Historical Books and Items

[gotsis]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned on the forums before, however, I would like to make some recommendations with regards to come historical books and items, specifically with regards to Byzantine Empire (since that's what I know that most about in this period, people are welcome to recommend similar historical artifacts from other states).

Some known artifacts that I believe should be in the game and should be owned by the Byzantine Emperor are the following in approximate chronological order:

• Corpus Juris Civilis: The legal code commissioned by Emperor Justinian I (r. 527-565 AD) and written by Tribonian, considered the pinnacle of Roman Law, which is the basis of almost all legal systems today. Cool fact, Tribonian's image can be seen in the US senate because of his huge contribution to law. In game, should be held by all sitting Emperors, see below. (recommended quality 5)
• The Strategikon: A military book believed to be written by Emperor Maurice (r. 582-602 AD). It was a compilation of the military techniques and methods used by Roman Armies in its time. In game, should be held by all siting Emperors, see below. (recommended quality 4)
• Basilika: A book commissioned by Emperor Leo VI (r. 886-912) on the codification of laws in the Byzantine Empire. Its main goal, however, was to translate the Corpus Juris Civilis into Greek from Latin. In game it can be held by him or his descendants or in the 1066 start by Constantine X Doukas. (recommended quality 2)
• The Tactica: A treatise on military operations, commissioned by Emperor Leo VI (r. 886-912). In game it can be held by him or his descendants or in the 1066 start by Constantine X Doukas. (recommended quality 2)
• De Ceremoniis (On Ceremonies): A book written by Emperor Constantine VII (r. as senior co-emperor 944-959) about the ceremonies that took place in the Imperial court during his reign. In game it can be held by him or his descendants, or in the 1066 start by Constantine X Doukas. (recommended quality 2)
• De Administrando Imperio (On the Administration of the Empire): Another book written by Emperor Constantine VII (r. as senior co-emperor 944-959) about the history of the empire and how to administer it as well as how to deal with external enemies. In game it can be held by him or his descendants or in the 1066 start by Constantine X Doukas. (recommended quality 3)
• Praecepta Militaria: The next big book on military affairs after the Strategikon written by Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (r. 963-969). In game it can be held by him, descendants of the Macedonian Emperors since Phokas did not have any living children survive him, or in the 1066 start by Constantine X Doukas. (recommended quality 3)
• The Alexiad: The story of Emperor Alexios Komnenos (r. 1081-1118) as emperor. Written by his daughter, Anna Komnenoi. Additionally, a rare first person view into how Byzantine politics operated and on the Crusades. In game this book can be held by Anna and after her death can be appropriately passed on. (recommended quality 4)

Definitely from the above, the most important are the Corpus Juris Civilis, and the Stratigikon, so I believe that these items, as well as the Imperial Diadem, should be able to be claimed from any other individual, as long as they haven't been destroyed, with the claim Constantinople decision. Every Emperor had access to all of these books, however, for balancing purposes an Emperor should not just `claim' all of these artifacts above in the list, but they should be able to claim at least the most famous and most important.

 

[DukeLeto42]

I love the idea of some real books peppered in along with the in-game generated one. A non-Byzantine suggestion:

• Ibn Sina's (or Avicenna, as he was known in the West) The Book of Healing. Written in 1027 near Bukhara, it's one of the most impressive medical texts of the period, and could have an event that spawns the book for the province's owner along with an explanation of what it is, who wrote it, and what it means.

 

[Almaron]

Considering the Alexiad is even the title of one of the start dates, it seems like a missed opportunity for that to be absent from the game...

 

[Talez]

I find that overall the Artifacts system has a lot of lost potential when it comes to historical artifacts, case in point the many, many mods that add them in.

 

[chelvo]

How about "The elements" as well?

 

[GoukaRyuu]

What about the Ab Urbe Condita Libri by Livy. There are 142 volumes total, sure, but the item itself could appear as collection of 5 - 10 volumes at a time. Would certainly grant a lot of prestige (and maybe an achievement) if one could some how recover and possess the whole collection.

 

[gotsis]

I have a few more artifacts I believe should be in the game, again because I know more about Byzantine History during the CK2 time period, many of the artifacts I recommend have a bias in that direction.

• Hodegetria: Literally meaning the "She who shows the way" in Greek. The item is an icon of the Virgin Mary and Christ held in Constantinople. It was supposedly brought to Constantinople from the Holy Land by Eudocia, daughter of Emperor Theodosius II (r. 408-450 AD) and was one of the most well known religious items in Byzantium. At the time it was deemed such a holy item that when Constantinople was besieged by the Sassanids in 626 and the Arabs in 717 the religious authorities would walk across the Theodosian Walls carrying the icon to raise morale and to show the people and the garrison that God was on their side. In game this item should either be held by the Byzantine Emperor or the Patriarch of Constantinople. (recommended quality 5)
• The True Cross: The holiest item in Christendom. Said to be found by Empress Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine I (r. 312-337 AD), while on pilgrimage in Jerusalem. Parts of the the True Cross were taken to Constantinople but the largest portion was later kept in Jerusalem in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In the Byzantine-Sassanian War, the Persian took the True Cross, but Heraclius (r. 610-641 AD) ended up reclaiming it (some scholars though question whether the Sassanids actually gave back the real one because they actually may have lost it). In game the True Cross (recommended quality 5) should be held by the first crusader king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, however, the Byzantine Emperor or the Patriarch of Constantinople should hold an item called 'Large Piece of the True Cross' (recommended quality 4). After the Kingdom of Jerusalem is first formed, all christian characters should be, through societies or different events, be able to find a 'Small Piece of the True Cross' (reccomended quality 3) since many such items (mostly forgeries) existed in reality many of which exist across Europe today.

Note: I know that in the game there is an item called Nail of the True Cross, however, there is no artifact that represents actual pieces of wood from the cross.

As mentioned in my previous post above, if the items above are held by the Byzantine Emperor, any new Emperor should be able to claim them with the 'claim Constantinople' decision.

 

[Almaron]

Ooh, the True Cross could be fun, and even linked to one of the later crusades in game! The Kings of Jerusalem HAD one such relic and lost it to Saladin at the Battle of Hattin, and then in a later crusade (I think the fifth?) the Sultan offered to return it as part of the peace deals, only to find that it had been misplaced at some point and nobody knew where it was anymore...perhaps you'd have a chance to recover it if you captured the area before that date?

 

[DukeLeto42]

Now I'm just thinking about collecting multiple pieces of the True Cross - usually copies of the item are destroyed as fakes (a reasonable one), but pieces of the True Cross are things you might gather multiple of.

 

[Almaron]

Heh, perhaps if you've gathered enough of them over the centuries, you could actually piece the whole thing back together (covered with gold or something to hold it together, like the cross seen in Kingdom of Heaven) and denounce all others as fakes?

 

[Sunshine Moon]

Maybe there could even be an intrigue action to get someone else's "true cross" or piece thereof declared a fake, removing its bonuses...

As for other books, it's notable that during this pre-Renaissance period, the Muslim world was the one most interested in the works of classical antiquity, and copies of works by the likes of Plato and Pythagoras turning up in their courts--especially a Mutazilite--would be appropriate. (Though maybe something of the like could also be procured by a European ruler using 'Delve Into Classics'? Maybe with an additional requirement that indicates they know what to look for)

 

[fall back]

Out of the books I would say that the civil law code is the best to have 10 vassal opinion and -5 revolt risk so Byzantium doesn’t implode as often as it does now
Or there could be a decision to take a book from the archive if you hold Byzantium but you could only have one out at a time as not to have it be op there could be a similar thing for the holder of Baghdad and the house of wisdom

 

[Tryvenyal]

I think historical works like this should be added to the different "Great Works" in some way. Like for example a Haga Sofia Library for flavour mentioning the great books it is rumoured to host. Adding all these high tier items easily imbalance game.