Bagricula – Well, there could be more than pique—Makrinokomnenos is from a rival branch of the family, one that has (if one follows Salic tradition) a more direct claim to the throne (all the way back to Manuel, the second son of the
Megaloprepis, as opposed to Andie’s claim, which goes back through a daughter then into David’s line). Andronikos probably would assume that first, if Alexios inherits, Makrinokomnenos would move up into some ‘von Franken’ position, and that two, he’d use that newfound wealth and power to either turn Alexios into a figurehead, or outright usurp the throne. Andronikos might not Alexios also because he might assume that if the boy has joined Makrinokomnenos after some sweet talk now, what would keep him from being swayed about by other ministers in the future (Andronikos, of course, would
never think that he could be hoodwinked or lured by his own ministers, of course
).
There’s also the problem that Andronikos wants a co-Emperor for Nikephoros who won’t simply tonsure him and oust him altogether (Regardless of whether it’d be better or worse for the empire). Alexios is probably not such a prince.
vadermath – Well, there’s the problem actually. They renounced the name Komnenos, but after Andronikos is gone, what would keep a
Megoskyriomachos Makrinokomnenos from simply counter-renouncing, or claiming some technicality that made the agreement null and void? Other than an Alexios willing to sack his father-in-law from the position or worse…
AlexanderPrimus – Yes, Alexios has already married Makrinokomnenos’ daughter—it was part of Andronikos’ sweetener to get the Exarch to win and win now.
Leviathan07 – I’d stopped playing “to win” a long while back—about Basil’s time if not before. The Empire was literally
so huge that if I’d pushed for it, a world conquest was unavoidable. Instead of outright conquering places, I did what I thought the Byzantines would do—I set up client kingdoms in Arabia, and Persia, and for a while Exarchates (in CK terms, also kingdoms) in Spain and North Africa. Then I had a fun time reconquering some of them.
Oh, there’s also the choices of Theodoros (who we know very little about), or any of the people underage (Leo, Konstantinos, Andronikos, and Heraklios). The latter three aren’t likely going to assuage anyone’s fears from having a leper as an emperor though…
Avalanchemike – Good to see you sir! Clean off your keyboard.
If Syrenios is in cahoots with the Exarch, it would be an empire plot brewing right under Andronikos’ nose. Two
Megoskyriomachoi, one in the East, one in the West, each with an Emperor under their thumb? Who knows, could be.
viosin13 – I will admit, repetition of words is one thing I do occasionally, and it does come from the speed with which I finish the updates. I’m trying to work on it.
Manuel, by general opinion I’ve heard from the readers (correct me if I’m wrong) is viewed as the best of the emperors so far for the reasons to you described—he kept the nobility in line, he ensured a smooth succession—even if he was partially a sociopath while doing so. I know he was probably my favorite emperor to write!
JackTheRipper21 – Welcome to the story! Now
there’s an interesting preference! Story-wise, Thomas is the perfect tragedy—if he’d had a little more fatherly attention, if he’d listened to his friend, if his first wife had still be around… the ifs are boundless. You’re one of the few that’s expressed a liking for that part of the story (I think amongst the rest of the readership he’s rather universally loathed). I almost wonder if Thomas in a different universe would have made a better hard-charging cavalry trooper than an Emperor—he wasn’t good at command, but he was awesome in hand to hand combat. Chances are he and the Empire both would’ve been far happier…
Laur – Perhaps, though it might be five depending on which of them throw their hats in the ring, and which bide their time for a moment of weakness…
TC Pilot – You just want to see the Komnenoi empire fail, in the hopes the Bataczes’ empire rise in its place.
ray243 – I’m planning on doing a general world update right after Andronikos’ death, as well as probably a series of interims on the parts of the empire, so North Africa will get some spotlight then.
armoristan – I’ve pillaged
Assassin’s Creed multiple times for pictures! I think the first one was way way back when Hajnal assassinated Demetrios’ mother early in the tale…
Morrell8 – The Mask. I like it!
Consider your nickname for Nikephoros assimilated!
vanin – Gottfried definitely has pockets deep enough and connections wide enough to raise a huge army on short notice, and he’s got imperial blood (for a different throne) to boot. Which way
he will turn, and what
he will do could have as much or larger an effect on the future as the dynastic struggle…
Kirsch27 – While it’s true that the city is not the empire, it
is the symbolic jewel, the living, beating heart. Thomas II was ousted from Konstantinopolis and regained the throne, but it took a long, bloody struggle. If four people with equal claims demand they have the throne, they are
all going to be scrambling for the advantage of doing so from The City. And for every Emperor that has held the city despite The Mob, there’s an emperor who fell because the angry populace got their hands on him…
As for Demetrios, militarily he did his finest work early on (pre-Seljuk war), and late in his reign (post-Nikolaios as co-Emperor). The Seljuk War was a victory (the Seljuks were fought to a standstill), but it was still a disappointment. The Cuman War was disastrous—Demetrios himself was captured in battle. We know stat-wise this Demetrios doesn’t hold a candle to his namesake (even in the martial stat—16 to 10), and his other stats are less than heavenly. As the
first Demetrios showed, some fine backup can help on that front… but would this Demetrios
choose fine backup is the question…
Nikolai – There was a future teaser though, that said the Persians were in Konstantinopolis at one point. Could it be Alexandros? Or was it someone else?
Vesimir – He’s in the city, but with only a small fraction of his men. Taking the empire from the inside like that would take significant planning and plotting. Unless Alexandros was absolutely sure ahead of time of how the populace was going to receive him, as well as plotted and planned with the heads of the
tagmata stationed in and around the city, he probably wouldn’t risk making a coup attempt with only the portion of the his men in the parade. However, as we clearly saw, the crowd’s reaction has emboldened him. Barring something fantastic, if he reaches the city in war, chances are it’d throw its gates open and receive him as a hero…
Qorten – The purple chances people sometimes, but if Demetrios goes back to acting the way he was, it’s likely he’ll either become a pawn of some nobles (they offer their daughters to him in return for outrageous favors), or the enemy of others (who are angry their daughters got deflowered). Neither is a good position for the emperor or the empire to be in, and chances are both would happen should his old habits arise.
wolfcity – Sad face to the crashed computer.
Well, you’re caught up, which as many of the readers will tell you, actually means you have to wait for your next update! Well, either a series of bad emperors (I’ve already alluded to one
REALLY bad emperor, but the others could be decent) or a seriously declining empire that is past the ability of reform or renewal…
Panjer – Constantinople the city, or Constantinople as in the throne? If the swords come out, both could be in peril.
Enewald – I don’t care who gets what. I want the icing!
Incidentally, this week for a friend’s birthday party I’m going to make a rainbow colored cake. If it turns out epic (or if it flops), I’ll post some pictures.
cezar87 – No, we really don’t, other than he’s been eager to please his entire service in the
Oikoi. That could mean he’s a poodle politically, or he could simply be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Part of Andronikos’ trust of him is his undoubted missing Ioannis—Angelos has been his best friend and right hand man since they were children. Andronikos having to stay in the city and run the empire while Angelos is laid up sick in Ikonion is likely the longest the two have been apart since they were children. A visit would be in order…
asd21593 – Four factions for co-Emperor. There can only be one!
Zzzzz… – Cecilia had three kids—Demetrios (the eldest of them all), Nikephoros (the leper), and a daughter who died in childhood.
RGB – I also love the delicious irony that the clergy will be demanding another Andronikos without knowing they’re demanding another skeptic… :rofl: Whomever takes the throne is going to face some giant shoes to fill—Andronikos’ public image is stainless, his accomplishments huge. Nikephoros certainly won’t get a chance to fill those shoes—could his co-Emperor?