alternatehistory.com

So Ive been reading up on my late Byzantine history and have found an interesting POD. It is one that would save the Byzantines as a local, relatively stable power. One that could even defend itself. However, they will not make some wank-esk rise to the top...

My POD is in 1341, when John Cantacuzene decides to NOT pardon Apokankos, and he is therefore deprived of all his powers, and probably sent to a monastary.

To further understand why this may make a difference, I'll give you some OTL history leading up to this POD.

1328- Andronikos III becomes emperor after the war against his father.
*He brings with him a new generation of motivated members of government and he himself is a much more direct leader than his father.
John Cantacuzene is the most important member of his government, and he is made "1st minister" and essentially most affairs of the state go through him.

1328- Sigman of Bulgaria invades and is defeader by Andronikos III, and cause no more trouble during his reign.

May-June 1329- about 2000 Byzantine, and hired soldiers invade and attempt to relieve Asia minor. They are defeated on June 10 at Pelekanon. This may sound like it is only negative. However, after this battle the Empire was forced to actually accept Turkish control of ex territories in Asia minor, and the emperor began to actually make friends among the turks.

1329- Chios retaken from Genoese Zaccarta family. Chios generates 120,000 hyperphra a year and is a very strategic island.

1330's- a few more islands retaken by Empire, and there is a rare period of relative peace with the Turks.

1334-Peace between Stefen Dusan ad the Empire, vague allies

1335- Andronikos III, Cantacuzene meet Umur of Aydin. Cantacuzene and Umur become life time friends and allies.

1336-Mitylene and Lesbos surrender to the Empire, reincorporated.

By 1340- Thessally and Epiros are permanantly incorporated back into the Empire. This is one of Cantacuzene's most important doings. If the latin duchies in attica and the morea are retaken, the the empire could be a single, better defensible unit. Plus new land=more manpower and taxes.

During the reign of Andronikos III, he and Cantacuzene make serious attempts to enforce taxes and the laws. The Universal Judges of the Romans are created, with the purpose of preventing bribary and corruption. Though this is not perfect, it looks as if it may have helped had things kept on going well.

This is when we reach our POD. After the death of Andronikos III, he leaves no will declaring his heir. It is expect that his sond John, or Cantacuzene would become emperor, or at least Cantacuzene would become regent. However there were fights amond the Emperess Anne, the Patriarch and Cantacuzene over who should become Regent. They are likely to have come to an agreement if the powerful Alexios APokaukos had not really screwed things up. Skipping over the details, he eventually attempts to kidnap the probably crown prince John. Cantacuzene decided in OTL to pardon him and he went on to start a empire shattering civil war, undoing all the recent good that had been created during the previous emperors reign.

Instead in my timeline, i have Cantacuzene not pardon Apokaukos, and strip him of all his powers. This give the Emperess Anne, the Patriarch and Cantacuzene time to decide the regent problems. John is crowned Emperor John V, with the Emperess Anne, the Patriarch and Cantacuzene in various regent positions. Eventually Cantacuzene takes most power, and continues to be a very important background force in the emperor.

The civil war of 1341-1347 in avoided. The Serbians get no chance to take greece, and more turkish mercinaries are not invited to fight in the civil war. The other forign interventions of the turks and italians in the civil war obviously do not happen. The economy isnt destroyed, and thrace is not destroyed..again.

Should I attempt to create a timeline using this POD? I am just attempting to create a more viable empire that would be able to be a local power, and could last a signifcant time longer.

What do you think?
Top