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Well the first three short attempts failed miserably. This time here is my 4th attempt. Hope it is more plausible. I literally tore my hair out doing research. Please comment on this tl. I spent a lot of time and research making this. SO pleas enjoy


Chapter I-IV: The Three Warrior Emperors


Michael VIII, Andronikos II, Michael IX Paleologos


In the year 1262 Michael VIII Paleologos became emperor of the Romans. However the once mighty empire was but a mere shadow of its former self. Beset by Turks to the east, the Slavs of Bulgaria and Serbia to the north, the Sicilians and the Latins to the west and in Greece, the situation of the empire was indeed very bleak and hopeless. Michael realized he needed allies. He decided to gain the support of Hungary. On July of 1262 the ERE forged an alliance with the kingdom of Hungary. This was twofold, one it would counter the Slavic threat to the north, and two it would provide the Romans with an ally in the West. For Hungary It meant easier chance to establish control in Croatia and the eastern Balkans.


Next Michael engineered an alliance between Abaqua Khan of the Il-khanite by marrying Maria Paleologina one of his illegimate daughters to the great Khan. The Ilkhan would help to keep the Turkic beyliks in check.


Michael knew the empire couldn’t face threats from all sides. Thus he decided to focus on one region at a time.



The Pope of Rome Urban IV had encouraged the west to take up arms against the Romans. He recognized only the latin empire as the rightful ERE not the Schismatic heretics. But he had one enemy, HRE Henry VII



Henry VII was HRE and a man who despised the pope. He had always been a longtime enemy of Michael but in 1263 Michael sent envoys to Henry VII. He argued that both sides had a lot in common. Although the two had been enemies both faced a common threat, the Pope of Rome. Michael promised to revoke all Roman claims in Italy and recognize Henry as the true Western Roman emperor. Michael also made a deal with Manfried promising to give up claims on Sicily and provide aid and tribute to Manfried the Kin ogf Sicily. Manfried at this time had been wary of the increasing power of Charles, agreed. Thus peace was gained in the west temporarily. With the alliance between the HRE and the Roman Empire the Venetians did not dare try any invasions of the Romans The Pope, was outraged that his plans had been foiled.

Meanwhile Michael VIII paid 100 pounds of gold to Manfried in return for selling the province of Athens. Manfried accepted the deal, because with 100 pounds he could easily continue to fund his costly wars against the Papacy. However this act led to a great depletion of resources in the Roman treasury.


Michael decided that the Roman generals were weak, so he personally led an army of 5000 Seljuk mercenaries and 5000 Roman troops to conquer Thessaly and Epirus. Epirus had been under the rule of the despot Michael II. Michael VIII and his
brother John launched a two-fronted assault on Epirus. The Venetians intervened in favor of the Epirots and declared war. Sadly the Venetians suffered a crushing defeat at the battle of Settepozi in the gulf of Naupolia the Venetian fleet was crushed by the Genoeans. They lost because the Genoese had sent a large fleet to the waters. This fleet overwhelmed the Venezians. Soon bitter naval warfare erupted between Venice and Genoa/. Hundreds of ships were lost as Venezian and genoese galleys battled across the straits of Taranto, Tyrrehician, and Adriatic sea. Both sides suffered heay losses in their coffers. Both spent very large sums on the fleets. The battles drained a large chunk of the republics resources. Henry VII seizing the opportunity declared war upon Venetia. He claimed to be helping his ally the Greek Emperor. In reality he saw this as an excellent moment to annex that pesky eastern state which refused to submit to Imperial rule. With an army of 30k Venetia was invaded. What happened was an alignment of a massive navy made up of 80 Genoese galles and 80 Roman ships the Venetian navy defending the fortress was completely decimated. It suffered the worst defeat. With the navy of Venice in ruin, the lagoon was open for Invasion.The Venezians suffered terrible defeats and were overwhelmed by land and by Sea.Imperial troops were ferried across roman transports as they started taking the various inlets. Finnally in August of that year Venetia was starved and taken by Imperial, Roman, and Genoese troops. The Doge was killed and Venice was looted. For days the troops pillaged Venezia taking all the various gold from it. They looted it utterly. Venezia’s power was broken completely. Venice sued for peace and paid its entire treasury. The Venetian doge fled to Crete. However with the navy gone and all the gold lost to Imperial troops, the Doge Michalio Colcovanti was in control of a completely bankrupt empire. To make matters worse it was at war with the Romans. The Doge sued for peace and offered to revoke all the treaties previously signed between Venetia and the Greeks in return for peace. Michael eagerly accepted the offer and in December the Venitians grip on the Roman economy had been destroyed. The Venetian merchants lost all their trade deals and Venice could do nothing but watch its maritime empire completely break apart.
In 1264 at the battle of Makry Plagy the Epirot-Achain forces were destrotyed at both sea and land. Achiae had been a very powerful crusader state that tried to end Roman rule in Mistra. Sadly John Kantakouzenos broke its back at this battle. In July of 1264 the Despotate of Morea led by John Kantakouzenos besieged the Achia itself. Achaie soon fell to Kantakouzenos. Meanwhile Michael ad the roman troops fought bitterly through harsh terrain defeating the epirots. Unfortunately even with all the successes the Roman treasury was draining. Michael soon launched the final invasion. In 1264 after fierce fighting in grueling terrain leading to many dieing on both sides fought through harsh terrain as he battled the forces of the Epirot Michael II. Epirus harsh terrain made it difficult to conquer. However as luck would have it a poisoned arrow in battle killed Michael II. His wife Theodora of Arta became despotess. But she was the daughter of John Petraliphs the governor of thessaly which was under Roman rule. Thus in an ingenious move Petraliphs convinced her daughter to crown him despot. Once he became despot he surrendered to Michael VIII suzerainty. He was made the Megas Domesticos of the West and soon Petraliphs would be one of Johns greatest advisors.
With Epirus crushed Michael turned his attention to southern Thessaly. Michael II bastard son John took power in Thessaly, Petraliph was overthrown effectively because he was a man hated by the populace who welcomed John. Michael wanted Thessaly back, so with his army he marched upon Thessaly. In the ensuing fighting John was killed. With his death Thessaly fell and was sacked by the Romans.
Meanwhile Charles of Anjou a French duke with backing by the pope launched an invasion of Napoli at the urging of the pope. This invasion failed. At the battle of Calabria Manfred’s forces crushed Charles forces and Charles himself was killed in the battle. Charles invasion had failed and Manfried retained Sicily and Napoli. The Pope of Rome was stunned at the blow and realized his hope of a union between West and east under western terms had fallen apart.
While Michael was out campaigning the tartars of Southern Russia with the Bulgars launched a fierce invasion in 1264. You see the near east Mongol empire faced off against its two major rivals the Mamelukes and the golden horde. Due to its alliance with the Romans the Golden Horde grew furious. So in 1264 the southern Tatars allied with Bulgaria launched a fierce attack. Unfortunately this attack failed miserably. At the battle for Thrace Alexius decisively defeated the combined Bulgarian-Tatar army. The conqueror of Constantinople. Also the Kingdom of Hungary true to its word declared war on Bulgaria. The Bulgarians were decimated. Unfortunately Hungary suffered heavy losses against the Mongols. A white peace was then announced in 1265 .

You see throughout 1264-1265 the Romans were constantly at war on multiple fronts. Only due to competent leadership and incredible luck and the timely aid of the allies was Rome able to recover so much in such little time.

Michael had by 1267 taken most of Greece under his control. Due to his ingenious use of diplomacy Michael averted a potential union between the west and east churches. He also managed to check the Slavs in the Balkans. Plus he formed alliances with the Il-khanate allowing him to secure a powerful ally in the east. Michael was a brilliant diplomat. Although Rome was in a terrible position, he managed to bring the phoenix back from the ashes. A lot of work still needed to be done, but for now Michael could focus on consolidation.

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In otl Byzantium faced multiple wars on multiple fronts. This was a very foolish move by Michael. In this Tl Michael decides to focus on one region at a time.
Otl the Romans initially won superb victories against the Epirots but unfortunately for Michael due to the multiple fronted wars on all sides the empires treasury was drained. Matters were made worse because of the 5k Turkish mercenaries. These mercenaries received no pay and in otl defected to the franks. This Tl they are promised loot from Epirus and thus stay to help the Romans. Unlike otl Michael takes a very active role in campaigning. Although his generals were horrible Michael himself was an adept commander.
In OTL Manfried had fallout with the pope but the relations between him and Rome were horrible. In this Tl Michael exploits the rift between the HRE and papacy and is thus able to secure an alliance.
In Otl at Settepozi the Genoa fleet was crushed. In this Tl Venice suffers that fate. Thus Michel does not view Genoa as weak and still keeps the alliance between the two countries.
Otl due to the civil war in Bulgaria Romans invaded. However this was disastrous. In this Tl that does not happen.
Otl due to good relations with the Il-khan the southern Tatars allied with Bulgaria and actually invaded the Byzantines in 1264. In this Tl they are defeated and due to the alliance with Hungary, Hungary intervenes in Bulgaria. Thus although Hungary suffers losses against Mongols due to its victories against Bulgaria white peace is secured.
In otl in 1280s Michael II son establishes a renegade government in Thessally that crushes the Romans. In this Tl he is the one crushed albeit much earlier.
Due to alliance with Iikhan the Turks don’t dare try to invade Roman territory in fear of an Iikhanite invasion of their beylik.

Anyway this is much more plausible then before. This I actually researched. My source comes from the book History of the Byzantine State by George Ostrogorsky in his chapter on Michael VIII. Thus most of what I have written is plausible.

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Before we continue with the history of the Roman Empire one must look at its internal structure. For centuries the Romans greatest asset was the centralized power of the government. However after the death of Basil the crown and the nobility fought for supremacy. After the disastrous reign of Andronikos Komnenos, the Roman aristocracy finally triumphed. The peasants were brutally taxed and much of the populace feared the tax farmers. Meanwhile the civil nobility lived in decadence and opulence. Another problem was that before the Romans could recover because they kept their most important peace of land, Anatolia. With most of Anatolia lost in the east Michael faced a desperate position of weakness surrounded by resurgent Slavs and the greatest threat of all the Sicilians. For years the HRE and the ERE competed for the Holy Roman crown.

Under Conrad III the alliance was very successful but with Fredrick I Barbarossa the two great empires focused on outmaneuvering each other in Italy than focus on Sicily. Michael needed peace in the west. Another problem was that the Republic of Venice had exclusive trading rights, likewise with Genoa. The Roman Empire was out competed by the western merchants who had complete control of Roman economy. Michael knew this must end but realized for now he had to deal with it. He soon installed John Paleologos as Co Emperor of the west. You see Michael needed to focus on reconquest of the east. Michael realized he needed the support of the nobility. For years feudalism had been kept in check, but now Michael realized he had no choice. In 1268 Michael called together a meeting with the nobility of the empire. In the meeting he promised to cede central power and enter into feudal contracts with the Aristocracy in return for them pledging their armies to him, and pooling their money to give to the treasury for war funds. The nobility eager for the power accepted the deal. Michael with a heavy sigh signed the feudal contract of 1268, the Emperor was like a European king, his nobility had a lot more power and the Romans were decentralized, feudalism was at last introduced in the Roman Empire.


The next problem was the currency. Michael combated inflation by increasing gold production. In Greece the two largest mines were at Kassandra Greece, and Skouries Greece. Here he started to order an increase in production of gold. He then switched the Roman currency to the Gold Standard. Effectively the Roman coins would be backed by Gold. It was split into three groups: Copper, Silver, and Gold. Due to this backing of the Roman currency the Inflation started to decrease. But the toll on the workers was harsh. The Mineworkers suffered horrible conditions but did it out of necessity for helping the state.

In 1269 Michael called together the support of the aristocrats. Soon many nobles pledged their armies to him. In this way Michael was able to come up with a force of 15k Roman regular. He also received some 10k Mongols from the Iikhan Abaqa. Michael now had an army of 25k. He convinced Abaqa to lend him support to partition Anatolia among them. Due to his alliances with Hungary and the HRE the Romans had a very secure position in the west. Michael launched the invasion of Anatolia. What followed was the destruction of the minor Turkic Beyliks. The Mongols invaded the Turkic realms causing chaos and destruction. / Trapped in a two front war many of the Turks were destroyed. With the 25k army made up of Mongol horse archers Michael won a string of victories which allowed him to retake Melitle and the Romans advanced as far as Smyria. However it was impossible for the Romans to make inroads but they succeeded in conquering the coast of Asia Minor. Soon afterward Michael consolidated his grip.


In 1280 the Iikhan Abaqa died and his son Tekuder became Khan. Tekuder was a Nestorian Christian. He married Irene Paleologina in 1280, and at her urging declared Nestorianism as the national religion but the other religions would still enjoy their full rights. Michael was relieved completely. He had the Anatolian coast under his control, here he raised Taxes and soon awarded fiefs to his nobility. In 1281 Michael VIII died.


Historians agree Michael did what was best for the empire. Unfortunately the Romans by this point were highly decentralized. Michael knew that the nobility now had immense power but he could do little. It was virtually impossible to combat ones nobility, so Michael gave up. It was a necessity for the time being due to the empire life in jeopardy.
Michael is credited for being a brilliant negotiator, securing alliances with Hungary, Ilkhanite, and the HRE. The Romans greatest threat of Sicily was no more, and the Slavs were in check due to Hungary watching the Romans western borders. Manfried had succeeded in consolidating his grip. The reason the Romans and HRE managed to reestablish good relations as because Michael recognized Manfried as the King of Sicily, and Henry VII as HRE and emperor of the west. Although Michael did not mean his words, he had to gain the support of the HRE while it was still strong. Michael understood that he had to give up title of emperor of the west in order to ensure his empires survival. It was a terrible prestige blow to the empire but in the end it was what saved the empire in the west. The Hungarians also were close allies with Michael. He had managed to stabilize the economy and retake the coast but it came at a very high price.




[FONT=&quot]In 1283 Andronikos Paleologos was crowned Andronikos II. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Andronikos would be an emperor who was cautious. Instead of expanding his empire under Andronikos the empire was improved internally. He decided to consolidate his grip on Asia Minor rather than to expand.[/FONT]

Andronicos II became Roman emperor in 1283. Although Michael had successfully secured a stable foothold for the Roman emperors, the Roman state was still in a mess. One could say Andronicos became emperor at one of the empires most crucial moments. Under Michael Roman foreign policy increasingly decreased with the West. Instead Andronikos decided to gamble, he was willing to leave his Balkan possessions undefended should it give him the manpower to secure Anatolia. Methodically he began plans with his generals of the reconquest of Anatolia. For now Andronikos was willing to leave the Balkans if it would help him secure Anatolia. He realized the true source of the Romans power laid in Anatolia not the Balkans. He built many roads and encouraged hostels for the poor, church run orphanages for the weak and the needy; he was a man who built many roads throughout the empire.


In 1284 Andronikos passed the conscription act of 1284, during times of war, most Roman men aged 18-45 would take up arms and join the army. They would be drafted into the army. Essentially he instituted a draft. However he made a clause, which stated that if a man was willing to pay lots of money to fund the wars then he does not need to serve. What this effectively did is allowed the nobility to escape from war in return for them giving money to support the state. Effectively the poor would be mass conscripted and in order to pay them Andronikos would use money from the aristocracy. Many consider him a very crafty old man.



He turned his attention to the east. Michael had virtually instituted a plunder and loot economy temporarily. The Roman treasury was soon running out of cash and Andronikos needed money. He decided the time as right to destroy the sultanates of Kastamon, pervanae, and Isfandiar.


In 1285 the Roman Empire declared war upon these three sultanates. All three had been fighting for dominance and were in a greatly weakened position. Andronikos invoked the conscription and soon drafted 10000 men from Anatolia and the Balkans. He also received many pounds of gold in total from the Roman aristocracy who wished to not fight in this war. Andronikos himself personally led the 10000-man army on the invasion.


In 1286 the Roman Empire invaded Isfandar. The rough terrain made it difficult for the Romans too move but after hiring some 5000 Turkmen mercenaries the Romans bribed some of the locals to give them knowledge of the terrain. Soon the capitol city of Isfandar was besieged and by August of 1286 Isfandar had fallen to the Roman Empire. Shortly afterwards Pervane put up a valiant fight but in a secret deal signed with the Kingdom of trebizond the Roman empire and Trebizond would partition Pervanae. SO with Trebizond troops invading from its eastern front Parvanae crumbled. Finally Kastamon remained. Kastamon lay in some of the harshest terrain of the east. For over a year the Roman army fought bitterly through rough terrain as it face a huge amount of opposition, One Roman was to have remarked that his time “ In the land of hell” was a place “ Where death was common”. But finally thanks to superior numbers the Romans sacked the capitol city of Kastamon and then looted the whole area for 2 weeks taking plunder and loot. Then they annexed the three sultanates. In this manner the three sultanates were incorporated into the Roman Empire.


However on fatal flaw was in Andronicos plan. By attacking the east with everything he had the Province of Thessalonica and Macedonia were virtually defenseless in the west. In fact the west had little to no defense except in the despot of Morea under John Paleologos at the town of Mistra.



This would prove to be Andronikos most fatal mistake. By putting his trust in the west Andronikos would suffer terribly.



Many consider Andronikos to be a revival of the Great Nikephros Phokas. For you see being a very pious man, Andronikos looked toward the east more than the west. In his eyes the wars against the Turks were necessary, he knew of the great glories of the past. And wanted to recreate a strong Roman power. Unlike Nikephros Andronikos did not believe it was a major necessity to spread Christianity through Turkish lands. He would send missionaries but being realistic he adopted a policy of keeping the Turkish rulers as rulers of the lands but instead they would become his vassals. Pledging allegiance forever to the Roman throne. In order to make sure they kept their words these sultans would send their eldest sons to the Roman court of Constantinople as prisoners. Lest they should get out of line. (IN the court the sons would be brought up with Roman ideals and become “Good Romans”, in this way Andronikos could keep the Turkish beyliks in check.) In a brilliant campaign lasting from 1284-1286 an army of some 16k conscripts Andronikos won a string of victories. He soon ordered massive taxes to be taken. He was a man who was incredibly gifted in the art of warfare. His forces swept like lightning as the Roman forces brought an end to the Sultanate of Karaman. Andronikos decisively destroyed the Sultan at the battle of Karaman. The, sultan Abu Nasir Mohhamid was forced into a vassal status by the Romans. You see Andronikos was smart. He knew that control over these provinces would be tedious at best, so he decided to create a string of Turkish vassal states in Anatolia. This way the government would not have to deal with the pain of revolts. All they do would be too keep the sultans in check. Next he turned to the sultanate of Iconium. Calling forth his Turkish vassals aid he soon marched with an army of some 20k on the Sultanate of Rum in 1287. The Sultanate of Rum was in chaos; it was recovering from disastrous civil wars. Meanwhile Tekuder Khan of the Ilkhanite soon formed a secret agreement with the Romans. They would partition the sultanate of Rum between the two. Tekuder soon peaced a treaty with the Mamelukes and launched an invasion with some 50k men. The Sultanate of Rum crumbled. Meanwhile Andronikos took the capitol of Ikonium after a bitter siege. The Sultan Muhhamid surrendered. He ceded the eastern territories to the Ilkhanite and the rump sultanate became a vassal of the Romans in 1290. Muhammad sent his son to Roman court in Constantinople and became a subject of the Emperor Andronikos. In the west the Kingdom of Bulgaria under Tsar Ivanylov who had become Tsar recently saw the growing Roman power with Alarm. The Romans had conquered a massive swathe of territory in Anatolia. The Situation was deteriorating. Meanwhile Hungaro-Roman relations were at an all time high. Like Manuel, Andronikos kept a policy of support to the Hungarians.
Andronikos returned to Constantinople as a hero. Many praised him for his victory. However the aging Andronikos was getting old. Due to years of war he was no longer a joyful youth, he was grim, gruff, and very un emperor like. He was however treated as a hero He had successfully retaken most of Anatolia. He had brought most of the Beyliks under Roman control. His eastward policy was a success. However he was not well liked either. Although many respected him, many despised his taxes. Under his reign heavy
The Roman populace had collected taxes. But aside from unrest little else happened.

In 1293 Andronikos had consolidated his grip on the Turkish beys whose sons were sent to the capitol city to learn under the Romans. These sons were taught to always follow the Romans. They would lead happy lives. In this way many of the younger boys were brainwashed by Roman teaching to support the Romans. For the next three years Andronikos reduced the taxes. He bethroed his young son Michael to the daughter of Manfred’s youngest daughter recently born named Alice. In this way the two empires grew closer. Andronikos visited the Imperial capitol and went on great hunting trips with Manfred. Likewise Manfred was treated richly in Constantinople. Trade boomed between the two empires. Due to his close knit alliance with the HRE the Venetians could do little to interfere with the Romans.

In 1296 Andronikos turned his attention to Bulgaria. The Tsar of Bulgaria had become a nuisance. With the newly acquired territories in Anatolia Andronikos recovered the source of Roman manpower. Taxes were once again heavily created and in 1297 with a secret agreement with Hungary. The two allies decided to partion Bulgaria. All lands above Vidin would go to Hungary, Vidin and the Romans would take all lands below. Thus the deal was struck and in `1297 Hungary declared war upon the Bulgarians and invaded. Meanwhile Andronikos drew upon his manpower from Anatolia and created an army of some 20000 and marched toward Vidin (plus because of his Turkish vassals the non Muslim subjects paid taxes not to the sultan but to the Roman state). The Tsar Ivanylov was shocked. The Hungarians decimated Bulgarian forces with ease, while the Romans struck a lightning campaign. Unable to cope with a two front war Roman troops besieged the capitol of Bulgaria Vidin. In 1298 after being starved the city surrendered.

The Tsar Ivanylov was captured. But Andronikos did not kill him. Hungary took its provinces from Bulgaria and the rump Bulgaria would be kept by Ivanylov but Ivanylov would be a vassal of the Roman Empire. Ivanylov soon sent his son t Constantinople. Bulgaria was finally silenced. Andronikos returned in 1305 a hero. He soon stepped down from the throne and let his son Michael IX Paleologos become Emperor. Andronikos retired to a monastery 1306.Michael would be an emperor similar to his father. In fact he would surpass his father. Under Michael the Romans would once again experience a revival. Under his reign the Romans would once again emerge as a powerful phoenix. Many credit the Paleologians to being the key to revive the Empire. Was it not for the three warrior emperors during the Romans greatest and most dire hour? The Romans would have been vanquished. Many parreles are made between Michael VIII, Andornikos II, and Michael IX Paleologos to the warrior emperors of Nikephoros Phokas, John Tzmiches, and Basil II of Macedonia. Like them the three warrior emperors saved the Roman Empire. Unlike them the roman military would never be the best. Under them the Roman theme system would forever be the perfect form of governance. Sadly such a system would not exist under the paleologians. Instead the Paleologians would create a string of vassals and let the vassal’s rule. Unlike the three warrior emperors the Paleologians would decentralize the Roman state, whereas the other three warrior emperors tried to centralize it. Also under the reign of Michael the Venetian grip on the Roman economy was over. The last threat to Roman revival was Genoa. Longtime allies. During Michael IX reign, Genoa would lose it all, by his death the Italian city states grip on the Roman economy would end. By his death Rome would be on a road to glory and its empire would stretch from Trebizond-the Danube. It would achieve slightly smaller borders than the Roman Empire under Basil minus Mesopotamia, Euphrates, and Syria.
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