Which dynasties must survive for a stronger Rhomania

Ok the question is which dynasties must survive for Rhomania to remain stronger and be able to survive at least into the 19th century as an empire. My thoughts are if the Macedonians survive long enough and then power somehow goes to the Komnenos dynasty that would at least prevent the iconoclasm heresy. Another thought is for the Komnenos dynasty to stop the Angelos dynasty from taking the throne with stronger heirs. These are just my thoughts but I'd like to here from the experts.
 
Ok the question is which dynasties must survive for Rhomania to remain stronger and be able to survive at least into the 19th century as an empire. My thoughts are if the Macedonians survive long enough and then power somehow goes to the Komnenos dynasty that would at least prevent the iconoclasm heresy. Another thought is for the Komnenos dynasty to stop the Angelos dynasty from taking the throne with stronger heirs. These are just my thoughts but I'd like to here from the experts.

Um, iconoclasm was wrapped up by the time of the Macedonians.

And the problem is that any given dynasty can produce duds - Manuel I, Constantine VIII, Andronicus II, Alexius III . . .

So I think you're addressing something that doesn't lead anywhere.
 
I'd say the Komnenos, if only because they are 160 years closer to your end date of 1800. I'd have Andronicus take over the empire before Alex II, go berserk and kill the nobles which needed doing, and then have young Alex II take over for a long reign.
 
I don't think you can categorize Emperors by dynasties and decide which dynasty would be the 'best' or 'worst'*. The Palaiologues for example provided great emeprors (Michael, Manuel, John, Constantine) but also some of the worst (Andronicus IV and III, the Despots of Morea etc). Even the Macedonians provided bad and incompetent Emperors - remember that the death of Basileios II did not mark the end of the dynasty; it went on. The Comnenoi did have a good score themselves, so if I had to choose a dynasty-at-large, it probably would be them (though I'm not saying they didn't have large room for improvement).


*The exception being, ofc, the Angelids.
 
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