Alexander II "the Great" Pontian
Lived: 1199-1267
Ruler of Kiev: 1217-1267
King of Kievan Pontus: 1217-1267
Roman Emperor: 1217-1267
Alexander II was remarkably powerful Emperor who was crowned in short order after his father had suddenly died in battlefield in 1217. His reign saw the growing power of the Empire and he continued his father's war against Caliph. It was during that time when balance of power in east changed radically after Mongol horde started invasion to Europe and Middle East. Over time Alexander II admired more and more Ancient Rome which was reflected in his urge to get control of Rome and Italian Peninsula.
Alexander II after winning the rebels.
Alexander II became Emperor in the middle of a civil war and only 18 years old Emperor was given the command of armies. Alexander II was able to give crushing blow to rebellion which was finally ended at the end of the year 1217. After a successful victory Alexander II's vassals respect for him II increased which was benefit to stability of Empire.
With Stabilization of Empire, Alexander II was able to concentrate to south where his ally, King of Jerusalem, was attacked by Sunni Caliph. Alexander II joined to help and King of Jerusalem was able to defend his Kingdom, even though impact of Alexander II's help was really only a minimal. After two years of war Sunni Caliph gave up. However Alexander II saw Caliph's defeat as a good time to strike back and launched holy war for Aleppo. Also the fact, that Alexander II was eager to continue his father's legacy and finish his plans to invade the lands of Sunni Caliph, was one of the reasons why Alexander II continued war against Caliph. Caliph's armies had declined after unsuccesful war with Jerusalem and they were unable to beat Alexander II. In 1226 Sunni Caliph surrendered and gave Aleppo to Alexander II.
It was after the conquest of Aleppo when Alexander II decide to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem, holy city which had been under control of Christians almost hundred years heretofore. According to sources of that time, the pilgrimage gave more strenght to Alexander II to continue war against Caliph and in fact soon after piligrimage he launched new holy war against Caliph. Armies of Caliph was again defeated and Syria was conquered.
Same time in east Turkestan, former enemy of Kievan Pontus, was no more. It was conquered by Mongols. Mongols had arrived from the east and had started invasion. Mongol horde was in two parts: Illkhanate, which launched invasion to Middle East, and Golden Horde, which launched invasion to Turkestan and was right next to Empire of Alexander II. After destroying Turkestan, Golden Horde launched conquest against Empire in 1233.
First army of Mongols rode to lands of Empire in September but it was defeated in Battle of Makhmud-Mekteb. Mongol army suffered major defeat but however more armies of Mongols joined to war. Armies of Alexander II to tried to beat them back but it was impossible. Mongols were able to beat Imperial armies and finally when Alexander II was in Battle of Vovnushki all hope of the victory was lost. Mongols raided and besieged down cities of eastern part of the Empire. Alexander II hadn't other choices than beg peace. Even though Alexander II had lost he was able to get off lightly. Empire lost only County of Manych in peace treaty. Mongols retreated and launched attack against pagan Kingdom of Perm. After the war Alexander II gave independence to Dukedom of Nyitra as a tribute to its loyalty during the war. Men of Nyitra had been remarkably loyal troops and many of them had fought to the last man.
Even though peace was back, Alexander II decided to prepare for new war against Mongols. He was sure that Mongols would strike again against Empire. Golden Horde in fact attacked against Empire again in 1243. This time Mongols wanted more to conquer than one county: They wanted eastern parts of Kievan Pontus.
Alexander II called his allies to defend and raised all armies of Empire. He marched with his armies to the eastern border. Alexander II's armies used skirmish tactics against Mongol armies trying to get an edge in combat. Finally in September 1244 skirmish phase ended when Mongol army catched up skirmishing army of Empire and, after great battle, defeated it. Mongols tried push back fleeing soldiers but in Tana they faced another Imperial army. Mongols were forced to cross river and Imperial army used it to their advantage which led to the destroy of Mongol army.
End of the year 1245 was a turning point in the war. Turnup was Battle of Ltava where Alexander II and his allies' armies defeated great Mongol army which had just before destroyed completely one of the Imperial armies. Mongol army was chased away and because Golden Horde faced liberation war of Turkestan Mongols were unable to send more men in war against Alexander II. War still continued two more years but finally Golden Horde made peace with Alexander II in 1247.
After war against Mongols ended, Alexander II was able to concentrate on elsewhere. Even though he continued war against Muslims in Middle East, his next plans were in the west. Alexander II admired Ancient Rome and had ambition to see City of Rome as an part of Empire.
However the outbreak of war seemed distant since in 1246 Pontian Cardinal had been nominated to be Pope and relations between him and Alexander II were good. Alexander II supported Pope and it looked like that old disputes were finally abandoned. For example Alexander II gave aid to Catholic Church in their attempts to convert Mongols to Christianity which finally paid off in 1258 when Golden Horde adopted Catholicism. One reason to conversion can be also the fact that most of the lands which Golden Horde had conguered were already Catholics and to please their subjects with conversion was good idea. Another Mongol Empire, Ilkhanate had converted Nestorianism in months earlier.
However, in 1261 Pontian Pope died and relations between Papacy and Empire worsened again. Alexander II didn't accepted new papal conclave and demanded new Pope to resign. When Pope didn't accepted Alexander II's demands, he declared war against Rome.
The Pope resorted to mercenaries but they weren't enough. Imperial armies started attacking and defeated Pope's army in Amelia. Rome was besieged and Pope fled to the Northern Italy. Alexander II added Rome to the Empire and nominated the new Pope, Pope Adrian III.
Alexander II's aggression against former Pope was not seen as acceptable thing and especially King of Italy was eager to see Rome back in hands of Pope. Relations between Empire and Italy were very poor and border friction increased in the Italian Peninsula. Finally situation escalated to war between Empire and Italy.
Alexander II commanded Imperial armies to start invasion. Alexander II saw the war as way to get more control in the Italian Peninsula, the heart of Ancient Rome. Alexander II's armies started besieging Italy and same time Italian armies tried to drive away invading armies. Italy was in trouble when more and more Imperial troops came from south and Alexander II's ally, King of Hungary, attacked from north. In the autumn of 1264 King of Italy surrendered and border between Italy and Empire was moved further north .
Peace was back and Alexander II returned back to Constantinople where triumph was held. Catholic world were still in small shock about the overthrown of former Pope. Some of the realms accepted the situation but some of them didn't. For example Holy Roman Emperor placed his own antipope in response to the situation. However, majority of Catholic world never recognized these "German Popes" as real Popes.
Alexander II died in 1267 after being Emperor 50 years. Most notable thing before his death, Alexander II decided to be equitable to his sons and give land to both of his sons and because of that Empire was divided among his two sons after his death. Reason why he divided his realm can be also the fact that Alexander II didn't have confidence that his successor would have been able to control whole Empire, which consisted of vast amount of domain, by oneself. Oldest son, Mithridatir VI, was given the rule of Roman Empire and youngest son, Julian II, was given the rule of Kievan Pontus.
Pontian Empire during the death of Alexander II