Caesar Biden
Banned
The Komnenid Restoration and Divison- A Near East TL that gets Byzantine
Now, I know what you might be saying- "another Byzantine Timeline? Really?" But the simple fact of the matter is, I still find Byzantine Timelines fun, even if they are done often. Besides, this TL won't just be focusing on the Greeks- We're also going through all the crusades and jihads for the holy land that are going on. The Romans are only going to be the first of many players in this deadly dance of war.
The PoD is in 1143, when Alexios Komnenos, first son of Emperor John II Komnenos, fails to catch an illness in 1143 A.D and survives to remain John's heir. He will be their in 1144 to stop his father from getting grazed by a poison arrow in Cilicia. And later, John will capture Antioch and bring it fully into the Empire, despite the protests of Raymond.
Now, why did I choose this PoD? As many of you will know, Manuel is chosen for some reason OTL as John's heir after Alexios' death, and his reign is pretty disastrous. He completely halts and then reverses the momentum his predecessors had begun, and bankrupts the empire on a bunch of ridiculous and expensive campaigns that all fail.
We know fairly little about Alexios, on the other hand, except that he was a lot like John. In fact, we don't even know for sure who he was married to, but for this TL, it's Kata of Georgia.
I was inspired by many things to make this TL, but I think the best TL I've read that has inspired me is probably an Age of Miracles: Revival of Rhomanion. Despite that, expect this thread to have elements of everything I've been influenced by, especially A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of the Rings, and of course my own strange imagination.
It's going to be written in third person, in a style that will be a cross between narrative and informative. Basically, I'll dip in and out of narrative when it suits me and we'll see how it goes.
Anyways, here it is: The first part of the first chapter of Komnenid Restoration and Division: The story of a violent world. This is more of a teaser, things will get intense in the next part.
We begin our story in late June 1146, after the death of Emperor John II Komnenos the Beautiful:
Piety and Greatness
"They are kings born of kings and emperors, reformers of old customs and privileges, with whom the august throne and sceptre-bearing are a paternal acquisition, a matter of inheritance."- Theodore Prodromos, on the Emperors John and Alexios.
A mosaic of Alexios Komnenos at his coronation as co-emperor in 1122.
He supposed his father had died the best death he could. 59 was a good age,especially for a warrior like John, and he was beloved by all, even his enemies. Alexios did not worry for his father's soul, for it would surely find its way to heaven-rather, he worried for his father's legacy. The Latins had robbed him of what may have been his greatest conquest in Syria, but Alexios planned to set this right. Antioch was once again under Imperial control, and with God on his side, Anatolia and Syria would soon follow.
This, he had decided, would be his legacy: Alexios the restorer. It was not an impossible goal; His grandfather had begun the work, his father had continued it, and he would finish it. And so when John the Good finally met God, Alexios was not afraid to begin his rule. For John may be gone from this earth, but he would surely still guide Rome from heaven, as he had done from earth all his life.
The funeral was lavish and grandiose, but fitting for an Emperor. Tens of thousands from around the city came to honor their fallen emperor. Many remembered his kindness and generosity in giving charity and how he had ruled with a steady and just hand. Many prayers were offered to the heavens, and all in the city could agree that Rome could have no greater Emperor. When the purple casket was finally lain to rest in the Hagia Sophia, the loss was felt throughout the Empire.
Here, John Komnenos, on the left, is remembered alongside other great Emperors of Rome
Eventually, however, life went on, as did Imperial politics. Alexios did not want a succession problem. He began his reign by giving out much to the poor in charity, but also to the church and the army. This made many who had loved John love Alexios, but more importantly it assured a smooth succession for Alexios. Many "gifts" were handed out to key officials, and after he donated to the church and had a talk with the patriarch Leo, no one seemed willing to oppose his reign.
However, the fact that many could not oppose him did not mean that many did not want to oppose him. Some, such as Isaac Komnenos, John's third son, and John Dalassenos, husband to Alexios' twin Maria, had their own ambitions, however there was very little they could do for the moment. In fact, Dalassenos could not even tell his wife of his ambitions, for she was fiercely loyal to her brother.
But even though everything seemed right in the Queen of Cities, there was trouble elsewhere. King Roger of Sicily could gather his army at any moment in Southern Italy, and he was just waiting for a sign of weakness. Hungary grew restless and was eager to regain the territory in the Balkans the Romans controlled. Cuman tribesmen were a constant threat to Bulgaria and Thrace, although the Romans had learned to combat their like when fighting the Turks. Yet all these problems in the west were viewed only as a distraction by Alexios. Rome would have to take back their land in the east if they were to truly prosper. Yet Alexios had learned patience across many campaigns, so he decided to wait.
He did not have to wait long. ad-Din Zengi, the Imad of Mosul, had begun sieging Edessa, an Imperial vassal. In what seemed ironic to Alexios, the Latins had called on the Romans for help, and he was more than happy to oblige. And this time, Alexios knew, there would be no Raymond of Antioch to stop Rome.
Now, I know what you might be saying- "another Byzantine Timeline? Really?" But the simple fact of the matter is, I still find Byzantine Timelines fun, even if they are done often. Besides, this TL won't just be focusing on the Greeks- We're also going through all the crusades and jihads for the holy land that are going on. The Romans are only going to be the first of many players in this deadly dance of war.
The PoD is in 1143, when Alexios Komnenos, first son of Emperor John II Komnenos, fails to catch an illness in 1143 A.D and survives to remain John's heir. He will be their in 1144 to stop his father from getting grazed by a poison arrow in Cilicia. And later, John will capture Antioch and bring it fully into the Empire, despite the protests of Raymond.
Now, why did I choose this PoD? As many of you will know, Manuel is chosen for some reason OTL as John's heir after Alexios' death, and his reign is pretty disastrous. He completely halts and then reverses the momentum his predecessors had begun, and bankrupts the empire on a bunch of ridiculous and expensive campaigns that all fail.
We know fairly little about Alexios, on the other hand, except that he was a lot like John. In fact, we don't even know for sure who he was married to, but for this TL, it's Kata of Georgia.
I was inspired by many things to make this TL, but I think the best TL I've read that has inspired me is probably an Age of Miracles: Revival of Rhomanion. Despite that, expect this thread to have elements of everything I've been influenced by, especially A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of the Rings, and of course my own strange imagination.
It's going to be written in third person, in a style that will be a cross between narrative and informative. Basically, I'll dip in and out of narrative when it suits me and we'll see how it goes.
Anyways, here it is: The first part of the first chapter of Komnenid Restoration and Division: The story of a violent world. This is more of a teaser, things will get intense in the next part.
We begin our story in late June 1146, after the death of Emperor John II Komnenos the Beautiful:
Piety and Greatness
"They are kings born of kings and emperors, reformers of old customs and privileges, with whom the august throne and sceptre-bearing are a paternal acquisition, a matter of inheritance."- Theodore Prodromos, on the Emperors John and Alexios.
A mosaic of Alexios Komnenos at his coronation as co-emperor in 1122.
He supposed his father had died the best death he could. 59 was a good age,especially for a warrior like John, and he was beloved by all, even his enemies. Alexios did not worry for his father's soul, for it would surely find its way to heaven-rather, he worried for his father's legacy. The Latins had robbed him of what may have been his greatest conquest in Syria, but Alexios planned to set this right. Antioch was once again under Imperial control, and with God on his side, Anatolia and Syria would soon follow.
This, he had decided, would be his legacy: Alexios the restorer. It was not an impossible goal; His grandfather had begun the work, his father had continued it, and he would finish it. And so when John the Good finally met God, Alexios was not afraid to begin his rule. For John may be gone from this earth, but he would surely still guide Rome from heaven, as he had done from earth all his life.
The funeral was lavish and grandiose, but fitting for an Emperor. Tens of thousands from around the city came to honor their fallen emperor. Many remembered his kindness and generosity in giving charity and how he had ruled with a steady and just hand. Many prayers were offered to the heavens, and all in the city could agree that Rome could have no greater Emperor. When the purple casket was finally lain to rest in the Hagia Sophia, the loss was felt throughout the Empire.
Here, John Komnenos, on the left, is remembered alongside other great Emperors of Rome
Eventually, however, life went on, as did Imperial politics. Alexios did not want a succession problem. He began his reign by giving out much to the poor in charity, but also to the church and the army. This made many who had loved John love Alexios, but more importantly it assured a smooth succession for Alexios. Many "gifts" were handed out to key officials, and after he donated to the church and had a talk with the patriarch Leo, no one seemed willing to oppose his reign.
However, the fact that many could not oppose him did not mean that many did not want to oppose him. Some, such as Isaac Komnenos, John's third son, and John Dalassenos, husband to Alexios' twin Maria, had their own ambitions, however there was very little they could do for the moment. In fact, Dalassenos could not even tell his wife of his ambitions, for she was fiercely loyal to her brother.
But even though everything seemed right in the Queen of Cities, there was trouble elsewhere. King Roger of Sicily could gather his army at any moment in Southern Italy, and he was just waiting for a sign of weakness. Hungary grew restless and was eager to regain the territory in the Balkans the Romans controlled. Cuman tribesmen were a constant threat to Bulgaria and Thrace, although the Romans had learned to combat their like when fighting the Turks. Yet all these problems in the west were viewed only as a distraction by Alexios. Rome would have to take back their land in the east if they were to truly prosper. Yet Alexios had learned patience across many campaigns, so he decided to wait.
He did not have to wait long. ad-Din Zengi, the Imad of Mosul, had begun sieging Edessa, an Imperial vassal. In what seemed ironic to Alexios, the Latins had called on the Romans for help, and he was more than happy to oblige. And this time, Alexios knew, there would be no Raymond of Antioch to stop Rome.
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