alternatehistory.com

The Maniots after the death of Pope Clement VIII and the failed attempts of Philip III of Spain found at last a champion in 1612, Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Nevers. Charles was a descendant of the Byzantine Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus through his grandmother, who was of the line of Theodore I of Montferrat, Andronicus' son.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maniots#cite_note-Kassis30-29 Through this connection he claimed the throne of Constantinople. He began plotting with the Maniots, who addressed him as "King Constantine Palaeologus". When the Porte heard about this, they sent Arslan in command of an army of 20,000 men and 70 ships to invade Mani. He succeeded in ravaging Mani and imposing taxes on the Maniots (which they did not pay). This caused Charles to move more actively for his crusade. Gonzaga sent envoys to the courts of Europe looking for support. In 1619, he recruited six ships and a number of men, but he was forced to abort the mission because of the beginning of the Thirty's year War.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maniots#cite_note-Greenhalgh_and_Eliopoulos26-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maniots#cite_note-Kassis30-29 The idea of the crusade faded and Nevers died in 1637.
WI the Duke of Mantua was successfull in setting an independent Greek state and placed himself as "Imperator Constantinopolitanus" (he had the legal claim to that...) Any thoughts?
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