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For those who don't know what I am talking about, the Latin Empire was a Crusader State built from the ashes of Byzantium after the second sacking of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. IOTL it lasted barely 50 years, but what if it lasted longer? How could this be achieved, and what might result from this?

I would think that one of the main problems lies in the Empire's neighbours in both Europe and Asia Minor. In Asia Minor the Empire of Nicaea, whilst initially fairly weak, managed to eventually gain enough strength to take all Latin territories in Asia Minor. In Europe the Empire had to deal with both Bulgaria and a Byzantine successor state, the Despotate of Epirus. These were significantly tougher than Nicaea in the early years of the Latin Empire and posed real threats to its vassals in Thessalonica and Athens. Not to mention the fact that the native Greek populations were restless and the Crusaders were too few to handle all issues at the same time.

How, with such a troubled beginning, could the Empire survive the test of time? This is certainly a difficult challenge, but challenges were never meant to be easy. And even if it survives, what effects might be likely? Is it possible that Pope Innocent III might try and unify the two churches under Roman leadership, despite the inevitable difficulties that might create?

What do you think?
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