AHC: Limited Byzantium

Make the Byzantine/East Roman/Whatever you wanna call it Empire survive. It doesn't have to reclaim Rome, but it should have the following territories:

All of Greece. OTL Macedonia, the Eastern Mediterranean islands, Asia Minor/ portions of Western Anatolia, and something in N.Africa and the Levant. Colonies and more territories are exclusively up to you
 
This.....doesn't seem very limited to me.

Well, such a state would be more or less equal to modern Turkey in terms of potential (I'm talking about Byzantium consisting of portions of Anatolia, not all of it. Something like during peak of Komnenian era). It wouldn't be superpower (although if they develop better than Ottoman Empire, they could very well dominate Europe to a degree), although surely much better than modern Greece.

Anyway- re-annexation of central Anatolia during Komnenian restoration would be enough. After Turks there's apparently no power that could plausibly occupy imperial power base (although Timur's invasion might screw them up). On the other hand, strong Byzantium would go after Levant and Egypt... Of course they may have harder time doing so, because butterflies, but they would go same path of expansion (more or less) as Ottomans did OTL. So- if You want to have medium sized Byzantium today, I'd say that they do very well until XIXth century, when nationalism starts- Egypt revolts (although as a non-muslim state probably...), same for most of Levant (Antioch and surroundings would stay Greek most likely), as well as for central Anatolia, where Turks (most likely converted to Christianity at this point) revolt too, although as much more limited state than today and without territories where Kurds are majority. Byzantium might own parts of Italy (southern), which might or might not stay under imperial authority (Greek was widely used in Sicily and Naples for a long time after Norman conquests). Byzantium might as well own colonies in the east (I can't see them going after Americas) and in Africa, because it's rather close for them.
 

GdwnsnHo

Banned
I can see a few ways

1) Under earlier Emperors - push the Arabs to unite under the Lahkmids, against the Persians - not easily done, but I don't see it as impossible. Cheaper than going to war against the Persians directly, alternatively the Tanukids - instead of being alienated, instead pushed to work with the Ghassanids. TL;DR - Create a strong, Pro-Roman Arabia, rather than a powerful hostile one.

2) Under Justinian - ensure that you have other good generals, and resources for fighting Khosrou. Ideally don't build the Hagia Sofia until Italy is reconquered. Instead, spend that money on giving Belisarius the resources he needs to (perversely honourably expect for one trick) conquer Italy. The first time around - this would maintain much of its wealth, circumvent the Gothic Wars, and provide the later funding for the Hagia Sofia in the later years of Justinians reign. Whilst the Plague will still hit, with resources better allocated to a rock-hard defense against Khosrou, the Plague will be less catastrophic, as the Empire hasn't been stuck at war - and both Rome and Persia can weather the storm. This should allow Africa to easily be expanded, and perhaps southern Spain. TL;DR - More militarily generous Justinian - more troops, faster conquests, faster assimilation, rather than bogging Belisarius down in Italy forever.

3) Komnenos - Manuel specifically, circumvent the wasted resources invading Egypt, and instead encircle the temporarily pacified Seljuks of Rum, and secure eastern Anatolia, rather than suffer war with them. Encirclement would ensure that they could be completely dealt with later. Sure the Crusader states suffer, but they can be reconquered later.

4) Eastern Alliance with the White Huns. Agreeing to give the Iranian Plateau to the White Huns, whilst keeping Anatolia crushes the Easts major rival, whilst saddling their new neighbour with a large restive population. This would give the East time to recover, and take over Arabia, securing the East in Mesopotamia, allowing free reign in the West.
 
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