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alternatehistory.com
Anyway I am an alternate history fan and this is my first tl. I am new to this site. Also I hope this tl is good. so enjoy.
Anyway in ths tl the pod is in 1185, Stephen Hagiochristophorites who was sent to kill Isaac II Angelos succeeds in his mission. Angelos dies,so he never causes an uproar or tummult in the city and so Andronicos remains in power. Next what occurs is that Andronicos calls a meeting of all the nobility. He knows that the nobility greatly resent him so he decides to change the sitaution. He has the Varangoi kept hidden in the palace surrounding the aristocracy. What happens next is Andronicos gives a moving speech and soon the Nobility trust him. Next what happens is that he knows the Sicilians under William plan to invade so he immediatly makes preparations. He knows Venice cant be trusted so he sends envoys to Genoa to borrow the Genoan navy in return for gold. The deal is struck and the Genoans sail to Crete. Next Andronicos soon orders the speech posted throughout the empire, and all the aristocracy soon raise their armies. Then at Dyrachion I will have Andronicos and the Romans decisivly destroy the Latins. Conrad, Bohemund, and William would all die and the combined, Genoese-byzantine fleet would destroy the Sicilian navy. So without further ado here it is.
Chapter I: How a speech saved an empire
September 11th 1185 Stephen soon met with Isaac. Isaac Angelos knew Stephen was out to kill him. SO Isaac was prepared. “ Well Stephen I know your intentions.” “Isaac come in peace I have no wish to kill you” Isaac laughed suddenly before Isaac could react Stephen moved up close withdrew a dagger and slit Isaacs throat. “ Good bye Angelos this is what you deserve for betraying the emperor.” Angelos laughed “ Ha you may have killed me but Andronicos will lead you to destruction. Soon Isaac slid to the floor and died. The last Angelos were no more. Stephen grimaced and got to work removing the body. “ Andronikos return soon.” Andronicos Komnenos was a man aged 64 but was still extremely charming and good-looking. He soon arrived back at Constantinople, on his journey he stopped by a church where he found solace and also realized that he needed Aristocratic support. In the year 1186 Andronikos held a great meeting with all the Aristocracy present in the capitol. They soon sat down in the Komnenian palace to hear Andronicos speech. The Speech would forever be known as the speech of Androicos. It would be the key to saving Roma “ Oh fellow Nobility many of you must hate me. I have acted foolishly getting rid of your power. I know many of you want me dead. But plz hear me out. As you know Enemies surround us. In the east the Seljuk’s eye at our lands. To the North the Hungarian scum are scheming for our end. However one power should be feared the most. They are villainous scum who plan to destroy our empire. The Sicilians are preparing a massive invasion of our lands. They plan to sack our cities, rape our women, sell our children, and kill the populous. I speak to you now not as an emperor but as a fellow citizen. Those nobles who support me will be rewarded greatly. Those who defy me so be it, I can do nothing, but remember this, and those Sicilians will rape your women, kill your children and take your land. Remember United we stand, Divided we fall!!!!” At first the auditorium was in silence but soon many nobles rose to their feet and applauded Andronicos. By 1187 much of the aristocracy mobilized their troops and soon thousands of Roman soldiers answered the call. An army of 90k troops was created under the leadership of Andronicos and his megas Domestikos was assembled. In 1188 this army marched for Dyrachion. Meanwhile Andronicos sent emissaries to Genoa, in return for trade rights, benefits and cash the Genoan's would be willing to give a fleet of 100 ships to aid the Byzantine navy. Soon a deal was struck and the Genoans saw this as an opportunity to out compete their rivals the Venetians. Soon the Roman navy of 60 ships was anchored at Crete under megas Doux, John Paleologias, while a brilliant commander, Giorno Visconti, led the Genoans. This fleet anchored at Crete. Meanwhile the Sicilians under William, Bohemund, and Conrad assembled a vast army of 80k on some 200 ships and launched the invasion of Dyrachion. On New Years Eve the two armies faced off, the Romans 90k army vs. the 80k strong Normans. The battle would decide once and for all the fate of an empire. On the morning of January second the battle opened up. The two sides clashed, but the Romans had the upper hand. The Romans artillery of Great crossbows and trebuchets hammered terror down on the Latin’s. The Tourkloupoi reigned arrows down on the enemy Latin’s. While the Pavise infantrymen easily defended themselves from the Sicilians. By midnight the battle heated up as neither side gave ground. However a fog arose and Bohemunds army was cut off from Williams’s main force. Seizing the opportunity the Megas Deomestikos George surrounded Bohemunds army and soon Bohemunds whole army was slain to the last. Bohemund himself was beheaded. With his flank breached Williams troops buckled as the Romans soon crushed the enemy. By 4;00 the battle was over. 30k Sicilians were captured; the rest had died in battle. The Romans lost some 40k troops. However it was a decisive victory. But Andronicos wanted to teach the Normans a lesson. He soon forced William and Conrad to see their troops in front of them. The troops were brought to their knees and what occurred was a massacre. All 30k prisoners were beheaded. Then William was forced to see his closest generals burned in a vat of boiling oil. Finally William and Conrad were tied to horses and soon the 4 horses went in opposite directions tearing the limbs of William and Conrad. Soon the heads of Bohemund, Conrad, and William were stuck on pikes and paraded. The battle was a roman victory. The Romans rejoiced. At sea even better news arrived; the combined Genoa-Roman fleet sunk the Sicilian navy. Over 60 percent of the Sicilian navy lay in ruins. The rest were put out of operation. In 1190 across the Oman empire people rejoiced at the victory and Andronicos was treated as a hero loved by the people. In Western Europe the day was a dark day, the Sicilians main leadership was wiped out and with the Sicilian navy sunk, Sicily was virtually defenseless. It was said the Pope wept tears at the Roman victory. Europe was stunned. The Romans had always been considered cowards but after their victory at Dyrachion the Komneian army was feared. Andronicos returned to Constantinople a hero and then he turned to his affairs. His reign in the beginning was happy and Andronicos decided to return to his previous way of life. Soon he set to work to rebuild Rhomanoi once more.
In otl what occured was that Andronicos power was overthrown in the city.In this tl the sicilian invasion occurs late on. In otl the sicilians sacked Dyrachion which surrendered ith no resistance. Andronicos was an idiot who refused to act, and soon the Sicilian fleet took thessaly. Raped the city, made the Roman woman into prostitutes and chaos ensued. Then Andronicos was overthrown and from their the Angeloi led the Romans to destruction. In this tl ANdronicos smaretens up, he wins the support of aristocracy through speeches and with no Isaac Angelos he remains in power. Also in this tl the Normans lose and suffer a crushing defeat. Anyway tell me how do you like my first update