The Third Odyssey - An Elysian Tale [Redux]

[Crimson Lionheart]

The Third Odyssey - An Elysian Tale [Redux]

​

The Emperor of Rome looks upon his realm, and despairs.

The decline of the imperial dream that was once Rome had taken centuries to cause what had once been the centerpiece of civilization to be brought to its very knees. Centuries of bitter conflict between the ambitious and the malevolent would reduce the vestigial empire of the Romans to nothing more than a city on the brink of collapse and a few isolated exclaves surrounded by a sea of conquerors and opportunists. Any hope of salvation that had been promised to restore even the sparks of hope had been dashed and smothered under the oppressive darkness that surrounded Constantinople, and the time was rapidly approaching when the destruction of a legacy of thousands of years of glory would finally come to a complete end.

Ioannes VIII had dedicated his life to finding a chance to save the realm of his ancestors, only to suffer under the vein of intriguing nobles and religious strife. He had almost surrendered the faith of his people just to find even a chance to save the Roman dream. A lesser man would have quailed at the truth that any would be presented with, that the writing was on the wall, and that his time was coming to an end. But he and his brother were not lesser men, and through a stroke of madness or genius, an ambitious plan would be created. A new Odyssey was to begin, just as Anewas fled Troy three thousand years ago.

This is the story of the Elysians. And the birth of an Empire that would exceed their forefathers...

Aims of the Game:

• Become the undisputed global hegemon by the end of the AAR.
• Preserve the Byzantine Greeks in the New World and lead them into their rebirth
• Dominate the New World (Directly or Indirectly)
• Reclaim the Homeland and go beyond
• Have the world's most powerful navy or army. Or both.
• Surpass the Romans in their legacy

Table of Contents (WIP)

Part 1: The Masters of the Odyssey
Prologue: The City of the Worlds Desire (330 - 1444)
Chapter 1: The Last Dawn of Constantinople (1444-1445)
Chapter 2: The Winds of Change (1445)
Chapter 3: The Third Rome (1445-1447)
Chapter 4: The Apostate (1447-1449)
Chapter 5: A Native Accord (1449-1452)
Chapter 6: Breaking Point (1452-1456)
Chapter 7: The Plethonist Revolt (1456-1462)
Chapter 8: The Savior (1462-1469)
Chapter 9: Proof of Piety (1469-1475)
Chapter 10: The New Spartans (1475-1480)
Chapter 11: The Council of Odessos (1480-1485)
Chapter 12: The End of an Era (1487-1492)​

House Rules:
1: As a story-focused AAR writer, Ironman will not be used
2: Sometimes I will alter the map to clean up borders, give myself a challenge, make things ‘natural’
3: For the sake of storytelling and the natural development of the ‘world’, I will be playing tall.
4: Bigger Boats will only be used for narrative purposes, all cheat functions have been disabled

(Goodness, it's been forever since I have done an AAR. I might be a little bit rusty, but I hope to create a good story once more with my favorite mod. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my ideas. I hope that I dont disappoint.

Spoiler: Mods Used

TBARW Extra: White Font
Illusionary Flat Political Mapmode v.17
Third Odyssey: Back to the Motherland
Third Odyssey: Extra Sub-Mod
Third Odyssey: Purple Elysia
Large City and Largest City
Third Odyssey: Bigger Boats (for narrative purposes only)
Flavor and Events Expanded

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Prologue: The City of the Worlds Desire (330 - 1444)​

Constantinople, the Queen of Cities, had always been destined for great things. Sitting among the edge of both Europe and Asia, it would be founded to serve as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great, after whom the city was named, in 330AD. A bridge between the recently reunified Western and Eastern Roman Empires, it had originally been renamed Nova Roma prior to its renaming, serving to act as a symbolic center for the new period of Roman splendor as the mother city continued to decline in fortune. Barely seventy years after the death of its namesake, Rome would be sacked for the first time in eight hundred years.

Constantinople, the Queen of Cities. Art by RadoJavor​

As the West collapsed and fell into darkness, the Eastern Empire survived and preserved the light of Rome, inheriting the mantle and the torch for a dominion that had once ruled a vast majority of the known world. Constantinople would sit between two continents and two cities, and for centuries, it would sit as the largest and wealthiest city in all of Europe. It would become a capital of splendor and opulence, protected by impenetrable defenses that enclosed magnificent palaces and churches. It would flourish into one of the largest cities in the world. Constantine had intentionally built the city to rival that of the grandest city in all of antiquity, and through centuries of struggle and triumph, Constantinople would continue to hold the torch for nearly nine hundred years.

But it was not meant to last.

Multiple times during its long history, the light of Rome was threatened multiple times and almost snuffled out between the ambitions of various barbarian rulers and the many enemies that the Eastern Empire would make. In the seventh century, the Eastern Empire and Christendom as a whole would see its greatest enemy arrive from the deserts of Arabia, led by its newfound ‘prophet’ Muhammad. His followers had come close to extinguishing the light of Rome, alongside being threatened by various barbarian statelets and opportunistic rivals, as the emerging tide of Islam swept through the decaying Persians and most of Asia and Africa. From this point onwards, the Empire would struggle immensely to regain control of her eastern territories, suffering from strength to weakness in every conflict.

Despite brief periods of reemergence and restoration, the opulence of Constantinople would make the capital an extremely valuable target for those who sought to conquer it. Centuries of Roman splendor would be undone following the disaster of the overwhelmingly crushing defeat at the Battle of Manzikert, resulting in the loss of Anatolia to the Turks. As Constantinople remained the mind of the Empire, the Eastern Empire had lost its heart, and centuries of constant conflict between the Turks and the Greeks would bleed away whatever remained of its spirit.

A 15th-century depiction of the Sack of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade, c.1204​

Despite misfortune, a promising recovery among imperial fortunes would see Constantinople flourish once more. But the Empire would suffer a devastating blow not from its Muslim rivals, but from a terrible strike from Christendom itself, as Constantinople would be sacked by Latin Crusaders in 1204. Its devastation would leave the Empire far poorer, smaller, and ultimately less able to defend itself from the Turkish and Slavic conquests that followed. The Latins would take the city and hold it for decades after shattering the former Eastern Empire into several rump states, declaring their own Latin Empire. But the Latins and their church were never able to maintain their new state, and sixty years after its brutal sacking, Nicean emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos would reclaim Constantinople and restore the Eastern Empire once more from its last Latin ruler, Baldwin II.

As the Empire had lost much of its economic resources, it would never reclaim its wealth and splendor from ancient times. From the very moment that the Empire would be reunited, its new dynasty had its hands full the moment they ascended to the throne. The Turks of Anatolia would often attack imperial territory and strike the Empire hard while doing so, while the Palailogos were forced to fight alongside Slavic opportunists such as Bulgaria and Serbia, who had sought to build their own empires at the Empire’s expense. A loss of land in the east and to the west, followed by two devastating civil wars over a bitter fight to control the Imperial throne, would be further struck into chaos as the pandemic and pestilence of the Black Death would bring the Empire to its very knees. Constantinople frequently stood on the brink of destruction, and by the end of the 14th century, the internal and external strife had brought led the Empire to consist only of Constantinople itself and a few other isolated enclaves.

As centuries of splendor gave way to misery, the city endured by a thread. A Greek tragedy of the highest caliber had befallen the city, and any attempt at diplomatic or military successes that past and present Emperors had tried to fight for had ended in vain or petty squabble. Manuel II, who had succeeded in retaking some territory and held it until the end of his reign, had only prolonged the destruction of the Roman dream. Not even a fraction of what it once was, the fight for the survival of a dying empire and its legacy would continue to wear down Constantinople in chains.

Detail from The Middle King by Benozzo Gozzoli,1459–1461, widely believed to represent Ioannes VIII during the Council of Florence.​

Manuel’s son and successor, Ioannes VIII, would spend his reign and dedicate his life to ensuring that the dream of Rome would not perish in vain. After spending so long and so much of his reign to preserve the Empire of his ancestors, the Emperor would become obsessed with finding even the faintest glimmer of hope. Surrounding himself in the comfort of ancient books, he sought the wisdom of wiser men who had ruled on the throne before him. Desire would transform into obsession, as the Emperor would surrender himself within the confines of the Imperial Library for multiple days at a time. Many of the advisors to the Emperor would begin to see increasingly erratic behavior from the Emperor in his search, as days started to persist into weeks.

In the late half of 1444, the Emperor would finally receive the answers he had been looking for. He didn't know it, but he was about to change the world

 

[Arakhor]

I'm always happy to see a new playthrough! (Or, in this case, writethrough?)

 

[HistoryDude]

An Elysian campaign by @Crimson Lionheart? Following. The original AAR was why I eventually downloaded Third Odyssey.

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Chapter 1: The Last Dawn of Constantinople (1444-1445)​

It was a miserable morning. The grey clouds of the skies upon the Queen of Cities had faded and drifted apart from the overcast shade that had blanketed Constantinople as if the legacies of their forefathers and ancestors had wept for the tragedy that had befallen the magnificence of the dream that had once been Rome. The streets and its buildings had been left dilapidated as puddles of murky water were walked across its inhabitants trodded throughout their daily lives with a looming sense of dread. The innocent and the youthful had not known the horrors of the future that had sought to suffocate whatever remained of the precious freedom that lingered, for they did not know the implications of what had occurred.

In the Imperial Palace, the grey clouds barely allowed any sunlight to pour through the glass of the windows, matching the atmosphere inside the building and the rest of the city. Basellius Ioannes VIII would look upon his realm, the vestigial realm that had been ruled by his father and ancestors, and despaired. A messenger had brought to him to be the bearer of the tragedy he had anticipated. The crusaders of Varna, organized to prey upon a crucial moment of weakness of the dreaded Turkish yoke, had ended in a catastrophic disaster for Christendom. The Turks, successors to the Arabs that had battered Anatolia in generations that had long past, held a knife to the throat of the Romans. To its west, opportunistic rivals in the form of Serbs and Hungarians were eager to carve up the pieces of the dying empire and to build their own dominion on the bones and ruins of the Greeks. And all around them, the Latins battled among themselves and challenged their enemies to secure the wealth of the Aegean for themselves.

Ioannes VIII didn't react to the news openly, but news of the disaster was sure to reach his subjects in due time. The Varna Crusade had ended in a massacre. In his heart, it was a confirmation of what he had always known ever since he had taken to the throne. He was the last of his kind. The dream that was Rome was to perish in his final days, and the world that he had fought to protect would be destroyed by his enemies. He had already sacrificed so much of himself to have surrendered himself to fate, just to buy an Empire on its deathbed enough time to find even a glimmer of hope through the dark storm clouds that gathered across both sides of the Marmara. He had lost his heart through the death of two of his wives. He had almost lost his faith and the faith of his people by consenting to the union of the Greek and Roman churches, just to appease the damned Latins who didn’t care about the fate of the Hellenics that had inherited the mantle of their forefathers.

King Władysław III of Poland in the Battle of Varna, by Jan Matejko. The decisive Ottoman victory and the death of Wladyslaw III of Poland, resulting in a pivotal moment in Eastern European history​

Ioannes didn’t even flinch anymore, long having grown accustomed to the worst. Even on the best of days, the world was determined to ensure that Constantinople and the Hellenic world would suffer for whatever sins they had committed. The fire within his eyes was burning into an ember that was starting to make his brother worried. The Emperor would retreat into the Imperial Library, which had increasingly become a secondary home for Ioannes as he scoured through whatever knowledge he could find. Mountains of ancient books would be piled across the vast expanse, stacked upon each other orderly or sprawled across in a pile after a stack had given away to its own weight. Almost every single inch and shelf of the library would be covered by the Emperor, and yet Ioannes didn’t find anything he was looking for. An overload of information made him feel like he was merely back to the beginning of his fruitless search, one that was wearing down Ioannes as he trudged through the books across the shelves.

Grabbing a thick chronicle from one of the shelves he hadn’t crossed over yet. Ioannes’s attention would be caught after removing the book from the shelf, his focus drawn upon a hole within the wall that seemed hollow and empty beyond the hard stone it was built from. Inside, barely within the cover of darkness aside from whatever light from the library had crept inside, Ioannes could barely make out what was inside the room. A hidden cache of information, from parchment and books that had been kept inside a self-contained room, was preserved to keep them safe. Ioannes gasped in surprise at the discovery, his mind quickly flaring up at the discovery he had just made. Whatever information that had been kept inside of the room was preserved and sealed inside, not to allow access from the outside world, but to preserve or even keep the contents of what was inside safe. Was it an ancient imperial secret? Was it something that not even the Emperors before him had even known about. Fueled by a curiosity that had remained dormant, the Emperor stuck his finger inside of the hole and began to dig further and further past the stone. Poor maintenance within its construction would cause the structure to begin falling apart at the seams. Stone would dissolve at his touch like powder within his hand, falling upon the ground like a handful of sand.

Skepticism began to fade as the Emperor clawed away at the secret wall, bringing in the attention of scribes who would be drawn into whatever their Emperor was doing. Stepping aside the mess, the scribes would help Ioannes move the shelf away from the wall and aid in the removal of the substance that was fading at the seams. After a couple of extra hands, the weak stone wall would give way and collapse upon itself, showering the Emperor and the scribes in a cloud of weak ash. A scribe would hold a candle in his hand to investigate the dark room, finding a long abandoned room filled with a treasure trove of documents and parchments filled with schematics. Dust filled the room as centuries of isolation away from the world would be opened back up once more. Ioannes quickly began to scour the room for information in his search. Whoever had kept this information sealed away was protecting it from harm, and from the weak fragility of the wall holding it, it was incredibly old and remarkably well-preserved.

A hand would touch a collection of notes that hadn’t seen the light in hundreds of years, as Ioannes would make a startling discovery. Within the notes were a series of schematics detailing a specialized dromon with the intention for deep-sea capabilities, far exceeding the range from crossing the seas. Its intention would be jolted down in the written word of its author, detailing the intention to use these designs to embark on a traditional expedition to Varangian Vinland that would never materialize. Taking inspiration from the Ancient Roman vessels that once piled the treacherous seas between the coasts of Hispania and the lands of the distant Celts in ages past, Ioannes looked at the documents with utter bewilderment as his hand drew a line with a finger downward across a parchment paper. There, Ioannes VIII would stare at the name of an exalted leader from ages past who had once been responsible for leading the empire to greatness following its greatest defeat.

“Alexios Kommenos…” Ioannes quietly muttered to himself before he suddenly turned around to the scribes in the room, filled with a sense of urgency in his voice as his tone flustered between that excitement and anxious shock. “Send word to my brother to meet with me here immediately! He needs to know this!”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Konstantine XI would stand before his elder brother looking at the discovery that had been made, folding his arms and generally looking displeased despite the excited bewilderment of his elder brother. Unlike his sibling, Konstantine was far more stoic and served as a skilled general of whatever remained of the imperial forces. He had been primarily a soldier first and lacked the leadership his brother commanded. But what he lacked in leadership, he made up for in trust to the Emperor, enough that he was designated as regent during Ioannes VIII’s journeys away from Constantinople from what felt like a lifetime ago. He had heard all of the plans that Ioannes had made in the past, and how desperation almost led to him selling its soul for the chance for salvation.

He was skeptical and looked at Ioannes. He had long made peace for fighting for his home until his last breath, but he hadn’t seen the spark of hope burn within Ioannes eyes like this for many years. Everything seemed too far-fetched, far too much of a gamble that didn’t even show any realistic chance of having any sort of success. He sighed and shook his head for a long while as he finally broke the silence that had existed within the room. “....I don’t think this will work. You really believe this is what will save us?”
Ioannes looked back at his brother with glee, nodding his head and holding the schematic in his hands. “Yes! I can assure you Konstantinos, this is exactly what will save us!” He told him before putting it back down on the table. “These documents were preserved for centuries! This room was sealed prior to the Fourth Crusade. Alexios III might have lost the city, but he had the foresight to make sure that everything inside this room was kept safe. The Latins never found this room as they sacked the city. And now, thanks to him, we finally have our chance!”

Konstantinos didn’t understand the enthusiasm in his voice. Everything just seemed so foolish to him about it. “I don’t understand this Ioannes. Why now? What good do these schematics have for us when the enemy is at the gates? We are fated to be conquered, and rightfully so, for we have betrayed Christ when we surrendered ourselves to the Latins and their damned Council.”

Ioannes didn’t wish to express his grand idea to his brother until the time was right, but it seemed that right now, it was the perfect chance to express his vision. “My brother, you don’t realize what a monumental discovery this is. This is a chance to start again! Unless we do nothing, we shall not last another decade. God has given us a chance to start anew. We can languish under the Turkish yoke, or we can survive another day and spare our people!”

“Are you proposing we…abandon Constantinople?” Konstantinos prodded the question, feeling a deep feeling within his stomach. Even though the city and what little remained of the Empire was on the verge of complete destruction, he couldn’t bear the thought of abandoning the city. It was an unthinkable option, and he was prepared to erupt into a tirade of furious anger at his elder brother's mere suggestion. But yet, he didn’t raise his voice. The swelling of anger inside of him didn’t lash out at Ioannes, instead, he listened.

“Konstantinos, I know this a desperate thought, but these are desperate times. This might be our one chance to secure a better future for our people. We will spare our subjects a lifetime of suffering under Osmans rule. Imagine, if you will, that Roman men and women living prosperous lives. Children who wouldn’t ever know slavery or the suffering we have endured. The elderly spend their days living in peace after spending a lifetime knowing nothing but war and heartache. I know this sounds outlandish, but believe me, this might be our best chance. A new chance to start again. A new chance to be reborn. I’m speaking of an Odyssey, just like Aeneas, fleeing from our own Troy.” Ioannes spoke to him.

Konstantinos remained deathly quiet, contemplating something within thought. Had this been any other man, he would have thought that this would have been nothing but nonsense. Abandoning Constantinople to the enemies of Christendom? Leaving their homeland? It was something unthinkable to him, and yet, he looked at Ioannes like he had been a young man again. Ioannes had this peculiar aura around him within his voice, his eyes twinkling and burning like that of a young man ready to accomplish anything. But the more he thought about it, the more that the idea seemed to form within his head, and the more that he found himself leaning into his proposal.

Ioannes placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled. “This is the way, brother. I know deep down you believe this as well. This is the destiny of our people and that of Rome. What do you think brother? I understand your hesitance, but I wouldn’t want anyone else at my side.”

Konstantinos was about to speak up again, but he stopped himself, left in pause at his idea. Ioannes seemed deeply committed to this idea, but he knew him better than anyone else. He had tried and failed many times before, and here he was, sounding almost like a madman with an ambition. Even if his ideas sounded crazy, the logic behind them was sound enough for feasibility. Eventually, the stoic sibling sighed once again before chuckling softly. “So…where do we start?”

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Within the following week, Ioannes VIII summoned his court and every figure within Imperial authority that still respected Constantinople. Within a short period of time, the Emperor documented the nature of his discovery and the extremely ambitious plan to abandon Europe entirely. Konstantinos remained troubled at the thought of leaving the city, but his depression would change into bewilderment at a virtually unanimous agreement upon the summoned court. While there were some naysayers within the assembled court, none of them would reject it outright after listening to Ioannes VIII expand his plan into detail. Critics of the plan would be silenced, and Konstantinos understood that aside from their fascination of the grand journey, many of the figures assembled came to an understanding that they had nothing left to lose.

With a unanimous acceptance of the flight from Europe occurring throughout the council, every single effort would be made by the Imperial government to prepare themselves for the dangerous journey ahead of them. Even despite the nobility of his goal, the reality existed that it was nothing more than a gamble. Vinland hadn’t made contact with Europe in centuries, and all information about the distant northern settlements of the region was based on information that was centuries old. Ioannes VIII knew to journey towards the west, but from there, the course and length of their flight were unknown. Supplies such as crop seeds, livestock, and all supplies needed to prevent starvation among the fleet would become the priority of the imperial government.

Ioannes VIII would focus all of his efforts on overseeing the preparations and organizing Constantinople into a flurry of activity, as the official declaration was made within the coming days following the discovery in the imperial library. Logistics would immediately become questioned among the council, as the fleet would simply have no idea exactly the immensity of the grand ocean beyond the coastlines of Europe. The Emperor’s prior obsession with finding hope would metamorphose into a sense of protection, and with so much of his attention focused on the flight, the Emperor would no longer focus on any lesser matters that didn't require his full attention or weren't focused on the fleet.

Within the organization of the fleet, the Emperor would be approached by Georgios Sphrantez, a close confidant of the imperial family who had served his father and was a good friend of his brother Konstantinos. Sphrantzes would suggest that space be allocated on the fleet for a collection of the most important books and scrolls within the imperial library be allocated to join along the fleet. The knowledge needed to build an empire, from a collection of books and scrolls to the great works of the wise minds of history would be worth its weight in gold. Around the same time, Johannes Grandt, a skilled German mercenary would arrive in Constantinople to aid the Empire. To the surprise of many, the mercenary would successfully recreate Greek Fire on an incredibly limited scale based on ancient scrolls stored within the hidden cache in the imperial library.

Within the week following the early preparations for the fleet organization, Ioannes’s cousin would arrive at Constantinople after journeying to the city across the Aegean. A brilliant mind and second in line on the imperial throne, Theophilos would learn upon the sheer scale of what was being organized within the dockyards of Constantinople and would make a compelling argument for the vast reserve of silk to be included in the fleet. The methods of production, along with the knowledge and reserve to produce such silk, would provide a potent luxury good to establish trade within Vinland. But unlike the other suggestions, if the silk was not taken, Theophilos suggested that all ties and knowledge to the silk be utterly destroyed, lest the Turks seize and claim it for themselves.

As the weeks began to roll, much of Constantinople would see an influx of additional labour and supplies from the populace. In what could only be described as organized chaos, the doomed city would see many of the buildings within the capital deconstructed to aid in the construction of more ships through the additional help of its inhabitants. An enormous influx of wood and stone would aid shipwrights in constructing what was swelling into a vast fleet, while very brick would be included in the increasingly vast surplus of supplies. Adding to the livestock, grain, food stocks, and crop seeds as agricultural needs would soon be weighed down by timber and stone.

Thousands of extra hands would act to aid Constantinople’s preparations for the flight from Europe, as social classes blended together and found solace in being united for a single purpose. With such attention, it would inevitably gain the attention of outside powers. With an unofficial but accepted fate that the city would inevitably fall to the Turks, the southern holdings of the Empire still remained intact yet isolated. The Venetians and Genoese, the dominant Latin powers seeking to build an empire in the eastern Mediterranean, would both make extremely lucrative offers to the Imperial government over the invaluable strategic and economic position of the Empire’s southern holdings.

Genoa expressed a desire to increase their desire of economic penetration in the Aegean and Black Seas, which would be solidified easily by selling the Despotate of Morea to the Genoese. The Venetians were far more powerful and would be grateful for the transfer of Greek holdings in the southern highlands in exchange for a sizable portion of ships and supplies to aid the Romans.

Another offer would be considered, rejecting both offers outright and granting direct independence of the Morean Desptoate outright to the Emperor’s other brother, Theodoros. Constantinople and Greece did not forgive and forget the tragedy that the Fourth Crusade had caused, and while proud minds sought to reject the Latins in their deals, it was a deal that couldn’t have been refused. Especially not with what was at stake. In the end, while expressing gratitude for their offer, Ioannes VIII would accept the far more pragmatic Venetian deal and transfer the Morea to the Serene Republic’s control. It was a heavy price to pay for the loss of the remaining holdings of the empire, but Ioannes VIII believed it was the right price to pay for salvation.

As the Genoese returned home, the Venetians were overjoyed at the offer, at the price of draining the dwindling Roman treasury to a mere fraction of what had once been left. Venetian captains who had sold their vessels for the journey would directly approach the Emperor and his advisors, learning of their plans to cross the great Western Ocean. But it was a journey that was fraught with danger and calamity. From piracy, a loss of supplies, or even the dreaded seas themselves.

The most influential captain among the group, Delfino Delfin, had offered to use his connections as a member of one of the original founding families of the Republic to acquire a portion of the famed Arsenal of Venice for Roman use at another heavy price, further bringing the exhausted treasury to the point of near collapse. It would reduce the imperial ability to purchase food and other supplies, but the added protection of an extra fleet of ships would give us a sharp advantage for any battles yet to come. Konstantinos believed that conflict was inevitable, as the rapid growth of the fleet would be an invaluable target for pirates.

As the fleet began to swell, and as the Imperial Palace would be stripped from almost all belongings that hadn’t been stored among the fleet or merely salvaged to prevent its desecration, Ioannes VIII would receive a meeting from two esteemed but important figures. An Ottoman prince, born in Constantinople after his grandfather's defeat in a failed attempt for the imperial throne, and a former Ottoman officer who had rebelled from Turkish service and journeyed to the city in search of support. Both men had learned of the impending flight of the Romans and requested some of their retinues to be allocated on board, but with the final preparations being made, there was only enough space for only one group on board. One of these men and their followers were to stay behind in the doomed city, but both men would make a promise not to share the plans to the enemy.

Orhan Celebi, feared punishment at the hands of his cousin and had never returned to the Ottoman Sultanate on the implied threat of execution for the crimes of his grandfather. The Turkish prince, however, was well versed in the tactics of the feared Jannisary corps and offered himself as a general after their landing in Vinland. In addition, Orhan held an incredibly strong claim to the Ottoman throne, and should he remain behind, would challenge his cousin for control of the throne to distract the Turks for long enough to allow the Greeks to flee the Aegean.

The other figure, named Gjergi Kastrioti, was an Albanian lord and military commander who was greatly feared by the Turks for his martial and leadership brilliance in rebelling against Turkish rule. A former Janissary and a military genius, he had been fighting against the Turkish onslaught for many years within his mountainous homeland of Albania. But it was a rebellion that couldn’t hold out forever, and he knew that when he fell, the homeland he had fought for would suffer a horrible wrath when the Ottomans would inevitably conquer it. He had offered himself as a brilliant commander, and requested with permission, to allow himself and his subjects space upon the fleet.

For some time, Ioannes VIII remained quiet until he finally spoke with a great deal of sorrow in his voice. There was only enough space for one group, and ultimately, the choice would be taken that Orhan and his followers would be taken upon the fleet. Skanderbeg would accept his fate, left bitterly disappointed and heartbroken, yet burning with a strong resolve to see his rebellion through to the better end. In a gesture of goodwill, Ioannes VIII would grant the remaining virals of Greek Fire to Skanderburg, aiding his offensive into Turkish lands to draw attention away from the fleet and to stymie any pursuit.

By the early weeks of January 1445, after exhausting every single remaining resource and dedicating everything to the momentous journey ahead of them, the day would finally come. The Grand Fleet was ready, and a journey into the unknown would lay ahead of the Romans. Half of the city would be undone, as every single wooden plank would be used to construct ships. Every single supply, relic, and chosen secret would be selected and placed onboard, taking the very essence of over a thousand years of imperial civilization onto the fleet. The Dream of Rome itself would be carried onto the fleet.

In the early hours of the morning, before dawn, Ioannes VIII would attend the last liturgy in Justintinian’s great church, dressed in complete imperial regalia as the people of the city and from all classes would gather around the Ecumenical Patriarch. Songs and prayers permeate the walls of the Hagia Sophia, reverbing off the buildings and being carried across the streets of Constantinople in one final rapturous display of faith and unity before the unknown. For a brief moment, within the confines of their faith and a sense of brotherhood, the people of the city would forget about the troubles that had befallen them.

It would be the last moment that Constantinople would be united in their church, for as soon as they embarked, not a soul would ever return back to their former home. As the liturgy came to an end and the sun would rise over the final dawn of the city, the Emperor and his brother would embark before the dock. Certain objects from the old city would be taken along with them in their journey. A brick from the palace walls, a tile from its floors, a jar of dirt from the garden. And above all, an Icon of Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, is opened through the ruined streets of the city. Thousands of people would follow behind the icon with reverent devotion, chanting in hymns as they approached the docklands.

For a brief instant, the ruined capital would recover the life that had been stolen from her. Two centuries of misery would vanish over the next few hours, as the final preparations would be made. Thousands of people, from clergymen and merchants to noble and commoners would begin to find their positions in the fleet. So many voices, faces and colors under the morning sun would begin to settle into the ships where they would remain for the coming exodus. Constantinople would untangle her thread from fate, and its soul would be released.

Ioannes would weep at the sight of the city, yet Konstantinos beside him did not know if such tearful emotions would be that of joy or misery. Once the sun had risen up to the sky, the order would finally be given for the fleet to set sail. Only the stubborn, sick, and cowardly remained in the doomed city. Leaving in the early morning, the Grand Fleet would set sail from Constantinople, watching the city disappear beyond the horizon for one final time. The Imperial family would settle upon their flagship, the Agia Theotoke, where the Imperial brothers would lead.

On January 6th 1445, Ioannes watched the Queen of Cities vanish for the final time from the ship.

In the early days of the journey, Skanderbeg would finally make his move and launch devastating raids into Ottoman territory. As the fleet would depart beyond the Aegean Sea, the Great Fleet would make multiple small stops to pick up and secure supplies before continuing their journey. The moment that the shores of the Peloponnesus would disappear under the horizon, Ioannes VIII had planned to make a speech to his men upon the Agia Theotoke.

Fate however would have other plans, as the infamous flag of the Hospitaller Order would swifly sail across the seas and cross the distance between them and the vast but much slower fleet. The Fleet would immediately brace themselves for conflict with the Knights of Rhodes, due to their reputation as pirates and how their Latin pledge to protect Christians only applied to Catholics.

Yet, as their ships reached the fleet, their goals would become clearer. Although not knowledgeable about Roman intentions, they would instead offer their services, offering both an escort across the seas to shield the fleet against a hostile Islamic sea. Many remained distrustful of the knights, but their history and prowess spoke louder than their reputation did. Ioannes would hire the Knights, bolstering the fleet and allowing the Knights to aid in the journey. However, in order to secure their loyalty, Ioannes VIII would speak a white lie about the Abandonment of Constantinople, instead, he would twist the truth and speak about the repurposing of their journey to be an expeditionary force to navigate the open world.

Following the acceptance of the Knights in joining the Grand Fleet in its journey, the Fleet would arrive at Palmero, the last stop in the Mediterranean before the gradual journey into the unknown seas beyond the Pillars of Hercules. The thousands of people upon the ships would step onto dry land and witness what true prosperity looked like after stepping foot into Palmero. As supplies would be restocked, it would be the last chance for the sailors and the many people in the fleet to step onto dry land for some time. The nobles took an interest in exploring the wealthy Italian city and seeing what it could do for the Greeks, and while there was no more room to bring further supplies, Palermo provided to act as a learning experience for the nobles rather than a mere stopping point.

During the day, Theophilos would deal with merchants and various curious locals looking in bewilderment at the Grand Fleet and the Greeks that it carried. While Konstantinos would wander around the city for the entire day. When the sun was about to set, Konstantinos did not come back alone, returning with the company of a young woman who would accompany him with a determined look in her eyes. As Theophilos looked in surprise, Konstantinos smiled and remained smitten with her, as she boarded the Agia Theotoke.

Portrait of Aurelia Orsini, future Basilinna of the Romans. Described as fair and blond of hair, she was a charismatic figure that helped lead the Romans into the New World​

Before departing, Konstantinos and Aurelia would remain with one another on the flagship. Her younger sister, Aida, would also join Theophilos on the fleet. The Orsini Sisters, as they would become known, would be both remarkably different from one another. In the years to come, they were to play a remarkable role in the years to come.

Departing from Palmero and journeying across the Mediterranean, the expedition would be hampered by bad weather in Aragonese waters. The expedition would be forced to turn southward, much to the protest of captains and sailors that sailed dangerously close to the prepherery of the Barbary coast. Ioannes VIII listened to the captains, but due to the direction the wind was blowing, not much could be done. The Emperor took note of the overcrowded and unprotected civilian ships struggling to keep up with the rest of the fleet, while the vanguard struggled to protect the inner core of the fleet.

Eventually, the inevitable happened, and the dreaded fear that crept in his heart would embark from Tunisian ports. Berber marauders and pirates rushed out to attack the fleet, ready to plunder any vessel that staggered behind under the cover of the bad weather and the overcast skies. The fleet would overextend itself, and the pirates went straight for some of the civilian ships, inspiring panic and terror over the overcrowded vessels.

Diplomacy was off the table, and Konstantinos would quickly prepare for a fight, acting quickly and ordering the battle-ready ships to intercept the pirates while allowing the civilian ships to escape further to the west. Ioannes would act quickly but carefully, using the Latin reinforcements to act against the pirates. The Knights served to act as bait for the pirates, while the expert Venetian sailors and ships flanked the enemy.

Utilizing Greek Fire, a horrifying weapon that hadn’t been seen in generations, the fleet methodically burned the pirates alive and sank their ships to the bottom of the sea. Victory would be achieved, at the price of a couple of knights and sailors, where they would need time to recover their losses. The armed fleet would reunite with the civilian ships after the battle, reuniting several hours after the battle before sundown, sending a strong message that the Roman fleet was not to be messed with.

Hearing the approach of the fleet, yet not hearing about the battle along the barbary coast, a large Granadan force drew up near the Gates of Hercules to force the Fleet to pay for safe passage beyond the narrow gap. Enticed by a promise of loot, a continent Moroccan force would also sail in support for the Granadans. Fed up with encountering another group of pirates, and also outnumbering and outnumbering the Granadan fleet, the Grand Fleet would punch straight through and wipe the pirates out before crossing beyond the point of no return.

Crossing between the narrow gap between the Pillars of Hercules and venturing into the open ocean, the Grand Fleet would encounter two isolated Portuguese chips sailing nearby the fleet with an envoy, having learned about a large naval presence crossing across the Mediterranean and the battles that had been fought. News of the flight would reach across all of Europe, although the true motivation behind the abandonment of Constantinople and Greece was unknown. The Portuguese believed that the Grand Fleet was heading southward to explore the coasts of Africa.

It would be upon the ships that an advisor would entertain the idea of tricking the Portuguese and the nations of Europe, buying precious time for the Empire to reestablish itself in Europe and to build an entirely new state. Ioannes and Konstantinos entertained the idea, while Theophilos and the Orsini siblings rejected the idea out of fear that it would alienate future allies.

Pragmatism would ultimately win out in the end, and after lengthy debating amongst themselves, Ioannes VIII and the advisors and family upon the Aida Theotoke would tell the Portuguese where they were going, treachery and deceit would only undermine the Empire in the long run. Once the envoy returned to Portugal, the Grand Fleet vanished beyond the coastline of Europe for one last time.

Ioannes and Konstantinos would stand before the bow of the ship, quietly looking before the open horizon of the sea as the smell of saltwater washed their senses. As controversial as their decision that the Romans would submit to the Council of Florence, all in a desperate plea to accept the primacy of the Papacy in Rome, it was a sacrifice of faith that both brothers had barely accepted. Only accepted out of the hope that the Latins would come to aid the Romans.

It was not accepted by most or many of the Orthodox faithful within the fleet. Accepting to bow before the Latins to escape destruction would not prove popular among the Russians or the general populace itself. Even among the faithful, it was only very reluctantly tolerated by the Romans themselves out of the hope that misery would not befall Christendom.

As soon as the brothers watched the coastline of Europe vanish behind them, there was no more reason to care about acting under the charade of lies. No more cause for pretense, as the Romans would pass beyond those who would care in both east and west. Ioannes VIII and Prince Konstantinos would publicly repudiate the Council of Florence the moment that Portugal ceased to be in view, returning to Orthodoxy and making their true intentions known, much to the delight and applause of those aboard the ship as news of this spread across the rest of the fleet.

Despite the delight amongst the Greeks, the Latins were outraged at the brash decision to abandon everything that had been orchestrated from Florence. While many of the Venetians merely refused to care or remained far too insular to focus on such religious matters, the Knights would be whipped into a frenzy. As the fleet crossed into the unknown, such matters would become a drop in the ocean for what was to come...

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(Boy, this was fun to write. It's a departure from previous styles, I hope to write more detail and narrative this time around, as it's always been one of my weaker points. Due to my personal philosophy that the story must come first, I've used Bigger Boats to allow our future Elysians to have full supply. Apologies if this feels different or unorthodox, I just wish to write something good.

I'm always happy to see a new playthrough! (Or, in this case, writethrough?)

An Elysian campaign by @Crimson Lionheart? Following. The original AAR was why I eventually downloaded Third Odyssey.

Thank you for the kind words. It's been a long time coming!

 

[HistoryDude]

The Granadans certainly regret their attack. Telling the Portuguese might mean that they begin colonizing earlier, though.

Selling Morea was probably a good idea. I gave them independence, and the Ottomans ended up annexing them. Although a game as Morea after the Odyssey might be an interesting idea.

 

[J_Master]

Right here on board from the start for this one! Nice to see another Third Odyssey AAR out here. And honestly nice to see you committing to one path this time, the global empire path including a reconquest feels very much like the most natural route for Elysia to take. I really should give TO a go myself again, with the extra submod as well, that monastary in West Virginia seems cool

 

[Jedevari1]

Always love a Third Odyssey AAR

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Chapter 2: The Winds of Change (1445)​

As the Grand Fleet sailed beyond the Pillars of Hercules, so too would the essence of the Romans sail along their fleet into the vast depths of the unknown horizon that would lay before them. Not willing to surrender themselves into certain oblivion at the bloodied hands of their conqueror, stories of the Byzantine flight from Europe would begin to reach every court across all of Europe. Stories of heroic valor and victory from the skirmishes across the Mediterranean Sea against pirates and marauders, inspire hope and striking dread among both allies and enemies where the fleet would grace its presence.

Once the very edge of Europe had been crossed, the Grand Fleet would cross to the point of no return. All of the splendor and majesty of the empire wouldn’t be respected anymore upon crossing into the cruel and merciless expanse of the Western Ocean. As the cruel reality of the situation began to wear into the flight, a sense of dread loomed over the Grand Fleet. They no longer had a home, nor did they even have a home to return back to. All that they carried and all that they were was within themselves and the fleet. The clothes on their backs, the animals and crops that were filled to capacity, and the knowledge and pride of thousands of years of legacy would be all that would exist of the Grand Fleet.

Once the most distant coastline of Europe had vanished beyond the horizon, Ioannes and Konstantinos would both make a joint and very public declaration of repudiating the Council of Florance, embracing the faith of their forefathers and rejecting the pragmatic heresy they had only so reluctantly accepted out of desperation. Once there was no more pretense to maintain the charade, the gloves would come off. And to the jubilation of the rest of the fleet, the return to Orthodoxy would be greatly celebrated by the Orthodox faithful.

The reaction among the Latins would be far more mixed, ranging from indifference from the Venetian sailors to a sense of shock among some of the few Genoese that had joined the expedition. Some Catholics, a small minority within the Grand Fleet, would even anticipate such a betrayal of the faith and didn’t act surprised. As Ioannes VIII and Prince Konstantinos would publicly repudiate the Council of Florence, the far more pious and hardline Knights Hospitaller were enraged. As the Romans no longer had to maintain pretense, neither did the small but capable collection of Latin Knights. Scandal would break out among the fleet while exchanging supplies and crew between vessels.

Captain Cedric Auvray of the Hospitallers, leading a ship and a collection of his finest knights, would slip away and reach Prince Konstantinos while he was onboard the Agia Theotoke. Once boarding, the captain would immediately draw his sword and confront the Prince in his anger, shocking Konstantinos in a crowd of sailors and civilians alike. The Captain would begin to belittle and exclaim his anger within those of earshot, exclaiming how the Prince had lied to the church and what remained of his people about his faith and his expedition. The letter that was sent back to the Portuguese, and the sudden but open decision to embrace Orthodoxy once more, would serve to be the last straw to the captain and the Knightly order.

Konstantinos had already regretted many steps that had brought him to the middle of the ocean, and the harsh decisions that came with leadership and the safety of his people. The Knights could no longer return to Europe or the Mediterranean, and within the endless expanse, they were stranded on the open sea. Despite the Captain’s open defiance against the Prince, there was a hint of fear within his eyes. Eyes that would tell the story that he had made a mistake, even if he would never recognize such a thing.

In the open seas of the Western Ocean, during the midst of the Odyssey, the Knights Hospitaller would see a political and religious reshuffling. Once news had reached Ioannes about the scandal, the act would be swift and merciless. The Knights were ordered to be catechized and to embrace Eastern Orthodoxy, a decision that would erupt into protests and infighting within the order. But the reality wouldn’t escape them. As Europe was left behind, so was their master. Wherever the Romans would end up, they shall follow their Christ.

For several weeks since departing Europe, the Grand Fleet would be blessed with optimism following its departure as the grim cynicism began to fade away over several days. With rations and resources remaining abundant due to precise management, the atmosphere would remain surprisingly lively among the ships. Finding themselves confined and stranded on the ocean and usually trapped upon their vessels, boredom was the primary concern among the fleet to fight against. To pass the time, the sailors and commoners would frequently intermingle with one another. Clergymen would cross in between ships and perform service to the faithful among the ships, while merchants discussed the open possibility that had the Grand Fleet continued on their path, they would encounter Asia. Nobles entered talks with the imperial family about the possibility of what could be found in Vinland, a land that so little had been understood for centuries, that it had entered the realm of myth and fantasy.

Despite being blessed with the weather, the fortune that had blessed the Grand Fleet would come to an end. The wind would blow viciously against the sails as dark clouds loomed over in the horizon. A dark and terrible storm that stretched as far as the eye could see would sweep across the skies, as what had once been a calm breeze from the morning would shift into a powerful storm that shook the Grand Fleet. As lightning crackled and struck the waves, the decision was made to sail through the eye of the storm.

Prince Konstantinos would immediately leap into action, aiding the sailors as the Prince would do everything in how the power to secure ropes and ensure everything remained steady as the ocean would allow it. Knowing the danger that was ahead of him, the Prince helped with rigging the ships and helping aid the sailors around him to keep everything going as torrential rain pelted his body and the entire fleet. Ioannes VIII would organize leadership and shout orders to the sailors, despite the difficulty of the strong wind preventing any resemblance of calmness from escaping from his voice.

Ioannes VIII stood upon the deck, with Konstantinos and Theophilos briefly watching from the corner of their eyes. Torrential rain soaked the Emperor to his core and blistering winds ravaged his clothing and skin. Despite attempts to get the Emperor to retreat and return to the ship for his own safety, Ioannes refused. The Emperor stood still before loudly screaming as his voice could allow him to let the Romans towards the heavens, reciting scripture from memory and asking God to grant his people safety. The Emperor stood before the bow of the ship, excluding an aura of calmness and bravery as the fleet would be guided to safety through a paradoxically calm area in the heart of the storm.

After many hours of fighting against the furious wrath of nature, the Great Fleet would survive its journey through the heart of the storm. The brave captains from Italy and Portugal would prove their worth in leading the Fleet safely out of the storm, but it wouldn’t come without a cost. Several ships had been separated from the main fleet during the storm and blown off course, leaving their fate completely unknown.

Some of the ships would tragically be struck by the full force of the storm, and despite the best efforts of sailors and the commoners who frantically tried to aid them, these chips would capsize and claim their lives. One of these ships was one of the royal ships, which hosted most of the royal advisers, councilors and other royal staff. While the royal family braved the storm through the Agia Theotoke, Prince Konstantinos mourned the loss of Georgios Sphrantzes and his entire family, who would all perish upon the loss of the royal ship alongside the vast majority of the royal staff.

It would not be the only tragedy to befall the Romans, as the storm clouds would fade away and the calmness of the seas would return. The Emperor would fall ill and be taken to his chambers in the Agia Theotoke, alarming the royal family and the remaining royal government on the ship. Braving the elements and fighting against fate, Ioannes would remain bedridden for two days, gravely ill…

After surviving the Great Storm, Ioannes condition did not improve. Every Roman upon the fleet had feared the worst, and two days after the Fleet had crossed through the storm, the worst would come to pass. Despite being surrounded by the greatest physicians, the Emperor would be stricken with severe phthisis. His condition would weaken with every passing hour, and the leading court physician would break the tragic news to Konstantinos and Theophilos. There was nothing that could be done, and in the next few hours, Ioannes was to be reunited with Christ.


In his final moments, Ioannes would summon Konstantinos, Theophilos, and the rest of the royal family around his deathbed. Many would already break into tears upon seeing the gravely weakened condition of the ill emperor, and Konstantinos’s stoic demeanor would fade away as tears rolled down his face. Ioannes looked upon the family that had accompanied him through the most desperate period of their people's history and would smile at them. He had already made peace with himself and what would await his soul in the afterlife. He didn’t share a regret upon his face, or a frown upon his weak withered face. He smiled as he looked at his brother and cousin, surrounded by the two Orsini sisters that they stood alongside. In his family, he could see the future of the Romans. And he was proud.

“Brother….” Konstantinos broke the silence as he knelt before the bed, gently gripping Ioannes’s hand into his own as he looked at him in the eyes. “I’m….I’m sorry. I wish there was som-

Ioannes cut him off with a cough before he weakly laughed. “It’s okay brother. Please don’t mourn me. I have done everything that I could for our people. Everything that I have done in my life has been to secure a better future. I have no regrets about my life. If I could do it all again, there would be nothing I would change. I have simply done what has been asked of me by the lord.”

Theophilos looked at Aida, visibly upset as tears streamed down his face. Both of them embraced one another as Aida rested her head upon his shoulder, hiding her tearful sobbing from the Emperor. Ioannes would see this and just smiled, even in his weak condition. Silently, he was blessed to spend his final moments surrounded by his family. He didn’t need to express his admiration for them, for they already knew that Ioannes had loved them very much. Ioannes looked at them for a moment before turning back over to look at Konstantinos and gripped his hand with his remaining strength.

“My brother, everything that I have done, everything that is Rome. Belongs to you. The crown now rests upon your head. Whatever happens, wherever our dream ends up, always remember that we are more than just a people. Wherever we are in this world, Rome will survive as long as there are those who believe in it. It is not a place, nor is it a people. It is a dream.” He smiled at Konstantinos. His brother remained struck by his words, feeling the life fade away from Ioannes’s hands as he turned over and looked at the ceiling.

“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit…” Ioannes spoke quietly. Closing his eyes one more time, Ioannes surrendered his soul to god.

A heroic depiction of Konstantinos XI from the 19th century, the future father of the Elysians.​

The Father of the Odyssey would pass away at the age of fifty-two, his sudden death completely shocking the entire fleet. Funeral rites would be conducted and Ioannes would be placed in a casket at the bottom of the Agia Theotoke, used as a temporary measure until he could be entombed and receive a proper burial in Vinland. News about the death of the Emperor would spread like wildfire across the fleet, and the atmosphere that had both been cynical and hopeful within parts of the long journey would finally morph into a gloom. Many of the more pious believed that this was divine punishment from God for abandoning Constantinople during its darkest hour.

Konstantinos would become Emperor of the Romans immediately following the death of his brother Ioannes. After only a single day to allow himself to mourn, Konstantinos’s ascension to the throne would begin a new era of history. History was about to change, and the newly crowned Konstantinos XI would dedicate himself to finishing what his brother started. He would make sure that he would never allow the Romans to ever experience such vulnerability again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Granadans certainly regret their attack. Telling the Portuguese might mean that they begin colonizing earlier, though.

Selling Morea was probably a good idea. I gave them independence, and the Ottomans ended up annexing them. Although a game as Morea after the Odyssey might be an interesting idea.

Sometimes honesty is worth more than gold. Should the Portuguese cooperate with the Romans, who knows where their relationship might end up?

Right here on board from the start for this one! Nice to see another Third Odyssey AAR out here. And honestly nice to see you committing to one path this time, the global empire path including a reconquest feels very much like the most natural route for Elysia to take. I really should give TO a go myself again, with the extra submod as well, that monastary in West Virginia seems cool

Always love a Third Odyssey AAR

Glad to have you aboard! I hope you enjoy this story

 

[HistoryDude]

Choosing the royal ship to sink... is an interesting choice. It could prove costly. I wonder if any of those shipwrecked ships survived and went on their own Odyssey (it happened in my game).

RIP Ioannes. Let's hope Konstantinos is a good ruler.

Will those Hospitallers be an issue later?

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Saint Ioannes VIII Palaiologos
Lived: December 18th 1392 - February 23rd 1445
Emperor of the Romans: 1425 - 1445
The First Master of the Odyssey

Portrait of Saint Ioannes VIII by Piero della Francesca depicts him as Emperor Constantine following his victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. ​

From all of the illustrious legacies of the Romans and the Elysians, the centerpiece between the two imperial histories would be the reign of the Emperor who had started it all. Ioannes VIII would be recognized posthumously as one of the Masters of the Odyssey, establishing a tremendous legacy that only a few Emperors before and after him would ever reach in its heights. While his life would be fraught with the struggle of reconciliation and protecting Constantinople against the Turks, it wouldn’t be until the Roman exodus from Europe that Ioannes would briefly shine with the limited time he would have. Like Moses, he would never see his people arrive in their promised land.

Ioannes VIII would be born as the eldest son of Manuel II Palaiologos and Helena Draga, the daughter of Serbian prince Constantine Dragas. For much of his early life, he would become associated with his father as co-emperor and would succeed him as sole emperor in 1425, although had already assumed full power and responsibilities before his twentieth birthday. Upon his full ascension to the throne, Ioannes VIII would dedicate his life to protecting Constantinople against the Ottoman Turks, famously making journeys to courts across Europe in an attempt to secure support from foreign powers.

Throughout his life, he would marry three separate times. His first and third marriages would result in both of his spouses losing their lives to plague. His second marriage to Sophia of Montferrat would ultimately break down, and by 1426, Sophia would return to Italy and never return back to Greece. None of his marriages would produce any children, leaving the succession to his brother, Konstantinos XI, whom he trusted deeply.

The Emperor would make two journeys to Italy during his lifetime. His second journey would coincide with a visit to Pope Eugene IV who consented to a union of the Greek and Roman churches, which would be ratified at the Council of Florence in 1439. Ioannes would attend with seven hundred followers, including Patriarch Joseph II of Constantinople and the now infamous Gemistos Plethon, who during this period, was influential among the academics of Italy. The attempted reunion of the churches, despite the commitment of the Emperor, resulted in failure due to opposition in Constantinople. But through careful diplomacy, Ioannes VIII would succeed in holding possession of the city.

Ioannes VIII’s legacy following the last few months of his life would greatly improve the reputation of his reign, where the Emperor’s discovery within the Imperial Library and the deeply ambitious exodus from Europe would coalesce into his pivotal leadership during the Odyssey. After months of ceaseless planning, endless preparation, and the deconstruction of Constantinople that would undo the Queen of Cities, Ioannes would lead the Romans beyond the very edge of Europe and into the great beyond.

A 15th-century depiction of Ioannes VIII and the Odyssey, located in the atrium of the Hagia Theotoke. An enormous bronze tapestry that depicted the Roman Exodus and Saint Ioannes VIII ​

As the architect of the grand vision that was to become Elysium, Ioannes knew that the time of the Romans was about to end. Even at the end of his life, Ioannes stood as a defender of his faith and as a protector of his people. A lifetime of searching for an opportunity, and in the end, the answer that Ioannes would find would change the course of human history. Ioannes would die during the final weeks of the odyssey, his sudden death completely shocking the entirety of the Grand Fleet.

Following his death, Ioannes VIII would be canonized as a saint in 1450, becoming the first saint of the new world due to Ioannes’s reputation as a protector of the faith and his people. In time, Saint Ioannes VIII would be declared as a Master of the Odyssey and as the Empire's holy shield against the tide of destiny. In a bold move, the Patriarch of Nea Konstantinopolis would make his first major decision as the head of the church with the unanimous support of the entire Orthodox church. It would be both a heavily spiritual decision, and importantly, a politically motivated decision by the church due to the violent religious strife of the early period of Elysian history.

He would be buried shortly in the Pantokratoros Monastary in Kleomenon, the first major settlement established after the imperial capital of Nea Konstantinopolis. In the late 17th century, his remains would be exhumed and reburied in the imperial capital in an elaborate reburial ceremony alongside his brother Konstantinos and his cousin Theophilos. All three Masters of the Odyssey would be buried alongside each other, and their tombs would become popular tourist destinations in the modern era.

 

[Arakhor]

I hope we get more glimpses of modern Elysia!

 

[J_Master]

The one thing I disagree with, and that seems to be more on the mod's side than yours, is that the Third Odyssey would result in the creation of a "Elysia" seperate from the idea of "Rome". It would be much like the move from Rome to Constantinopel (or Ravenna/Milan but the Western Empire is kinda irrelevant), a administrative move. The core of the Idea of Rome would still be there, and the refugees from Constantinople would bring the Ethnos of Rome to this new home. It's much like the way the 1918-1933 period in Germany is called the Weimar Republic. That was not its official name and the people did not identify as Weimarians, but it is a easy indication of what one is talking about. By this logic, one could devide Roman history in 5 era's: the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Elysian Empire. (This honestly makes for a really good idea/concept/name for a AAR, should consider making it myself)

 

[HistoryDude]

Indeed, Ioannes gave Rome another chance to thrive!

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Chapter 3: The Third Rome (1445-1447)​

The passing of Ioannes VIII would leave an undeniable mark on the psyche of the Grand Fleet, already crossing further across an ocean that had already claimed the lives of many of the combined Greek and Latin ships among the vast gathering. It would impact the psyche of the countless sailors who worked across the collection of ships, toiling to ensure that the sails continued to carry the weight of the wind. Prayers would escape the words of the priests who continued to mourn a man who had already done so much in their hour of need. Aristocrats and commoners bridged the gap between man and subject for a brief and fleeting moment. The Emperor of the Old City was dead

His successor would be his brother, unanimously crowned in an unofficial ceremony as Konstantinos XI. Succession would pass completely unopposed among the seas, and already the new Emperor was much more of a stoic and commanding figure than his older brother had once been. Ioannes had been pragmatic and thoughtful in his conduct and humility, and in the last days of Constantinople, he remained committed to his beliefs and towards the betterment of his people until the very end. Konstantinos was not the same man that Ioannes was, and in the coming years, he would prove himself to be more than just a successor.

Following the cataclysmic storm that blew through the Grand Fleet, and the devastating loss that would come from the passing of Ioannes VIII, the fleet would journey across the endless ocean for another five days. Calmness and tranquility among the weather would bless the Grand Fleet with excellent sailing conditions, a stark contrast to the apocalpyitc suffering they had endured. To many, it was the wrath of the lord against the Romans for abandoning the city in its darkest hour. Some would interpret the storm as a divine judgment to test the Romans for the challenges and strengths that would lie ahead of them, tribulations to judge the strength of their unity and character in the threat of certain doom. In what would soon become remembered as the ‘Great Storm’, to a small minority, they would believe in a far more different interpretation of their suffering. In the hushed quarters of distant ships far away from the heart of the Grand Fleet, such interpretations would converge into something different.

Five days would pass. Another day would pass among the fleet, and the sun would clear away the darkness that enveloped the ships as dawn would rise. Sailors would yawn and awaken from their slumber, and as another boring day of sailing was expected to pass across the fleet, it seemed that another repetition was to occur as the days and nights blurred together across the empty expanse.

And then the unthinkable was heard. Land was in sight.

Konstantinos XI quickly moved across the Agia Theotoke in a blur to confirm such information, and several minutes anxiously waiting for confirmation. As soon as the horizon drew closer upon the fleet, and an unmistakable sight was seen by the rest of the fleet, an excitement would spread across the Grand Fleet in a singular sign of euphoria. The unmistakable shape of trees in the distance served as a wondrous sight that brought many people to tears. Konstantinos looked in bewilderment at what he had seen, shocked into silence that his brother had been right.

All of the decisions that had to be made and the sacrifices of those who remained behind would be worth it. Theophilos and Konstantinos jointly came together at the edge of their flagship, speaking quietly among themselves about the loss of Ioannes, who deserved to see the odyssey that had been embarked on under his leadership. Their conversation would be interrupted when an Italian sailor asked for the Masters, a nickname that quickly spread through the fleet following the Grand Fleet’s exit from Sicily, for approval to send a vanguard of explorers looking for a decent site to disembark. Konstantinos would nod in approval, and several small ships would sail across the coastline and up nearby rivers to scout for a suitable location.

Between Konstantinos and Theophilos, they both smiled, knowing that Ioannes must have been proud of them. Generations of Romans would be saved, along with those that were yet to be born. Instead of fighting for their future, Konstantinos could finally rest his mind and begin to think about it instead. When encountering this new land, Konstantinos suggested a name for the new land that they had been blessed with. Theophilos responded with a name as old as the empire itself, a heaven for the blessed and righteous. A single name for the new land with a powerful meaning.

Elysium.

Crossing into a vast bay, the Grand Fleet would sail up the mouth of a large estuary until finally disembarking at their destination after many weeks of sailing. Scouts would quickly survey a suitable location for the fleet to arrive and disembark upon, relaying information between one another until converging in a singular location. Venturing beyond the Pillars of Hercules and living to tell the tale, the desperate flight from Constantinople was a resounding success. The name of Elysium was given to the new land, named after the Elysian fields of the ancient paradise afterlife. But yet everything had been done to save as much as possible, as many more was left behind from what as surely Turkish dominion. Even now, many wondered if the last defenders of the empire were making their last stand in the doomed city.

The Romans would make landfall in the New World on March 2nd, 1445. In memory of their former home, the settlement that would be built upon their landing would be named Nea Konstantinopolis.

Many ships would disembark on the sandy beach they would land upon, where thousands of people would slowly leave behind the floating home they had been living upon for the last several weeks. Entire families, soldiers, and sailors, merchants and councilors, every single fabric and fiber of Roman society would stretch their legs and survey the new surroundings of the verdant and green land surrounding them. Many more would begin to unpack everything that had been taken with them, unpacking vast supplies and everything that had been taken as the first foundations of a camp would be established.

Having invested in bringing an overabundance of supplies along the odyssey, starvation would be avoided among the exiled peoples. Not worrying about a lack of tools, and with thousands of idle hands quickling working hard at work to build a settlement out of nothing, the settlement would begin to rapidly thrive. Tents would be constructed as temporary homes, while many more would return to the beached ships to sleep, as the foundations of the settlement would consist of nothing more than an enormous refugee camp.

Morale among the populace would remain exceptionally high, even after the misery that would hang over them following the initial exodus from Greece and during the Great Storm. The fledgling settlement would see a sizable militia to protect it from any outside threats, while Venetian expertise and supplies would come into expanding another small settlement in the woods near the landing area. Manpower would remain greatly limited, and all efforts were made towards self-preservation rather than exploring the surrounding area in detail.

Strange barbarian men would flee into the forrest at the approach of the Grand Fleet, and immediately, it would become obvious that the Romans were not alone in the world. Bigger concerns would be focused on survival rather than dealing with strangers that had no plans to attack. Farms were needed to be set up, iron and quarries to mine and forge weapons were needed, and more land was needed to expand dominion over. Konstantinos made himself a promise to build something far greater than he ever could have under prostration under the Sultan.

With all efforts focused on chopping down trees to construct homes, cultivating the nearby fields to plant the first seeds of new crops, and laying the foundation of their new home, minimal focus was used upon explorers and scouts investigating their new home. After a week of progress following the end of their journey, scouts would return to the landing camp with a barbarian dressed in a mail and with an old but sharp Dane axe. His tongue was utterly incomprehensible and matched no language spoken in Europe, and many believed that this barbarian was a remnant of the Vinlanders. It was only by chance that a trader who spoke Danish, swept into the Grand Fleet after he returned to Constantinople from the cold north, was brought in to translate.

Initial efforts to establish dialogue would be rough, but eventually bore success after multiple false starts. The barbarian spoke that many tribes fought against one another for resources, land, wealth, and honor in an expansive land. His unique weaponry and long coat of mail were unique, explaining that he was one of the personal bodyguards of his own chieftain.

Nea Konstantinopolis and its first beginnings, c.early 1445​

Aside from dark eyes and ruddy skin, he looked almost indistinguishable from the Varangians of old. After a while, the stranger asked what tribe the scouts belonged to. And in return, a name was given. They were Romans and not a mere tribe of them, but an Empire in its own right. First contact would be established between the newcomers of the land and the natives of this land.

Initial promises of settling in the new land would prove to be a great morale to the Romans, but internally, the Emperor and the remaining bureaucracy from the old homeland would be needed to construct a functional state in the new world. Overburdened and already small in number, the fledgling government would need to be constructed entirely from the ground up, already proving to be a bureaucratic nightmare. Infrastructure would need to be built, new laws created, armies raised and maintained and administrative systems to set up and manage the growing population before the administration could even think about large-scale expansion.

Initial contact between the Romans and the barbaroi would become distant but would also fuel an interest between the two distinct groups. The youngest among them would watch as new cities and hamlets would be constructed out of nothing, while the wiser and more elderly among the barbaroi would become wary. With minimal resources, from bark and hide to parchment scraps, brilliant engineers and builders would transform their surroundings from what had once been wilderness into a new settlement and town.

Curiosity among the barbaroi would see them gradually venture into these towns and settlements, opening up the world between the tribes and the romans even further as food and knowledge would be shared between them. Peace would be kept for a while in a mutually beneficial relationship, all the while the first settlements away from the landing camp of Nea Konstantinopolis would emerge. Temperate Roman minds would view the natives as a counterweight to the boundless ambitions of their new home, without them, their new home would whither and become hollow. Scouts would soon be replaced by diplomats, crossing into the new unknown as they venture to make contact with surrounding tribes. Prince Theophilos, now heir to the imperial throne, would press for further diplomacy to open up more ventures and opportunities.

Not all would share this inclusive thought, as warlike minds sought to wish away the tribes from what they deemed to be their new rightful land. Konstantinos XI would remain convinced by the weight of the militarists, having been a general back in Hellas, but would not ignore the barbaroi as just another people. Local knowledge, trade, and labor contribution from the curious barbaroi who sought to integrate with the Romans would prove invaluable. As an influx of settlers from Nea Konstantinos would emigrate outward into the wider area surrounding the bay, the first colonia settlements would be constructed, overseen by the new government which carefully settled outward. The population of Nea Konstantinopolis would dwindle before stabilizing as the territories would gradually stabilize.

In a matter of days from the first landing, using remaining lumber from the forests that had not been assigned to construct a wooden wall to protect the landing camp. Scouts would roam the surroundings and report barbaroi contact, while the remnant of the old imperial army would become the first protectors of their new home. It was nothing more than a giant encampment, but pride was seen in every corner and angle of the settlement. From an improvised harbor to a makeshift church, the center of the camp would serve as an armory in the event of an attack. Administrative tents and buildings located near the center would be nicknamed ‘the Forum’, named after the ancient center of day-to-day life in Ancient Rome. In coming decades, the name would stick, and would eventually become the center of Nea Konstantinopolis’s developing life.

Surviving through its first winter and a harsh cold, a new world would be built. A brick, a tile, and an icon. Three small symbolic relics from the homeland would serve as a cornerstone of everything to inspire what to build in their new home. For the first time in many years, hope would be seen and felt on the faces of the populace. A hollow word that had lost its meaning many years ago, would be reborn in the new world.

But the reasoning as to what had led the Romans here to the new world would never be forgotten. A hostile world, surrounded by terrible and envious enemies, had tried and failed to put an end to the light that was Rome. Konstantinos XI would proclaim that it was here in Elysium, it was time to say enough. It would be here that a Third Rome would be built, carrying the legacy of their forefathers with them. They were the successors to the Empire that civilized Europe. They were the children of the old Hellenes of Legend. And they were the sole light of Roman Civilization that burned like a beacon in the dark.

There would be no more grief or retreating. Konstantinos XI was ready to fight against destiny itself. His heart yearned to triumph against evil. It would be here in the Elysia that the darkness would finally be pushed back, and in due time, all corners of the world would be illuminated once more.

The Latins that had joined the Grand Fleet would quickly find a new purpose in the New World. The Knights of Rhodes and the Venetians would work together to further their own agenda rather than advancing the development of the initial settlements. Palisades and towers would be constructed to defend Nea Konstantinopolis from any and all outside threats, be it domestic or any potential raid by hostile barbaroi tribes. With the Latins preoccupied with their own matters and with distrust between the Greeks and Latins still lingering from the unforgivable offense that was the Fourth Crusade, their expertise and manpower would remain invaluable. Additionally, with the Hospitallers still recovering from their battle, their seafaring abilities gave the Roman navy an unmatched presence.

Konstantinos would meet Aurelia Orsini under the glowing warmth of the Palermo sun, and after what had been a short period of time due to their chance encounter, both Konstantinos and Aurelia would fall in love with each other during their journey with each other. Within a matter of weeks of bonding, laughing, and spending every moment that they could with each other, it was destiny for both souls to meet one another. Once the Grand Fleet would land in Elysium, the decision would be made for marriage.

Under the biggest tent of the encampment, a new chapter of Roman history would begin. With the recent blessing of the newly confirmed Patriarch, Emperor Konstantinos Palaiologos wed Aurelia Orsini in the first holy marriage in Elysium. The ceremony would remain humble for a royal wedding, due to limited resources, but the husband and bride would share their first kiss underneath the sun’s majestic rays.

Theophilos and Aida would remain smitten with one another along the journey, although the flame between the two of them wouldn't burn quite as brightly as the married couple. In the coming years, Theophilos and Aida would marry and mature with each other in holy matrimony. Even after gaining the trust and loyalty of the Imperial Family, the Orthodox clergy disapproved of the sisters due to their Catholicism, fearing Latin influence on the imperial throne. The sister's good advice, banter, and bright minds would be greatly appreciated by all within their presence.

Disembarking onto dry land following their arrival, the Orthodox clergy would be one of the most proactive elements of the Roman government to organize itself upon the construction of a proper settlement. Priests and deacons who had accompanied the Grand Fleet across the sea would use their positions as community and spiritual leaders to keep the populace united in the face of great hardship, holding sermons and offering any aid to those who sought the comfort of the church.

As the Church would remain a pivotal element of Roman governance and carry a sense of nostalgia and care from homesick Hellenes, the religious influence of the Church would ultimately erode away some imperial authority from the crown. But the crown would remain grateful for their help, and within a couple of years, the strength of faith would be tested.

The Grand Fleet had arrived in Elysium relatively unscathed thanks to the skill of the Venetian captains and shipwrights to ensure stability during the journey. Even with their expertise and skill, several of the transport ships were too badly damaged to be repaired and were ordered to be broken up. Konstantinos XI would order the materials from the deconstructed materials to construct basic infrastructure and housing. The remainder of the fleet would be repurposed to serve as the basis for the new Imperial Navy as the remaining few supplies that were taken from the Old World would finally be taken off the ships. With the additional lumber from the deconstructed boats adding to the growing surplus being gathered from woodsmen, tents would slowly but methodically be replaced with wooden housing.

A year would pass after the arrival in Elysia, and the changing of the seasons would gradually wear down the Romans in the unknown and mysterious land. No longer used to the temperate coasts of the Mediterranean that so many had been accustomed to, the winter season would strike hard and true. Yet the determination to settle in their new homeland would only fuel their desire to persist and survive. Animal pelts would be worn over more traditional clothing, and some would even cover their faces like the Varangians of old to preserve heat.

With a harsh winter forcing the Romans to adapt to their surroundings, illness had followed them from Europe as an outbreak of Phthisis would strike an unprepared and small lodgings in the crowded capital. A Powhatwan barbarian named Catatough, who had learned and spoke a rough form of Greek and claimed to be a healer, had aided the Romans in keeping the outbreak at bay. Due to his efforts and other Greek physicians, the empire would endure the winter reasonably well. Theophilos however would be stricken with the illness, and for most of the year, he would remain largely confined into isolation and bedridden.

With Nea Konstantinos growing to develop basic architecture, the new capital would begin to rapidly grow as the basic settlement quickly took a life of its own. What it lacked in the splendor of its namesake, it would make up for in functionality for the time being. Very quickly, the remaining settlers who hadn’t left to the frontier settlements would be allocated tasks and given responsibilities. Konstantinos XI would prioritize sending a bulk of the masses into the growing farmlands surrounding the capital, seeking to make the most in developing agriculture to secure a strong and reliable food supply.

With Nea Konstantinopolis finding stable footing and prospering daily, Roman influence would expand outward as settlers would be drawn to the allure of the frontier to begin their new lives. After a year and a half after landing in Elysium, the first major settlement outside of the capital would be founded. Kleomenon served as a small but important center for what many would develop into a new cultural and economic center of the Empire.

Elysium would prove to be a land of promise and fertility, yet this new world had thus far shown itself to not be without its difficulties. Crops that would flourish in this new land would prove to be difficult to find, and much of the previous knowledge and techniques that would be inherited from the old world would prove to be largely useless in trying to conquer the hard soil. It would be through perseverance and careful cultivation of a few choice seed species that agriculture would thrive in what had once been an empty land.

As the land would be tamed, food would flow into Nea Konstantinopolis and Kleomenon in true bounty. Konstantinos’s agricultural efforts would prove to be a resounding success, and people who had never picked up farming tools in the lives would be brimming with hope to work towards a better tomorrow. Granaries would brim with grain and more exotic plants native to Elysium. Konstantinos looked upon his subjects, feeling the same level of hope that his subjects were now experiencing.

Making up a small minority of the Grand Fleet, the dynatoi that would venture west with the rest of the imperial remnant would grow increasingly concerned by small-scaled raids by hostile barbaroi tribes. A majority of these tribes, most of whom were not friendly to the Romans or simply tested the defenses of the capital, would assault the capital before fleeing back into the forests. In return, the dynatoi have been recruiting small bands of their own to defend Roman holdings and conduct counter-raids.

Konstantinos XI took a great investment into the military matters of his realm, seeing it as his sworn duty to protest his subjects. Bypassing the concerns of the dynatoi, the Emperor would appoint a general unconnected to the aristocrats and sought to unify the small-scale militias into a unified military force. Their sacred duty would be simple, ensuring the safety of the capital above all else.

Even with the reorganization of the militia, the Dynatoi would remain restless and repeatedly petition the Emperor about their position in the new world. Remaining anxious ever since arriving in Elysium, they had been relegated to mere bureaucrats and foremen, leaving almost complete imperial authority to exist in the hands of the Emperor and a small council to oversee state resources and daily leadership. Even with their role in re-establishing imperial institutions and guiding as powerful figures in expansion efforts, the dynatoi feared an eventual decline of rights and elimination of their class in this new world, and would urgently seek to find a means to entrench their position. At the same time, Konstantinos would grow increasingly worried about a lack of material and financial resources to fund state projects.

The Emperor would approach the dynatoi with a deal, seeking to solve both issues at once. Konstantinos would organize a deal to the dynatoi, offering them a first pick of land throughout the new settlements in exchange for immediate payment. Being nobility, they would also be offered this land alongside the privilege of a pronoia, which would confer temporary tax-exempt status. This would, in addition, give them a head start as landowners compared to the commoners, having both the best lands and decades of tax exempt profits

The dynatoi immediately lept at the deal without a moment of hesitation, and with an abundance of wealth flooding into the coffers, both the crown and the dynatoi would be thrilled with the deal. The economy would see a noticeable boost in revenue, which would be channeled into further expansion efforts along the colonia.

The Venetians who made the journey along with the Grand Fleet would end up having their fate tied to the Greeks and Latins. With an imperial focus of focusing on bringing soldiers and their families beyond the pillars of Hercules rather than establishing anything more than a basic economy, the Venetians would take it upon themselves to organize it instead for the Romans. Headed by Delfino Delfin, the Venetians would organize their merchants and traders into a formidable guild, earning the name of the Arte dei Delfini.

The emerging guild would quickly take over a bulk of the Roman economy, as no prior Roman counterpart had been established since landing in the new world. No Greek merchant class had yet to be established, but even with further Latin influence, the Arte dei Delfini was incredibly loyal to the Empire. Konstantinos had further used the guild to act as a stopgap until the Empire was fully established in the new world, but for now, the Venetians prospered greatly with the rest of the Greeks.

Within a short period of time, Konstantinos had proved that he was a worthy successor to his brother's throne. Surviving beyond the first winter in this strange yet exotic new world, the Emperor had already led his subjects to thrive in the new world around them. Yet Konstantinos was determined to fight against fate, safeguarding his subjects and strengthening the empire both internally and externally. In the coming months, his fight was about to take an entirely new turn..

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I hope we get more glimpses of modern Elysia!

Indeed, Ioannes gave Rome another chance to thrive!

Rome shall have a chance to thrive, led by the Third, to ensure the darkness never extinguishes the light of Rome ever again.

The one thing I disagree with, and that seems to be more on the mod's side than yours, is that the Third Odyssey would result in the creation of a "Elysia" seperate from the idea of "Rome". It would be much like the move from Rome to Constantinopel (or Ravenna/Milan but the Western Empire is kinda irrelevant), a administrative move. The core of the Idea of Rome would still be there, and the refugees from Constantinople would bring the Ethnos of Rome to this new home. It's much like the way the 1918-1933 period in Germany is called the Weimar Republic. That was not its official name and the people did not identify as Weimarians, but it is a easy indication of what one is talking about. By this logic, one could devide Roman history in 5 era's: the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Elysian Empire. (This honestly makes for a really good idea/concept/name for a AAR, should consider making it myself)

That's a good point. I hope you are enjoying the story!

 

[HistoryDude]

Elysia is founded! Let this Third Rome be the last Rome - and the greatest!

The foundation of a center of learning near the capital is a good start. Hopefully it lasts.

Contact with the Vikings occurs soon, right?

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Chapter 4: The Apostate (1447-1449)​

The discovery of the New World and the landing of the Grand Fleet in the fledgling settlement of Nea Konstantinopolis would immediately send shockwaves across the surrounding region. The remnant of a vestigial empire escaping from their decaying homeland as refugees, using whatever meager resources they had taken along with them to construct a formidable settlement for themselves. The prayers for salvation would be answered in the form of Elysia, the name of the new home of the Romans. A paradise for the blessed, a land of promise and fertility, yet troubled with difficulties that made taming the wilderness difficult.

As the capital flourished in an unknown period of peace, the minds of the populace could focus on beginning their lives anew in the communities they would build. Nea Konstantinopolis remained the epicenter of the exiled Roman civilization, retaining a core of thousands of inhabitants as eager explorers and settlers gradually left the safety of the capital to begin their lives in the new frontier. Emperor Konstantinos XI and the fledgling remnant government would be tasked with constructing a new imperial government from scratch and focusing on consolidation. As peace became its own reward, survival was a priority in his mind. It would be here that this Third Rome, the last of its kind, would be built from nothing.

As buildings of wood would replace countless rows of tents, the growing capital would be limited in its resources. Stone was an exceedingly rare commodity among the reserves brought from Europe, and would remain so for years to come, due to a lack of stone quarries. Brickmaking within Nea Konstantinopolis was in its infancy, with the construction of the first collection of kilns within the capital being built to provide extra materials for construction purposes. Due to a lack of materials and production, along with a lack of volcanic ash, cement would remain virtually impossible to produce domestically until the means to produce and secure the resource would be found many years later. The first and oldest buildings within the capital would be constructed from brick until stone and concrete would gradually replace the capital’s infrastructure.

With the capital largely resembling a gigantic camp and a construction site, local religious leaders would impore the Emperor to allocate resources towards the construction of a true church dedicated to the lord. Due to the limited resources, only a basic church would be constructed using wood and stone. Konstantinos would deny their request, allocating that the expense of the church would weaken the treasury and place further stress on resources that could be better used elsewhere. The church would complain in protest, and trust in the Emperor would be briefly weakened, but nothing would come from the encounter.

With many settlers focusing on the bay area, many Greek settlers would emigrate from the capital and begin to build their new lives in small towns and villages within proximity of Nea Konstantinopolis. The area would be ripe for colonization, and the small barbaroi presence within the area would allow for easy integration of the natives into the new settlements. Strategic resources would quickly be put to good use to fuel the development of the empire that was being built, and with an influx of raw materials, the frontier colonies would see a boost in productivity.

With Nea Konstantinopolis and Kleomenon both standing on their own, a great effort was made by the Emperor and the imperial government to secure the mouth of the harbor and develop it into a major settlement. The Roman influx of Greek and Latin settlers would found the city of Prosphorion in June 1447, where its strategic location at the mouth of the bay along with it’s vast harbor would see the new settlement becoming a major center of commerce and military importance in the years to come.

Aurelia Orsini, the Empress of the Romans, would frequently display a good grasp of military strategy and knowledge throughout her life. Her expertise and knowledge on such a subject would allow her to participate in many discussions, but it would be the humanistic concern of the Empress about the soldiers within the ranks and how to best care for the men that would be held in high regard by the generals of the empire. Her presence alone would greatly impress the dynatoi, and Aurelia was a favorite within the imperial court. Konstantinos XI would remain proud of his wife and the two would frequently bond over these ideas.

With a greater influx of Roman refugees gradually leaving Nea Konstantinopolis and settling on the frontier settlements, they would come into more and more contact with the red-skinned barbaroi that were native to Elysium. Many of these tribes were far more hostile than others, and for a time, both sides would keep their distance. But as explorers ventured deeper into the mysterious lands of the continent, encounters between the Romans and the natives would become more violent. When fatalities became an uncertainty to an unfortunate reality, the Romans would react.

Orhan Celebi, the Turkish prince who had joined along with the Roman Fleet, would lead a retinue of Jannisaries in a series of expeditions to combat the natives. The skirmishes would be a resounding success, as the barbaroi would surrender to Orhan’s well-equipped and highly disciplined force of soldiers. The natives within the immediate frontier from Nea Konstantinopolis would no longer trouble the Empire, and most of the Janissaries would garrison the area to further prevent any future attacks. The Turkish methods, while still unorthodox to some and barbaric to others, would not be ignored in results.

Portrait of Orhan Celebi, the Turkish Prince (1412-1478)​

Orhan Celebi, the grandson of Suleyman Celebi, was the second cousin and a direct rival to Mehmed II, the Sultan of the Turks back in Europe. As a pretender to the Ottoman throne, his existence would be a direct threat to his cousin, who sought his execution for the crimes of his grandfather during the Ottoman Interregnum which he was never born to witness. As his very existence was a threat, Orhan would remain in Constantinople under the protection of the Greeks, living under Roman rule.

When the plan to abandon the old world was underway, Orhan and a retinue of six hundred Ottoman defectors would plead with Ioannes VIII to take them on their journey, using their experience and expertise to assist the Romans however they could. Orhan joined in the expedition with his men, and upon landing, Orhan helped organize efforts to organize the new imperial army.

As one of the few Muslims who made the journey along an overwhelmingly Christian fleet, Orhan would make a strong name for himself regardless of his origin since landing in the new world. Daring skirmishes on the frontier and the martial excellence of the Janissaries under his command would earn the respect and admiration of the imperial court. Orhan would once again make a proposal to Konstantinos XI a radical yet important proposal.

Orhan would seek to establish a new Janissary regiment within the imperial army, seeking to recruit from the young barbaroi who had been left orphaned in previous conflicts, while modernizing and implementing the Janissary doctrine which had seen the Turks rise to such success it had achieved in the Old World. The orphans would be educated to learn and speak Greek, forcefully converted to Orthodoxy, and subjected to extremely rigorous discipline akin to the Turkish model that was once deployed against the Romans.

The proposal for such an elite unit would be pragmatic, but many would be deeply worried that such a foreign practice would alienate the local populace due to the brutality of its practices. Some would point out the expense of retaining such a force, which would be better used for expanding the existing miltia and professional units within the army. Konstantinos would ultimately agree with the prevailing sentiment that history had taught the empire in past experiences at the hands of such troops and grant Orhan his support. Deeply grateful for imperial support, Orhan immediately went straight to work building the elite infantry unit.

With several years passing from the arrival in Elysia, silk production would begin to see positive results after sufficient moths were bred to reignite the industry in what would become known as ‘Skoros Silk’. A form of silk created created from moths that far exceeded the quality of any lesser clothes and textiles, yet was mediocre and inferior to the silk known of in the known world. The lack of a rival product would easily make up for the lack of quality, as it would remain the only known product of its kind on the market for generations.

Produced as only a few meters a year due to its rudimentary backward production, the silk was visibly lower quality than any silk brought along with the fleet. But it would remain a luxury item among the elite and wealthy of Roman society.

The relationship between the natives and the Romans would become difficult, as both groups would view one another with relative friendliness and outright hostility between tribes. Some tribes and groups of barbaroi would act entirely differently from the others, and as ambitions grew among the militarists, the peace that had existed for several years in Elysium would be broken. The Lenape and the Piscataway, the two largest organized tribes within the periphery of the frontier, were the most hostile groups to the empire. It would be through these two tribes that the first real conflict in the new world would begin.

Having prepared for expansionist goals for quite some time, Konstantinos and the militarists among the council would spend two years following the voyage to settle down and build their new home. By August 1447, the Empire was in a suitable position to launch offensive expansion outward and begin campaigns. Still remaining extremely limited on manpower, the Romans would hope to fight any battles decisively and prevent a long war on attrition whenever possible. Discipline, armor, and leadership would remain the three core elements as the imperial army launched their first campaign beyond the frontier. Orhan Celebi, leading the imperial army and having recently completed his first reforms, would take the initiate and launch the assault.

Orhan and the army would encounter the Piscataway at Patawomac, where the initial efforts of the battle would see a sharp advantage of Roman arms against the natives. The enemy commander would prove to use the terrain to his advantage but failed to keep the morale of his men as steel armor and weapons would punch straight through the natives. Still suffering under heavy attrition, Orhan would manage to secure victory against the barbaroi as their ranks fled from the region into the wilderness to recover.

A rapid siege of the Piscataway would rapidly follow as the remainder of their armed forces would retreat to lick their wounds, leaving their home directly exposed for Orhan to bring the might of the Roman army down upon the tribes. Hearing of the earlier battle and the defeat that followed, many of the Piscataway tribes would surrender to the Romans, while those who sought to continue the rebellion would be crushed. With victory assured, peace terms would be met. The Piscataway would become a vassal to the Romans and abandon all claims on Roman territory, while the Romans promised to respect what remained of their semi-independence for the time being.

Now existing as little more than as subjects, Roman diplomats would immediately travel to the new existing subject to build up relations and to bind them closer to the empire, with the gradual process of their annexation. Roman traders would venture into their lands to trade, missionaries would slowly begin to preach and avenues were taken to maintain a growing relationship with the tribe. With peace negotiated, positive relations wouldn’t exist for several years, but the example that had been made would define Roman expansion for years to come.

Following the rapid victory against the Piscataway, Orhan immediately marched his troops into the charted but unsettled lands to catch the Lenape off-guard. With the success of the victory taking a long time to pass beyond the frontier, the Lenepe held a smaller military than the Romans over the settlements but were notably sophisticated. As soon as the ink had dried following the treaty with the Piscataway, war against the Lenape would be declared as the Romans attacked from the west.

As soon as both forces met in combat, the Lenape would be completely massacred. Completely overpowered in combat, the Romans would outmaneuver the Lenepe and wipe the barbaroi forces out to the last man. The moment that the defeat was received among the Lenape natives, they would surrender en-masse to the Romans. The numerical decimation had destroyed any willingness to continue the fight against the Empire, and with the capabilities to maintain a prolonged conflict completely eliminated, the Lenape would have no choice but to surrender.

In another humiliating treaty, the Lenape would be forced into vassalage under the Roman banner like the defeated Piscataway. Much like the other native subjects, the Lenape would see Roman diplomats and traders venture into their settlements to trade and ease the broken relationship among the tribes. Appealing to the village elites, the Lenape would see a beneficial growth to their own relative prosperity as an appendage of the Roman system.

The original purpose of the expedition and flight from Europe was the abandonment of the old world and to settle upon the fabled lands of Vinland, a place that had eluded many minds for centuries upon its disappearance from the historical records due to its abandonment. Upon settling upon the lands that they had deemed to be Elysium, it was believed that the Romans and the natives of the vast land around them were perhaps the only source of civilization in their known world. Shortly after the successful campaign against the Piscataway and Lenape, they would be proven wrong.

A delegation from a previously unknown group of people to the north would arrive within Elysium, sailing up the bay before disembarking in Nea Konstantinopolis. The Varangians of Vinland had survived and captured the fascination of the Romans in the capital in their longboats. According to the historical documents brought along with the exodus, the Varangians of old were fearsome raiders and distinguished traders in their own right. With the coasts still mostly unprotected from outside threats, the Romans prepared a delegation of their own to talk with the Varangians.

Markland and Helluland, the cold remnant of a bygone era ​

The former remnant of the Vinlandic colonies had survived the centuries in complete isolation from the old world, but the passage of time had not been kind to the Vinlanders who had called the region home. A brutally hostile climate and having been decimated by warfare and disease. In addition to a low population, survival had remained paramount as the centuries of isolation slowly came to an end after a grueling recovery period. With first contact between Vinland and Elysium established, envoys would be met to learn about the culture and life of the other realms. Discovering surprising similarities and stark differences.

The Varangians of Vinland were an incredibly hardy and strong people, and in terrible isolation, had managed to build a strong homeland for themselves. Roman diplomats expecting barbaric dwellings filled with the horned pale men of the Viking era of terror would instead find a large wooden city that housed a unique mix of both pale and native men. Vinland had remained entrenched in the faith of their Norse ancestors, never knowing the fate of their brothers and sisters across the ocean in the old world. While not matching the youth and vibrance that Nea Konstantinopolis had, Vinland had achieved success despite suffering under horrifying circumstances.

As Roman diplomats explored in fascination about the northern colonies, they were presented with a choice. Helluland promised a stable source of naval materials for their ongoing naval expertise, while Markland presented a deal for exotic ivory, furs, and oils that weren't found anywhere else within the region, forcing the Romans into a diplomatic play that would push them towards one of the colonies but exclude the other.

After consideration, the benefits of the Markland deal would weigh more heavily over the Helluland offer, as such exotic goods would provide a stable expansion opening the markets of the new world. With a preference reached, Markland would agree to a military alliance with the Romans as Helluland diplomats would storm out from the meeting. With diplomatic ties established between the two nations, the world seemed to feel gradually bigger. And that in the busy streets of Nea Konstaninopolis, the fledgling churches of Kleomenon, and the harbor of Prosphorion, a sense of importance would swell within the hearts of the Greeks and Latins that had called Elysium home under their Roman banner.

As the vibrant communities of Roman society began to take shape, the trauma and suffering that had brought them to the New World would take a new form. A sense of abandonment would swell in the hearts of those who would abandon their homeland, and in the cruelty of the Great Storm, the divine judgment that would test the Romans would be interpreted differently. In the hushed quarters of distant ships that were away from the heart of the Grand Fleet, the storm would be perceived that God had abandoned them. These feelings of unease and spiritual abandonment would carry over into the landing and settlement of the first few Roman cities, but wouldn’t take form until much later.

Among the ship would be one of the most esteemed figures upon the Grand Fleet. Georgios Gemistos Plethon, a genius upon whom his name would be shared with both admiration and hatred. Held in high esteem by the Emperor, along with his brother and father before him, he had been responsible for circulating the teachings of Plato well beyond the confines of Hellas. For a lifetime of service to the Empire, along with friendship with the Emperor and his brilliant mind, he would be taken along with the fleet of exiles as Constantinople was abandoned.

The suffering of the Romans during the Great Storm would be interpreted by Plethon differently. Having long studied the downfall of the Romans since the adoption of Christianity, Plethon would be convinced that the suffering that had followed since the adoption of the faith was not the saving grace of the Romans. Despite being the most faithful servant of God, he didn’t help defend Jerusalem or Constantinople from the Muslims. The downward spiral from Constantine over a thousand years ago had what had been the torch of civilization as a dilapidated broken people. God seemed to listen but didn’t seem to care.

Gemistos Plethon, the Apostate. The most renowned philosopher of his era, he would be the father of the Plethonist movement. ​

With the Great Storm having already pushed even the most faithful of the Romans to their breaking points, it was a sign to the elderly Plethon that the lord had abandoned his people. The suffering that occurred during the Great Storm was not a sign from God but instead illustrated the temper of Poseidon. If the Lord truly held dominion over creation, he appeared as flawed and ill-tempered as the Hellenic gods of old. Years of doubt and suffering on his mind would turn his back on God, and his true colors would be shown. Plethon would become an apostate, singing hymns to the Hellenic gods of old and teaching the mysticism of Zoroaster. His worst crime would not be his renouncement of god, but the repudiation of the very soul and character of the Romanness of the Empire, declaring them solely to be pagan Hellenes instead of righteous Romans.

His brilliant intelligence and charisma would become such influential that the cardinal, Bessarion, would fall completely under his sway and renounce Christendom. With such influential backing, the almost hundred-year-old man’s ideas began to spread rapidly across the lower classes before spreading outward to influence almost any aspect of society that it seemed to touch. Farmers and woodsmen, merchants and artisans, noble and even priest, anything that the apostate’s ideas touched seemed to burn within their minds.

With newfound zealotry, the spiritually reborn apostate would begin to preach his new gospel and quickly found a following. Plethon would be popular within the government and was held enough in imperial esteem that arresting him would instigate a violent rebellion. Along with extreme age, it as perceived that his new beliefs were nothing more than the ramblings of a senile old man losing his grasp on reality, and was sure to die within a couple of years. He was dangerous, and yet, an old friend to the Empire who was wise and brilliant beyond his years.

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Elysia is founded! Let this Third Rome be the last Rome - and the greatest!

The foundation of a center of learning near the capital is a good start. Hopefully it lasts.

Contact with the Vikings occurs soon, right?

Correct!

 

[Jedevari1]

Awesome Update
Always wondering what happens if you take the Plethonist side in the crisis

 

[Arakhor]

You have assigned Konstantinos's regnal numeral as XII throughout, when he was only the eleventh ruler of that name.

 

[Fool Esquire]

Great stuff! Is this a remake of a previous story?