Return From the Ashes: A Greek Story (CK2 - Stellaris)

[Bobby Barrows]

Part XII:

We come back to 1305 C.E. with the ever-expanding Greco-Roman Empire; ruled by the great Alexandros "The Benevolent" Hikesphoros. The 66-year old appeared to be looking to make some peace for his realm, at least as much as he could. He was growing old; it was up to his successors to do right by him. He knew it was the end, and on May 27, 1306 C.E., Alexandros Hikesphoros passed away in his sleep at age 67. His successor would be his son, who had been dying of cancer for years before, Kallinikos Hikesphoros.

Alexandros "The Benevolent" Hikesphoros
(November 26, 1238 C.E. - May 27, 1306 C.E.)

Kallinikos Hikesphoros
(May 26, 1261 C.E. - )

With Basileus Kallinikos now on the throne, he needed a way to legitimize his rule compared to that of his father and great-grandfather. Kallinikos was already in his mid-40s, and already dying of a terrible disease. Any disaster would reflect poorly not only on himself but his son and heir, Doux Antonios of Modena. Kallinikos had always been a military commander before a ruler in his life; he understood the best way to legitimize his rule would be to win a war. Kallinikos looked to see which would make a certainly easy opponent.

Who else but the Sultanate of Rum, those weakened Turkish Muslims. It was time to conquer some land again from them, returning it rightfully into the hands of the Romans. With armies assembled, Kallinikos personally led his armies to the lands of the Sultanate. The Sultanate appeared prepared for this and Sultan Ramazanoglu Seljuk hired mercenaries to repel the Romans. 14k Muslim soldiers moved into Armenia, attacking the lands of Exarch Davit ve Gori of Armenia. Kallinikos knew to avoid a direct confrontation against the Muslim armies, instead opting to focus on seizing their cities as quickly as possible.

The idea is that though Rum can attack city after city, the Empire is simply too large to take on all at once, meanwhile, Rum is small and weak, and though the Seljuks have money, they do not have power. Following the "Battle of Trapezous" (in which a small contingent of Kallinikos' army defeated the entire Muslim army), it became apparent to the Sultan that victory was impossible. On January 28, 1308 C.E., the Sultanate of Rum surrendered, and more land was given up to Exarch Davit of Armenia. It was a smashing victory for Basileus Kallinikos... but unfortunately, it did little to truly assuage his vassals and ministers.

Kallinikos had made many enemies, even worse, he was still dying. He needed to do something, anything, to keep power in the hands of the Kallinikos. His personal physician, Nikolaos of the Greco-Roman Empire, opted for an experimental treatment for Kallinikos's cancer. It was successful... but a heavy price was paid. As it happened, the disease was removed, at the cost of Kallinikos' face; now a disfigured man, it was only looking worse for the Empire.
​

"It appears that even now, there are those who have found me disreputable and unqualified to remain the rightful rulers of the Romans. That is their apprehension, and that belief will be their undoing. They will either remain loyal to me, or they will be crushed by my boot."
- Kallinikos Hikesphoros, 1208 C.E.

One name, in particular, that seemed to be so against Kallinikos as a person was a man by the name of Count Kyros of Kibrya, Count of Kaiseria. This man had actually been a loyal servant of Alexandros, and years before had been granted the lands he holds now. One day, on the 14th of February, 1309 C.E., Kallinikos challenged Kyros to a duel, which would take place within a few weeks. According to legend, Kallinikos made it so that Kyros's armor was weakened; it hasn't been confirmed but it appears that Kallinikos won the duel. To prove a point, Kyros was killed by the Basileus of the Romans. This became a major shift compared to his father and great-grandfather. Augusthenes and Alexandros ruled through sheer diplomacy and excellent stewardship. The Greco-Roman Empire was ruled by a soldier emperor, a man whose only known violence and battle.

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Part XIII:

The Greco-Roman Empire is under new management, and this man's name is Kallinikos "The Handsome" Hikesphoros, son of Alexandros "The Benevolent". Unlike his father, Kallinikos was a soldier at heart and was not very interested in diplomacy or court intrigue. He saw his realm as a means to an end, a way for his might to make right in this world of pretenders and enemies. After all, the world was beginning to change shape and form.

To the Northwest, The "Holy Roman Empire" continues to further infringe itself upon the lands of the Greco-Roman Empire, with their falsehoods and Catholic identity firmly in opposition to the Orthodox Romans. To the East, there's the Khwarezmid Empire, which has taken over most of Central Asia, not to mention their Muslim allies the Sultanate of Rum and the Abbasid Caliphate, whose wretched fingers work their way across the Roman sphere of influence. If they were to work together, the Greco-Roman Empire would surely find itself on the losing side of that war. In the Southern Mediterranean, Egypt is held by Catholics, and the Italians continue to entrench themselves into Africa more and more. Then there was the West, Kallinikos's ambitious goal: Sicily itself. Sicily had historically been a hotbed for Roman expedition and reconquest. It was in Sicily that the Romans engaged the bastard Carthaginians in the First Punic War; it was in Sicily whereby Justinian I's great general Belisarius conducted the reconquest of Rome, and it would be here where Kallinikos Hikesphoros personally led his troops to victory against those pretenders known as the Holy Roman Empire.
​

"They mock me, their very nature mocks the struggles and the victories of the Romans for over 1900 years. They are not Romans, they are Germans; they are not Holy, for the Pope is not Christ himself, and could never make any distinction of what state or nation is "holy"; they are not an Empire, for they will be crushed under my boot-heel as I take back Sicily. In doing so, we become within spitting distance of the bejewled city on the hill, our ancestral home: Rome."
- Kallinikos Hikesphoros, 1310 C.E.

To further prove his point, Kallinikos declared war in June of 1310 C.E. against the Holy Roman Empire; it would be considered the biggest conflict in the history of the world since the Nicene War nearly 90 years before. It was time for the might of the Greco-Romans to match the might of the Holy Romans. Kallinikos had several distinct advantages, however... The HRE had been enveloped in a devastating civil war that crippled much of the Holy Romans' military strength, and secondly, they were very specific in what they were targeting, which was Sicily. They would not be willing to move into either Northern Italy or the Carpathian Basin. Their attacks would strictly be in Southern Italy and in defense of their own lands.

The Greco-Roman armies crossed the Strait of Otranto by November of 1310 C.E. and began to siege cities in the Sicilian countryside, according to plan. It seemed like the Holy Romans had not yet been able to mount a response due to the Civil War up North. The Sicilian countryside was not laid waste, but strategically destroyed so that the morale of defenders would be broken, and it succeeded spectacularly. Within two years, seeing that the Greco-Roman forces were merely too overwhelming to overcome, Holy Roman Emperor, Gelduin de Cicon sued for peace with Kallinikos Hikesphoros. Sicily was now a part of the Greco-Roman Empire... but that name no longer seemed to fit; after all, Kallinikos had just defeated the "Holy Roman Empire" and taken back a major piece of land that belonged to the Romans. This wasn't a Roman Empire for the Greeks, and it was no longer constrained to Western Asia... this was a New Roman Empire... The Greco-Roman Empire was disbanded in favor of bringing back the banner of that glorious title that was lost over 100 years ago.

Nicene Empire / Greco-Roman Empire
Αυτοκρατορία της Νίκαιας / Ελληνορωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία
Aftokratoría tis Níkaias / Ellinoromaïkí Aftokratoría

DESTROYED

Eastern Roman Empire / Byzantine Empire / New Roman Empire
Ανατολική Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία / Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία / Νέα Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία
Anatolikí Romaïkí Aftokratoría / Vyzantiní Aftokratoría / Néa Romaïkí Aftokratoría

RECREATED​

With this major step out of the way, Kallinikos could now focus on the internal workings of his nation, in particular dealing with conquered Sicily. To solve the issue, he opted to give the Governorship of Sicily to a man by the name of Germanos of Palaeokastron; it would be he who would oversee Southern Italy and keep it safe from German influence. His second plan of action was an ambitious expansion of the Hospital of Constantinople, an institution built by his great-grandfather Augusthenes Hikesphoros. With disease becoming more rampant from the nearly 110 years of constant war, Kallinikos expanded the Hospital to better accommodate the needy and sick.

By mid-1214, Kallinikos had seemingly fallen into a bit of depression; it is unknown what exactly set it off, though it appeared to be a bad reaction to personal intrigue in his court. In 1216 C.E., a civil war broke out in the New Roman Empire, as the Governor of Epirus sought more power, by plotting the death of the Emperor... then came Adrianopolis, who joined in the rebellion. Kallinikos had lost the respect of his vassals, and now they were coming to battle him. During the Battle of Nicaea (in which 6000 loyal Romans battled against 5700 Epiriusian men), Kallinikos found himself pitted in a duel against the commander of the enemy army: Patriarch Traianos of Agrinio. Kallinikos defeated the commander handily, and in a display of merciless triumph, he beheaded the commander before the opposing army. It was during that battle that, realizing he was doomed, Arsen II Rubenid of Epirus attempted to sue for a white peace; a white peace was a return to the status quo pre-civil war. According to the story, Kallinikos returned the messenger to Arsen II, mutilated and beheaded, with a simple message attached, "Death to Traitors".

Avomai of Dumai, Doux of Adrianopolis, may have suffered the worst fate from that of Kallinikos' wrath. After having been captured, his lands were stripped, taken away from both him and his friends, and then he was executed in the most gruesome way. Kallinikos, a cruel man, devised a horrible device to deal with the traitorous man; On the 23rd of July, 1318 C.E., Avomai was taken before a crowd of spectators in Constantinople, where Kallinikos ordered his death. Details are afforded here by the historian Alexandros Michaelus, a contemporary author of Kallinikos's time.

"Avomai, the Jewish man whom had waged rebellion against the Basileus, was tied to a scaffold upon the ground, where spectators could still see from afar. With a raise of his hand, Kallinikos ordered two men forward with a giant wheel, spiked with tempered steel and seemingly heavy enough for these two men to struggle carrying. Kallinikos judged that he, Avomai of Dumai, Jewish Doux of Adrianapolis, was guilty of treason against the Roman people, and against Basileus Kallinikos of said Roman people. With his swift lowering of his arm, the two men dropped the spiked wheel upon the feet of Avomai, who howled in excruciating pain. The two men dropped the wheel repeatedly up the leg, with sickening bone breaks heard across the crowd. Avomai passed out twice, but was brought to awakening with water. His chest was crushed, and Avomai could no longer speak, his cries of mercy overwhelmed with gurgling apprehension and agony. By the end, Avomai of Dumai was no more recognizable a man as he was a pile of flesh and blood. Kallinikos appeared satisfied enough to leave, and the crowd watched in stunned silence as the broken body of Avomai was dragged away for an unceremonial burial in the Bosporus."
- Alexandros Michaelus, 1318 C.E.​

It is with this understanding of Kallinikos that it was seemingly understandable why his vassals both feared and hated him. He was a cruel tyrant who demanded respect, and if not given it, he would see to it that those who disrespected him were destroyed. In addition to Epirus becoming a treasonous haven against the Romans, the Bulgarians were pulled into the war on the side of Epirus. This was a disgraceful display of betrayal according to Kallinikos, who from that day forward showed unspeakable cruelty to the Bulgars. On November 26th, 1319 C.E., Epirus surrendered. The Kingdom and the Duchy were taken from Arsen II Rubenid, and he was thrown into an oubliette, where Kallinikos hoped he would rot forever.

During this time, Kallinikos's wife also suddenly died at age 63, forcing Kallinikos to have to re-marry. He decided upon the daughter of a rich Baron, Felicita de Rasheed, daughter of Baron Attilio Pettiti of Buto. Kallinikos then looked to the North and officially declared war on the Bulgars. For the Eastern Roman Empire, no groups of people had been such a pain in the ass as the Bulgars, and this was Kallinikos' chance to finally conquer them. The two armies would clash around April of 1320 C.E., and Kallinikos would once again come out victorious. The conquest of Bulgaria took only a few years, and with it, another domino would fall for the New Roman Empire. Basileus Kallinikos Hikesphoros had spent so much of his time warring, murdering, and destroying his enemies, that he became feared internationally. Stories of his cruelty spread far and wide across not only Europe, but even the new Achi Dynasty of Cathay (modern China). There are stories written in England during the later years of Kallinikos's reign that he chewed on the bones of his enemies while his face was concealed to prevent his horrible eyes from stabbing those that act wrong in his presence. He was a Medieval boogeyman... a monster without heart, and without love. This was the New Roman Empire... an empire ruled by a demonic man who refused to die.

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Part XIV

Returning to the Eastern Mediterranean, we find the tyrannical Basileus Kallinikos of the New Roman Empire. After having conquered Bulgaria and Sicily from his enemies, the Basileus became content in his holdings, seeking new opportunities to consolidate his already massive holdings. As such, Kallinikos began a campaign of reorganization and contentment, in September of 1321 C.E., Kallinikos's eldest son and heir, Antonios Hikesphoros, died suddenly from his bout with Gout. This made his newborn son, Iustinianos Hikesphoros (born in May 1322 C.E.), his new heir. His Grandson, Baron Ioseph Hikesphoros of Mirandola, son of Antonios, was to be the heir presumptive, though he was not born in the purple. Ioseph, however, was the heir of the Duchy of Modena, in the heart of the Italian peninsula.

It would also be during this timeframe that a few... strange incidents began to occur in the court of Kallinikos Hikesphoros. The emperor began to seclude himself, and his arm was at one time reportedly bandaged heavily; then, upon receiving a moderate sum of money from the Grand Mayor of Ancona to wage war on Pisa, he used it to buy strange equipment... Though it was not spoken about publicly, it was rumored that Kallinikos Hikesphoros had fallen from grace as a godly Christian, and became entranced by the "truth" of Satan. One of the incidents that gave way to this rumor was the desecration of a Temple of Jesus Christ in Aboniteichos. The guards were murdered, and the temple's relics were sold in seedy markets. The missing part of this tale was that Kallinikos had been severely injured at around the same time... he claimed it was from a military exercise, but no one could prove it to be true.

By August of 1323 C.E., Kallinikos had developed a Slow Fever, today known as Typhoid, which crippled him severely. Though it did not kill him, it left him a husk of what he once was. By December, the 62-year-old Kallinikos Hikesphoros had retired to Constantinople permanently, and would not leave his palace outside of religious events. Then came the chaos of 1235 C.E. Revolts, war, and religious unrest became incredibly worrisome to the stability of the empire. Kallinikos, with everything seemingly falling apart, had suddenly grown intensely spiteful, hateful, and most of all paranoid. An incident was written in the records of the Basileus, whereupon he had severely lashed out in anger at his wife, Basilissa Felicita. Finally, on October 17th, 1326 C.E., the tyrannical monster Kallinikos Hikesphoros died from his crippling injuries.

Kallinikos Hikesphoros
Καλλίνικος Χικεσφόρος
(May 26, 1261 C.E. - October 17th, 1326 C.E.)

Justinian III Hikesphoros
Ιουστινιανός III Χικεσφόρος
(May 24th, 1322 C.E. - )

The New Roman Empire now saw itself being run by a mere child, no older than four years old... after the reign of Kallinikos Hikesphoros had nearly destroyed the entire empire by the end, it was now laid at the feet of Justinian Hikesphoros, known to history as Justinian III; he, of course, was named after the legendary Roman Emperor Justinian "The Great", who had reconquered Rome, the city, in the 500s C.E. It would be up to the combined strength of the Roman council to keep the Empire from completely falling apart at the seams after Kallinikos's tyranny laid waste to many of his enemies.

There was still much happening though during the regency of former Basilissa Felicita di Rasheed; she took de facto control of the entire Empire during Justinian's childhood and protected her beloved son as the war with Pisa continued, and Sunni uprisings in the East began to plague the Empire. By June of 1327 C.E., Felicita finally managed to end the wars decisively. It was around this time that the winds of change began to sweep the lands of Europe.

Jihads for Jerusalem were called; the West had reorganized and France had finally won back all lands controlled by the English, and won Ireland in its conquest... the English, by chance, had become an empire of their own, controlling the lands of England, Wales, Scotland, Norway, and Iceland to become the Empire of Britannia. The Iberian peninsula remained fractured and thrown apart by several Spanish nations vying for dominance. Portugal appeared to be the dominant power in that area. Central Europe saw the "Holy Roman" Empire as dominant as ever, with no other nations free from its grasp. Eastern Europe had, of course, the New Roman Empire, but also the Empire of Rus, the Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia, and the Kingdom of Wallachia existent and strong as ever. It was the dawning of a new era for the world. The world was finally starting to crawl out of the Medieval period, and enter the age of the Rennaissance... but 100 more years would need to take place before that could happen.

​

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Part XV
​

"My husband, the late Basileus Kallinikos, was by no means a saint. He was a cruel, unrelenting man that dragged his subjects down by fear and by intimidation. Still, he was my husband, and though in his later years, he grew morbidly dark and fell out of the favor of God, he is responsible for my son, the new Basileus Justinian. My son is still but a child, not yet learned in the ways of politics and rulership. I will mold him into that which his father was not: a respectable and just ruler graced by the love of God; if I cannot succeed in doing so, I will at least die trying."
- Felicita di Rasheed, 1329 C.E.

Kallinikos Hikesphoros, emperor of the New Roman Empire, had died, leaving it to his youngest son and true heir, Justinian Hikesphoros. Justinian was but a 7-year old, as such, was forced into a regency. Luckily for the young man, his mother was a capable protector. The new year of 1330 C.E. brought new light into Roman lands. No longer were they ruled by a tyrannical dictator; instead, the instability of a child emperor was plain for all to see... though the vassals and magistrates of the realm dared not turn their hand against Basilissa Dowager Felicita di Rasheed, the most powerful woman in Europe by that point.

The early years of Justinian III's reign were not very noteworthy, as it was a matter of consolidating power; prioritizing cash flow and tax reform of the nation so as to keep the Empire's coffers full for future events. This would happen the next year in 1331 C.E., with the war against Egypt. Felicita di Rasheed opted to bring the light of Rome to the Kingdom of Egypt by conquest; King Berengar Theoderisian, the German king of Egypt, was but a child, ripe for being taken over by a stronger nation. A count in the lands of Sicily held a claim to the Kingdom of Egypt, Count Alberich von Raabs of Brandesion. The Roman army, fifty-six thousand strong in arms, marched to Egypt and Felicita declared that Egypt would become a Roman province once again, no matter the cost.

On the 7th of June, 1332 C.E., Berengar of Egypt was forced to surrender, and lo and behold, for the first time since the year 641 C.E., Egypt was now under the control of the Roman people once again. In a matter of 100 years, the Eastern Roman Empire had fallen, reformed in the name of the Empire of Nicaea, and became the Greco-Roman Empire, before becoming the New Roman Empire. During this time, Constantinople was taken back, Greece returned, then Anatolia, then Georgia, Trebizond, Armenia, and Antioch became part of the Empire... then came Sicily, and finally Egypt. All of this within 120 years... who knows what could happen in another 100 years, perhaps Rome, the city, would finally return to the Roman people.

Upon coming of age in 1338 C.E., Justinian III grew to announce that there was one thing that his ancestors had failed to do in all of their glories and conquests... Justinian III had a goal in mind, and that was to finally bring back the full might of the Roman Empire, like that of the great Justinian I. Rome, the city, was the target, but before that... there was a long-time enemy that deserved to suffer for their part in the fall of Constantinople back in 1204 C.E. The Republic of Venice would be targeted by the might of Rome's armies.

During this time another Sunni uprising sprang up in Armenia, which would be dealt with, which was quickly dealt with... finally, on New Year's Day 1342 C.E., Venice capitulated to the Romans, finally having been dominated and broken into submission for the first time in centuries. The next step for Justinian III would be the complete submission of the Seljuk Rumites beginning in 1342 C.E.; Justinian III would reserve a pittance of his forces for the conquest of Rum, as the nation that at one time threatened the existence of the Romans was nothing more than a minor annoyance. By 1345 C.E., Rum was conquered, and the Seljuk Turks no longer posed any form of threat to the stability of the New Roman Empire.

It was also a busy time for the New Roman Empire, as a young child had brought an army of peasants and Catholic yokels, on their way to forming a crusade. This was known to history as the Children's Crusade... but Justinian III saw an opportunity knocking on his door, and he opened it. He officially sponsored the crusade and the young leader known as Simon de Bethune. After sending them South towards Jerusalem, other news arrived in Constantinople... it was rumors of a deadly plague in Cathay. The Mongols had seemingly started spreading it down the Silk Road... nobody knew what was true and what was false... all that was known was that people died from this disease as it formed black pus-filled buboes...
​

"They tell me of a terrible disease in the East, far away from the Roman lands... but I fear it is coming closer. Having read the archives of my family, there was a great disease during Justinian I's day. It decimated much of the Roman population back then, and if it is the very same disease, it will wreak havoc upon our great people... I need to be careful, and I must survive, just as that great Roman did. My Empire needs me in the dark days to come."
- Justinian III Hikesphoros, 1345 C.E.

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Part XVI

We return to the New Roman Empire with the reign of the young Basileus Justinian III "The Just" Hikesphoros. At the dawning of the new year in 1345 C.E., he wrested control for himself and finally unshackled himself from the weights of his father's legacy. Interestingly enough, it was during this year that some lands from Syria came under the ownership of Justinian III and the New Roman Empire. It was not much, but it was a byway into Muslim lands. The next step for Justinian III was to figure out where to move next for expanding the empire back into historically Roman lands. It was decided that the Abbasid Caliphate, those Muslims that had conquered and reorganized much of the Near East, would be the next target.
​

"If we move too hastily, it will no doubt end badly on our part; the Khwarezmids to the East hold no love for us, and the "Holy Romans" to the Northwest likely wish to reconquer Sicily. The Abbasids are strong, but if we can conquer parts of their land, bit by bit, we may yet weaken them to the point of irrelevancy. Rome will take the Levant once more, and Jerusalem will return to the hands of the Roman people."
- Justinian Hikesphoros, 1345 C.E.

Justinian III opted to continue consolidating power until he was certain that he could reasonably win a war against the Abbasid Caliphate. During this time, he began a bevy of diplomatic maneuvers that would serve to bring long-term greatness to the Empire. The first would be his young son and heir Alexandros Hikesphoros; in the West, there was a Queen of Leon in the land of Hispania, known as Elvira Guillermez d'Ivrea. Together, hand in hand, they would marry and attempt to bring the Empire and lands of Hispania together with their heirs. The second would be first-born daughter Garyphallia Hikesphoros, married off to a son of the King of Portugal, Alfonso IV Jes de Bourgogne. Finally, Justinian's youngest daughter, Sybilla, would be married to the Heir of the Abyssinian Empire; the lands of Abyssinia would today be known as Ethiopia, but before then it was a mysterious land of Miaphysite worshipers. Abyssinia was in fact the land of the mystical Prester John in medieval theology. With three strong allies, it was no doubt that Justinian had finally attained a measure of certainty against the Abbasid Caliphate.

On February of 1346 C.E., the Great Roman-Abbasid War was declared, with alliances from Leon, Portugal, and Abyssinia, it was several massive armies fighting for the future of European politics and power within the Levant and Near East. Not to mention the great armies of the Children's Crusade, led by Simon de Bethune. It would become a great war that would contain the combined armies approximating 227,678 men at arms. Truly staggering numbers for a Medieval military war; this was no ordinary war though, as much of the European powers watched with bated breath to witness the outcome of this. A new daughter for Justinian also led to an arranged marriage between Athanasia Hikesphoros and the "Holy Roman" German Emperor's youngest son Magnus Ludowinger. A new temporary ally for the Romans.

Sadly, the alliance with the Portuguese died alongside Garyphallia, who succumbed to the horrible disease known as Plague. It had finally arrived in Europe and would only continue to spread quickly. With the great war as well, more death and destruction would come before things got better. But alas, Simon de Bethune of the Children's Crusade had conquered Jerusalem in the name of Christianity, and thanks to the help of the Romans, willingly became a vassal state of the New Roman Empire. The Great War would continue past this moment in October of 1346 C.E.

In March of 1347 C.E., the unthinkable happened. Justinian III had come down with the plague, that horrible disease that massacred its way across the Empire and the world at large. Sadly, his wife would die from the disease, leaving Justinian III alone, and without yet another child, as Sibila de Barcelona was pregnant at the time of her death. He could only watch, helplessly bedridden by the disease as so many people around him would die... like Justinian "The Great", he would live, by hook or by crook.

Black Death Path, 1347 C.E.

Finally, in June 1348 C.E., ravaged devastatingly by the Black Death, The Abbasid Caliphate and their new Caliph, the 10-year-old Usa ibn Ubayd Abbasid, surrendered to the victorious Roman might. After all the death and bloodshed, Syria and Mesopotamia had fallen under the banner of Rome once more. Justinian III had done it in one fell swoop. the Levant and historical lands of Rome in Asia were theirs once again. For the first time in centuries, a Triumph was called in the capital of Constantinople. Despite the people's suffering, and despite the death around them, the conquest of the Levant was an unthinkable achievement merely 150 years ago. Now, the Hikesphoros dynasty had brought the light of Rome back to these lands, and with it, a great revival of the Roman identity. All that was left was surviving the great plague.

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Part XVII

We return to the New Roman Empire at the dawn of the new year of 1349 C.E. Much is happening here, Basileus Justinian III Hikesphoros, emperor of the New Roman Empire has survived a grievous battle with the Black Death, but was stuck bedridden for months after the fact, and remained so for a long time. Not to mention that the Empire had managed to finally resecure lands in the Levant and Mesopotamian valleys. With the Children's Crusade has been enormously successful, Jerusalem returned to the hands of the Romans. It was a spectacular series of events that led to the Roman Empire finally attaining a height of power not seen since the days of the first Justinian. Rome was entering a golden age, but it wouldn't be the end for the revival of Rome as a dominant Mediterranean power.

With the recapture of Jerusalem under the auspices of the Orthodox church, Justinian III made an edict on January 1st, 1349 C.E. It would be the militarization and visualization of the great Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, an Orthodox Christian order with the purpose of protecting the lands of Jerusalem from heathens and heretics. It was an incredible show of force, and the man to lead the Holy Order would be a man hand-picked by Justinian III, a childhood friend of his: Gregorios of Dyrrhachion. As the first leader of the Holy Order, he was granted the Barony of Deuteron, a plot of land outside the city of Constantinople, which would serve as the headquarters of the order.

The Black Plague would continue to ravage the countryside, and as such, the Empire's coffers would continue to grow further and further into deep debt. Something needed to be done to protect the Empire from falling apart. Not to mention the new Basilissa of the Empire passing away from the Black Plague. What could be worse? The Queen of Leon, Elvira Guillermez d'Ivrea, had died from the disease, leaving a hole for his son and heir Alexandros.
​

"I underestimated this horrible plague, and now I reap the consequences of my inaction. My people of Rome are dying left and right, and yet all I can do is lay in bed and watch from afar. No money is flowing into the Empire's treasury because of this, starvation is rampant in the streets due to farmers dying in swaths, and in the end, Rome's position as a great power is threatened in its weakened state by those who will survive this plague. Is it truly the end times? Has God come to see the reckoning of the world?"
Justinian III Hikesphoros, May 1349 C.E.

Unfortunately for Justinian III Hikesphoros, he would not see the return of Rome to its great state before the plague. He would die suddenly in his sleep from complications during his recovery from the Black Plague. The empire mourned the death of a man who had done much for the Empire, and now it wrested in the hands of yet another child Basileus, who could be controlled by those with much to gain, namely the powerful governors, exarchs, and monarchs of many Roman lands. The fate of the Empire was wrested into the hands of six-year-old Alexandros III Hikesphoros, son of Justinian III. God save the New Roman Empire.

Justinian III Hikesphoros
Ιουστινιανός III Χικεσφόρος
(May 24th, 1322 C.E. - July 3rd, 1350 C.E.)

Alexander III Hikesphoros
Αλέξανδρος III Χικεσφόρος
(November 25th, 1343 C.E. - )

It would be a struggle for several years, but there was one man who felt he was bound by Godly duty to keep the wolves at bay from those that wished to tear the Empire apart. It was the man that Justinian III had personally helped in the Children's Crusade and the man that conquered Jerusalem for the New Roman Empire. That man would be the 18-year-old Simon de Bethune, Despot of Philistia (the Kingdom of Jerusalem). Upon news of Justinian's death, Simon immediately marched an army into Constantinople as quickly as possible and took charge of the protection of the new emperor Alexander III. A major group attempting to create a more decentralized government in favor of the vassals had heard of this and became skittish in their attempt. Additionally, the next month in August of 1350 C.E. the great grandmaster Gregorios of the Brother of the Holy Sepulchre also marched an army into Constantinople and declared a defense of the new Emperor. The faction had simply fallen apart after this news.

Simon de Bethune and Gregorios both knew that troubled times would occur and the fall of everything they had attempted to gain would fall apart quickly if the young Basileus died. Their strategy was simple, to use their great force of power to keep the magistrates and vassals of the Empire in line. Their loyalties lay with the son of the man who had done so much for them, and they were not ambitious enough to betray him. As such, the next few years would be interesting, to say the least.

After some time, the last bastions of the Black Death had finally ceased within the realm of the New Roman Empire, and a time of recovery could begin in earnest. Reconstruction of the armies of Rome started up in Constantinople, with the great Gregorios being charged with recruiting many people from across the Empire to serve in what Justinian III had dubbed the "Axiótima Tágmata", otherwise known as the "Honorable Battalions", Rome's standing army that would defend all corners of the Empire. At the height of the Black Death, the great Roman army stood at 2000 healthy men; by January 1353 C.E. that army had ballooned to 10k healthy Roman men of fighting age, and it would continue to grow from there.

Suddenly, an odd occurrence had happened. Pope Hadrianus VI of the Catholic Church called for a crusade against the Abbasid Caliphate; a noble venture to be sure... but for Egyptian lands? A letter Simon de Bethune had sent to the Pope, Hadrianus VI, expressed confusion and contempt for the call to arms, as the lands held by Caliph Isa ibn Ubayd Abbasid were not large enough to justify a crusade, especially when Rome had plans to take said lands in the future. He saw it as an infringement upon Rome's sphere of influence and an attempt to usurp power in Egypt from the Romans.
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"Your papacy, your call to arms against the Muslims is misguided at minimal and a grave betrayal of the Roman Empire at worst. I demand you yield your calls for Crusade or the might of the Roman Empire will bring itself down upon the Papal States, and we will take our historic city by force. The choice is yours, your holiness. Leave the Muslims be and allow the Romans to deal with them, or suffer grave consequences."
-Simon de Bethune, May 1353 C.E.

In the East, an interesting civil war within the Khwarezmid Empire lead to the splintering and creation of a Sultanate that stood between the Khwarezmids and the Abbasids. This Mortezid Sultanate; Simon de Bethune saw it as an opportune tertiary ally. Not a true ally nor friend of the Romans, but a buffer between two ultra-powerful Muslim states that could vie for power against the Romans. Additionally, the Despot of Bulgaria, Ostoja Mirceaic Asen, had come to Constantinople and told the regent Simon of a long-standing claim for the lands of Carpathia, modern-day Hungary; he also held claims in the Kingdom of Croatia. These lands were held by the "Holy-Romans", and to Simon de Bethune, it felt as though the interests of the Empire were indeed felt through these claims.

So there had been three wars that could possibly fall into the laps of the Romans; the first was against the Abbasid for lands still held in Egypt... the second against the Catholic Pope and the entire Papacy itself for their grievous oversight in dredging through Roman influence, and the third against "Holy Roman" empire for the lands of ancient Dalmatia (Croatia), and the lands of Pannonia and Dacia (Hungary). The conquest of those lands would increase the size of the New Roman Empire by nearly a third, and it was with this that Simon de Bethune and Gregorios, now Magister Sakellarios (Master of the Treasury) saw it as the most financially viable, as the land increase and tax increase would be a net positive for the Empire, despite any possible revolts and civil wars that may occur in the aftermath of the conquest.

Roman and Holy Roman Borders, 1353 C.E.​

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Part XVIII​

Realms and Provinces of the New Roman Empire 1353 C.E.​ Anatolia ( Central Turkey) Antioch (Northern Syria) Armenia Assyria (Northern Iraq) Bulgaria Cyprus Egypt Epirus (Albania) Georgia Greece Philistia (Israel) Rum (Eastern Turkey) Serbia Sicily (Southern Italy) Syria Thrace (Western Turkey) Trebizond (Northern Turkey) Venice

Depiction of Roman Defeat during the Battle of Zemlin The Great Roman War​

The New Roman Alliance​ The New Roman Empire The Kingdom of Bulgaria The Grand Principality of Volhynia	The Holy Roman Empire​ The Holy Roman Empire The Kingdom of Croatia The Kingdom of Hungary
~72,467 Troops​	~30,890 Troops​

The war between the Holy Roman Empire and New Roman Empire had begun. Decades earlier, the Romans had conquered Sicily from the Holy Roman Empire decisively in a shock campaign. This time, they were prepared to face the full might of the German armies, and the New Roman Empire had prepared for this moment for some time. Mustering all levy armies as well as the glorious "Axiótima Tágmata", Simon de Bethune personally led the armies to battle in Hungary and Croatia.

The first armies stepped foot into Hungary around late July 1253 C.E., and as the other armies began to muster themselves, it would become clear that this campaign would come down to a matter of attrition. The first great battle occurred when 16-thousand Roman troops were soundly defeated by an army of 21-thousand German troops, known to history as the First Battle of Zemlin (January 10th, 1354 C.E.). The reason for this loss was due to the Germans pigeonholing the Roman cavalry along a narrow river from which they could not maneuver. 8000 men lost their lives in the defeat, and it was a major setback in the early war.

The Second Battle of Zemlin however, which would take place months later (September 12th, 1354 C.E.), would be a reset for the Roman Army, as their 12-thousand strong army felled the superior 14-thousand strong German army. This was in large part due to the efforts of Exarch Merwan II "The Lion" kure Davud ve Gori of Armenia, who as historical papers revealed in the late 20th Century, was in fact a member of the conspiracy to manipulate the young Basileus Alexandros III years before. This time, the roles were reversed, as Merwan II utilized a hillside defense to keep the Germans at bay; the Byzantine cavalry, now able to maneuver properly, smashed the corps of the German army and sent them fleeing. However, this victory celebration had to be cut short due to the reports of a larger army pressing forward towards their position.
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"I must admit, though we were close to losing, we cannot spare any moment burying the dead, or celebrating a hard-fought victory in the name of the young Basileus, Simon [de Bethune, regent of the New Roman Empire], there is a prescient army pursuing us, and we must move from here and meet up with the larger armies mustered in Croatia. At a moment's notice, we must be able to battle the main German force, and I fear this was merely the German army at half-strength. Simon, take care not to fall into any traps or sudden movements these Germans might make. They are as dangerous a foe as we have ever faced."
- Merwan kure Davud ve Gori, 1350 C.E.

Another devastating defeat for the Romans occurred under Merwan's watch at the Battle of Assisi (March 8th, 1356 C.E.), where the Germans' 16-thousand strong army destroyed the 12-thousand strong army of the Romans. Of that 12-thousand, only half managed to retreat. In the east, however, the other Roman Armies were capturing land without much miscarriage or stall. The Croatian capital of Topana had been captured rather easily, and it was a matter of continuing to capture Croatian and Hungarian lands. The final battle of the "Great Roman War" would be at the Battle of Crecchio (April 2nd, 1357 C.E.) where a combined Roman Army of 15-thousand men swiftly and defiantly defeated the Germans' superiorly numbered army of 17-thousand men. It became clear to the Germans that Croatia and Hungary were lost. Croatia and Hungary were released into the custody of the Roman Empire, and like that, the Empire had increased in size by a whole third.

A Triumph was called for on April 26, 1357 C.E. where the young Basileus Alexander III and his regent and generals Simon de Bethune, Gregorios of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, and Merwan II of Armenia were present and given great awards. Simon de Bethune was awarded the title of "Caesar", a great honor that would forever make him Alexander's right-hand man. Gregorios would be declared the official Keuropalates, or "One in Charge of the Palace", a title for those who have earned the Emperor's trust and favor. For his victories and charges in the battlefield, Merwan II of Armenia would be given the title of "Anthypatos"; this title, during the days of the Roman Republic, was known as the Proconsul. This title, though honorary, was only given out to those of remarkable service to the Empire. The triumph went over splendidly with the people of Constantinople, and in all corners of Europe and Asia, word of the New Roman Empire's victory over the Holy Roman Empire sent shockwaves.

To the East, a revolt had sprung up from the lands of the Rumites around the same time but was swiftly defeated in a matter of months. As such, it was time for Simon de Bethune, Gregorios, and Basileus Alexandros III (who as he grew older started to become more involved in the actions of the Government) to restructure the Empire. Several lands were in need of Governors for the time being. The lands of Rum, Assyria, Syria, and now the new lands of Croatia and Pannonia had been neglected for too long. To solve these issues, several new Exarchate Governers was placed in charge of these lands. For Syria, an Orthodox Abbasid known to the world as Aram ibn Sadiq Abbasid, a far-off relative of the Caliph of the Abbasids. Rum, whose governor had recently passed away, was given to a Turk by the name of Burak Cagrioglu Mengujek. Assyria was given to a former Rumite count Burad Balabanoglu Mosulid. Croatia was given to a powerful doux of the land, Vid Gorjanski. Pannonia, the largest of Rome's new conquests, would be given to the doux of Translyvania, Kan Tamas Frigyesfi. As a bonus, several lands within the Holy Roman Empire were now part of the New Roman Empire itself.

A year later, the Crusade for Egypt would conclude in favor of... the Crusaders. The official formation of "Crusader Egypt" as a nation-state was a direct slap in the face to the Romans' official Kingdom of Egypt, held by Queen Margarete von Raabs. There stood two claimants to the title of Egypt, and it would prove to be an intractable issue created by the Papacy and the Pope for no other reason than to interfere with Roman influence. In the new year of 1360 C.E., Alexander III had finally come of age and was now in complete control of the empire's decisions. Still, though, he kept Simon de Bethune and Gregorios close as personal advisors. They were his most trusted allies within the Empire and he needed them now more than ever. A major revolt in the lands of Germany saw Alexander's first test whilst fully in charge. By June, it was taken care of in a convincing fashion, and with it, peace was restored quickly... not that it would last for long...​

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Part XIX​

The winds of change are in the air in the New Roman Empire... conquest is the matter at hand, and for the young Basileus Alexander III Hikesphoros, there is much to retake into the hands of the Romans. With the Great Roman War over and the true Romans victorious, it was now a matter of settling several debts and staking claims against other enemies for the time being. Alexander III had a claim to a title going as far back as his paternal grandmother: Ermessenda de Barcelona. That would be the title of the Kingdom of Aragon, in Eastern Hispania. Aragon was currently held by the King of Portugal, Pedro III Afonses de Bourgogne. For too long had the Romans been away from the Iberian peninsula, and access to the Atlantic Ocean was a must to further increase the trade networks and influence of the Romans.

The first step would be to wed his younger sister Athanasia Hikesphoros to the King of England, Norway, Scotland, and Wales (but notably not the Emperor of Britannia): King Hakon Yngling IV. The two would become allied, which would serve Alexander greatly in the coming war. The next step would be to place troops into the British county of Rosello, just north of Aragonian lands. The next step would be to sire an heir should things go disastrously wrong. With his wife, the Grand Princess of Volhynia and Basilissa of the New Roman Empire, Biergia Guoladat, pregnant, it wouldn't be an issue. By November of 1360 C.E., it was time for war to come to Hispania.

England and Volhynia both answered the call to arms and together, they would serve to help Rome gain land in the Iberian Peninsula. Historians in the 21st Century have a new theory regarding the involvement of King Hakon IV in Rome's war for territorial gain, and it is believed that this alliance was inked off the back of what historians dub the "Romano-British Territorial Agreement". Put simply, it was likely that Hakon IV turned against his cousin and liege, Emperor John Yngling, and allied himself personally with Rome so as to protect his holdings from any future Roman conquest. After all, Britannia was at one point Roman lands, so it would make sense for Hakon to see this as an opportunity to protect the lands of Britannia while staying in Rome's good graces. Volhynia's involvement was of course in part to Biergia Guolodat, Alexander's wife. It was likely an agreement between the two that the heir to the Roman throne would have the legal right to the lands of Volhynia, despite being held by the Empire of Russia.

On April 7th, 1361 C.E., the first-born son, and heir to the Roman Empire, Justinian Hikesphoros, was born. Named after his grandfather, it appeared that he was seen as yet another successor to the name Justinian. A lot of pressure would be placed on the young lad, but only time would tell if he would succeed or crack under the pressure. Alexander himself would make the extremely dangerous move to personally lead the armies of Rome into the Iberian peninsula, directly sieging Barcelona, that city named after the great Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca. After two years of arduous battle, the King of Portugal, Pedro III Afonses de Bourgogne, yielded to the might of Rome and gave Alexander III all of Aragon. It was a smashing victory that proved to cause another domino to fall. The light of Rome once again touched Hispania, and it would never go away. The only thing left was to push back another claimant to the title, that which had precipitated the war in the first place.

King of Castille, Oveco Ramon-Folcez de Barcelona, had started a war against Portugal for the land first, but Rome simply had the superior numbers to bear. Then in the East, back in primary Roman territory, another war was declared at the behest of an Abbasid Orthodox, the Doux of Galilee: Shamir ibn Jalil Abbasid. The current Caliph had happened to be Shamir's very own grand-nephew, and Shamir had a long-standing claim on the lands of Iraq. Simon de Bethune was placed in charge of the greater war against the Abbasid Caliphate. Two fronts, but could Rome truly survive the strain of a defensive war as well as an offensive front.

(Castillian and Roman Borders, Hispania 1363 C.E.)

In the West, 12-thousand men led by Alexander III headed towards Castillian lands to siege and prosecute the war with the expressed goal of causing Castille to either sue for peace or surrender entirely. Alexander understood that wasting time in Castille would only distract him from the Eastern front; thus any peace settlement was better than none. By April 1364 C.E., Oveco agreed to a white peace settlement. The return to the status quo, whilst Oveco keeps their claim on Aragon for the foreseeable future. Alexander understood that this would allow the full Roman might to decimate Castille should they decide to battle Rome.

(Roman and Abbasid Borders, 1363 C.E.)

The first major battle on the Eastern front would occur around the same time, in August of 1364 C.E. 9000 Roman men led by Count Uluc Ertanoglue Seljuk met an army of 7500 Muslims, at the Battle of Kirkuk. Due to a river crossing, the Roman army was soundly defeated and sent running by the Muslims. This victory would be short-lived on the part of the Muslims, as a larger force was dispatched and permanently expelled them from Roman lands, continuing the crucial offensive. By April 1365 C.E., the Caliph saw no other option than to surrender and rescue his nation from further destruction. Another incredible Roman victory under the auspices of Alexander III's Reign. At age 21, his reign had seen the conquest of Croatia and Pannonia (Hungary), Aragon, and now Babylonia (Iraq). So many glorious victories and yet, something was missing in the eyes of Alexander, something his ancestors had not quite accomplished...

For the time being though, consolidation was key. Several updates to the hospital in Constantinople were constructed, including a Leper colony, and a Soup Kitchen for the poor starving citizens of the great city. In June 1366 C.E., England called for assistance against the French over a border dispute. Alexandros sent his standing army into French territory, due to their current station in Hispania as protection, and the siege of Paris began. 15000 men marched to Paris and would serve as the principal fighting force on mainland Europe, whilst France's invasion force stuck around in England. Then in December 1366 C.E., the Basilissa called for Rome's aid in their Holy War for Chernigov. The levy armies of Rome rose to the call of battle, and whilst the "Axiótima Tágmata" battled in France, the levy armies, once again led by Simon de Bethune and Gregorios, left for Russian lands up north. This war would take some time due to being so far from home, but alas, in March of 1369 C.E., Volhynia had completed its objective.

Turning his gaze back to Constantinople, Alexander III saw a future problem that needed to be fixed immediately. As great as the glorious Axiótima Tágmata were, they could not be everywhere at once. To solve this, Alexander opted to create a new revolutionary system to defend his realm. The Empire, vast in its greatness, was beset on all sides by enemies. To defend all corners of the Empire, the Axiótima Tágmata was expanded and overhauled. The most veteran troops would remain in Hispania, 11,250 strong. The Roman Guard, Rome's long-time mercenary band, would be permanently added to the Empire's military and would protect Egypt and the Levant, with 9,900 men in total. The Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre's massive army would serve as guardians against the heathens. With 7,700 men, they would guard the newly conquered lands of Babylonia. Finally, one last standing army would be built to serve as a buffer within newly conquered Roman territory, the lands of Pannonia. Far enough away from Constantinople to protect the borders, but not too far away from other areas to be a hindrance. With peace reigning, Alexander III felt it was time to entice the people and give them some entertainment involving his majesty. A game of Tzykanion (Medieval Polo) would serve as the choice of game, and Alexander declared the year 1370 C.E. as the "Étos Ouránias Eirínis" or the "Year of Heavenly Peace".

After such a great game involving the Basileus, a fair was announced for the entire summer. Games, festivals, and carnivals would be arranged by the Basileus himself in the city of Constantinople, where all citizens of the Empire, who could make their way there, would enjoy the festivities completely free, as a gift to his people. Alas, the sudden death of his wife Grand Princess Biergia Guoladat of Volhynia would cause the Emperor to spend a month in mourning. Alas, the heir to the Roman throne, Justinian, was now the Grand Prince of Volhynia, a powerful position within the Empire of Russia, and a byline into that land of Orthodox faith. After the fair, it was announced that Alexander Hikesphoros, now nicknamed "The Monk" for his zealous nature and steadfast observance of religious practices, would marry the Queen of Egypt, Margarete von Raabs. Finally, a great feast was ordered in the Christmastime of 1370 C.E. Much merriment was had... but Alexander III had bigger plans, all this was but a prelude to keep his people happy for the year to come...

It all started so suddenly, on the New Year of 1371 C.E., the Axiótima Tágmata of Hispania and Pannonia moved towards Italy at breakneck speed. Then, without warning, the Armies marched into the Papal States, unannounced. It was the first salvo in what became known to the world as the "5 Year's War", a precursor to what many consider a "World War" due to three fronts taking place at once, in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Two sides battled against one another, known to history as the "Catholic Alliance", and the "Orthodox Armies".
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(Artist's Depiction of the Catholic Alliance's Leaders) The Five Year's War​

The Orthodox Armies​	The Catholic Alliance​
New Roman Empire The Grand Principality of Volhynia The Empire of Britannia The Empire of Abyssinia	The Papal States and Roman Catholic Church The Kingdom of Bohemia The Crusader Kingdom of Egypt The Kingdom of Navarra The Kingdom of Denmark The Most Serene Republic of Genoa The Most Serene Republic of Pisa The Knights Hospitaller The Empire of France The Knights of Calatrava The Knights of Santiago
Generals and Leaders​	Generals and Leaders​
Emperor Alexander III Hikesphoros (New Roman Empire) Caesar Simon de Bethune of Philistia (New Roman Empire) Keuropalatas Gregorios of Dyrrhachion (New Roman Empire) Emperor Christopher Yngling (Britannia) Basileus Justin Hikesphoros (Abyssinia) Regent Patriarch Pavlos of Abyssinia (Abyssinia) Grand Prince Justinian Hikesphoros (Volhynia) Regent Gaivvas Guoladot (Volhynia)​	Pope John XIX (Papal States) King Lodovico Embriaco (Bohemia) King Roger Yngling (Crusader Egypt) King Inge Eriksson af Bjaalbo (Denmark) Emperor Pierre de Bage (France) Serene Doge Lazarro Spinola (Genoa) 1371-1373 Prince Mayor Gotzelo Grimaldi (Genoa) 1373 - 1376 King Egidio II Menechemez de Navarra (Navarra) Serene Doge Clemente Zaccaria (Pisa) Emperor Stanislaw Piast (Poland-Lithuania) Grandmaster Jacme Zaccaria (Knights Hospitaller) Ehrenfried Amalrichez Schauenburger (Knights of Santiago) Grandmaster Bjorn Kettilez af Hoog (Knights of Calatrava)​

This conflict would serve as the deadliest war on European soil since the days of the Punic Wars in the 200s B.C.E. Here would be home to some of the most legendary battles during the Roman Revival Period: The Battle of Monte Cassino (September 20th, 1371 C.E.) [Orthodox Victory], The Battle of Grosseto (December 1st, 1371 C.E.) [Orthodox Victory], The Battle of Cetin (February 25th, 1372 C.E.) [Catholic Victory], among many others. Perhaps the most famous campaign of battle would take place between August and October 1373 C.E., known as the Assisi Offensive. Rome and Britain's combined army of 36,445 men began to take cities within the realm of Latium by force, prompting a great Catholic army of some 25k to intervene. Though the Orthodox Alliance had the numerical advantage, it was not a certain victory. For months the armies attempted to maneuver and find an advantageous battleground. Though Rome would come out victorious, and decimated the Catholic army, elsewhere the armies of Europe laid siege to places such as Pannonia, Aragon, and the Levant.

The greatest victories for the Orthodox Armies would be the capture of major capitals, such as Asyut (Egypt) in August 1372 C.E., Medenine (Pisa) in October of 1373 C.E., Prague (Bohemia) in April of 1374 C.E., and Krakow (Poland-Lithuania) & Genoa in September 1374 C.E. With Catholic armies preoccupied trying to take swaths of land from the Romans, it was a coordinated effort on the part of the Romans. The final battle of the war, The Battle of Grosseto (December 1st, 1374 C.E.) directly led the way for Rome to reconquer their ancestral home once more. The gates to Rome fell open on February 16th, 1375 C.E., and with it, Alexander III Hikesphoros entered the Papal conclave and declared the Papacy's surrender. A few days later, Alexander III and Pope John XIX met face to face for the first and only time in their lifetimes. According to the contemporary historian John de Felipe...
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"Alexander, in victory, met the defeated Pope in Rome itself, and as the two walked the streets of the conquered city, there was a moment of calm. Alexander would point to the sky and say unto His Holiness, 'In my hand, and no longer yours is the duty of rebuilding Rome into a great haven of idealism and glory. I have no need of you here, your faith is no longer a predominant and predatory stain on Europe. You will see in time that you yourself and your future papist dogs will be seen as nothing but heresy in my lands. There is no schism; there is no ideological difference between the Roman Catholics and we Orthodox true bloods. There are only those that are righteous, and those that are damned. Take your people and leave Rome forever.' The Pope would vacate the Apostolic Palace, and Alexander would in turn burn it to the ground within a few days. He declared that the schism was solved, and all Catholics would fall under the banner of Orthodoxy."
- John de Felipe, 1377 C.E.​

The war was over, and Rome had once again come out victorious against all odds. The death toll during the Five Year's War was unspeakable. Over 200k deaths throughout much of Europe, Asia, and Africa. While continuing to consolidate power in the regions, Alexander invited the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandra into the City of Rome. By June of 1375 C.E., all Patriarchs had arrived in the marble city; it was there that the Edict of Rome was declared. It was the end of the Great Schism that had been in place for over 300 years, as far back as 1053 C.E. Europe would never be the same, and the New Roman Empire had neared its completion... all that was left were several key spots within Italy and Africa: Genoa and Carthage.