WI: Pagan Byzantine Empire?

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Can be possible, remember byzantium wasnt really an religious empire, as recent research shows it was roe of a politea headed by an emperor who acted as the steward for he people. Even in the 9th century the greek countryside remained heavily pagan and you had complaints form imperial officials that people were still not following christianity. If you can get an early pod say at Milvan bridge rather than a cross Constantine sees the symbol of the sun(sol invict) than fights under that banner and emerges victorious he could possibly found constantinople. Remember Byzantium is veyr well placed strategically and given the plans to split east and west and east being richer I am certain Constantine will still found constantinople. Have christian controversies spring up at this time and like otl the church fails to put up a united front and splinters apart maybe get rid of powerful church reformers? As a result of this splintering entrenchment of sol invctus or hellenic cult worship etc would mean Christianity may not gain so much traction.

But yes having a non christian byzantine empire is very possible provided the idea of the politea remains. It is that Politea and view of the emperor as th steward oft he people ruling from COnstantinople that defined the byzantine state not religion.
 

oberdada

Gone Fishin'
I don't think a Byzantine Empire with a Christian mayority or near-mayority and a Pagan Ruling class would be stable.

The Emperor would face a massive problem of legimacy.
Ancient rulers needed to have an official link to God or the gods or at least something divine...

A God-Emperor with a population that believe that calling him a god is heresy won't work.
A secular ruler neither.
Especially if you have a clergy that is used to beeing the clergy of the official state religion.
 
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