Okay next update: 1863-1878
After the Gotland revolution relations between Russia and Byzantium continued to sink lower and lower, especially after Byzantium helped Japan expand its empire into Siberia.
During this time, the first Socialist state arose. The Lithuanian Worker's Party won the election by just a thin margin, many expected that the ballots were rigged by Union bosses. Many in Lithuania held their breath expecting the Byzantine army to march into Memel and install a reactionary government. Though the plan was considered down in Konstantinopolis, little was done, few army divisions wanted to mess around in Denmark's backyard.
The army though, did do a bit of marching. After a revolt of Indians off the border of the Dakota nation, the arm's precents in North America was greatly expanded to protect European settlers. Friction built between the alliance of the Creek and the Lenepe, and war soon broke out between the indians and Byzantium. The bows and arrows of the Indians were no match for the breech-loading rifles of the Byzantines, and the nations were soon plowed over and annexed out-right. Revolts would constantly spring up in the new territories, but they were of little use, the revolutionaries were often slaughtered defending what little defensive positions they could find.
Tentions between Denmark and Poland were always high. Denmark had claims on the coal-rich region of Bohemia, and Poland had claims on Pommern and Germany. Byzantium held an alliance with both countries, but the alliance with Denmark was invalid against Orthodox Poland. The Byzantines maintained good relations with the Danish, especially over the problems in Gotland, which would revolt on and off against the Russians. Finally the fuse burned down to the keg, and Europe was at war.
The initial alliance was Denmark vs. Poland, Byzantium, Latvia and Ireland; but when it finished with was Denmark, Russia, Germany and Scotland vs. Poland, Ireland, Latvia, and Byzantium.
Latvia, when the war started, was in a revolution. Communists were trying to install a government "of the people." That was stopped when the BBEF (Byzantine Expeditionary Force) marched through the capital to gain access to Danish Livland. The War in the far east (Russia) was very quick. Polish forces and Byzantine forces quickly defeated, mopped up and removed any threat to their domminace, and Russia quickly signed a peace treaty as the revolts began once again. The was no territorial gains for Byzantium, though Poland did make some.
In Brittannia, Scotish forces quickly retreated as Irish and Byzantine forces pushed them north and east into the very ends of the island. Scotland, like Russia signed a quick treaty giving up two provs to Byzantium and the rest (minus the capital) to Ireland. Byzantium gave its gains to Ireland, whoes claims on Scotland are ancient.
The war in Germany was slow on the Danish-Polish border, but lightning-fast on the Danish-Byzantine border. Byzaintine force occupied all of Franco-Germany (the East Germany of our time) as well as Saxony (CK's saxon region) and Greko-Germany (Holstein) and Jutland. Irish forces landed just east of Oldenburg, helping Byzantine forces drive toward the Danish capital al Malmao. Irish forces, arrogant of their successful landing at Bremen, tried landing on Malmao, but were driven back into the sea.
In the mean time, the Byzantine fleet blockaded the whole the the coast of Denmark, making moving troops from Sweden, Norway and Finland to the fighting in Germany impossible. In the end, Danish forces were forced to surrender because an evacuation to Sweden was impossible. In July of 1878, after five years of fighting, the Treaty of Visby was signed. The small island, had been seceded by Russia to Poland at war's end, rejoining the Polish mother country and her tiny out-post.
The Treaty is summed up such:
As signed in Congress in the city of Visby, the victorious forces of Poland, Ireland, Latvia and Byzantium do state their dues after this most grievous war.
It is said that Russia, for siding with Denmark, will loose those territories specified in the 1875 Treaty of Rostov with Byzantium, Latvia and Poland. They will also beforced to grant Byzantine and Polish soldiers quarter until such time they can be removed.
It is said that Scotland, for siding with Denmark, will loose those territories specified in the 1874 Treaty of Brugge with Byzantium and Ireland. They shall also pay Ireland two-million dollars as compensation of several wars over the last millenium. They shall also be forced into neutrality.
It is said that Germany, for siding with Denmark, will loose these territories:
Eastern Prussia shall be seceded to Poland
The city of Danzig will be seceded to Byzantium
Germany will also have to allow Byzantium full access via land to the city.
It is said that Denmark, for provoking and starting a war with Poland and her allies, shall recognize Polish claims on Pommern. She shall also seced all of Germany south of the Ribe line to Byzantium as compensation for four wars over the last century. They shall also compensate Latvia for the occupation following the indpendence of that nation. It is also said that southern Livand will be seceded to Latvia as part of this compensation. Northern Livland (Estonia) shall be seceded to Byzantium so that a state for those of Estonia ancestry will have a state of their own. This state (hence forth Estonia) will be under the guard and control of Byzantium. Denmark will also have to turn in 75% of the navy to Poland and Byzantium for scrapping, their army is also limited to 100,000 men, in no more than 8 divisions for a time period to be decided by 1899. After 1899 it is to be assumed that Denmark can re-arm in any means it wishes.