byzantine

What if Otto III of the Holy Roman Empire lived longer, married Zoe Porphyrogenita, and was later nominated by Basil II to be Eastern Roman co-emperor? Otto III seemed to be a capable Holy Roman Emperor, despite only reigning for 5 years. He also admired Greek and Roman culture. With Basil...

The Byzantine Dromon had lateen sails which could sail against the wind. What if sometime from 900-1100, the dromon made it to Iberia and France, where it could be refined to work on the Atlantic coast, creating an earlier 'caravel'? Remove the oars, add another mast of sails (which could easily...

If an Eastern Orthodox country colonized the new world, how would its policies differ from Catholic and Protestant colonization of the Americas? Is it any better or worse for the native empires and confederations? Some scenarios for Orthodox colonizers: Surviving Byzantine empire retains or...

Historically, the Byzantines were only really able to start gaining territory again in the 10th and early 11th centuries, and that was quickly undone after the Battle of Manzikert. Were there opportunities for Roman reconquests before this? Perhaps attacking the Abbasids during the Zanj Rebellion?

During the existence of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires, they were not seen as separate states. They were one Roman Empire, the two halves only governed by two emperors out of political expediency. That and the Eastern Emperor just did not want to bother with the less valuable West. If...

What if Basil I the Macedonian, after defeating the Paulicians, launched an overland invasion of the Abbasid Caliphate while the Abbasids were distracted with the Zanj Rebellion?

It is 1025, and Basil II the Bulgar-Slayer has died. Unlike in OTL, he has capable successors--several "Good Emperors"--in command of his 250,000-man army over the next few decades. During the reigns of these powerful emperors, the Eastern Roman Empire destroys most of its rivals, playing them...

Romania in the Second Millennium Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes intulit agresti Latio. “Conquered Greece took captive her savage conqueror and brought her arts into rustic Latium.”- Horace Foreword: The Empire of the Romans (or as it is more popularly called, “Romania”) evokes a...

Introduction & Overview Justinian: The most fascinating yet overlooked Emperor of all the Roman Emperors that I know about in the 1500 years of Empire in OTL was an arrogant, stubborn, cruel and oppressive individual who ended his days in insanity and blood-soaked revenge of all those he...