This will be written in the style of my previous TL, 'The Right Man for the Job'. One of the main PODs is that Andronikos I Komnenos dies earlier than OTL and is succeeded by his oldest son Manuel (father of Alexios & David of Trebizond). From what I've read, Manuel seemed to be competant enough to be emperor, and he seemed to have a better moral character than his father. The difference in this TL is that he actually gets off his duff and does something about it.
Honestly, I probably should have waited until my exams are over to do this, but this is just one of many Byzantophilic ideas that I wanted to get off my chest. And what better way to do it than with a new TL? Chances are it won't be finished for a long time, but I'll update this whenever I can. But for now, Rhomaioi!
Basileia ton Romaion: Aima! Drasis! Bloody prophecies!
Volume 1: Manuel II Komnenos 'the Gentle'
1184 AD:
Around February, Manuel Komnenos and his wife Rusudan, a distant relative* of Queen Tamar of Georgia, had just celebrated the birth of their second son, David. To them, this was one of the few bright spots of light in the darkness that had enveloped Constantinople, no, the empire. Manuel's father, the Emperor Andronikos I Komnenos, had risen to power six months ago on the corpses of his victims. Andronikos had gained immense popularity when he deposed the Frankish empress Maria of Antioch and her lover Alexios prōtosebastos**. So popular was he that the boy-emperor Alexios II was forced to acknowledge him as co-ruler. But even that was not enough for him. Andronikos systematically eliminated the remaining royal family - poisoning Maria porphyrogenita and her husband Renier-John of Montferrat, forcing Alexios to sign Maria of Antioch's death warrant, and finally strangling the 14-year old with a bow-string. To top it all off, he married Alexios's eleven-year old (eleven!) bride Princess Agnes of France.
The relationship between Manuel and his father had been strained. He himself had been in favour of sparing the former empress's life, and the assassination of Alexios II had made him even more protective of his oldest son (also named Alexios). Finally, Andronikos had raised as co-emperor, not Manuel, but Manuel's lazy younger brother John, who had more talent fighting woodland creatures than Turks or Franks.
One night after David's birth, Manuel woke with a start from his bed, breathing heavily and quietly muttering the word 'drasis' over and over. Seeing Rusudan concerned and confused, Manuel explained that he had heard a voice in his dream.
"Manuel... Manuel... Hear me, Manuel. Drasis! By this word, your people shall be saved. Drasis!"
When Rusudan asked what it meant, her husband shushed her, saying that now was neither the time nor the place. He knew what had to be done, but first they needed allies and a plan.
Spring came and went and Manuel Komnenos's circle of conspirators began to grow. These included his half-sister Eirene, her former husband Alexios Komnenos***, former Patriarch Theodosius Borradiotes, strategos Manuel Kamytzes and, to their great surprise, Theodore Branas, son of Alexios Branas, a general who so far had been loyal to Andronikos. No one knew Branas's personal motives and none of them trusted him but they could not afford to lose the support of a very popular and experienced strategos...
*: Originally thought to be Queen Tamar's sister, but recent research has shown that Alexios & David's connection to the Bagrationi dynasty was because their grandfather was the son of Isaac, son of Alexios I and Kata of Georgia, daughter of David the Builder. Thanks to Mipp for pointing that out.
**: The second son of John II's second son, Andronikos, thus Manuel I's nephew. Ew.
***: An illegitimate son of Manuel I by his niece, Theodora Vatatzina. Andronikos initially married him to Eirene but later turned on and blinded his son-in-law.
Honestly, I probably should have waited until my exams are over to do this, but this is just one of many Byzantophilic ideas that I wanted to get off my chest. And what better way to do it than with a new TL? Chances are it won't be finished for a long time, but I'll update this whenever I can. But for now, Rhomaioi!
Basileia ton Romaion: Aima! Drasis! Bloody prophecies!
Volume 1: Manuel II Komnenos 'the Gentle'
1184 AD:
Around February, Manuel Komnenos and his wife Rusudan, a distant relative* of Queen Tamar of Georgia, had just celebrated the birth of their second son, David. To them, this was one of the few bright spots of light in the darkness that had enveloped Constantinople, no, the empire. Manuel's father, the Emperor Andronikos I Komnenos, had risen to power six months ago on the corpses of his victims. Andronikos had gained immense popularity when he deposed the Frankish empress Maria of Antioch and her lover Alexios prōtosebastos**. So popular was he that the boy-emperor Alexios II was forced to acknowledge him as co-ruler. But even that was not enough for him. Andronikos systematically eliminated the remaining royal family - poisoning Maria porphyrogenita and her husband Renier-John of Montferrat, forcing Alexios to sign Maria of Antioch's death warrant, and finally strangling the 14-year old with a bow-string. To top it all off, he married Alexios's eleven-year old (eleven!) bride Princess Agnes of France.
The relationship between Manuel and his father had been strained. He himself had been in favour of sparing the former empress's life, and the assassination of Alexios II had made him even more protective of his oldest son (also named Alexios). Finally, Andronikos had raised as co-emperor, not Manuel, but Manuel's lazy younger brother John, who had more talent fighting woodland creatures than Turks or Franks.
One night after David's birth, Manuel woke with a start from his bed, breathing heavily and quietly muttering the word 'drasis' over and over. Seeing Rusudan concerned and confused, Manuel explained that he had heard a voice in his dream.
"Manuel... Manuel... Hear me, Manuel. Drasis! By this word, your people shall be saved. Drasis!"
When Rusudan asked what it meant, her husband shushed her, saying that now was neither the time nor the place. He knew what had to be done, but first they needed allies and a plan.
Spring came and went and Manuel Komnenos's circle of conspirators began to grow. These included his half-sister Eirene, her former husband Alexios Komnenos***, former Patriarch Theodosius Borradiotes, strategos Manuel Kamytzes and, to their great surprise, Theodore Branas, son of Alexios Branas, a general who so far had been loyal to Andronikos. No one knew Branas's personal motives and none of them trusted him but they could not afford to lose the support of a very popular and experienced strategos...
*: Originally thought to be Queen Tamar's sister, but recent research has shown that Alexios & David's connection to the Bagrationi dynasty was because their grandfather was the son of Isaac, son of Alexios I and Kata of Georgia, daughter of David the Builder. Thanks to Mipp for pointing that out.
**: The second son of John II's second son, Andronikos, thus Manuel I's nephew. Ew.
***: An illegitimate son of Manuel I by his niece, Theodora Vatatzina. Andronikos initially married him to Eirene but later turned on and blinded his son-in-law.
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