Rome Reborn - A Byzantine AAR
Introduction
Constantinople. The jewel of Europe. The mightiest city to stand in all the known world. It's proud bastions and mighty walls make any attack on the city impossible. The Fatimids look on in envy, even whilst they occupy our cities and land. This will only be temporary. The barbarian empires still stand in the west, under the nominal head of the heretic in Rome. Slavic princes rule further north, and the warring Rus stand divided. Meanwhile, disparate pagan tribes war with each other in the north. The Mahometan heretics still hold sway in Spain and much of the world. Yet for over a thousand years, the Empire has continued on. When Romulus founded the city of Rome, he probably didn't think too much about the consequences of his actions. But thanks to him, the emperor in Constantinople rules over an extensive empire. Rome stands beset on many sides, yet it wields considerable power still.
But, it is a failing star. The Empire's facade of strength is slowly breaking. Italy is lost, and Rome's enemies gather for the kill. Pechenegs from the north eagerly eye Constantinople, and wait for the day that they could sack it. The Turks wait, ready to exploit any weakness whatsoever. The Pope has began to preach for all Christendom to re-take Jerusalem and the holy land; how will his soldiers pass through the empire without causing damage? If the Empire fails what will prevent the Moslems from destroying Europe?
Hope still remains, but it is very dim. The ageing emperor is incapable of curbing in the wide corruption of his vassals. The days of Justinian, Heraclius and even Basil seem distant. No longer is the Empire the sole master of Europe. No longer can the empire afford to flex it's muscles with impunity and crush rebellion. If anything, the empire seems on the slow spiral downwards. But can anything be salvaged from this situation? Perhaps, but it will take someone with personality. A person who can inspire the empire and give it a new lease of life. Yes, it will take an extraordinary man to take the restore the empire into the fighting force that it was even at the turn of the century.
What if they succeed? What if the empire manages to struggle on? What if it rises out of the ashes; renewed and ready to spring back into action? Can the empire restore the borders of Justinian? Of Augustus? Or even Trajan? Or would it stop there? Could the empire establish it's dominion over the entire world, bringing civilisation to the unwashed mashes of Asia and the steppes? The Empire is at a crossroads; if it fails now, it will fail forever and the historians will look upon the empire with contempt and disgust. But if it manages to continue on, the change will herald a new age of conquest, reform and power.
The possibilites are endless...
Introduction
Constantinople. The jewel of Europe. The mightiest city to stand in all the known world. It's proud bastions and mighty walls make any attack on the city impossible. The Fatimids look on in envy, even whilst they occupy our cities and land. This will only be temporary. The barbarian empires still stand in the west, under the nominal head of the heretic in Rome. Slavic princes rule further north, and the warring Rus stand divided. Meanwhile, disparate pagan tribes war with each other in the north. The Mahometan heretics still hold sway in Spain and much of the world. Yet for over a thousand years, the Empire has continued on. When Romulus founded the city of Rome, he probably didn't think too much about the consequences of his actions. But thanks to him, the emperor in Constantinople rules over an extensive empire. Rome stands beset on many sides, yet it wields considerable power still.
But, it is a failing star. The Empire's facade of strength is slowly breaking. Italy is lost, and Rome's enemies gather for the kill. Pechenegs from the north eagerly eye Constantinople, and wait for the day that they could sack it. The Turks wait, ready to exploit any weakness whatsoever. The Pope has began to preach for all Christendom to re-take Jerusalem and the holy land; how will his soldiers pass through the empire without causing damage? If the Empire fails what will prevent the Moslems from destroying Europe?
Hope still remains, but it is very dim. The ageing emperor is incapable of curbing in the wide corruption of his vassals. The days of Justinian, Heraclius and even Basil seem distant. No longer is the Empire the sole master of Europe. No longer can the empire afford to flex it's muscles with impunity and crush rebellion. If anything, the empire seems on the slow spiral downwards. But can anything be salvaged from this situation? Perhaps, but it will take someone with personality. A person who can inspire the empire and give it a new lease of life. Yes, it will take an extraordinary man to take the restore the empire into the fighting force that it was even at the turn of the century.
What if they succeed? What if the empire manages to struggle on? What if it rises out of the ashes; renewed and ready to spring back into action? Can the empire restore the borders of Justinian? Of Augustus? Or even Trajan? Or would it stop there? Could the empire establish it's dominion over the entire world, bringing civilisation to the unwashed mashes of Asia and the steppes? The Empire is at a crossroads; if it fails now, it will fail forever and the historians will look upon the empire with contempt and disgust. But if it manages to continue on, the change will herald a new age of conquest, reform and power.
The possibilites are endless...
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