AHC : Shadow Empire of the Romans

Be it through dynastic control via the Palaiologos, pro-Roman secret societies, or any other means - how could we have a 'Shadow Empire' that serves the head of House Palaiologos - who claims to be the Emperor.

My immediate instinct would be to have them propagate massively into other dynasties, becoming similar to the Hapsburgs of OTL.

The challenge, create a world where the Palaiogoi are the rulers, puppeteers, and secret masters of the Empires former territories, and consider themselves the Emperors in their minds.

Bonus points if they eventually reform the Empire, overthrowing their puppets.

No holds barred, they can have dynasty members that are Catholic, Orthodox, Sunni, Shia, whatever-is-required to make their plans come to fruition.

Well, that's an original secret society backround, all right.
I'm less sure it requires an AHC to make it happen (Secret History, and all that) than provinding an interesting WI : wouldn't that the secret alliance would show up eventually or these Shadow Pelaologoi would go as far as making these countries fighting each other for the show (in the latter case, History would looks probably similar to ours)?

LSCatilina said:

Well, that's an original secret society backround, all right.

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Thank you

LSCatilina said:

I'm less sure it requires an AHC to make it happen (Secret History, and all that) than provinding an interesting WI : wouldn't that the secret alliance would show up eventually or these Shadow Pelaologoi would go as far as making these countries fighting each other for the show (in the latter case, History would looks probably similar to ours)?

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I suppose you're right that it would be a WI, but considering part of that would require vastly more Palailogos that OTL, there probably would be differences, from early on.

The most obvious place for them to set up shop would be Italy and within the Ottoman Empire - where if they succeed to pull the strings, Italians would be less likely to fight unless it strengthened the Palailogos, because they'd be using their influence in the area, more interesting in uniting Italia under a power (be it secret or otherwise) is in their interests, as it provides a central base from which to act from.

In the Ottoman Empire, advisory roles and protecting pro-roman sympathies would likely be their influence - and attempting to set up a Palailogoi Emperor in Constantinople. (Even if he isn't called the Roman Emperor).

I can't see OTL resembling what the ATL Palailogos would want - to really rebuild the Empire, they'd need to go public eventually, after being a powerful dynasty - and do it before the rise of nationalism, and maintain their strength (or their puppets) at the expense of their enemies. After all, this is a society whose main goal would have made the Ancien Regime look young!