The True Sons of Rome!

[Wzard]

All hail the last remnants of the once glorious Roman Empire! The Eastern Roman Empire of Byzantium still holds the title of Rome and they have no plans on ever give it up! Will they hold onto their glory throughout history and stand the test of time, or will they too crumble into the dust of the past?

Welcome to the beginnings of my very first mega campaign in which I will be attempting to stand the test of time as the glorious Byzantines! I hope to have this thread last a tremendous amount of time and even one day go through the different paradox games as I progress through time. I hope you enjoy my adventure!

Table of Contents

Isauros Dynasty 769 - 863

Konstantinos V 'the Lionheart of Greece' 769 - 778
Chapter One - The Holy Unification of Greece

Christophoros I 778 - 808
Chapter Two - A Lesson to the Dulo Pagans
Chapter Three - The Imperial Court of Christophoros
Chapter Four - The Reach of an Empire

Konstas III 'the Lord's Wrath' 808 - 838
Chapter Five - The Return of the Orthodox Church
Chapter Six - The Weakness of the Child Caliph
Chapter Seven - The Last Actions of 'the Lord's Wrath'

Traianos II 'the Giant' 838 - 863
Chapter Eight - The War of the Churches
Chapter Nine - The Reclamation of Africa

Leontares Dynasty 863 - 887

Alexios I 'the Lawgiver' 863 - 887
Chapter Ten - The Imperial Reforms and Schemes of Alexios

Isauros Dynasty 887 - 1012

Sophia I 'the Defender' 887 - 913
Chapter Eleven - The Holy City
Chapter Twelve - The Start of the Age of Bloodshed

Ioanna I 'the Apostle' 913 - 950
Chapter Thirteen - The Most Unlikely of Events
Chapter Fourteen - The Calm Before a Storm

Niketas I 'the Vengeful' 950 - 986
Chapter Fifteen - The Imperial Blood Feud
Chapter Sixteen - A Lesson to the World
Chapter Seventeen - The Age of Fear and Death

Loukas I 986 - 1012
Chapter Eighteen - An Ever Changing World

Boilas Dynasty 1012 -

Michael I 'the True Knight' 1012 - 1038
Chapter Nineteen - A man of the Faith
Chapter Twenty - The War of Michaels

Markia I 1038 -
Chapter Twenty One - The Basilissa's Reforms
Chapter Twenty Two - The Church of Europe

 

[Wzard]

Konstantinos V 'the Lionheart of Greece' 769 -778

Chapter One - The Holy Unification of Greece
In the early days of 769 the great Basileus Konstantinos summoned his military council to strike a devastating blow against the Slavic Pagans that were inhabiting Western Greece. Konstantinos could no longer fathom the Pagans holding rightful Greek lands. Across the empire, the Greek Lords were called upon to raise their men and banners to march against the Pagans. That same January Konstantinos launched his attack against the Slavs that he called his Holy Unification of Greece.

The Chiefs of Ohrid, Thessalia, Epirus and Peloponese stood against the full might of the Byzantine Empire as Konstantinos declared his Holy War against them on January 15th, 769. The Byzantine levies marched into Ohrid with little resistance and began the siege as the Pagans fled North and South avoiding a battle. The siege in the mountains of Ohrid would last until the end of November but would fall without incident. The army marched south under Konstantinos personal command to fight the Pagans who were raiding in the south.

While the Basileus was marching south a riding came reporting that the one of the Tengri Pagan Chiefs of Bulgaria was attempting to take advantage of the Byzantines being occupied in the west. Konstantinos cursed the Bolghar raiders for attempting to take advantage of the Empire. The Basileus would begrudgingly finish his siege of Epirus on March 19th of 770. Turning the levies around he would march back East to defend Thrake from the raiders who threatened the capital region. On the march back towards Constantinople, Chief Mislav of Ohrid had ambushed the army on July 29th, 770. The ambushers were defeated at Debar and the army would push on towards the Bolghars.

Konstantinos was celebrating with his commanders when news had reached him that his oldest son and heir to the empire had passed away. A serious outbreak of pneumonia had broken out in the capital region and Leon could not keep up his strength to survive the disease.
Pushing onwards with the wars, Konstantinos reached Constantinople in early November. Meeting the Bolghars on the fields of Phinoplis in Thrake, Konstantinos pushed them back into Bulgaria! With them beaten back, Konstantinos marched back down south to defeat the remaining Slavic Pagans which he originally set out to conquer. By August of the following year, the Basileus had won the battle of Thessalia and occupied Hellas. All that was left was the Pagans in Achaia that still stood against Konstantinos.

Marching back once again to push back the Bolghars, a battle in Thrake took place again on November 21st, 771. With this defeat Krum Dulo of Karvuna was captured and was forced to end his pitiful conquest war. Having secured victory after victory and prevented enemies from ever reaching Constantinople, Konstantinos’ Commanders and Lords had begun to call him ‘the Lionheart of Greece’ a luxurious title.

While back in the capital region, Konstantinos rode back to Constantinople to see his new heir Christophoros be wed. The Imperial Wedding took place on December 17th of 771, and Christophoros Isarous married Blaeja Wintaling, an anglo-saxon girl Christophoros was smittened with. After the merriment and festivities, Konstantinos rode back to the south to finish his Holy Unification. The last resistance of Pagan warriors were defeated or captured by May 7th, 772 and the Holy Unification was completed!

Byzantine Empire after the Holy Unification War, May 772 AD

Disbanding the levies and returning home from a great conquest, Konstantinos sought for a way to pay back his Lords and people. He announced that a Grand Tournament would take place in honor of the empire’s victory. People from all across the empire flocked to Constantinople to take part in the Basileus’ Tournament. After weeks of hosting, three winners were finally picked to be championed before Konstantinos. A Scottish adventurer named Philip ‘the wise’ impressed all with his legendary archery skills, and came in third place. A lowborn Greek commander of Paphlagonia by the name of Kaisarios came in second with his swordsmanship. Another lowborn Greek commander of Scholae Palatinae named Chrysanthos won the tournament in first place with his jousting skills. For winning the tournament, Chrysanthos was given a large part of the newly conquered lands of Ohrid and was able to create his own house, which he named Komnenos.

After the grand tournament, Konstantinos had to offer various other gifts and rewards to his Lords, as they had been fighting for him for nearly four years. Understanding that his Lords needed their levies for their own realms and purposes, Konstantinos began the creation of a full time Imperial Army. He would spend the rest of his life working towards the first Imperial Army of the empire.

On February 26th, 778 Basileus Konstatinos V Isauros ‘the Lionheart of Greece’ passed away from battling consumption at the age of 59. His second son Christophoros was backed by most of the Imperial Lords and he succeeded his father in becoming the next Basileus of the empire!

 

[Nikolai]

Will the Emperor’s heirs rue the day he appointed what would become Kommenos to office?

 

[Wzard]

Christophoros I 778 - 808

Chapter Two - A Lesson to the Dulo Pagans
All of the Lords of the empire joined Christophoros at the Imperial Palace to honor his father Konstantinos and all he did for the empire. The ceremony took place for over three days filled with speeches and feasts. Finally on the first day of March, Christophoros at the age of 23 was crowned as Basileus and he wasted no time on summoning his council.

At the end of Konstantinos’ life, he had begun creating the first Imperial Army but died sadly before it could finish. By June of 778 the men enlisted into the army were finally fully equipped and trained, the very elite of the empire standing at four thousand strong! Christophoros decided that the Imperial Army should bear some honor to his father, and called the army Konstantinos' Lions. This army would be feared by their strength in number alone, but they would need experience to be a truly deadly force.

Christophoros and his council began to discuss the possible expansions the empire could pursue and allow Konstantinos’ Lions an opportunity to gain some experience. Christophoros would listen to no other suggestion than to strike at the Tengri Kingdom of Bulgaria. He and his council had not forgotten the attack of one of the High Chiefs of the Kingdom, and what better land to take than Karvuna. As it happens, the High Chief who had attempted to attack the empire had been rather successful in Bulgaria. Krum Dulo had won the recent civil war after his fathers death and was in fact now Khan of Bulgaria.

Christophoros called upon the Lords of the empire to raise their Levies and on July 2nd, 778 declared war upon Bulgaria. The Imperial Armies marched directly into Krum’s capital and caught his armies by complete surprise. On July 8th the battle of Dorostotum was fought and the new Lions of the empire cut down the Pagans! An easy battle for the Imperial Armies left the Khan in retreat.

At the same time, the Western Levies engaged a second Pagan army at the battle of Didymoteichon. Without the Imperial elite it was a much more hard fought battle but in the end the empire still overcame the Pagans and captured many of them. By December 28th, the Khans main holdings and capital were completely sieged and Christophoros had forced the Khan to accept his defeat. Showing the world what happens when you threaten the Sons of Rome, Christophoros took the lands of Karvuna from the Khan. A devastating blow to Bulgaria as Karvuna had been their new Khans main holdings and capital region.

Byzantine Empire under Christophoros I, December 778

 

[TheSharkrat]

It's been an awhile since I've seen someone start a Byzantium game, I'm looking forward to reading more

But you've got to do something about that single county in Albania that's still free

 

[Idhrendur]

769 is an interesting choice for a start date. Sure, you've got some easy early wars, but you're hemmed in by large empires.

 

[Wzard]

769 is an interesting choice for a start date. Sure, you've got some easy early wars, but you're hemmed in by large empires.

The big empires around are a reason I decided to do this start. Not only is it the earliest start which allows me to do this longer, it also makes it a bit harder to blob which I am honestly going to try and avoid. I don't want it to become too boring by me becoming way to strong way to fast, so I will have a much slower expanding empire in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Wzard]

Chapter Three - The Imperial Court of Christophoros
During the fall of 779, Basilissa Blaeja had received word from her homeland that her brother had mysteriously died and had left no heir to his holdings. The letter informed her that she was next in line to inherit the lands. Christophoros begged Blaeja to stay with him in Constantinople and abandon her homeland to some other Anglo-Saxon, but she would not. Packing her things she set sail to return home as a countess. It would be difficult for them to see each other from now on but they were determined to make it work.

In January of 780, Basileus Christophoros and his Imperial Council met and drafted a new Imperial Law for the Empire called The Imperial Religious Mandate. The mandate now would allow the Basileus to revoke titles from anyone not following the official faith of the Empire, and gave the Basileus full authority over which religion is the official faith of the Empire.

The next few years are spent mostly on internal projects and spreading the ideals of the Iconoclast faith. The Iconoclast faith has met a rather stand-still on conversion but Christophoros seems unconcerned. Two more sons are born to the Imperial family when Christophoros and Blaeja find time to meet, Lazaros and Konstas are their names.

Christophoros began talks with the Georgian Duke Levan Anchabadze II of Abkhazia in the late months of 781. By April of 782, the Basileus had convinced the Duke to become a part of the Byzantine Empire in which he would have protection from the Nomads and Muslims who plague his borders.

Union with Abkhazia, April 782

That following July Christophoros had received word that his wife Blaeja had died of Dysentery. Christophoros and the entire Empire mourned their beloved Basilssa’s passing. Knowing that Blaeja would never want her homeland abandoned, Christophoros assembled two small retunies of guards and serving peasants to accompany his two oldest sons who were set to inherit their mothers' old counties. Timotheos would inherit Lindsey and Lazaros would inherit Leeds, while Konstas would stay in Constantinople with his father. His two sons were so young, only five and three, but he wished them the best of luck and hoped they could spread Greek influence to the Britannia Isles.

Troubling news comes to the Imperial Throne from the west. King Karl of West Francia has managed to overthrow the King of Italy and added the throne to his growing collection. The Franks appear to be unifying an empire much like Karl ‘the hammer’ had for a brief time. The most worrying thing is that Karling is known as ‘the Accursed’ as he is rumored to be diseased and mad.

The Kingdom of West Francia under Karl Karling, May 783

An Imperial Wedding is held in 784 for Christophoros as he finds love once again! A unimportant Greek woman named Gabrielia Konstantinakes. A great series of festivities were thrown in Constantinople for their wedding. During the festivities, the priests of the empire announced that Orthodoxy is no longer the main faith of the people and that Iconoclasm should hereby be the main branch of the faith!

June 25th, 786 the first son of Christophoros and his new wife Gabrielia was born, he was named Zacharias. A daughter would be born to the couple on February 25th two years later, she was named Alexia. At the end of the year of 789 Christophoros announced a Grand Tournament for the enjoyment of the Imperial Court and the people of Constantinople. Much to the enjoyment of the Basileus, all winners of the tournament were skilled Greek fighters! A lowborn commander from the Aegean Islands by the name of Gregorios came in third place for his skills at jousting. The Count Andronikos Klados of Monemvasia came in second place for his skills at dueling. Another lowborn commander from Cappadocia was crowned the grand winner of the tournament for his victory in the skirmish!

 

[Zamarak500]

This Karl guy seems important. Might need to watch out for him.

 

[Wzard]

Chapter Four - The Reach of an Empire
April 7th, 790 Christophoros and Gabrielia’s son passed away of smallpox. The court physician went missing slightly after the news reached Christophoros. Another son was born however on September 25th named Michael. News has also reached the Basileus that his two oldest sons in Britannia were doing well and had adjusted to life surrounded by the Anglo-Saxons. On March 25th, 792 a daughter was born to the imperial family named Nonna.

On the same day of Nonna’s birth, Christophoros and his council were changing the laws of the Empire in new ways once again. The council wrote and approved Christophoros’ Imperial Inheritance Laws, which forbid those outside of the Byzantine Empire inheriting lands held by the Empire. This prevents lands passing to realms not under the rule of the Basileus of the Byzantine Empire.

Over the last few decades the Empire had been focused in the West against the Pagans on the border. With most of the Pagans weakened or defeated, Christophoros looked East towards the Muslim threats to the Empire. The Sunni Caliph ruling over the Abbasid Empire is the greatest threat to the Byzantine Empire and Christophoros wants to focus on taking more in the East to have a greater strength on that side of the Empire. On June 17th, 795 he declared a holy war against Emir Abd II al-kadir of the Addauid Emirate for Cilicia. The Sultan of the Uqaylid in the region of Armenia also joined in the war to defend their Sunni brothers. In the early days of November the battle of Irenopolis took place inside Greek territory. It was a great and easy victory for the empire!

After the battle of Irenopolis, two levey armies were sent to siege Tarsos and Lykandos while the Imperial troops were sent to occupy the capital of Antioch. By July of 796, Antioch was completely besieged. The Imperial troops marched back north to meet the armies of the Muslims while the other two levies continued their sieges. On August 24th a more minor battle took place of Germanias between Addauid’s Army and Konstantinos’ Lions. It was a successful battle for the Imperial troops. On September 12th the battle of Tzamandos took place in Lykandos between the Sultan of Uqaylid and the levies. It was a very close battle but reinforcements made it in time to turn the tide of the battle to a victory.

By the end of November a few more key sieges were finished and the war was won! Cilicia was added to Imperial Lands and given to some of the Greek commanders who had participated in leading the levies.

Byzantine Empire under Christophoros I, November 796

After the Lords and their levies made it back to their lands, some of them prepared for their very own wars. The young Strategos Kaisarios of Paphlagonia saw opportunity in a very weak Bulgaria. On December 15th, 797 Kaisarios marched against a Bulgarian revolt in order to try and take Strymon from them. On October 8th, 798 Strategos Makarios of Karvuna also went to war with the Bulgarians but for Moesia. Times looked truly grim for the Bulgarian Khan.

An Imperial Wedding was thrown on April 2nd, 798 between Christophoros’ third son Konstas and Christophoros’ niece Eudokia. Konstas has widely been rumored to be Christophoros’ heir after being the oldest son to have stayed in the empire. Eudokia’s mother was married to Remigius Karling and it is said that the blood of Karl ‘the hammer’ runs through her veins. Their children will not only be direct descendants of Rome but have the blood of the Franks who took the Western Roman Empire. They will hold the ultimate claims to Europe!

News came to the Imperial Throne in the early months of 799, Chrsitorphoros’ oldest son Timotheos had died of a heart attack in the foreign lands he inherited from his mother. The land of Lindsey passed to Christophoros as Timotheos had no children. It now lays in the hands of the Empire as a far away outpost, such as the Roman Empire itself once held on Britannia. Not being able to personally manage something so far away, Christophoros sent out his Commander, Maximos the county and the title of ‘Imperial Protector of Britannia’. When reaching his new land, Maximos created the house of Pegonitissos.

April 17th of 799 saw the birth of Konstas first son which he named Traianos. Traianos was an abnormally giant baby and had the housemaids rather worried. July of that same year word had come in that King Karl ‘the Accursed’ of West Francia had died of several serious injuries that no one could figure out how he got. The West Francia Kingdom was split between his sons except for the Kingdom of Italy. The Lombards rose up after Karl’s death and took back their throne. The threat to the West is now gone!

The Split of the Franks, April 799

Rather alarming rumors and stories had reached the Imperial Court in the early months of 800. Pagans from the far north had begun to launch attacks all across Europe! Great hordes of raiders calling themselves “Vikings” have been looting and pillaging wherever they happen to come across.

In March of the following year some of these Vikings had made their way to the Empire. The tales told true of their fearsome might and prowess. They loved gold and wealth and bloodshed more than anything. Christophoros sent word to the Pagans who had reached the border of the Empire that he had a deal for them if they would arrive at Constantinople without raiding along the way. The Vikings surprisingly arrived without harming any Greek person or land. Christophoros showed them the wealth of the Byzantines and promised they could share it if they listened to his command and served the Basileus. They accepted his offer and thus the Varangian Guard who is only loyal to the Basileus was created.

June 17th of 801 a daughter was born to Konstas which he named her Romylia. August of the next year news had arrived that Christophoros’ second oldest son had died of depression in the land he had inherited from his mother and the land passed to the Empire. Christophoros was devastated that both his sons had died in Britannia alone. He cursed Blaeja and would never forgive her for taking his sons from him. Leeds was given to the protection of Maximos as well. On December 17th, 802 a son was born to Konstas that he named Germanos.

On August 10th, 803 Basileus Christophoros surrounded by his loyalist council, the Varangian Guard and the Konstantinos Lions, announced to the Empire that he was turning the Empire’s official faith back to Orthodoxy! A new Ecumenical Patriarch was appointed and given back the rightful church land in Constantinople. It appears that in secret over the years Christophoros and others had been spreading the Orthodox faith in secret. Many of the Imperial Lords had also come out as Orthodox believers and stood with the Basileus. However, there were still a great many who did not follow that path.

Christophoros would spend the rest of his life trying to mend the divide between Orthodox believers and Iconoclast followers. He was rather unsuccessful as he used their religious beliefs to take landed titles from Lords such as Sardinia, Majorica and Abkhazia in order to turn their lands into viceroyalties. On March 22nd of 808, Basileus Christophoros I died at the age of 53 due to the stress of the religious tension. His oldest living son Konstas was backed by most of the Imperial Lords and succeeded him as the new Basileus!

 

[Wzard]

Konstas III 'the Lord's Wrath' 808 - 838

Byzantine Empire at the begining rule of Konstas III, April 808

Chapter Five - The Return of the Orthodox Church

Konstas, unlike his father and grandfather before him, did not wage war after becoming Basileus. Instead he held another grand tournament to bring the Lords and people of the Empire to come to Constantinople and get to know him and his goals. While the games and festivities began, Konstas met with the Lords who had arrived and he promised to them a reign of uniting the Empire once again after the actions of his father. There was a rift between the reinstated Orthodox Lords and the Iconoclast Lords who felt betrayed by Christophoros. The Lords were pleased with Konstas goals and promised to be at his service to strengthen the empire. The tournament came to an end and a lowborn commander named Michael from Samos came in third place. Konstas cousin from Karvuna Makarios came in second place due to his jousting skills. Captain Dag of the Varangian Guard was an overwhelming force in the skirmish.

July 12th, 809 King Rotbert ‘the Missionary’ inherited West Francia after his brother’s death from an infected wound. The threat of the west is once again there on our borders.

March 17th, 813 a son would be born to Konstas, the first to be during his Imperial Reign! Porphyrios was his name but he would never rule the empire as he was born sadly with a clubfoot.

Looking to strengthen the Orthodox Church again, Konstas needed something major done. He looked to the city of Antioch, sitting in Muslim control. The Emir of the Addaiuds who held the land, was very weak and could barely hold his own lands after Christophoros had taken Cilicia in 796. Konstas rode his levies and the Imperial Army to take Antioch from the Muslims on January 17th, 814. It was a short war that would see no battles, only a few sieges and Antioch was under Imperial control. On June 1st, 815 the Patriarchate of Antioch was restored as one of the episcopal sees of the Pentarchy in the Orthodox Church. It is seen as a great boost to the legitimacy of Orthodoxy.

With Orthodoxy being the main religion of the Lords and Antioch restored, all agree across the empire that Orthodoxy has risen as the main Church once more.

On September 20th, 817 Konstas joined the Community of Saint Basil as an Archarios, in order to strengthen his dedication to the Orthodoxy faith. By December of 821, he would have already risen higher in the Community and earned the rank of Rasophoros. Seeking to increase his dedication he made plans in the early months of 822 to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He set out in April under a disguise and protection of a small band of troops set off to the holy city. Along his journey he looked and made notes on the strength of the empire's most dangerous threat, the Abbasid Caliph. Konstas reached Jerusalem on May 25th, 822 and devoted his time to taking in the holy sites of the city. While on his journey he learned that the Caliph had recently died and a child Caliph was currently in control of the Abbasid Empire. There could be no better time to possibly strike against the Abbasids. Konstas spurred his small band home as quickly as he could, he had a war to plan.

 

[Nikolai]

Jerusalem might soon be proper Orthodox, as should be. The weak and decadent Muslims will fall!

 

[Wzard]

Chapter Six - The Weakness of the Child Caliph

When Konstas returned back to Constantinople he wasted no time summoning his commanders and Lords of his council to begin making plans. Many of the Lords were devoted to the Orthodox Church Konstas had been rebuilding and called for him to take Jerusalem like he took Antioch and strengthen the church even more. It was a good idea but Konstas worried about keeping control of the region after the war. No, Jerusalem would not be the best way to permanently weaken the Abbasids. Konstas looked at the maps and realized how close the Abbasid capital of Damascus was. To take Damascus would be a great blow to their empire as it is their capital region and one of the larger economic centers. When word from spies in the Abbasids came back that their troops had engaged in some far away war in India, Konstas knew it was time to strike. The Lords and their levies were summoned to march to Constantinople on September 7th of 823.

Konstas waited for the levies to arrive, he had a dream, that Christ came to him and spoke of his deeds and the great accomplishments he had and would make for Christianity. Konstas believed this to be a sign from God that the war for Syria would be an absolute victory. With what Konstas believed to be the backing of God, he preemptively marched against the Child Caliph Najib. His Lords and Commanders struggled to keep up with the Imperial Army but Konstas would not stop. Men began to call him ‘the Lord’s Wrath’. By September of 824 the Imperial Armies marched into Syria and began laying siege!

The Imperial Armies met little more than local garrisons. The Child Caliph had no preparations in place for someone attacking his mighty empire. A force of eighteen thousand had come back from India in an attempt to stop the Imperial Armies from reaching Damascus. The battle was the largest any living person in either empire had ever seen. On June 2nd, 825 almost thirty thousand men met on the battlefield of Emesa. While the Abbasids had struck at one of the Imperial levies sieging the area all seemed lost for those brave men, but a messenger made it out and called for reinforcements from the nearby armies. Brave Byzantine men reinforced day after day till the battle was finally won!

The Imperial Armies wasted no time after the battle and began a quick march towards Damascus and the Child Caliph. They reached Damascus by the end of June and surrounded the city as they prepared for a siege. The Child Caliph came to the wall and called for a chance to talk with Konstas about his surrender. The two met and Najib agreed to surrender if he and his court would be unharmed as well as no looting of the city would take place after his leave. Konstas agreed and the war for Syria was won!

Byzantine Empire after Konstas' Great Conquest of Syria, June 825

With Syria now under Imperial control, it was time to establish who would rule over the lands. Some muslims rulers still kept hold of their lands after the land had been exchanged to the Byzantines. In order to ensure that no rebellions to return to the Abbasids would occur in later years, Konstas set out to establish Greek Lords. The Muslim Lords did not appreciate their lands being taken from them, and those who refused to leave behind their lands rose up in revolt!

Konstas knew that a rebellion was highly possible so he had kept the Imperial Levies and Armies in the region. Once the Muslims rose up the Imperial Armies got straight to work on putting down the rebels. On August 23rd, 825 a major battle on the deserts of Ba’albek took place and most of the rebels were put down. By May of 826, major rebel strongholds had been captured and rebel leaders had been put down to the sword. The rebellion was crushed and the region was under Imperial control once again. Every Muslim ruler who had taken part in the rebellion was stripped of their lands and sent to rot in the dungeon of Constantinople. Those who had submitted to Konstas’ demands of leaving their lands were allowed to live out their lives wherever they so choose. Greek rulers were installed onto the local lands and new viceroyalties were established in the region. Lesser sons and Lowborn commanders were granted the lands to oversee for the glory of Byzantium!

Konstas finally was able to allow the Lords and their levies to return to their homes with the war and rebellion won. On his journey back to Constantinople, a messenger had arrived to tell the Basileus that his second oldest son had passed away from camp fever. Konstas would travel back to the Imperial Capital with victory behind him. Now he would need to focus on the succession of the empire as his possible heirs were getting slimmer by the year.

 

[Wzard]

Chapter Seven - The Last Actions of 'the Lord's Wrath'

Returning to Constantinople, Konstas was met with even more sad news. Loustina, his youngest daughter, had died of cancer at the age of 19. There is very little of the Imperial Family left and Konstas continues to worry about who would succeed him. Before he could worry about that, he needed to focus on the empire. With all its newly gained land in Syria, it was becoming harder to keep control of all the Lords. Konstas and his Imperial Council would lessen how much land the empire had centralized to allow more men to focus on the Lords of the empire instead.

Konstas began to train even more troops for the Imperial Armies. Another two thousand men would be trained and ready to serve the empire as a full time army.

Konstas was celebrated by the Othordox Church for being a hero of the faith for so many long years. His works and ambition would never be forgotten! In the year of 829, he would move to become a Stavrophoros in the Community of Basil. He would also become known as a master of Orthodoxy teachings and values, beginning known as a well respected Theologian of the faith.

While centralization efforts of the empire were well under way, the Imperial Council realized they had been so caught up in the great conquest of Syria that they had neglected the outpost in Britannia. Word has come in from a man loyal to the Imperial Throne, that Maximos died nearly nine years ago of cancer. His two sons who inherited his lands had not been bothered to send any letters of tribute back to the empire. It is not worth it to attempt to keep such a far away outpost, so Britannia shall be considered lost to the empire once more.

A revolt in the Bulgarian Kingdom left the duchy of Moesia open to conquest. Konstas wasted no time and after defeating some of the rebels and laying siege to the region, was able to capture the lands by the end of October in 830. Management of the empire had begun to improve but it was still a struggle to keep a hold of. Konstas and his council drew up a new Imperial Law that would allow Greek women of great quality and skill to be allowed to hold minor offices and power within the empire.

Konstas dream and goal of weakening the Abbasids began to work already as in 836 a massive revolt was reported to have been taking place in their empire against the Child Caliph. It would amount to the Abbasids losing some of their lands, although those who escaped their empire would not likely stay independent for long, surrounded by giants.

The Western World continues to feel the might and strength of the Vikings who have never stopped raiding them. A strong and bold Viking named Ingolfr Stafr even managed to take a core part of Italy! He declared himself the King of Romagna after hearing it would spite a powerful man in the Catholic world. The Pope is quite upset at the lack of strength of the Franks and Italians. In that same year of 836, the High Chief Sebeslav of Slavonia wrote asking for missionaries to be sent out to his lands so the Orthodox faith could enlighten his people. Konstas sent them immediately.

On April 13th, 838 Konstas III passed away of old age at the age of 56. The entire Byzantine Empire and Orthodox Church mourned at the news of his death. His oldest son Traianos II was backed by enough of the Imperial Lords to secure the throne but he is not a man suitable to lead by any means…

 

[Wzard]

Traianos II ‘the Giant’ 838 - 863

Chapter Eight - The War of the Churches

Traianos succeeded the Imperial Throne at the age of 38 after his father. He found himself Basileus mainly due to the respect and love that many Lords across the Empire felt for Konstas. Traianos and his siblings were meant to be the next line to bring great glory to the Empire with both the Imperial Title of Byzantium and the blood of Karl ‘the Hammer’ running through their veins. With the claims of the empire and the lands of the Franks, Konstas had envisioned them being the true start to reclaiming the lost parts of the Roman Empire. However, with many of Konstas’ children already dead from various illnesses, and Traianos himself a freakishly frail giant of a man, many worry about the future of the empire under his reign. With only one son with his own deformities and an old wicked wife, it looks as if Traianos would be the last of the Isauros to hold the Imperial Throne.

In early September of 838, Traianos survived three assassination attempts on his life alone! Two of the would-be assassins were captured and put to the sword but it could not be found if they were hired or not.

Later that same September, the Kingdom of Bulgaria fell to the Tengri hordes of Khazaria. Khagan Khatir ‘the Terrible’ subjugated the Kingdom and now borders close to Constantinople itself! Many Lords cry out that something should be done about this threat.

On March 13th, 843 many Lords across the empire had come out and made public declarations that they would return back to the Iconoclast faith. Traianos, who was dealing with health complications of his gigantism, didn’t want to deal with a war of faith or steel. So he simply did not press the matter of reconversion, against the better wishes of his council and faith advisors. While this would avoid war for a while, religious peace would not last in Byzantium. On July 2nd, 851 word had come in that Aniketos Laloudious, the Strategos of Antioch, had replaced the Orhodox Patriarch in the Antioch Temple. This blow to the Orthodox Church would not be tolerated. Traianos demanded that Aniketos renounce his heretic faith and establish Orthodoxy in Antioch. Aniketos refused this demand. Traianos and his Imperial Council were furious that a heretic that was left alone would oppose the Imperial Throne. Aniketos was told that he must forsake all titles and leave Antioch. Instead of obeying the Basileus, Aniketos and other heretic Lords of the empire rose up in revolt!

Iconoclast Revolt of 851

Having rebel armies on both sides of the empire, Traianos led the Imperial Army in the east to combat the bigger forces, while entrusting the west to the Imperial Levies of the west. The Imperial Army fought the first major battle in Kyrrhos and was able to secure victory, however during the fighting Traianos had lost an eye! His men were inspired by his drive to fight for the faith and slowly began to like the man they feared would doom the empire.

In the west, the Imperial Levies were struggling to organize. Rebels took advantage of that and struck at Strumica on December 19th, 851. It was a bloody battle and it ended in a loss for the Orthodox believers. It had shocked the generals in the west the amount of troops they had to face. Letters were sent out for reinforcements.

Rallying in Constantinople and waiting for troops, more levies were sent to aid the west. Traianos continued to push down on Antioch and began laying siege to the heretic strongholds. Having more troops, the Imperial Levies marched against the rebels once more and engaged them at the battle of Cypsela. This time, while organized, the Imperial Levies were able to secure a victory in the west.

Another battle was won in August of 852 at Traianopolis in the west. The Imperial Levies began to advance on the heretic strongholds in the region. By September Traianos had sieged down all of Antioch and turned to deal with the heretic strongholds of Trebizond. On January 31st, 853 after more sieges were won, the heretics surrendered to Traianos and the Imperial Throne. Aniketos Laloudios of Antioch, Anna Krinites of Trebizond, Theodoros Skleros of Samos and Eustathios Machairas of Strymon are arrested and stripped of all lands and titles. While their titles were under Imperial control, Traianos even stripped every single Iconoclast ruler of their lands, even cities had their heretic leaders removed from positions of power. Everything in those duchies were given to Orthodox rulers, most were soldiers who had fought for the Basileus. Never again would the Iconoclast be shown mercy by Traianos. Those who still held lands were warned to never disobey him if they wanted to keep the lands and power they enjoyed. Antioch was restored to Orthodoxy and the church once again was bolstered in strength and legitimacy!

 

[Wzard]

Chapter Nine - The Reclamation of Africa

Word had reached the Imperial Throne in April of 853, that the Muhallabid’s who had ruled over the Ifriqya Kingdom were overthrown by some pretender who could not control the Kingdom after taking it. It lays in complete disarray. This was a golden opportunity, and one that Traianos would not waste. Traianos called upon his Imperial Council and declared to them that Africa would return under Imperial control.

The Imperial Armies marched towards the capital region to board the ships that would sail to Africa. By November of 853, Imperial Levies had arrived and began laying siege to Tripoli. From here they would march east capturing everything from there to Kabylia. While the Imperial Armies were invading Africa, Basilissa Konstantia ‘the Wicked’ passed away from her old age. No grand ceremony was held for her and many in Constantinople even rejoiced to hear of her death. Rumors had been all over the empire that she tortured people for fun and even ate her victims. Traianos was never happy with his marriage and moved on almost immediately, marrying a young German woman who many believed had been his mistress for some years. Her name was Richenza and she brought life and joy back to the Imperial Palace.

By the end of July 855, Traianos’ conquest of Africa was completed and once again some of Africa was back under Imperial control. A son was also born to the Imperial couple, his name was Hektorios.

Traianos' Re-Conquest of Africa, July 855

In March of 857, twins were born to Traianos and Richenza. A son named Kyrillos and a daughter named Zenobia, both appeared to be strong and healthy babies. A year later in August of 858, a daughter named Sophia was born as well. The Imperial Palace was once again full of children and joy that would not last. In the early days of May 859, Basilissa Richenza was found stabbed to death in the Imperial Bedchambers. Her loss devastated Traianos and her killer would never be found.

With Richenza’s death, Traianos would be noted to always have an air of sadness with him. He never married again. Even with his personal issues, there was an empire to run. The Imperial Strategos System was becoming harder and harder to manage as the empire continued to grow. Traianos, following in the footsteps of his family before him, lowered the centralization of the empire to allow magisters to focus on the empire more so than the Imperial lands.

In late October of 861, the Abbasid Caliph Shamir lost control of his empire as a massive revolt broke out into full blown war. The Imperial Council spurred Traianos to launch another conquest and thus the Imperial Levies were summoned once more. By October of the following year the entire area of Galilee was sieged down. The Caliph sent a letter of surrender to Traianos that he could keep Galilee as well as some of the Caliph’s treasury. Old and tired Traianos halted the conquest and accepted the Caliph’s surrender.

Traianos would spend the last of his time on earth resting and teaching his young children. At the age of 64 he would die a peaceful death on June 26th, 863. His oldest son suffered from a lisp and was known to be left handed, and was generally disliked by many of the Imperial Lords. Traianos’ other children were just babies, the oldest was seven, they would not be able to rule Byzantium. Knowing all this before his death, Traianos had endorsed Alexios Leontares of Charsianon to succeed him. A master of law and rule, the Imperial Lords backed Alexios’ bid for the Imperial Throne and thus was risen there after Traianos’ death. The Isauros Dynasty, while ruling over many parts of the empire, no longer held the Imperial Throne. The beginning of the Leontares was at hand.

 

[Wzard]

Alexios I ‘the Lawgiver’ 863 - 887

Chapter Ten - The Imperial Reforms and Schemes of Alexios

Alexios was backed by many of the Imperial Lords due to his intellect and good nature in June of 863. He had already changed some laws within his own realm and sought to change how the empire was managed and ruled over. Life as Basileus began rough for Alexios as his wife Simonis was found dead on April 9th, 864. Knowing that he needed more than one son Alexios remarried a young strong Greek woman named Philippa of Lampron in August.

Alexios began his mission to reform the empire by implementing laws that would avoid the Strategos gaining too much power. His council was not very supportive of some of his changes but it is said they were rewarded quite handsomely for agreeing to his decrees. The first major reform of the empire was implemented on January 30th, 865. Alexios made internal wars in the empire illegal, no Strategos could war another without fearing the wrath of the Imperial Throne. Alexios was one of the Lords who fought in the War of the Churches under Traianos, he never wanted to see any Greeks spill the blood of fellow Greeks again. The Lords of the empire were displeased at such a reach of Alexios but obeyed the law for now.

In February of 868, news reached Alexios that the Abbasid Empire had completely collapsed! The young Caliph Shamir was never able to stop the revolts and had even been casted down out of the position of Caliph. Aman named Jibril Jibrilid ‘the Liberator’ is now the Sunnit Caliph, and has completely dismantled the Abbasids empire.

The Collapse of the Abbasid Caliphate, February 868

Many Imperial Lords on the borders of these newly free muslim relams, have launched at the oppertunity to conquer new lands from weaker rulers in the mulsim world. Alexios feared how strong some would become.

Alexios struggled in the Imperial Palace with his wife Philippa, and it is rumored that they hardly ever shared the same bed most nights. With the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarch Ignatios, Alexios was able to divorce Philippa in May of 868. By June Alexios married a young Occitan woman named Gisla Nibelunging. A beautiful woman who was loved in the Imperial Court, and spent a lot of time with Alexios. She died in May of 870 due to a case of rabies. In September of 870, Alexios would marry one last time to a Greek woman named Eulalia Krateros, a brilliant woman who knew law almost as well as Alexios himself.

Alexios fears of the Strategos gaining more and more strength was becoming true. With newly conquered lands, some had created their very own titles and declared themselves Doux and would not give up the lands to the Imperial Throne on their deaths. The Imperial Strategos System was an old and outdated system that was straining the Imperial Advisors making the empire harder to manage. With full support of the Imperial Council, Alexios abolished handing out duchy titles as viceroyalties. From now on every title handed out at that level would be permanent to the family receiving the title, unless revoked by the Imperial Throne.

Byzantine Empire under Alexios I, March 878

In June of 879, Alexios started to increase the size of the Imperial Army by another two thousand as his council had reported whispers of Lords being unsupportive of some of his reforms. Many Lords disapprove of not being able to have internal wars and some rumors even say they seek to install the Isaruos dynasty back on the throne. The children of Traianos are all grown up and hold some legitimacy to the Imperial Throne.

In March of 880, Alexios became bedridden and was diagnosed with having cancer. A few months later the whispers the Imperial Council had heard had come true and many Lords of the empire threatened to revolt if the Basileus did not give his council more say in Imperial Decrees. Alexios had thought that he would be able to defend his reforms with steel if need be but he could not lead and send men to their deaths while he sat in bed unable to do anything. Alexios submitted to the demands of the Lords and revoked his decree restricting internal wars in the empire. The Imperial Council would also from now on have a vote on declarations of war on other kingdoms as well as vote on if a title should be taken from a Doux of the empire.

After two years in bed, Alexios’ council had been running the empire under the regent Antipatra Rentakes of Sardinia, a friend of Alexios. Thinking he could trust Antipatra, Alexios focused on trying to get well to return to the Imperial Throne. However Antipatra and others on the council were abusing their offices and power at the expense of Alexios. While some of the last Strategos were passing away, it was the duty of the council to hand out the titles to new families to hold onto the lands. The Imperial Council however, wanted more power to themselves and would only bring decrees for Alexios to sign that gave them the lands the Throne had inherited. Alexios refused and tried to tell the council to hand out land to those who already lived in those regions as counts. The council refused and instead just let the titles sit under imperial control which was starting to cause resentment from the Lords of the empire, unknowing it was the council’s fault and not Alexios’.

After a year of this, Alexios was frustrated beyond belief. Summoning the Varangian Guard and a few of his Commanders he could trust, Alexios started to scheme against those who abused their office. On January 20th, 883 the loyalist of the Basileus burst into the Imperial Council and arrested every man and woman in the room. Trials were held and it was discovered that three members of the council had blackmailed and threatened the others to get their way. Antipatra Rentakes of Sardinia, Ionas Glykomachaires of Calabria and Konstas Isauros of Achaia were all sentenced as traitors to the Basileus and the Empire. New loyalists were established in their place and Thomas Leontares was set up as the new Regent of the Empire.

Having taken back the Imperial Council, the titles that had accumulated under the Imperial Throne were given out to those who deserved them and the Lords of the empire had become contempt once again. The empire was back in the hands of good men and Alexios was pleased. This great progress would be interrupted in November when news had reached Alexios that his last son had been killed in a drunken brawl. Alexios was ashamed of his son’s actions and now he had no one to pass the imperial crown to. He had older family members he could try and have elected but they were soon to die just as he felt he was. Having no heir to the empire, Alexios started to look for candidates he could nominate.

On April 24th of 887, Alexios died peacefully in his bed at the age of 58. He in the end never settled on who to nominate and thus it was completely up to the Imperial Lords of the Empire to choose who would rule next. The sons and daughters of Traianos II, had been favorites of all and it came down to a popularity contest of which would rise the Isauros Dynasty back to the Imperial Throne. Traianos’ youngest daughter Sophia was the winner and was risen to Basilissa of the Byzantine Empire!

 

[Midnite Duke]

I am amazed that an 8th century Scot would even know that Greece was a place and not an ingredient for frying. Philip's journey to Scotland was surely an amazing adventure. @Mr. Wiz, thank you for entertaining us.

 

[Wzard]

I am amazed that an 8th century Scot would even know that Greece was a place and not an ingredient for frying. Philip's journey to Scotland was surely an amazing adventure. @Mr. Wiz, thank you for entertaining us.

I am glad people are enjoying my adventure! I sadly could not convince Philip to become one of my commanders all those years ago, he would've brought glory to the Scots serving the true successor of Rome!

 

[Zamarak500]

Holy shit this is going well! The death of the Abbasid was really a big plus.