What would need to happen, and what would be the results, if Robert "Guiscard" Hauteville's invasion of Byzantium succeeded beyond its wildest dreams, and conquered the entirety of mainland Greece?
What would need to happen, and what would be the results, if Robert "Guiscard" Hauteville's invasion of Byzantium succeeded beyond its wildest dreams, and conquered the entirety of mainland Greece?
???
if he has Byzantium, why would he give that up and take Greece?
It's sort of like saying 'If the British had done better in the attack on Washington and conquered Maine'.
Or maybe the Sultans of Rum invade, Byzantium collapses, and the empire is split (not necessarily peacefully) between Saracens and Normans?If the Normans took Greece all the way to Thessalonica, maybe that forces the Byzzies to focus on Anatolia?
It seems logistically very difficult for the Normans to take Constantinople, which would require unchallenged dominance of the Aegean and of Thrace.Or maybe the Sultans of Rum invade, Byzantium collapses, and the empire is split (not necessarily peacefully) between Saracens and Normans?
It seems logistically very difficult for the Normans to take Constantinople, which would require unchallenged dominance of the Aegean and of Thrace.
I see no reason for the Normans to take Constantinople in that scenario. Just Greece is enough. And their warships will certainly be superior to anything the Byzies might have in the Aegean Sea.
I wonder, is this before or after the establishment of the Varangian Guard? If after, this might lead to some interesting events... *hint, hint*