The True Sons of Rome!

[Wzard]

Sophia I ‘the Defender’ 887 - 913

Chapter Eleven - The Holy City

On April 24th, 887 Sophia rose to the Imperial Throne with the backing of most of the Imperial Lords. The most popular of Traianos’ children, she had almost no competition. The Isauros Dynasty once again sat on the Imperial Throne of the Byzantine Empire. Sophia would spend the first few years trying to regain the powers of the Imperial Throne that Alexios had lost in his later years. By February of 890, she had convinced most of the Imperial Lords to give the throne the right of revoking titles once again.

Sophia wanted to continue the Isauros legacy of strengthening the Orthodox Church like her family members had been doing since Christophoros. In September of 892, Sophia saw her chance and declared war against the Umayyad Empire to take the Holy City of Jerusalem from them! The Imperial Armies marched under the Byzantine banner and the blessing of God on their side.

Back in Constantinople, Sophia gave birth to a daughter named Ioanna on March 15th 893.

Having to deal with revolts in Southern France, Badshah Halil of the Umayyads was not able to launch a grand defense against the Imperial Armies. By April 28th, 893 the entire region of Jerusalem was under siege and any armies who tried to land to defend the region were pushed back into the Mediterranean Sea. The Umayyads surrendered the Holy City but swore they would one day be back for it. Jerusalem is back under Roman control!

On February 12th, 894 Andre Babalio of the Merchant Republic of Ragusa declared himself the Serene Doge of Serbia. The Imperial Lords of the empire were in shock that someone in the empire would call themselves any form of King, let alone a merchant. The empire held its breath to see what Sophia would do with the news. The idea of Kings controlling distant parts of the empire would allow the empire to become more centralized once again and Sophia knew just how to keep things in check. Like the Strategos before, Sophia created the titles of Exarch and Exarchessa (King and Queen) that would be viceroyalty titles the Imperial Throne could control. The faraway kingdom of Africa was granted to Symmachos Zeno and the kingdom of Georgia to Pavlina Lachanodrakon.

The empire was shocked on December 4th, 894 when Sultan Uways Taglibid declared war on the empire for his claim to the Armenia region. The Imperial Armies marched to teach the mad man a lesson he would never forget.

By April of 895, the Imperial Armies had reached the Sultans lands and began to punish his armies and people for his mistakes. On the sixth day of sieging the battle of Nusaybin was won for the Imperial Armies.

While Sultan Uways was learning his lesson, Sophia was once again changing Imperial Law in Constantinople. Having actually been a supporter of Alexios’ Reforms, Sophia with full support of her council reinstated Alexios’ Peace in the empire. Outlawing internal wars once more, Sophia hoped for the same vision Alexios had, unifying the empire and stopping wars where Greeks killed Greeks. Only time would tell if the reforms would stay in place or be undone again.

Back to the east, battle after battle was being won as the Imperial Armies beat their foes down. On October 14th of 896, Sultans heir Jabir was captured by the Imperial Army. His life was spared in exchange for Uways entire wealth and treasures to be sent back to Constantinople.

In January of 898, Sophia once again was retaking her Imperial Powers back from the council and Lords. Her Imperial Council full of loyalists agreed to have their vote on war declarations stripped from them. Full authority was once again in the hands of Sophia and the Imperial Throne. On December 15th, 898 another daughter was born to Sophia named Thekla.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Sophia believes that everyone and the council should be able to vote so long as she is the only vote counter. She also believes that what is hers IS HERS and what is yours SHALL BE HERS. All power to the Basilla!

 

[Idhrendur]

That was a foolish move to attack a foe so much more powerful than them.

 

[Wzard]

Chapter Twelve - The Start of the Age of Bloodshed

In the early months of the year 900, the world seemed to be in utter chaos. To the East, Caliph Muslihiddin called for the muslim world to unite together in a Jihad. News reports that he wants to reclaim Jerusalem from our hands. Basilissa Sophia laughs at this pathetic charade. To the West, Pope Leo III calls for the catholic world to unite together in a Crusade. The muslims who had been taking over most of Western Europe needed to be stopped and only together would the catholics stand a chance!

News of Holy Orders of both faiths spread throughout the land that they will stop at nothing to defend their faiths. Fanatics and mad men swarm to these Holy Order Banners.

To be ready to combat these times of uncertainty, Sophia establishes a Holy Order that would be loyal to the Imperial Throne and the Orthodox Church. The Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre is established and even granted the county of Hebron next to Jerusalem, where they can operate and gather.

On February 8th 903, Caliph Muslihiddin declared an official Jihad for the region of Syria! The Imperial Lords and their Armies marched East to defend the empire and the Orthodox faith!

By June of that same year, armies were already clashing all along the border between the Orthodox and Muslim world! A notable win for the Imperial Armies was at the battle of Jabar which had pushed the Caliph’s Armies back into Arabia.

With the Caliph’s Armies disorganized, the Imperial Army marched into the heart of the Muslim world. Seeking to occupy the Caliphs home land of Samarra. Imperial Levies were then sent south into Arabia to continue chasing down his troops. By January of 904, Samsara was captured by the Imperial Army and they had begun to siege down the rest of the Caliph’s lands. After having taken some time to enlist an army of the faithful, The Ecumenical Patriarch Tarasios joined our defense and rode his troops to defend our Holy Sites in the region. On February 24th, the Imperial Levies routed the Caliphs once again and forced them even further south.

By May, many of the muslim world already saw the Caliphs Jihad as a failure and had refused to join him. With his armies shattered and unorganized and his own kingdom sacked and looted, he declared the Jihad a failure and surrendered to the empire!

When the Imperial Armies and Levies returned home, celebrations and festivals all across the empire were held. Sophia and the Imperial Court splurged on an Imperial Triumph held at the Hippodrome in Constantinople! While the Empire was celebrating, the muslims world descended into further chaos as a young boy backed by the Shia believers in the region, waged war against the Sultanate of Al-Jazira.

In late October of 906, a letter had reached Sophia that the tribal people of Central Africa had heard of the blessings of God and wanted help teaching their people these ways. Sophia with the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarchate sent preachers and holy men down to the Tribe of Air.

By May of 908, Al-Azira had fallen to the Shia fanatics and now Caliph Azam Tellid ruled over the Kingdom. Another Caliph on the Imperial Border was worrying but they like the Sunni would be defeated!

Like the Muslims in the East, the declaration of beginning Crusades had not unified the Catholic world. King Bero of East Francia and Pope Ioannes VIII had decided to fix that with force! Bero now known as ‘the Purifier’ was given the permission by god to invade the Lombard heretic who sat on the throne. Ioannes VIII ‘the Rash’ joined Bero and together they had forced the Lombards out of Italy on October 16th, 912. After spending another year forcing minor realms to join him as well, Bero and Ioannes VIII were ready to unite most of the Catholic world. With the blessing of Pope Ioannes VIII and God, Bero Karling was crowned the Holy Roman Emperor of Europe on March 11th 913, claiming the title of Rome! Sophia and the Imperial Lords were outraged at the audacity of the Catholics!

Emperor Bero Karling 'the Purifier' (left) Pope Ioannes VIII 'the Rash' (right)

The Contenders of the Title of Rome, March 913

Shortly after this news on May 15th 913, Basilissa Sophia passed away at the age of 54 due to complications with a gout she had been dealing with. The entire empire mourned the loss of their beloved Basilissa! Of her children, her second youngest daughter Ioanna had managed to gather the most support of the Imperial Lords. She ascended to the Imperial Throne at the age of 20 and with that ascension she swore to teach the West a lesson for mocking the true sons of Rome!

 

[TWR97]

A Karling as Holy Roman Emperor, a female Basilissa sitting in Constantinople. Seems despite the fact that the HRE formed a century late history still manages to have certain scenarios played the same. Although at least the true heirs of Rome are growing stronger. Having Jerusalem certainly is a boost!

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Subbed! Will be following with interest

 

[Wzard]

Subbed! Will be following with interest

Thank you! I'm glad you and others have been enjoying the writing I've been doing! With work and school my progress has slowed but I'll be posting more chapters whenever I am able!

 

[Wzard]

Ioanna I 'the Apostle' 913 - 950

Chapter Thirteen - The Most Unlikely of Events



On May 15th 913, Ioanna had the popular support of the Lords of the Byzantine Empire and succeeded onto the throne after the death of her mother Sophia. Ioanna, like every Byzantine Noble was outraged at the claims of the Karlings to the West. She swore upon her coronation she would make the Franks regret the day they claimed the title of Rome. Her revenge on the fake romans would have to wait until later however.

In August of the same year, Ioanna declared a holy war against the Umayyad’s to take Oultrejourdain from their hands and finally unite the holy region of Jerusalem under Byzantine control. The Umayyads had by now given up on trying to control regions so far away from their borders and gave the land up to Ioanna. The Orthodox Church now had full control over the city of Jerusalem with no threats bordering the Holy City. On December 12th a year later, twins were born, a son named Kallistos and a daughter named Gregoria.

The Catholic world has been on a great decline for many many years since the Umayyads had not stopped progressing into their lands. No longer are the days of taking no action it would seem. Pope Hadrianus called upon the Catholic World to a Crusade to retake the Kingdom of France from the Umayyads on October 1st, 915.

Ioanna’s brother and biggest contestant to the Imperial Throne Traianos had decided that the life of royalty is not for him. On February 2nd, 916 he joined the ranks of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre and journeyed to the Holy City.

After almost two years of conflict and fighting, word had reached Constantinople in the early days of April 917, that the Catholics had won their Crusade for France. Pope Hadrianus had crowned one of the Crusaders as the new King of France. That man was a bishop and decided to keep his ties to the church rather than become nobility. King-Bishop Karl II Vuodi ‘the Sword of the Lord’ became the ruler of the new Kingdom of France. Against the wishes of the Pope, the Karlings did not give up any of their land to the new King-Bishop leaving it a very weak kingdom.

While the Catholic world was dealing with their success and now new conflicts, Ioanna was following the footsteps of her mother and enacting reforms in the empire. The Imperial Army had gotten too large to keep at Constantinople and thus was split in half, keeping both armies over six thousand strong still. The army remaining at Constantinople would now be known as the Eastern Imperial Army and would continue to guard the main regions of the empire. The other six thousand were sailed to North Africa to keep the peace and protect those regions. That army is now known as the Western Imperial Army. With matters of state, Ioanna has started efforts to recentralize the empire after several reforms have made the empire easier to manage in recent years.

Ioanna and the Imperial Court was pleased to have heard that some of the border Lords had been securing more land from the weakened muslims. The entire Imperial Court however was shocked to have heard who was exactly expanding the empire. A man named Idris Abbasid has apparently gained a great deal of strength in Arabia and he was dutifully serving the empire as an Orthodox man. The Imperial Court pleaded with Ioanna to have the Abbasid stripped of his titles. Their pleas were not heard by Ioanna. If a man is dutifully serving both the Orthodox Church and the Empire, then he shall not be harmed. After learning more about Idris, it appears he is a direct descendant of the Child Caliph Najib who lost Syria to the Imperial Armies. These were strange times indeed.

Other news to have reached the Imperial Court was that the Pope Hadrianus had passed away and the man who was made King-Bishop of France was now the Pope of the Catholic world. The whispers of the Imperial Court did not seem to like a Crusader ruling over the Catholic world and was worried that tensions between the churches would flare once again. Only time would tell what the Crusader Pope Leo IV ‘the Sword of the Lord’ would do. The news also states that the new King-Bishop of France was not a very confident man.

On December 6th of 921, the Hungarian Nomads had decided to settle down and their leader now called himself the Grand Prince of Ruthenia. Tarjan Kornel had usurped the control from the Russian Dregovich family who had previously held the title. Ioanna sent a group of missionaries to the new Grand Prince and they were allowed to stay and spread the Orthodox faith.

On September 11th of 922, a messenger was said to have burst into the Imperial Court while a feast was happening. The man had shouted that the Caliph Nasr of the Sunni faith was cast out as a heathen by a usurper of his lands. With such weak Caliphs of late no one is officially recognized as the Sunni Caliph! The Sunni world was in shambles and leaderless!

*As a small note I am really sorry how long this chapter took to get out as irl got really hectic for me. I am hoping that chapters will become more regular once again! Thank you for your continued reading!

 

[Midnite Duke]

Real Life Rules! The quality of this food will sustain us until you are next able to prepare delectable morsels for our enjoyment. Take care My Basilissa, until we meet again.

 

[Idhrendur]

The east is returning to order, but the west is chaotic.

 

[Wzard]

Chapter Fourteen - The Calm Before a Storm

On April 12th of 927 news had reached the Imperial Court that the Shia Caliph Mansur ‘the Hideous’ had declared a Jihad against the Tengri Nomads over the region of Alania. What drove the man to try to claim unsettled land for his faith is beyond our understanding.

On April 5th of 929, the Merchants of Amalfi established themselves the Serene Doge of Sicily marking the creation of a second Merchant Kingdom title. The Imperial Court worries how much strength the Doges of Sicily and Serbia have.

In the early days of June of the same year, Ioanna had ambition to reform the empire once again. With her strength and the strength of her mother Sophia I before her, the empire had seen what capable women were able to do. With the backing of the Imperial Court, Ioanna raised the status of women in the Byzantine Empire to allow them to rule more positions of power. Now women across the empire can be appointed to public offices or councils and have a say in their local politics. A large step for the rights of women! Even later in that same year in October a set of twins were born to Ioanna. A son named Niketas and a daughter named Melissa.

On February 13th of 930 word reached the Imperial Court that the Franks of the HRE had converted the Norse of Norway to Catholicism. While the Orthodox Church has spread with the growing borders of the empire, some start to question if we should be focusing on spreading the faith outside of the empire. On April 11th of 931 our preachers finally converted the Holy City of Jerusalem to be back in the Orthodox Church! With Ioanna’s efforts of restoring the Orthodox Church in the Holy City and the surrounding region, she has become known as ‘the Apostle’.

On January 1st of 932, Ioanna called for the entire Byzatine Empire to celebrate and feast in celebration. After a century since the Great War for Syria, the region is undoubtedly ours to own! Won for Rome by Basileus Konstas Isaruos III against the Child Caliph of the Abbasids.

On November 8th of 932, Ioanna declared a Holy War against the Umayyads to take away the lands of Ascalon and fully push them out of the East. On April 21st of 933, the Western Imperial Army engaged Umayyad troops who were landing on the shores of Harbijah. The battle was a victory for the empire forcing their troops back into the sea.

The Umayyads attempted a second march to defend the lands they owned but the Eastern Imperial Army cut them off at Deimachar. Another victory and forcing the Umayyads to give up all hope of holding lands this far East. They surrendered to Ioanna’s might on October 28th of 933. On the return march home Ioanna had become bedridden with Great Pox. A doctor was able to cure her of the disease but her face will never be the same again after the surgery.

On November 3rd of 936, the Shia had abandoned their Jihad of Alania as the Nomads were too much for their armies.

On January 13th of 940, Ioanna created the viceroyalty of the Western Isles. Niphon Isauros the Doux of Sardinia was made Exarch of the Western Isles and given control of Sardinia, Corsica and Mallorca.

News reached the Imperial Court that a group of Norse Fanatics claiming to be a Holy Order to the old gods has risen far up North. They call themselves the Jomsvikings.

On January 30th of 944, Exarch Iakobos Zeno of Africa created the Kingdom of Hausaland, some land in Inner Africa. This has outraged the Imperial Court that a kingdom title is not in control of the Imperial Throne, even a worthless title.

On August 1st of 948, a chance opportunity arose when a revolt in Egypt allowed the Imperial Armies to move into the duchy of Sinai. The Rebels of Egypt attempted to fend off the Imperial Armies but lost horribly. They surrender the duchy in order to focus on their rebellion against the tyrant ruling over them. With Sinai in Imperial hands our lands in Africa are almost connected.

On February 18th of 950, Ioanna and her commands were visiting an Inn on their return journey to Constantinople. An explosion blew the Inn into the heavens and Ioanna ‘the Apostle’ was killed at the age of 56. The Imperial Commanders launched an immediate investigation and found the man who had planted the manure. After brief torture the man claimed to have been hired by Doux Philaretos of Palmyra. Back in Constantinople, Ioanna’s youngest son Niketas had come on top in the Imperial lobbying and was crowned Basileus of the empire. His hands were clenched in anger upon reading the letter of his mothers assassin had been found. He swore vengeance for his mother Ioanna…

 

[Midnite Duke]

When one smells of manure, a deep doo-doo pile awaits. Vengeance for the Bailissa!

 

[Idhrendur]

Vengeance for the Bailissa!

And more expansion for Rome. Gotta connect those African lands.

 

[Wzard]

Niketas I ‘the Vengeful’ 950 - 986

Chapter Fifteen - The Imperial Blood Feud

On February 18th of 950, the youngest son of Ioanna had the most support among the Imperial Lords. Always thinking it was a game he was shocked to be made Basileus on such short notice. Fearing his mother had died in Egypt he began to set plans to invade the Kingdom again. However, the messenger who had arrived with the news corrected young Niketas and told him the truth. His mother was assassinated and after some investigation, the Imperial Commanders that were with her discovered that Doux Philaretos Katakylas of Palmyra was behind it. Niketas clenched the report in his hands with anger, it is said he screamed the words traitor so loud that the common folk outside the Imperial Palace could hear him. Niketas gathered his commanders and set both the Western and Eastern Imperial Armies East towards Palmyra.

Two days later on February 20th, a letter had arrived to Doux Philaretos that his days were numbered and he was to be arrested by the Imperial Army and brought back to Constintople to answer for his crimes. While arriving at the Doux’s lands Niketas found the man was not awaiting his trial, but had raised his men in open rebellion against the Imperial Throne.

While Niketas and his commanders were preparing their battle plans, another messenger arrived. Doux Michael Boilas of Galilee had written a long letter originally intended for Niktas mother Ioanna. Michael and other Imperial Lords demanded to have more council power returned to the Imperial Council. Niketas actually had agreed with the points that the Doux had made. However, the Doux made a grave grave mistake. In his letter he threatened the Imperial Throne that if the demands were not met, then a war would start to enforce them. Niketas was a hot headed man and was already dealing with the anger of one traitor. While already thirsting for the blood of one man, another had outraged him with threats. Ripping the letter in half, Niketas swore to his commanders he would not tolerate a single rebel demand.

On February 25th of 950 the Byzantine Empire was in a Civil War, one far larger than the War of the Churches of 843. The armies of the traitors numbered tens of thousands almost matching the Imperial Armies and loyal levies in size. The Rebels under Doux Michael Boilas of Galilee were Doux Theophylaktos Lampinos of Antioch, Doux Stephanos of Salkhard II of Beora, Doux Theocharitos of Cilicia, Doux Herakleios Avastakros of Cibyrrheaor, Doux Ignatios Amorios II of Samos, Doux Chrisophoros Bardouchos II of the Aegean Islands, Duchess Evanthia Makrembolites of Hellas, Doux Nikephoros Isauros II of Cephalonia, Doux Kyros Symvatikes of Lychnidos, Doux Parnphilos Argyros III of Moesia, Doux Serapion Krateros of Muntenia and the Serene Doge Comes Salvius of Serbia.

The Imperial Blood Feud of Niketas 'the Vengeful', February 950

To prepare the Imperial Armies for the war, Niketas combined the Western and Eastern Armies in order to have them as one crushing force. While on the march towards Palmyra, another letter had reached Niketas stating that the Duchess Ioustina Monotes of Adrianopolis was a servant of Lucifer. Still dealing with anger he wrote back that the Church may do whatever they saw fit. On March 11th of 950, Duchess Ioustina was burned at the stake and was the first of tens of thousands of Greeks to die in the coming years.

Reports of victories and losses reached the command tent everyday as small groups of levies found themselves in constant battles. On June 25th, Niketas and the Imperial Armies focused their rage against the assassin Philaretos fully occupying his capital of Palmyra.

While Niketas and the Imperial Army were searching after the assassin Philaretos, a large army of Imperial Levies was being led by Domestikos Kallinikos of the Scholae Palatinae. He is tasked with defending Constantinople and the West.On August 21st, the Imperial Levies engaged the rebel forces in Maroneia to route them away from the capital region. It was a hard fought battle but a victory for the loyalist! With the rebels on the run, Kallinikos made a push towards the lands of the rebels.

On October 31st, the Imperial Levies found themselves outnumbered at Hisarya but managed to push back the armies of the traitors!

On November 16th, a small force of Imperial Levies was reported to have lost a battle at Castel Blane. While not an important battle, the traitor Michael was reported to have been leading the army. Niketas swears to track him down after dealing with Philaretos. Three days later after defeating one of Philaretos’ armies two of his counts had been captured. Count Apollonios of Irenopolis of Al Bichri and Count Kallinko Katakylas of Rahbah. On December 1st outside the Barony of Bichri, the two counts and nine other important Greek court members of Philaretos were hanged for their loyalty to the man who killed their Baslissa.

Just before the end of the year on December 28th, Niketas rage grows even more. The Shia Caliph Uways Taglibid declared war on the empire over his claim on the county of Sinjar. The Caliph owns no other land than a mosque in some far away mountain in India. Although his war is meaningless it outrages Niketas even more as a stain to his honor.

On January 22nd of 951, Domestikos Kallinikos won another major battle in the West at Noba. A mayor was captured in the battle and following the orders of Niketas, he was hanged. Many including Kallinikos wondered if the loss of so many Greek lives is truly worth it.

On February 12th of 951, Philaretos surrendered to Niketas knowing that he was fully beaten. He was stripped of all titles and his wife and children were banished from the empire. Philaretos himself was personally beheaded by Basileus Niketas.

With the assassin dead and rotting, Niketas turned the Imperial Armies towards Galilee. On their approach Michael’s forces are engaged in Emesa and another victory is won for the Imperial Army!

By September 16th of 951, Niketas and the Imperial Armies had fully sieged down Michael’s home county of Tyrus. Outside the gates of Tyrus another group of Greek noble traitors were hanged, including Michael’s son and his sister. Michael’s army was tracked further south and a final battle was fought at Ascalon. During the fighting the traitor Doux of the Aegean Islands was slain by Niketas in single combat! The battle was won and the rebels retreated into Egypt.

On August 26th of 952, the traitor Michael had had enough and surrendered to Basileus Niketas now known throughout the entire empire as ‘the Vengeful’. After the Civil War was over, all leaders of the rebellion were stripped of most of their titles. Those titles were then handed out to loyalists of the Imperial Throne. Tens of thousands of Greeks lay dead across the empire and thirty-eight nobles or rebels of significance were executed over the course of the war. The Empire would need many years to recover from the conflict.

 

[Midnite Duke]

A New Greece has been forged from the blood of traitors. How about the upstart Caliph who called your mother "a mangy bitch"? Great writing and great battle management. Be safe and make your mother proud, my Basileus.

 

[Idhrendur]

The Vengeful? More like the Just!

 

[Cromwell]

Plenty of time to forge a more palatable name, history is written by the victors after all.

 

[guillec87]

subbed!

 

[TWR97]

As always, the Romans go back to what they do best since the days of Romulus and Remus. Killing each other. Niketas certainly is living up to his nickname. By the way, those borders in the aftermath of that French Crusade IS UGLY. Geez talk about an awful bordergore.

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

The Vengeful? More like the Just!

Vengeful? More like Based!