An Age of Miracles Continues: The Empire of Rhomania
- Thread starter Basileus444
- Start date
Whats kingdom of the isles, and why dont carthage /genoa attempts to seize it? Its in the middle of their sealanes and if there's anything genoa/carthage have, its ships.
Its from a Aragonese Pretender as far as I can recall. They own corsica, sardinia and balearic islands, that's why their called the kingdom of the isles.
As for Carthage taking it well they dont have the power to do so, and they have bigger problems such as the marinids. Besides probably some of the latin powers would help them cause it's good buffer against Rome.
Evilprodigy
Donor
Complete and total conquest will not occur in one war. It will take two at the least.
Evilprodigy
Donor
B444 has mentioned before that they probably won't.
ITTL the concept of Empire is very different then what we have IOTL. Vassal, allied, and and directly controlled territory that is all economically and politically (at least foreign policy wise) is the order of the day. I think B444 called the concept a Federal Empire.
The best analog to the concept is the British Dominions but there are other precedents IOTL such as the Chinese tributary system, Holy Rhoman Empire, Eastern Bloc, and the EU-NATO combination. ITTL there are more precedents with the Rhoman Despotates and the three tier Indian Vassal system. What we have in the Rhomans is quite similar where you have the heartland, the politically and economically integrated but autonomous vassal states, and the borderline independent but politically and economically subservient states in Wallachia and Georgia.
I'm not so sure, if the empire plays it's cards right it could keep them completely economically dependant on constantinople but without the hassle of having impose control on large non greek areas
Would it even be worth gaining independence? They could get the benefits of independence without any of the cons by remaining despotates with much looser oversight and control from Constantinople.
I'd think that they are more likely to demand renegotiation of the terms of the despotate's relationship with Romania than complete independence.
I'd think that they are more likely to demand renegotiation of the terms of the despotate's relationship with Romania than complete independence.
Femto
Banned
They would probably end up as independent as Canada and Australia are from Britain. They may be closer geographically but they are different in culture and have a strong economy even now. Maybe an Egyptian Despot who is son-in-law to the Emperor usurping the imperial throne may be a good way to integrate the Empire and his most important Despotate. Northern Italy and Sicily may be securely kept as Despotates but the empire needs to be at least in full control of Egypt otherwise there's a great risk of facing a secession and be cut of from the Indian Ocean.
Even the Whole-Rome Emperors knew about the importance of keeping Egypt in tight leash, and this Rome is much more fragile. I see Egypt being the seat of the crown prince, at least nominally.
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Evilprodigy
Donor
Nationalism is a funny thing. Why would Egyptians, Sicilians, and Carthaginians see themselves as different from Heartlander Romans? Rhoman identity has never been ethnic, is barely religious anymore, and no longer geographic. Canadians and Austrialians saw themselves as British until well into the 20th century. Here in Canada at least we get told that the earliest inception of a Canadian Identity as a foundational moment was the Battle of Vimy Ridge in WWI, Aussies had Galipolli afaik. Both of us had WWII, but the Aussies were more impacted by it. Canadians didn't even request their constitution be housed in Ottawa until 1967.
In a world where federal decentralized empire is commonplace the separation of 'Canadian' and 'Australian' from 'British' is quite unlikely to occur, as it was very much a result of the decolonization of European empires after WWII. Geographically closer and more economically and politically integrated territory would be even less likely to develop such feelings so long as they continue to benefit from the arrangement.
Maybe when Egypt inevitably fucks up again or connives with latin powers then that's the time Rome will think that some despotates are too dangerous to be left alone. Sicily is a different matter but Egypt after all is the gateway to the Rome eastern teritories, that's why I'm against having egypt being independent. Soft power alone won't help the empire if the Despotate thinks it can get away from pissing Rome off. Rome better start re-integrating egypt otherwise they'll face a heap of troubles if one day they can't support their far-east territories.
Femto
Banned
Absolutely. If the Empire don't fuck the Despotate of Egypt, the Despotate will fuck the Empire. Maybe this will turn out to be a good thing in the long run, if a Despot grows really powerful and usurps the throne.
I don't think the Despot would be able to usurp the throne though. I remember back then someone said that the rise of the sideros is basically the same as england's glorious revolution. So in short the emperor from Demetrios III up to 2020 are from the sideros dynasty
Femto
Banned
Shit.
But I hope they will at least integrate Egypt a little further, otherwise It will be kinda dumb. This would realistically be the first priority of any sane emperor who gets the throne, more conquests are meaningless before solving this issue.
The way things are now both the Egyptians and the Ethiopians can unilaterally fuck up the Indian trade route if they go rogue, not a very comfortable situation.
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I think the conquests up to this point have been for a stronger position to eventually reintegrate Egypt. It seems to me like a lot of emperors have laid the groundwork only for some war/rebellion to mess things up.