Plausability check: Orthodox Hungary

Just a quick query based on my internet in the Roman "cultural commonwealth" of the Macedonian and Komnenian periods (10th thru 12th centuries). I know that the early Arpad Kingdom of Hungary was between the centers of Orthodoxy (ERE/Kiev Rus) and the centers of "Latin" Christendom (Italy/Germany) during this period and the Constantinople's diplomatic, economic and political connections to the Arpads were often quite intense. If the Komnenoi are more successful in absorbing parts of Hungary after the Battle of Sirmium in 1167, for example, could that region and Transylvania become part of the Orthodox world and perhaps an integral part of the Eastern Empire? The idea of an Orthodox Hungary and of a successful Constantinople that expands north and west as the OTL Ottomans did in time intrigues me..thanks for any responses!
 
Well, Orthodox Hungary would only happen during the reign of Stephen, which would be around 1000 AD, and you would need to find a way to weaken the Holy Roman Empire to prevent Catholicization. Alternatively, if Charlemagne couldbe killed off early, you could prevent the formation of the Holy Roman Empire, but the requirement for this would have to be to destroy the Eastern Roman Empire way earlier and have an alt-Holy Roman(Rhomanoi) Empire that would dominate the Balkans, Anatolia, the Baltics and maybe the lands that became Kievan Rus'.
 
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos could fail to produce an heir and leave his empire to Bela of Hungary (his intent OTL in the event of his not having a son), who then converts to Orthodoxy to retain his more powerful ERE lands, while also retaining Hungary, which gradually converts to Orthodoxy.
 
An Orthodox Hungary could also influence neighboring Poland and Lithuania and to help them against the Teutonic Order if they would still exist. Otherwise, an Orthodox Hungary may butterfly the rise of the Teutonic Order.
 
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos could fail to produce an heir and leave his empire to Bela of Hungary (his intent OTL in the event of his not having a son), who then converts to Orthodoxy to retain his more powerful ERE lands, while also retaining Hungary, which gradually converts to Orthodoxy.
Another is prevent the union of Hungary with Croatia, since the Rusyns and Romanians are primarily Orthodox, you could have them gain power in Hungary.


An Orthodox Hungary could also influence neighboring Poland and Lithuania and to help them against the Teutonic Order if they would still exist. Otherwise, an Orthodox Hungary may butterfly the rise of the Teutonic Order.

Poland is already Catholic before Hungary converted to Christianity, if anything, Poland will be friendly to Bohemia and they may later form a union later on.
 
I've been reading the "back issues" of Issac's Empire 1.0/2.0 and doing alot of research about Hungarian-Byzantine relations during the period. The Arpad Kingdom was definitely in the sphere of the Komnenoi at various times in the 12th century, but only lost control over Dalmatia and Sirmium. Would you guys say that a successful Eastern Roman Empire (ie: no Manzikert, Byzantine power in Anatolia/Syria/Armenia maintained) can look to Hungary as a future conquest?

I had an interesting conversation with a fellow Constantinople buff recently concerning the expansion of the dynasty of the Komnenoi without Manzikert in 1071. His opinion was that the Rhomanians were not really interested in going south towards Jerusalem/Egypt et al, but would likely have focused their resources upon Italy, Hungary and perhaps Armenia/Georgia/Black Sea coastline. Does that seem feasible, I've always wondered how in the world the Komnenoi would be able to rule over a predominantly Muslim population such as Egypt or even Damascus. A more stable 11th to 13th century Empire could look instead to the north and west. Comments?

Happy Friday to all!
 
Ps: I have always found it very telling that the grand expedition that Basil II was organizing on his death bed in 1025 was directed at Sicily rather than Jerusalem or Damascus. Perhaps he had come to a similar conclusion about the unfeasability of further Byzantine expansion into the Islamic world.
 
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