History of Byzantine Empire (Premysloides Dynasty)

At 1204, Forth Crusade, also called as Venetian Crusade, conquered Constantinople and massacred dozens thousands people, while thousands flee away. Former Emperor Izaak Angelos was murdered by crusaders and city plundered.

New, Pope and Venice loyal puppet state named Latin Empire was established. During Latin Empire period, most of rulers focused on violent conversion of orthodox population to catholicism and on plundering Byzantine treasure, while they dismanteled effective and successful Byzantine bureacracy.

In 1245 ignited brutal civil war between Nicean Emperor loyalists and Senate supporters, who considered John III. as too weak, especially after his decisive defeat during 1235 Siege of Constantinople.

After few months of infighting, Senate Army conquered Nicaea and Nymphaion. Byzantine Senate proclaimed new Byzantine Republic and established elected Council of Consuls as rulling body with reformed parliament.

At 1249, because of republican corruption and inability to liberate Constantinople, popular unrest spread among Byzantine Republic, especially after crushing defeat of Byzantine fleet by Venetian Armada near Croatian beaches.

Group of radical and conservative senators formed conspiracy faction to find and proclaim new Emperor as strong ruler of Byzantine. They found him in person of Premysl Ottokar, son of Czech king Wenceslau. Premysl Ottokar was distant descendant of Angelos imperial dynasty by his mother side and senators found out that young Premysl Ottokar is very intelligent, talented, ambitious and capable administrator and brave military leader.

Mercenaries hired by senators liberated Premysl Ottokar from prison where he was imprisoned after bloody civil war between him and his rulling father. Premysl Ottokar left Bohemia and went to Niceae to take imperial crown.

Some of senators was very disilussed when they met Premysl Ottokar. They considered 16years boy as mere pawn and puppet for their rule, however this boy was capable win Varangian Guard loyality, dispersed Council of Consuls and Byzantine Senate and proclaimed "Imperial Republic" and "Reconstitued Byzantine Empire", under his rule as rule of supreme leader and with help of local and effective republican-like bureaucracy.

Premysl Ottokar converted to Orthodoxy, rebuilded many monastries and swear oath to liberate Constantinople. However, he knew desperate situation in which Byzantine Empire is. For that, he decided to take few radical steps.

He married Anna-Teodora of Asen dynasty and gained support from ten thousand Bulgarian troops and cavalry. Under unknown circumstances, he was able persuade Manuel I. of Trebizond to gift him Trebizond fleet. On Crimea, Premysl met with Genoan merchants and in exchange for defeat of Venetians and support, he promised them duty-free and tax-free trade with Empire. Genoans decided to blockade of Venice during liberation of Constantinople and also sent 2,000 elite crossbowmans and weapon designers, with 5,000 Ducates. He promised support for David VII., illegitimate son of former georgian king against his younger legitimate brother, who ruled Georgia. David VII. sent 900 volunteers and 1,000 mercenaries. Few months before his death, Emperor Frederick II. who was Premysl cousin, sent him 1,500 elite guard troops and mercenaries payed for next six years, plus nearly two tonns of gold. Most historians guess it was Frederick malicious joy against Papacy and Catholic rulers of Holy Roman Empire who hated Frederick for his rationalism, liberalism and enlighted style of rule.

At 1252, Premysl Ottokar had army of 25,000 troops, 15,000 cavalry, 200 galleys and some auxillary units. Against heavily fortified Constantinople, it was very few. Premysl decided to longer, but steady way. From Genoese crossbowmens, he formed guerilla units ambushing villages and trade routes under Latin Empire influence. Premysloidis fleet blocked Constantinople from north and cut off their way to few of their merchant and fishing ports on Black Sea coast.