So say this happens. What if Michael VII after retaking constantinople in 1261 sees the situation in europe as really hopeless to byzantium. So he decides instead to focus on Anatolia by launching settler policies and moving loyal byzantine subjects from the balkans into Anatolia.
Then he redoubles his efforts and focuses on destroying the Turkish tribes in the area and take back land.
Is this possible if so how does it affect future byzantine policy with the west. By abandoning the Balkans for Anatolia can the Byzantines survive longer.
Basically my premise is that Michael sees from reading previous history that the backbone of byzantium had always been Anatolia not the balkans and so with this knowledge he goes in an east polocy wanting first to secure Anatolia and then use Anatolian resources and retake the balkas later on.
Thoughts?
Then he redoubles his efforts and focuses on destroying the Turkish tribes in the area and take back land.
Is this possible if so how does it affect future byzantine policy with the west. By abandoning the Balkans for Anatolia can the Byzantines survive longer.
Basically my premise is that Michael sees from reading previous history that the backbone of byzantium had always been Anatolia not the balkans and so with this knowledge he goes in an east polocy wanting first to secure Anatolia and then use Anatolian resources and retake the balkas later on.
Thoughts?