I tweaked the Muslim invasion CB to target only ducal level titles. Since the AI is less eager to push duke-level wars, the Fatimids are relatively defensive in my game.
Most legitimate Byzantine family
- Thread starter Spartanlemur
- Start date
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
You should try one of the mods, with Balansegang or CK2Plus it doesn't happen.
in 90% of my games the BYZ always defeat the Seljuks,and start blobbing....how i d wish the byzantine empire would fall more often
Change them to target empire level titles and then play a hands-off game.
In my Byzantine games I blitz my way onto the Imperial throne (marrying one of the Imperial princesses and then knocking off all her brothers works wonders for this), build up my war chest and levies, and then when the First Crusade is launched nab Alexandria from Egypt. If possible, I then knock off the Caliph and nab Cairo. Losing the heart of their empire generally puts a quick end to any Fatimid super-expansion, and within three Holy Wars you can generally usurp Egypt and crumble the Fatimids altogether.
Wait, the Orsini have credible senatorial origins? I had always thought that it had been puffery on their part. Do we know which families they come from, or how credible these claims are? What other in-game dynasties have origins in the Roman senatorial class?
I wasn't actually 100% sure with the Orsini, they took the name at some point during the first century of the game anyway (and kept it hyphenated with Orsini for much of the game period). The Mancini would eventually become very powerful princes but that's in the 16th century (I forget what gens they claimed to be descended from, but they claimed to be descended from one). It might be puffery, but the Massimo asserted they were descended from dictator Quintus Fabius Maximus (there's afaict no reliable genealogy before the 9th century; they also claim a pope just before the fall of the western empire). There is another major family which changed its name at some point just before the game, but I can't remember to what (it had something to do with providing relief to their city in times of famine).
That said; La Tour d'Auvergne (who should hold Turenne and Auvergne by endgame) were reputedly descended from gallo-roman patricians, otherwise none of the families I could think of right away would have held more than a barony level title. It's also a pity Tusculum isn't on the map, since the Colonnas held the county until the 1180s. I was thinking maybe a few in Gascony but I feel it's more like in Wales, with local tribal aristocrats acquiring a lot of power and eventually either carving their own realms or submitting to various germanic neighbours).
Last edited:
It'll be interesting to see what families get added in the upcoming Republic dlc which have convincing links to the old West Roman nobility.
For a proper Colonna-Orsini rivalry they need to be able to fight.
Likely a handful, but not that many. The most prestigious families in Venice and Genoa at the time had their rise after the fall of Rome as far as I can tell. I have no idea whatsoever for Pisa and the other republics in central italy.
Also the family whose name escaped me was the Di Rienzi, they were also very involved in the commune of Rome in the 12th century.
Last edited:
It would be nice to see Tusculum added as a county with the upcoming patch. It'd give us one more fun scenario to play in Italy.
Last edited:
Aside from Alexios (as he has his own bookmark) who are some interesting historical emperors to play as?
Maybe Romanos Diogenes? He should be available after Doukas death, try to avoid Manzikert. Or try Theodore Laskaris in the 1204 Bookmark guy had work cut out for him, ruling from Niceae when Latins took Constantinopole.
Also if you really dont mind late starts try the Palieogos Empereor in 1337 Scenario and Save the Empire from Doom.
Thanks, I'll take a look at those guys. How do people play as Byzantine vassals, though? Doesn't the Empire have absolute CA? I've never played in the Empire, but I just assume it'd be incredibly difficult and with very little room to maneuver.
Speaking of the Emperors, I would say only Romanos IV is worth a shot besides Alexios I. Konstantinos X (1066-1068) was an utterly disastrous emperor whose decision to virtually abolish professional military and favor mercenaries contributed to the disaster at Manzikert. Michael VII (1071-1077 IIRC) was completely incapable of repairing the damage caused by Manzikert and overall his usurpation of the throne caused far more instability than to let Romanos continue after being released from prison. Nikephoros III was an invisible emperor and achieved little in his time. He was an old man and like his predecessor he could do nothing to stop the Turkish horde who had already rached the Aegean.
Only Alexios could actually achieve something. He stopped the Turks, took back Aegean coast (the Turks would not reach it again until 14th century), initiated the crusades, brought down all revolts launched against him and repelled a gigantic Norman invasion in the West and a Cuman invasion of some 70,000 troops in the North. He also started a dynasty that more or less lasted to the end of the Empire as all future emperors were one way or another related to him.
Don't expect to become emperor in one lifetime though.
Only Alexios could actually achieve something. He stopped the Turks, took back Aegean coast (the Turks would not reach it again until 14th century), initiated the crusades, brought down all revolts launched against him and repelled a gigantic Norman invasion in the West and a Cuman invasion of some 70,000 troops in the North. He also started a dynasty that more or less lasted to the end of the Empire as all future emperors were one way or another related to him.
It's possible, just slower. Also, if you start in 1081 when the Empire is small you have an easier walk to the throne since you have less opposition.
Don't expect to become emperor in one lifetime though.
Last edited:
I wouldnt worry about CA too much, ERE tends to go into massive wars sooner or later and the CA gets dropped, also if you're a vassal you can always start a faction yourself when you feel that the Empreror is weak. Just take your time and plan carefully,, there are many cool families to play within an empire.
OT: How do i put an avatar up on this forum?
Keep trying, is my advise. The difficulty meter really applies in these cases and I've had to develop new strategies to keep pace with events.
Also, there was a prior thread about changing loyalties, and so I'm considering changing sides the next time the Fatimid threaten take-over. (May have to buy SOI just for that privilidge)
Yes and no. In my current game the Empire is at limited crown authority due to a successful vassal revolt.
I'm just finishing a Byzantine game, up to 1447. Started as Doux Konstantinos Argyros of Samos in 1066 and decided to be the power behind the throne, rather than Emperor. Supported the Doukas-lead Empire for a hundred years by leading holy wars against any Muslim or pagan leader (Cuman, Fatimid, Seljuk) that launched jihads or holy wars against the Empire and by leading claim wars against Greeks revolting against the Emperor, forcing them to fight two front wars often leading to white peace with the Empire and a little land for me. Eventually crowned myself King of Taurica.
In 1190, as the Despot of Taurica, founded a faction to press the Queen of Georgia's, Romilya Doukas, claim to become Empress. She happened to be married to an Argyros, with Argyros heirs. Thus started the Argyros line of Emperors that lasts to this day. The Taurican Argyros supported the Emperors against all foes foreign and domestic, except for intrafamily squabbles for the throne. As long as an Argyros ended up on the throne, I didn't care which one.
This has lead to Byzantium being the most powerful Empire in the world, and Taurica its most powerful vassal. Been very fun game, now need to decide on where to start next.
In 1190, as the Despot of Taurica, founded a faction to press the Queen of Georgia's, Romilya Doukas, claim to become Empress. She happened to be married to an Argyros, with Argyros heirs. Thus started the Argyros line of Emperors that lasts to this day. The Taurican Argyros supported the Emperors against all foes foreign and domestic, except for intrafamily squabbles for the throne. As long as an Argyros ended up on the throne, I didn't care which one.
This has lead to Byzantium being the most powerful Empire in the world, and Taurica its most powerful vassal. Been very fun game, now need to decide on where to start next.