Upon my recent trip to Istanbul I was inspired to revisit a scenario that is a favourite of myself and many others; saving the Byzantine Empire.
Already not too long ago I have played such a game in Europa Universalis 4, so, despite it seeming like too easy a challenge, I decided this time to do it in Crusader Kings 2.
I wanted a start date that would give me a good balance of having many years to play and Byzantium being weak and needing a kick up the arse.
Unfortunately it is only really in the later start dates that Byzantium is truly at death's door, thus I scoured the timeline for a likely start date.
And here it is:
1 May 1081.
A recent crushing defeat at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 has led to the loss of the Empire's Anatolian homeland. Additionally, incursions of the Normans in southern Italy have removed the last Byzantine outposts from the peninsula.
IOTL, according to CK2, this date marks Alexios I Komnenos' first day as Emperor, replacing the inept Nikephoros III Botaneiates.
The POD for this timeline however, has it that this chap is instead the one who has seized power:
Josquius I Josquius.
A mysterious figure who appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the mid 1070s. Possessing a sound grasp of military matters and a certain unmistakable charisma about him he was able to play an active role in the palace struggles of the Empire, allying with the Varangian Guard to rise to the throne.
Wounded in the process of his coup he is a man with no family, little reputation, but big ideas. He speaks with great passion about rooting out corruption and restoring the empire to its former glory.
Will he succeed?
Well this is CK2, so probably.
But what shall happen along the way?
(note: I made a mess of taking screenshots during the reign of Josquius I Josquius, accidentally taking map captures instead of screenshots. As such things here may be incomplete.
Already not too long ago I have played such a game in Europa Universalis 4, so, despite it seeming like too easy a challenge, I decided this time to do it in Crusader Kings 2.
I wanted a start date that would give me a good balance of having many years to play and Byzantium being weak and needing a kick up the arse.
Unfortunately it is only really in the later start dates that Byzantium is truly at death's door, thus I scoured the timeline for a likely start date.
And here it is:
1 May 1081.
A recent crushing defeat at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 has led to the loss of the Empire's Anatolian homeland. Additionally, incursions of the Normans in southern Italy have removed the last Byzantine outposts from the peninsula.
IOTL, according to CK2, this date marks Alexios I Komnenos' first day as Emperor, replacing the inept Nikephoros III Botaneiates.
The POD for this timeline however, has it that this chap is instead the one who has seized power:
Josquius I Josquius.
A mysterious figure who appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the mid 1070s. Possessing a sound grasp of military matters and a certain unmistakable charisma about him he was able to play an active role in the palace struggles of the Empire, allying with the Varangian Guard to rise to the throne.
Wounded in the process of his coup he is a man with no family, little reputation, but big ideas. He speaks with great passion about rooting out corruption and restoring the empire to its former glory.
Will he succeed?
Well this is CK2, so probably.
But what shall happen along the way?
(note: I made a mess of taking screenshots during the reign of Josquius I Josquius, accidentally taking map captures instead of screenshots. As such things here may be incomplete.