One speech is all it takes to save an Empire!!!!A tl

1240-1256: Latter reign of David I

Although the Mongol invasion against Romans had been placated, The Mongols led by Haulage Khan turned their attention to the crusader states. The HRE David’s close friend sent an issue of warning to the Mongol Horde. He stated that if the Mongol horde invaded the crusader states he would lead an army against them. Hulegu learned from his spies the strength of the HRE. It was powerful but nowhere near the strength of the Mongols whose lands stretched from Asia to Europe. Evidently the Mongols would have conquered had they invaded but at the convincing of Hulegu’s wife the Imperial princess he decided to ally with the crusaders. Mongol envoys reached Jerusalem in 1240, Conrad was informed hat either he give access to the Mongols who would invade Egypt or they would invade Jerusalem. Conrad agreed to the Mongol offer eager to destroy the sultanate of the ayyuubis, which was tottering on. Recently a revolt by the mamelukes had almost succeeded but it would be crushed at a great cost to the eyelids. So in 1241 the Mongols led by Guyed numbering some 60000 invaded he Sinai Peninsula. The Ayyubids put up little resistance. By 1243 Cairo was sacked by the Mongols, it was said all in the city ere massacred. Dead bodies were stuck on pikes. The once glorious city was in stinking ruins. By 1243 the Ayyubids had collapsed. Shortly after Alexandria was sacked but not taken. Instead the Mongols withdrew due to the tides of a civil war between the Khan’s sons. The Ayyubids lost most of their population and it was said Alexandria after the Mongol sack was virtually depopulated. Not even a vulture would venture in that deathtrap. The once glorious Egyptian sultanate was no more. Instead what remained of Egypt split into various states all fighting for supremacy. The most powerful was the Mongol state.
Byzantine state of affairs:
From 1240-145 the Roman navy was increased in number. David realized that if he wanted t break the Italian monopoly on the sea trade, then he had to have a strong navy. Next he turned to a pure Byzantine policy. He made a decree that from now on the Roman people would only by Roman goods. For example clothes, agriculture, and various household goods would be produced on Roman soil. Whereas his predictors had a pro Latin policy David was the exact opposite. He wanted to break once and for all the Italian monopoly on the roman economy. In effect he had validated the various treaties with the Italian states. Immediately Venice struck back. A large Venting fleet of some 50 galleys was sent to sack the roman islands. However Megas Doux, Konstantinos Phokas led a roman fleet of 70 galleys and met the venetians at sea. The Romans on the battle due to a serious advantage Venice had not. Composite bowmen. From the Mongols the Romans started to widely use the Mongol Recurve Bow. He had hired Mongol mercenaries to board his ships and they wreaked havoc on the Italians. Likewise Greek fire was used extensively. He also had he mixture be put into pots and sent flying on enemy ships pos of Greek fire. These would ignite and burn the Italian ships. With all these advantages the outcome was clear. The Italians were better seamen but the Romans would attach themselves to Italian galleys and board enemy ships forcing the Italians to hand to hand combat. The battle was a success. Nearly 3/4 this of the Venetian galleys had been sunk with only 20 ship loss or the Romans. The Doge was stunned when he heard the news. The Roman navy armed with these technologies once again became the strongest fleet on the eastern Mediterranean. Also byzantine navy carrying troops managed to land them on Crete and by 1246 Crete had been recaptured from the Venetians. With sacking of the Cretian cities and loot from Italian ships David was able to restore part of the exhausted treasury. He also commissioned Greek Pirates to raid Italian merchant ships. Finally Venice sued for peace in 1247, in the treaty of Constantinople all previous treaties side between Venice and Romans would be null and void. Venetian power was at last broken. Shortly thereafter Genoa met the same fate as Venice.
David was by 1247 a hero to the Romans. Historians agree that David Conenose is an emperor who was as important if not more to the Romans as Heraclius. Unfortunately at his death in 1256, his son would be an inept ruler. From 1257-1278 the Roman Empire would undergoes a state of rapid degeneration. David would be the final ruler of the komenoi who would restore the empire. After his death the Romans would never ever see such a powerful emperor again. By David’s death the Roman empire had expanded greatly, with a booming economy. Historians agree without a man like David the empire would most likely had continued to decline. Or the next couple centuries the empire would Stagnate.
 
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