Alexios Branas overthrows the Angeloi in 1187

Alexios Branas was a successful general and apparently an outstanding leader of men...at least according to Choniates, who documents his revolt against the Angeloi in 1187. Sadly though, his bid to rule was not to be, as Conrad of Montforatt rallied the troops loyal to the Angeloi outside Constantinople itself and slew Branas in battle, leading to the collapse of the military revolt Branas had led.


WI, Branas is victorious, and this time captures the city and seizes the throne, he has a son, OTL's Theodore Branas and is related by blood to the Vatatzes and Komnenoi houses. How could he have fared as Emperor, would anyone like to see a TL of Branas ruling instead of Isaac Angelos?

He would likely still lose many territories to the Serbs and Vlachs, but perhaps with alot of hard work, he could leave the Empire in better straits for his son Theodore?
 
Alexios Branas was a successful general and apparently an outstanding leader of men...at least according to Choniates, who documents his revolt against the Angeloi in 1187. Sadly though, his bid to rule was not to be, as Conrad of Montforatt rallied the troops loyal to the Angeloi outside Constantinople itself and slew Branas in battle, leading to the collapse of the military revolt Branas had led.


WI, Branas is victorious, and this time captures the city and seizes the throne, he has a son, OTL's Theodore Branas and is related by blood to the Vatatzes and Komnenoi houses. How could he have fared as Emperor, would anyone like to see a TL of Branas ruling instead of Isaac Angelos?

He would likely still lose many territories to the Serbs and Vlachs, but perhaps with alot of hard work, he could leave the Empire in better straits for his son Theodore?

Well, he'd have no shortage of potential usurpers - Isaac's brother and son, Theodore Mangaphas, Alexios and David Komnenos, etc. And no shortage of powerful and potential enemies - Bulgaria under the skilled Asen brothers, who I think he'll try and deal with first, the Turks under Kilij Arslan II and the crusaders.

In the end, I guess how Branas, a possible member of the military aristocracy, would handle these depends on whether he'd be a Romanus IV or a Basil I/Basil II. If that makes any sense.
 
I'd definitely like to see a TL on Alexios Branas becoming Emperor. I'd even be happy to do a collaborative TL with you, Sassanid Saxon, if you ever feel up to it. I've been going over two points, one major, the other minor:

* Conrad of Montferrat was the one who led the Constantinople army and killed Branas, so he has to go. Which seems more plausible - him being killed instead of Branas or Conrad refusing to marry Isaac II's sister in the first place, especially given the fate of his younger brother, Renier.

* IOTL, after his father's death, Theodore Branas became the lover of former empress, Agnes-Anna of France, Philip II's sister, and the two married under Baldwin of Flanders. If Isaac II is killed or divorced, would it be more prudent to betroth his ex-wife, the young Margaret of Hungary to Theodore instead?
 
One possible POD would be Branas rebelling against Anrdonikos I before attacking the Normans at Thessalonica, OTL he was oddly loyal to Anrdonikos, and, by the time he returned to the capital, Isaac Angelos had seized the throne. Perhaps Branas marches on Andronikos instead of the Normans, and thus beats the Angeloi to the throne!
 
One possible POD would be Branas rebelling against Anrdonikos I before attacking the Normans at Thessalonica, OTL he was oddly loyal to Anrdonikos, and, by the time he returned to the capital, Isaac Angelos had seized the throne. Perhaps Branas marches on Andronikos instead of the Normans, and thus beats the Angeloi to the throne!

I reckon Branas was keeping his head down under Andronikos. In regards to Isaac, Alexios had already gained a reputation as an experienced general who had driven off the barbarian Normans, hence why Isaac II sent him against the Bulgarians, and he was effective against them. If I were Alexios Branas, I'd want to use my victories and Isaac's fumbles as propoganda to promote my dynasty's right to rule. I'm not sure if it would be true in this ATL, but when OTL Alexios III came to power, the mob acclaimed Alexios Kontostephanos emperor, saying they didn't want to be ruled by the Komnenoi again. Perhaps that was an indicator of sorts? Isaac II was a direct descendant of Alexios I from his grandmother.
 
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