Imperial Restoration (Premysloides Dynasty)

Background
Imperial Restoration is historical label for era between 1247 to 1252. Five years of activities, battles, fighting and conspiracy outcomed in to restoration of Roman Empire and Romanos V. Angelos-Premysloides as new Emperor Augustus.

In 1204, Fourth Crusade destroyed Constantinople, killed dozens thousands people, ruined city, raped and murdered most of population and establishe false and corrupted "Latin Empire" under Venetian rule and support. Horrible cruelities were committed by Frankish crusaders and Venetian forces, dozens churchs were burned down, streets were flooded by blood and there are even witness of boiling babies in kettles (later investigation confirmed this horror rumors).

Some remnants of Roman Empire decided to act and constitued themselfs as rump states, most important was Nicean Empire, which soon defeated number of Latin forces through Balkan and Greece region.

Nicean Coup
Probably first action to reconstitute Roman Empire was so-called "Nicean Coup". Group of pro-Latin traitors and agents called general Severus Septimius Flavius, to help them with appoint their own candidate on imperial throne which was left vacant after short, but very blood war betwen Theodor Laskaris and Michael Palaiologos.

Latin traitors, however did not want to appoint strong and talented candidate. They decided to call Premysl Ottokar, lord of Moravia, dynastic heir of Bohemian throne, who was great-grandson of corrupted and tyrannical Isaac II. Angelos.

Latins underestimated loyalism of general Flavius, who pretend to be on their side. They sent expedition to Czech lands, to invite Premysl Ottokar on Imperial Throne. Their intention was to corrupt young boy, persuade him to be same cruel and corrupted like his ancestor and to rule Nicean Empire in worst way, to destroy Empire and open way for Latins to captured Nicea and imperial remnants.

When expedition arrived, they were surprised to find Premysl Ottokar in prison for leading aristocratic rebellion against his father. Latin group liberated Premysl Ottokar and explained him their goals to destroy remaining orthodox empire in favor of catholic empire. Severus Septimius Flavius approached Premysl when they had alone moment and gave him second option, to take Imperial Throne and rule like real, wise, just and ambitious Emperor, greatest Emperor since Augustus Era. Premysl Ottokar, in that time 14-years old boy, agreed with general Flavius and during return trip, he left group and met with pro-Imperial resistance on Latin territory, started to study science, policy, trade, law and rights, war, tactic and strategy, to became great ruler.

Latins took some peasant boy on their way back, because they "lost" Premysl. They persuade peasant boy, later called as "false-Alexios", or "Alexios Obésus", to join them and became corrupted and cruel ruler of Nicean Empire. "Alexios" rule led to massive court spending, corruption, weakening Imperial Army and large discontent among peasants, citizens, Imperial Senate and Imperial Army.

Nicean Coup happend during June 1249, when Alexios Obésus called court and many foreign emissars to large celebration, include Latins representatives. During celebration, imperial loyalists under command of Alexios Strategopulos and on Severus Septimius Flavius order, captured all strategic places in Nicea and captured hundreds pro-Latin traitors, secured governor palace where celebration occured and waited for other orders. At start of celebration, Immortals went to feasting hall and Premysl Ottokar claimed to be real throne pretender and real imperial ruler.

Flavius troops arrested all pro-Latin traitors, even fat and by his terrible way of life disfigured Alexios Obésus. Premysl Ottokar promptly proved he is active and decisive ruler, he established new Imperial Council and start rule with help of most talented and most important loyalists, include his new fianceé and his mistress Radana Argyros.

Latin League attack
Already before "Nicean Coup", large segment of local catholic feudals and aristocrats united in so-called "Latin League". This league was formed to defeat pro-Imperial "Most Serene Republic of Marmaria". While in first months war was very balanced and even in some moments Marmarian army was able to encircle large Latin League army in city Bitola, later, Venetia sent Venetian Expeditionary Corps of 12,000 elite troops and mercenaries hired from whole Italy and Dalmatia. These troops destroyed Marmarian Army, recaptured Bitola and later led twelve successful and victorious sieges and battles against Marmaria and local resistance.

Latin League formed alliance with Latin Empire and althogether, they conqured Achtopol, southern Bulgaria and invaded eastern Thracia with goal to capture Thessaloniky, most prosperous and largest city of Nicean Empire.

Battle of Thessaloniky
When Latin Army besieged Thessaloniky, situation of Nicean Empire was desperate. 25,000 troops, mercenaries, cavalrymen and archers besieged Thessaloniky, city without walls and any real fortification and defended only by 4,000 cataphracts and local troops. Thessaloniky bay was captured without fight by Venetian fleet and Venetian army bombared Thessaloniky by catapults.

At first, general Flavius placed number of ballista and catapults on edges of city as provisional fortification with numerious archer support. Flavius goal was to halt enemy progress until allies arrive.

Two week before battle, Emperor Romanos V. sent emissars to Bulgarian pretender Konstantin Tikh, to Varangians and to his great-granduncle Frederick II. Hohenstaufen, Holy Roman Emperor. He offered Konstantin Tikh his cousin Anna Theodora who initiated civil war for Bulgarian throne in exchange for Bulgarian army and open way for Varangians. Emperor called Varangians to return to their imperial defense duty and they went on march to Thessaloniky. And Frederick II. stopped siege of Urbino when he heard about troubles of his beloved great-grandnephew and went with his cavalry army to help Emperor Romanos.

Battle of Thessaloniky is titled as "battle" because of siege phase, but it became total massacre of Latin Army and their allies. When battle peaked, Bulgarians, Holy Roman Empire army and Varangians deployed their forces to hilltops nearly Thessaloniky and waited for signal. Romanos V. took horse and stand up to leading cataphracts, then he signaled by trumpets and pipes to allied forces.

Bulgarians and Varangians attacked from east, while Frederick Army moved from north and Romanos Army strike went on western flank of Latin Army. Catapults and ballistas attacked Latin fortified siege camps and decisive cavalry attack annihilated half of Latin Empire army, all Latin League soldiers, all soldiers of Venetian Expeditionary Corps and even killed Emperor Baldwin II. of Latin Empire.

Nicean Empire and her allies lost only 200 troops. Shortly after battle, Venetian fleet ran away, but was stopped by unexpected Genoese fleet, which was able to capture all Venetian ships and granted them as gift to Emperor Romanos. Genoa then joined war as Nicean ally.

Imperial raid on Dalmatia.
It took 3 weeks to board newly formed Allied army on Genoese ships and went to siege Venice. Emperor Romanos meanwhile decided to propose his far-related cousin, Constancia of Hohenstaufen, very young and beautiful widow of killed Nicean emperor Theodor Laskaris, for marriage. This act concealed unity with Hohenstaufen and emperor Frederick II. Constancia herself joined war effort with small, but elite trained and equiped unit of personal guards and then new Imperial Fleet went to invade Venice.

However, before invasion itself, they decided to attack all strongholds and important trade posts and vassal areas on Venetian Republic on Dalmatian coastline. Durrazo, Ragusa, Spalato and six other towns were razed and plundered. Pola was captured, but most of people welcomed Imperial Army as liberators.

During Imperial Raid on Dalmatia, Imperial Fleet and Army captured 7,000 civilians and sold them to slavery, gained nearly 800 pounds of gold and 3,000 pounds of silver and tonnes of food supplies. Most of money and gold went to Genoese to repay large debts hold by Nicean Empire.

Imperial Raid was also signal for everyone, that Venetian Republice is no more able to defend her territories and vassals and all her forces were fortified in Venice for final and decisive battle.

Siege of Venice
This siege became climax of whole war and Imperial Restoration and also marked end of Venetian Republic and also Genoese Republic.