What are some actions the Makedoi or Kommenoi, or any other ruler can take, along with the beuracracy, to curtail the creation of a semi-feudal society, thus keeping the competing beuracracy-aristocracy-freemen dynamic of the empire beforehand? I want to have a stronger Mediterranean empire that is able to have great prosperous cities to amaze the eyes of the barbaroi, and keep out the Saracen. I think the best way to do so is to somehow make a hybrid thematic/professional standing army and keep out western feudalism. I'm aware of various emperor's succesfully acts against the aristocracy and keeping them out. I wonder if Issakios Kommenos could not abdicate and keep the aristocracy, even though he is one of them, out of the government, and curtail their land monopoly, free peasantry is a nice cash cow for the empire!