WI No Alexius I Comnenus in 1081?

In 1078 OTL Emperor Michael VII was forced to abdicate and was tonsured as a monk... General Nicephorus Botaneiates proclaimed new Emperor as Nicephorus III and sought to solidify his position as Emperor by marrying former Empress Maria of Alania.
However after marriage Maria told Nicephorus that he should elevate her son (and Michael's VII) Constantine as co-Emperor.
Nicephorus III refused to do so as he intended to name one of his kinsmen as his heir, prompting Maria to conspire with General Alexius Comnenus to overthrow him.

WI Nicephorus III had accepted Maria's proposal and after his death Maria's son became Emperor Constantine XI?
What is the impact of Alexius I and the Comneni elimination in History?
 
Well, I don't know what TTL's Constantine XI would be like, but no Comneni emperors could be very bad.

Alexius and John took the state a long way towards recovering from Manzikert, and even Manuel wasn't all bad.
 
Well if Nicephorus III dies as per OTL in 1081 and Constantine ascends the throne he would need a regent as he would be about 7-10 years old...
My guess is that his father former Emperor Michael VII who by now has been consecrated as Metropolitan Bishop of Ephesus would be a suitable choice...
 
Well if Nicephorus III dies as per OTL in 1081 and Constantine ascends the throne he would need a regent as he would be about 7-10 years old...
My guess is that his father former Emperor Michael VII who by now has been consecrated as Metropolitan Bishop of Ephesus would be a suitable choice...

Possibly.

You'd presumably want someone who won't be tempted to take the throne in their own right. How about Nicephorus Palaelogus if not Michael?
 
Possibly.

You'd presumably want someone who won't be tempted to take the throne in their own right. How about Nicephorus Palaelogus if not Michael?

Michael could be promoted to the Patriarchal throne and assume the regency (the same manner that the first Romanovs did in Russia)... The Palaeologi could be a good choice if Empress Dowager Maria doesnt marry one of them or adopt them.
However if she associates herself with a powerful family she would be forced to do so (unless Michael VII implicates himself somehow and tries to prevent that)
 
Michael could be promoted to the Patriarchal throne and assume the regency (the same manner that the first Romanovs did in Russia)... The Palaeologi could be a good choice if Empress Dowager Maria doesnt marry one of them or adopt them.
However if she associates herself with a powerful family she would be forced to do so (unless Michael VII implicates himself somehow and tries to prevent that)

There is that. I think Nicephorus might have been married already, not sure on his son (George).

But Michael as regent for his son might be the best bet. I don't know much on him though.
 
There is that. I think Nicephorus might have been married already, not sure on his son (George).

But Michael as regent for his son might be the best bet. I don't know much on him though.

I tend to believe that Michael is the best option since by the time he dies (in OTL he died in 1090) his son would be an adult capable of ruling by himself... And people wouldnt object to Michael's rule as long as he left financial policy to others (in OTL was one of the reasons for his downfall). Plus Constantine was betrothed to Olympias of Apulia daughter of Robert Guiscard and a marriage between these two would have provided the Empire with a useful ally in the West... (In OTL th betrothal was called off after Alexius I became Emperor)
 
I tend to believe that Michael is the best option since by the time he dies (in OTL he died in 1090) his son would be an adult capable of ruling by himself... And people wouldnt object to Michael's rule as long as he left financial policy to others (in OTL was one of the reasons for his downfall). Plus Constantine was betrothed to Olympias of Apulia daughter of Robert Guiscard and a marriage between these two would have provided the Empire with a useful ally in the West... (In OTL th betrothal was called off after Alexius I became Emperor)

Possibly. On the other hand, Robert might try to use that for his own advantage and cause almost as much harm as OTL.
 
Possibly. On the other hand, Robert might try to use that for his own advantage and cause almost as much harm as OTL.

Why cause troubles when his daughter is an Empress? If Constantine XI is met with an early death or he is deposed or something then i guess Robert would certainly invade... But not if all are well in ERE... Plus if the young Emperor has troubles with Turks he could count in some norman help...
 
Why cause troubles when his daughter is an Empress? If Constantine XI is met with an early death or he is deposed or something then i guess Robert would certainly invade... But not if all are well in ERE... Plus if the young Emperor has troubles with Turks he could count in some norman help...

Robert was ambitious. He's going to want his son in law to help him with that.

And if he doesn't, I wouldn't put it past him to find some excuse to take it himself.
 
Robert was ambitious. He's going to want his son in law to help him with that.

And if he doesn't, I wouldn't put it past him to find some excuse to take it himself.

Well in OTL Guiscard died in 17/7/1085 when Constantine XI would be around 11-14 yo so he wouldnt have much time to invade if marriage had already taken place or was eminent... And if strife ensues between Bohemund and Roger that would keep Normans quiet for a certain amount of time...
 
Well in OTL Guiscard died in 17/7/1085 when Constantine XI would be around 11-14 yo so he wouldnt have much time to invade... And if strife ensues between Bohemund and Roger that would keep Normans quiet for a certain amount of time...

This is true.

Still, relying on the Normans...might not be a good idea.

This merits a timeline. :D
 
Maybe we can get Magnum to do it if he isn't working on his 1204 timeline.

Yeap that sounds like a good idea...


Hey, that's not fair !!! Putting pressure like that on people :p

I have so little time available with this new job on weekdays that it's really hard to do my original timeline, let alone 1 or 2 others, and weekends I usually spend as mini-vacations.

However, if you really want it...

Although I fear it would be a rather boring Comnenian-wank, only with the ruling family named otherwise.

For instance a crushing byzantine victory at Dyrrhachium would probably usher a "Botaneiatean"-Restoration a little bit more successful than the Komnenian one, only to endure the same fate, or not...

who knows...


Long story short, I hope to have a new update on my 1204 TL up in a couple of hours, or worst case, around the same time tomorrow.
 
Hey, that's not fair !!! Putting pressure like that on people :p

I have so little time available with this new job on weekdays that it's really hard to do my original timeline, let alone 1 or 2 others, and weekends I usually spend as mini-vacations.

However, if you really want it...

Although I fear it would be a rather boring Comnenian-wank, only with the ruling family named otherwise.

For instance a crushing byzantine victory at Dyrrhachium would probably usher a "Botaneiatean"-Restoration a little bit more successful than the Komnenian one, only to endure the same fate, or not...

who knows...


Long story short, I hope to have a new update on my 1204 TL up in a couple of hours, or worst case, around the same time tomorrow.

I ll try and do it Magnum... I have some spare time so i might spending in writing both TLs... But feel free to try too...;)
 
I ll try and do it Magnum... I have some spare time so i might spending in writing both TLs... But feel free to try too...;)

Maybe we can get ByzantineCaesar or one of BG's co-writers.

I'd volunteer if it wasn't for the fact I have enough of a block in the way of writing my timeline, and I know more about the 12th century than the 11th. :D

I just think this idea needs to be used, and there are only so many people we know can write and who know the Byzantines.
 
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