In the summer of 1018, the power of the Byzantine Empire was reaching a height that it hadn't been on for centuries. The Emperor really needs no introduction, i'm sure you guys all know him. I can disclose that a decision to forsake a celebate lifestyle will be added for the 1018 release, with Basil very much in mind, for the players who would like to say "Screw my brother and his daughters, they can't be trusted with running the Empire"
The Empire had for the first time since the 7th Century expanded all the way to the Danube and subjugated all of the Southern Slavs, albeit the Croats were in a much looser relationship with the Empire.
Italy:
In Italy the highly skilled general Basil Boiannes led a force of fresh reserves and Varangians to victory in the Second Battle of Cannae earlier in 1018, restoring Imperial control completely over the old themes.
The Generals:
Most title holders in 1018 are highly skilled generals who helped Basil finally overcome Bulgarian resistance to the decade-long conflict. The senior commander in the Balkans, who Basil made Strategos Autokrator in 1018 was David Arianites.
Other notable generals in the Balkans include his second-in-command Constantine Diogenes, the father of the later Emperor Romanos Diogenes, and Nikephoros Xiphias who led the Byzantine vanguard in the surprise attack on the Bulgarian forces at Kleidon that led to the most famous victory of the war, which undoubtably had a large impact although it wasn't decisive, as the war didn't end for 4 more years.
In the east the Dalassenoi possess a commanding position as loyal and distinguished servants of Basil, that had been rewarded handsomely for their loyalty and skill. Constantine Dalassenos possesses his fathers old position at Antioch (including Cilicia) and Theophylact has been given Iberia very early in the absence of title holders in the decades between the incorporation of the realm of David of Tao in 1001 and the resumption of hostility against Georgia in 1021/1022.
Other title holders include the widely assumed half-brother of Manuel Komnenos, the father of Isaac Komnenos, at Sebasteia and the eldest son of the last Bulgarian Tsar, Presian Kometopoulos at Boukellarion
The Caucasus:
The Golden age of Armenia under Ashot III, Smbat II and the current King Gagik I is about to come to an end in 1018. Gagik's cousin in Lori has slowly been able to exercise a more and more independent course from Ani and the Arcrunis and the Syunis have long paid lip service to their nominal lord
The centre of power in the Caucasus had already started to drift from Armenia towards Georgia in 1018, with Georgia being a newly unified creation, led by an Ambitious and Militaristic young King, George.
The Empire had for the first time since the 7th Century expanded all the way to the Danube and subjugated all of the Southern Slavs, albeit the Croats were in a much looser relationship with the Empire.
Italy:
In Italy the highly skilled general Basil Boiannes led a force of fresh reserves and Varangians to victory in the Second Battle of Cannae earlier in 1018, restoring Imperial control completely over the old themes.
The Generals:
Most title holders in 1018 are highly skilled generals who helped Basil finally overcome Bulgarian resistance to the decade-long conflict. The senior commander in the Balkans, who Basil made Strategos Autokrator in 1018 was David Arianites.
Other notable generals in the Balkans include his second-in-command Constantine Diogenes, the father of the later Emperor Romanos Diogenes, and Nikephoros Xiphias who led the Byzantine vanguard in the surprise attack on the Bulgarian forces at Kleidon that led to the most famous victory of the war, which undoubtably had a large impact although it wasn't decisive, as the war didn't end for 4 more years.
In the east the Dalassenoi possess a commanding position as loyal and distinguished servants of Basil, that had been rewarded handsomely for their loyalty and skill. Constantine Dalassenos possesses his fathers old position at Antioch (including Cilicia) and Theophylact has been given Iberia very early in the absence of title holders in the decades between the incorporation of the realm of David of Tao in 1001 and the resumption of hostility against Georgia in 1021/1022.
Other title holders include the widely assumed half-brother of Manuel Komnenos, the father of Isaac Komnenos, at Sebasteia and the eldest son of the last Bulgarian Tsar, Presian Kometopoulos at Boukellarion
The Caucasus:
The Golden age of Armenia under Ashot III, Smbat II and the current King Gagik I is about to come to an end in 1018. Gagik's cousin in Lori has slowly been able to exercise a more and more independent course from Ani and the Arcrunis and the Syunis have long paid lip service to their nominal lord
The centre of power in the Caucasus had already started to drift from Armenia towards Georgia in 1018, with Georgia being a newly unified creation, led by an Ambitious and Militaristic young King, George.
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