1850: Alternative Divergence [AH][OOC-OPEN]

[Narintia]

Full Nation Name : Tsaardom Rusemaa (Ingrian) Царь России (Russian) Tsardom of Russia (english)
Majority/Official Culture : Ingro-Slavic
Territorial Core : The dark blue represents the Russian territorial core.
Territorial Claim : and the light blue represents the Russian territorial claims.
Capital City : St Petersburg
Population : 52 million

Government Type : Constitutional Monarchy
Government Ideology/Policies : Pushing the Frontier
Government Focus : Russia's goals include expanding the navy as a priority. Other priorities include pushing the Scandinavian frontier.
Head of State : Tsaar Aleksander II
Head of Government : Prime Minister Alexei Demyan
Government Description : After the Revolutions of 1848 and 1849, the Tsaar at the time (Aleksander I) promised reform. Later in 1850, he revealed a extensive reform program, including the elections of the Russian house of parliament, the Duma. The Social Reformists, a political group have consistently won the majority in parliament, a 720/980 seats. This allows them to rule without a coalition, BUT the Tsaar still has the ability to veto any law passed.

Majority/State Religion : Orthodox Christianity.
Religious Description : N/A

Economic Ideologies : Mostly Laissez Faire. In Aleyska, however, the fishing industry is highly regulated by the government.
Major Production : Fish,Grains (Wheat,Barley,Rye), Steel, Gold and precious metals, textiles.
Economic Description : Except in Aleyska, the state usually takes a hands off approach. In Aleyska, however, there is a state owned monolopy on the trapping and fishing industries, with strict quotas and extreme punishment for breaking these quotas. The reason for this is that Aleyska is still technically the Tsar's property (a la Congo Free State)


Tech Group : European

Army Description : The Russian army has about 90,000 full time standing soldiers. 70,000 in Europe, another 15,000 in Asia, and 5,000 in Aleyska. However, in reserve, the Russians can muster about 900,000 reservists, of which, 700,000 in Europe, 150,000 in Asia, and 50,000 in Aleyska.
Army Weakness : The Russian army suffers from a lack in quality. With its vast size and vast population, Russia relies on human wave tactics. And, well that's not a good strategy to have in the modern era.
Naval Description : The Russian Pacific Fleet sits at about a comforable 56 ships, while the Baltic Fleet is at 10 ships. They are mostly modern, with steam ships, but Russia has not invested much into its navy.
Naval Weakness : The Russian Navy, while advanced compared to other nations in Asia, pales in comparsion to any major European navy.
Further Military Description : [[OPTIONAL]]

National Goals : Expand the frontier,annex Finland, incorporate the Baltic nations, expand the navy and complete a faster transportation route to the east are goals.
National Issues : Lack of a viable West-East transportation route, splitting the nation in two, severe winters and disputes with Britain and Scandinavia.
National Figures of Interest : [[OPTIONAL]] [[Are there any Mother Teresas or Moses that we need to know about?]]
National Ambition/Aspirations : [[OPTIONAL]] [[Not really a set objective, but rather the big picture that your nation is drawing towards]]
Rival: Scandinavia.

History :
POD-1223
In 1223, the Russian nations, for the first time saw the Mongol Horde. After defeats in China, the Mongols decided to push west. The might of a 100,000 cavalry sweeped through many of the Russian nations. City states like Kiev and Vladmir Sudaval where forced to submit to the tartar yoke. Over the next 200 years, up to 1442, the Golden Horde was the most powerful nation in eastern Europe. The Grand Principality of Moscow, just as she was about to rise, was sacked and destroyed in 1434. This left a power vacumm, just as the Ingrian and Estonian Duchy of Narva suffered a major defeat. After Novgorod and Pskov refused to pay their tribute to the horde, they were attacked and sacked. The remnants of the Duchy of Narva marched west into Ingria, defeating the remnants of Novgorod and Pskov at the Siege of Novgorod. This resulted in the rise of the Grand Principality of Ingria, and following Ingrias defeat of the numerically superior Golden Horde at the Battle of Vladmir, the Golden Horde began to decline.

By 1500, the Golden Horde had been subjugated, Ukraine and White Ruthenia had been incorporated, and treaties with the Romans had secured a peace with the west and south. It was now time to expand to the east. Over the next few hundred years, Siberia would be gradually incorporated into Russia. Vladivostok and Chita were both established as major cities in Siberia or on the Transamur region. Pioneering Russians even began to explore into Aleyska. The Siberian tribes were slowly pushed east and northwards. By 1780, Siberia had became an integral part of Russia, like the European core. Treaties with China and later Japan established the Russian eastern borders. Treaties with the United States later in the century negotiated the Alaskan border.

The year 1848 wrecked havoc in Russia. The nation had enjoyed peace for 50 years, but revolutions all over Russia nearly crippled the nation. Alaska attempted to secede, and Karelia nearly joined Scandinavia. The Tsaars managed to wrench control, but at the cost of giving huge reforms, including a shift to a much more democratic state, reductions in the work hours, a minimum wage of 1 rouble a day were all established by this revolution.
RP Sample: Previous AD.
#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)

[New Papan]

Reservation

Nation Name: Kingdom of Poland[/spoiler]
#AltDiv

Greetings, natural ally!

How would you like to have a coastline?

Scandinavian interest in Poland will fit my idea perfectly! I will have different factions within both military and government with different expansionist goals seek power in an upcoming struggle (not necessarily at the scale of a civil war mind you). If the Scandinavians were to arm or provide funding secretly to the faction that suits their interest, it is possible their rival in the Baltic will have to fight not only you at sea but the Polish army on land. Of course there'll be factions that want the opposite, so I hope the powers that should have interest in Poland as well *cough* Teutons and Russians *cough* will place their stakes in this game.

[Heidi Girl of the Alps]

Reservation

Nation Name: Iberian Confederation
Territory: All of Iberia+ Balearic Islands, Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Cuba, Hispanola, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Coast of Mozambique, Coast of Angola
#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)
*Note: Reservations will last for 48 hours. The OP board reserves the right to be subjective in regards to accepting reservations.

[Tracian Empire]

Reservation

Nation Name: Iberian Confederation
Territory: All of Iberia+ Balearic Islands, Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Cuba, Hispanola, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Coast of Mozambique, Coast of Angola
#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)
*Note: Reservations will last for 48 hours. The OP board reserves the right to be subjective in regards to accepting reservations.

The Balearic Islands, the Cape Verde Islands and the Canary Islands belong to the Vandals, Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico belong to the Aztecs.

[Tracian Empire]

Reservation

Nation Name: Kingdom of Poland
Territory:

(Image)

#AltDiv

Reservation accepted, I'll check the app as soon as possible.

[Plzen]

-snip-

Scandinavia is currently at war with the Teutons, so whatever aid it can provide to its favoured faction in Poland is likely to be tepid at best. There will be a lot of crossing fingers, waiting, and hoping.

---

[Remnants of Exilvania]

-snip-

Scandinavia is currently at war with the Teutons, so whatever aid it can provide to its favoured faction in Poland is likely to be tepid at best. There will be a lot of crossing fingers, waiting, and hoping.

---

Considering that we both lack a land border and are thus able to use our army however we please, I might just crush myself a Poland.


And then trade Poland for peace with Russia.

[Plzen]

Considering that we both lack a land border and are thus able to use our army however we please, I might just crush myself a Poland.

And then trade Poland for peace with Russia.

As far as I know Russia doesn't have designs on Poland, though? If the Teutons become embroiled in a war against Poland it makes them more vulnerable to Russia.

It's pretty much the same reason why I can't just recall everything from the Scandinavian East Indies and crush your smaller navy; threat of a third-party intervention.

[Shogunate of the Uzumaki Empire]

Tag!

[Shogunate of the Uzumaki Empire]

Reservation

Nation Name: Kazakh Khanate
Territory: Kazakhstan
#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)
*Note: Reservations will last for 48 hours. The OP board reserves the right to be subjective in regards to accepting reservations.

[New Papan]

Considering that we both lack a land border and are thus able to use our army however we please, I might just crush myself a Poland.

And then trade Poland for peace with Russia.

As far as I know Russia doesn't have designs on Poland, though? If the Teutons become embroiled in a war against Poland it makes them more vulnerable to Russia.

It's pretty much the same reason why I can't just recall everything from the Scandinavian East Indies and crush your smaller navy; threat of a third-party intervention.

If the Teutonic Order wants to prevent Poland from approaching Scandinavia or even more so, having it on friendly terms, it should support the Polish Catholic Church and the Przywrócenie Narodowe faction. Its leader Adam Jerzy Czartoryski will stress the religious ties in trying to get foreign support from catholic countries such as its neighbor to the North.

[Tracian Empire]

As far as I know Russia doesn't have designs on Poland, though? If the Teutons become embroiled in a war against Poland it makes them more vulnerable to Russia.

It's pretty much the same reason why I can't just recall everything from the Scandinavian East Indies and crush your smaller navy; threat of a third-party intervention.

If the Teutonic Order wants to prevent Poland from approaching Scandinavia or even more so, having it on friendly terms, it should support the Polish Catholic Church and the Przywrócenie Narodowe faction. Its leader Adam Jerzy Czartoryski will stress the religious ties in trying to get foreign support from catholic countries such as its neighbor to the North.

I haven't had the time to check your app, but would you be alright with the idea of granting Poland more land, maybe along the lines of the border that interwar Poland had with Russia? Both in order to increase your chances of survival, and in order to resize the borders of Russia a little. Narintia is alright with the idea.

[The Traansval]

Well, seeing as how there's probably not going to be a Napoleonic France or a Hapsburg Austria, it's time to delve into some ancient Dutch history and start from the bottom.

[Axis Asteroid]

Well, seeing as how there's probably not going to be a Napoleonic France or a Hapsburg Austria, it's time to delve into some ancient Dutch history and start from the bottom.

If you want to go way back, the Frisians or Frisii as the Romans called them would be a good start. The Frisian-Frankish Wars could work too, since that would lead to reign of the Hollandic Counts and the brief "Frisian Freedom" under the nominal authority of the HRE.

[Remnants of Exilvania]

If the Teutonic Order wants to prevent Poland from approaching Scandinavia or even more so, having it on friendly terms, it should support the Polish Catholic Church and the Przywrócenie Narodowe faction. Its leader Adam Jerzy Czartoryski will stress the religious ties in trying to get foreign support from catholic countries such as its neighbor to the North.

I haven't had the time to check your app, but would you be alright with the idea of granting Poland more land, maybe along the lines of the border that interwar Poland had with Russia? Both in order to increase your chances of survival, and in order to resize the borders of Russia a little. Narintia is alright with the idea.

Maybe he can also have the sizeable chunk of Lithuania that I left open.

[New Papan]

I haven't had the time to check your app, but would you be alright with the idea of granting Poland more land, maybe along the lines of the border that interwar Poland had with Russia? Both in order to increase your chances of survival, and in order to resize the borders of Russia a little. Narintia is alright with the idea.

Maybe he can also have the sizeable chunk of Lithuania that I left open.

Judging from this it sounds like Poland could look like this:

This would probably make me rethink Poland a bit...considering Vilnius would be within its borders and a large Lithuanian minority a survived Commonwealth is possible. Maybe not the smaller, expansionist and nationalist Polish state I imagined that would escalate wars it probably wouldn't win.

[The Ik Ka Ek Akai]

Full Nation Name : Western Roman Empire [official]
Latin Empire
Holy Roman Empire
L'impero romano d'Occidente (Italian; "Western Roman Empire") [official]
Il Senato e il popolo romano (Italian; "Senate and people of Rome")
Saran e Suant (Dalmatian; "Serene and Holy")
I depotuti e el poplo veste (Dalmatian; "The delegates and the people of the West") [official]
Juan Raigno (Dalmatian; "Young Kingdom"- contrasted with the "Old" Greek empire- "Vicla Raigno")

Majority/Official Culture : Italo-Dalmatian
Territorial Core : Here
Territorial Claim : [[OPTIONAL]] Technically the rest of the Western Empire, but for all intents and purposes let's say Sicily, Malta, Sardinia, Corsica, and the Baleares
Capital City : Rome
Population : ~25,000,000

• Italy ~ 20,000,000
• West Balkans ~ 2-3 mil, but boosted due to diverged history

Government Type : Exarchate
Government Ideology/Policies : Nationalism, Commercialism, Mercantilism
Government Focus : Culture and wealth are the main focuses of the Italian Caesardom. With a long tradition of craftsmanship and trade, with autonomous polities feuding back and forth over who had better paintings and architecture being but one example of this tradition continued throughout time. Despite being, under its foundation, a military governorship granted by the crown in Constantinople, it has been long since any expansion has occurred, the resources instead devoted to the aforementioned culture and wealth.
Head of State : Alessandra Udaina
Head of Government : above
Government Description : An exarchate, the government was initially a military governorship bestowed by the crown in Constantinople. Since that point, it has fallen under various relations and military uprisings and varying influencing factions until everyone forgot what it started as and it became de facto hereditary. At the moment, it is run much like the proper Eastern empire- a highly administrative absolute monarchy with a couple of autonomous regions.

Majority/State Religion : Latin-Rite Christianity, but with freedom of worship
Religious Description : Under the watchful eyes of the Patriarch of Rome, this is a Chalcedonian creed that never went extinct- within the borders of the exarchate it had instead managed to prevent its drift from the Greek Rite to a schismatic degree. It still bears resemblance to run-of-the-mill Catholicism, but remains more tolerant of imperial authority and Hellenic idolatry.

Economic Ideologies : State Capitalism, with some regulation applying to all parties (including the state)
Major Production : Dyes, luxury items, processed/precision goods
Economic Description : A specialized economy for turning raw goods into expensive things other people show off with, and turning water into fine, the Italian economic situation is generally prosperous and competitive- albeit, for how prosperous it is, it is also niche and specialized. It does what it does very well, but doesn't do other things very well at all. The army will sure look sharp in those silk uniforms with carefully hand-etched brass!


Tech Group : European

Army Description : The army is a carry-over from the Eastern themata, with military subdivisions and land grants ensuring a localized and battle-ready force is always prepared to be drawn up on the borders. Unlike the Eastern Empire, however, the themata follow regional powers and centers of conflict, conforming to what was, at times, only nominally subject city-based powers. Each city, thus, carries its own military legacy and rivalries. The military is largely modernized, perhaps moreso than the Eastern soldiers, due to proximity to the West and even the legacy of the Latins upon it. Being a frontier region, an exarchate, also gave an early emphasis on military development within it to the court at Constantinople. As a result of the localized military, the army as a whole is generally decentralized and grouped by place of origin, rather than forming large and diverse regiments. The discipline, however, suffers not.
Army Weakness : The army is highly decentralized and localized, leading to smaller units with less diversity. To some degree, this bears closer similarity to a series of alliances rather than a proper and unified standing army. Thus, what it has in discipline and modern technology, it lacks in structure and comprehensiveness.
Naval Description : The navy originated as an anti-pirate measure, but grew with ideals of trade. Somewhat limited in number due to the naval focus of the Eastern emperors traditionally, it consists of much of the same types of ships and structure. Its primary goal in existing is to ward off the Vandals and to protect trade in the Mediterranean, and can conscript civilian ships when necessary.
Naval Weakness : Similar to the army, the navy is localized and, as a result, disorganized. Each "theme" can harbor a treasure fleet of its own, and historically the power of naval projection was emphasized, but over the past couple of centuries the navy has generally been in decline. While still functional and capable of doing its base duties, it relies on the East in times of war to provide the bulk of its strength. Due to the mercantile origins of much of the navy, it consists largely of high-cargo light ships retrofitted to be military vessels, rather than having started with military use in mind.
Further Military Description :[urlhttps://pics.me.me/italian-landmine-moments-after-detonation-colorized-1944-war-is-so-12805252.png]experimental technology[/url]

National Goals : Ascendancy to Co-Emperorship, glory, and wealth
National Issues : Being a lot weaker than the Eastern empire by a large, large margin in most regards, and certainly being far from the most industrial and populous of European nations
National Figures of Interest : Tuone di Ragusa, Giorgio da Firenze, Leo d'Arezzo, Leo Farantouri
National Ambition/Aspirations : Gloria in excelsis populo
Rival: A bit too early to be declaring this, there's barely even anyone nearby!

History : WIP
RP Sample: past AD threads

#AltDiv

[Axis Asteroid]

Full Nation Name : Western Roman Empire [official]
Latin Empire
Holy Roman Empire
L'impero romano d'Occidente (Italian; "Western Roman Empire") [official]
Il Senato e il popolo romano (Italian; "Senate and people of Rome")
Saran e Suant (Dalmatian; "Serene and Holy")
I depotuti e el poplo veste (Dalmatian; "The delegates and the people of the West") [official]
Juan Raigno (Dalmatian; "Young Kingdom"- contrasted with the "Old" Greek empire- "Vicla Raigno")

Majority/Official Culture : Italo-Dalmatian
Territorial Core : [urlblob:https://imgur.com/217d0658-2a2c-40ff-86a0-8913f3249f22]Here[/url]
Territorial Claim : [[OPTIONAL]] Technically the rest of the Western Empire, but for all intents and purposes let's say Sicily, Malta, Sardinia, Corsica, and the Baleares
Capital City : Rome
Population : ~25,000,000

• Italy ~ 20,000,000
• West Balkans ~ 2-3 mil, but boosted due to diverged history

Government Type : Exarchate
Government Ideology/Policies : Nationalism, Commercialism, Mercantilism
Government Focus : Culture and wealth are the main focuses of the Italian Caesardom. With a long tradition of craftsmanship and trade, with autonomous polities feuding back and forth over who had better paintings and architecture being but one example of this tradition continued throughout time. Despite being, under its foundation, a military governorship granted by the crown in Constantinople, it has been long since any expansion has occurred, the resources instead devoted to the aforementioned culture and wealth.
Head of State : Alessandra Udaina
Head of Government : above
Government Description : An exarchate, the government was initially a military governorship bestowed by the crown in Constantinople. Since that point, it has fallen under various relations and military uprisings and varying influencing factions until everyone forgot what it started as and it became de facto hereditary. At the moment, it is run much like the proper Eastern empire- a highly administrative absolute monarchy with a couple of autonomous regions.

Majority/State Religion : Latin-Rite Christianity, but with freedom of worship
Religious Description : Under the watchful eyes of the Patriarch of Rome, this is a Chalcedonian creed that never went extinct- within the borders of the exarchate it had instead managed to prevent its drift from the Greek Rite to a schismatic degree. It still bears resemblance to run-of-the-mill Catholicism, but remains more tolerant of imperial authority and Hellenic idolatry.

Economic Ideologies : State Capitalism, with some regulation applying to all parties (including the state)
Major Production : Dyes, luxury items, processed/precision goods
Economic Description : A specialized economy for turning raw goods into expensive things other people show off with, and turning water into fine, the Italian economic situation is generally prosperous and competitive- albeit, for how prosperous it is, it is also niche and specialized. It does what it does very well, but doesn't do other things very well at all. The army will sure look sharp in those silk uniforms with carefully hand-etched brass!


Tech Group : European

Army Description : The army is a carry-over from the Eastern themata, with military subdivisions and land grants ensuring a localized and battle-ready force is always prepared to be drawn up on the borders. Unlike the Eastern Empire, however, the themata follow regional powers and centers of conflict, conforming to what was, at times, only nominally subject city-based powers. Each city, thus, carries its own military legacy and rivalries. The military is largely modernized, perhaps moreso than the Eastern soldiers, due to proximity to the West and even the legacy of the Latins upon it. Being a frontier region, an exarchate, also gave an early emphasis on military development within it to the court at Constantinople. As a result of the localized military, the army as a whole is generally decentralized and grouped by place of origin, rather than forming large and diverse regiments. The discipline, however, suffers not.
Army Weakness : The army is highly decentralized and localized, leading to smaller units with less diversity. To some degree, this bears closer similarity to a series of alliances rather than a proper and unified standing army. Thus, what it has in discipline and modern technology, it lacks in structure and comprehensiveness.
Naval Description : The navy originated as an anti-pirate measure, but grew with ideals of trade. Somewhat limited in number due to the naval focus of the Eastern emperors traditionally, it consists of much of the same types of ships and structure. Its primary goal in existing is to ward off the Vandals and to protect trade in the Mediterranean, and can conscript civilian ships when necessary.
Naval Weakness : Similar to the army, the navy is localized and, as a result, disorganized. Each "theme" can harbor a treasure fleet of its own, and historically the power of naval projection was emphasized, but over the past couple of centuries the navy has generally been in decline. While still functional and capable of doing its base duties, it relies on the East in times of war to provide the bulk of its strength. Due to the mercantile origins of much of the navy, it consists largely of high-cargo light ships retrofitted to be military vessels, rather than having started with military use in mind.
Further Military Description :[urlhttps://pics.me.me/italian-landmine-moments-after-detonation-colorized-1944-war-is-so-12805252.png]experimental technology[/url]

National Goals : Ascendancy to Co-Emperorship, glory, and wealth
National Issues : Being a lot weaker than the Eastern empire by a large, large margin in most regards, and certainly being far from the most industrial and populous of European nations
National Figures of Interest : Tuone di Ragusa, Giorgio da Firenze, Leo d'Arezzo, Leo Farantouri
National Ambition/Aspirations : Gloria in excelsis populo
Rival: A bit too early to be declaring this, there's barely even anyone nearby!

History : WIP
RP Sample: past AD threads

#AltDiv

The stock of Belisarius seems to be doing well.

Looks like the Vandals have another potential rival for the Mediterranean.

[Tracian Empire]

Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων
Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων
Basileia tōn Rhōmaiōn
Basileía Rhōmaíōn

The Empire of the Romans
The Roman Empire

Η βασιλεύς Σύγκλητος και ο Λαός της Ρώμης
I Basileus Sýnklitos kai o Laós tis Rómis
The Emperor, Senate and People of Rome

Βασιλεύς Βασιλέων Βασιλεύων Βασιλευόντων!
Basiléus Basiléon Basilévon Basilevónton!
Emperor or Emperors, Ruling Over Those Who Rule!

Full Nation Name : The Roman Empire (Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων-Basileía Rhōmaíōn|(Imperium Romanum), the Empire of the Romans (Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων-Basileia tōn Rhōmaiōn|Ἀρχὴ τῶν Ῥωμαίων-Archē tōn Rhōmaiōn|Imperium Romanorum). The phrase: the Emperor, Senate, and People of Rome (Η βασιλεύς Σύγκλητος και ο Λαός της Ρώμης - I Basileus Sýnklitos kai o Laós tis Rómis|Imperator Senatusque Populusque Romanus) is used to officially refer to the Roman state, which is also commonly referred to simply as Rome (Ρώμη-Rómi|Roma) or the New Rome (Νέα Ῥώμη-Néa Rómi|Nova Roma). Other names like the Roman Republic (Πολιτεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων-Politeia tōn Rhōmaiōn|Res Publica Romana) and Romania (Ῥωμανία|the Land of the Romans), with the derived (Βασιλεια Ρωμανια-Basileia Romania|Imperium Romaniae) also exist. Foreigners sometimes use the historical exonyms of the Byzantine Empire (Bυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία-Byzantiní Autokratoría|Imperium Byzantinium), or of the Eastern Roman Empire (Ανατολική Ρωμαϊκή Αυτοκρατορία-Anatolikí Romaïkí Autokratoría|Imperium Romanum Orientale) but they are not actively used by the Romans themselves. The nation is also sometimes designated as the Empire of the Greeks (Βασιλεία των Ελλήνων-Basileia ton Ellínon|Imperium Graecorum), but its usage is considered to be an insult by the Romans.

Majority/Official Culture : The main and official culture is Roman (Ρωμαϊκή-Romaïkí), but other cultures exist through the many citizens of the Empire. The Roman view on the culture of its citizens is a little different than the view held by most of the other nations of Europe. The Roman view is based around the concept of Ρωμανότητα-Romanótita (Romanity, or Romanism). This is the idea of the Roman civilization and culture rather than the ethnic reality. Included among its concepts are the very ideals of the Roman Empire and of the Roman people, military, and government. The inhabitants of the Empire refer to themselves as Roman (Ρωμαιοι-Romaioi) or Roman citizens (Ρωμαίοι πολίτες-Romaíoi polítes). The citizens of the Empire do not see their common identity as being based on their inherited ethnicity, but instead, they consider it to be based on being part of a political and religious community with common values, customs, morality and way of life. Though ethnically diverse, a majority of the Empire's population is tightly bound together by their Roman culture and their Roman national identity, centered on the use of Greek (Ρωμαικα-Romaika|Roman/ Roman language) as their first language, on the Roman cultural customs, on the idea of the Roman people, and on the Orthodox Christian religion. The Roman identity and culture of today is a true successor of both the Roman and the Hellenistic worlds of the Antiquity and of the Middle Ages. Like the Byzantine culture of real life, the Roman culture carried over the old traditions and cultural elements, while also being influenced by the Orient. Most of the population speaks Greek, and Latin remains a second language only in the administration and among those with with higher education, but the citizens of the Empire completely and fully consider themselves to be Roman. The idea of the Greeks as a separate identity no longer exists, with most Romans generally considering themselves to be the heirs of both the Ancient Romans and the Ancient Greeks.

Other cultures throughout the Empire are actively persecuted, going through a cultural process known as Romanization or well, Hellenization, the process of acculturation, integration and assimilation of those inhabitants of the Empire which do not belong to the Roman culture. The process itself contains a variety of methods, and is considered by the Roman Empire to be an attempt to civilize barbarian people. Perhaps more aggressive than the Romanization of the antiquity, this process as been raised to the status of a state policy during the Empire's long existence, with it being currently used in Egypt and certain parts of the Middle East. The process is mostly based on the strong promotion or even enforcement of Greek, of Roman laws and customs, and of Orthodox Christianity, an attempt to eradicate the cultural and religious identity of those groups that are Hellenized, accomplished through various means, like forced conversions, the existence of Roman colonists, education controlled by the Roman state, depopulation and forced resettlement, together with certain incentives, like granting the Roman citizenship to those loyal to the Empire.

Territorial Core :

• 1. Theme of Thrace|Thema Thrakēs - Θέμα Θράκης|Adrianople
• 2. Theme of Scythia|Thema Skýthis - Θέμα Σκύθης |Constantia
• 3. Theme of Paristrion|Thema Paristrion - Θέμα Παρίστριον|Dorostolon
• 4. Theme of Strymon|Thema Strymōnos - Θέμα Στρυμώνος|Serres
• 5. Theme of Thessalonica|Thema Thessalonikēs - Θέμα Θεσσαλονίκης|Thessaloniki
• 6. Theme of Diocleia| Thema Diokleías - Θέμα Διοκλείας |Nysos
• 7. Theme of Dyrrachium|Thema Dyrrhachiou - Θέμα Δυρραχίου|Dyrrachium
• 8. Theme of Nicopolis|Thema Nikopoleōs - Θέμα Νικοπόλεως|Nikópolis
• 9. Theme of Hellas|Thema Helladikoi - Θέμα Ελλαδικών|Thebes
• 10. Despotate of Morea|Despotáton toú Moréos - Δεσποτᾶτον τοῦ Μορέως|Mystras
• 11. Theme of the Aegean Sea|Thema Aigaiou Pelàgous - Θέμα του Αιγαίου Πελάγους|Mytilene
• 12. Theme of Crete| Thema Krētēs - Θέμα Κρήτης|Megalo Kastro
• 13. Theme of Cyprus|Thema Kyprou - Θέμα Κύπρου|Lefkosia
• 14. Theme of Optimates|Thema Optimatōn - Θέμα Ὀπτιμάτων|Nicomedia
• 15. Theme of Opsikion|Thema Opsikiou - Θέμα Ὀψικίου|Nicaea
• 16. Theme of Samos|Thema Samou - Θέμα Σάμου|Smyrna
• 17. Theme of the Cibyrrhaeots|Thema Kibyrrhaiotōn - Θέμα Κιβυρραιωτῶν|Attaleia
• 18. Theme of the Anatolics|Thema Anatolikōn - Θέμα Άνατολικῶν| Amorion
• 19. Theme of the Bucellarians|Thema Boukellariōn - Θέμα Βουκελλαρίων|Ancyra
• 20. Theme of Paphlagonia|Thema Paphlagonias - Θέμα Παφλαγονίας|Gangra
• 21. Theme of the Armeniacs|Thema Armeniakōn - Θέμα Άρμενιάκων|Amaseia
• 22. Theme of Cappadocia|Thema Kappadokias - Θέμα Καππαδοκίας|Tyana
• 23. Theme of Seleucia|Thema Seleukeias - Θέμα Σελευκείας|Seleukeia
• 24. Despotate of Trebizond|Despotáton tis Trapezoúntas - Δεσποτᾶτον της Τραπεζούντας|Trapezous/Trebizond
• 25. Theme of Koloneia|Thema Kolōneias - Θέμα Κολωνείας|Koloneia
• 26. Theme of Cilicia|Thema Kilikías - Θέμα Κιλικίας|Adana
• 27. Theme of Iberia|Thema 'Ivirías - Θέμα 'Ιβηρίας|Theodosiopolis
• 28. Theme of Vaasprakania|Thema Vaasprakanías - Θέμα Βαασπρακανίας|Eua
• 29. Theme of Mesopotamia|Thema Mesopotamias - Θέμα Μεσοποταμίας|Kamacha
• 30. Theme of Melitene|Thema Melitenéos - Θέμα Μελιτενέος|Melitene
• 31. Theme of Antioch|Thema Antiócheia - Θέμα Αντιόχεια|Antioch
• 32. Theme of Palmyra|Thema Palmyrénio - Θέμα Παλμυρένιο|Palmyra
• 33. Theme of Syria|Thema Sýrios - Θέμα Σύριος|Dionysias
• 34. Theme of the Galilee|Thema Galilaíos - Θέμα Γαλιλαίος|Berytus
• 35. Theme of Palestine|Thema Palaistínios - Θέμα Παλαιστίνιος|Jerusalem
• 36. Theme of Arabia|Thema Arabikós - Θέμα Aραβικός|Eliat
• 37. Theme of Sinai|Thema Sinaíos - Θέμα Σιναίος|Saint Catherine
• 38. Exarchate of Alexandria|Exarchía tis Alexándreias - Εξαρχία της Αλεξάνδρειας|Alexandria
• 39. Exarchate of Syrene|Exarchía tou Syrene - Εξαρχία του Συρενη|Syene
• 40. Despotate of Taurica|Despotátis tis Tavrikís - Δεσποτάτης της Ταυρικής|Cherson

Territorial Claim :

The Roman Empire, of course, theoretically claims all the territories of the Roman Empire of old, but those are only shadows of the past in the present. For the time being, the Romans hope to expand as much against the Vandals as possible in order to neutralize the threat they represent, and to potentially recover as much of the Empire of Justinian the Great as possible.

Capital City : Constantinople, Konstantinoupolis, the New Rome, the Second Rome, the Eastern Rome, Roma Constantinopolitana, the Queen of Cities, the Great City, the City of the Emperors, the Reigning City, the City, the God-Guarded City, Great City of the Romans, the Throne of the Romans, the Eye of the World, the Envy of the World, the City of the World's Desire,the City of Sins, Byzantium. One of the greatest cities of Europe and Asia, the capital of Constantine the Great, spread on both sides of the Bosporus Strait, this ancient city continues to impress and amaze.
Symbols:

• Flags
• Dynastic Banners
• Naval Flags
• Greater Coat of Arms
• Lesser Coat of Arms
• Dynastic Emblem
• Chi-Rho Monogram
• Saint Andrew the Apostle
• Saint Constantine the Great
• Saint Justinian the Great
• Roma (personification of the Roman state)
• Motto: Βασιλεύς Βασιλέων Βασιλεύων Βασιλευόντων-Basiléus Basiléon Basilévon Basilevónton|Imperator Imperatorum Imperans Imperantibus|Emperor of Emperors, Ruling over Those Who Rule

In regards to color, Tyrian purple is the official one, representing the imperial authority, and the Emperor. But because of the price of the purple dye, the purple is generally reserved only for those flags and emblems used personally by the Emperor, while red is used for the rest.

Population :
Alright. I'm starting with a population of 12,500,000 for the territories held by the Roman Empire in 641 after the Arab Invasion, based on the historical 10,500,000, plus an additional 1 million as the remaining Roman controlled regions in Syria and Palestine, and an additional million of refugees, as it will be explained in my history. That would cause an initial population decline, due to the decline of the empire as a whole, the wars with the Arabs, and so on. The entrance of the Slavs in the Balkans forced the Latin population of the northern Balkans to also seek refuge in the Empire proper, but with the Slavs stopped before taking control of Thrace and Greece, a part of these Romance speaking refugees were resettled throughout the Empire, while a part of them remained in Thrace and Macedonia. With all these considered, and with the relative weakness of the Arabs compared to real life, the population crash never happens, so instead of falling, the Roman population rises to 15,000,000 by ~800, with the resettlements, urbanization, and economic reforms. Historically, the Macedonian Renaissance caused the population of the empire to surge from 8 million to 12 million. With the larger reconquest of the Macedonian Dynasty in this timeline, and with a strengthened Roman state, I'm claiming that the population would have risen from 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 in the Roman Empire proper (European territories, Asia Minor, Syria and Palestine up to Jerusalem). The Slavs in the Balkans were of course, taken over. Slav males were mostly exterminated, with women and children spared, and the region was settled with colonists from Greece and Asia Minor. Later on, the Seljuk invasion would cause a temporary decline, with the population falling to 19,000,000 by 1071, but the Komnenian restoration would save the day. The Seljuks were pushed back, Asia Minor was slowly but surely repopulated, and with Western help, the Empire expanded into Palestine and Egypt. By 1180, reforms, prosperity, and colonists from the West caused the total population to rise to around 24,000,000. The Crusade against Constantinople was a disaster for the Empire. Constantinople was successfully defended, but in the following Greek-Latin War, Egypt rebelled, the Turks attacked again, and a civil war eventually started. The population fell again to around 19 million, but then the Palaiogoi took over. By 1282, the population would have stabilized itself at 20 million. Then the black death rolled in, causing yet another collapse. Time passed, and the empire recovered.The later expansions, and the many reforms inaugurated by the new dynasty, together with an active Hellenization policy, surely but steadily caused the population to rise, to 22 million by 1500. 24 million by 1600. Egypt was finally reconquered somewhere in the 17th century, with a population of around 3,335,000 (without the complete neglect of the region by the Ottoman regime, a native state would have done a much better job at keeping the region from falling into a complete decline), that gives us around 27 million by the end of the 17th century. Roughly around 29 million by the end of the 18th century, and in comes the industrial revolution. While not such a strong pioneer of the revolution, the Roman Empire was nevertheless affected by it, its European possessions and Asia Minor being the most affected. With a rough estimation, I'd say that an increase of around 36 million by 1850 is possible.

Government Type : The Roman Empire has a pretty mixed type of government, but it is traditionally considered to be a Cesaropapist Absolute Monarchy, with the Roman Emperor holding the supreme authority in both secular and religious matters. In practice however, the Roman Empire is considered to have certain elements which would belong to a mixed government. The monarchy is of course, clearly embodied in the person of the Emperor, the aristocracy is largely represented by the Senate, and certain democratic elements are also present, like the existence of a constitution of sorts, and the existence of the recently introduced great public gatherings inspired by the Ancient Roman assemblies. For the time being, the Roman state seems to advocate the balance between the Emperor, the Senate, and the People of Rome as the ideal form of government, but the fact that the Roman Empire is still very much an Autocracy can not be easily masked.
Government Ideology/Policies : Imperialism, Conservatism, Roman Nationalism, Orthodox Traditionalism, Irredentism, Pragmatism
Government Focus : The Roman Government is currently focusing on bringing the Roman Empire in line with the great powers of this world from all points of view.
Head of State : His Imperial Majesty, Michael IX Palaiologos, in Christ Basileus and Autokrator of the Romans, Porphyrogennētos, Kaisar and Despot of the Eternal Rome, the Empire without End, Forever Sebastos, Viceroy of Jesus Christ on Earth, the Pious and the Blessed, Defender of the One True Orthodox Faith, Great Protector of the Holy Cities of Constantinople, Rome, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria, Lord of the Mare Nostrum, Sovereign of the Holy Order of the True Cross, Grand Master of the Order of Saint Andrew, of the Order of Constantine the Great and of the Order of Justinian the Great, Emperor of Emperors, King of Kings, Ruling Over Those Who Rule.
Head of Government : Grand Logothete and Hypatos Alexandros Kantakouzenos
Government Description :

The Roman Empire is largely a Cesaropapist Absolute Monarchy, but it also has certain elements that would belong to a more mixed form of government. The element of monarchy is of course, represented by the Emperor, the oligarchic/aristocratic element is represented by the Senate, and the democratic element is represented by the recently introduced great public gatherings of the assemblies. A small theocratic element also exists in the form of the Roman Orthodox Church, represented through the Four Patriarchies under Roman control, which have a lot of influence in the Empire's affairs.
Despite the unrestricted power of the Emperor which effectively makes it an absolute monarchy, the Roman Empire has a constitution of sorts, the Σύνταγμα τῶν Ῥωμαίων-Sýntagma tōn Rhōmaiōn (the Constitution of the Romans) The Constitution was officially adopted in 1848, and its purpose is to guarantee Roman citizens certain rights against any oppression, and to keep a theoretical balance between the three main powers of the Roman State, but it is still pretty far away from the constitutions of democratic states.

The first and most important power belongs to the Emperor. Known by various titles, the Emperor has the supreme authority in both secular and religious matters, acting like a true absolute monarch. He governs the the Empire, under his supreme executive power, his primary legislative authority , and his divine mandate as Viceroy of Jesus Christ. The political powers of the other magistrates are subsidiary to and derived from those of the Emperor, as he stands on the top of the Roman state's hierarchy. He is unquestionable, and he can theoretically dissolve the Senate at any moment's notice. The Emperor is also in charge of naming the military commanders of all provinces, and through his power to command, he is also the supreme commander of the military. From nearly all points of view, he is an absolute monarch, and his rights and attributions are outlined in the Law of the Emperor. Violating his sacrosanctity is considered to be the highest form sacrilege and treason - punishable by death.

The Roman Empire has a complicated succession system, mostly inherited from its ancient and medieval past. At least in theory, the succession to the imperial throne is hereditary, following the agnatic-cognatic primogeniture principle. The oldest child of the ruler inherits all titles, and women are able to gain the imperial throne if there are no eligible males. The succession is also dynastic, for a ruler to inherit the throne, he or she has to be blood-connected to the Palaiologos Dynasty. However, the Roman ssystem has certain particularities which make the succession pretty complicated.

The first particularity is the existence of the purple-born system. The title of purple-born means that children born under certain conditions can have a higher position in the line of succession. For a prince or princess of the imperial family to be purple-born, they must respect certain requirements. The child has to be legitimate, born in the Purple Room of the Great Palace of Constantinople. The child's father must be a reigning Emperor, and the child's mother must be an Empress, married to the Emperor. The Empress also must have undergone a formal, sacred ceremony creating her an Augusta. Children who meet all these conditions receive the honorary title of Πορφυρογέννητος-Porphyrogennetos or Πορφυρογέννητη-Porphyrogénnētē, and they rank higher in the succession line than those who don't, like children born to an Emperor before his coronation, children who weren't born in Constantinople, or children who were born to a concubine.

The other particularity is that the Emperors are able to nominate their successors, even if those successors are not in line with the agnatic-cognatic primogeniture system - the only requirement is for them to be a part of the dynasty. Successors are normally nominated by being awarded important titles, like the title of Despot. It has already become a custom for the Emperor to nominate his successor by awarding him or her the title of Despot or Despotess of the Morea.
The other way for an Emperor to nominate his successor is to raise a member of the dynasty to the rank of co-emperor. A co-emperor is the awarded the title of Kaisar, ranking immediately below the original Emperor. As such, when the older emperor eventually died his successor would already be crowned and have experience at ruling, decreasing the risk of rebellion or usurpation. This practice has however fallen out of use due to the internal stability that the Empire has been experiencing for the past few centuries.

The second power in the Roman Empire is formed by the Roman Senate (Ρωμαϊκή Σύγκλητος-Romaïkí Sýnklitos), the unicameral assembly of the Roman senators. Elected by Roman citizens once every five years, the Senate has a certain legislative power, while also having a role in governing the Empire. Traditionally, the Senate has been a place of the patricians, the aristocracy, and that is visible even today, as the largest political faction of the Senate represents the nobility. But over the past two years, series of reforms have led to plebeians entering the Senate, and currently, the second largest political faction of the Senate represents the interests of the general population. The Emperor has the theoretical power to dissolve the Senate at will, but that has never happened.
The Senate is theoretically led by the Consul (Yπατος-Hypatos), a mostly ceremonial position. The Hypatos supervises and organizes the debates and the affairs of the Senate, and more often than not, the one receiving this position is the one also holding the position of the Grand Logothete (Μέγας Λογοθέτης-Megas Logothetes), the leader of the Roman administration. He is solely chosen by the Emperor. His role is to supervise and coordinate the departments of the administration, which are led by the Logothetes (Λογοθέτης-Logothetes), who are also chosen by the Emperor from among the senators, acting like ministers.

The third power in the state theoretically belongs to the common citizens, the People of Rome (Λαός της Ρώμης-Laós tis Rómis). Their power is exercised through their right of assembly. If the Emperor considers that a certain law does require the opinion of the people, he can call upon large public assemblies. Anyone with the Roman citizenship who takes part in such an assembly gets one vote. A single conglomeration of voting citizens making a legally potent action is a Popular Assembly (Λαϊκή Συνέλευση-Laïkí Synélefsi), and all these assemblies are known together as the People's Councils (Λαϊκά Συμβούλια-Laïká Symvoúlia).

The Roman citizens enjoy extensive rights and obligations, and from this point of view, although they live in an absolute monarchy, the Roman citizens sometimes enjoy more freedom than the citizens of many other nations. The Roman citizenship (Ρωμαϊκή Iθαγένεια-Romaïkí Ithagéneia) is the individual possession of every Roman man recognized as such by the Roman Senate. For a person to be a Roman citizen (Ρωμαίος πολίτης-Romaíos polítis) they must be 16 years of age or older and they must satisfy one of the following conditions:

• To be born to two Roman citizens.
• To be born to one Roman citizen within a Roman province and to have served a set term in the Roman military.
• To be recognized as a citizen by the Emperor or the Senate.

The citizenship of a Roman citizen is irrevocable without extreme violations of the Empire's laws and regulations. Only men can vote and be elected in the Roman Senate or in any other positions in the imperial administration. While in Roman territory, citizens of nations allied to the Roman Empire receive certain rights, similar to a limited form of citizenship. However, all foreigners on Roman territory have certain inalienable rights, and one of them is the right to their freedom - slavery is illegal in the Roman Empire, and capturing people to be sold as slaves, selling slaves, and owning slaves are heavily condemned in all circumstances. Still, not all the people living inside the borders of the Empire are recognized as citizens. The unofficial criteria in order to be accepted as a Roman citizen is to speak Greek, to be a member of the Orthodox Church and to follow the Roman customs. As such, many other ethnic and cultural groups are oppressed and not recognized as Roman.

The fourth, unofficial power is represented by the Roman Orthodox Church (Ρωμαϊκή Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία-Romaïkí Orthódoxi Ekklisía). The Roman Orthodoxy is the official religion of the Roman Empire, and the Four Patriarchs must be confirmed by the Emperor before being chosen. In exchange for the protection of the Emperor, the Orthodox Church continues to recognize the Roman Emperor as the Viceroy of Jesus Christ on Earth, and the Roman Empire as the true successor of the Roman Empire of old.

As such, the ideal Roman Empire should exist through the balance between the Emperor, the Senate, and the People of Rome (Η βασιλεύς Σύγκλητος και ο Λαός της Ρώμης-I Basileus Sýnklitos kai o Laós tis Rómis), and under the blessings of the Roman Church (Ρωμαϊκή Εκκλησία-Romaïkí Ekklisía).

From an administrative and military point of view, the Roman Empire follows the principles of the so called system of themes. The main administrative division of this system is a theme (θέμα - théma), known in plural as themes (θέματα - thémata). The main particularity of its system is its double existence, as it is used both by the military and by the civil administration of the Empire. The origin of the themata lies in the Slavic and Arabic invasions of the 7th century, when the old Roman provincial system created by Diocletian and Constantine was abandoned. The areas of encampment formed by the field armies of the Roman Army served as the basis of this system, which allowed the Roman Empire to successfully survive this crisis. The themata were them periodically reorganized and improved, in the 11th, in the 12th, in the 15 and in the 18th centuries, with the most recent changes having been applied in 1848.
Each theme is led by a military commander known as a Strategos (Στρατηγός), plural Strategoi(Στρατηγοί). The Strategoi are named and sacked directly by the Emperor, and they answer to him personally. As such, their authority is derived directly from that of the monarch, and all their decisions and orders are made in the Emperor's name. The Strategos enjoys near unlimited military and civilian authority in his own theme, being directly responsible for the theme's defense and administrative matters. He is seconded by two officials, also named by the Emperor. The Anthypatos (Aνθύπατος) deals with the civilian, administrative, and economic issues of a theme, while the Antistrategos (Aντιστράτηγος) is a military officer, the second in command of a theme's military forces. The central administration in Constantinople closely supervises the work of the three officials in each and every one of the themes, in order to prevent corruption and to maximize their performance. With such a pressure and with an organized and centralized authority, the regional officials tend to be extremely competent.

There are however some exceptions from the themata system. The first of them is represented by the city of Constantinople. Theoretically under the authority of the Theme of Thrace, the city of Constantinople is an independent division. It is considered to be the Emperor's personal domain, and it is led by the military officer known as the Protostrategos (Πρωτοστράτηγος) of Constantinople, and by the civilian official known as the Eparch (Έπαρχος-Éparchos) of Constantinople. The second exception is represented by the Despotates. A Despotate (Δεσποτάτο-Despotáto), plural Despotates (Δεσποτάτες-Despotátes), is in most aspects, extremely similar to a normal theme, organized in the same military-civilian way. The main difference lies in the leader of such a province. Instead of a Strategos, a Despotate is led by a Despot (Δσπότης -Despótēs), who is a member of the imperial family. Theoretically, any theme can be promoted to the status of a Despotate if a member of the imperial family is tasked with ruling it, but the Empire only has three Despotates with historical tradition, the Despotate of Morea, the Despotate of Trebizond and the Despotate of Taurica. These are most often given to the Emperor's sons, with the princes using this as a chance to prove their military and administrative capabilities and to finalize their education as future rulers. Of course, only the one receiving the Despotate of Morea, most often the Emperor's oldest son, becomes heir-apparent to the throne. Currently, the Despotate is temporarily held by the younger brother of Basileus Michael, Prince Konstantinos Palaiologos, as the Emperor's heir-apparent, with the Basileus being currently unmarried. The third exception is represented by the Exarchates. An Exarchate (Εξαρχία - Exarchía) is an autonomous military province of the Roman Empire, led by an Exarch (Eξαρχος - Exarchos), a governor of sorts, with considerable political and military authority, answering directly to the Emperor, with their powers however unchecked by the central administration in Constantinople. There are currently two Exarchates and two Exarchs, in Egypt, the Exarchate of Alexandria and the Exarchate of Syrene.

Majority/State Religion : The Eastern/Roman Orthodox Church is the largest religion of the Roman Empire, while also being the Empire's state religion. Orthodoxy is actively enforced and spread throughout the territory of the Empire, with imperial authorities trying to convert all other believers.
Religious Description : The Roman or Eastern Orthodoxy, is one of the groups inside of the Christian Chalcedonian Church. The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church practices what it understands to be the original faith passed down from the Apostles. The Church is unoffically led by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is recognized as "primus inter pares" (first among equals) between all the Orthodox bishops and patriarchs. Besides from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the other Patriarchates under Roman control are the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, and the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. The Emperor, due to his supreme authority in both secular and religious matters, is considered to be divinely ordained, as the Viceroy of Jesus Christ on Earth, and all Patriarchs must receive his confirmation before taking their positions.

Economic Ideologies: Overall, the Roman Empire follows the principles of mercantilism, but a movement that pushes for more capitalism and for the adoption of a more laissez-faire doctrine exists.
Major Production: Agricultural products, iron, coal, minerals, silk, clothing, some industrial products
Economic Description: A regional economic power, the Roman Empire continues to have a mostly agrarian economy, but the reforms of the last decades have created a developing industry, supported and expanded with the help of the state, an industry which, even if unable to match the level of some Western nations, is still quite impressive on its own. The ultimate aim of the Roman economy is to increase the state revenues without damaging the prosperity of its citizens, in order to prevent the emergence of social disorder and to keep the traditional organization of the Roman society intact, and from that point of view, the Roman Empire is perhaps closer to the principles of the Oriental states than to the economies of Western Europe. The Empire attempts to exercise a formal control over interest rates, and to set the parameters for the activity of the guilds and corporations inside of the empire. In the last decades, the imperial government has slowly tried to relax its control over certain industries, but it still maintains a strong control over such fields as silk and weaponry.

Due to its good position, its ownership over the Dardanelles and the Bosporus, due to its ports in the Red Sea and its agreements with various foreign nations, and with Constantinople still acting as the primary western terminus of the Silk Road, the Roman Empire is a trade hub between Europe, Africa, and Asia, protecting sea and land trade routes between Asia and Europe in the wake of the Vandal supremacy over the Western Mediterranean. This golden age of piracy in the West has led to the traditional land routes between Europe and Asia still maintaining a certain degree of importance, and due to that situation, the Roman ports in the Red Sea have become prime hubs in a sea based trade network stretching all the way to the riches of Asia. The state strictly controls both the internal and the international trade, maintaining a durable and flexible monetary system adaptable to its trade needs.

The western regions of the Roman state, more exactly, its European possessions, Asia Minor, and islands like Cyprus are the most developed, from an economical and industrial point of view, and from the point of view of their infrastructure. When compared to them, the Middle Eastern and African territories of the Roman Empire are clearly lacking, with a much more rural population, with an underdeveloped infrastructure and with underpopulated cities. Because of that, for the time being, these territories have been lagging behind the rest of the Roman lands, and they have been dragging the Empire as a whole down, despite the great scale of the agriculture practiced there, especially in Egypt. The Roman state has been taking active measures in other to solve this, with a series of reforms intended to further the development of these regions, but how successful those reforms will be remains to be seen.

Tech Group : [Read "Centers of Modernization," European, Oriental, Mesoamerican, N/A (default is N/A)]

Army Description : The Roman Army (Ρωμαϊκό Στρατό-Romaïkó Strató|Exercitus Romanum), or the Army of the Romans (Στρατός τῶν Ῥωμαίω-Stratós tōn Rhōmaiōn|Exercitus Romanorum), sometimes also known just as the Army (Στρατός-Stratós|Exercitus) is the land force of the Roman Empire. A direct and uninterrupted continuation of the Roman army of old and of its traditions, the Stratós is renowned for its level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization. A professional army, and arguably one of, if not the best in its region, the army of the Roman Empire is a force to be reckoned with. The Roman soldiers, still called "legionnaires" (λεγεωνάριοι-legeonárioi) by some, are generally considered to be excellent soldiers, due to their morale, discipline, obedience, and really harsh training. Its organization and training system both provide it with a certain edge over older armies. The army also retains a certain degree of flexibility due to its organization and straight forward command line. As such,the Roman force is generally characterized by pragmatism and meticulousness. By necessity, its officer corps has developed into one built more on meritocracy than on family and blood, leading to the existence of some very young and talented officers. The Romans also enjoy certain original weapons, mostly their famous flamethrowers, wielded by specially trained units. All of this can lead to an easy conclusion, the army has a great importance in the eyes of the state, and because of that, the Stratós is well funded and extremely popular among the Empire's population.
Army Weakness : Despite all of its strengths, the Stratós still has to face significant weaknesses. The first negative aspect is a conservative style of thought in the upper echelons of the army, which does lead to innovations being adopted relatively slowly, despite the army being overall modern. This conservatism can only be seen in the army's overall strategy and tactics, as the Romans often prefer to play it safe rather than risk it, as obvious by the way in which they are currently treating the Vandals. The biggest weakness of the army however can be seen it its numbers. Its professional status does mean that the Stratós only enjoys limited numbers. While the auxiliary and reserve forces are by no means weak, that does mean that the overall quality of the army is going to suffer in a long conflict, and that creates a lot of issues for the Romans, from their cautious and even sometimes hesitant fighting style to their desire to get into possibly long lasting conflicts. As such, in wars, the Romans will also come to rely on their auxiliary forces, quite a lot, if necessary. Their officer corps is also far from perfect, because while they are using the system of the meritocracy, aristocratic officers still tend to take over the highest positions. The current organization of the army is oriented towards a flexible defensive, and as such, offensives will be more difficult.
Naval Description : The Roman Navy (Ρωμαϊκό Ναυτικό-Romaïkó Nautikó|Classis Romanum), or the Navy of the Romans (Ναυτικό τῶν Ῥωμαίω-Nautikó tōn Rhōmaiōn|Classis Romanorum), sometimes known simply as the Navy (Ναυτικό-Nautikó|Classis), is the naval force of the Roman Empire. Due to the active threat of the Vandals, the Nautikó is a well-organized, competent and sizable force in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The Roman Navy is by no means a weak force, its forces are fairly modernized, and they do maintain a degree of discipline and organization similar to that of the army. Mainly oriented towards defense, and benefiting from a series of ports, bases, and forts along the coasts of the Empire, the Nautikó is a force that would deter anyone from attacking the Romans without thinking twice. The Roman naval forces are also well known for their secret weapon, the Greek or the Roman Fire, an extremely inflammable substance that can even burn on water, making in a somewhat useful but dangerous weapon. It is mostly employed on naval and coastal fortifications, and in defensive operations.
Naval Weakness: The Nautikó has never in the history of the Roman state enjoyed the same level of prestige as the army. As such, it was never completely embraced by the Roman state - it is considered to be somewhat "un-Roman", and it has often been neglected, with the threat of the Vandals being the only reason for why it is a competent force today. The Navy has never received the same amount of funding has the army, and its relative lack of popularity does reduce the number of potential recruits willing to join, with this also having a negative effect on the navy's officer corps. While the Navy has saved the Empire time and time again, the Roman naval forces have always had periods of decline when the threat of an enemy seemed low, and the Roman Navy is only now recovering from such a period, with the Romans realizing the threat of the Vandal Navy more and more. Serving a mostly defensive role, the Navy is affected by this double-edged sword. While it is extremely good at protecting the coasts of the Roman Empire, the Aegean Sea and the Straits, and those trade routes in the area, the Navy will have major difficulties in any offensive operations. And while the Greek Fire is a potent weapon, it can not win wars on its own anymore, forcing the navy to increase its demands for a reform.
Further Military Description :

Roman Army
Ρωμαϊκό Στρατό
Exercitus Romanum

Motto: Μεθ ημων ο Θεος! (Meth imon o Theos!|God with us!)

Name	Personnel	Subordinate units	Officer in command
Stratevma	~160,000	~2 Themata	Protostrategos
Thema	~80,000	~2 Legeonai	Strategos
Legeona	~40,000	~2 Tagmata	Legatos
Tagma	~20,000	~2 Menarchiai	Domestikos
Menarchia	~9,600	~4 Tourmai	Menarches
Tourma	~2,400	~6 Droungoi	Tourmarches
Droungos	~400	~2 Banda	Droungarios
Bandon	~200	~2 Kentarchiai	Komes
Kentarchia	~100	~2 Pentekentarchiai	Kentarches
Pentekentarchia	~50	~5 Kontoubernia	Pentekontarches
Kontoubernion	~10	N/A	Dekarchos

Varangian Guard
Τάγμα τῶν Βαράγγων

The Varangian Guard (Τάγμα τῶν Βαράγγων - Tágma tōn Varángōn) is an elite unit of the Roman Army, having been created in the 10th century, under Emperor Basil II. The Varangians are different from the rest of the units of the Roman Army, as their ranks are mostly formed by foreigners. The Guard was created at the height of the Viking Age, with its first members being provided by the Nordic warriors of the Kievan Rus. The Nordic warriors quickly proved their loyalty, and their battle prowess became a legend. The Guard is no longer formed only by men of Nordic heritage, nor is it formed only by Germanic people, as it was during the late 11th century, but the Varangians are still worthy of their heritage. Like in the days of old, the "axe bearing foreigners" are some of the best warriors under the command of the Romans, more than able to clash directly with any elite units foolish enough to challenge the Roman Empire.

Like in the days of old, the Varangians are only recruited from among foreigners, though, the Romans normally avoid recruiting their guards from neighboring countries. In order to join the Guard, potential members must meet really strict physical, moral, and psychological requirements. They must pass a series of tough tests, and they must prove their willingness to fight and to die in the Guard. Of course, they must also pass a complete background check, and an unofficial requirement is to be recommended by a veteran member or officer of the guard, and of course, to be approved by the Emperor himself. As such, the Varangians are pretty much handpicked, the best, of the best. Before they actually join the Guard though, they must take part in extensive training sessions. The Varangians must be able to fight anywhere, and at any time, as a conventional army unit, armed with rifles, but also in unconventional situations and in close quarters combat. They are also trained to perform bodyguard, ceremonial and police duties.

The Varangians mainly serve as the Emperor's personal bodyguards, swearing an oath of loyalty to him. They perform ceremonial duties as retainers and acclaimers and they also perform some police duties, especially in cases of treason and conspiracy. Their loyalty is in most cases, unquestionable. They are united by a bond of brotherhood as members of the Guard, by their heritage, their status, and by their oath of loyalty to the Roman Emperor. The Varangians are extremely well paid, and they enjoy a sense of prestige that can rarely be found somewhere else. The idea of the Varangians betraying their Emperor is often unthinkable, simply because there would be nothing they could gain out of it. On the contrary, the assassination of an Emperor would be a disaster for the guard, and the loyalty of the Varangians was crucial in the establishment of the hereditary monarchy under the Palaiologos dynasty. When a Roman Emperor dies of a natural death, the Varangians have the unique right of running to the imperial treasury and taking as much gold and as many gems as they could carry, a procedure that is still known by its Old Norse name of "palace pillaging" (polutasvarf). This special privilege allows many of the Varangians to return to their home as rich men, only serving to further strengthen their loyalty.

The Varangians are easily recognizable not only because of their foreign origin. It's a tradition for most of the Varangians to have long hair, and all of them wear red rubies in their left ears. Their ceremonial uniforms are decorated and ornamented with dragons sewn on their shirts and tunics. Their Guard is organized as a tagma unit, commanded by a trusted, native Roman officer known as the Akolouthos (Aκόλουθος|"follower, attendant"). The unit itself is traditionally divided into two. The Hetaireia (Ἑταιρεία-the Company), formed by those Varangians known as the Companions (Εταίροι), is the part of the Varangian Guard directly responsible for guarding the Emperor and the members of the imperial family, led by an officer known as the Hetaeriarch (ἑταιρειάρχης - hetaireiarchēs) The Warriors (Πολεμιστές-Polemistés) are those Varangians which are used directly on the battlefield when needed, led by an officer known as the Domestikos of the Warriors (Δομέστικος των Πολεμιστών - Domestikos ton Polemistón)

Palatine Schools
Σχολαί Παλατιναι
Scholae Palatinae

The Palatine Schools (Σχολαί Παλατιναι-Scholaí Palatinai|Scholae Palatinae) are an elite unit of the Roman Army. Even if they have lost their role as the main guards of the Roman Emperor in the 10th century, this elite unit, with its origins during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great continues to exist and to persevere, as one of the best and proudest parts of the Roman military. Much like the Varangians, the Scholarians (Σχολάριοι - Scholarioi|Scholares) are among the best trained and equipped units of the Roman military. Formed by native Romans, the Schools are used as guards in Constantinople and other big cities, but also as elite units deployed during the critical moments of a battle. The entire unit is organized as a tagma, with each individual school being organized as a tourma, though, it should be noted that the Schools do not follow the exact same organization in terms of numbers as the regular army.

The Scholai are led by an officer known as the Great Domestic of the Schools (Μέγας Δμέστικος τῶν Σχολῶν- Mégas Domestikos tōn Scholōn). He is helped by two subordinate officers, the Domestic of the East (Δομεστικος [τον Σξηολον] τες Ανατολεσ-Domestikos [tōn Scholōn tēs] Anatolēs) and the Domestic of the West (Δομεστικος [τον Σξηολον] τες Δψσεσοσ - Domestikos [tōn Scholōn tēs] Dyseōs), one responsible for the Schools operating in Europe, the other one for the Schools operating in Asia and Africa. As it might be obvious due to the unit's name, this elite guard is divided between multiple so called "schools", each of them with its own origin, emblem, history, and name.

• The Exkoubitoi or Exkoubitores (Excubiti|Ἐξκούβιτοι, "the Sentinels"). Established by Emperor Leo I, the currently serve a role similar to the Varangian Companions. They guard the Emperor, the members of the imperial family. During times of war, they have the honor of guarding the Emperor's camps. The School of the Exkoubitoi is led by the Domestic of the Excubitors (Δομέστικος τῶν Eξκουβίτων/Eξκουβιτόρων - Domestikos tōn Exkoubitōn/Exkoubitorōn).
• The Vigla (Βίγλα, "guard watch") another one of the Schools. Smaller in terms of the numbers of its members, it has the honor of guarding the imperial palaces. They are led by the Droungarios of the Watch (Δρουγγάριος τῆς βίγλης/βίγλας, Droungarios tēs Viglēs/Viglas).
• The Hikanatoi (Ἱκανάτοι|"the Able Ones") are a specialized unit of the schools, mostly used for covert and guerrilla operations. Not much is known about their unit, but they are led by the Domestic of the Hikanatoi (Δομέστικος τῶν Ἱκανάτοι - Domestikos tōn Hikanatoi)
• Teichistai (Τειχισταί) or the Schole tōn Teicheōn (Σχολή τῶν Τειχέων|" School of the Walls"), are another really old unit. They started as the regiment of the Schools manning the Walls of Constantinople, and they have evolved to become an elite unit specialized in defensive operations, like protecting forts and defending rivers and mountain passes. They are also one of the only elite units of the Empire seriously specialized in urban warfare.
• The Optimatoi (Ὀπτιμάτοι|"the best"), are an unit of the Schools specialized in an amphibious warfare of sorts. Their reorientation started with their deployment in the Aegean Islands, in order to fight the more aggressive Vandal raids that were threatening to break through in an attempt to reach Constantinople. From there on, the unit was re-purposed in order to closely mimic the raiding tactics of the Vandal pirates.
• The Immortals (Ἀθάνατοι - Athanatoi) are an elite cavalry unit, created in the 10th century. Probably inspired by the old Immortal Guard of the Persian Empire, today they are used as an elite unit of dragoons.
• The Archontopouloi ( Ἀρχοντόπουλοι|"sons of the archons (leaders)") is the smallest of the Schools. It is most often considered to be a palace officer-training corps, and it is formed by orphans of Roman officers and soldiers who have died in battle. The orphans are taken by the state from when they are little, with the agreement of their remaining guardian of course, and they are trained and indoctrinated, turned into a loyal unit that is often described as fanatic.

Roman Navy
Ρωμαϊκό Ναυτικό
Classis Romanum

Motto: Σταύρος Νικά! (Stauros Nika!|The Cross is victorious!)

National Goals: Protect the Empire by any means, destroy or weaken the Vandal Kingdom, strengthen the Roman military, build a Suez Canal with foreign help, create new alliances with other powers, accelerate the development of the Empire's Oriental provinces.
National Issues: A heavy and cumbersome bureaucracy and administration, tensions between the aristocracy and the general population, a general desire for more modernization conflicting with the conservatism of some people, conflicts with some the neighbors, the unsafe status of most of the Mediterranean which is hurting trade, an underdeveloped navy, religious tensions between Orthodox Christians, Oriental Christians, and Muslims, a resistance against Hellenization in certain parts of Africa and of the Middle East, differences between more developed regions and those who are still underdeveloped, and a rather heavy to defend regional position.
National Figures of Interest:

• Constantine the Great
• Justinian the Great
• Basil II the Bulgar Slayer
• Alexios I Komnenos
• Michael VIII Palaiologos

• Emperor Michael IX Palaiologos
• Prince Konstantinos Palaiologos, current Despot of Morea, younger brother of Emperor Michael
• Prince Manuel Palaiologos, Despot of Trebizond, youngest brother of Emperor Michael
• Princess Sophia Palaiologos, twin sister of Emperor Michael
• Princess Maria Palaiologos, younger sister of Emperor Michael
• Princess Anastasia Palaiologos, youngest sister of Emperor Michael
• Alexandros Kantakouzenos, Grand Logothete and Hypatos
• Ecumenical Patriarch Anthimus VI of Constantinople

National Ambition/Aspirations: [[OPTIONAL]] [[Not really a set objective, but rather the big picture that your nation is drawing towards]]
Rival: Kingdom of the Vandals

History :
RP Sample: [[Either a link to a past post, or an example written right here.]]

#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)

[Axis Asteroid]

I'll have my app up later this afternoon, preferably when we reach the next page.

[Remnants of Exilvania]

Maybe he can also have the sizeable chunk of Lithuania that I left open.

Judging from this it sounds like Poland could look like this:

This would probably make me rethink Poland a bit...considering Vilnius would be within its borders and a large Lithuanian minority a survived Commonwealth is possible. Maybe not the smaller, expansionist and nationalist Polish state I imagined that would escalate wars it probably wouldn't win.

Yes...yes...embrace the multi-ethnic state! Embrace the problems with Lithuanian, Belorussian and Ukrainian minorities!

[Remnants of Exilvania]

Btw, can someone check up on my military numbers?
I am currently basing them on Prussian Army and Landwehr numbers from 1814.

[Elerian]

Btw, can someone check up on my military numbers?
I am currently basing them on Prussian Army and Landwehr numbers from 1814.

Seems well within an acceptable limit, though conscripting all males that come of age would likely be pretty taxing.

[Axis Asteroid]

Btw, can someone check up on my military numbers?
I am currently basing them on Prussian Army and Landwehr numbers from 1814.

The Prussian Krümpersystem allowed for up to 3% of population to be in active service.

This is reflected by the numbers by the end of Frederick William I's reign, in which Prussia had a standing army of 80,000 with a relatively small 2.5 million population. That's 3.2%.

[Axis Asteroid]

Judging from this it sounds like Poland could look like this:

(Image)

This would probably make me rethink Poland a bit...considering Vilnius would be within its borders and a large Lithuanian minority a survived Commonwealth is possible. Maybe not the smaller, expansionist and nationalist Polish state I imagined that would escalate wars it probably wouldn't win.

Yes...yes...embrace the multi-ethnic state! Embrace the problems with Lithuanian, Belorussian and Ukrainian minorities!

The Lithuanian population could be placated with something like the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

As for ethnic tensions, the Teutons will face similar problems in the Baltics. Prussia was built on the bodies of Old Prussians who did not take kindly to German rule after all.