AHC: Byzantine conquest of France, Britain, Germany, Hungary, Bohemia or Poland

raharris1973

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In OTL the Byzantines in a revival spree reconquered North Africa, all of Italy, and the southern part of Spain. There were also brief periods where they effectively ruled all of Illyria and Dalmatia.

However, is there any way the Byzantines could have claimed more provinces of the old WRE, all of them, or even some lands beyond its old borders of Rome's Trajanian territorial peak?
 
In theory, the Byzantines were close-ish to a personal union with Hungary in the Komnenid era in the form of Prince Bela (a.k.a Bela III, Bela-Alexios), who was the designated heir of Emperor Manuel before the birth of Alexios II. As a practical matter, however, it seems unlikely that such an arrangement could have lasted.

That's the only conquest on your list which seems even vaguely plausible to me without a major and very early POD, certainly pre-Heraclian and probably pre-Justinian too.
 
The typical one is that Belisarius gets more troops which makes the initial invasion if Italy faster - mainly by avoiding long delays.

I'd personally combine that with a River Pruth Limes and a client alliance relationship with the Gepids to slowly absorb the Carpathian Basin and hold off the Avars. Having that depth of defense in Europe, and an Italy that hasn't been wrecked is good. Not good enough to ensure a reconquest, but provides a solid basis for the future, and changes the circumstances of the Empire. It comes with the advantage of the Gepids having to establish towns, cities, etc, whilst being culturally assimilated by the Romans.

After you have something like that, having Italy be the bulwark and centrepiece of a long-term reconquest effort isn't impossible. The might of a somewhat salvaged Italy and Africa could make inroads into Spain under an heir of Justinian I.

Being stronger at this point, and managing to butterfly away the Caliphate conquering Roman territory, and perhaps even taking a bite of Persia can lead the Romans pretty dominant culturally, and can dominate via soft-power rather than direct control. Essentially taking the role of the HRE/France and the Pope and merging them into one in Constantinople.
 
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