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Tzachas Bey fascinates me. A Turkish raider turned prisoner turned educated warlord that took over Smyrna and the surrounding area. He became a naval power, allied with some other rebels and de facto took control of coastal Anatolia and was pushing into Gallipoli at the height of his power after assuming a significant navy through Christian craftsmen in Smyrna, capturing much of the Aegean islands, and forging alliance with the Pechenegs (who were simultaneously running through Thrace). Its possible he was also in alliance with other Byzantine rebels at this point. Lets assume this is true.

Alexios I was not in a good position at this point. At the same time, Tzachas styled himself increasingly as Emperor, wearing purple, taking a scepter, speaking Greek, etc. Unfortunately he did not convert to Christianity, lost to Alexios' general John Doukas and was a year later murdered by his son in law the current Seljuq sultan.

But lets say Tzachas maintains his momentum, defeats John and lands in Gallipoli while Thrace is secured by the Pechenegs. Lets say he enters Constantinople, publicly converts, and seizes the throne. Alexios fails to maintain his alliance with the Cumans and Tzachas and his allies finish him off in a reverse Levounion.

What happens next? Most of the Balkans was pacified at this time by Alexios and pretty pacified under his rule as far as I know, and alliance of the Pechenegs and control of remnant forces (if they submit) would give him control over the remainder of the empire's balkan territories. As of this moment, the Empire would have regained control of Smyrna, the Aegean islands, and the coastal west of Anatolia. And as of this moment Tzachas still maintains his alliance with the Seljuqs of Rum, but well, thats probably not going to last.
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