While playing CKII, and I know I shouldn't let it influence my perceptions too much, I've been thinking of a number of PODs for the Byzantine Empire:
1. John II Komnenos chooses Isaac to succeed him instead of Manuel and dies in the same circumstances as OTL, except with Isaac and Manuel's positions reversed.
2. John still chooses Manuel as his successor but avoids the poisoned arrow incident in Cilicia, living for about, say, 6 or more years.
3. Maria-Xene (Manuel's wife) and Andronikos die before either can influence Alexius II's regency. For the latter, say, when Andronikos is brought before Manuel in chains in 1180, Manuel executes or imprisons him instead of exiling him.
4. Isaac II Angelos manages to avoid or crush the Bulgarian and Vlach revolt. From what I've read, he seemed to be somewhat competant (or at least one or more of his generals were) until after the rebellion.
5. Alexios V Doukas manages to repulse the Venetians and Crusaders in 1204, preferably combined with the death of Enrico Dandolo.
6. Alexios or David Megas Komnenos manage to gain the Imperial throne before or after the Sack of Constantinople.
I'd like to discuss any of these points and get some ideas about them - what effects there would be and any problems that would prevent them from happening in the first place.
1. John II Komnenos chooses Isaac to succeed him instead of Manuel and dies in the same circumstances as OTL, except with Isaac and Manuel's positions reversed.
2. John still chooses Manuel as his successor but avoids the poisoned arrow incident in Cilicia, living for about, say, 6 or more years.
3. Maria-Xene (Manuel's wife) and Andronikos die before either can influence Alexius II's regency. For the latter, say, when Andronikos is brought before Manuel in chains in 1180, Manuel executes or imprisons him instead of exiling him.
4. Isaac II Angelos manages to avoid or crush the Bulgarian and Vlach revolt. From what I've read, he seemed to be somewhat competant (or at least one or more of his generals were) until after the rebellion.
5. Alexios V Doukas manages to repulse the Venetians and Crusaders in 1204, preferably combined with the death of Enrico Dandolo.
6. Alexios or David Megas Komnenos manage to gain the Imperial throne before or after the Sack of Constantinople.
I'd like to discuss any of these points and get some ideas about them - what effects there would be and any problems that would prevent them from happening in the first place.
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