I've heard it was more due to the gavelkind succession splitting up inheritance among multiple sons that made cousin marriages common in order to unite the family hereditary lands without warfare.
Keep in mind it makes complete and total logical sense when applied on a small scale, as it was originally intended in small tribal groups in Germany. We use it today on a small scale in most modern societies. The problems came when the clans came to own all of the land of the clan in common (the precursor to modern eminent domain) and grew far too large while placing too much authority under the chieftains. This effectively made it so that all land in a clan's given territory was 'owned' by one man who, in applying ancient succession practice, split up what was legally considered 'his' property among his heirs. This should sound reasonable to most modern people as dividing inheritance is common practice today, though women are given shares as well. The issue is that what could and did work on a small scale to allow family units to have enough farmland to survive independently was and is not even remotely applicable to the management of a country. It was done anyways because that is the power 'tradition' can have when an entire ruling class has the same general idea about what should happen. Going against it, despite obvious benefits if looked at objectively, can be borderline impossible.
Dynastically its ridiculous I mean, though I see your point about it being natural for a small unit.
It will be very unfortunate if Arles has to sit helplessly whilst the Triunes overrun the HRE. With the Triunes almost fully comitted on their Eastern front surely they'll represent some threat by themselves?
The HRE’s army has bled out so Henry is probably using overkill once Lotharinga falls. Arles should strike now.
My guess is that the title didn't get devalued like it did OTL, where the best example of "Emperor" around was the increasingly toothless elected leader of the HRE. Here the European monarchs instead got to watch the shiny example of the Emperor in Constantinople, whose station commanded the most prestigious state around and practiced primogeniture autocracy while everyone else had to make do piddling around with feudalism. So when the Empire looked like it was losing its touch (Time of Troubles + Female Triumvirate), everyone claimed the title to make themselves out as the new big boy.
Don't forget you have the Emperors of China, Japan, Mexico, and the Shahanshah of Persia. Personally I am expecting the Vijayanagar take the title as well to gain respect. It also represents a ruler that stands over several "kingdoms".
To be fair, China, Japan and Persia all have at least as much Imperial pedigree as the Romans. They make sense in context. It would be nice to see all these other wannabes taken down a peg or two.
You're right but I specifically outlined European (or would it be more accurate to say "Greater West").
Well in the Megas Rigas case it was a title granted by Rhomania, essentially means high king, as a favor to Russia. The same seems to be the case with Ethiopia who I think has actually vassal kings so the title is pretty descriptive of the current set up.
The Accord would feel dominated by Spain however as an empire is much grander than a kingdom.
Well with Aragon essentially a Spanish vassal the Accord is pretty much Spain and Arles and it is no question as to which one is the stronger nation.
Not necessarily want the Romans there, but more open to the argument that "it's not so bad, and looking around, it could be worse". Arles are about to find themselves trapped between two expansionist superpowers, one of whom has already tried to conquer them in the past (the Triunes), and might look askance at a Spain which is gobbling up what used to be its buffer state with Arles.
