13th Century - Byzantines and Balkans: Alternative story line.

Marc

Donor
Hello,

I'm beginning to work on a series of short stories based around 13th-14th century Balkans, Anatolia, and the South Caucasus.

For creative reasons I'd like to somewhat alter the actual history in some various ways. Principally with the goal that the region continues to be fairly fragmented, i.e. without the restoration of the Byzantine Empire by the Niceans, and the rise of the Ottomans.

One of my ideas towards that, is a more successful Bulgarian Empire (the second one). For example, say that they, not the Nicean Byzantines, capture Constantinople from the Latins. Which perhaps leads to a squeeze on the Osmani between the Bulgarians and the Niceans. Not to mention all sorts of flowing dynamics throughout the area. A possibility that from my reading, isn't that farfetched.

I'd be very interested in getting feedback on that specific notion, and other ideas that might create the kind of gestalt that I'm hoping to use.

Thanks in advance.
 
Firstly, If the Bulgarians retook Constantinople, beore the Byzantines, Osman is butterflied and thus so are his Ottomans, Osman I being born a mere three years before the Byzantine reconquest of Constantinople. In general, the Empire of Nicaea was a stronger state then the second Bulgarian Empire. In addition, they were primarily able to take Constantinople because the people favored them over the Latins and wanted to help them reestablish the empire, something that the Bulgarians wold not have. Lastly, the Mongol invasions did allot to screw up the Bulgarian Empire, while Nicaea was left untouched by the Mongols.

In order to get this to happen, you need to make Bulgaria much stronger, particularly in terms of internal affairs. They had trouble with their unity, and although they had a potent military at times, none of their leaders were up to the massive challenge of fighting off both the empire's internal enemies and Hungary, the Mongols, Epirus, Nicaea, and the Latins all at once. I'm really not quite sure what to do about it, but getting them strong enough to take Constantinople is a considerably larger challenge than you seem to be making it out to be.
 
Firstly, If the Bulgarians retook Constantinople, beore the Byzantines, Osman is butterflied and thus so are his Ottomans, Osman I being born a mere three years before the Byzantine reconquest of Constantinople. In general, the Empire of Nicaea was a stronger state then the second Bulgarian Empire. In addition, they were primarily able to take Constantinople because the people favored them over the Latins and wanted to help them reestablish the empire, something that the Bulgarians wold not have. Lastly, the Mongol invasions did allot to screw up the Bulgarian Empire, while Nicaea was left untouched by the Mongols.

In order to get this to happen, you need to make Bulgaria much stronger, particularly in terms of internal affairs. They had trouble with their unity, and although they had a potent military at times, none of their leaders were up to the massive challenge of fighting off both the empire's internal enemies and Hungary, the Mongols, Epirus, Nicaea, and the Latins all at once. I'm really not quite sure what to do about it, but getting them strong enough to take Constantinople is a considerably larger challenge than you seem to be making it out to be.

Not only,taking a city is one thing;taking a city that is equal to half your Bulgarian population,consisting of Greeks who hate Bulgarian barbarians,is something approaching a miracle and the Bulgarians don't have a Jesus among them...
 
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