How did AI Byzantium conquer Rhodes?

[The_Boominator]

Playing as Norway and I happen to look over at Byzantium and notice they conquered Rhodes somehow. It seems like Venice got beaten by the Ottos in a war, but as far as I know, Byz does not have a core on Rhodes so I don't think it would be returned in peace. It seems extremely rare for Byzantium to survive the first Ottoman war (their only ally is Serbia), let alone expand (and conquer one of the most defensible provinces in the game). Any ideas?

 

[DominusNovus]

Greek rebels?

 

[Mirochi]

For some reason, Ottomans didn't want any province from Byzantium, other than Constantinopole. Then proceeded to have a war against Venice-Rhodes alliance, in which the fleet and army of Rhodes got eliminated. Rhodes survived at the end, but losing its allies (through peace deal I guess). Taking advantage of this situation, Byzantium fabricated a claim on Rhodes itself and then declared war. During the truce with Ottomans, Byzantium managed to conquer Rhodes

 

[MrSnert]

It seems likely that they simply got it through seperatists. I saw the same thing in my last run happening to Cyprus.

 

[BadOrc]

Got it from Rebels happend to me in my Byz run

 

[Nostalgium]

Greek rebels defect to Byzantium if it still exists, and create cores for Greece if it doesn't, so that's your likely culprit. Since Knights start with wrong religion, it doesn't take much for them to trigger an angry mob.

 

[YellowPress]

Knights always used to keep the fort, they no longer do now, so they get rid of it, meaning 6k greek rebels can occupy the province