guillec87: true, though it is good to have buffer states!
Specialist290: Well the death of my heir was a blow.
Henry v. Keiper: The Danube is very much my natural border in Europe. I'm still looking at other options though!
Chief Ragusa: Actually they
are mostly the army I inherited along with my retinues. I also keep the Varangian Guard on permant retainer (they aren't onscreen there.)
GulMacet: That's far to go, but I'll think about it.
Nikolai: Two Patriarchs - Gabriel and Bardas.
Stuyvesant: The price of slaves dropping is historical truth after a big battle or capture of a city; it happened after the Battle of Hattin.
As for plans, well honestly I'm trying to decide. I'm a little reluctant to take the war to the Caliphate because in a narrative sense I want to see how the Muradids evolve. Of courase if they attack all bets are off!
Idhrendur: Thank you, I try to keep in character. I only blinded and castrated prisoners when the Cruel Emperor Symeon was in power.
The in game year is 968 AD meaning slightly over a century has passed in game. Here is a map of the Roman Empire in 968:
(Compare with the 866 AD map on the first page.)