The 7 Isles of Byzantium

In 1453, the Byzantine Empire Constisted of Little More than Constantinople and a few sqaure miles next to it, the Distant Province of Morea and the 7 Princes Isles. Early in the Siege of Constantinople the Princes Isles were siezed by the Turks, but were occupied until officialy annexed after the fall of Constantinople. Here is the POD

The Turkish Jassinaries had broke through the gates into Constantinople, Constantine XI throws himself into hand to hand fighting, but is captured by a Turkish Soldier and is brought before Mehemd II after the fall of the city in chains. Mehemed II asks him if he has any last wishes. Constatine XI replies, I wish to pray to God before i am executed. Mehemed II replies, the Faithful will never be executed. This was the beginnings of the Friendship of Mehemed and Constantine. They began a long conversation about many things, most forgotten by today. Eventually the subject of the fate of Constantinople was raised. Constantine wished to relocated with the Greeks of Constantinople to Trezibond or Morea. However, Mehemed II didn't wish for constantine to rule any large realm and be a threat in the Future. Eventually, Mehemed II came up with a solution. The Recently Captured Princes Islands can be the surviving lands of the Byzantines, and would be small enough for Constantine or his sucessors to not gain too much power. Constantine XI would remain Emperor of the Romans, but he would have to give up his claims to Morea and Trezibond. On June 9, 1453, Constantine XI and the surviving Greek Population and Government, landed on the Princes Isles and began setting up the Roman Government there. The Capital, a mere village, was known as Nova Roma, or New Rome. (The Byzantines still considered themselves roman and the true hiers of rome). In Morea, Constantines Brother and Despot there was Furious with his brother for not fighting to the death. He claimed to be the true hier of the Byzantines and vowed to retake Constantinople. Mehemed II launched an invasion of Morea, and the penninsula fell by 1455. Constantine XI married a daughter of a Byzantine nobleman who had managed to flee to the Princes Isles with constantine, the Noblemans daughters name was Irene. It was a happy marriage, the first good thing to happen for the Byzantines since the fall of thier capital. In 1457 Irene gave birth to a baby boy who was named John IX. He was baptized in an old monstary on the island, the Seat of the Patriarch and the only Church in the island. Constaine XI also had a small palace built, where Mehemed II would frequently come for visits. Thier Friendship was strong, and the Byzantines for now were guarinteed thier Indpendence.

PRINCES ISLES.png
 
You know, Mehmed II was so into the west that I could see this happening. Doubt it'll survive his death however--but an exiled Constantine IX or some legitimate heir would be a fascinating situation.
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
This is ASB. Mehmet was determined to exterminate any threat to his rule (look what happened to Orhan!), and placing an honest-to-goodness Byzantine Emperor on an island right next to Constantinople would be a constant threat. The Venetians or the Genoese would always have the option of dispatching an expedition to the Constantinople, recapturing it, and reinstalling the Emperor.

Not only that, but Constantine XI would never have agreed to it. He would have preferred death.
 
Can 7 small islands overthrow a empire? Mehemed would almost make sure they dont make a miliitary or something, maybe something like the swiss guard is made. Venice and Genoa, or anyone could try to retake constantinople but they would have no chance to hold it.

As for him rather dying, how do you know this? were you a personal friend of him?:)
 
Great (though a bit implausible) idea, and I'm sure it will turn out to be a great TL from reading this first post, but--grammar and spelling! Use them!
 
Kind of a cute idea...sort like Mount Athos but secular :p

I don't know how possible that is, but I do like the image.
 
Great (though a bit implausible) idea, and I'm sure it will turn out to be a great TL from reading this first post, but--grammar and spelling! Use them!

I'll try, but my Spelling and Grammar aren't the best,

I Blame the public school system of America!

Also, is there anything that can be done to make it a bit more plausible?
 
Also, is there anything that can be done to make it a bit more plausible?

I don't know what you're planning, so not really, but--if your plan is for the Romans to eventually restore their empire, then that's impossible.

The thing is, Mehmed offered Constantine the option to relocate to Morea and just give up Konstantinoupolis, and Constantine refused it, all before the war. So the idea itself is kind of implausible. I would say either have Mehmed allow Constantine to relocate to Morea (though that would seem kind of counterproductive, because he already refused having that happen peacefully--then again I don't think Mehmed really cared about Morea), or go back before this happened, and have Constantine for some reason accept the initial offer. Of course you probably can't do the latter now, because you've already made an update, though you could add the former if you wish, though I'm not sure if you want them to have Morea, and then how does the title '7 isles' fit in?
 
I'll try, but my Spelling and Grammar aren't the best,

I Blame the public school system of America!

Also, is there anything that can be done to make it a bit more plausible?
Maybe exile Constantine to the islands against his will and strip him of the imperial title and make him some sort of Ottoman governor. Or maybe just make him "Emperor of Romans" instead of "the Romans". Make it more of a public humiliation to damage him politically even if they are friendly in private. More like a very weak vassal state.

Just a thought.
 
The 7 isles will be the remnants of the Byzantine Empire. We could see them as a Ottoman Backed trading republic possibly in the near future. As for the Islands not being annexed by some later Sultan, Mehemed might make some last request the islands remain with Constantine and his heirs or something
 
The 7 isles will be the remnants of the Byzantine Empire. We could see them as a Ottoman Backed trading republic possibly in the near future. As for the Islands not being annexed by some later Sultan, Mehemed might make some last request the islands remain with Constantine and his heirs or something
I think he was the Sultan who was intrigued by Roman-ness, so that fits in nicely. Keeping it as a sort of tribute to the Roman Empire because it's just a couple tiny islands anyway.
 
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