☧Byzantine Empire☧

[Prodigal]

The Byzantine banner

Capital: Constantinople

Economy: 120% (25% per turn)

Unique unit: Byzantine fire ship - ships armed with Greek fire that can reduce an enemy fleet to cinders even in small numbers

Trade:
Russia
Spain
Kalmar
Mamluks
Poland
Hapsburg

Alliances:
Moldova
Wallachia
Armenia
Spain

Province Income: 213%
Trading Income: 30%

Royal family - House of Komnenos:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Roman Emperor Basileios III
Status: Reigning monarch
Age: 71 (born 15 Aug. 1429)


Manuel Komnenos, Sebastokratōr & Doux of Chaldia
Status: Heir-apparent
Relation to monarch: Brother
Age: 68 (born 7 Nov. 1432)


Euphemia Komnenos
Status: Princess, married to Andreas Palaiologos
Relation to monarch: Daughter
Age: 24 (born 9 Dec. 1475)


Andreas Palaiologos, Kaisar & Doux of Macedonia
Status: Heir-presumptive
Relation to monarch: Son-in-law
Age: 47 (born 3 Mar. 1453)


Eirene Komnenos
Status: Princess
Relation to monarch: Daughter
Age: 22 (born 6 Jun. 1477)

Army:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Byzantine soldiers defend Damascus from the Abbasids, 897

Grand Army:
Location: Constantinople, Thrace
Commander: Emperor Basileios III
10,000 regular infantry
10,000 regular arquebusiers
5,000 regular light cavalry
5,000 elite heavy cavalry
20 light cannon
20 heavy cannon

Army of Anatolia:
Location: Trebizond, Pontus
Commander: Manuel Komnenos, Sebastokratōr & Doux of Chaldia
8,000 regular infantry
6,000 regular arquebusiers
2,000 regular light cavalry
2,000 elite heavy cavalry
10 light cannon
5 heavy cannon

Army of the West:
Location: Serdica, Bulgaria
Commander: Andreas Palaiologos, Kaisar & Doux of Macedonia
10,000 regular infantry
10,000 regular arquebusiers
5,000 regular light cavalry
5,000 elite heavy cavalry
20 light cannon
20 heavy cannon

Army of Syria:
Location: Antioch, Syria
Commander: Georgios Notaras
6,000 regular infantry
3,000 regular arquebusiers
1,000 regular light cavalry
1,000 elite heavy cavalry
20 light cannon


TOTAL UPKEEP: 114%

Navy:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Byzantine navy in action, 1220

Grand Fleet:
Location: Constantinople, Thrace
Commander: Thomas Amiroutzes
15 heavy ships
20 light ships
5 fire ships

Mediterranean Fleet:
Location: Athens, Greece
Commander: Andreas Kantakouzenos
5 heavy ships
15 light ships
5 fire ships


TOTAL UPKEEP: 104%

[Marshy]

Prince Christian of the Scandinavia, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland, and Vinland has asked for Princess Eirene's hand in marriage.

[Prodigal]

The Princess turns down the proposal.

[Dan the Man]

On behalf of Queen Isabella of Spain and Portugal I thank the generous Greek people for their magnanimous offer!

[Prodigal]

The aged Emperor calls the Spaniards and North Italians to council in Blacharnae.

OOC: In a little bit, I'll be busy for about 30 min

[Marshy]

While Prince Christian is saddened with the Princess, King Hans sends an ambassador to Constantinople to ask for a trade agreement and alliance.

[Prodigal]

Trade is accepted, alliance turned down for now.

[Kip]

The aged Emperor calls the Spaniards and North Italians to council in Blacharnae.

OOC: In a little bit, I'll be busy for about 30 min

The Italian diplomat, surrounded by his modest retinue of couriers and scribes, arrives in Constantinople.

[Prodigal]

Welcome, men of Italy.

The Basilius coughed from his throne.

Now we need only wait for the Spaniards to get here, and we may begin council.

Two plush chairs are brought out in front of the emperor.

[Dan the Man]

The Spanish diplomat, clearly an officer of the military, arrives, slightly late, and looking very tired and disheveled.
"Pardon, sirs, it was a long journey across the Mediterranean, and our ship was ambushed by the accursed Aragonese several times."

[Prodigal]

Please, sit, both of you.

We all know of the matter at hand, the Aragonese. I will be sending my Army of the West to capture the Ionians, then proceed to Sicily. I understand that Spain is currently attack the Aragonese at their Iberian home. What is the plan of Italy?

[Kip]

"Thank you. Your hospitality is most gracious, m'lord." The diplomat sits.

"The Aragonese threaten us in two areas," explained the Italian diplomat. "First and foremost, there is the issue of Naples. The Pope's armies, blessed by God as they may be, are at risk of folding under a concerted Aragonese invasion from the south. While our spies are not aware of such a force, it is likely that my King will send troops to defend his father's estates in Romagna."

"Second, there is the issue of Sardinia. An Aragonese stronghold so near our lands is an unacceptable risk and insult. It is certain that this is where our primary efforts against the Aragonese will be launched."

"Unfortunately, we face enemies on all of our borders, save the east. The Free French are assuredly an enemy we cannot underestimate, and we cannot trust the Alps to hold off the Germans forever. What this spells for our efforts against Aragon is yet to be decided by our generals, but I can assure you that the Spanish and Greeks do not stand alone in this war."

[Dan the Man]

I'd like to think Aragon is less of a problem than you men assume: The Spanish Army will soon have Iberia and the Balearics well in hand, completely eliminating their power base. At that point, you strike. I simply do not see how this is such a problem.

[Prodigal]

Basileos' brow furrowed and he covered his mouth with his hand.

Naturally, they are nothing before the might of our armies, but we must never underestimate in these situations.

[Dan the Man]

The diplomat nods gravely

[Pakov]

The Mamluk diplomat requests a audience with the Byzantine Emperor

[Prodigal]

He raised an eyebrow, surprised by the relative lack of a response.

So, my Army of the West, as well as my Grand Army will be departing for the Ionians. They should be easy to grab. Sicily will be a much, much more difficult task, and I doubt that I will be able to easily claim Naples after that. I don't know if I will be able to fight the Neapolitan front on my own.

[Prodigal]

Kyriakos Lathas, a Byzantine Diplomat, receives the Mamluk emissary.

I apologize that my Basileos is currently in council with others, is there anything I can do for you, or is it necessary to speak to my Emperor?

[Dan the Man]

He raised an eyebrow, surprised by the relative lack of a response.

So, my Army of the West, as well as my Grand Army will be departing for the Ionians. They should be easy to grab. Sicily will be a much, much more difficult task, and I doubt that I will be able to easily claim Naples after that. I don't know if I will be able to fight the Neapolitan front on my own.

You will have the aid of the Spanish Armada, if you need it.

[Pakov]

Kyriakos Lathas, a Byzantine Diplomat, receives the Mamluk emissary.

I apologize that my Basileos is currently in council with others, is there anything I can do for you, or is it necessary to speak to my Emperor?

The Sultan wants to negotiate a trade agreement