Dark Age (Premysloides Dynasty)

Background
Since late 17th Century, despite harsh punishments, some imperial historians, investigators and amateurs decided to start learning about era called as "Dark Age", probably most obscure and strange era of history, as only very few eras left us such few informations and documents.

In 1710, imperial historians finally and despite many controversies, published book "1348-1358: Age of Darkness" which became bestseller among many people and very popularized whole era. Reaction of Imperial government and Emperess Constantina I. was shocking, as most authors of book were arrested and killed and every publisher of book was closed. Book became dissident literature and every owner was arrested and investigated by imperial secret service. Owning book was punished by 6-10 years in penal colony, owning more then one copy was punished by death.

This page is summary of various parts of "1348-1358: Age of Darkness". On other hand, we must admitt, that despite great sensation and reaction of imperial regime, book was only collection of indirect facts and rumors about Dark Age.

Dark Age is very popular among conspiracy theoretics and various cults.

Pantelleria
Free Republic of Pantelleria, unofficial successor of Venice under direct rule of oligarchy, bankers and indirect influence of Roman Empire, was one of among important source of indirect informations about Dark Age. While Pantelleria had very same censorship about Dark Age as Roman Empire, they did not censored their financial and trade accounts.

Authors of book found out that between 1348-1358, all trade between Pantelleria and Roman Empire and Europe totally collapsed. According official accounts, from January to April 1348, trade volume remained very same, while from April to August, trade volume decreased by 5-10% per month and since October 1348, no trade between Europe and Pantelleria was recorded. Trade was restored in September 1358, but still on very low output (only about 15% of pre-1348 volume).

In this era, trade between Pantelleria, other islands, except those in Aegean Sea and those which very near European coasts, remained same or even increased. Very similar situation was in trade between Pantelleria and North Africa where trade volume even increased by 45% without any interferences.

One of more direct fact about Dark Age was extraordinary meeting of Pantelleria Council in February 1349 on which Council declared prohibition of arrival any European ships, even with permission to sunk these ships by artillery fire and all trade partners had to be marked by special colour signature for full access to Pantelleria ports.

According financial accounts, since 1348 to 1358, no financial transfer of imperial share occured between Pantelleria and Roman Empire. According founding documents, Pantelleria Republic was obligate to sent 5% of yearly profit as special tax for Roman Empire. During Dark Age, any share transfer occured.

Janis Martin, Pantelleria merchant from Portugal, wrote in his diary that in May 1348, most of Roman troops assigned to defend Pantelleria left island and did not return and so, he was among those who reinforced local militia. Roman troops returned in December 1358.

Census of 1366
In June 1366, Arcadius II took imperial throne and ordered first imperial census since 1345. Until 1650, results of imperial census was secret and prohibited to be published anywhere. In 1650, Imperial Government allowed publication of 1366 Census, especially after few leaks from administration.

According Census of 1366, between 1345 and 1366, population of Roman Empire decreased by 40%, value or volume of all property in Roman Empire decreased by 50% and nearly 80 large cities were depopulated. Least affected region was Bosnia, Bulgaria and Sicily, most affected regions were Dalmatia, Smyrna and surround areas and Constantinople.

Saint Atlantis rulers
Saint Atlantis regime was based on republican-like theocratic dictatorship under rule of Supreme Council and Saint Triumvirate. Since establishment in 1265 to 1348, in positions of Councilors changed about 30 persons and in position of Saint Triumvirs changed only 12 persons, from 1348 to 1358, Council changed about 450 persons and in Saint Triumvirate participated about 97 persons. Reason is unknown, as Saint Atlantis archives were in time of publishment book closed and this was only official information without explanation of frequent changing. After 1358, rate of changing returned to pre-1348 era.

Special Note: During Second Pan-European War, which happend after book publishment, Imperial Special Forces were assigned to destroy Saint Atlantis archives and they were successfull.