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[Haspen]

007: Konstantinos the Gambler

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

What do you get when wrong-culture, wrong-religion, excommunicated-ruler kingdom annexes its vassal?



Patriot rebels, of course.

Emperor Konstantinos, however, denies any involvement, considering high risks of detection would be a deterrant for him to try.

That they're numerous and well-equipped is simply the will of God, he says, nothing else.



Finally we manage to get to Land 8. Training Fields will be built everywhere in the Empire, prioritizing the coastal Muslim provinces (for their advanced troops).



Whilst we've lost the core on Cyprus, Emperor Konstantinos managed to wrangle them from French influence and turn them Byzantine vassals.



Greece is fully Byzantine now! Conquest of Southern Italy is our next mission.

To ensure that we're prepared, alliance with Naples has been annulled and their military access rescinded, prompting Neapolitean King to withdraw troops from Crimea.



Emperor Konstantinos decides to gamble and afterwards nothing untoward happens in Kappadokia.

We can only assume he stared down at the angry crowd till it dispersed. Or something like that.



After looking through local maps and documents, it seems that we've forgotten about our core on Island of Crete.

Its only 'reliable' allies are Castille (Catholic Defender of Faith, who has multiple treaties with us), and Georgia and Armenia, our friends in Caucassus.

Once again, Emperor Konstantinos has decided to gamble, and force the ancient Cretean domain into Byzantine fold.



Some courtiers in the Palace has loudly complained that the Emperor probably likes his dice too much.

'Do not fret!', he re-assures them, and he has a reason. Georgia, and not the dreaded Castille, is the leader of the war.

If we're fast and efficient enough, we can annex Crete, beat up Georgia and abscond with prizes without the Spaniards even landing on our soil.



The gamble didn't pay off, and Castille managed to rampage through Greece.

Yelled at by his advisors, Konstantinos XI quickly sent tribute to leader of the war, distant Novgorod, which resulted in end of the war.

Still, we've got Crete. A core province is invaluable, while ducats can be regained.



Not long after conclusion of the war, Emperor Konstantinos XI was found dead in his bedroom. Royal physicians ruled out foul play right away, saying that he died 'of natural causes'.

Pretender Manuel was quickly deal with, while regents from Imperial Court are zealously watching over young Theodoros.

They make sure he will be taught well about virtues and vices, especially that gambling is very, very, very bad.

[Haspen]

008: O THEOS THELEI

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

It seems that the Holy Roman Empire (bleh!) is organizing its loose structures into something more complex under Austrian leadership.

They're still not a threat to the integrity of Byzantium, however.



Our most pressing problem is the inflation, as evidenced by this event.

Previous Emperors minted heavily to afford troops and ships to destroy Ottomans and reconquer much of the Empire.

Regents of Theodoros have agreed that a Master of the Mint is needed, and with high enough level, too.



Finally, Emperor Theodoros can rule on his own. His heir is already adult Konstantinos.

He decides that hiring a Master of the Mint and pay off the last loan taken by his father, Konstantinos XI, to be his first decisions.



A very, very, very strange thing happened when Emperor Theodoros was visiting Thema Thrakes stationed in Mus.

He suddenly died overnight, and his just recently appointed successor, his older cousin, Konstantinos, was hailed as Emperor Konstantinos XII.

Emperor Konstantinos, a warrior just like his forefathers, has decreedd that its prime time to strike south, and TAKE JERUSALEM!



The war plan is very simple; while two Themas strike through Syria and Palestine, a Thema under Stefanos Syropoulos will land at and besiege Alexandria.

The goal is to maximize war exhaustion on Mamluks' side, destroy their reserve force and then demand a strip of land from Mus to Judea.



Hahaha! While we're fighting to TAKE JERUSALEM, the Catholics are fighting over theology.

Serves the succesors of Pope Leo for being arseholes!



Hmmm, this might complicate matters a little bit.

Nonetheless, we're very near ending of our war with the Mamluks.



Oh thank you Lord in Heavens, Jerusalem is in Christian hands once again!

Now to keep it in them.



Morocco's fleet is actually faring worse than we expect, huh.

Now to fetch our troops across the Aegean and relieve the besieges provinces.



Serbians prove to be trustworthy and valiant vassals; if not for their well-timed arrival in Albania, we might've lost the battle.

Moroccan army is bounced between Janina and Macedonia for next few months before its ultimately annihilated at the Second Battle of Albania.



Rebellions in newly-conquered Judea and elsewhere force Emperor Konstantinos XII to accept Moroccan white peace offer.

The Muslim rebels are then quickly decimated. Forced conversions will be necessary to bring peace to the region.



This is also a situation we must deal with, one way, or another.

I mean, what are our Emperors made of that they die so quickly? Papyrus??

[Haspen]

009: Orthodox Iconography and Catholic Heresies

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I've come to view this particular Idea as basically mandatory for anything with more than 15 provinces.

We've adopted Church Attendancy Policy as our Government Tech reached level 9 (next Idea is at level 11).



Meanwhile, just across the border, another sect rises against the Catholics and the Pope.

I just hope the Reformists won't spill across border into Bulgaria or Kaffa, we've just recently finished converting them.



After dopting Church Attendance and saving up some money, we can enact Gilded Iconography decision.

It lowers tax income a bit but boosts missionary chance and increases yearly cultural tradition.



I've modded in EU4-like Icons into EU3, which become available after you take Gilded Iconography.

Besides St.Michael, there's also Christ Pantocractor (cheaper buildings and tax income increase), St.Nicholas (bonus to diplomatic skill and faster infamy reduction) and Virgin Mary (-1 national risk and bonus stability investment).

Soon enough we will commission an icon to Virgin Mary, for we lack proper stability buildings like Spy Agencies or Cathedrals, and because active Missionaries do tend to provoke crowds into rebellion.



For sake of completion, the other decision I modded in is Monasticism. Unfortunately, it requires the nation to be quite Narrowminded first before you can enact it.

Maybe later in the game we can promote new monastic orders.



As we wait for young Konstantinos to grow up, the court of Byzantium listens in to world news.

For example, Counter-Reformation just started, thanks to Council of Evora. I wonder if they will be successful (they usually are, at least in my playthroughs).



Constantinople and Antioch, two seats of the ancient Pentarchy, are now Orthodox.

To restore it, we need to do the same with Jerusalem, Alexandria... and then Rome itself.



Technically speaking, we're 60% done.



Crimean Tatars have managed to get a border with us. Not a good thing for them.

For us, a pretext to expand our control over the shores of the Black Sea!



These 'Cultural Assimilation' pop-ups appear more frequently as of late.

We're making inroads into Turkish Anatolia by now.



Konstantinos XIII ascends to the throne of Byzantium and his heir and cousin Andronikos is almost an adult himself.

And look at those stats, man! He either dies to an event or in the first battle, for sure.



I understand the angery with the Pope, and the need for religious independence, but I think that some Catholics up there are running short on creativity when it comes to names.

I mean, come on, 'Church of England'? That name will never catch on!



*shakes fist angrily*

HUNGARIANS!!

[Haspen]

010: Syria, Palestine, and Egypt

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Because of the core of Naples in this province, the local populace can create Culverin cannons for us.

Whilst we're, oh, whole 5 or 6 levels of technology behind?

Emperor Konstantinos comissions three thousand of these devices of slaughter for the Byzantine Army. Some Condotta Infantry corps will also be created.



I've modded those Court events weeks ago but one fired only now.

Fortunately, it's not the other one 'best friend' event. We will take the general for free, sure _{(and take the time to fix some bugs...)}.



WAR!!

The Mamluks are in a baaad time, for the Arabs must be purged from vicinity of Antioch, Jerusalem and also Alexandria, says Emperor Konstantinos.

Pentarchy will be reborn and our Coptic brothers will be free!



It seems that while Konstantinos is rampaging through Mamelukan territories, his heir Andronikos is sleeping around.

He was scolded for his behavior to avoid legitimacy problems in the future.

As for the war itself, Mameluk soldiers are easily routed and their provinces easily seized.



Winning a conflict whilst using the Holy War pretext is like smacking a pinata.

Prestige and territories just land in your hands like candy falls into hands of a child!



And third Slavic vassal get! Serbians, Bosniaks and now Wallachians are ruled over by the Byzantines.



Our stability is good enough that we do not need Holy Mother's help at the moment.

We commission the icon of St.Michael, mostly because Golden Horde got itself together and our truce with those nomads will soon expire.



Fighting the Golden Horde wasn't worth a mention. Meanwhile, we are getting some progress with technology!

Emperor Konstantinos XIII's thirst for provinces has not been quenched yet. Orders are distributed to prepare for another war with the Mamluks.



He won't be around for that war, though.

Long live Emperor Andronikos IV! His heir, also named Andronikos, unfortunately does not share his talents.



Once more we fight the Mamluks, and this time we're aiming to take control of Alexandria!

As you can see, even our distant allies, the English, agreed to support our most holy cause!



Well, it seems that Sicillians have managed to unite themselves under one banner.

Meanwhile, our war is going splendidly, we've occupied almost whole of the Egyptian coast.



One of those accursed Hunting Accidents have taken away Andronikos, but his younger brother Ioannes is almost an adult.

And he has better stats, too.



We will have to be Innovative, which means we get penalty to yearly Missionaries we get.

Divine Supremacy is therefore a must if we want to convert Arabia, Egypt and beyond to Orthodox faith.



The fourth seat of Pentarchy is in our grasp now!

A true sign that Palaiologos dynasty has been blessed by the God!

[Haspen]

011: Purple-Colored Steppes

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Golden Horde has been a nuisance for the last hundred years.

Emperor Andronikos has decreed that they must be beaten so harshly and humilitated so badly that they send tribute to Constantinople and dare not attack us again.



The spymasters of Andronikos managed to get us cores on nearby lands.

This means we can colonize Kalmykia and don't fear Tatar uprising.

The core on Libya will prove useful when we fight the Mamluks again.



There we go! Basically painless.

Emperor Andronikos however wants Astrakhan, a centre of trade just east of Kalmykia.

We could also colonize Alania and then sell it to its rightful owners, Georgia.



The ever-victorious Andronikos have passed away, and Ioannes X ascends to the throne of Byzantium.

Of course, he continues the war against the Golden Horde.

Meanwhile, we get access to Culverins, Eastern Pikes and Eastern Hussars thanks to Land Tech 13.



We grab Astrakhan, but that gives Nogai and Qara Koyunlu a border with us.

Even more nomads to deal with, bleh!

We prolong the war against Golden Horde, by the way. An event gave us a core on Cherhassk, would be a shame not to take it.



First of our Syrian provinces have been cored!

It's been 50 years since first war with the Mamluks? Time flies, eh.



Nogai have been beaten and they now pay tribute.

Same treatment will be given the Qara Koyunlu tribe.



Alexandria is now Orthodox.

Only one seat of Pentarchy remains in hands of heretics, and that's Rome, of course.



Stupid floating newborns, disturbing my hunting time.

Though a heir would be nice, a random infant from who-knows-where won't do.



See, all we had to do was just wait.

He might have crappy stats, but he is a Palaiologos alright.



That took a while longer than I've expected.

It's also all that we wanted from the Nomad-infested steppes.

Unless there will be a good reason to, no more colonization will happen north of Caucassus mountains.



Stability went down to a level I do not like. Virgin Mary's help is needed!

Also, as you can see, there's a revolt in Zeta and high revolt risk in Corfu, both Austrian possessions (and they seem unable to deal with those).

Maybe we can sneak in and recover two more cores?



Eh, even one of them will do!

[Haspen]

012: The Quicksands of Egypt

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Yet another war with Mamluks awaits! This time, to completely annihilate them.

For that we hope our ally Ethiopia marches from the sources of the Nile and takes a province or two.



Few days later, Emperor Ioannes writes up a reform plans for the military.

We decide that Army reform is more important than Navy (this ends with us getting +1 Land tech level!).



The main Mamelukan army disintegrates after Second Battle of Cairo, and we decide to besiege all nearby provinces at once.

This will speed up the process of Egyptian conquest considerably! Spies are sent to the south to help Ethiopians with their sieges.



Unfortunately, the cost of their provinces (Cairo being main culprit) was too high.

Oh well, we can wait ten years; in meanwhile, we answer Georgia's help in war against Iraq and Persia.



We don't even move troops into Persia, for Georgia and our vassals can manage on its own.

We had to help deal with the Persian army as it entered Van once.



Then Emperor Ioannes commands troops into Tlemcen-held Egypt and Cyrenaica; we will take those lands from them to solidify our rule in Eastern Mediterranean!

Yemen and Zaporozhie are counted amongst their allies, and we will try to subdue the latter (and avoid the former).



Ironically, their greatest ally, Morocco, abandoned Tlemcen and declared a tribal war against them.

We take their lands and post our forces to keep peace and prevent Arabic Muslims from taking them back.



Emperor Ioannes X issues the anti-piracy act; this will help reduce our infamy.



Andronikos is introduced into the Byzantine court.

Maybe his terrible stats will bless him with good luck and good advisors?

Emperor Ioannes X in meanwhile makes preparations for future, and final, war with the Mamluks.



That's it, the final war against Mamluks. No matter if Ethiopians take a province or not; we can annex the Mameluk state in its entirety.



Alas! Maybe Ioannes X's bloodthirst was his undoing.

The middle-aged Emperor has perished during the conclusion of the Battle of Ibrim.

Andronikos VI now sits on Byzantine throne, and his heir, named Andronikos as well, is barely an improvement.



To improve relations with non-Orthodox Christians, Andronikos VI issues an edict of indulgence.

Then he follows his father unto Egypt, to command the armies conquering the lands of Mamluks.

...I also wonder why, despite at war with Golden Horde, the nomads haven't invaded our-



Oh, why, hello there, Novgorod.

How are you doing? Colonizing the steppes, I see?

Have fun my friend, I will be in Egypt if you need me.



At last! Our soldiers can wield gunpowder weapons!

About time we got rid of the old Muslim troops, and create truely Byzantine armies.



Gamóto! Emperor Andronikos is dead! Curse the sands of Egypt!

Fortunately, his successor is not far from being enthroned. All we have to do is-



...

*slowly and carefully moves cursor up to option 1 and clicks*

[Haspen]

013: Messengers of Old

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Byzantine Empire is without heir and a ruler at the moment, so our overseers, the Epopton, rule instead.

As they're debating about the most legitimate successor to the deceased Palaiologoi, they order construction of an University in Constantinople.



Not exactly sure how to progress, the overseers decide to establish Battlefield Commissions.

This way Byzantine army can get decent Generals not during, but before we do some conquering around.



They're, of course, very wise and opportunistic men. A revolt in Ragusa might see it declaring independence.

As we have a core on that particular strip of Adriatic coast, an Army in Zeta will watch the proceedings like a vigilant hawk.



The council of Epopton have found a suitable replacement!

A promising statesman and military leader of the Angelos family has been declared the new Byzantine Emperor!

May the rule and the family of Theodoros III last long!



Even the clergy have decided to commemorate the ascension of Theodoros, and mobilized the populace to rejoice.

This is clearly a sign that Theodoros is chosen by the God!



Emperor Theodoros concludes the war with Mamluk and there's only one outcome of that.

Few days later, little Ioannes, heir to Byzantine throne, is born.

Court astrologers, much to dismay of Theodoros, believe his wisdom and skills will be only mediocre, at best.



It seems that Byzantium will have to invest in a patrol fleet of the Gulf of Suez!

Pirates, no doubt some unsavory muslim folk, are preying on local ports. That will not stand!



As territories to north fell under influence of Novgorod, and the south to Fars and Alexandria, Astrakhan stopped being important.

All provinces that traded through it were re-routed to Alexandria, which now boasts the worth of about 680 ducats (compared to previous 500 or so).



Emperor Theodoros III have decreed that the Army is to be reformed and the Muslim units dispersed.

Instead, proper Eastern musketeers will replace the old Islamic soldiers.

As to not appear weak, only two Thema at once will be reformed.



We accept their call to arms only to raise War Taxes.

Our vassals can do the fighting, we're still replacing military units.



It seems that we're finishing up our military replacements just in time.

Typical for the Russians, they cannot handle all the revolts the Muslims and Nomads stage in the steppes.



White peace with Persia instead of any gains, then near-death of Ioannes, and then plague in Crete must've weighed heavily on Emperor Theodoros III.

The court asked the military governors and offcials to help rule the Empire as Theodoros rests.



After Theodoros' recovery, the aristocrats have remembered that they were granted certain rights - and demanded that they get more.

The Emperor laughed at them, saying that he does not fear their words. Nobles, of course, got pissy and rebelled.

Unsuprisingly, our recently modernized, expanded Themas made short work of the multiple noble rebellions, capturing and executing the ringleaders.



Four years of peace come and go, and Ioannes, heir apparent to Byzantine throne, is introduced to the court.

Virgin Mary shall bless him, as she blesses our nation today!

[Haspen]

014: Ioannes XI Angelos Apokatastatis

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Theodoros III has passed away, but not everyone is confident in Ioannes XI's ability to rule!

Unfortunately for the pretender, he has support of Zeta province, one of smallest in Byzantium.

His two-thousand troop of rebels was utterly massacred by Thema Makedonikon stationed there earlier to conquer Ragusa (which still didn't declare independence).



"Emperor, we can't even reach India!" "Ethiopians call for help, and Byzantium will answer!"

And so we're at war with Vijayanagar, far in the India.

Might as well use the war taxes for something, right?



Castille, lords of Iberia, have offered alliance!

We've politely accepted. Ioannes XI, in his confidence, have ordered Thema Makedonikon to board the ships.

"But Emperor, where are you sending them?"



The answer chilled the noblemen spines.

There was no proper casus belli, Castille was defender of Catholicism and Kingdom of Two Sicillies considered Rome its protectorate, and Byzantium was far too unstable at the moment to pursue such risky endeavour.

But Ioannes XI did not budge, and ordered what his predecessors always only considered - conquest of Rome.



The opening of the war was rather optimistic, for Castille did not come to help the Pope.

Emperor Ioannes quickly called for his vassals and Orthodox allies to provide numerical strength.



Then, via Bohemian Empire, the Burgundians entered Cherson, the northwestern border of the Empire!

Two Themas stationed in the north, one led by Ioannes himself, converged nearby, ready to defeat the Burgundian troop.



Timely arrival of Georgian Army allowed Ioannes to win over the Burgundians, routing them just as another of their troops entered the area, forcing them to retreat.

Neapol, capital of Kingdom of Two Sicilies, leader of the war, fell shortly afterwards. Rome however remains unshaken.

This bothers the Emperor and his courtiers. Time is of the essence here.



Besieged by Paulos Phokas, siegemaster of Byzantium, Rome finally fell.

Immediatelly the Pope was forced to evacuate the city as Byzantine troops entered the Seven Hills.



And so, the unimaginable happened.

A new Patriarch of Rome has been installed in the city, and already preparations are made to convert the populace.

Orthodox authorities hail the Emperor as Ioannes XI Angelos Apokatastasis, the Restorer.



Apparently, just few weeks after the war, the Burgundian King and Holy Roman Emperor, Louis II, was assassinated during an audience.

The Burgundians had the nerve to accuse Emperor Ioannes XI of this!



God wills it! The schism will be mended, and Byzantium will see to it!

We just need to hire a Theologian and move our National Focus there, and it shouldn't take more than few years, tops.



We even abandon our ancestral mission to recover Souther Italy.

Instead, we pursue the most sacred goal of restoration of Pentarchy.



And apparently, our marriage with Castille ends with an Angelid child as the next in line for their throne.

Simply sublime! Maybe, just maybe, we will inherit the golden kingdom one day?



Then, the victorious Ioannes XI Angelos Apokatastatis, conqueror of Rome, passes away in his sleep.

Regents now rule in Byzantium, waiting for young Michael to grow up and assume the title of Emperor.

May his life be long and prosperous!

[Haspen]

015: Peace, Progress, and The Pentarchy

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

RIP indeed, for he was working for us for about 45 years.

We need to find a skilled replacement, and fast.



Our noblemen love how we govern the country, and donated cash.

Hmm, we could sponsor new ships or a whole new Thema with that...

Oh wait, we're nearing the limit for land forces. New ships it is!



After over five hundred sixty years, the wound is healed. No longer there is any schism between the east and west.

There's now only Pentarchy - where Patriarchs of Constantinople, Rome, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem are as equals!



Into this new era of glory and orthodoxy, Michael X Angelos ascends to the throne of Byzantium.

He is, as the courtiers say, truly blessed.



It takes him only a year of negotiations to have the Armenian peoples accept Byzantine seniority.

He also calls for the Orthodox clergy to consecrate Metropolitan bishops in North African provinces.



He reforms the judical courts, bringing peace and stability to the common peoples!



And then, Michael X decides that it is time to abandon the old ways.

The Byzantine Empire, though vast and prestigious, has been for a while behind the Western Europe in terms of culture and technology.

No more! We will take over their customs and make them better through Byzantine creativity.

Many will oppose this move and we can expect the military to be the most stubborn. But we will prevail, and Byzantium will enter a new era of progress!



Unfortunately, he gets himself a daughter instead of a son, as a potential successor to Byzantine throne.

Well, you can't have everything!



The outdated, obsolete even, priviledge of Liberum Veto must also be dealt with.

Some noblemen do not understand it, and will be exterminated along with their supporters!



"Emperor Michael, we're doing what??"

"We're spreading Orthodox faith unto the Indies!"

And so, Byzantium, progressive and God-loving country, began its own colonization game. _{(Later we create a colony near Cape, in the furthest south of Africa)}



Blessed be Byzantium!!

[Haspen]

016: Too Short of a Lineage

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

By taking this idea, we can start colonizing further away from Sinai.

As a Westernized (and Innovative) nation, we're raking new Technologies must faster than ever before.



Meanwhile, the unity of Orthodox Balkans is strengthened as Moldavia, formerly a Bohemian mini-friend, becomes a Byzantine vassal!



A little bloody conquest of Tripoli fiefdom to extend our power in the North Africa.



It's mostly to commemorate Zoe's coming of age.

Michael X decided to rename city of Sirt as 'Zoenia' to honor his daughter.



Thanks to sharing of maps of some European explorers, we find an unclaimed island.

First Orthodox colonists are en route to claim it for Byzantium!

In other colonial news, Mahe and Little Karoo colonies will soon be granted status of a city.



And finally, mayhaps a bit late, we formalize our weights and scales.

You can't be a modern country with having percentages and halves in your units, after all.



Tragedy strikes! Beautiful and wise Zoe perished after a fever.

Emperor Michael X is devastated, especially that he is almost forty years old and has no adult heir to replace him.



The bereaved Emperor turns his thoughts to far east.

On board Hermes, the brave (and first) Byzantine explorer, Prokopios Batatzes, will first visit the amicable Sultanate of Brunei.

Then he is to chart the numerous seas and islands south and east of said Sultanate. While Brunei is civilized and Muslim, the other lands are virgin and pagan.



Alas! When Captain Batatzes returns to Sinai, and the Empire, he will learn that a new Emperor rules Byzantium!

...of the vile Bohemian Podebrad dynasty. No one is sure who allowed the Czech man to sit on Byzantine throne, but few accept him freely.

After just two months of monitoring the situation, its clear that nobody is raising any torches and pitchforks. Long live Jan Podebrad?

[Haspen]

017: Chronic Dynastic Instability

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Our monarch begins with forming new marital relationships.

For example, with the newly established British Empire.

A Grand Marshal is also hired to help with legitimacy.



Meanwhile, left to his own devices, Captain Batatzes does what the sailors of France and Castille did - discovers a new continent!

Unfortunately for us its mostly desert filled with murderous animals (and angry aborigines), so we won't be setting foot on that.



Ioannes Podebrad makes alliances and marriages in all the wrong places.

Unable to contend with military and diplomatic might of Austria, we had to show our backs to Kingdom of Denmark, angering many people.




It's the envoy of the Kingdom of Lubeck, for sure!

Ioannes XII Podebrad is dead and a minor politician of the court, Konstantinos Kantakouzenos, is declared new Emperor of Byzantium!

Byzantine nobles swear he was the best candidate we had at the moment.



He gets himself a son of somewhat questionable motherhood.

Byzantine nobles continue to claim its the best possibility at the moment.



As the nation stabilizes after recent political upheaval, the era of Crusades and Holy Wars comes to an end.

Finally the Pope and the rest of Catholics will be less important.



Emperor Konstantinos XIV decides that Orthodoxy must be spread further east.

The first colony in East Indies, on isle of Flores, is therefore underway!



Our stability is way too low. This is third uprising in span of a year!

We must commission either an Artist or Icon to Virgin Mary, and fast!



And worst of it all, Captain Batatzes has died!

The island of Sulu, the newest Byzantine colony, was renamed 'Batatzes' in memory of the fallen explorer.



Our friends, Ethiopians, are losing control over their African holdings.

Obviously, we cannot let the Mamelukans resurface. Once they appear, we will conquer them!



Nobles demand concessions, Konstantinos suffers a bout of insanity, we had to take a loan of 800 ducats, but hey.

At least we have core on Rome, making it part of our Empire!



Mamluks have risen!

We will put them down.



After taking over the Mamelukian provinces, we receive first batch of beans from Flores.

Hurrah for Byzantine Coffee!

[Haspen]

018: Red Numbers of Death

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

While the state and populace are struggling, the land itself seems to be blessed.

These pop-ups have started showing up more often lately. Must be due to all those grain provinces we've got.



The loan - and the interest rate - that were potentially going to cripple us (interest itself was 6.5 ducats monthyl!) are paid off in time.

Now we can resume building up infrastructure and colonizing the Indies.



Aha! The colony on Ternate will be known for its cultivation of mace, nutmeg and cloves (amongst other spices).

Our stability struggles to raise. Someone cursed it!



WAIFU WHY U DO THIS!?

Other options are worse, cuz they lower stability.



Despite the stability hit, we could really use some war taxes.

I mean, being in good graces with Novgorod.



A series of negative events seemingly left Konstantinos XIV without will to live, and he perished.

His twenty-years-old son ascends the throne as Emperor Ioannes XIII, and he seems to have a younger brother as a spare. Very good.



Southern Cossacks formation is better than other two by a wide margin.

Also, whenever we up our Stability to -1, the game tosses something that brings it back to -2.

NEVER-ENDING STAAAAB HIIIIITS _{(oooooh oooh ooooh~!)}



WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS FAMILY!?!

REEEEEEEEEEEEE



A new tech and finally stability at 0!

Now to get to +3 and finalize the Westernization process and get Western military units.



At least we can do what we do well, and eradicate some Muslims.

Or at least try to, if our fleet gets its repairs done. *sigh*

[Haspen]

019: Byzantine Mecca and Japanese Ethiopia

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

As war with Tlemcen and others progresses, we save up enough money to wrestle the tile of Defender of Faith from Novgorod.

Prestige and glory will return to us!



Three years pass in which we fill our coffers with war taxes. Castille finally takes some lands from Tlemcen.

Meanwhile, we've managed to raise our Stability to +2, oh yeeeah!



Thanks to skillful management of Imperial Treasury by Ioannes XIII, we scrounged enough money to afford a Fine Arts Academy of Athens (a refinery in Achaea follows next year).

From other news: In the HRE, first time in ages, the throne is occupied by neither a Burgundian, Austrian, Savoyard or Bohemian monarch.

Good job Hesse, now lets see if you can keep it.



The price for big ships gets ridinkulous lately, so our government decided to adopt this particular idea.

Few levels down the line, we can take up a similar one, but for land forces.

Some sharp-eyed people might notice that we're converging troops at border with Hedjaz and Iraq. There's reason for that.



Iraq, protector of Hedjaz, did not come to war, probably not awares of what we're planning to do.

Emperor Ioannes XIII decreed that Mecca, holiest site of Muslims, will be conquered and converted.

This will deal a crippling blow to Islam across entire world.



That prestige! That missionary bonus!

Truly, there's no better faith than Orthodox Christianity!



I love gifts <3



In process of vassalizing Ethiopia, we have been entangled in a war with the most unlikely of foes: Japan.

Now for crash course history - since early 1500s, Minamoto Shogunate has been poking Swahili and Mutapa for land.

Then the Japanese learned of Ethiopia and its trade of centre at Sokotra. They've taken it, and has been poking Ethiopia for a piece of land or two every so often.

Now, by the end of 1600s, Minamoto has gotten most of Horn of Africa for itself. We will help stop this Japanese conquest of Africa.



We were worried for the battle's outcome, but turns out Japanese musketeers and soldiers are very lacking in terms of combat prowess.



And there we go, Japanese Emperor relented and asked for white peace.

Emperor Ioannes is produ of what he has accomplished, and that we can still deal with Muslims easily.

He has retreated to his study to consider battleplans against other Muslim nations in the region. Will this brooding bear fruit, or just be idle brooding? Who knows!

[Haspen]

020: Giant Steppe Nomads Outta Nowhere

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The new trade centre at Adrianople will be created to give more work to our merchants.

That wrestled some previously Lubeck or Novgorod aligned provinces, routing their trade to Adrianople.

Alexandria's worth diminished, but is still at near 300 ducats (Adrianople rates at about 650).



While we join Castille's colonial war against France, the heir to the throne of Byzantium, Andronikos, is hailed as a great writer.

It's first time one of Byzantine heirs gets this!



Novgorod lost its grip over the Steppes once again, and Kazan Khanate now threatens our borders.

We could colonize their lands, but having them close gives us a Colonist bonus.



The what.

And they have how many troops??

We must send our troops to save our vassal from immediate destruction!



I think Ioannes XIII was barely into his forties when this happened.

Long live Emperor Andronikos VII! May his reign be peaceful and prosperous just like his predecessor's.

Little Ioannes, heir to the throne, has quite nice stats.



Timurids are beaten and we roll out new type of troops.

Petrine Infantry is on more defensive-side, and has less pips.



Emperor Andronikos VII seizes another island for Orthodox faith!

Unfortunately, both Castille and Persia have started showing up on islands in the area.

We might not be able to claim entirety of the archipelago for ourselves, alas.



I could swear that we had a Master of the Mint event already? We're under 2% inflation...

Oh well, its a godsend anyway! +2 Stability after series of negative events is nothing to scoff at!



Except for passing-by of Captain Batatzes decades ago, we haven't had much contact with Xin.

Until now; the Xin Empire is also fighting Kazan nomads, and currently the few steppe provinces Kazan own is all that separates the Chinese moloch and our Orthodox domain!

Funny how small the world is, eh?



Sarai becomes a civilized land, letting us seek a peace treaty with Kazan nomads.

Meanwhile, the island of Timor, in East Indies, will be colonized as well.



As we go to war against Japan to protect Ethiopia again, Croatia becomes another Byzantine vassal!



The Imperial administration is outdated and dysfunctional, Emperor Andronikos says.

He decided to exchange his purple coat for a new red one, and no longer is Emperor, but King.

King who is absolute ruler of Byzantium, now and forever!

[Haspen]

021: Wars of Protection and Conquests

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The fighting at Horn of Africa is intense; our troops suffer from attrition while the Japanese are sending new ones in bulk.



But there is a plan in motion; Admiral Constans Botaianates has declared that he will sail to Japanese archipelago and blockade their ports.

Byzantine courtiers complain that this is madness, but, with our colonies in East Indies and English Ceylon having its ports open, Admiral Botaianates is sure he can accomplish the mission.



Report comes from the far east - apparently, Admiral Botaianates has put a choking grip on the commerce of Japan.

Meanwhile, our troops, unable to cross the Red Sea due to Japanese naval presence, are marching through southern Nubia to help Ethiopian forces.



Our successes with naval blockade and destroying of Minamoto forces caused Japan to sign white peace with Ethiopia.

That is not satisfactory for us, and we will punish the Japanese for leaving their little archipelago.



I am impressed. I'm truly impressed.

The fake that is Holy Roman Empire has seriously stepped upon the road to unification into one single state.

And under the banner of Hessians, no less!



The five Cathedrals - in Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, Constantinople and Rome - have been completed.

In total, they provide +0.25 Missionary yearly and +50 Stability investments per month.



We won't hold on those provinces for long; they will be sold for symbolic amounts of cash back to the Ethiopian royals.

Meanwhile, a core and a mission give us two valid reasons to fight Iraq.

Emperor Andronikos sees no reason not to do just that!



As preparations for the war near completion, we commission the icon of St.Nicholas.

It will boost our diplomatic skill and help reduce infamy.



In the meanwhile, we also send help to Castille. They're family after all!

They receive the most lucky outcome, boosting their Stability by whooping 3 points!



The war against Iraq has drawn in both Yemen and Hedjaz.

We will try to capitalize on this situation, and try to steal a strip of provinces from Van all the way to Mocha at the southern corner of Arabian peninsula!



The first of many crippling treaties is applied - Yemen has to give up Asir province.

By the way the Arabian Muslims are fighting against us, Emperor Andronikos assumes that the war will be over very soon.



What has been planned, has been achieved!

Our infamy is extremely high, however, prompting a construction of an Embassy and employment of a Diplomat.

Hopefully, we can recover from the image of brutal warmongerer.