WI : Constantine, Byzantine Emperor of Corsica.

So, peculiar as it sounds, I'm curious as to whether this could be possible.

PoD - Constantine XI, rather than dying/disappearing in 1453 after the siege of Constantinople, instead accepts an earlier offer of surrender, with an addendum that the Roman people are allowed to follow him wherever he goes, with the Ottomans Support and Blessings.

PoD2 - Genoa, after 1453, and the later seizure of Pera, grants him sanctuary, on the pressings of Giovanni Guistiani - Constantine is granted sanctuary on the isle of Corsica - and later rule on the arrival of significant numbers of immigrants from the Roman Empire in the East.

What is the potential future of this (effectively) reborn Roman 'Empire' given sanctuary on the edge of Italy? What could be done with this premise?
 
My question is that why would Constantine XI go to Corsica as opposed to Montferrat where members of his family (Palaiologos) rule? Imagine a superpowered neo-Roman Montferrat that is bolstered by the arrival of thousands of skilled and learned Byzantine refugees?
 
My question is that why would Constantine XI go to Corsica as opposed to Montferrat where members of his family (Palaiologos) rule? Imagine a superpowered neo-Roman Montferrat that is bolstered by the arrival of thousands of skilled and learned Byzantine refugees?

Whilst awesome, there is one significant, if not two, major problems there.

1) Montferrat is in the HRE - I think Austria may have something to say about another Roman Empire tottering about.
2) The Palaiologoi in Montferrat may not be willing to let the senior branch just waltz in.

Although, I'd read that timeline faster than it took to write this sentence.
 
While I like this idea and these kinds of ideas in general - would Genoa really be so eager to hand out a chunk of its territory?
 
Whilst awesome, there is one significant, if not two, major problems there.

1) Montferrat is in the HRE - I think Austria may have something to say about another Roman Empire tottering about.

They wouldn't like it but Montferrat was a relatively insignificant state within the HRE. The Austrians have as much to worry about Montferrat as it did with the Bavarians. If anything, the Hapsburg may want to prop up the Montferrat-based Palaiologoi to help keep an eye on French ambitions in northern Italy.

2) The Palaiologoi in Montferrat may not be willing to let the senior branch just waltz in.

Although, I'd read that timeline faster than it took to write this sentence.

True but that's what marriage is for. Unite the two branches into one family.
 
They wouldn't like it but Montferrat was a relatively insignificant state within the HRE. The Austrians have as much to worry about Montferrat as it did with the Bavarians. If anything, the Hapsburg may want to prop up the Montferrat-based Palaiologoi to help keep an eye on French ambitions in northern Italy.

True but that's what marriage is for. Unite the two branches into one family.

I wonder, it'd be interesting to see an alliance between the Palaiologoi and Hapsburgs that led to a form of recognition of each other as mutual Emperors (eventually), with the Palaiologoi uniting N.Italy, and later forming a major ally of the Hapsburgs against the Ottomans because "We. Want. To. Go. Home."
 
I wonder, it'd be interesting to see an alliance between the Palaiologoi and Hapsburgs that led to a form of recognition of each other as mutual Emperors (eventually), with the Palaiologoi uniting N.Italy, and later forming a major ally of the Hapsburgs against the Ottomans because "We. Want. To. Go. Home."
That would be a very interesting alliance but would the Roman Catholic Church (and mainly the Pope) likely think about it?
 
I wonder, it'd be interesting to see an alliance between the Palaiologoi and Hapsburgs that led to a form of recognition of each other as mutual Emperors (eventually), with the Palaiologoi uniting N.Italy, and later forming a major ally of the Hapsburgs against the Ottomans because "We. Want. To. Go. Home."

Me thinks the stipulation of such an alliance would be that the Palaiologoi would have to give up the claim of Roman Emperor to the Hapsburgs and convert to Catholicism in exchange for protection and land; another idea would be that the exiled Constantine XI (provided he lives to have children) marry off a daughter to the Archduke of Austria. In exchange, maybe they can elevate the Margraviate into a Duchy and then later on an Archduchy?

I have no doubts that they would be a useful ally against the Ottomans and France but they'd be so Italianized that their long term goals would be to secure as much of Italy under their rule (wouldn't it be ironic for a Greek imperial family to end up ruling over Lombardy and then possibly recreate the Roman Empire in Italy)
 
Me thinks the stipulation of such an alliance would be that the Palaiologoi would have to give up the claim of Roman Emperor to the Hapsburgs and convert to Catholicism in exchange for protection and land; another idea would be that the exiled Constantine XI (provided he lives to have children) marry off a daughter to the Archduke of Austria. In exchange, maybe they can elevate the Margraviate into a Duchy and then later on an Archduchy?

I have no doubts that they would be a useful ally against the Ottomans and France but they'd be so Italianized that their long term goals would be to secure as much of Italy under their rule (wouldn't it be ironic for a Greek imperial family to end up ruling over Lombardy and then possibly recreate the Roman Empire in Italy)

To be fair, I'm not sure the HRE recognised the Roman title anyway. Plus, at least Constantine had converted (I think at least, it was done for the sake of the reinforcements he was meant to get).

It'd be fascinating to see a Greek community be the glue that unites Italy.
 
If Constantine accepts Mehmed's offer, he will be going to his former powerbase of Morea, which is still controlled by his brothers. Not to Corsica.
 
If Constantine accepts Mehmed's offer, he will be going to his former powerbase of Morea, which is still controlled by his brothers. Not to Corsica.

Quite right, but lets work with the assumption that Mehmed won't allow that, or that Constantine expects to be killed and flees after a while anyway. If only because it makes it interesting.
 
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