AGCEEP_Specific_Byzantium.txt

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1419-1819: The Akritai for Byzantine Empire
1421-1421: Pretender to the Ottoman Throne for Byzantine Empire
1424-1424: Treaty of 1424 for Byzantine Empire
1427-1457: The Hexamilium for Byzantine Empire
1439-1439: The Council of Florence and the Union of the Churches for Byzantine Empire
1439-1439: The Council of Florence and the Union of the Churches for Byzantine Empire
1439-1454: The Poor House for Byzantine Empire
1451-1454: Tease the Turk for Byzantine Empire
1452-1452: It's not the size of the cannon, but who owns it for Byzantine Empire
1453-1460: The Fall of Constantinople for Byzantine Empire
1460-1460: Revocation of the Union for Byzantine Empire
Triggered (triggered event): Baleful Consequences for Byzantine Empire
Triggered (triggered event): The Gambit Worked for Byzantine Empire

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23019. The Akritai

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Conditions

  • Own Smyrna
  • Own Thrace

Will happen within 360 days of January 2, 1419
Checked again every 360 days until trigger is met (cannot happen after December 31, 1819)

Description

The Akritas was a petty border soldier-baron during the heyday of Byzantium and its subsequent decline. Like his Muslim counterpart, the Ghazi, with whom he often had more in common than his countrymen, he was largely independent and spent most of his time raiding across the border. While the akritai did not cost much to maintain, they were also difficult to control, and largely useless in foreign expeditions. They were used because they were very effective and because the central government could no longer afford a large enough standing, professional army. They also provided safe havens for heretics and other nonconformists.

Actions

A. Create the Akritai

  • Centralization -2
  • Quality +1
  • Offensive Doctrine +1
  • Land +1
  • Aristocracy +2
  • Serfdom -1
  • Stability -1
  • +2000 cavalry in Thrace
  • +2000 cavalry in Smyrna

B. No, we're better off without them

  • Centralization +1
  • Serfdom +1
  • Aristocracy -1

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23000. Pretender to the Ottoman Throne

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Will happen within 120 days of May 28, 1421
Checked again every 120 days until trigger is met (cannot happen after November 28, 1421)

Description

In 1421 the Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, died. His son, Murad II, ascended the throne. However, the Byzantines were holding Mehmed's brother, Mustafa, prisoner on the island of Lemnos. Hoping for the best, and urged on by his son (John VIII), Manuel II released this pretender to the throne, creating civil war in the Ottoman Empire. The Venetians took the opportunity to attack the Ottoman navy.

Actions

A. Release Mustafa and hope for the best

B. Hold on to Mustafa just in case

  • +25 relations with Ottoman Empire
  • Stability +1

C. Execute Mustafa to please Murad

  • Stability +1
  • +100 relations with Ottoman Empire
  • +125 gold

D. Release Mustafa and provide him funding

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23004. Treaty of 1424

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Conditions

Will happen within 180 days of January 2, 1424
Checked again every 180 days until trigger is met (cannot happen after December 30, 1424)

Description

Murad rapidly put down Mustafa's revolt, and angrily attacked Byzantium. Manuel released another pretender, also named Mustafa, who was the brother of Murad, but this one fared no better. In 1423 the Turks invaded Morea, smashing through the Hexamilium (6 mile wall) that Manuel II had built across the Isthmus of Corinth for protection in 1414. They also pressed Thessalonica, still a Byzantine city, so hard that the governor turned it over to the Venetians and wished them better luck. By 1424, with no help forthcoming, the Byzantines sadly accepted vassalage to the Turks. Venice held onto Thessalonica until 1430.

Actions

A. Accept the Treaty, become Ottoman vassal

B. Keep on Fighting!

  • +5000 infantry in the capital province
  • Stability -1

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23012. The Hexamilium

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Conditions

  • Own Morea
  • Control Morea
  • Ottoman Empire exists

Will happen within 10220 days of January 2, 1427
Checked again every 10220 days until trigger is met (cannot happen after January 2, 1457)
unless prevented by
Action A of 286001 - The Hexamilium for Morea

Description

The Hexamilium, built by Manuel II in 1414, was a famous 6 mile line of fortifications across the Isthmus of Corinth that was meant to protect the Morea like a set of city walls. Like the Great Wall of China or Hadrian's Wall, it was a big lump of stone that captured the imagination of men, but failed rather badly to stop them from passing through it. The Turks easily penetrated it in 1423 and again in 1446, after the future Constantine XI had rebuilt it. Still, it added a great deal of security to the Morea.

Actions

A. Rebuild it

  • Fortress level in Morea -2
  • Fortress level in Morea +1
  • Fortress level in Morea +1
  • Offensive Doctrine -1
  • -75 gold

B. No, it's a waste

  • Offensive Doctrine +1
  • Morea revolts

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3833. The Council of Florence and the Union of the Churches

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Conditions

  • The following must not occur:
    • Own Macedonia
  • The following must not occur:
    • Own Smyrna
  • Ottoman Empire exists

Will happen within 300 days of January 2, 1439
Checked again every 300 days until trigger is met (cannot happen after December 30, 1439)
unless prevented by
Action A, B of 23020 - The Council of Florence and the Union of the Churches for Byzantine Empire

Description

Faced with the onslaught of the Ottoman Turks, representatives of the Byzantine Empire and the Greek Orthodox Church have gone to the Council of Florence in order to negotiate the Union of the Churches in a forlorn hope that by doing so the Catholic nations will aid them against the Muslims. The Western Church demands only concessions, not compromise - the 'Union' is little more than a surrender for Orthodoxy. The representatives have little choice but to accept due to the situation, but the populace of Constantinople and the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church are outraged. Do we accept the Union?

Actions

A. Laetentur Coeli, we accept!

B. No, Orthodoxy will remain pure and independent!

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23020. The Council of Florence and the Union of the Churches

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Conditions

  • At least one of the following must occur:
    • Own Macedonia
    • Own Smyrna
  • Ottoman Empire exists

Will happen within 300 days of January 2, 1439
Checked again every 300 days until trigger is met (cannot happen after December 30, 1439)
unless prevented by
Action A, B of 3833 - The Council of Florence and the Union of the Churches for Byzantine Empire

Description

Faced with the onslaught of the Ottoman Turks, representatives of the Byzantine Empire and the Greek Orthodox Church have gone to the Council of Florence in order to negotiate the Union of the Churches in a forlorn hope that by doing so the Catholic nations will aid them against the Muslims. The Western Church demands only concessions, not compromise - the 'Union' is little more than a surrender for Orthodoxy. The representatives have little choice but to accept due to the situation, but the populace of Constantinople and the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church are outraged. Do we accept the Union?

Actions

A. No, Orthodoxy will remain pure and independent!

B. Laetentur Coeli, we accept!

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23022. The Poor House

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Conditions

  • The following must not occur:
    • Country has at least 2 non-colonial provinces

Will happen within 10 days of June 2, 1439
Checked again every 10 days until trigger is met (cannot happen after January 1, 1454)

Description

The political decline of the empire and the constant sieges laid against its cities drove not only simple folk but even many aristocrats into the arms of the usurers, forcing them to borrow money at high and rising interest rates to support themselves, and to use their property and mobile assets as a security and relinquish them if they were unable to meet the contractual repayments. A growing number of Byzantine aristocrats and men of wealth transferred their movable assets to Latin colonies such as Negroponte, Korone/Methone, and Crete. Eventually they even deposited them in Italian banks or invested in the public debt of Venice, Genoa, and Caffa. While state finances shrank drastically during the last century of the empire, while the last Byzantine emperors had increasing difficulties making basic payments and were deprived, not least, of the ability to distribute largesse goods with a generosity appropriate to their self-conception.

Actions

A. Our Decadence has Consequences

  • Fortress level in Thrace -2
  • Fortress level in Thrace +1
  • Centralization +2
  • Aristocracy -1
  • Lose 3000 troops in the capital province
  • Stability -1
  • -500 gold

B. Revolution is Near

  • Stability -3
  • Fortress level in Thrace -2
  • -3000 population in Thrace
  • Fortress level in Thrace +1
  • Global revolt risk +5 for 60 months
  • -6 diplomats

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23017. Tease the Turk

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Conditions

  • Byzantine Empire is a vassal of Ottoman Empire

Will happen within 360 days of January 2, 1451
Checked again every 360 days until trigger is met (cannot happen after January 2, 1454)

Description

Despite his prior behavior, Constantine XI actually held another royal Ottoman prince, Orhan, in exchange for modest payments from the Sultan drawn from Orhan's estates. Murad II had just died and his 19 year old son, Mehmed II, risen to the throne. In 1451, desperate for more money, the ever-bold Constantine requested an increase in the payments.

Actions

A. We need the money to keep Orhan's cell locked

B. No need to antagonize the new Sultan

  • Stability -1

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23014. It's not the size of the cannon, but who owns it

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Conditions

  • Ottoman Empire exists

Will happen within 360 days of January 2, 1452
Checked again every 360 days until trigger is met (cannot happen after December 30, 1452)

Description

Artillery had become increasingly useful over the previous 150 years, and were now beginning to have a major impact on sieges. In 1452, a Hungarian engineer named Urban approached Constantine XI with a proposal for a major artillery development program. The cash-strapped emperor could not afford to finance it, and instead Urban went to Mehmed II. Mehmed was delighted to finance Urban, who eventually created a cannon with a 27 foot barrel that shot 1200 pound balls.

Actions

A. We can't afford him

B. Yes, we need Urban

  • -150 gold
  • Quality +1
  • +50 artillery in the capital province

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23016. The Fall of Constantinople

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Conditions

  • Ottoman Empire and Byzantine Empire are at war
  • Ottoman Empire controls Thrace
  • Own Morea
  • Control Morea

Will happen within 150 days of January 2, 1453
Checked again every 150 days until trigger is met (cannot happen after January 2, 1460)

Description

In 1453, Mehmed II the Conqueror took Constantinople and reconsecrated it as his capital. Content for the moment with putting his newly prestigious house in order, he left the shattered Byzantines alone in the Morea, as his vassals. The Despotate of Morea survived until he conquered it in 1458..

Actions

A. Move the capital to Mistra

  • Move capital to Morea
  • Stability -3
  • Centralization -4
  • Monarch Konstantinos XI Dragases will never rule
  • Cede Thrace to Ottoman Empire

B. Continue the fight!

  • +5000 infantry in Morea
  • +2000 cavalry in Morea
  • Stability +1
  • Aristocracy +1
  • Serfdom -1
  • Land +1
  • -50 gold
  • +100 relations with Serbia
  • +100 relations with Venice
  • +100 relations with Bosnia
  • +100 relations with Bulgaria
  • +100 relations with Hungary
  • +100 relations with Genoa
  • +100 relations with Moldavia
  • +100 relations with Wallachia
  • +100 relations with Croatia

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3834. Revocation of the Union

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Conditions

  • State religion is catholic

Will happen within 300 days of January 2, 1460
Checked again every 300 days until trigger is met (cannot happen after December 30, 1460)

Description

The Union of the Churches appears to have had little effect, and help from the Catholic states has been much less than expected. The people and the clergy feel that we have betrayed Orthodoxy by having agreed to the Union and demand that we end it. Should we revoke the Union?

Actions

A. Yes, the Union serves no purpose!

  • Stability +2
  • Change religion to orthodox
  • italian will no longer be an accepted culture
  • Innovativeness -1
  • -150 relations with Papal States
  • -100 relations with Venice
  • -100 relations with Hungary
  • -100 relations with Poland
  • -100 relations with Castile
  • -100 relations with Aragon
  • -100 relations with Naples
  • -100 relations with Order of St. John
  • +100 relations with Muscovy
  • +100 relations with Novgorod
  • +100 relations with Serbia
  • +100 relations with Trebizond
  • +100 relations with Georgia

B. No, we must remain faithful to the Union!

  • Stability -3
  • Innovativeness +1

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23021. Baleful Consequences

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Triggered by

Action A of 23013 - Fool me once... for Ottoman Empire

Description

Mehmed II was not the peaceloving man his father was. He seized on the Byzantine request as a convenient way to set aside the treaty of 1424. Constantinople had been lucky to escape so far, and with the vassalage now cancelled, the future looked most dire.

Actions

A. Mehmed II cancels the vassalage of Byzantium

  • Break vassalization with Ottoman Empire
  • Stability +2

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23018. The Gambit Worked

Byzantine Empire — Not random

Triggered by

Action B of 23013 - Fool me once... for Ottoman Empire

Description

Against all odds, the young Mehmed II has agreed to Constantine's demands!

Actions

A. Great!

  • +100 gold
  • Stability +1

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AGCEEP_Specific_Byzantium.txt

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