V2.0 - Basileia ton Romaion: Aima! Drasis! Bloody prophecies!

remember as of between Denmark and Sweden, it's around this time (or very near future) that Denmark start developing a continental inspired heavy Cavalry, but it would still be half a century or such before Sweden starts the same process. Reason for the differing times of development is that Denmark is much closer both Geographical (and at least at current time Socialogical and Cutural) to Central Europe, and is much more rapidly influenced by them due to their wars in northern Germany.

And with the force multiplier of heavy cavalry, it aren't really a good time for Sweden to pick a fight with Denmark, due to sudden difference in strength
 
End of an Era

remember as of between Denmark and Sweden, it's around this time (or very near future) that Denmark start developing a continental inspired heavy Cavalry, but it would still be half a century or such before Sweden starts the same process. Reason for the differing times of development is that Denmark is much closer both Geographical (and at least at current time Socialogical and Cutural) to Central Europe, and is much more rapidly influenced by them due to their wars in northern Germany.

And with the force multiplier of heavy cavalry, it aren't really a good time for Sweden to pick a fight with Denmark, due to sudden difference in strength

I'll bear that in mind.

I've only got a quick update for tonight, I've just got my exam results back and downloaded the Charlemagne DLC for Crusader Kings 2 and I'm hooked.

1212 AD - 1222 AD:

As 1212 AD closes out, Bohemia acknowledges the suzerainty of Henry VI, who also sends the Knights of the Teutonic Order into Transylvania to 'protect' Hungary from Cuman raids. More importantly, the Iberian kingdoms won a descive victory at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, hastening the decline of the Almohad sultanate. Over the years, more of the old guard depart this world. 1213 marks the death of Queen Tamar of Georgia and the beginning of the ascendency of the Cathar movement in the Languedoc, tentatively supported by Peter II of Aragon. 3 years later, Geoffrey Plantagenet, the last surviving son of Henry II, dies peacefully in his bed at the age of 58, succeeded by Arthur, Duke of Brittany.

Then, in 1218, to everybody's relief, Henry VI Hohenstaufen dies while planning an invasion of the Baltic. His eldest son, Frederick II, succeeds smoothly to the now-hereditary imperial throne, but he will still face many challenges within and without during his reign. Frederick's first action with Pope Pius is to declare a Northern Crusade against the pagans of the Baltic. Back in the Basileia ton Romaion, Empress Theodora dies giving birth to her third and final son, Manuel. Her death sends Alexios into a deep depression and he turns increasingly to food and drink to alleviate his emotional pains. During a party/negotiation with envoys of George IV of Georgia, he agreed to betroth John to George's daughter, who was actually more in Manuel's age range. Disaster was narrowly averted when Alexios got so drunk he accidently mixed up John with Joannicius and had to be reminded before he wrote the final document. Alexios realised he needed to prepare for the succession, since none of his sons were old enough to rule by themselves, so he wrote up his will:

* In the event of his death, the throne would pass to David until John was 16 years old.
* If David should die before John was 16 years old, the throne would pass to David's sons, whom Alexios had forbidden to marry.

He wouldn't have to wait long. On February 1st, 1222, after the marriage of Anna to King Ladislaus of Sicily, Alexios III died shortly after hearing news of several major cities in Central Asia - Bukhara, Samarkand, Urgench, Merv - have been sacked and their inhabitants cruelly massacred. He was only 40 years old, so people began to say he was frightened to death, but it was more likely a combination of his depression, guilt and heavy drinking. Before he died, he confessed to the murder of Constantine XI Angelos and made David swear to follow his will to the letter. The new emperor agrees, but words carry only so much weight...

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Children of Alexios III Komnenos 'the Wise':

Eudokia (b.1201) - 21 years old. Married to Prince Tancred of Sicily.
Anna (b.1204) - 18 years old. Married to King Ladislaus III of Hungary.
John (b.1210) - 12 years old. Betrothed to Princess Tamar of Georgia.
Joannicius (b.1212) - 10 years old.
Manuel (b.1218) - 4 years old.

Children of David I Komnenos:

Nikephoros Komnenos (b.1204) - 18 years old
Demetrius Komnenos (b.1206) - 16 years old

Komnenos dynasty (so far):

Isaac I Komnenos: 1057 AD - 1059 AD (2 years)

Alexios I Komnenos: 1081 AD - 1118 AD (37 years)
John II Komnenos 'the Good': 1118 AD - 1143 AD (25 years)
Manuel I Komnenos 'the Great': 1143 AD - 1180 AD (37 years)
Alexios II Komnenos: 1180 AD - 1183 AD (3 years)
Andronikos I Komnenos 'the Cruel': 1183 AD - 1185 AD (2 years)
Manuel II Komnenos 'the Gentle': 1185 AD - 1195 AD (10 years)
Michael VIII Kalamanos: 1195 AD - 1196 AD (1 year)
Constantine XI Angelos: 1196 AD - 1199 AD (3 years)
Alexios III Komnenos 'the Wise': 1199 AD - 1222 AD (23 years)
David I Komnenos: 1222 AD -

As always, feel free to comment, criticise, anything. I aim to please.
 
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Quick question, if it comes down to it, being allied by marriage to both Sicily and Hungary, but with Frederick II right on their western doorstep via Croatia, should Romaion recognise Cologne or Benevento? Would Benevento recognise Constantinople as the only true Roman Empire or would they just elect one of their own?
 
Quick question, if it comes down to it, being allied by marriage to both Sicily and Hungary, but with Frederick II right on their western doorstep via Croatia, should Romaion recognise Cologne or Benevento? Would Benevento recognise Constantinople as the only true Roman Empire or would they just elect one of their own?

It seems the smartest choice might be to recognize no one. Why should the true Roman Empire acknowledge the fake one?

The Germans haven't sought Constantinople's acknowledgment in the past, why should they now?
 
I honestly don't think it would matter. As far as Rhomania is concerned, the spiritual leader is the Patriarch of Constantinople, and neither the Popes of Cologne or Benevento. I would ask if it would be possible for Rhomania to support Benevento only because in his weaker position, it could help restore one troublesome piece of the Pentarchy.
 
If Romaion have plan of expansion to Italy, They can made their own Patriarch of Rome even ending Great Schism. But for now Romaion needn't acknowledge or interference West Pope
 
Family disputes - Part 1

It seems the smartest choice might be to recognize no one. Why should the true Roman Empire acknowledge the fake one?

The Germans haven't sought Constantinople's acknowledgment in the past, why should they now?

True.

I honestly don't think it would matter. As far as Rhomania is concerned, the spiritual leader is the Patriarch of Constantinople, and neither the Popes of Cologne or Benevento. I would ask if it would be possible for Rhomania to support Benevento only because in his weaker position, it could help restore one troublesome piece of the Pentarchy.

We'll see.

If Romaion have plan of expansion to Italy, They can made their own Patriarch of Rome even ending Great Schism. But for now Romaion needn't acknowledge or interference West Pope

Maybe in the future, but for now, the Romans have bigger fish to fry.

1222 AD - 1226 AD:

The first act of David I Komnenos, the great commander, was to marry his son Nikephoros to Maria Laskaris and prepare to aid Georgia. At Khunan, George IV and a force of 60,000 Georgians and Armenians had been defeated by a 20,000 strong horde of pagans from the steppes. George himself was seriously injured but managed to hold on and recover, though it would be a long time before he took to the field again*. David began organising his fortresses in Anatolia and Mesopotamia and retraining the soldiers against steppe soldiers, despite the protests of the nobles who believe these pagans are just rumours. Nomads come down from the steppes all the time after all, and if the Georgians could not defeat them with a numerical advantage, then it just proves their inferiority. David's usual response is one word - Manzikert.

The next year, David heard reports that another 20,000 strong nomad army had defeated a coalition of Rus principalities at the Kalka River. 50,000 out of 80,000 Russians had perished. The emperor became increasingly paranoid, closing the Crimean ports for fear of spies. He also began personally inspecting the border fortresses, especially in Cilicia. Finally, in 1226, Prince John came of age, and, against the odds and the protestations of his sons, David made no changes to the succession. Prince Joannicius also began expressing interest in becoming a priest, which would inveriably remove him from the succession.

The preparation of the fortresses and stockpiling of food eventually came in handy when a the Khwarezmian prince Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu ransacked Armenia, crossed the Euphrates and began besieging Khilat, apparently to try and bully the emperor into aiding him against the nomads which had destroyed his empire. David marched out from Constantinople to meet up with George IV there. For the army in particular, David had stepped up production of bows, crossbows and pikes. These were a major factor in the utter destruction of Jalal ad-Din's 30,000 army by the combined 42,000 strong Christian army. Mingburnu himself was captured. David intended to interrogate him for everything he knew about these nomads. When the army arrived at Nicomedia, David was arrested and blinded on the orders of the new emperor - Nikephoros IV.

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As always, feel free to comment, criticise, anything. I aim to please.
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*: IOTL, George IV died of his injuries and the throne passed to his sister Rusudan, and Georgia's fortunes took a turn for the worse afterwards.
 
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Wow, Nikephoros you fucked up bad. Any chances the Romans will fare better against these "nomads", they do have previous experience fighting turkish horse archers.
 
1226 AD - 1227 AD:

Nikephoros IV sent a letter to Constantinople, informing the nobles of his 'ascension', along with graphical details of his father's 'madness' and punishment, hoping to inspire fear in any potential enemies. The young emperor was delayed by a rebellion in Nikomedia supported by several members of the army, which was finally crushed by the beginning of the new year. When he finally arrived outside the capital city, he found the gates locked and the soldiers on the ramparts shouting obscenities at him. As it turned out, the letter had inspired fear - fear that Nikephoros would turn out to be exactly like his great-grandfather. A few people could still remember the short, bloody reign of Andronikos Komnenos and couldn't stomach the thought of another one. In retaliation for David's treatment, the nobles, threw their support behind Nikephoros' younger and more malleable brother, Demetrius. Nikephoros was enraged and ordered his troops to starve the city into submission.

After a few months, the people of Constantinople began to starve and Demetrius' popularity collapsed. Nikephoros, having calmed down and time to plan, brought an end to the hostilities when he snuck a letter to his brother, offering to lift the siege and make him Patriarch if he surrendered. Demetrius, without consulting his mother or advisors, accepted. When he entered the city in triumph, Nikephoros promised leniency towards the citizens but made no attempt to stop the small-scale looting by his soldiers.

1227 AD - 1230 AD:

So David I Komnenos and Constance of Hungary were forced into retirement and Demetrius Komnenos was named Patriarch, despite having no particular training or interest in religion. That was exactly what Nikephoros needed - an easily-influenced puppet. The emperor did not disband the army despite the cost of maintaining it, (he needed their support if he wanted to stay in charge), but he needed a justification for their existence. Conveniently, he got one when Arab and Kudish raiders from Syria began raiding across the southern borders. Rumors began to spread that the emperor had bribed them to attack in the first place. Whether or not this was true, the Akritai held their ground and gained valuable experience. In 1229, Nikephoros gained a son, named David, just as Prince Joannicius came of age. Fearing for the future of his dynasty, Nikephoros ordered the removal of his cousins. At the Christmas banquet, Prince Joannicius fell violently ill and died a few days later - everyone suspected poisoning. It was later discovered that three goblets of had been poisoned, one for each prince, and it was by sheer luck only Joannicius died. John had refused his wine and Manuel was rushed out of the room when his brother collapsed. Prince John immediately blamed Nikephoros for the murder and Nikephoros ordered the Varangian Guard to surreptitiously finish the job. The Varrangoi had never been ordered to kill a member of the royal family before - This time they made an exception.

In early 1230 AD, Prince John was approached by the Varrangoi... who immediately prostrated themselves before him, calling him 'emperor'. They'd had enough of Nikephoros and hacked him, his wife and his infant son to pieces. The eldest son of Alexios III Komnenos was finally emperor.
 
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