AHC: Largest Possible Byzantine Empire

Deleted member 67076

I'm not sure it's much better to say that the Byzantines were so quarrelsome and divided that they let it happen.

People keep posting about the Byzantines around here as if it was this unstoppable leviathan, instead of a moderately prosperous state that ruled the Aegean.

Maybe it can hold Bulgaria?

It would be more accurate in my opinion. On paper the state has quite the number of advantages against its neighbors and the rest of Christendom in terms of organization, manpower, military training and economics (the latter of course is null when talking about Egypt and Iraq- same with manpower with regards to the Steppe Nomads) but its been repeatedly fucked over due to rash decisions, bad leadership and excessive infighting.

I do agree people take it way, way too far.

Yes it can hold Bulgaria; the Comneni were good at co-opting the Bulgarian elite to my knowledge and the region prospered until the Angeloi came to power.
 
It would be more accurate in my opinion. On paper the state has quite the number of advantages against its neighbors and the rest of Christendom in terms of organization, manpower, military training and economics (the latter of course is null when talking about Egypt and Iraq- same with manpower with regards to the Steppe Nomads) but its been repeatedly fucked over due to rash decisions, bad leadership and excessive infighting.

At a certain point, rash decisions, bad leadership, and excessive infighting are a feature, not a bug.
 
Not disagreeing with you there; that's been a problem since the waning days of the Roman Republic.

It's quite ironical that infighting in Republic's days was incentive to (immense) growth in power, but became reason of downfall later ;)


Anyway- I can easily see Byzantium- early- taking Italy without otl enormous losses and grabbing more of Spain during Visigoth civil war. Then attack Franks from two sides... Yeah, takes some luck, but political climate was pretty much in place.

If we're talking about late Byzantium- more successful Romanos Diogenes (I mean- really successful) could kick Turks out of Armenia, prevent civil war and slightly expand into Levant. If later rulers are successful- they can keep going. If they're not- there aren't really much possibilities to fail at this point (after Turks are beaten only Timurids can actually destroy empire).
 
. Then attack Franks from two sides... Yeah, takes some luck, but political climate was pretty much in place.

Given that the Franks trashed the Islamic invaders of Gaul, overran Lombard Italy, defeated the Saxons, and so forth, I would not bet on the Byzantines in this fight.
 
Yeah the Franks were monsters... i love Byzantium but i think they have very little chance of winning a war with the Franks
 
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