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After months of suffering, violence and death, the siege of Constantinople is coming to an end, as the crusaders have breached the sea walls and are advancing towards the city center. There, following the flight of Alexios V the previous night, a new Emperor is being elected by the Army and Senate in a last-ditch attempt to save the city and the crumbling Empire.

All across the eastern Mediterranean, pretenders of all stripes are setting their sights on the imperial throne, determined to be the new Constantine. Which dynasty will manage to wrest control of the Empire of the Romans?

----the candidates----
---please vote here---
House of Angelos
Alexios III
Alexios became emperor by deposing and blinding his brother Isaac II with support of the army in 1195. During his reign, the decline of the state accelerated drastically on account of external pressure on all fronts and his own mismanagement. In 1203, reluctant to face the crusaders further at his capital, he fled together with his entourage to Adrianople, taking most of the treasury with him. Later evicted from Adrianople by a combined imperial-crusader force send by his cousin, the late emperor Alexios IV, Alexios now has his headquarters at Mosynopolis and is trying to raise an army in order to re-take his throne.

House of Doukas
Alexios V, nicknamed Mourtzouphlos
Allegedly the lover of one of former Emperor Alexios III's daughters, Mourtzouphlos was a high ranking court official before taking advantage of anti-crusader sentiment in the capital and killing the two pro-western co-emperors, Isaac II Angelos and his son, Alexios IV. Crowned Emperor in February 1204 after killing Nicholaos Kanabos, the man initially chosen by the Senate as the new ruler, Mourtzouphlos led the renewed fight against the crusaders. Unfortunately for him, the Latins prevailed, meaning the that for the second time in less than a year, an Emperor fled the capital in the dead of night with what he could carry from the treasury and his entourage. Currently, Mourtzouphlos is on his way to Mosynopolis.

House of Komnenos
Alexios
Grandson of the former emperor Andronikos I (last Komnenos emperor, deposed by Issac II Angelos), Alexios fled capital together with his mother at the age of 3, just as his family was being slaughtered by the Angeloi. Now 22 and seeking revenge as well as his throne, he has recently acquired the city of Trebizond on the Black Sea with support from his aunt, Queen Tamara of Georgia, and been acclaimed Emperor there. He is currently overseeing defensive preparations, as the Turks are marching towards his new city.

David
Younger brother of Alexios, David was also brought by his mother to Georgia whilst still an infant in the chaos of his grandfather's fall from power. With his older brother tied up defending Trebizond, David has been sent west at the head of a significant force, with orders to seize control of as many cities along the coast as possible. He is hoping a strong showing will convince the provinces and nobles of Asia Minor to join his brothers cause.


House of Laskaris
Constantine
Member of a minor constantinopolitan noble family, Constantine had led troops fighting the crusaders, only to be captured and then ransomed shortly after. Now however, he is on the steps of the Hagia Sophia, trying to convince the Army, Senate and populace to fight the Latins and elect him as their new Basileus.

Theodore
Younger brother of Constantine, Theodore is an accomplished commander, having shown his valour in the fight against the crusaders. He is also married to a daughter of Emperor Alexios III, which could prove to be quite an asset in the future. Currently, Theodore is with the army in Constantinople and trying to get his older brother elected emperor.

Theodore has, in addition to Constantine, three older brothers - Manuel, Michael and Georgios - as well as two younger ones, Alexios and Isaac, both of whom hold the title of sebastokrator.


House of Komnenos Doukas
Michael
Michael was the illegitimate son of John Doukas, grandson of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and his wife Irene Doukaina (after whom he adopt his surname). Besides being related to the revered former emperor, John Doukas also shared a much closer connection with the hated Angeloi dynasty, as his father Constantine was none other than the grandfather of the emperors Isaac II (recently deceased) and Alexios III (who had abandoned the capital the previous year). Michael however had no intention of being seen as an Angeloi, and so adopted the surname Komnenos Doukas to stress his connection to his more illustrious ancestors as opposed to his reviled Angeloi cousins. With his first public role being that of hostage to the Third Crusade, Michael managed to get appointed as a governor in Asia Minor. There, he rebelled against Alexios III in 1201, only to be defeated and flee to the Seljuks. Tired of exile among heathes, he has joined the crusader force and is currently part of Boniface of Montferrat’s retinue. He has no plans of remaining with his current companions though, since he judges their position (and thus his own chances of acquiring power) rather weak in light of the devastation they had caused upon Constantinople.

Theodore
Unlike his youngest brother Michael, Theodore was no bastard. Equally brave and proud, Theodore has been taking part in the fight against the crusaders, and his currently supporting, together with his younger brother Manuel, the candidacy of their brother Constantine, as he competes for the imperial purple against Constantine Laskaris, just as the crusaders are approaching the city center.

Constantine
A young and distinguished army officer, Constantine has mustered all of his ambition and has put his name forth before the Army, Senate and People of Constantinople, hoping to become their saviour. Although quite similar to his opponent Constantine Laskaris, he fears the latter may have more support. Hopefully his brothers can help him, or perhaps a rousing speech?

House of Sgouros
Leo
Five years before the arrival of the crusaders, Leo Sgouros had succeeded his father as governor of the north-eastern part of the Peloponese. Three years before their arrival, he rose up in defiance of imperial authority, much like the rest of the area, after a revolt in Thessaly cut the area off from Constantinople. One year before their arrival, he defeat the Imperial force meant to bring him to justice. The year the Latins arrived, he struck, taking Thessaly and burning the defiant Athens to the ground, save for the Acropolis which still resisted. A cruel man by nature, but also one battling the inner demons of depression, Leo sits atop his fortress of Acrocorinthos, confinded that this is his chance to make his mark on history – he must only reach out and grab it.

House of Seljuk
Kaykhusraw I
The eleventh and youngest son of former sultan Kilij Arslan II, Kaykhusraw inherited his fathers kingdom in 1192, only to lose it to his treacherous borther Suleiman two years later. Lacking any other options, he fled to Constantitonople seeking the assistance of emperor Alexios III. There, he forged a strong friendship with the Emperor, was baptized in the Christian faith and married the daugter of Manuel Maurozomes, himself a descendent of Manuel I Komnenos via one of the emperor's illegitimate daughters. However, with the downfall of Alexios III, Kaykhusraw also finds himself on the run from the capital, but still has options in front of him – should he stick with the Emperor, flee to his father-in-law, or approach the new rulers of Constantinople, whoever these may be? Should he keep his new faith in order to gain support of the Christians, or cover up any mention of his conversion, so that he may one day once again rule over his people?

Suleiman II
Suleiman had spent a considerable amount of time and energy trying to piece together his father’s kingdom, and now it seemed that everything was in its place – united and at peace, the realm was strong enough to muster two large armies, one led by the Sultan himself and marching against the Georgians, and another, smaller one, assembling to besiege Trebizond. With superiority in numbers and confident of Allah’s grace, Suleiman plans to march west into the lands of the Rum as soon as this nasty affair in the east is settled. With the Christians fighting amongst themselves, can he forge a new Empire out of the ashes of the old, one which his infant son Kilij Arslan will raise to even more impressive heights?

House of Asen
Kaloyan
Following the assassination of his brothers in 1197, Kaloyan had assumed the throne of Bulgaria and, from that moment one, pursued a relentless drive into the heart of the Empire, going as far as allying himself with their killer in order to achieve his aims. Ruthless to enemy nobles and merciful to commoners, Kaloyan has made steps to recognize the Pope in order to receive the title of Emperor. With knowledge of the terrain and a powerful Cuman contingent backing him, can Kaloyan take advantage of the fight between Romans and Crusaders and claim what is rightfully his?

Ivan Asen
Son of the former Tsar of Bulgaria, the young Ivan Asen looks on helplessly as his uncle Kaloyan solidifies his grip on power. In his heart though, he knows the throne is rightfully his.

Boril
Son of Kaloyan’s sister, Boril is a commander in his uncle’s army. More ambitious than competent, he hopes to one day seize the throne for himself. How far is he willing to go though?

House of Montferrat
Boniface
The epitomy of the western knight, Boniface presided over one of the most prestigious courts of chivalric culture and troubador song back in France. A veteran of many campaigns, he had ample connections with the east, his nephew Baldwin and brother Conrad had been Kings of Jerusalem and his niece Maria was heiress of the kingdom. Technically the leader of the crusade, Boniface is expected by many to become the new emperor in the coming days once victory is achieved. Can he overcome the animosity between himself and the greedy Venetians and become emperor of the east?

House of Flanders
Baldwin
Having left behind his two-year-old daughter and his pregnant wife, Baldwin, count of Flanders and Hainaut, set out to join the crusade, and currently commands the largest contingent of men as he storms the streets of Constantinople. Can he use the animosity between the Venetians and the crusade’s most prestigious leader, Boniface of Montferrat, in order to secure for himself the throne and dominion over all of the east?

Henry
Younger brother of Baldwin, Henry is also a commander of the Crusade. Loyal to him, he is famous for defeating Alexios V in battle during a skirmish despite being ambushed and outnumbered. On said occasion, he captured the Emperor's Holy Icon, said to contain relics of Christ Himself. Needless to say, he is quite popular with the nobles. Currently leading the charge into the city.
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