ASOIAF/GOT The Komneniad: A Very Byzantine ISOT.

ATP

Well-known member
It seems, that red priests digs their own grave.What would Byzantines thought about local gods ? some could still help their belivers,something not possible on Earth.
R,hllor is demon for them,Stygai ,Drowned God and Kadath denizens too,but what about Old gods ? what they think about them ? In Poland missionaries cut saint trees ,did Byzantine do the same ?
 
Appendix: Canon Characters as of 287 AC
Tywin Lannister: Currently Hand of the King, not very happy about it
Jaime Lannister: In Casterly Rock, married to one Alla Tyrell, has a daughter named Joanna
Cersei Lannister: Will go off to Constantinople soon
Tyrion Lannister: Was Born, still a dwarf, the birth still got Joanna killed.

Rickard Stark: Alive, despite losing his eldest son, he shows no signs of dying soon.
Eddard Stark: Alive, being re-trained by his Father so he will be a proper Lord of Winterfell. Finally settling into his marriage with Rowena Arryn
Lyanna Stark: At Storm's End, fathered a boy already whom they named Steffon. Finding that life was not so bad with that Baratheon Oaf after all
Benjen Stark: Alive, at Winterfell, it is said that his Father plans to take the New Gift and settle it, if this happens he is a prime candidate to get a keep there.

Robert Baratheon: Alive, at Storm's End. You won't believe what wonders having a life worth living does.
Stannis Baratheon: Alive, grinding his teeth at Storm's End, currently seeking a wife.
Renly Baratheon: Has a twin sister, is a rather cheerful little boy all things considered. Has taken to Lyanna as if she were his mother. The fact that his brother and his goodsister managed to get past each other's stubbornness is in no small part his fault

Mace Tyrell: Alive, doing his Oafish business in Highgarden
Olenna Tyrell: Very much alive, trying to get her son's Oafish business to work in a less Oafish manner
Willas Tyrell: Born a girl, named Elinor, learning from her Grandmother.
Garlan Tyrell: Born, was named Willas instead, but is shaping up to be rather similar to canon Garlan.

Doran Martell: Very much alive, less of a problem with Gout
Elia Martell: Married to Baelor Hightower, three successful births despite her frail disposition, very much alive
Oberyn Martell: Already making bastards, must have left one or two in Constantinople.
Mellario: Yes, those two still met, somehow. Has not left Sunspear just yet, but it should not take too long.

Viserys Targaryen: Being raised alongside his nephew Aegon, so far, he doesn't seem mad, let's hope it lasts.
Aegon Targaryen: Being raised by his mother and grandmother.
Rhaella Targaryen: Very much alive, is, alongside her daughter in law, the guardian of both Viserys and Aegon.

Hoster Tully: Alive, still pissed at his brother. Was saved during the First Tyroshi War/Last Blackfyre Revolt by the son of a Braavosi who had been granted land in the Vale, sound familiar?
Brynden Tully: Alive, pissed at Hoster and still unmarried.
Catelyn Tully: Alive, living in the Eyrie, overall, has no complains about her marriage
Lysa Tully: Alive, married to a Riverlord, has many a complain about her marriage, mostly because it was not to a certain Valeman. Less insane but still not quite sane.
Edmure Tully: Alive, growing up, trying to learn from his Father and Uncle.

Jon Arryn: Very much alive, has had various children and gets to write often to his daughter who lives in Winterfell.
Elbert Arryn: Alive, married, doing his thing I guess.
Denys Arryn: Alive, his wife and daughter are also alive. It is expected that he will serve as Castellan for Lord Ronnel.

Quellon Greyjoy: Still alive, feeling particularly hopeless recently.
Balon Greyjoy: Still alive and waiting to do something stupid
Euron Greyjoy: Alive, no one knows where he is, although it is said that the Romans have orders that if a ship with his ensign is seen, it is to be sunk at all costs.

Petyr Baelish: Currently grumbling in his little holding and waiting for a chance to rise higher in life. Still lusting after Catelyn, still a creep.

Jon Connington: Alive, Lord of Griffin's Roost, recently married.
 
Chapter 17 (AKA: Calendar Boogaloo)
And having returned in victory from Volantis, Basileus Ioannes had a Triumph held, and a monument was erected in memory of the two fallen princes. And in those days did a delegation come, led by one Kevan Lannister, to propose a marriage between the Imperial House and the House of Lannister. And after some discussion, Basileus Ioannes agreed, and his eldest living son Isaakios also agreed to marry the lady Cersei Lannister.

And as many in the East converted, as new bishoprics were founded and the Latin rite began to make itself more prominent among the converts of the West, the Patriarch Eusebius called for a Synod, for it was agreed that, with all that was known about the ancient days of the world, that some mistake had been made by Bishop Theophilus of Antioch and by the Chronica Paschalis in calculating the age of the World. And in this synod did the Latins make themselves felt. For those of the Latin Rite had been using a calendar based on the Birth of the Lord since the times of Charles the Greater, King of the Franks[1]. And one Andreas, an old priest from Genoa who had tended to the Latins since before the Act of Union that followed the Great Light, and who had been the one to baptize Reynald Reyne, convinced the Synod. Although the calendar dating from creation would still be used in some documents by the Church.[2]

And so, on the feast of Nativity, of the year 1147, Basileus Ioannes proclaimed the new calendar and the New Year. And there was great celebration.

And shortly before the feast of Pascha[3] arrived a ship, carrying the lady Cersei Lannister. And for two weeks she remained before, amidst great fanfare she was baptized and given the name Theodora, and afterwards her father arrived, and she was married to Isaakios Komnenos in a great ceremony in Hagia Sophia.

And soon did the court sour, for at the time there was great tension, as it was rumored that Basileus Ioannes intended to make Nikephoros his heir instead of Isaakios. And among the supporters of Nikephoros there was Roger Reyne the Younger, the eldest son of Reynard Reyne and close friend to Nikephoros. And after his marriage to the lady Lannister much of the court turned to support Nikephoros, for the lady Cersei soon gained the ill will of many at court.

And Nikephoros married soon after, taking Anna, the second daughter[4] of Alysanne Blackfyre as his wife. Unlike the lady Lannister, she was of a patient and humble character, albeit there was a steel behind the silk, so that some began to compare her to Theodora, the wife of Justinian the Greater. And she was also well liked at court.[5]

For two years there was much tension at court, until in 1149, Basileus Ioannes made Nikephoros Symbasileus, and proclaimed that he was to succeed him. And the lady Lannister, inflamed, had her husband leave the Queen of Cities, and they soon drew support from the Anatolian Dynatoi and from various members of the court who felt that they had not been honored properly by Basileus Ioannes. Among them men such as Konstantinos Doukas, Theodoros Kastamonites, Ioannes Dalassenos, as well as the families Gabras and Skleroi. And they held residence at Smyrna, but Isaakios did not allow his wife or those who supported him to make moves against his Father.

And in such a state passed the final years of the reign of Basileus Ioannes. And shortly after the New Year of 1155, with his regency over, and Aegon VI crowned as Basileus of the Andals, Daeron Targaryen, his wife Theodora, and their children, came to Constantinople. For it was agreed between Daeron and Aegon, that the former ought to spend some time away, so that none would try to use him or his sons to threaten the reign of Aegon.

And after three years, being the year 1159 since the birth of the Lord, Ioannes II, Basileus of the Romans, died in his sleep.

[1]Charlemagne, of course, although Eudokia Komnene shows some admiration for the man that brought the Franks to the height of their power in a time where the Roman Empire was still recovering from the Iconoclasts, among other situations, she will never call him an Emperor. Although a uniform AD system was not achieved until later in the Middle Ages, it began to become popular during his reign, being introduced by an English monk in the service of Charlemagne, it is first noted to be used by one Dionysus Exiguus, although the first high-profile chronicler to use it would be the Venerable Bede.
[2] The Synod is a bit of a cop-out, mostly so I can start using dates without the cumbersome extra conversions. in OTL the Orthodox Churches started using AD only after 1700, when Russia started to do so. Up until then they used the Anno Mundi system dating creation to 5509 BC. Thus I will only need to convert dates to the After Landing format.
[3] Easter. Since most languages use a derivative of this word rather than Easter, I will use the greek word to refer to it even among Latin-rite Andal Christians.
[4] Anna and Saera's father is not mentioned by Eudokia, he was a Lysene merchant whose origin is debated, although he is widely believed to have been a cousin of Lysara Whitefyre. He died during Ioannes II's campaign to punish Tyrosh.
[5] Such a marriage might seem counter intuitive until this is said. As Nikephoros essentially solidified the favor of the Court by doing this.
 

CarlManvers2019

Writers Blocked Douchebag
Petyr Baelish currently grumbling? Ya know, even with his talents, he only got his headstart with his connections

Hope he spends the next few decades getting used to fire being burnt with shit again
 
Any plans by the Church regarding the Faith of The Seven? Aside from war? There must be ways to slowly take over Westeros' faith aside from direct war
The Emperor and the Patriarch of Constantinople have figured that most official expansion will be focused eastward both for the Empire and for the Church, so as to not alienate the juggernaut that is Westeros (As in, if Westeros were to fully unite to smack down the Empire, they likely could)...
That being said, they won't dissuade missionaries who decide to work in Westeros without access to Imperial funding and protection... That won't be relevant yet
(Also, most of said missionaries will be from the formerly catholic churches that re-entered communion with Constantinople in the aftermath of the event. AKA: Italians and Franks mostly)
Anything else I can say, would be spoilers
 
Narrative: Smyrna, 1159 AD
Author's Note: This update is from Cersei's POV, take some things with a grain of salt

Cersei Lannister watched from the balcony, her eyes set on the harbor of Smyrna.

Theodora... That was the name the Roman priest had given her, and at first she loathed it. She could remember, standing in the baptismal font of the Cathedral, in nothing but a white tunic and absolutely drenched in cold water as the priest spoke those words, and gave her a Rhoman name...

At the time she had not much to say about her then betrothed. She had seen him a couple of times since her own arrival, but it was after her induction into the Rhoman faith that he came to her on the gardens of Blachernae. And then he told her the story of the empress that bore that name. To say that she was enamored at once with that woman would be an understatement. Here she was, being presented with the tale of a woman who rose to become more feared and respected than her husband the Emperor, who held court in her own name, who adressed those in her service as it was her due for her position...

She soon set out to emulate this empress of Old.

In Constantinople she had had many enemies. Her goodbrother was apathethic to her, but his wife, the little Blackfyre whore clearly was after her. Of course, her husband should have been made emperor, but her scheming and that accursed Reyne had made it so her husband was left out of the succession... Reyne, his mere existance was an insult upon her, all of his bloodline ought to have perished at Castamere... Isaakios did not seem to mind, but it was clear that he was after more than being a glorified castellan. He was just too honorable to take up a sword against his father and brother. But then again, that's why she was here.

Of course, her husband was a dutiful man, if one prone to anger. He did not take it out on her, instead taking that anger out on the training yard. He was attentive enough and he seemed to focus mostly on matters of war, thus listening to her without much inconvenient when it came to other matters. She could not say that she loved him. He was also stubborn, very much so, but she had come to at least worry for him more truthfully than she expected

So, as soon as old Emperor Ioannes had named Nikephoros as his heir, she seized the chance and got her husband away to Smyrna, where he owned a large manse, and more importantly, where those who agreed with her on the matter of who should be Emperor were gathering.

Some of them were just as insufferable as those bootlickers in Constantinople, but some were friendly enough, such as Maria Gabras and the Skleroi twins... But now she was alone. Her husband was recieving visits. Normally she would be by his side, but recently she tired easily, no doubt because of her pregnancy. In the next room there were her children, Ioanna and Alexios.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a serving girl, a Naathi girl. There were no slaves in her household -and it seemed that household slavery was declining, at least among the nobles. she had been bought, then freed and chose to remain.

"Your Highness, I bring news from Constantinople" She said in her accented Rhoman. With a raised eyebrow and a stern look, Cersei waited as the girl bowed deeply and held out a letter. She took it and with a gesture of the hand she bid the girl to leave, which she did at once.

Cersei read the letter, and then did so again, and again, and a smile formed on her face.

All she had to do was to send word, and then no one would stand between her children and their rightful place in this foreign land.
 
Author's Note: Forgive me, I took a time off from forums in general and only returned a couple of days ago... Enjoy the next installment.

Book 2
The Reign of Nikephoros Megas

It had been on the Twentieth Day of the Seventh Month of the year 1159, when Basileus Ioannes, having lived for around Two and Seventy years, gave up his soul. And upon his death, the Queen of Cities mourned him, for he was fondly thought of due to his charity.


And his son Nikephoros sent word to his brother Isaakios, so that both could partake in his funeral. But he recieved no answer.

And as soon as news came to Smyrna, Konstantinos Doukas had the guards of the city and the garrison proclaim Isaakios as Basileus, and the Kastamonites, Gabras, Skleroi and Dalassenos joined them, and in three days, most of Anatolia rose in revolt against Nikephoros.

This caused great distress in the Basileus, for his Brother had always been a dutiful man and had never complained about the change in heir. Although Nikephoros knew that his brother's wife, the lady Cersei was very much infuriated, and it had been at her instigation that Isaakios had left for Smyrna.

And at the time it was not known, but letters between the conspirators that were uncovered in later years made clear that this had not been at the instigation of Isaakios, but at the instigation of his wife Cersei, and of Konstantinos Doukas and Ioannes Dalassenos.

And upon hearing the news, Nikephoros called upon his two closest friends and most talented commanders. Georgios Palaiologos[1], nephew of the former Doux of Thessaloniki, and Roger Reyne the Younger[2]. And he also called upon his cousin Ioannes Bryennios. And the four of them left the Queen of Cities for Adrianople, for the bulk of the Roman Armies were encamped there.

As this happened, a great host was gathered by the men of Anatolia, and Isaakios, reluctantly for he saw no other choice than accepting their acclaim, took to the field to lead this host. And among them there were some of the tagmas, but the majority of the Armies remained loyal, and under Bardas Kalamytes they retreated to the city of Attaleia, and some left for Rhodos, to keep the fleet from falling into the hands of the conspirators.

Upon hearing news that Isaakios' host was gathered at Ephesus, although the once great city was but a village, Basileus Nikephoros again held council with his close friends, and they agreed to draw Isaakios into Thrace. And after ten days he marched north, and crossed the Hellespont.

But Nikephoros was waiting for him with the Varangians and a force of various other tagmas, while Roger the Younger led the tagma of the Latins[3]. And outside of Kallipolis the two brothers met in battle. But the Anatolian host raised from the levies of the Dynatoi could not hold the line, and Isaakios barely managed to prevent a rout. And although Konstantinos Doukas advised him to push forward in an attempt to break through Basileus Ioannes' troops regardless, Isaakios chose to retreat across the Hellespont, and instead try to reach Constantinople by crossing the Bosphorus.

And in these days, the lady Cersei had her children sent by boat to their grandfather, planning to have them returned when her husband had taken the Queen of Cities.

And as the new year of 1160 came, Isaakios was preparing his troops on the asian side of the Bosphorus, while Nikephoros took ships and crossed the Propontis[4] further to the south and east of the zone where Isaakios and his army were encamped.


[1] Yes, from THAT Palaiologos family
[2] Eldest son of Reynard Reyne, called "The Younger" to distinguish him from Lord Roger Reyne, the Red Lion of Castamere who would be drowned alongside most of the population of Castamere
[3] By this point in time, the Tagma of the Latins is composed partly of the great-grandchildren of Normans and French knights who had been in service to the Emperor, and partly of Westerosi.
[4] Sea of Marmara, Eudokia seems to have a tendency to use classical terms where appliable.
 
D

Deleted member 88

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I wonder why Tywin didn’t spend more resources ensuring cersei behaved in Constantinople. More guards, servants and so on-both to spy on her and as something to pull away.
 
I wonder why Tywin didn’t spend more resources ensuring cersei behaved in Constantinople. More guards, servants and so on-both to spy on her and as something to pull away.
One of Tywin's deepest flaws is his blindness towards the defects on Cersei and Jaime. Not to say that he thinks that they are perfect (that would be a stupid position to hold) but he seems incapable of comprehending until pretty late in the game in canon that neither Cersei nor Jaime are competent enough to maintain the image of the Lannister Legacy that he has been building.
 
D

Deleted member 88

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One of Tywin's deepest flaws is his blindness towards the defects on Cersei and Jaime. Not to say that he thinks that they are perfect (that would be a stupid position to hold) but he seems incapable of comprehending until pretty late in the game in canon that neither Cersei nor Jaime are competent enough to maintain the image of the Lannister Legacy that he has been building.
Wait was Jaimie with Cersei in Constantinople? I didn’t think he was.

I’m not sure how much of it is genuine ignorance and how much of it is simply being afraid to accept it. Kevan and Genna knew(well Kevan does and Genna likely did). I would think that maybe it was more Tywin pretended not to know to convincing himself the illusion was true. Because to confront the reality it wasn’t would destroy him.

Ironically he’s like Robert in that sense, he became very good at not seeing.
 
Wait was Jaimie with Cersei in Constantinople? I didn’t think he was.
No, he wasn't.

I’m not sure how much of it is genuine ignorance and how much of it is simply being afraid to accept it. Kevan and Genna knew(well Kevan does and Genna likely did). I would think that maybe it was more Tywin pretended not to know to convincing himself the illusion was true. Because to confront the reality it wasn’t would destroy him.

Ironically he’s like Robert in that sense, he became very good at not seeing.
Fair enough.
The worst kind of blindness, is not wanting to see after all
 
D

Deleted member 88

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So have the byzantines made substantive contact with the Summer Islands?
 

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