Board Thread:Timeline Discussions/@comment-25205072-20150422083509/@comment-25205072-20150708044721

Story Continued

Andronikos III was crowned emperor in 1379 at a time when the Byzantine empire split into smaller empires wrestling for control for the throne. Andronikos III was the second son of John III and was deemed more capable than his older brother John IV the "Nicean" due to his unpredictable violent nature. He was proclaimed heir by John III when John was just about to die. This enraged John's eldest son John IV and Andronikos had to flee for his life. The empire was split up into 4 parts with the 5th part revolting against byzantine rule.

The 5 empires (war of the the 5 empires, definately not game of thrones)

Andronikos III ruled Most of greece, the tiniest slice of western Anatolia, the crimea and all of Southern italy and sicily. He had the numerical disadvantage however he took with him the navy as well as the varagian guard. He also has the backings of the Papal states,the holy roman empire and the english crown.

Andronikos's cousin Basil III "the Athenian" ruled over southern greece from Athens. Basil intended to stay neutral all though he seems to lean to Andronikos due to John IV's violent encounters with Basil III.

John IV rules the so called Byzantine empire not by right but by force. Although he technically rules from Constantinople, being raised in Nicea, he resides mostly in Nicea. His violent rule has had profound effects on the populace, the royal court and foreign emissaries. He slaughter the latins in 1381 is very ultranationalistic in terms of his foreign policy. He is currently locked in a semi-cold war with his rival, Michael IX, bastard son of John III.

Ivan Shishman  ruler of the breakaway second "bulgarian" empire was intent on ruling a free bulgarian empire. However by 1380, most of bulgaria was cultural Byzantine rather than bulgarian. It is currently buckling under the Nicean invasion, however in 1383 managed to destroy much of the Nicean army in Thracia depriving it of any offensive push.

Alexios V rules the pitiful Empire of Cyprus. Uncle of Andronikos III decided to create his own maritime empire taking small chunks of land off the coast of southern anatolia and taking the important city of Antioch. It lies under threat of invasion from the crusader states and the emirate of aleppo.

Michael IX rules the empire of Trebizond. Bastard son of John III he sought to claim his own destiny by ruling the second empire of trebizond. The empire of Trebizond although particularly weak, won a major victory against the ottomons seizing lands south as well as captruing much of the west coast of Georgia. This prevented any muslim caliphates from seizing lands under Byzantine successor states.

Andronikos III sought an alliance with Basil III "The Athenian". Basil III had most of the greek troops stationed in Thessaloniki giving Basil III the leverage he needed to negotiate. Although previously approached by John "The Nicean", John IV was rejected and Basil III allied himself with Andronikos III. However he was assassinated in 1381 however rather than seizing the throne himself, Basil III proclaimed that Andronikos III's son Andronikos IV would claim the throne. During this time, the empire of Trebizond seized lands from the ottomons and the empire of cyprus seized lands from the emirate of Aleppo. Andronikos IV rather than sitting idly like his uncle John IV, he proceeded reclaim land. Basil III and Andronikos IV moved the Varagian guard secretly and sailed the fleet up to Bursa and in 1384 managed to seize the Empire of Bulgaria and Ivan Shishman  was killed by greek fire in a last ditch attempt to hold on to the legacy of Bulgaria at the siege of Sofia. With Bulgaria secured, Basil III moved his army from Thessaloniki to Hadrianople at put it within striking distance of Constantinople. However the walls of constantinople were well defended and John IV was preparing to reinforce his depeleted army in Thracia.