Having seen your map, I have to say it's a shame that you don't have Venice. While 1204 didn't happen in this story, Venice was still one of the major cities of the Empire that just sort of...slipped away during the dark days of the 7th and 8th centuries. It never rebelled, it never was taken, Imperial authority just kind of faded until Venice was recognized as independent sometime in the 10th century. Considering how little was left in that part of the world (the Adriatic) after the Arabic and Slavic invasions (pretty much just check out what the major medieval cities in Dalmatia were and they're what's left of Byzantine Illyria), Venice would make a wonderful re-addition to the Empire.
Anyway, wonderful picture-update. Good to see the tradition of terrible late-Roman levy infantry has been kept up
Anyway, wonderful picture-update. Good to see the tradition of terrible late-Roman levy infantry has been kept up