African Commonwealth (Premysloides Dynasty)

Background
After Fall of Constantinople in 1204, Roman Empire collapsed into group of rump states with most powerful Trapzond Empire and Nicean Empire. During next decades, false Latin Empire crumbled under attacks of Bulgarians, Niceans and under corruption and tyrannical rule of Catholic Church, Frankish aristocracy and Venetian Republic.

Nicean Coup in 1249 and appointment of ambitious, brilliant and talented young Romanos V Angelos-Premysloides on Nicean Throne, with help of numerous skilled advisors and supporters, opened way to reconstitute Roman Empire. Romanos, who was from blood of Hohenstauf and Premyslid dynasty, created large scale net of alliances and pacts with Bulgarian Emperor Constantin Tikh, Holy Roman Empire ruler and his great granduncle Frederick II, with Genoese Republic and some local rulers, which led into total destruction of Venice Republic, last pillar of Latin Empire existence.

Reconstituted Roman Empire was declared in January 1250, when Imperial Army liberated Constantinople from Latins and dethroned six-year old false Emperor Philip and his ambitious mother.

Under rule of Romanos V Angelos-Premysloides, Roman Empire focused on economic development, science progress, cultural revivalism, strengthening diplomatic ties with Mongolian Empire and Russian Republics, internal improvements and building new professional bureaucracy and governing system. Romanos rule was longest rule in history of Roman Empire. He ruled for 63 years, until his death in 1312 at age of 79 years and was succeed by his great grandson Andronikos II Angelos-Premysloides.

Early re-expansion
Through diplomacy, trade and wealth, Romanos was able to expand imperial territory not just to Greece and half of Anatolia, but also to most of Black Sea coast, Sardinia, Genoa and merchant colonies in Western Africa. His farthest expansion was in Baltic countries, where Imperial Army expedition helped local pagan and Russian rulers against Catholics and newly formed Baltic Confederation pledge loyalty to Roman Empire.

In 1278, Romanos participated in Battle of Grunwald where Imperial Army and their Baltic and Russian allies defeated massive Crusader and Papal army (about 30,000 Crusaders and 6000 Imperials, Russians and Pagans died in battle). Romanos was wounded and never later participated in any other battle, but Grunwald victory solidified Imperial power over Baltic Sea.

However, probably most important diplomatic and expansion affair happened soon after Romanos took throne. In 1250, Romanos summoned Mongolian, Trapzond, Bulgarian and Balkan rulers to first international conference in Constantinople where Romanos wanted to solve border disputes without using forces. Constantinople Conference ended with large imperial expansion in Anatolia, forming new borders with Second Bulgarian Empire, confirming Imperial expansion in Bosnia, Ragusa and Serbia, opening numerous imperial ports for free-trade zone, but did not solve imperial claimant throne in Trabzond which led to only real war defeat of Romanos in 1255 bloody conflict. Short war ended with defeat of Imperial Army during siege of Trabzond. Claimancy of Trabzond ended during "Dark Age" of 1348-1358 when most of Trabzond perished under "Red Plague".

Dark Age 1348-1358
Most of historical accounts and sources about "Dark Age" were destroyed or forgotten, but dramatic and successful growth and expansion of Roman Empire after end of "Dark Age" indicate that Roman Empire had good and skilled leadership during this era.

Overseas Colonialism and First Hundred Years War
One of very few case when Emperor Romanos decided to join larger military campaigns or war, was Holy Roman Empire civil war, where he joined Frederick II to defend Imperial Autocracy and Roman Empire interests in Kingdom of Bohemia. It was "First Hundred Years War" occurred from 1265-1369. In this war, Roman Empire and their allies were defeated, but also their enemies collapsed.

One of first historical report after "Dark Age" was about expedition from Western Africa Roman provinces and merchant colonies to Far West. Imperial captain Leonidus Varro found information about Punic and Vikings expeditions to Far West and met with Imperial Government to persuade the regime about support his own expedition. Imperial Navy had far technological superiority based on primitive steam engines in steamers, which were under total monopoly of Roman Empire. In 1362, Empire sent two expeditions, each of six steamers with soldiers, scouts, volunteers and supplies to both former expedition routes. Varangian Guard troops were sent with expedition to Greenland, Iceland and to Vikings settlement in "Unknown western lands", while second expedition went southwest.

Both expeditions found very different places. Varangians found a land of ice and snow, with very few surviving Viking Thule settlements, while "Punic" expedition found great lands of unimaginable rainforests, fertile lands and pleasant climate. However, both expeditions were successful, as Varangians found large deposits of important ores and coal in New Romania. Southern expedition claimed lands as Varronia.

Roman Empire lack any colonial rival, as most Europe was under rule of theocratic empire called "Saint Atlantis" and with disciplined and authority unquestioning population. When first messages about overseas discovers found way to Saint Atlantis, anyone who spread this words was punished as heretic, devil servant and kafir (as Saint Atlantis was syncretic theocracy of Catholic Christianity and Sunni Islam). For next 200 years, only Roman Empire intensively visited and discovering South and North Varronia.

Conquer of Caribbean Sea was swiftly and without any fatalities, as most local natives very soon pledged loyalty to Emperor and local islands became important trade and agrarian colonies and largest exporters of sugar and newly found crops like tobacco, potatoes and corn.

First "Superpowers" clash occurred in 1575, when Roman colonists arrived on West Coast of North Varronia and founded developed and strong colony of Sino Empire. Emperor Constantine X. called for summit with Sino Emperor Wen Liang. Emperor Wen, while admit that Romans started colonization of Varronia first, he dismissed the idea of summit and declared that only military superiority will resolve whole colonial dispute about supremacy over Varronia. This decision started era called as Second Hundred Years War.

"Second" Hundred Years War
Except few forward outposts, distance between Imperial and Chinese territory in Varronia was at start war very thick. Shortest between New Yangtze (OTL California) and western borders of Great Plains. For both sides, leading this colonial war became very expensive. While distance between territories of Roman Empire and Imperial Colonies were shorter then between Sino Empire and their colonies, Roman Empires had to supply colonies from their African exclaves. Sino Empire was also able to open new north supply route through New Tibet (Alaska) when they defeated Siberian Confederation and annexed Siberian territory.

Both Empire recognized that very soon, war became not only colonial, but also Eurasian and first, it was Roman Empire who initiated Eurasian war against Sino Empire, when formed coalition with Russian states, Afghans, Persians and Hindu Republic against Sino Empire. Geographical and natural barriers however slowed all military progress against Sino Empire and only very few portions of Sino Empire was conquered by Romans and their coalition. Coalition became more successful when population of South Asia rose up against Chinese rule, especially Khmers and Vietnamese who joined coalition and started full scale insurgency against Chinese.

On Colonial Front line, Chinese achieved great and symbolical military success when they conquered Hephaistion Line (OTL Panama) and split Imperial colonies into two halves. Later, they landed in New Carthago and conquered New Peloponnese (OTL Florida).

Chinese progress to Russia was stopped in Mongolia, where Cossacks and Russian armies defeated Chinese Imperial Guard in 1600. About 80,000 Chinese soldiers were killed or captured, while Cossacks and Russians lost only 700 troops. This defeated formed new borderland between Russian Commonwealth and Sino Empire on new Ulaanbaatar Line. This victory, however, had only little impact on continuing war and Russian Commonwealth left Roman Coalition and agreed separate peace treaty with China.

During Spring Campaign 1612, Roman Empire lost Great Plains and former Aztec territories, now imperial colony, was cut off from all supplies and Chinese were able to form Yucatan Blockade against Roman Imperial Navy. During 1614, Imperial Senate of Roman Empire adopted resolution that forced Emperor Justin to start peace negotiations with Sino Empire. In this time, Roman Empire was on way to constitutional democratic monarchy, as for many decades, imperial powers of Emperor were many times curtailed, but senate resolution was last drop for Imperial Army and Navy.

Imperial Army ignited coup against formal Emperor Justin and Imperial Senate, arrested all senators, even those who disagreed with resolution and installed military regency council to rule over Empire until power will be granted to new Empress Theodora. Meanwhile, Empire was under full military control and became military dictatorship ruled by Supreme Stratégos Allesander who later went to Colonial War.

Allesander's Coup was not only successful in homeland, but he was also able to reverse war defeats on Colonial Front line. Imperial Military Intelligence informed Allesander about preparations full scale Chinese invasion to East Coast colonies. Allesander armed all colonists and gave order to clear out all East Coast colonies, while he also ordered to burn down all infrastructures, supply routes, all cities and villages and poison supplies lured for Chinese. Then, he sent his army to New Peloponnese and make horrible, but necessary decision. Part of his army was sent to Bainar Swamps (OTL Okefenokee Swamp), without awareness of this swamp. Allesander leaked false information that whole his army marching toward this place and persuade Chinese Supreme Colonial Commander general Chan, to pursue his army.

His tactics, however, completely failed, as it was a trap! Most of Allesander's forward army already drowned in swamps, when they arrived, but the Chinese army was in swift moment encircled and under attack of thousands of riflemen and Greek Fire flamethrowers. First and Seventh Colonial Army hold encirclement, while 22nd Artillery Corps and 2nd Cavalry Army attacked Chinese troops. Battle occurred for six hours after which swamps became the graveyard of 8000 Roman Imperial troops and about 200,000 Chinese troops. Then, Allesander Army turned south to New Peloponnese, liberated New Carthago and defeated remnants of the Chinese forces in this area. Despite this victory, China had numerous reinforcements and Allesander, rather then continue in open-battle tactics, he ordered his colonial forces to start guerrilla war tactics against Chinese.

Allesander "New  Strategy" was controversial and nearly cost him his life and his position, as he allowed the Chinese to conquer most of the Roman colonies in North Varronia. When they conquered these colonies, he ignited rebellion and guerrilla war against Chinese forces. About 45,000 Romans colonial troops and 60,000 colonial volunteers were able to tie nearly one million Chinese troops until 1655 when started "Great Revolution" in Sino Empire.

Numerous defeats of Chinese Army in South Asia, Mongolia and Tibet laid the base for  new uprising in Japan and to resurgence of formerly defeated Chinese Warlords. In 1672, Chinese Emperor Liu asked Roman Empire for peace and as he already lost most of southern China, Japan, South Asia and Tibet to local rebels, he agreed with harsh Roman conditions, include payment of million pounds of gold and silver, leaving Varronia, Tibet, Persia and India, hand over whole Chinese Imperial Fleet to Roman Imperial Navy and handing over all weapons and ammunition of former Chinese colonial army to Imperial Army. In 1675 ended war and Liu was murdered during a coup in Beijing. Sino Empire fell apart in 1692 and was replaced by the newly reconstituted Japanese Empire. However, Japanese Empire did not have enough resources to start their own colonial efforts in Varronia and whole continent came under the supreme rule of the Roman Empire.

From Romanos to Colonialism
Since enthronement of Romanos V Angelos-Premysloides, because of despair situation, Roman Empire and Romanos government was not afraid of economic experiments and reforms that deregulated most sectors of economy, increased government and private investment, supported artisanry and production at the expanse of agriculture. This policy led to gradual, still very slowly, but steadly decrease of agricultural sector in favor of industry, trade and services, supported especially by maritime trade and imperial merchant fleet.

Second Industrial Revolution
Era of  Hundred Years War was hectic in many ways, not just in military question. In 1582, Conradius Ignatos senior, Roman scientist living in Sardinia, presented modified steam engine based on Roger Bacon steam engine from 1272. It took three centuries to complete real and effective modification and improvements on old steam engines. And it took another 18 years to start application of steam engine to mining, factories and infrastructure. In 1613, Conradius Ignatos junior, presented a locomotive to the Imperial Government in test trials and in 1616, the Imperial Government approved a new series of test trials and development of locomotives. First real locomotive was presented in 1618 and the next year, the Emperor approved building of first railway from Constantinople to Burgas (travel time decreased from 36 hours to only six hours, not counted if used steamer from Constantinople to Burgas port). This railway was prolonged to Veliko Tarnovo in north and from Constantinople to Thessaloniky in west. Until death of Empress Irene I, about 500 miles of railway were placed and during her nephew reign, next 3,500 miles were placed. Most travel time decreased about 90%, revenues exponentially increased, while  expenditures decreased, number of factories and workshops opened per year increased from 800 to 6,000 in whole Empire. Between 1620 and 1720, imperial GDP increased 13 times with 5% per year growth, from 2,4 trillion $ to 31,5 trillion $.

In same time, Saint Atlantis closed borders with Roman Empire to prevent spreading of new technology within its territory.

Administrative
Empire is divided in to various provinces. From 1250 until Colonial Era, Empire was divided to 7 (later reduced to 5) military provinces and 16 civilians provinces (reduced to 15 provinces). From Colonial Era and widespread expansion to Baltic and Russian territories, Empire are divided to "Core Provinces" (original 16/15 provinces) and to "Enlarged Provinces" (another more then 300 provinces of various areas, sizes and locations) and to 25 military provinces.

Political System
Imperial political system is very rigid and except chaotic and wild era of 1590-1612, its mostly autocratic imperial regime with Emperor as supreme God-like ruler. Only few parts of political power is lend to parliamentary institutions, but on other hand, Empire have strong sense od subsidiarity and devolution of rights and powers to local authorities (provincial governors, provincial diets, mayors).

Parliamentary institutions (Imperial Senate, later Imperial Congress) are more like sensor of population opinions through elections and have only small influence on Imperial Government and in most time, only under supervise and agreement with rulling Emperor and government members.

Roman Revivalism
Roman Revivalism as the term, is used for whole complex of social, cultural, ethical and national subjects and elements. Its range from education, religion status, women's rights to Ancient revivalism, social rights, science, development and ideologies. As different these subjects are, they all have common unconditional loyalty to Emperor and Empire.

Roman Patriotism and Citizenship
Emperor Romanos V understood question of loyalty of imperial subjects and also wanted to encourage imperial subjects to not be loyal only to the Emperor himself, but also to the Empire itself. As patriotic sense was lost during collapse of Western Roman Empire, Romanos V decided with forming new mentality with collaboration with military, scholars, culture elites and local provincial governors. Ideology of "Roman Patriotism" was based on supremacy of Roman citizens over non-Romans.

However, to became a "Roman citizen", there were some duties you had to do: pay taxes, serve in army for two years, be literate, be born on core or expanded imperial territory. Women were exempt from serving army, but they had to bear three children to became full right citizen. On the other hand, citizenship was not restricted by ethnicity, race or religion.

To encourage people be citizens and loyal servants of Roman Empire, Imperial Government created three political classes. Beside social classes (lower, agrarian, city, bourgeois, aristocracy), Imperial Government created Full-Citizens, Non-Citizens and Slave classes with different rights and position. Slaves were most inferior class with only protection from torture, crippling and death by slave owner. For example, a crippled slave had to be released and slave owner had to pay him for life rent enough high to slave survive. Most differences, however, were between Full Citizens and Non-Citizens.

Conditions achieve Full-Citizenship was based on meritocracy and did not favour anyone. Worker paying taxes, willing for self-education and served in Imperial Army had higher chance to became Full-Citizen rather then lazy rich boy. Because of that, it can't be compared with "Plebian" and "Patrician" class of Old Empire, as political rights in Old Empire was much more connected with wealth and property then with endeavour, loyalty and imperial virtues.

Language
Very soon, Romanos V's efforts to restore former cultural glory of Roman Empire collide with most important basic part of every each culture - language question. Romanos V at younger age studied Latin when he was assigned to became a Catholic priest and was reasonable to understand difficulty of  Latin for common people as this difficulty was one of the reasons for the decay of former Roman Empire. In 1252, Imperial Government approved Emperor "Latin Reform Act" which instructed local offices, bureaucracy and scholars with comprehensive guideline about Latin Reform.

In all provinces were assigned two official languages: Latin and prevailing local languages (Serbian language in Serbian province, Greek in Greece province, or even Turkic languages in eastern provinces etc.). Second, Emperor formed council of linguists to reform Latin into so-called "Simplified Latin". This process took about two years after which council published full report about new language which was hybrid of original Latin, Italian and Spanish dialects and was able to be used by both Latin and Cyrillic alphabet. From publication date, all education institutes were forced to teach "Simplified Latin" as new imperial language.

Education, Science and Research
Most comprehensive changes occurred during Romanos reign not only in economy and fiscal policy, but also in education, scientific and research policy, as Romanos recognition need of technological superiority above numerous enemies of Empire. However, he supported not only military research like biochemical weapons, or gunpowder, but also medical, physical, astronomical, natural and technical science. Mastermind of education reform was first magistrate of learning, master Roger Bacon who was longest serving education magistrate in Roman Empire history (about 30 years, until his retirement).

"Bacon Educational Reform", as it is called today, was not classical reform, but rather up-to-below hierarchical, quantitative and qualitative changes. First step of reform was even before Liberation of Constantinople, when Emperor Romanos received letter from group of scholars demanding restoration of Platonic Academy dissolved by Emperor Iustinian. At first, Romanos was open to this idea, but Bacon was critic and called it as "nostalgic stupidity". Instead, Bacon proposed forming "University Pentarchy" - reestablishment of Constantinople University and founding Athenes, Thessaloniky, Sardinian and Smyrna universities. Constantinople would be appointed as central university under control of Imperial Government with own research based on Bacon Scientific Method (Observation-Hypothesis-Data Gathering-Testing).

University Pentarchy was finally finished in 1266 with opening of Sardinian University modeled by Bolognese University, while remaining universities were modeled by Constantinople. In question of Universities, we must mention so-called "Imperial Academies", while these institutions were higher-education, they were specialized on policy, military training, economy, administrative and education of administrative cadres rather then on classical education and were under the supervision of Emperor himself and Imperial Armed Forces.

Beside university reform, the emperor sanctioned development of secondary education in all provincial towns. Every each provincial capital opened secondary schools "triumvirate". They had to open three different types of school - Artisanry and Trade, Science and Arts and Military-type secondary schools.

Third part of Bacon reform, universal education, however, was not implemented as it was very costly and with little to nothing interest of population. First universal education was implemented by Emperor Valerianus III in 1422.

Roman Empire very soon became "Beacon of Knowledge", as most scholars banished from Catholic Europe and scientists and scholars from Persia and Baghdad, went to Constantinople, Smyrna or Thessaloniky. Roman Empire primary scientific focus was on mechanical development, physics, medicine, astronomy and military research. Roman Empire allocated own budget for science and development, which consisted own research, experiments, building scientific infrastructure, modernization of equipment and laboratories and also introducing of technologies into Empire. Imperial Decree fixed budget at 2% GDP (which increased from $60 million in 1250 to $2.2 billion in 1312). Also, number of scientists and inventors grew from 150 per million (1250) to 800 per million (1312).

One of most important event in education and scientific history happened in 1264 and ironically, had not anything common with education and science. Second Monetary Reform implemented by Imperial Government introduced banknotes to monetary system, however technical problems and incapabilities of employee to mass hand copying new banknotes led to usage of woodblock and movable printing techniques adapted by Chinese master Weng. Weng and his employees then proposed improvement of this printing techniques for book publishing. Year later, Constantinople University, group of engineers and master Weng were assigned to improve printing techniques. After five years of intense development, master Weng and master Bacon introduced printing press to Roman Emperor Romanos and to Empire itself. First real printed book and also gift to Emperor Romanos, was "Weng Composition", book composed by Epic of Gilgamesh, Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid, Gallic War of Julius Caesar, Ab Urbe Condita of Livy, Germania of Tacitus, Natural History of Pliny, Life of 12 Caesars of Suetonius, De Re Military of Vegetius and "Full Canon" composed of all preserved Christian books and canons, included apocryphal and heretical. Irony is, that Weng himself did not put in this composition any Chinese literature. First Chinese literature was published in "Second Composition" in 1278 with Confucius classics books.

Imperial Culture
Romanos reign focused on return Roman Empire culture and mentality before age of Emperor Heraclius, while he wanted to avoid mistakes and decadence of fallen Western Empire, he had strong nostalgia in old Imperial culture.

Among other elements, Romanos reign also revived former Roman Empire culture. By Imperial Decree, Romanos reopened gladiator games and established pits in Constantinople, Thessaloniky, Sardinia and Smyrna. Very soon, gladiator pits became important source of local provincial revenues, as most of revenues were left intact in hands of province, instead of transferred into Imperial Treasury (except Constantinople pit). Emperor also reopened chariot races.

In clothing, Emperor used red and purple pallium, with light armor beneath. He ordered all imperial officials, provincial governors and members of Imperial Government to wear pallium and other late-Roman clothes.

Architecture also changed. "Great Reconstruction of Constantinople" in earliest months of Romanos reign opened very rare possibility to initiate massive changes in architecture. As 80% of Constantinople buildings were torn down, because they were ruined, uninhabitable, without connection to streets and sewers, on their places were build new houses and buildings in style called as "Neo-Classicism". Probably most controversial decision was destroying of "Great Nymphaeum" on top of "Third Hill" in heart of Constantinople. Instead of Nymphaeum, Emperor ordered build new imperial palace, called as Emperor Kreml, as architect leading reconstruction was Russian Feodosios Ignatiev.