The Rise and Fall of Eastern Rhomania

The second Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire


Hello guys this is my first and till I finish it my only timeline, I presume I might be mistaken somewhere but that’s s’okay. Dump all the criticism you can seriously I will appreciate critics.


for the AH 1 legion = 2000 troops (originally it was 4000-6000)

1 legion = 20 cohorts

1 cohort = 100 soldiers


if you notice I cut the centuries there


the POD is that emperor Andronikos I was still very popular and after retaking the throne and was not overthrown 3 years later.

also while I'm starting at 1180 I'm using 1200 borders since I cant find a map for 1180 borders not even descriptions about rivers.

And for future maps well I make nice hand drawn maps which I prolly use otherwise I'll use paint.



1180, Constantinople, Emperor’s Palace


Trouble was brewing. He could smell it, after all the years of chaotic exile he had developed a keen sense of sensing trouble over the years. After persuasion from his admirals he continued the support for navy reforms. Pieces were falling into the board now. He had 10 legions ready in the Thracian theme.

The treasury also a shadow of its former self however it was still formidable, the biggest in Europe. He gazed at the night sky at the stars twinkling. He sighed, he was old. His body, however, was like it was at its peak. He was weary of war but he knew this was their best chance. This was the calling of God, The Seljuks were broken, bantering like kids while they ignored the Roman Empire as a no-threat. The Seljuks had taken the heartland of the empire but they were broken now it was the time for the lion to strike and sink its fang into the next of the Seljuks and retake what was taken.


1181, Chaldian Theme, Army Camp near Rum-Roman border



The Emperor looked at his soldiers he had accompanied them to the battle, like the old times. He took in a deep breath, “Sons of Alexander, today we stand ready to march on those who stole from us. They have razed our towns. Broken our people. Taken our treasures. BUT THEY WILL NEVER CONQUER OUR WILL. Today we will march, march for the glory of Rhomania. for the families we lost and the families we protect so I ask, Will you fight with your families ? (a roar of yes followed) Will you fight along your emperor ? (another roar of yes followed) let the Seljuks tremble as the Sons of Rome tear their barbarian camps apart” The Emperor turned around and started riding his horse at a slow trot towards to the Rum Border before drawing his sword and crying one last cry, “RISE RHOMANIA !”

811, Koloneia Theme (under occupation from RUM)


1st February: The advancing Roman Forces put the forts of Koloneia and Sebasteia under siege. The forts soon surrendered to the Romans due to a heavy revolt by the oppressed Romans in the city-forts the garrisons of the Rum Sultanate were light in the North Eastern part as the Rum Sultanate had most of their manpower devoted to the southern Seljuks successors and western Rum-Roman frontier.


4th March: 5 more legions under Prince Jon advanced through the western frontier and besiege Ancyra overnight.


29th March: Rum Sultanate finally gathers a host of 5000 infantry, 2000 cavalry and 1000 archers with Sultan 'Izz al-Din Kilij Arslan II leading them towards the forces besieging Ancyra


15th April: Prince Jon prepares earthen embarkments and trenches for the oncoming battle as he arranges his modified Macedonian Phalanx, armed with 5m long spears and light mail armor the modified Phalanx was to be tested against the Seljuks with the Prince heading 2000 Companion Cavalry in wedge formation with the Archers moving onto the hills.


1st May: The Macedonian Phalanx with their long spears and light mail managed to keep the enemy cavalry at bay Sultan 'Izz al-Din Kilij Arslan II charge with his cavalry however he had to retreat behind the Seljuk infantry lines, the Cavalry tried to out flank the Phalanx only to be answered by Jon II personally leading the counter-counter offensive cavalry to viciously push back the Seljuk cavalry behind enemy lines as the cavalry prodded and rallied at the lines of Seljuk Infantry the light Infantry which was hastily assembled in the first place held tight the first time however the second time the long lances pierced the lines of Infantry then retreated away as the Macedonian (from now on it’ll be called Roman) Phalanx charged in with spears lined soon the Seljuks turned back and retreated only to find the Rear Guard facing a heavy cavalry charge once again led by Prince Jon, soon enough the battle turned into a rout as the Sultan was slain at the battlefield by Prince Jon.

Out of a host of 10,000 soldiers only 1,090 soldiers managed to reach Amorian only to find the garrison was taken by Roman Nationalist who upon seeing the weary and tired survivors engaged them without giving them any quarter
 
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4th April 1184, Sivas, Capital of the Rum Sultanate


Emperor Andronikos marched into the surrendered fortress with his cavalry behind him Jon and his father had joined forces after retaking Ikonion (by Jon) and Koron (By Andronikos) and marched onto the capital of Rum Sultanate the city surrendered after a few hours of siege without a fight since the death of the sultan without any heirs had lead to a civil was within the broken state. In two small scale battles both the contenders were slain quickly.


The revival of the phalanx had proved very advantageous as no one was used to fighting the phalanx for centuries. The long spears called ‘sarissa’ and light armor gave the professional soldiers an easy time when charging at an enemy disarrayed by the the cavalry which used the wedge formation while the tactic relied on the heavy faith that the cavalry force would remain superior to enemy ones, with a heavy rear guard it would be near impossible to defeat an in formation Roman Phalanx without a clear numerical advantage.


With the conquest of the capital the remaining fortresses quickly surrendered to the remaining Roman forces led by Jon as the emperor’s body finally said no to fighting and started aching due to pain of the long marches and charges he personally lead.


12th May 1184, Constantinople


The Emperor and his 2 legions that had accompanied him back to Constantinople were greeted with heavy cheers as the streets were filled with cheering citizens to whom is felt that Constantinople was finally secure in the East as well as the West. While they were gone Bulgarians had attempted to leave the empire only to be put down by Regent Manuel and the remaining 10 legions in Europe (total legions this time were 25, 15 were with John and Andronikos). Other than this no other important event happened.


27th August 1184, Royal Court, Constantinople


The Emperor passed the first of the reforms to come to gain the loyalty of the army, The Soldiers were drawn up from themes, it was a voluntary service that is unless they faced a foe with manpower more vast than anything they had.


If that scenario took place every abled man over the age of 21 and under 35 was under law conscripted into the army, the weapons unlike the ones for the professional soldiers were provided from the imperial stockpile.


The soldiers were to have their revenue gained from their own lands additionally they were also paid an amount by the state. They were to provide their own weapons and train accordingly. They were called for reviews 4 times an year.


During the reviews they would get the active duty bonus, this way each theme had their own forces loyal to the throne as they got a steady revenue from there.



27th September 1184, Royal Court, Constantinople


The Army had started to become more loyal to the emperor the fact that both Jon and Manuel actively fought along them, Jon even more so made sure the loyalty of the army could not be swayed.


With determination in his mind the emperor passed the second of what were called ‘The Anderian Reforms.


The taxes of the poor and the middle class were reduced considerably while the tax on the rich were increased to maintain the treasury.


On the same day the emperor passed his third reform which enforced a minimum wage for the workers.


These two reforms had won the support of the people as the Emperor knew he was old and was inevitably going to die Jon was also there fighting for the reform side by side as co-emperor.


5th January, Royal Court, Constantinople


The last reform enacted was the lifting of many discriminative taxes on minorities on the empire to ensure loyalty from every minority as well.


The Clergy opposed this reform with all their might only to fall to a single sentence from Co-Emperor Jon ,”Are we not all children of God ?” The sentence had stunned the clergy and the bill had passed with grumbling by the nobility.


with the last of the Anderian Reforms done the emperor slept with a serene look on his face, his dream of reforming the empire was done. He could only hope Jon continued the legacy of Komemnos.


With these peaceful thoughts Emperor Andronikos I Komemnos Rested in peace, in the morning he was found dead by now sole Emperor Jon.


The emperor was buried with full honors with Jon, Manuel and multiple army men and people crying softly for. The Emperor had lived a full and happy life. The entire empire for the next few months mourned their fallen emperor. The Emperor was made into Saint Andronikos by the clergy.


Jon was crowned Emperor Jon I Komemnos, Emperor of Romans in the The Great Palace of Constantinople. His first orders were to restore the Great Palace.


Soon after Manuel was made Co-Emperor.


Unknown to the emperor in the Quarters of Doge of Venice the Venetian was talking to many disgruntled nobles of Constantinople


In the South the Ayyubids were biding there time and gathering their host.


In the east however lied the true problem. Mongolia was uniting under one khan, troubled stories came through the silk road.


The Empire had peace. but for how long was the question.
 
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