A fitting ruler for the era of Elysian dominance..
Plans to take advantage of the Ming-explosion?
Plans to take advantage of the Ming-explosion?
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Oh definitely. A shattered China is definitely within Elysian interests, but I've got bigger monsters to slay for now...
In the retrospective one gets a whiff of an impression that, whilst he was a good Emperor and did his duty, he might have preferred to be someone of lesser stature - an artist, say.
Basil seems like a fitting spokesman for the Elysians' new humanist face -- though, as mentioned above, he might have been perfectly content to leave the actual business of empire to someone else in another lifetime.
Chapter 40: Ragnarök (1630-1632)
Chapter 40: Ragnarök (1630-1632)
With the campaign along the Levant continuing with the ongoing Christianization of the region, the Elysian Emperor, Andronikos, had given orders specifically to his commanders to spare the Jewish and Christian sections of Jerusalem while the Islamic section of the city was sacked. The Emperor would come into a difficult problem with securing the Levant and the holy land, faced with the treatment of the diverse region. While he would come to support the christian populace in the region and including them into the new nobility of the Levantine exarch, he would find a more difficult problem. The status of Judea and, more importantly, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem was held as a sacred city among the Abrahamic faiths, and creating a new status-quo would come to prove difficult. Zealous senators would argue to the Emperor about transitioning Jerusalem into a completely Christian city, excluding the Jews who had a very long and difficult history within Judea. Some senators would become more sympathetic to the Jews and wish to hand over the city to the Jews while Christians would hold the rest of the Holy Land. Andronikos would, in the end, come up with a completely different solution.
The Emperor would make a bold offer towards the Jewish people and aimed to appease the Jewish people. He sent out an invitation to the kingdoms and republics of Europe, inviting their respective Jewish populations to return to the Holy Land. For the price of loyalty to Elysia and, the Emperor would lift the ancient ban imposed upon them by the Romans and allow them to return to Jerusalem, while promising them standard rights and autonomy within Syria et Palestinia. Should the Jews become a loyal populace within the Empire and assist the Elysian Empire in securing the East, the Elysian Emperor would all but guarantee his support in the building of the Third Temple. Of course, to appease the growing Christian elite of the exarch, the Jews were only permitted to serve within the local government and had to pay slightly higher taxes than Christians, akin to the Islamic Jizya system but to a lesser extent. To sweeten the deal, there would be no taxation of any churches across the entire exarch.
Instead of antagonizing them, the Elysian Emperor wanted to militarize the Jews and turn them into a loyal populace. He dreamed of Christian and Jew, fighting side by side against the Muhammadians and creating a prosperous and stable Near East, with Jerusalem as the center of the Christian and Jewish worlds. In his mind, a Pax Elysium of the East would secure Imperial hegemony in perpetuity. After some debating among the senate and the eastern exarch, both sides would come to a conclusion and agree upon the Emperor’s plan. Jews from across Europe would start to migrate from their homelands and started to make the long journey to their homeland, all the while the Christian elites were assured of their dominance within government.
Along the Maniolas archipelago, looking for a means to decentralize the island rule, the Elysians would encounter the northern realm of Pangasinan. Relations between the two was to be built upon immediately, and Liaisons would serve as translators between both Maniolian and Elysian groups, while also teaching Elysian to the kingdoms inhabitants. In time, the relations would begin to blossom.
As the monarchy granted trading companies exclusive rights to traffic goods within a region, some companies had achieved a monopoly status and dominated the markets. These monopolies would be granted in exchange for a lump-sum payment and continuing revenues. Emperor Andronikos would make a long-term investment into the monopolies, aiming to strength the Imperial market by promoting Elysian-based companies.
Akin to the rivalry of old, the new Persian Empire would become the founder of a military coalition against the Sons of Rome. Dominating the Persian Plateau and Mesopotamia, Persian military right was strengthened regionally by having recently conquered Baghdad and most of Mesopotamia. The Feudal Theocracy, dominated by the Shia clergy, threw their support behind the Shahanshah, who declared themselves the leader of the Islamic world and ‘eternal enemy’ to the Elysian Empire. With the destructive ways achieved during the Levant, including the destruction of two sacred sites, Muslims flocked to the Persian banner from across the Islamic world, keen for vengeance against the ‘Bastard Greeks’
The Vinlandic Althing, long having been an enemy to the Elysian Empire, was on its very last legs. Decades of devastating wars against the Elysians, alongside a stagnant and decaying government had led to an unpopular government within the North. Long-standing persecution of Christians from the south, especially along Vinlandic Christians, was inflamed by the reign of the megalomaniacal Mad King. War would be declared on February 13th 1631. With Vinland now a shell of its former self, Elysia had viewed the Althing as a dying animal. It was now the Empire’s responsibility to put it down.
The state between the Vinlandic and Elysians armies was a sad sight. The Empire could raise hundreds of thousands of men, all who had been trained in the demanding training regimen that had led to the Elysians having one of the worlds most disciplined and effective land armies, with physical and mental training levels comparable to the ancient Legions of Rome. The Norse, having lost a large majority of its wealth and population, could barely raise several thousand. The North’s only effective force was its navy that sought to prolong the conflict, but it had only delayed the inevitable against the Imperial armada.
Despite being completely outnumbered and outgunned by a superior foe, the Althing had still conducted the barbaric pirate raids against the Empire with whatever they had left. Leaving the Elysians disgusted that the Norse would sink to such low levels, it only strengthened the resolve among the Elysians to destroy the North.
Tens of thousands would march into the north to overwhelm Vinland, easily occupying regions of the north with ease. With an Elysian core thema capable to easily overwhelm the Northern armies, entire towns in Vinland would surrender without a fight to the invading Elysians. News would leak from Vinland that entire towns who resisted against the Elysians were put to the sword.
Within the gulf, Elysia would completely destroy whatever had remained of the Vinlandic navy. The navy, the pride of the Norse who were renowned for their skills as sailors, was wiped out to the last man. As Elysia ruled the seas, the Empire would leave no survivors.
The only serious military engagement conducted by the Norse occurred at Fryslland, where the results were predictable to the Elysians. The core of the Norse had been devastated in the frozen snows of the north, and thousands would perish to the might of the Imperial army. The Elysian commanders did not even bother spending time to order a burial of the dead, instead leaving the dead Norse where they lie. The Elysian losses would be burnt, but the Norse losses would be sent as a grim reminder to VInland.
After some time marching across the north, Emperor Andronikos would lead the siege of the Vinlandic capital personally. Eirikströndir would be bombarded from the land by the mighty siege cannons, and from the sea. Despite being surrounded and facing destruction, the Norse still held on for as long as they possibly could. On the final day, the Konungur would march out from the ruins of the city on his own, surrendering himself completely to Emperor Andronikos.
As soon as the Konungur surrendered himself to the Emperor, a thunderous roar was yelled by the Elysian army. The sound of victory was carried across the winds and was heard for many miles. Due to surrendering to the Empire, Eirikströndir would be spared destruction like Vinóss had been, and the Konungur would be placed under house arrest.
The Empire would win a historic victory against the North, once that echoed across the entire world. Despite the low amount of casualties within the war, the Empire’s real victory had occured in its territory. This would prove to become the Althings final war, as the Konungur and the Althing would meet the Emperor and his close followers in person.
The Emperor, as a way to humiliate the Norse, decided to hold the signing of the treaty in their former capital of Vinóss, which was now known as Nea Pontus. The Treaty of Nea Pontus would be signed on October 26th 1632, ending the war as well as the Vinlandic state.The entirety of the north would be ceded, including Greenland. Several days after the signing of the treaty, the Althing would be disbanded completely. The Konungur, stripped of his royal privileges, would return to life in the north as a normal man.
With the annexation of Vinland, the Empire had defeated their long-time rival and delivered a death blow towards Norsedom. While not apart of official policy, Christian Vinlanders treated the faith of their forefathers as illegal worship. Politically, Imperial rule was brought to the north and the new Norse populace of the Empire were now subject to Imperial law. With the Althing completely dissolved, the next generation growing up within the north would know little about the former nation.
The Church, rather than intervene with political affairs, would have their hands full with missionary efforts across the Pacific in Asia and in the arctic north along Vinland. The Emperor and Senate would grant the church with more funding for missionary efforts concentrated towards the north, and would help with introducing and spreading the true faith in the most remote vinlandic regions. To accelerate this, the Empire would officially declare Norse worship illegal to accelerate missionary efforts and declared worship a punishable offense carrying the death penalty in the most extreme cases.
Norse Temples would be closed down for future conversions into Christian churches, burnt down or simply demolished. In a sense of irony, the law would not be passed by Elysian senators, but would be passed overwhelmingly by the Vinlandic Christian senators with the backing of the northern population.
The people of the north, long having been a hindrance and a pest to the Empire, had long had a history of plundering Elysian shores for wealth and then turning around and pledging their ‘eternal allegiance’ to the Empire before conducting raids again, going on an on in a vicious cycle. No longer being reliant on flimsy treaties or promises of gold, Imperial rule would be forced upon the Norse once and for all.
With the North secured, there was another loose end that the Empire had to tie up. The Spartan Kingdom in the southern jungles had long disregarded Imperial authority for too long. Despite not wanting to admit it, the ruling dynasty has incredibly strong blood ties to the Emperors of times past. Leonidas, a relative of the Imperial house who was related to Emperor John and Manuel, sought to establish an independent state for those who wished to prove their martial worth. Centuries of maintaining their ‘supremacy’ over their own population had led the Spartan monarchy and nobility with extreme arrogance, believing that their legions were invincible in battle.
They were about to be proven completely wrong. It was time for Spartania to bend the knee...
With the campaign along the Levant continuing with the ongoing Christianization of the region, the Elysian Emperor, Andronikos, had given orders specifically to his commanders to spare the Jewish and Christian sections of Jerusalem while the Islamic section of the city was sacked. The Emperor would come into a difficult problem with securing the Levant and the holy land, faced with the treatment of the diverse region. While he would come to support the christian populace in the region and including them into the new nobility of the Levantine exarch, he would find a more difficult problem. The status of Judea and, more importantly, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem was held as a sacred city among the Abrahamic faiths, and creating a new status-quo would come to prove difficult. Zealous senators would argue to the Emperor about transitioning Jerusalem into a completely Christian city, excluding the Jews who had a very long and difficult history within Judea. Some senators would become more sympathetic to the Jews and wish to hand over the city to the Jews while Christians would hold the rest of the Holy Land. Andronikos would, in the end, come up with a completely different solution.
The Emperor would make a bold offer towards the Jewish people and aimed to appease the Jewish people. He sent out an invitation to the kingdoms and republics of Europe, inviting their respective Jewish populations to return to the Holy Land. For the price of loyalty to Elysia and, the Emperor would lift the ancient ban imposed upon them by the Romans and allow them to return to Jerusalem, while promising them standard rights and autonomy within Syria et Palestinia. Should the Jews become a loyal populace within the Empire and assist the Elysian Empire in securing the East, the Elysian Emperor would all but guarantee his support in the building of the Third Temple. Of course, to appease the growing Christian elite of the exarch, the Jews were only permitted to serve within the local government and had to pay slightly higher taxes than Christians, akin to the Islamic Jizya system but to a lesser extent. To sweeten the deal, there would be no taxation of any churches across the entire exarch.
Instead of antagonizing them, the Elysian Emperor wanted to militarize the Jews and turn them into a loyal populace. He dreamed of Christian and Jew, fighting side by side against the Muhammadians and creating a prosperous and stable Near East, with Jerusalem as the center of the Christian and Jewish worlds. In his mind, a Pax Elysium of the East would secure Imperial hegemony in perpetuity. After some debating among the senate and the eastern exarch, both sides would come to a conclusion and agree upon the Emperor’s plan. Jews from across Europe would start to migrate from their homelands and started to make the long journey to their homeland, all the while the Christian elites were assured of their dominance within government.
Along the Maniolas archipelago, looking for a means to decentralize the island rule, the Elysians would encounter the northern realm of Pangasinan. Relations between the two was to be built upon immediately, and Liaisons would serve as translators between both Maniolian and Elysian groups, while also teaching Elysian to the kingdoms inhabitants. In time, the relations would begin to blossom.
As the monarchy granted trading companies exclusive rights to traffic goods within a region, some companies had achieved a monopoly status and dominated the markets. These monopolies would be granted in exchange for a lump-sum payment and continuing revenues. Emperor Andronikos would make a long-term investment into the monopolies, aiming to strength the Imperial market by promoting Elysian-based companies.
Akin to the rivalry of old, the new Persian Empire would become the founder of a military coalition against the Sons of Rome. Dominating the Persian Plateau and Mesopotamia, Persian military right was strengthened regionally by having recently conquered Baghdad and most of Mesopotamia. The Feudal Theocracy, dominated by the Shia clergy, threw their support behind the Shahanshah, who declared themselves the leader of the Islamic world and ‘eternal enemy’ to the Elysian Empire. With the destructive ways achieved during the Levant, including the destruction of two sacred sites, Muslims flocked to the Persian banner from across the Islamic world, keen for vengeance against the ‘Bastard Greeks’
The Vinlandic Althing, long having been an enemy to the Elysian Empire, was on its very last legs. Decades of devastating wars against the Elysians, alongside a stagnant and decaying government had led to an unpopular government within the North. Long-standing persecution of Christians from the south, especially along Vinlandic Christians, was inflamed by the reign of the megalomaniacal Mad King. War would be declared on February 13th 1631. With Vinland now a shell of its former self, Elysia had viewed the Althing as a dying animal. It was now the Empire’s responsibility to put it down.
The state between the Vinlandic and Elysians armies was a sad sight. The Empire could raise hundreds of thousands of men, all who had been trained in the demanding training regimen that had led to the Elysians having one of the worlds most disciplined and effective land armies, with physical and mental training levels comparable to the ancient Legions of Rome. The Norse, having lost a large majority of its wealth and population, could barely raise several thousand. The North’s only effective force was its navy that sought to prolong the conflict, but it had only delayed the inevitable against the Imperial armada.
Despite being completely outnumbered and outgunned by a superior foe, the Althing had still conducted the barbaric pirate raids against the Empire with whatever they had left. Leaving the Elysians disgusted that the Norse would sink to such low levels, it only strengthened the resolve among the Elysians to destroy the North.
Tens of thousands would march into the north to overwhelm Vinland, easily occupying regions of the north with ease. With an Elysian core thema capable to easily overwhelm the Northern armies, entire towns in Vinland would surrender without a fight to the invading Elysians. News would leak from Vinland that entire towns who resisted against the Elysians were put to the sword.
Within the gulf, Elysia would completely destroy whatever had remained of the Vinlandic navy. The navy, the pride of the Norse who were renowned for their skills as sailors, was wiped out to the last man. As Elysia ruled the seas, the Empire would leave no survivors.
The only serious military engagement conducted by the Norse occurred at Fryslland, where the results were predictable to the Elysians. The core of the Norse had been devastated in the frozen snows of the north, and thousands would perish to the might of the Imperial army. The Elysian commanders did not even bother spending time to order a burial of the dead, instead leaving the dead Norse where they lie. The Elysian losses would be burnt, but the Norse losses would be sent as a grim reminder to VInland.
After some time marching across the north, Emperor Andronikos would lead the siege of the Vinlandic capital personally. Eirikströndir would be bombarded from the land by the mighty siege cannons, and from the sea. Despite being surrounded and facing destruction, the Norse still held on for as long as they possibly could. On the final day, the Konungur would march out from the ruins of the city on his own, surrendering himself completely to Emperor Andronikos.
As soon as the Konungur surrendered himself to the Emperor, a thunderous roar was yelled by the Elysian army. The sound of victory was carried across the winds and was heard for many miles. Due to surrendering to the Empire, Eirikströndir would be spared destruction like Vinóss had been, and the Konungur would be placed under house arrest.
The Empire would win a historic victory against the North, once that echoed across the entire world. Despite the low amount of casualties within the war, the Empire’s real victory had occured in its territory. This would prove to become the Althings final war, as the Konungur and the Althing would meet the Emperor and his close followers in person.
The Emperor, as a way to humiliate the Norse, decided to hold the signing of the treaty in their former capital of Vinóss, which was now known as Nea Pontus. The Treaty of Nea Pontus would be signed on October 26th 1632, ending the war as well as the Vinlandic state.The entirety of the north would be ceded, including Greenland. Several days after the signing of the treaty, the Althing would be disbanded completely. The Konungur, stripped of his royal privileges, would return to life in the north as a normal man.
With the annexation of Vinland, the Empire had defeated their long-time rival and delivered a death blow towards Norsedom. While not apart of official policy, Christian Vinlanders treated the faith of their forefathers as illegal worship. Politically, Imperial rule was brought to the north and the new Norse populace of the Empire were now subject to Imperial law. With the Althing completely dissolved, the next generation growing up within the north would know little about the former nation.
The Church, rather than intervene with political affairs, would have their hands full with missionary efforts across the Pacific in Asia and in the arctic north along Vinland. The Emperor and Senate would grant the church with more funding for missionary efforts concentrated towards the north, and would help with introducing and spreading the true faith in the most remote vinlandic regions. To accelerate this, the Empire would officially declare Norse worship illegal to accelerate missionary efforts and declared worship a punishable offense carrying the death penalty in the most extreme cases.
Norse Temples would be closed down for future conversions into Christian churches, burnt down or simply demolished. In a sense of irony, the law would not be passed by Elysian senators, but would be passed overwhelmingly by the Vinlandic Christian senators with the backing of the northern population.
The people of the north, long having been a hindrance and a pest to the Empire, had long had a history of plundering Elysian shores for wealth and then turning around and pledging their ‘eternal allegiance’ to the Empire before conducting raids again, going on an on in a vicious cycle. No longer being reliant on flimsy treaties or promises of gold, Imperial rule would be forced upon the Norse once and for all.
With the North secured, there was another loose end that the Empire had to tie up. The Spartan Kingdom in the southern jungles had long disregarded Imperial authority for too long. Despite not wanting to admit it, the ruling dynasty has incredibly strong blood ties to the Emperors of times past. Leonidas, a relative of the Imperial house who was related to Emperor John and Manuel, sought to establish an independent state for those who wished to prove their martial worth. Centuries of maintaining their ‘supremacy’ over their own population had led the Spartan monarchy and nobility with extreme arrogance, believing that their legions were invincible in battle.
They were about to be proven completely wrong. It was time for Spartania to bend the knee...
And now his watch has ended. The Nordic gods will fall into the annals of history.
Chapter 41: Rumble in the Jungle (1632-1636)
Chapter 41: Rumble in the Jungle (1632-1636)
Upon the annexation of Vinland into the Empire, the northern administration would come to incorporate the former territories. Due to the territorial size within the north and the isolation between communities that became more and more distinguishable the further north they were located, Imperial bureaucracy within Vinland was largely focused on pacification of the north. Governors of the northern states, especially in the former Norse homelands of Markland and Helluland, were Christians. More influential governors within the states worked along the noble classes in the region to allow as smooth of a transition as possible, but didn’t let political opportunities get in the way of bringing their own authority over that of the State.
With Norse worship having effectively been criminalized by the Imperial Senate, opportunistic governors within Vinland decided to take this further. Non-Christians and Norse followers started to be completely excluded within day to day life, where governors purposely strangled their opportunities for careers. Discrimination would occur over northern traders where former Norse trading companies were forced to be shut down by matters of the state and their assets transfer to a growing imperial monopoly. Norse temples were closed down, demolished or burnt down by local authorities. Norse worshipers were being marginalized from a poorer life, the only solace within the dwindling followers of their ancestors were among the farmers, who were typically left alone by the Empire.
Despite that, it didn’t stop the decline of the Norse faith within the North, who had started to become more and more christian overtime due to the influence of the Empire and the faith personally appealing to many former Norse worshipers. As administration was concentrated onto the north, the Imperial government was about to concentrate completely onto the south, eager to deal with an old rival of theirs.
Helene I Spartakon (1592-1635). The cruel and malevolent Kyriarchos of Spartania, she rules with absolute control over the country much to her subjects displeasure.
The Kingdom of Spartania, having origins from the Empire itself, ruled a kingdom from the northern deserts to the southern jungles. It’s legendary leader, Leonidas, was closely related to the Palaiologos dynasty of Elysia. Despite the connection between the two royal families, Spartan distrust and egotistical ambition soon overshadowed what was once a sense of friendship between their relative nations. As the decades past, as Spartania grew bigger from brutal conquests against Barbaroi within the region, their government became more and more hostile to the Imperial government. From jealousy, to being landlocked by its larger and wealthier cousin, Spartania was a nation with a deep disliking to Elysia but remained isolationist and kept interaction with the Empire to an absolute minimum.
Due to the extremely close blood ties between the monarchy of Elysia and Spartania, the Empire had a perfect reason behind claiming the throne of Spartania. Aside from dynastic matters, Spartania was a cultural cousin to the Elysians and sat in the perfect geographic position. Emperor Andronikos would openly declare his ambition to unite the two crowns and centralise the entirety of the continent of Elysium under Imperial rule.
War would be declared on August 3rd 1633, and the Imperial army stormed from the northern border with force. With a small army focusing on creating a two front war to the south, tens of thousands of Tagmata would cross the northern desert and easily break through the weak northern lines.
In the Maniolas, relationships between the Pangasinan and the Empire had continued to blossom. Elysia would start to work alongside the kingdom, bringing them closely under their influence and assisting the Kingdom with whatever they needed. Alliances were established, gifts and pleasantries were exchanged, and Maniolian Kingdom would swiftly fall in love with the foreign Elysians. In time, their King was encouraged by his own court to convert to Christianity, and the Empire made Pangasinan an offer they could not refuse. Become a Vassal of the Empire and fully convert to Christianity, and Elysia would give them the entire archipelago. Immediately, the king accepted the offer, establishing a long relationship within the realm.
Known as the Unification War in Elysium, the capabilities between the Imperial Armies and Spartan ‘might’ was completely different. Despite the Spartans claiming to have the better military, it was claimed during a time before the Elysian armies transformed into what they are now. Times had changed, and the Empire now held the advantage over their southern rival in both numbers and capability.
As firearms had become more common within the Elysian troops, old regiments of elite soliders no longer filled the same function as skilled sharpshooters and pioneers. While they had done much to develop the Imperial army, they would be dispersed among the other regiments to bring the Spartans to kneel.
In just a few months, the Empire had made gains within the north and brought a large amount of enemy territory under occupation in the north. Alarmed by losing against what should have been a weaker opponent, Spartan leadership was incredibly displeased and sent their forces to the north to attempt to break Imperial lines directly, sacrificing the south in an attempt to relieve pressures in the north.
Spartan soldiers, in what would be an attempt to liberate the north, would make a terrible mistake. Having completely underestimated Elysia command and troops, the would become quickly broken and disorganized in a place which would become a symbol of their greatest defeat, Leiondiopolis.
With the Elysians soon being reinforced by a neighboring army, Imperial military supremacy was more then prevalent as the Elysians achieved little losses during the battle. Spartania would be completely decimated at Leiondiopolis, being completely humiliated by an enemy that was previously perceived as weak. Morale among the Spartans after the battle would plummet, and panic started to spread among their own infantry. The image of Spartan might and supremacy, a sense of national pride among the Kingdom, was utterly shattered.
The Battle of Leiondiopolis, painted by an Spartanian painter during the 17th century. The Battle would be regarded as the one the destroyer of Spartanian 'supremacy'.
The crushing victory at Leiondiopolis would free mobility among the Elysian troops, able to expose the entirety of the mountainous central region of Spartania and placed Tenochtitlan under direct threat from the Empire. Spartania, despite the disastrous defeat, would regroup in their capital of Laconya.
After facing against the Spartan forces for a year and a half, it would not be until the middle of 1634 that the Empire would see the arrival of their exarchs from across the Atlantic. Now outmaneuvering and destroying their armies at any given opportunity, trapped Spartan forces would be forced into entrenched positions where the Elysians held a defensive advantage.
From what was once an extreme minority within Vinland had transformed into an overwhelming majority, and the Church couldn’t be happier. The Ecumenical Patriarch believed that the Norse had experienced a spiritual awakening, and that conversion rates were occurring so quickly that the Empire almost couldn't keep up. Christ had won in Vinland, and the Norse were about to fall into the annals of history.
With the central portion of the Kingdom completely exposed to the Empire, the populous city of Tenochtitlan fell to Imperial troops after a lengthy period of siege. Elysian commanders were shocked to find a metropolis on an island near the shore of a great lake, and were even more surprised to see the unique blend between native and spartan architecture dotted along its buildings. Dumbfounded by the beauty of the city, the Elysian commanders and their troops understood why the Spartans had decided to rebuild the metropolis to even more spectacular levels. The sky was as blue as the water of the lake, the colors of both native and spartan art and agriculture were incredibly mesmerizing and exotic, and the nights were cold. With the city conquered by the Elysians, the commanders ordered that the city was treated with the utmost respect and care, a feeling that was shared by the troops that were mesmerized by her beauty...
Another grand battle occurred at Uaymil, where Elysian troops outclassed the ferocious abilities of Spartania’s finest men. Uaymil, which was within several days marching distance from the capital, was one of the last sites of a serious Spartanian defeat. The path to the capital was now open, and thousands would march across the jungles to lay siege of Laconya
Emperor Romanos I Palaiologos. The Judge, Jury and Executioner.
(Ignore the 'V' part in his name. That is a bug, he is supposed to be Romanos I)
Disaster would strike at the heart of the Empire during the war. Emperor Andronikos would meet his fate at the hands of an assassin, who had managed to slip past the Epilektoi and assassinate the Emperor with a blade to the heart during what was supposed to have been a period of festivities. Andronikos would die from his fatal wounds on April 1st 1635, moments after his assassin would be caught. Never having children of his own, the line of succession would pass to his older brother, the newly crowned Romanos I of Elysia
The assassin would be captured by the Epilektoi and brutally brought to justice, where the assassin would be tortured into revealing his motives. The new Emperor Romanos would personally lead the investigation, soon discovering that the assassin was a Spartan man who was tasked by the Kyriarchos herself to kill the most powerful ruler on the planet for the reward for unimaginable wealth. Sickened by the truth, Romanos would order the immediate execution of the assassin once he got the information he needed. This would only strengthen the Empire’s resolve during the war, and Romanos’s personal vendetta against the Kyriarchos.
Taking advantage of the loss of an Emperor, news would come from Europe that Russia had joined a coalition against the Elysians. Despite the coalitions growing, all of its members were terrifying of going to war against the Empire following the disaster of the First Europa War. With both sides at an impasse, and coalition members being indecisive or incredibly hesitant against the Empire, it allowed Elysia to maintain the breathing room it needed to safeguard their interests in the East.
Laconya would be surrounded by the Elysians, who had emerged from the jungles within the peninsular, and would bring hellfire with them. Artillery fire, both from gunpowder cannons and specialised Greek Fire weaponry, would devastate the walls of Laconya and its defenders. The city, the largest in the region, was well prepared for an inevitable siege and took the necessary precautions to last for as long as they could. The capital was almost self sufficient on its own in terms of agriculture, as farming was encouraged behind the safety of the strong walls of the city rather than outside them, a legacy that came from the early days of the founding of Laconya as a means to defend them from the savage barbaroi in the region.
It would not be the relentless firepower from the siege that the Elysians had brought with them, but instead, it would be crop failure that would break Laconya. Despite being excellent farmers, the weather turned against the Spartans and torrential rain would ruin the crops of the city. Food shortages began to occur, and the Kyriarchos tried to maintain order within the capital and keep the news to a minimum. Once Elysian commanders had heard rumors of a food shortage, Imperial troops launched an assault on the walls of the city. Unable to maintain the defense for much longer, the strict discipline of the spartan troops gave way and they started to surrender to the Empire in exchange for their lives. Once the city began to fell, the Kyriarchos attempted to flee the city. She would be discovered hours later by Elysian forces, having discovered that she had died during her attempt to flee the capital.
The war would come to a close after the Siege of Laconya, and peace would be signed in the Spartan Palace, which had survived the bombardment. Now seen as the official leader of the Empire, Spartan succession fell to Helene’s daughter, Princess Hercuba. While her mother was seen as a wicked woman who valued Spartanian strength, Hercuba was the complete opposite. She was much more a prisoner to her mother instead of being a true Spartanian princess.
Through many many decades of arranged strategic marriages among Spartan and native nobility, the House of Spartakon was genetically completely separated from the Imperial house of Palaiologos. Emperor Romanos would visit Hercuba following the fall of the city. Rather than treat them as an enemy for the sins of their mother, Emperor Romanos would embrace Hercuba like she was his own daughter and hugged her tightly, to which Hercuba broke down in happiness. In this act of compassion, Romanos had reunited the houses. The Emperor could have done anything with the house of Spartakon, such as sentencing them to a cruel fate, instead he gave them a new opportunity in life.
Upon their victory over Spartania, the Empire would come to form a personal union with Spartania and Emperor Romanos would rule both nations. From Panama to Vinland, the New World was under the rule of the Emperor. It would take time to mend the bond between the realms, but in time, the former hostile relationship was to be turned into an unbreakable bond.
Hercuba Spartakon would surrender all claims on the Spartanian throne, and in turn, so would the remainder of her family. Emperor Romanos, out of gratitude and sensing the kindness in this young woman, would grant them a new life among the nobility of the Elysian Empire. The House of Spartakon would move to the Hesperidian Plains, wishing to distance themselves from the capital, where Hercuba and the rest of the former dynasty would happily spend her days. In time, she would fall in love with a young nobleman in the region, and she would find her happy ending in the years to come.
In the years since the foundation of Elysia, the Empire had grown incredibly powerful over the years, and it had come time to reintegrate the renegade Spartan Kingdom into the fold. The entire region would be brought to heel, including any remaining barbaroi tribes and kingdoms in the region. Only would it be under the complete domination of the continent of Elysium that its inhabitants would accept Imperial authority as the true rulers of the continent.
Despite the Empire securing its rule over the former Spartan kingdom, the nobility in the region had lost their power. It is within the Empire’s best interest and the will of their new subjects to regain and restore Imperial rule across the subcontinent. With the combined might of Elysia and Sparta upon them, the Empire would find interest in unleashing this combined might against the decadent Europeans.
From the furthest corners of Greenland to the tropical hell that was the Darien Gap, from the Hesperidian Fields to the Kyklandian Archipelago, the Empire had defeated all her her enemies to the south and the north. Ruling an Imperium that stretched for thousands of miles, combined with the beginnings of a tremendous population boom, there was very few who could protest against Imperial might.
It would be the Yupik, a barbaroi kingdom on the Imperial border, and an extremely isolated tribe to the far frozen north that escaped the rule of the Empire. With the enemies of the Empire now under complete Imperial rule, it was now time to turn the attention of the Empire towards the frozen north once more.
Upon the annexation of Vinland into the Empire, the northern administration would come to incorporate the former territories. Due to the territorial size within the north and the isolation between communities that became more and more distinguishable the further north they were located, Imperial bureaucracy within Vinland was largely focused on pacification of the north. Governors of the northern states, especially in the former Norse homelands of Markland and Helluland, were Christians. More influential governors within the states worked along the noble classes in the region to allow as smooth of a transition as possible, but didn’t let political opportunities get in the way of bringing their own authority over that of the State.
With Norse worship having effectively been criminalized by the Imperial Senate, opportunistic governors within Vinland decided to take this further. Non-Christians and Norse followers started to be completely excluded within day to day life, where governors purposely strangled their opportunities for careers. Discrimination would occur over northern traders where former Norse trading companies were forced to be shut down by matters of the state and their assets transfer to a growing imperial monopoly. Norse temples were closed down, demolished or burnt down by local authorities. Norse worshipers were being marginalized from a poorer life, the only solace within the dwindling followers of their ancestors were among the farmers, who were typically left alone by the Empire.
Despite that, it didn’t stop the decline of the Norse faith within the North, who had started to become more and more christian overtime due to the influence of the Empire and the faith personally appealing to many former Norse worshipers. As administration was concentrated onto the north, the Imperial government was about to concentrate completely onto the south, eager to deal with an old rival of theirs.
Helene I Spartakon (1592-1635). The cruel and malevolent Kyriarchos of Spartania, she rules with absolute control over the country much to her subjects displeasure.
The Kingdom of Spartania, having origins from the Empire itself, ruled a kingdom from the northern deserts to the southern jungles. It’s legendary leader, Leonidas, was closely related to the Palaiologos dynasty of Elysia. Despite the connection between the two royal families, Spartan distrust and egotistical ambition soon overshadowed what was once a sense of friendship between their relative nations. As the decades past, as Spartania grew bigger from brutal conquests against Barbaroi within the region, their government became more and more hostile to the Imperial government. From jealousy, to being landlocked by its larger and wealthier cousin, Spartania was a nation with a deep disliking to Elysia but remained isolationist and kept interaction with the Empire to an absolute minimum.
Due to the extremely close blood ties between the monarchy of Elysia and Spartania, the Empire had a perfect reason behind claiming the throne of Spartania. Aside from dynastic matters, Spartania was a cultural cousin to the Elysians and sat in the perfect geographic position. Emperor Andronikos would openly declare his ambition to unite the two crowns and centralise the entirety of the continent of Elysium under Imperial rule.
War would be declared on August 3rd 1633, and the Imperial army stormed from the northern border with force. With a small army focusing on creating a two front war to the south, tens of thousands of Tagmata would cross the northern desert and easily break through the weak northern lines.
In the Maniolas, relationships between the Pangasinan and the Empire had continued to blossom. Elysia would start to work alongside the kingdom, bringing them closely under their influence and assisting the Kingdom with whatever they needed. Alliances were established, gifts and pleasantries were exchanged, and Maniolian Kingdom would swiftly fall in love with the foreign Elysians. In time, their King was encouraged by his own court to convert to Christianity, and the Empire made Pangasinan an offer they could not refuse. Become a Vassal of the Empire and fully convert to Christianity, and Elysia would give them the entire archipelago. Immediately, the king accepted the offer, establishing a long relationship within the realm.
Known as the Unification War in Elysium, the capabilities between the Imperial Armies and Spartan ‘might’ was completely different. Despite the Spartans claiming to have the better military, it was claimed during a time before the Elysian armies transformed into what they are now. Times had changed, and the Empire now held the advantage over their southern rival in both numbers and capability.
As firearms had become more common within the Elysian troops, old regiments of elite soliders no longer filled the same function as skilled sharpshooters and pioneers. While they had done much to develop the Imperial army, they would be dispersed among the other regiments to bring the Spartans to kneel.
In just a few months, the Empire had made gains within the north and brought a large amount of enemy territory under occupation in the north. Alarmed by losing against what should have been a weaker opponent, Spartan leadership was incredibly displeased and sent their forces to the north to attempt to break Imperial lines directly, sacrificing the south in an attempt to relieve pressures in the north.
Spartan soldiers, in what would be an attempt to liberate the north, would make a terrible mistake. Having completely underestimated Elysia command and troops, the would become quickly broken and disorganized in a place which would become a symbol of their greatest defeat, Leiondiopolis.
With the Elysians soon being reinforced by a neighboring army, Imperial military supremacy was more then prevalent as the Elysians achieved little losses during the battle. Spartania would be completely decimated at Leiondiopolis, being completely humiliated by an enemy that was previously perceived as weak. Morale among the Spartans after the battle would plummet, and panic started to spread among their own infantry. The image of Spartan might and supremacy, a sense of national pride among the Kingdom, was utterly shattered.
The Battle of Leiondiopolis, painted by an Spartanian painter during the 17th century. The Battle would be regarded as the one the destroyer of Spartanian 'supremacy'.
The crushing victory at Leiondiopolis would free mobility among the Elysian troops, able to expose the entirety of the mountainous central region of Spartania and placed Tenochtitlan under direct threat from the Empire. Spartania, despite the disastrous defeat, would regroup in their capital of Laconya.
After facing against the Spartan forces for a year and a half, it would not be until the middle of 1634 that the Empire would see the arrival of their exarchs from across the Atlantic. Now outmaneuvering and destroying their armies at any given opportunity, trapped Spartan forces would be forced into entrenched positions where the Elysians held a defensive advantage.
From what was once an extreme minority within Vinland had transformed into an overwhelming majority, and the Church couldn’t be happier. The Ecumenical Patriarch believed that the Norse had experienced a spiritual awakening, and that conversion rates were occurring so quickly that the Empire almost couldn't keep up. Christ had won in Vinland, and the Norse were about to fall into the annals of history.
With the central portion of the Kingdom completely exposed to the Empire, the populous city of Tenochtitlan fell to Imperial troops after a lengthy period of siege. Elysian commanders were shocked to find a metropolis on an island near the shore of a great lake, and were even more surprised to see the unique blend between native and spartan architecture dotted along its buildings. Dumbfounded by the beauty of the city, the Elysian commanders and their troops understood why the Spartans had decided to rebuild the metropolis to even more spectacular levels. The sky was as blue as the water of the lake, the colors of both native and spartan art and agriculture were incredibly mesmerizing and exotic, and the nights were cold. With the city conquered by the Elysians, the commanders ordered that the city was treated with the utmost respect and care, a feeling that was shared by the troops that were mesmerized by her beauty...
Another grand battle occurred at Uaymil, where Elysian troops outclassed the ferocious abilities of Spartania’s finest men. Uaymil, which was within several days marching distance from the capital, was one of the last sites of a serious Spartanian defeat. The path to the capital was now open, and thousands would march across the jungles to lay siege of Laconya
Emperor Romanos I Palaiologos. The Judge, Jury and Executioner.
(Ignore the 'V' part in his name. That is a bug, he is supposed to be Romanos I)
Disaster would strike at the heart of the Empire during the war. Emperor Andronikos would meet his fate at the hands of an assassin, who had managed to slip past the Epilektoi and assassinate the Emperor with a blade to the heart during what was supposed to have been a period of festivities. Andronikos would die from his fatal wounds on April 1st 1635, moments after his assassin would be caught. Never having children of his own, the line of succession would pass to his older brother, the newly crowned Romanos I of Elysia
The assassin would be captured by the Epilektoi and brutally brought to justice, where the assassin would be tortured into revealing his motives. The new Emperor Romanos would personally lead the investigation, soon discovering that the assassin was a Spartan man who was tasked by the Kyriarchos herself to kill the most powerful ruler on the planet for the reward for unimaginable wealth. Sickened by the truth, Romanos would order the immediate execution of the assassin once he got the information he needed. This would only strengthen the Empire’s resolve during the war, and Romanos’s personal vendetta against the Kyriarchos.
Taking advantage of the loss of an Emperor, news would come from Europe that Russia had joined a coalition against the Elysians. Despite the coalitions growing, all of its members were terrifying of going to war against the Empire following the disaster of the First Europa War. With both sides at an impasse, and coalition members being indecisive or incredibly hesitant against the Empire, it allowed Elysia to maintain the breathing room it needed to safeguard their interests in the East.
Laconya would be surrounded by the Elysians, who had emerged from the jungles within the peninsular, and would bring hellfire with them. Artillery fire, both from gunpowder cannons and specialised Greek Fire weaponry, would devastate the walls of Laconya and its defenders. The city, the largest in the region, was well prepared for an inevitable siege and took the necessary precautions to last for as long as they could. The capital was almost self sufficient on its own in terms of agriculture, as farming was encouraged behind the safety of the strong walls of the city rather than outside them, a legacy that came from the early days of the founding of Laconya as a means to defend them from the savage barbaroi in the region.
It would not be the relentless firepower from the siege that the Elysians had brought with them, but instead, it would be crop failure that would break Laconya. Despite being excellent farmers, the weather turned against the Spartans and torrential rain would ruin the crops of the city. Food shortages began to occur, and the Kyriarchos tried to maintain order within the capital and keep the news to a minimum. Once Elysian commanders had heard rumors of a food shortage, Imperial troops launched an assault on the walls of the city. Unable to maintain the defense for much longer, the strict discipline of the spartan troops gave way and they started to surrender to the Empire in exchange for their lives. Once the city began to fell, the Kyriarchos attempted to flee the city. She would be discovered hours later by Elysian forces, having discovered that she had died during her attempt to flee the capital.
The war would come to a close after the Siege of Laconya, and peace would be signed in the Spartan Palace, which had survived the bombardment. Now seen as the official leader of the Empire, Spartan succession fell to Helene’s daughter, Princess Hercuba. While her mother was seen as a wicked woman who valued Spartanian strength, Hercuba was the complete opposite. She was much more a prisoner to her mother instead of being a true Spartanian princess.
Through many many decades of arranged strategic marriages among Spartan and native nobility, the House of Spartakon was genetically completely separated from the Imperial house of Palaiologos. Emperor Romanos would visit Hercuba following the fall of the city. Rather than treat them as an enemy for the sins of their mother, Emperor Romanos would embrace Hercuba like she was his own daughter and hugged her tightly, to which Hercuba broke down in happiness. In this act of compassion, Romanos had reunited the houses. The Emperor could have done anything with the house of Spartakon, such as sentencing them to a cruel fate, instead he gave them a new opportunity in life.
Upon their victory over Spartania, the Empire would come to form a personal union with Spartania and Emperor Romanos would rule both nations. From Panama to Vinland, the New World was under the rule of the Emperor. It would take time to mend the bond between the realms, but in time, the former hostile relationship was to be turned into an unbreakable bond.
Hercuba Spartakon would surrender all claims on the Spartanian throne, and in turn, so would the remainder of her family. Emperor Romanos, out of gratitude and sensing the kindness in this young woman, would grant them a new life among the nobility of the Elysian Empire. The House of Spartakon would move to the Hesperidian Plains, wishing to distance themselves from the capital, where Hercuba and the rest of the former dynasty would happily spend her days. In time, she would fall in love with a young nobleman in the region, and she would find her happy ending in the years to come.
In the years since the foundation of Elysia, the Empire had grown incredibly powerful over the years, and it had come time to reintegrate the renegade Spartan Kingdom into the fold. The entire region would be brought to heel, including any remaining barbaroi tribes and kingdoms in the region. Only would it be under the complete domination of the continent of Elysium that its inhabitants would accept Imperial authority as the true rulers of the continent.
Despite the Empire securing its rule over the former Spartan kingdom, the nobility in the region had lost their power. It is within the Empire’s best interest and the will of their new subjects to regain and restore Imperial rule across the subcontinent. With the combined might of Elysia and Sparta upon them, the Empire would find interest in unleashing this combined might against the decadent Europeans.
From the furthest corners of Greenland to the tropical hell that was the Darien Gap, from the Hesperidian Fields to the Kyklandian Archipelago, the Empire had defeated all her her enemies to the south and the north. Ruling an Imperium that stretched for thousands of miles, combined with the beginnings of a tremendous population boom, there was very few who could protest against Imperial might.
It would be the Yupik, a barbaroi kingdom on the Imperial border, and an extremely isolated tribe to the far frozen north that escaped the rule of the Empire. With the enemies of the Empire now under complete Imperial rule, it was now time to turn the attention of the Empire towards the frozen north once more.
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Great update Won't be too long before all of elysia is unified. Would be interesting to know how Europe reacts to the latest news.
Elysia is one step closer to completing their manifest destiny. Shame about the assassination of the Emperor, though -- the hatchet-man himself has been dealt with, but the conspirators remain at large, it seems...
Chapter 41.5: In Memoriam/Andronikos I
Andronikos I Palaiologos
Lived: March 10th 1597 - April 1st 1635
Emperor of Elysia: 1626-1635
Lived: March 10th 1597 - April 1st 1635
Emperor of Elysia: 1626-1635
An Emperor who was not afraid of controversy, Andronikos I was a gifted man who led the Empire into a difficult yet historic time in its history. It would be under his reign that the Empire had vanquished their long-time enemies, and despite his life tragically coming to a close, his influence would be felt long after his death. Elysian society, and perhaps Christian culture as a whole, would forever be changed by him.
The eldest son of Basil I, Andronikos was born in the purple in the Imperial Palace. His childhood came with a unique fascination among the cultures of the world, learning about life outside of the Empire. His fascination with culture would allow him to learn about many places, from the cosmopolitan and the distant kingdoms and republics of Europe, to the exotic realms of Africa and beyond. One region of the world in particular that would leave an impact on him would be Asia, an ancient region of the world that fascinated Andronikos. Its culture, history, warfare and wealth were something that interested the Empire.
Usually somewhat of an unknown figure along the Imperial family, Andronikos would ascend to the throne after the death of his father Basil I. He would immediately get to work in continuing the Imperial ambition of an Eastern Pax Elysia. His aggressive approach towards the treatment of the Muslim population would earn him infamy in the Islamic World, while receiving praise among both the ultra-conservative christian realms for returning Jerusalem and the Levant to Christian control. Despite this aggression towards Islam, the Jews of the Empire would show a great deal of respect to Andronikos for lifting the ancient Roman ban of them upon the city, solidifying Christian and Jewish relations and even proposed construction of the Third Temple. It would be because of mending ties between the two abrahamic faiths, that Andronikos would unite them under Imperial rule. Although both faiths did not trust one another, the Elysian Emperor promoted a sense of peace between them.
In Asia, the Ming Dynasty collapsed into many smaller warlord states, something which would start the Second Warring State period. Watching developments in Asia closely, the island of Taiwan would see development as a refuge for both merchants and former Ming loyalists, providing an immigration boost to the island. As the Europeans remain interested in the tropical islands of the indies, the Empire held complete sovereignty over Australia and the Pacific. Prior to his untimely death, the Emperor appeared fascinated about Chinese history, and seeing the largest power of its era collapse in such a spectacular fashion was something that made a deep impression on the Emperor.
Notably, it was under Andronikos I that Elysia would destroy one of their greatest enemies. After many decades of aggression, the Vinlandic Althing would be destroyed and the entirety of the arctic north would be brought under Imperial rule. The Norse faith, long having endured much hardship, would finally start to be destroyed as many Vinlanders embraced Christianity. It would be that, despite being at the height of their power in the era, that Andronikos would be assassinated by a Spartanian Assassin working for the Kyriarchos. The Empire would avenge their beloved Emperor in time, bringing the murderous Kyriarchos and the collaborators of the assassination to justice, but they could not bring Andronikos back.
With a nation entering mourning, the Emperor who had ruled for so little had done so much for the Empire and her subjects. Succession would pass to his brother, Romanos. Although he was simply a mortal man, the achievements that Andronikos had passed down for the future were immortal. As the first assassinated head of state in Elysian history, the funeral was made public to a grieving crowd in Nea Konstantinople. He would be buried in Aloulon, where a small church would be built in his honor.
One feels he will be remembered for his assassination as much or more than for what he achieved.
Just wanted to drop in and say I've been catching up with this AAR for a bit, and loving every bit of it. I'm especially fond of the "In Memoriam" retrospectives of the emperors, since they provide a handy summary of what's happened and makes the narrative feel like an actual history book retrieved from an alternate timeline.