VIII (1372-1448 (Reigned 1425-1448)):
The eldest son of Manuel II, Ioannes VIII had a number of 'recruits'. He instituted the policy of 'recruiting' one woman from each culture (non-Christian (until 1454, then Christians only)). Despite this, Ioannes had no sons who survived childhood. He forced Genoa to increase its tribute to Constantinople. On January 1st 1448, Ioannes died of old age.
Konstantinos XI (1400-1453 (Reigned 1448-1453)):
The eldest son of Manuel II's second marriage, Konstantinos XI decided that he was going to be the man who reforged Rome. In 1451, he attacked Genoa. A long and brutal siege ensued. On January 1st 1453, the Symbasileus Konstantinos the Younger (Konstantinos XI's only son) was killed by a cannonball in the siege. The Basileus had a heart attack upon hearing the news.
Andreas I (1426-1499 (Reigned 1453-1499)):
After Konstantinos XI's death and the fall of Genoa on the same day, the Roman Empire was officially restored by the Senate. As the Basileus and Symbasileus had both died in the siege, under its remits granted to it by Saint Ioannes VI, the Senate had the right to choose the new Basileus. The election lasted the entirety of the day. Konstantinos' brothers Demetrios and Thomas were the favourites for the throne. The Senate reached a deadlock, but both men agreed to pull out and let Thomas' son Andreas become Basileus instead. After his coronation by the Ecumenical Patriarch, Andreas I studied old Roman texts. Having read them, in 1454, he decreed the restoration of the Religio Romana. He became Pontifex Maximus. A Civil War arose, between Christians (supporting a cousin) and Non-Christians (who sided with Andreas in return for emancipation from 'recruitment'). This Civil War lasted until 1458, when the Christians were defeated and many were 'recruited'. The Senate was reformed, the ban on non-Christians was lifted and now Christians were banned. Andreas had 10 sons who could have became Augustus and Pontifex Maximus, but he chose his favourite, Andreas the Younger. On January 1st 1499, Andreas I died of cancer.
Andreas II (1468-1555 (Reigned 1499-1555)):
Andreas II's reign was extremely stable, which meant nothing of note happened. He had many sons, but his eldest predeceased him. On January 1st 1555, Andreas II died of cancer.
Andreas III (1537-1626 (Reigned 1555-1626)):
Andreas III was a great-grandson of Andreas II (his father and grandfather both died in the 1540s). Nothing of note happened early in his reign, but in the 1620s, he often clashed with the Senate, who were against him extending 'recruitment'. On January 1st 1626, Andreas III died in his sleep.
Constantine XII (1606-1650 (Reigned 1626-1650)):
The struggle with the Senate over the extension of 'recruitment' descended into a full-blown Civil War in 1644. The Senatorials would defeat the Imperialists, and Constantine XII (a son of Andreas III with an Italian Catholic 'recruit') was executed on January 1st 1650.
Iacobus I (1628-1705 (Reigned 1650-1705)):
A son of Constantine XII, Iacobus I agreed a peace with the Senatorials that increased the salary of Senators and forbade the expansion of 'recruitment' beyond Christians. After this, nothing of note happened. On January 1st 1705, Iacobus I died of old age.
Iacobus II (1688-1777 (Reigned 1705-1777)):
A son of Iacobus I and a Visigothic Catholic 'recruit', Iacobus II modernised the Senate by creating its current format. Before his reign, each province (CK county) would elect 2 Senators. To minimise the size of the Senate (there wasn't enough room for every Senator in the building), Iacobus created the Consulate system. Now, Consuls would govern greater areas than Strategoi before them, and each Consul would appoint 2 Senators for their Consulate (Kingdom). Unlike the Strategoi, the Consuls would have great authority as to how Senators were appointed (they could hold elections or just appoint them directly). Iacobus forged a friendship with a revolutionary Consul named Georgius Vashingtonius, who created a system whereby the Consulate of Andronika (yes, the full two continents) would be subject to elections every four years, starting from 1776. Vashingtonius only became consul in 1788 though, after Iacobus II died of old age on January 1st 1777.
Iacobus III (1760-1837 (Reigned 1777-1837)):
Iacobus III, a son of Iacobus II and a Coptic Miaphysite 'recruit', reigned as the issue of Christian rights became a major thing. Some believed that Christians should be able to vote, become Senators and Consuls, and more worryingly for Iacobus, these individuals thought that 'recruitment' should be abolished. Trouble was brewing, but Iacobus III was able to kick the can down the road. On January 1st 1837, Iacobus died of old age.
Euphroysne (1815-1914 (Reigned 1837-1914)):
Euphroysne became Augusta following the death of her father Iacobus III (her mother was his fourth wife). She vowed to end what she called "the abhorrent practice of 'recruitment'". With the support of the Consul of Andronika, Abrahamus Lincoln, Euphroysne declared the end of 'recruitment' in 1860, which caused a Civil War led by Ieffersonius Davis. This Civil War ended in 1865, with Davis executed and all 'recruits' in the Empire freed. Euphroysne maintained a friendship with Lincoln's widow after he was assassinated by Johannes Vilkius, a supporter of Davis. On January 1st 1914, Euphroysne died of old age.
Michael IX (1839-1928 (Reigned 1914-1928)):
Michael became Augustus when his mother died. Nothing of note happened in his reign. On January 1st 1928, Michael died of old age, succeeded by his daughter Eudokia.
Eudokia II (1922-Present (Reigned since 1928)):
The reigning Augusta of the Roman Empire, Eudokia is beloved by the people of the Empire. She introduced more reforms to democratise the Senate, by having every Consulate adopt the method used in Andronika (Consuls being elected every x years, to a maximum of y terms (She let each Consulate decide this itself)). She hoped to be succeeded by her beloved eldest son Constantine (born 1940), but earlier this year (2024), he announced he was renouncing his succession rights to let his son Iacobus (born 1980) become the new heir. Constantine had a long-standing rivalry with controversial CEO, convicted criminal and polarising politician Smbat Mamikonian (born 1942), the Consul of Armenia between 1967 and 2012, when he was removed by Constantine (who was just enforcing term limits and convicting him of embezzlement and fraud), and Senator from Armenia since 2016. Iacobus agreed to carry on his father and grandmother's work in fighting anti-democratic movements, such as Mamikonian's MRGA (which was founded in 2016 during his first Senatorial election campaign and was an evolution of his 'Make Armenia Great Again' slogan he had used as Consul). Eudokia had effectively retired in the 1990s, when she started to let Constantine and later Iacobus do the day-to-day running of the Empire. In retirement, Eudokia has supported her nephew Julius (a son of her younger brother Michael the Posthumous) in his efforts to chronicle the history of the Imperial dynasty.
Ioannes II conquered Hispania in a war lasting from 1118 to 1126. He had 10 children, 7 sons and 3 daughters, with his wife, and 90 sons with 'recruits'. Other than that, he didn't really do anything. He died on January 1st 1143 of heart failure.
Manuel I (1120-1180 (Reigned 1143-1180)):
The eldest son of Ioannes II (Alexios I never let any of his sons to get married, meaning he had to wait until after he inherited), Manuel I conquered Maghreb. Jeff told him of an island called Newfoundland, which was colonised by the Empire. Manuel had 8 daughters and 1 son from his three marriages, and had no acknowledged children with recruits (meaning there was no sons). He died of pneumonia on January 1st 1180 after falling into the winter sea a few weeks earlier.
Alexios II (1170-1183 (Reigned 1180-1183)):
The only son of Manuel I, Alexios II was dominated by Regents, first his mother and then Andronikos, a cousin of his father. On January 1st 1183, Andronikos seized the throne for himself and strangled Alexios.
Andronikos I (1119-1185 (Reigned 1183-1185)):
Son of Isaakios, the fourth son of Alexios I, after seizing power he purged much of the bureaucracy, which disapproved of his killing of Alexios II (as they had been loyal to Manuel I). Suffered from extreme paranoia, believed that Isaakios, the grandson of Angelos (who was the son of Anna) was plotting against him. Andronikos ordered for Isaakios' arrest but he rose up, and with support from the general population, deposed and executed Andronikos on January 1st 1185.
Isaakios II (1145-1195 (Reigned 1185-1195)):
According to most historians, Isaakios II was the most incompetent Basileus in the Empire's history. The treasury was mismanaged, the Indo-Iranian, Steppe and Tibetan Themes became de facto independent, even if they still nominally recognised Constantinople's authority. The Emperor of China is said to have laughed at Isaakios' plight. In 1189, the longest Civil War in Imperial history started, with Isaakios' younger brother Alexios declaring himself Basileus. On January 1st 1195, Isaakios was captured, deposed and executed by his brother.
Alexios III (1147-1203 (Reigned 1195-1203)):
Alexios III wasn't much better than his brother. The Civil War raged on, with Alexios the Younger, the eldest son of Isaakios II taking up the mantle of pretender. Alexios tried to kowtow to China in the hope of securing support from either the Great Song or the Great Jin, who had taken power in the north earlier in the 1100s. Neither Emperor entertained Alexios, even when he offered to become their tributary, knowing that his reign was doomed. On January 1st 1203, shortly after returning to Constantinople, Alexios III was ambushed by supporters of his nephew. They cut his head off.
Alexios IV (1177-1204 (Reigned 1203-1204)):
While he wasn't exactly competent, Alexios IV was among the unluckiest rulers of the Empire. More Themes stopped paying taxes and supplying levies to Constantinople, and Alexios III's son-in-law, also called Alexios, (Alexios III had no legitimate sons, and his children by 'recruits' were extremely young) started a palace coup. This coup was successful, and on January 1st 1204, Alexios IV was deposed and strangled.
Alexios V (1165-1204 (Reigned 1204)):
His reign only lasted 3 months. On April 1st 1204, a new pretender arose, Theodoros, another son-in-law of Alexios III. He quickly dealt with and executed Alexios V. It was no wonder that no other member of the family was ever named Alexios after this.
Theodoros I (1171-1221 (Reigned 1204-1221)):
Theodoros restored a sense of normality to the Empire. He began the long and arduous task of reigning in the unruly Themes. A Mongol chieftain named Temujin rose in Theodoros' reign, although he focused on defeating the two Empires in China. Technically, the Civil War hadn't ended, but it had shifted from a war between pretenders to a war of secession (or independence, depending on your point of view). On January 1st 1221, Theodoros I died in his sleep.
Ioannes III (1192-1254 (Reigned 1221-1254)):
Like Alexios III, Theodoros I had no legitimate sons, so he chose Ioannes, the husband of his eldest daughter, as his successor. Ioannes III successfully subdued the Indo-Iranian and Eastern European Themes, reigning them in. He had just one son who survived childhood, his youngest, and 7 daughters. On January 1st 1254, Ioannes III died of a heart attack.
Theodoros II (1222-1258 (Reigned 1254-1258)):
Theodoros II subdued even more of the Themes in his short reign (by the end of it only the Tibetan Themes remained). Theodoros suffered from epilepsy, so he entrusted a number of responsibilities to his friend and kinsman, Michael (by this stage everyone in the court who was a member of the Isaurian dynasty was descended from Alexios I, as part of his purges he sent away the descendants of earlier rulers to be Strategoi). On January 1st 1258, Theodoros II had a fatal seizure.
Ioannes IV (1253-1261 (Reigned 1258-1261)):
The only child of Theodoros II, the boy Basileus was under the guardianship of Michael, who used his authority as Regent to finish off the Civil War in late 1260 by reigning in the Tibetan Themes. On January 1st 1261, Michael decided he wasn't satisfied with being Regent. He had Ioannes IV deposed, blinded and fed to snakes.
Michael VIII (1227-1282 (Reigned 1261-1282)):
Having ascended in deplorable fashion, Michael VIII was keen to not become another Andronikos I. He built many churches and donated to charities. He also thought he could get around curses by naming his first three sons Andronikos, Ioannes and Theodoros. In total, Michael VIII had 40 sons and 26 daughters (he was the first Basileus to acknowledge his daughters with 'recruits' since Basileios II). He died while praying in a church he built on January 1st 1282.
Andronikos II (1263-1328 (Reigned 1282-1328)):
Andronikos II sent his brothers away to become Strategoi as soon as they came of age, ending the tradition of requiring a son first. In 1285, Andronikos faced one of the greatest challenges of his reign. The descendants of Temujin, now the Yuan dynasty of China, decided to invade the Empire, demanding its subjugation. Then, strange men in boats arrived in Britain. These 'Aztecs' as the Byzantines called them, although studies of their language indicate they were called the 'Mexica', sought to take Britain off of Andronikos' hands. When the Basileus turned them down, they indicated that it wasn't an offer. Thus the Aztecs invaded the Empire too. This two-front war lasted until 1293, ending with Andronikos signing a treaty of eternal peace with China, which set their borders at what they currently are today (China has everything east of the playable CK2 map). However, the Aztecs were brutally chased back to their homeland, where Andronikos' armies destroyed their capital Tenochtitlan and 'recruited' most of the survivors. Throughout the reign of Andronikos II, until 1446, the twin continents of Andronika (OTL America) were colonised by the Byzantines. Andronikos had 200 sons due to the number of 'recruits' he had 'conversation' with. But in the end, it was a grandson that would be his undoing. Andronikos' eldest son Michael had died in 1320, leaving his eldest son Andronikos as the next ruler of the Empire. On January 1st 1328, wishing to speed up his ascendance to the throne, the younger Andronikos poisoned the elder.
Andronikos III (1300-1341 (Reigned 1328-1341)):
Andronikos III conquered Kanem-Bornu. In 1330, his eldest son Ioannes was born. He had a friendship with a kinsman also named Ioannes, when the friend had a daughter later in 1330, they agreed to betroth their two children. On January 1st 1341, he died suddenly from a fever.
Ioannes V (1330-1354 (Reigned 1341-1354)):
Ioannes V married the daughter of his father's friend (and his Regent) in 1346, they would go on to have 6 children, 3 sons and 3 daughters. The younger Ioannes was content to let the elder do the day-to-day running of the Empire. The Regent conquered Maghreb. On January 1st 1354, Ioannes died while on holidays in Egypt, protecting his sons from a large crocodile.
Ioannes VI (1297-1376 (Reigned 1354-1376)):
Ioannes VI became the guardian for his grandson Andronikos, who was regarded as too young to rule. The Ecumenical Patriarch offered to crown Ioannes as Basileus, which he agreed to. In his sole reign, he created many churches, hospitals and the house of the modern Senate (which while only advisory, allows the public to have some say in the running of the Empire). On February 1st 1369, the first Senators were elected since the old one was abolished exactly 600 years earlier. The elderly Basileus presided over the first Senate meeting. In the future, it became the authority of the Symbasileus to meet with the Senate and pass on the advice to the Basileus. On January 1st 1376, Ioannes VI died of cancer aged 78. Civilians came from all over the Empire to attend his funeral.
Andronikos IV (1348-1385 (Reigned 1376-1385)):
Andronikos IV was a forgettable Basileus, when compared to his grandfathers and younger brother. Even his father was more memorable for his sacrifice. Other then Senate stuff and the canonisation of Ioannes V and Ioannes VI in 1379, nothing really happened in his reign. On January 1st 1385, he died of unknown causes (presumed to be cancer).
Ioannes VII (1369-1390 (Reigned 1385-1390)):
Only child of Andronikos IV (along with his father and maternal grandfather, Andronikos IV was an abolitionist, and Ioannes VII continued in this tradition), he was forgettable like his father. On January 1st 1390 he died in a minor outbreak of plague in Constantinople. Never married or had children.
Manuel II (1350-1425 (Reigned 1390-1425)):
The second son of Ioannes V, he was much more memorable. He conquered Mali. Unlike most of his relatives, he supported using 'recruits' to produce many back-up heirs if needed. As a result, the issue of 'recruits' was kicked down the can. From the 1410s onwards, his sons became more and more influential in the administration of the Empire as he became more and more incapacitated by a series of strokes. On January 1st 1425, he died of his 9th and final stroke.
Ioannes VIII (1372-1448 (Reigned 1425-1448)):
The eldest son of Manuel II, Ioannes VIII had a number of 'recruits'. He instituted the policy of 'recruiting' one woman from each culture (non-Christian (until 1454, then Christians only)). Despite this, Ioannes had no sons who survived childhood. He forced Genoa to increase its tribute to Constantinople. On January 1st 1448, Ioannes died of old age.
Konstantinos XI (1400-1453 (Reigned 1448-1453)):
The eldest son of Manuel II's second marriage, Konstantinos XI decided that he was going to be the man who reforged Rome. In 1451, he attacked Genoa. A long and brutal siege ensued. On January 1st 1453, the Symbasileus Konstantinos the Younger (Konstantinos XI's only son) was killed by a cannonball in the siege. The Basileus had a heart attack upon hearing the news.
Andreas I (1426-1499 (Reigned 1453-1499)):
After Konstantinos XI's death and the fall of Genoa on the same day, the Roman Empire was officially restored by the Senate. As the Basileus and Symbasileus had both died in the siege, under its remits granted to it by Saint Ioannes VI, the Senate had the right to choose the new Basileus. The election lasted the entirety of the day. Konstantinos' brothers Demetrios and Thomas were the favourites for the throne. The Senate reached a deadlock, but both men agreed to pull out and let Thomas' son Andreas become Basileus instead. After his coronation by the Ecumenical Patriarch, Andreas I studied old Roman texts. Having read them, in 1454, he decreed the restoration of the Religio Romana. He became Pontifex Maximus. A Civil War arose, between Christians (supporting a cousin) and Non-Christians (who sided with Andreas in return for emancipation from 'recruitment'). This Civil War lasted until 1458, when the Christians were defeated and many were 'recruited'. The Senate was reformed, the ban on non-Christians was lifted and now Christians were banned. Andreas had 10 sons who could have became Augustus and Pontifex Maximus, but he chose his favourite, Andreas the Younger. On January 1st 1499, Andreas I died of cancer.
Andreas II (1468-1555 (Reigned 1499-1555)):
Andreas II's reign was extremely stable, which meant nothing of note happened. He had many sons, but his eldest predeceased him. On January 1st 1555, Andreas II died of cancer.
Andreas III (1537-1626 (Reigned 1555-1626)):
Andreas III was a great-grandson of Andreas II (his father and grandfather both died in the 1540s). Nothing of note happened early in his reign, but in the 1620s, he often clashed with the Senate, who were against him extending 'recruitment'. On January 1st 1626, Andreas III died in his sleep.
Constantine XII (1606-1650 (Reigned 1626-1650)):
The struggle with the Senate over the extension of 'recruitment' descended into a full-blown Civil War in 1644. The Senatorials would defeat the Imperialists, and Constantine XII (a son of Andreas III with an Italian Catholic 'recruit') was executed on January 1st 1650.
Iacobus I (1628-1705 (Reigned 1650-1705)):
A son of Constantine XII, Iacobus I agreed a peace with the Senatorials that increased the salary of Senators and forbade the expansion of 'recruitment' beyond Christians. After this, nothing of note happened. On January 1st 1705, Iacobus I died of old age.
Iacobus II (1688-1777 (Reigned 1705-1777)):
A son of Iacobus I and a Visigothic Catholic 'recruit', Iacobus II modernised the Senate by creating its current format. Before his reign, each province (CK county) would elect 2 Senators. To minimise the size of the Senate (there wasn't enough room for every Senator in the building), Iacobus created the Consulate system. Now, Consuls would govern greater areas than Strategoi before them, and each Consul would appoint 2 Senators for their Consulate (Kingdom). Unlike the Strategoi, the Consuls would have great authority as to how Senators were appointed (they could hold elections or just appoint them directly). Iacobus forged a friendship with a revolutionary Consul named Georgius Vashingtonius, who created a system whereby the Consulate of Andronika (yes, the full two continents) would be subject to elections every four years, starting from 1776. Vashingtonius only became consul in 1788 though, after Iacobus II died of old age on January 1st 1777.
Iacobus III (1760-1837 (Reigned 1777-1837)):
Iacobus III, a son of Iacobus II and a Coptic Miaphysite 'recruit', reigned as the issue of Christian rights became a major thing. Some believed that Christians should be able to vote, become Senators and Consuls, and more worryingly for Iacobus, these individuals thought that 'recruitment' should be abolished. Trouble was brewing, but Iacobus III was able to kick the can down the road. On January 1st 1837, Iacobus died of old age.
Euphroysne (1815-1914 (Reigned 1837-1914)):
Euphroysne became Augusta following the death of her father Iacobus III (her mother was his fourth wife). She vowed to end what she called "the abhorrent practice of 'recruitment'". With the support of the Consul of Andronika, Abrahamus Lincoln, Euphroysne declared the end of 'recruitment' in 1860, which caused a Civil War led by Ieffersonius Davis. This Civil War ended in 1865, with Davis executed and all 'recruits' in the Empire freed. Euphroysne maintained a friendship with Lincoln's widow after he was assassinated by Johannes Vilkius, a supporter of Davis. On January 1st 1914, Euphroysne died of old age.
Michael IX (1839-1928 (Reigned 1914-1928)):
Michael became Augustus when his mother died. Nothing of note happened in his reign. On January 1st 1928, Michael died of old age, succeeded by his daughter Eudokia.
Eudokia II (1922-Present (Reigned since 1928)):
The reigning Augusta of the Roman Empire, Eudokia is beloved by the people of the Empire. She introduced more reforms to democratise the Senate, by having every Consulate adopt the method used in Andronika (Consuls being elected every x years, to a maximum of y terms (She let each Consulate decide this itself)). She hoped to be succeeded by her beloved eldest son Constantine (born 1940), but earlier this year (2024), he announced he was renouncing his succession rights to let his son Iacobus (born 1980) become the new heir. Constantine had a long-standing rivalry with controversial CEO, convicted criminal and polarising politician Smbat Mamikonian (born 1942), the Consul of Armenia between 1967 and 2012, when he was removed by Constantine (who was just enforcing term limits and convicting him of embezzlement and fraud), and Senator from Armenia since 2016. Iacobus agreed to carry on his father and grandmother's work in fighting anti-democratic movements, such as Mamikonian's MRGA (which was founded in 2016 during his first Senatorial election campaign and was an evolution of his 'Make Armenia Great Again' slogan he had used as Consul). Eudokia had effectively retired in the 1990s, when she started to let Constantine and later Iacobus do the day-to-day running of the Empire. In retirement, Eudokia has supported her nephew Julius (a son of her younger brother Michael the Posthumous) in his efforts to chronicle the history of the Imperial dynasty.
- 2
- 2
- 1
So the story is over now, I might actually be able to get working on that novel.
- 1
Nine hundred years in a single post and not even a massively long one. A staggeringly fast pace.
In any event congratulations on actually reaching "The End" of an AAR, a relatively rare feat around here and one to be suitably proud of.
In any event congratulations on actually reaching "The End" of an AAR, a relatively rare feat around here and one to be suitably proud of.
- 2
Thank you, it probably would have been longer but I wanted to get it finished. As I haven't had gameplay since 991, everything since then has been made up in my imagination.
- 1
What # is Alexios? Eirene should be woman of the century, 18 kidlings, Thanks
Congrats on reaching the end.
Congrats on reaching the end.
- 1
Alexios I was the (I could be wrong) 34th ruler. Definitely in the mid-30s, but I can't count them all off the top of my head. Edit: He was the 36th ruler, I was close.
Last edited:
- 1
Congrats on wrapping up your inaugural AAR. I imagine the 'recruits' are relieved.
- 2
Thank you. There definitely aren't any living 'recruits' left, seeing as 'recruitment' was ended in the 1860s, but the last ones who got to taste freedom were probably happier for how ever long they lived.
- 1