1906: Alternative Divergence [AH][OOC-CLOSED]

[Sao Nova Europa]

In case you want to play as Spain, I would prefer if the Spanish colonization in South America took place: my country is a South American country descended from Spanish colonizers, so that is important part of my history.

[Alt Div Admin]

And we now have a Discord server! Membership in it is completely optional of course. The link can be found in the OP.

[Tracian Empire]

That would be messing with too many things for a simple divergence. You'd be potentially messing with the history of Italy and the Iberian Peninsula and Africa, and even that of Germany, since those tribes had to go somewhere.

Fair point. What if I said screw Gaul, and instead tried the same thing, but in Hispania and North Africa. Would that be more plausible?

From a certain perspective, yes. However, at the same time, you're still completely ignoring the other core issues of your concept that I mentioned. You can't just stick the name of Roman Empire, the title of Emperor and the Senate over such a state and call it a day, and at the same time, none of the ideas that you came up with is unique enough to warrant the existence of a third Roman player. I personally do believe that you should be trying to find a different concept.

[Axis Asteroid]

Fair point. What if I said screw Gaul, and instead tried the same thing, but in Hispania and North Africa. Would that be more plausible?

From a certain perspective, yes. However, at the same time, you're still completely ignoring the other core issues of your concept that I mentioned. You can't just stick the name of Roman Empire, the title of Emperor and the Senate over such a state and call it a day, and at the same time, none of the ideas that you came up with is unique enough to warrant the existence of a third Roman player. I personally do believe that you should be trying to find a different concept.

Also, I would just like to add that it would be ahistorical for any Iberian state or any Roman successor for that matter to still use Classical Latin after the fall of the West, considering various dialects of vulgar Latin had already developed across Spain and Gaul during the declining stages of the WRE. This would only be more pronounced by the time Belisarius restored Roman order back to in Italy, so having a Roman-expy in Spain without the more natural divergent point of Syagrius or the Kingdom of Soissons would be a hard sell imo.

[Krugmar]

I will be dropping India for this. Anybody can feel free to use what little I had developed for my India app should they wish.

Reservation

Nation Name: United Kingdom of Spain and Mexico
Territory: Spain, Spanish Morocco, Spanish Sahara, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, Central America
#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 and removing reservations.

[Of Leben]

Full Nation Name : Imperio Mexicano (Mexican Empire)
Majority/Official Culture : Mexican
Territorial Core : Mexico proper. Central America excluding Panama, Hispaniola, what remains open of Southwestern USA, Galapagos Island, Easter Island.
Territorial Claim : Cuba, Southwestern U.S (Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas)
Capital City : Mexico City
Population: 43,000,000

Government Type : Absolutist Monarchy
Government Ideology/Policies : Reactionary Catholic State
Government Focus: Economic stability, Order, Revanchism.
Head of State: Salvador de Iturbide
Head of Government : Salvador de Iturbide
Government Description:
Reactionary monarchist regime, power centered on the monarch. The country is divided into divisiones (divisions) each governed by a local governor who is selected based on loyalty to the state and his competence. Various kinds of administrative arrangements at the local and semi-regional level. The government is authoritarian and maintains a secret police (officially unofficially part of the government- Los Zetas) censorship, and restricts unapproved political organizations.
Majority/State Religion : Roman Catholicism
Religious Description : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church

Economic Ideologies: State capitalism
Major Production: Tropical fruit, beef products, minerals, steel, cement, textiles.
Economic Description: The state oversees and regulates the economy according to the nations needs at the time. Northern Mexico has high concentrations of mineral resources and is largely centered around cattle ranching, agriculture, and mining. Central Mexico is home to most of the nations industry and factories and has high levels of economic and infrastructure development. Southern Mexico and Central America have mixed levels of development and are largely dominated by the tropical fruit industry, although fishing and shipbuilding are also important here. Hispaniola grows sugarcane and has a small fishing industry. The nation has a growing petroleum industry, which is currently under the direction of the state.

The government maintains influence over the private sector via guilds which are controlled by a cabal of government and industrial magnates who act as collaborators who together ensure that economic control is kept in the hands of the government. The nations vital resources are owned by the state.
Development: Semi-Industrialized.
Development Description : The country has unequal levels of development, with much of the countries industrial strength centered in Central Mexico. The entire country is however, for the most part connected by railroads and telegraph lines. Hispanola has railroads and ferry services.

Army Description:
Army Strength: 2,200,000 total, 540,000 standing army (20 infantry divisions, 14 cavalry divisions and non-combat personnel), 1,460,000 army reserves (73 infantry divisions and non combat personnel ), 200,000 gendarmes.

The Imperial Mexican Army is responsible for both the protection of the empire and the projection of its power abroad. Due to its militaristic neighbors Mexico has spent a great deal of effort maintaining and fielding a fairly modern and large army. Due to the poor state of development near its frontier the army has been leading efforts to establish better infrastructure near the frontier albeit with slow progress. The Army is trained to rapidly mobilize its full power through the use and coordination of the nations railways and communications systems.
Army Weakness: The nation has a mediocre officer corps due to talented officers being viewed as potentially dangerous to the government. The country faces the possibility of a war on two far and separate fronts. It is unclear as to whether the nation will be able to sufficiently supply its large army with its current economic capacity.
Naval Description :
Ship prefix: ASM (Armada de su majestad)
Capital Ships:
4 Battleships
4 Monitors
3 Ironclads
16 Cruisers
26 Torpedo Ships
114 Auxiliary Vessels

The Imperial Mexican Navy (Armada Imperial Mexicana) is Primarily concerned with protecting its Pacific and Gulf Coasts from intrusions. To do so the nation has undergone an extensive modernization effort of its navy. As of 1906 the nation has been overseeing the retirement and scrapping of its obsolete ships and has recently completed the construction of 4 new battleships along with a protracted effort to create new steel cruisers. The nation aims to have a standard of naval parity with the navy of its strongest neighbor and the ability to rapidly engage any enemy on either ocean. To facilitate rapid deployment, the nations navy has coordinated with the nations industry and army to place strategic reserves of fuel, supplies, and munitions and additionally has been in the business of constructing a canal on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Naval Weakness: Recently created modern navy, no significant experience with modern naval ships, has to protect two very long coastlines.
Further Military Description: [[OPTIONAL]]

National Goals : Maintain domestic stability, acquire territorial claims, become the dominant power in the region
National Issues : The country needs more economic development and the country suffers from social tension in some regions from ethnic and class conflict.
National Figures of Interest : N/A
National Ambition/Aspirations : N/A

History : [WIP]
RP Sample: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=374684&p=28426226#p28426226

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

[The Hobbesian Metaphysician]

I will be dropping India for this. Anybody can feel free to use what little I had developed for my India app should they wish.

Reservation

Nation Name: United Kingdom of Spain and Mexico
Territory: Spain, Spanish Morocco, Spanish Sahara, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, Central America
#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 and removing reservations.

Full Nation Name : Imperio Mexicano (Mexican Empire)
Majority/Official Culture : Mexican
Territorial Core : Mexico proper. Central America excluding Panama, Hispaniola, what remains open of Southwestern USA, Galapagos Island, Easter Island.
Territorial Claim : Cuba, Southwestern U.S (Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas)
Capital City : Mexico City
Population: 43,000,000

Government Type : Absolutist Monarchy
Government Ideology/Policies : Reactionary Catholic State
Government Focus: Economic stability, Order, Revanchism.
Head of State: Salvador de Iturbide
Head of Government : Salvador de Iturbide
Government Description:
Reactionary monarchist regime, power centered on the monarch. The country is divided into divisiones (divisions) each governed by a local governor who is selected based on loyalty to the state and his competence. Various kinds of administrative arrangements at the local and semi-regional level. The government is authoritarian and maintains a secret police (officially unofficially part of the government- Los Zetas) censorship, and restricts unapproved political organizations.
Majority/State Religion : Roman Catholicism
Religious Description : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church

Economic Ideologies: State capitalism
Major Production: Tropical fruit, beef products, minerals, steel, cement, textiles.
Economic Description: The state oversees and regulates the economy according to the nations needs at the time. Northern Mexico has high concentrations of mineral resources and is largely centered around cattle ranching, agriculture, and mining. Central Mexico is home to most of the nations industry and factories and has high levels of economic and infrastructure development. Southern Mexico and Central America have mixed levels of development and are largely dominated by the tropical fruit industry, although fishing and shipbuilding are also important here. Hispaniola grows sugarcane and has a small fishing industry. The nation has a growing petroleum industry, which is currently under the direction of the state.

The government maintains influence over the private sector via guilds which are controlled by a cabal of government and industrial magnates who act as collaborators who together ensure that economic control is kept in the hands of the government. The nations vital resources are owned by the state.
Development: Semi-Industrialized.
Development Description : The country has unequal levels of development, with much of the countries industrial strength centered in Central Mexico. The entire country is however, for the most part connected by railroads and telegraph lines. Hispanola has railroads and ferry services.

Army Description:
Army Strength: 2,200,000 total, 540,000 standing army (20 infantry divisions, 14 cavalry divisions and non-combat personnel), 1,460,000 army reserves (73 infantry divisions and non combat personnel ), 200,000 gendarmes.

The Imperial Mexican Army is responsible for both the protection of the empire and the projection of its power abroad. Due to its militaristic neighbors Mexico has spent a great deal of effort maintaining and fielding a fairly modern and large army. Due to the poor state of development near its frontier the army has been leading efforts to establish better infrastructure near the frontier albeit with slow progress. The Army is trained to rapidly mobilize its full power through the use and coordination of the nations railways and communications systems.
Army Weakness: The nation has a mediocre officer corps due to talented officers being viewed as potentially dangerous to the government. The country faces the possibility of a war on two far and separate fronts. It is unclear as to whether the nation will be able to sufficiently supply its large army with its current economic capacity.
Naval Description :
Ship prefix: ASM (Armada de su majestad)
Capital Ships:
4 Battleships
4 Monitors
3 Ironclads
16 Cruisers
26 Torpedo Ships
114 Auxiliary Vessels

The Imperial Mexican Navy (Armada Imperial Mexicana) is Primarily concerned with protecting its Pacific and Gulf Coasts from intrusions. To do so the nation has undergone an extensive modernization effort of its navy. As of 1906 the nation has been overseeing the retirement and scrapping of its obsolete ships and has recently completed the construction of 4 new battleships along with a protracted effort to create new steel cruisers. The nation aims to have a standard of naval parity with the navy of its strongest neighbor and the ability to rapidly engage any enemy on either ocean. To facilitate rapid deployment, the nations navy has coordinated with the nations industry and army to place strategic reserves of fuel, supplies, and munitions and additionally has been in the business of constructing a canal on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Naval Weakness: Recently created modern navy, no significant experience with modern naval ships, has to protect two very long coastlines.
Further Military Description: [[OPTIONAL]]

National Goals : Maintain domestic stability, acquire territorial claims, become the dominant power in the region
National Issues : The country needs more economic development and the country suffers from social tension in some regions from ethnic and class conflict.
National Figures of Interest : N/A
National Ambition/Aspirations : N/A

History : [WIP]
RP Sample: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=374684&p=28426226#p28426226

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

[Nouveau Quebecois]

I will be dropping India for this. Anybody can feel free to use what little I had developed for my India app should they wish.

Reservation

Nation Name: United Kingdom of Spain and Mexico
Territory: Spain, Spanish Morocco, Spanish Sahara, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, Central America
#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 and removing reservations.

Full Nation Name : Imperio Mexicano (Mexican Empire)
Majority/Official Culture : Mexican
Territorial Core : Mexico proper. Central America excluding Panama, Hispaniola, what remains open of Southwestern USA, Galapagos Island, Easter Island.
Territorial Claim : Cuba, Southwestern U.S (Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas)
Capital City : Mexico City
Population: 43,000,000

Government Type : Absolutist Monarchy
Government Ideology/Policies : Reactionary Catholic State
Government Focus: Economic stability, Order, Revanchism.
Head of State: Salvador de Iturbide
Head of Government : Salvador de Iturbide
Government Description:
Reactionary monarchist regime, power centered on the monarch. The country is divided into divisiones (divisions) each governed by a local governor who is selected based on loyalty to the state and his competence. Various kinds of administrative arrangements at the local and semi-regional level. The government is authoritarian and maintains a secret police (officially unofficially part of the government- Los Zetas) censorship, and restricts unapproved political organizations.
Majority/State Religion : Roman Catholicism
Religious Description : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church

Economic Ideologies: State capitalism
Major Production: Tropical fruit, beef products, minerals, steel, cement, textiles.
Economic Description: The state oversees and regulates the economy according to the nations needs at the time. Northern Mexico has high concentrations of mineral resources and is largely centered around cattle ranching, agriculture, and mining. Central Mexico is home to most of the nations industry and factories and has high levels of economic and infrastructure development. Southern Mexico and Central America have mixed levels of development and are largely dominated by the tropical fruit industry, although fishing and shipbuilding are also important here. Hispaniola grows sugarcane and has a small fishing industry. The nation has a growing petroleum industry, which is currently under the direction of the state.

The government maintains influence over the private sector via guilds which are controlled by a cabal of government and industrial magnates who act as collaborators who together ensure that economic control is kept in the hands of the government. The nations vital resources are owned by the state.
Development: Semi-Industrialized.
Development Description : The country has unequal levels of development, with much of the countries industrial strength centered in Central Mexico. The entire country is however, for the most part connected by railroads and telegraph lines. Hispanola has railroads and ferry services.

Army Description:
Army Strength: 2,200,000 total, 540,000 standing army (20 infantry divisions, 14 cavalry divisions and non-combat personnel), 1,460,000 army reserves (73 infantry divisions and non combat personnel ), 200,000 gendarmes.

The Imperial Mexican Army is responsible for both the protection of the empire and the projection of its power abroad. Due to its militaristic neighbors Mexico has spent a great deal of effort maintaining and fielding a fairly modern and large army. Due to the poor state of development near its frontier the army has been leading efforts to establish better infrastructure near the frontier albeit with slow progress. The Army is trained to rapidly mobilize its full power through the use and coordination of the nations railways and communications systems.
Army Weakness: The nation has a mediocre officer corps due to talented officers being viewed as potentially dangerous to the government. The country faces the possibility of a war on two far and separate fronts. It is unclear as to whether the nation will be able to sufficiently supply its large army with its current economic capacity.
Naval Description :
Ship prefix: ASM (Armada de su majestad)
Capital Ships:
4 Battleships
4 Monitors
3 Ironclads
16 Cruisers
26 Torpedo Ships
114 Auxiliary Vessels

The Imperial Mexican Navy (Armada Imperial Mexicana) is Primarily concerned with protecting its Pacific and Gulf Coasts from intrusions. To do so the nation has undergone an extensive modernization effort of its navy. As of 1906 the nation has been overseeing the retirement and scrapping of its obsolete ships and has recently completed the construction of 4 new battleships along with a protracted effort to create new steel cruisers. The nation aims to have a standard of naval parity with the navy of its strongest neighbor and the ability to rapidly engage any enemy on either ocean. To facilitate rapid deployment, the nations navy has coordinated with the nations industry and army to place strategic reserves of fuel, supplies, and munitions and additionally has been in the business of constructing a canal on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Naval Weakness: Recently created modern navy, no significant experience with modern naval ships, has to protect two very long coastlines.
Further Military Description: [[OPTIONAL]]

National Goals : Maintain domestic stability, acquire territorial claims, become the dominant power in the region
National Issues : The country needs more economic development and the country suffers from social tension in some regions from ethnic and class conflict.
National Figures of Interest : N/A
National Ambition/Aspirations : N/A

History : [WIP]
RP Sample: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=374684&p=28426226#p28426226

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

[The Palmetto]

Just doing something simple: what might of been some countries which colonized South Africa? For whatever reason, I'm thinking Protestant Frenchies could be interesting, though I'll work with whatever makes sense.

If nothing else, Scandinavia plausibly might have. This would involve initial colonisation sometime in the early 1600s and independence probably in the mid-to-late 1700s. We weren't as heavy a settler nation as Britain was IRL, so it would mean a more prominent native African presence than South Africa IRL.

That's an option, if you wish.

We'd have to work things out, but I think that could be somewhat interesting. What was Scandinavian colonial policy, particularly administration, like? Did you at one point colonize most of the coast, or just the cape? And of course, how did I yeet myself out of the Scandinavian Empire?

[Plzen]

We'd have to work things out, but I think that could be somewhat interesting. What was Scandinavian colonial policy, particularly administration, like? Did you at one point colonize most of the coast, or just the cape? And of course, how did I yeet myself out of the Scandinavian Empire?

Just the Cape, and it would very much have been a private, commercial venture with little government involvement (in the colonies, the Northern Oriental Company is basically the government).

The Scandinavian colonial empire did an uncontrolled collapse in the late-1700s, so if you had a reason to make independence stick it would not have been difficult to make it stick.

[Axis Asteroid]

I will be dropping India for this. Anybody can feel free to use what little I had developed for my India app should they wish.

Reservation

Nation Name: United Kingdom of Spain and Mexico
Territory: Spain, Spanish Morocco, Spanish Sahara, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, Central America
#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 and removing reservations.

oof

That timing tho.

[The Palmetto]

We'd have to work things out, but I think that could be somewhat interesting. What was Scandinavian colonial policy, particularly administration, like? Did you at one point colonize most of the coast, or just the cape? And of course, how did I yeet myself out of the Scandinavian Empire?

Just the Cape, and it would very much have been a private, commercial venture with little government involvement (in the colonies, the Northern Oriental Company is basically the government).

The Scandinavian colonial empire did an uncontrolled collapse in the late-1700s, so if you had a reason to make independence stick it would not have been difficult to make it stick.

Ahh, so kind of like the Dutch East India Company, but fully privatized? One interesting idea I've got is that it's a Latin American-esque nation: while there's a few white people, the country's ruling class is more mixed race, but still tries to emulate and even spread the culture of their homeland. Do you think that could make sense?

Even though the VOC discouraged their employees from settling it, a few still did so, so it wouldn't have to be a settler colony to attract settlers. Enough settle (just a few thousand) to make the colony need proper governance, and though controlled by the company, this is when it starts to become more of a proper country. IRL one of the reasons Britain snagged it was because they wanted to secure the Indian Ocean: perhaps with Scandinavia's influence in the Indian ocean (southeast asia in particular) collapsing, the local elites preferred a policy of prioritizing expansion and trade in South Africa. Due to Sweden's empire basically collapsing, perhaps they cut off what little association they had with Scandinavia, and finally became a proper country?

[Plzen]

Ahh, so kind of like the Dutch East India Company, but fully privatized? One interesting idea I've got is that it's a Latin American-esque nation: while there's a few white people, the country's ruling class is more mixed race, but still tries to emulate and even spread the culture of their homeland. Do you think that could make sense?

Even though the VOC discouraged their employees from settling it, a few still did so, so it wouldn't have to be a settler colony to attract settlers. Enough settle (just a few thousand) to make the colony need proper governance, and though controlled by the company, this is when it starts to become more of a proper country. IRL one of the reasons Britain snagged it was because they wanted to secure the Indian Ocean: perhaps with Scandinavia's influence in the Indian ocean (southeast asia in particular) collapsing, the local elites preferred a policy of prioritizing expansion and trade in South Africa. Due to Sweden's empire basically collapsing, perhaps they cut off what little association they had with Scandinavia, and finally became a proper country?

All plausible.

[Novacom]

Putting up a WiP incase it gets eaten.

Full Nation Name : Empire of Babylonia
Majority/Official Culture : Babylonian
Capital City : Babylon
Population : 97.2 Million

Government Type : Constitutional Monarchy
Government Ideology/Policies : Somewhat Imperialist with a focus on Stability.
Government Focus : The focus of the Government at present is to complete the reforms of the Religious orders with an eye to preventing any more, complications, as well as balancing the demands of steadily shifting the economy to be further diversified with trade no longer increasing as rapidly thanks to competition thanks to the Suez Canal, despite this the economy itself is vibrant and performs well.

Of some concern is the instability on the border with the Mughals which keeps over spilling into the Eastern Regions, with the Government in Babylon itself wary of intervening too harshly for fear of provoking a domino effect much preferring to keep the peace than risk war, a stance that some of the more hawkish elements of the Leagues are becoming increasingly critical of.

As the Birthplace of Law, Law and Order is a foremost priority of the Government, something which thanks to an extensive and longstanding system of education and opportunity means that crime is by in large a rarity and integration efforts over the centuries and millenia have resulted in a single coalesced Babylonian Identity, one element that is considered somewhat unusual is the universal equality of the sexes.
Head of State : Emperor Satohnkedezhar
Head of Government : Grand Minister Alakis Abutaris
Government Description : The Government is composed of two assemblies and the court of the Emperor, with a careful system of checks and balances.
Assembly of Experts, this assembly is perhaps the most interesting element of the Babylonian Government insofar that it is designed to disagree with itself, composed of experts in every field with differing viewpoints and interpretations so that different approaches can be tested and challenged, the goal of this body is to test and challenge decisions made by the other elements to ensure that decisions made are scrutinised and effective as well as to advise the other branches. Membership of this body is granted on a term basis, without limit, however as more and more time is spent in the assembly, for want of a better purpose ruthlessly vivisecting every idea and proposing better ones that their knowledge will cease to be as current as those still immersing themselves in knowledge and trying to unearth new knowledge so eventually they will be replaced by those better placed to carry out this function.

This Assembly also informally encompasses the Archons, that being the judiciary and they possess wide ranging judicial powers and are able to freely draw from the Assembly for matters of expertise and they pursue a heavily evidence based approach.

Assembly of Leagues, this assembly is an elected body with suffrage extended to any working citizen, with citizens unable to take on work until the year of their 18th Birthday. The Leagues are roughly analogous to political parties being comprised of groups of local political organisations, the leagues themselves tend to gravitate to various ideologies such as the Code of Laws League being extremely legalistic.

Majority/State Religion : Anunnaki
Religious Description : The religion of the Babylonians, The Annunkai, and it’s worship has evolved over the ages, changing from a strict highly codified religion with strict ceremonial requirements, after The Great Exodus, an event known as the Deliberations at Dilmun occurred, during which it was said that the gods and goddesses themselves descended and spoke with their high priests and king.
In the aftermath it was decided that a serious of reformations would be implemented, while the worship of the gods themselves would remain the same, the method and frequency would, so that all efforts could be directed towards reclaiming the lands of their birth, when this was done a compromise was truck, elements of the former pomp and ceremonies would be restored, however this could not be allowed to interfere with the expansion and empowerment of Babylon.
The Pantheon itself is a varied collection of deities governing over forces, aspects and ideas, which can in several cases overlap conflict and compliment each other, each deity has in turn it’s own order of worshippers and officialdom as it were, such the Eyes of Enlil, a militant order of marksman honouring their deity the god of the sky.
Religious worship delineates into the worship of a specific god, as a cult, each with their own festival and ritual, the greater pantheon itself also has several collective festivals and worship by in large is confined to combined temples with each deity having their own chambers and halls, in larger cities specific temples are present, which often also house their orders, which themselves often have official purposes.

Economic Ideologies : Capitalist with Socialist aspects
Major Production : Iron, Gas, Oil, Weapons, Clothing, Agricultural Produce, Various Livestock, Ivory Various Industrial Products, Motor Vehicles.
Economic Description : The Economy of Babylon is highly diversified and constantly pushes innovation and quality, thanks to central support and guidance when Entrepreneurs find a way to streamline a process and reduce labour requirements, funding is swiftly made available to fund new opportunities for workers now surplus to requirements. One aspect of note is the artisanal touches added to even the most mass produced of items, which can sometimes be as minor as some engraved scrollwork added to the stock of a rifle, at no point however are these flourishes allowed to interfere with the effective and efficient purpose of the item.

The Economy is by in large allowed to function independently of any intervention with the reassurance that the state will act to reinforce the economy as needed, as well as the subtle warning that the Economy must also serve the state and it's people, as with the Castigation's being open against anybody factory owners and business owners are wary of any exploitative practises.

The economy itself is organised on regional lines with each region possessing well integrated industries which support and supply one another and is well organised to ensure high employment productivity efficiency and resilience to any shocks or disruptions. A large portion of the economy despite an extensive and thriving manufacturing sector is made up of Agriculture thanks to millennia of efforts in irrigating the domains of Babylon to be as fertile as they are.

A very healthy amount of effort of the economy is focused towards Autarky and the direction of the economy at times is harnessed to ensure social and political stability as a result of these various policies the economy is highly efficient. No small amount of effort is being poured into exploiting the newfound natural resources of Oil and Gas without putting at risk any of the other sectors of the economy.

Finally, thanks to an excellent geographical position Babylon is a key trading partner for many nations and it’s engineering works are world renowned.

Development: Modern
Development Description : History has repeatedly taught the Babylonians that complacency is death as a result of that and a naturally scholarly culture and an extremely hawkish neighbour has meant that the nation must always be forwards looking. Especially when in the past they had been forced from their heartlands forced to exist in a relatively poorly developed remnant and rebuild again from scratch has resulted in the idea that no part of the nation can be left behind.
Overwhelming ambition could be said to define Babylonian civil planning, something which goes back millennia to when the first, almost insane idea of irrigating the sands so that in time they could grow crops there, in more modern times the results of this prove that rather madness but inspired and aspirational thinking as the nation of Babylon is highly lush and fertile thanks to wide-scale civil engineering and reservoirs have brought life and vibrancy to what was once arid sands.
The various cities of Babylon are well planned out with an eye to works such as open public spaces, hospitals and schools. Each city has a walled inner sanctum as it were containing vital government buildings more out of ceremonial tradition than anything else in addition the nation is criss-crossed with an extensive and advanced transport network of road, rail and canals.

Army Description : The Armies of Babylon have perhaps the longest and most ancient traditions in the world, guided by the principles of flexibility and innovation, striking swiftly and meticulously. The main core of the army is highly trained and well equipped and supported by the newly integrated militant religious orders whose specialisms grant the forces great flexibility. The forces benefit from a long history of tradition and visionaries who sought to codify the art of war for future generations, such theories have frequently been put into practise thanks to their Western neighbours the ever aggressive Romans.

Near the end of their latest war with Rome they pioneered the small scale use of of armoured cars and have ever since been working on refining the concept and it's practicality in secret, the results thusfar are beginning to show early promise though are a far cry from the expectations put forward by the Military. In keeping with the attitude that they must forever adapt or die extensive efforts have been put forth into the fields of Aviation and trying to move beyond the idea of Balloons and Gliders, with the first result of manned flight having been announced and demonstrated at the turn of the century, since then efforts have likewise been made to develop this concept.

The Babylonians have always been quick to adapt and innovate having themselves laid down the foundations for many key technological developments and arguably the scientific method, they adopted Gunpowder in the tenth century and have made noted strides in utilising innovations from the West and East. They have a large number of novel ideas and innovations which are used on a practical basis in combat and war and have always made sure to be constantly one step ahead in terms of technology.

The Babylonians are foremost producers of advanced military equipment, and even their more standard products are bleeding edge and meticulous noted for accuracy and precision, with their military doctrine having evolved to take advantage of this with gunnery and accuracy being priorities, not only this every design is ruthlessly tested and reliability is pushed as a priority. It is not unknown for there to be a team of military personnel adept to accompany artillery trains ensuring the most accurate bombardments in the world, thanks to their excellence in engineering and novel ingenuity allows for shells to be timed to detonate at the correct timing and a combination of other tactics allow for superior firepower to be levied in an efficient manner.

The forces are well supported by a dedicated medical corps which utilise advanced Babylonian medical knowledge and technique's to ensure that casualties are lessened and have a higher chance of returning to active service if at all possible, if not the effect on morale that the soldiery is well cared for helps reduce war exhaustion.

The Babylonians have retained their long standing Ilkum system, a system of mandatory service for all, which in more modern times has translated into a six month period of military training followed by a period of service depending on military or other needs, by in large this tends to be public service. This was originally compensated by land compensation, but this practise has been phased out in favour of financial assistance in beginning their adult life, usually in terms of either a stipend, or mortgage for a home. This service is typically undertaken after completion of Higher education which in itself is mandatory and has two intakes during the year in order to stagger influxes and ensure that military numbers are consistent with needs.

Annual refreshers after this service are not mandatory but highly encouraged via incentive, however a month of service or training must be rendered once every three years, this is aided by a strong standing reservist program at which service may be performed. This service tends to vary based on need and location, and historically those who best performed during military training would be selected to continue on to carry out their service as required in the military while others would usually be assigned to the maintenance and expansion of the great works, usually Irrigation and Cultivation.

Army Weakness : The Babylonians have the distinct misfortune of possessing perhaps the most extensive series of land borders on the planet, while some of these borders are easily defendable due to terrain, this is by in large a rarity. As a result the army is divided into a series of theatres and manning static defences on the more problematic fronts, an unfortunate reality that the military takes in it’s stride as a matter of course, with little practical able to be undertaken.

Of a more minor but altogether more practical concern is the constant rotation of manpower into the military means that most military units have a constant rotation of inexperienced recruits, however the military has been organised so as to reduce the impact of this somewhat. With units being organised so that half their numbers are made up of those performing their Ilkum service, or Redutum, and the other half to be made of career soldiers, with this fluctuating depending on demands outside of the military sphere.

Naval Description : The Babylonian Navy is a large well funded force which it utilises to control the southern seas and to act as a shield for the homeland, as well as to protect trade and maintain order in the southern holdings. It is presently lead by a vibrant command with a true enthusiasm for it’s role and actively seeking to utilise new technologies and tactics in the changing face of war.

It is highly organised and segmented to allow for maximum coverage with a fleet assigned to cover a particular area complete with it’s own basing areas and facilities, in cases where this is impractical they are allocated an enhanced support network to allow them to continue operating while they return to more suitable facilities for repair and refit.

A recent acquisition for the fleet is the Tiamat Boat, Advanced Submarines which were developed in response to the opening of the Suez Canal, should yet another war break out between Babylon and Rome. This eventuality has caused some concern in the Navy as it has meant that a previously safe theatre on almost complete lockdown is now a cause of active concern, as a result increased amount of funding had been made available to the Navy and a series of contracts and requirements have been issues to ensure not just Naval Supremacy, but Naval Dominance.

Naval Weakness : The Babylonian Navy due to an ongoing reorganisation is overstretched and unless accommodations are made with it’s neighbours will be forced to spread the ships it has over the areas it controls. Although an extensive ship building programme has been instituted and much is being made of the new Naval designs being tested, this will do little to change the reality that it will take time to expand the Navy to the numbers that it’s leaders wish for it to be able to both effectively control what it already has, and allow it to concentrate force should the need arise.
Further Military Description : The Military at present is working to fully integrate the Militant Orders shorn from the Religious orders and fully utilise their specialisations specialisations and doctrines.

Areas of Expertise: Marksmanship
Description:
The Eyes of Enlil have a long tradition of being almost supernaturally accurate both with the firearm and the bow, with the latter being of considerable help when working in concert with the agents of Damkina, the Shrouded Lady, owing to it's more useful application when it comes to stealth and subtlety. This order has worked closely with the Gunsmiths and workshops of Nineveh to also work on helping progress the evolution of both the firearm and the Bow, hoping to be able to eventually combine reach and accuracy together

Areas of Expertise: Gunnery, Shock and Awe tactics, Mobility
Description:
Marduk's Thunderer's have evolved over the ages, originally focusing on various forms of mounted combat, both on Horse and Elephant back, they would utilise various tactics and methods, varying from lightly armoured hit and run to heavily armoured juggernauts. As time went on they would take an intense interest in Gunpowder when first introduced to it by Korean Merchants and long since sought to combine speed and gunpowder to hit as hard and as fast as they can, even going so far to mount cannon's on the back of elephants in line with Irashizzar's treatise that eventually warfare will become steadily faster and faster and about projecting force as far afield as rapidly as possible from ever increasing ranges.

As Technology Advanced and Motor Vehicles came into existence they have been pioneers with the armouring and arming of these platforms and are seeking to further this method of war.

Areas of Expertise: Naval Tactics
Description:
The Furies are a more specialised order, focused on Naval Prowess, be it boarding actions, Naval Combat and Naval Landings, they are numerically a smaller order which frequently co-operate with the other orders with the idea being once they have established a beachhead or secured an objective they will withdraw, likened to the ebb and flow of the tide to strike at another target, preferring to enable other strikes by rapidly enabling.

Areas of Expertise: Land and Naval Combat
Description:
Ishtar's Avengers are both a generalist and elite order, choosing to exemplify war in it's entirety and act as an elite guard, they co-ordinate closely with the other orders and challenge them to constantly strive and aspire to be better, it is not unknown for members of the Avengers to be on a secondment to the other orders to learn their particular methods of waging war, the order has something of a rivalry with the Imperion's during official functions on which unit is more elite.

Areas of Expertise: Royal Guard
Description:
The Imperions are a unique order in that they are apart from the Militant orders and have never had any religious affiliation instead serving the reigning emperor and reigning emperor alone, chosen from the elite of the elite from the Babylonian Army, they are given the highest training in all fields often expected to not only protect the Emperor and Empress but also act as companions, and friends. In the past they have often acted as personal agents of the Ziggurat Crown travelling from the side of the Emperor to act in his name and ensure that his directives have been carried out, during the Castigation's specifically of the Emperor and the central government they have a unique role in protecting both the victim and the accusers while they are brought to the correct place and then back.

National Goals and Ambitions :

• Long term security both internal and external, with some parties advocating for an accord of sorts with Rome to end the almost cyclical conflicts with their neighbour.
• Securing the Horn of Africa in the great game over Ethiopia.
• Dealing with the instability on the borders with India, one way or another, however unlike Rome the common discourse is more aggressive.
• Secure like-minded partners and Allies in an increasingly polarised world

National Issues : The planned Succession by the reigning Emperor is a cause of widespread concern, however at present it is being very well and publicly managed with the future Emperor being introduced to the people and introduced to the tasks and roles that will be expected of him.


History :

General Time Period: 600bc-300bc
Description:
Belshazzar decisively routs the Persian army at the Battle of Opis, the Persians almost immediately dispatch another force which is held up at the border, the implications of a seeming endless offensive cause some unrest which culminates in a Priest of Marduk, claiming to have received a word from their god that if they remain, Babylon will fall, but if they flee they may return.

After some debate the decision is made to evacuate south to Dilmun, Belshazzar fights an extensive delaying action as Babylon and various other cities are evacuated before Babylon itself is besieged, the city by this point occupied only by Belshazzar's force. Disease and Plague set in on the besieging Persians, during this the defenders break out under the cover of night killing Cyrus the Great in his sleep and withdraw south during the confusion allowing Babylon to fall.

At Dilmun the evacuated populaces are organised and a great plan for building their strength for the future is laid down by Nabonidus, and efforts are made to carry it out despite unrest that the masterful actions of Belshazzar potentially meant that all of this would be unneeded. Unrest is swiftly shamed into submission as everyone from the King down makes great shows of hurling themselves into the great work.

Major Events:

• The majority of the Babylonian populace and wealth is relocated to Dilmun
• Extensive plans are put in place to make Dilmun and it's surrounds capable of sustaining this revenge including an ambitious plan to turn the desert environs green and capable of sustaining farming, initial efforts prove somewhat successful if slow
• King Nabonidus designs and oversees an innovative irrigation network and personally lays down the plans for the area including new cities.
  Prince Belshazzar leads a near continuous campaign against the Desert Tribes steadily expanding the Babylonian influence by either bringing the tribes into the fold or wiping them out
• The Castigation's begin, a yearly Ceremony where the reigning King and Responsible persons are dragged by the ear in public to a stage where they are remonstrated for their failings perceived or otherwise.
• The Religion of Babylon is reformed during an event known as the Deliberations where the gods were said to walk the earth for one night.
• As the irrigation efforts are undertaken Babylonian traders travel far and wide bartering for breeding stock for various animals for various uses and purposes, these include African Forest Elephants.

Persons of Note:

• King Nabonidus, a noted architect and engineer, whose works on urban and argicultural engineering and planning would inform future generations.
• King Belshazzar, at first a Prince and noted general before eventually succeeding his brother, acted as a Reagent for his father who would often prefer to take a hands on approach to his construction and engineering projects, noted for his many campaigns to secure and expand the holdings around Dilmun and in defence of Babylon.
• Meshazzu, a far ranging trader whose writings depict the era and the world of the time, founder of a noted trade house.

General Time Period: 300bc-100bc
Description:
The Babylonians would steadily expand in every direction when emissaries would arrive in Dilmun which by now had been rebuilt from the ground up following the Urban Planning ideals laid down by Nabonidus. Alexander of Greece sought an accord to put down the Persians, an agreement is swiftly reached and the armies are made ready under the peerless Warrior Queen, Irashizzar, who sets to the southern border with a will extensively decimating the Persian Armies with a force half the size using deft tactics and new weapons.

Babylon is reclaimed and the armies continue marching north to meet the Greeks before then turning east, in less than three years the Persians have fallen and the spoils are accorded between the victors. Nibpoteleszar the Third orders for the reclaimed territories to remain unoccupied while they are made fit for a formal return as Engineers, Artisans and Workers set to their work with a will.

Alexander would pass several years later as the Successors began squabbling among one another eventually with the Eastern possessions declaring war on the Babylonians falsely perceiving weakness, the Western half electing to squabble amongst themselves. During the next thirty years the Easterners are brought loosely into the fold with those closest to India declaring independence and are spared further conflict.

Major Events:

• Nibpoteleszar the Third oversees the creation of several houses and orders of learning with the future Imperial Compound in Babylon having extensive quarters for scholars.
• Irashizzar pens an extensive series of military treatise on the nature of war which would hold true far into the future
• Nibpoteleszar the Third oversees a series of reforms such as language, political and economical.
• Experiments by Botanists crossbreeding Mangroves and Willows create a new breeds of tree and plant adept at removing salt from Water.
• Following this breakthrough two vast reservoirs are dug on the southern coasts and utilising Archimedes Screws and a series of Canals and subsequently filled from the sea, through a network of canals lined with painstakingly cultivated new tree and plant-life filtered the water and steadily desalinated it before a novel system of filters would then move the water through a steadily expanding network of Canals which would fuel further cultivation efforts.
• In the Aftermath of Nibpoteleszar and Irashizzars Deaths they are referred to, posthumously as the Golden Emperor and Gilded Empress, with the Kingdoms now being referred to as an Empire.

Persons of Note:

• King Nibpoteleszar the Third, The Philosopher King, his treatise on politics and natural theory are both broad and extensive, he oversaw a number of reforms and institutionalised learning and laid the foundations for numerous schools and institutions of study and learning.
• Queen Irashizzar the First, The Warrior Queen, and wife of Nibpoteleszar the Third, where his endeavours furthered peace, hers furthered war, able to read the ebb and flow of battle like pages of a book, of which she would pen several on the organisation of troops armies and battle as well as several theories and ideas on the future of war and warfare and what future advances could bring and be applied.
• Milu Annilgali, a botanist of the time and a descendant of Meshazzu who would develop the Babylonian Willow and Mangrove through cross breeding of several species of plant.

General Time Period: 199bc-500ad
Description:
The next several hundred years would see the Babylonians tame much of the peninsula and manage to turn a thickening band expanding outwards from the coast, Dilmun and Babylon verdant and lush, during this period the Babylonians control of the Peninsula would meet that of a rising new religion, Islam.

The Armies of Islam would set to putting great pressure on the armies of Babylon, yet despite this they managed to hold in the face of the onslaught, having gained a great deal of experience in dealing with the tactics of the desert tribesman, yet despite this the sheer ferocity of this was extremely disconcerting.

In time the Babylonians at no small cost would push the Zealots hard enough that Muhammad would eventually sue for peace, which was accepted and an uneasy peace settled.

Major Events:

• Babylonian control of the Arabian Peninsula is consolidated and much of the irrigation efforts begin to bear fruit as a third of the Peninsula are now fertile with half of that now verdant and lush.
• In light of the instability on their borders several new cities are founded in the Peninsula including a sister city of Nineveh, the city of war, Asaakrysa
• Nibpoteleszar the Third oversees a series of reforms such as language, political and economical.
• In addition a series of fortifications are begun on the new border and a new series of great engineering works are undertaken to push the fertile band further inland as well to the new conquests.
• Babylonian Traders begin plying the southern seas seeking new opportunities and several new ships are designed with range and capacity as a priority.

Persons of Note:

• King Hammurabi the fourth, Like his namesake a giver of laws and a noted architect, whose deeds were the planning and construction of an expanded and extensive irrigation network, in addition he personally oversaw several of the campaigns against Muhammad.
• Admiral Teni Hammar, A key part of the campaigns against Islam and responsible for preventing any expansion of the conflict by swiftly sinking the fleets of the Caliphs.

General Time Period: 600ad-1400ad
Description:
During the next few hundred years Babylon would long fight a two front war, on one front against the Islamic Caliphate and the other finally wrestling the Successor Remnants under control when rumblings of a new threat came upon the horizon. Genghis Khan and his Mongol Hordes has risen, armies were mustered and grim preparations were made when the emissaries arrived, surprisingly seeking trade and little else, agreeing cautiously to this the Babylonians manage to negotiate for observers to travel west with the hordes.

In the aftermath of the death of Genghis relations began to sour eventually leading to a series of border wars before the eventual fracture of the Mongols leading to the rise of Timur and his empire, assembled from the remnants and of both Islamic and Zoroastrian in nature, after a long series of wars Timur and his horde are driven into India where they would found their own empire that would be a subsequent cause of concern for Babylon.

It was during this period that constant conflict between Babylon and the Caliphs of Islam were an ongoing concern, giving impetus to the diplomatic and trading efforts, it was during this period that the long stalemate was eventually broken, and Mecca and Medina fell swiftly, and desperate the Caliphs sued for peace requesting rites of passage for pilgrims. The Babylonians countered with an altogether different offer, before the cities of Mecca and Medina were reduced, the Caliphs would be permitted to send workers under guard to remove their holy places and relics brick by brick.

Major Events:

• The Babylonians reorganise their naval forces into a form more recognisable to the modern day to protect both trade and their coastline.
• During this time the same irrigation efforts extended to Persia now begin to bear fruit, while at the same time roughly half of the Arabian Peninsula is now fertile and a quarter of the remainder is now undergoing active efforts.
• A wide-scale program of construction is undertaken with several new cities established and new farmlands tended due to the spiralling population boom.

Persons of Note:

• King Sudita the Second, noted for his restraint in not pursuing what could have been easier and further victories again Timur that would have critically overstretched the empire, while also waging war against the Caliphs.
• Ilis Rurim, the diplomat who negotiated with the heralds of Genghis Khan, with her keen wit and eye on the future she managed to keep the empire safe from conflict with mere words alone.

General Time Period: 1500ad-1880ad
Description:
The Babylonians would in time take to the seas and establish outposts to the south steadily turning them into full fledged colonies treated as integral part of the empire, during this period there would be several wars with both the Romans and successors to the Timurids, the Mughals. The borders on both sides would change little with the Romans managing to recover from their Islamic Disasters, during this period a further series of political and religious reforms were implemented to reflect the burgeoning population of the empire.

Major Events:

• A series of Great Works are undertaken to update the roads and canals of the empire.
• The Industry of Babylon would grow and develop thriving on it's key position and the silk road to benefit from trade and innovation both from without and within.
• A series of Political reforms would take place to reflect changing times with two bodies in addition to the Imperial Court, the Assembly of Experts and the Assembly of Leagues.
• The Castigation's are reformed and extended to anyone in a position of authority in order to extend accountability
• The priesthood begins to chafe as their previous preeminence has been steadily eroded and eclipsed by Scholarly Orders and Institutions where before their orders would embody and exemplified by their thinkers and innovations now the fruit of centuries of work have meant that now some of the more noted thinkers did not have their origins in their orders. As a result of this rumblings of taking action to correct this can be heard, something which ironically causes friction between themselves and their own Militant Orders on which they would have depended on for enacting their desires.

Persons of Note:

• General Tamynzhan, a noted military leader whose written works furthered those of both Belshazzar and Irashizzar as well as adding his own thoughts and experiences both in terms of organisation and implementation. He worked closely with the Navy and has pioneered close co-ordination between the forces during his tenure with the military he oversaw numerous successful campaigns and upon retiring from active service he elected to participate in the Assembly of Experts and closely worked with the Assembly to oversee Military Reforms.

General Time Period: 1880ad-1906ad
Description:
During this period Babylonia would enter a Golden Era as the population began to explode putting some strain on all aspects of society necessitating a series of reforms and modernisation efforts both societal and to agriculture methods, the latter of which some debated about the regards to when that sector operated under an extremely healthy surplus to the point of being a world leader in export of foodstuffs. The ensuing reforms and modernisations free up large amounts of manpower which is then hurled into an extensive series of infrastructure and industrial projects, this entire process would cause some unrest as society began to adapt to the rapidly changing and evolving reality.

In the latter part of this period Emperor Satohnkedezhar began to experience poor health, a further cause of concern combined with the twin problems of unrest over recent reforms and the failed power-plays of the former religious leaders of the Militant Orders, resulting in the orders being folded into the military proper and decoupled from their former religious leaders. As a result of this the Military itself was now working to adapt the orders while retaining their strengths while previously they had been more loosely aligned, despite this the military leadership has been swift to embrace the orders with whom they had a long history of being on good terms with due to their nature.

Perhaps as a result of Satohnkedezhar's health concerns he has begun openly talking of abdicating the throne in favour of his designated successor, Prince Faydohsadus, a chief proponent of placing the Navy at the forefront, and as a result of his patronage the Navy is at present near the tail end of a colossal program of modernisation during which several new ship designs, methods and techniques were extensively tested and trialled before being put into production.

Major Events:

• A program of reforms is undertaken to modernise agricultural methods resulting in a large amount of manpower being freed up to be absorbed by industry which results in an economic boom.
• An extensive Naval research and development program is undertaken concluding in the commencement of a large Naval construction plan.
• As a result, or perhaps because of, unrest and friction between the religious leaders particularly of the Militant Orders, during which a poorly thought out nascent power play which could be loosely called a coup is headed off. The Militant Orders are folded into the Military and decoupled from their former leaders and a series of reforms are undertaken to implement the Orders while retaining their strengths without diminishing them.
• Reforms of the priesthood are undertaken and the Castigation's are now extended to them.
• Friction on the border with India has increased considerably

Persons of Note:

• Emperor Satohnkedezhar, is well liked and popular, a fatherly figure to the nation who has managed to soothe disquiet over the impact both perceived and actual of the reforms and changing world, because of his popularity his poor health is a cause of widespread concern, moderated only by clear and public plans for succession.
• Prince Faydohsadus, the designated heir and successor of the Emperor, he has been steadily brought more and more into the public eye as he is steadily immersed and initiated into the various aspects and requirements that rule will require of him, a noted advocate of the Navy and the military, he has been described to have an almost fetishistic fervour for the sciences and it's applications and has patronised several institutions and worked hard to forge practical links between the acquisition and subsequent application of knowledge in a practical way.

RP Sample: #see.Novacom

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

[Tracian Empire]

As per discussions on Discord, both the Spanish and Mexican apps will be accepted, the map and list will be updated as soon as possible. The UK claim is also vacated.

[Tracian Empire]

Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων
Basileia tōn Rhōmaiōn
The Empire of the Romans

Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων
Basileía Rhōmaíōn
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 of 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 Rhomania (Ῥωμανία|the Land of the Romans), with the derived (Βασιλεια Ρωμανια-Basileia Rhōmania|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: As most things in this ancient empire, the situation is complicated. The main and official culture recognized by the government is the Roman culture (Ρωμαϊκή-Romaïkí), which in this case strictly refers to the culture of the Eastern Empire. The Roman view on the culture of its citizens is a little different from the view held by most of the other nations of Europe. The Roman perspective 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), and consider themselves to be the true Romans, the true heirs of Ancient Rome. To be a Roman citizen is more than belonging to a simple ethnic group, it’s to accept that you belong to world of right belief and order, to belong to the one, true, universal empire, and the one, true, universal faith. The Romans consider their realm to be a part of God’s plan, to be the earthly reflection of the Kingdom of Heaven, an empire destined to endure until the Second Coming. To be a true Roman, and to be part of this empire, one has to accept its mission - it means taking part in God’s plan for the world and protecting the empire until it will truly rule the entire world again. Ethnicity and blood pale in front of such substance, and as such, the pillars of the Roman civilization are what unite the Roman citizens. The use of the true Roman language, the (Ρωμαικα-Romaika|Roman/ Roman language) what some may call “Greek”, the one true Orthodox Christian faith, and subordination to the imperial authority. 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. And the Romans of the East, while aware of their Greek origins, fully consider themselves to be the heirs of Rome, to be the ones carrying the flame of both Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece onward into the future.

Other cultures which refuse to acknowledge this divinely ordained scheme of things or dare to challenge are guilty of a form of heresy in the eyes of the Roman culture, to be pitied or to be condemned, as people of the nations (έθνη), and as barbarians (βάρβαροι). Followers of different faiths, like Muslims or pagans are pitied as victims of invincible ignorance, while those who willingly reject the truth, like the Protestant heretics of France, are nothing more than willful and unrepentant deviationists. Such cultures present throughout the Empire are then actively persecuted using this reasoning, being forced to go through a cultural process known as Romanization, 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 justified by the imperial government as an attempt to civilize barbarian people. Perhaps more aggressive than the Romanization of the antiquity, this process has been raised to the status of a state policy during the Empire's long existence, with it being currently used in some areas of Egypt, Sudan and certain parts of the Levant. 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 Romanized, 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
• 41. Exarchate of Nubia|Exarchía tou Noubia - Εξαρχία του Νουβία|Meroe

Territorial Claim: At least as a part of the Roman imperial theory, the Romans consider all the countries which belonged to the Roman orbis, to the Roman world, to be their everlasting and incontestable possessions, as the inhabitants of the one universal empire which survived the storms of the barbarian invasions. As such, territories in West have been considered ever since the Middle Ages to be simply the pars occidentalis of the empire, temporarily fallen into barbarian hands due to the sins of mankind. This translated during the Middle Ages in the slightly more pragmatic concept of an European family of kings, with the institution of complicated honorary degrees of affinity granted to other European monarchs by the Roman Emperors from their position as the head of this family, as the paterfamilias. In practice however, this imperial theory has never quite recovered from the countless shocks which it has received throughout history, and such ancient claims have been ignored for centuries. The current, more pragmatic Roman foreign policy simply wishes to secure its borders, to strengthen the empire's position in Africa and to ensure that the straits of Dire are controlled by a friendly power. The Romans also wish to somehow solve the issue of the Hesperium Imperium in Italy.
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,the 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
• Alternative Mottos: Σταυρὲ βασιλέως βασιλέων βασιλεῖ βοήθει - Stavrὲ Basiléos Basiléon Basileῖ Bíthi|Cross of the King of Kings aid the Emperor; Σταυρὲ βασιλέως βασιλέων βασιλευούσῃ βοήθει - Staurè Basileùs Basiléon Basileuoúse Boéthei|Cross of the King of Kings aid the Ruling City; Σταυρὲ βασιλέως βασιλέων βασιλεύων βασίλευε - Staurè Basileùs Basiléon Basileúon Basíleue|Cross of the King of Kings, Rule in Reigning; Σταυρέ, βοήθει - Staurè, Boéthei |Cross, Come to Our Aid

In regard 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: Around 58 million
Government Type: The Roman Empire is a highly administrative and bureaucratic caesaropapist absolute monarchy, with the Roman Emperor holding the supreme authority in both secular and religious matters. In practice however, the empire has certain elements which would belong to a more mixed type of government. The monarchy is of course, clearly embodied in the person of the Emperor, which rules the nation as a hereditary despotic autocracy. The aristocracy is largely represented by the Senate, but certain democratic elements do exist through the influence of the demes. Officially, the Roman state considers itself as the communion of the Emperor, Senate, and People of Rome.
Government Ideology/Policies: Imperialism, Conservatism, Roman Nationalism, Orthodox Traditionalism, Irredentism, Pragmatism
Government Focus: The Roman Government is currently focusing on strengthening the nation, its power and its prestige, and on staying ahead of its rivals.
Head of State: Basileus Autokrator Mikhail Palaiologos Sebastos (Short Title)
His Imperial Majesty, Mikhael Palaiologos, in Christ Basileus and Autokrator of the Romans, Kaisar and Despot of the New Rome, Forever Sebastos and Sotiras, Sebastokrator and Nobelissimos, Porphyrogennetos, 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 Our Sea, 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 (Grand Title)
Head of Government: Grand Logothete and Hypatos Alexandros Kantakouzenos
Government Description :

The Roman Empire is considered to be the earthly reflection of the Kingdom of Heaven, the perfect form of government, as God had intended it to be, more than just a temporal phenomenon, but as the perfect realm that will survive through the ages until the Second Coming and the Final Judgement. For the Romans, this presents itself largely as a Cesaropapist Absolute Monarchy, even if some influence rests with the aristocratic and oligarchic Senate, and a very vague democratic element could be represented by the Demes and their political influence. 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, and through the divine mandate and role of the emperor.

The first and most important power belongs to the Basileus. Known as the Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans, the monarch has the supreme authority in both secular and religious matters, acting like a true absolute monarch. He is the elect of God, crowned by God and guarded by God, his person is scared, and he is ruling from the Sacred Palace in the Queen of Cities as God's regent on Earth. He is the terrestrial image of the Logos of God. He governs the the Empire, under his supreme executive power, his primary legislative authority, and his divine mandate as Viceroy of Jesus Christ on Earth. The political powers of all other magistrates are subsidiary to and derived from his 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 imperium, he is also the supreme commander of the military. From nearly all points of view, he is an absolute monarch, a despot and an autocrat. 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 ruling dynasty, a principle that was introduced and enforced by the Palaiologoi. However, the Roman system 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 dies - 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. The Senate has a certain legislative power, in that in can propose laws and can express its opinion in regard to the decisions of the Basileus, 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 most influential political faction of the Senate represents the nobility. But over the half century, as times have changed, senators representing the plebeians have been entering the Senate, and currently, a faction of the Senate which represents the interests of the general population and especially of the developing bourgeoisie has been gaining more and more power. The Empire lacks the traditional, European concept of political parties - instead, the senatorial factions, like in the days of old, have come to be associated with the chariot factions of Constantinople, the so-called demes (δήμοι). The Blue deme is mostly associated with the aristocratic/imperial faction, while the Greens are closely associated with the more liberal and progressive part of the Senate. The Red deme, dead for centuries, has also been recently recreating, vying for the support of the Empire developing industrialized workers class.

Senators are directly appointed by the Basileus, and in theory the monarch is free in his choices, in practice however, an unofficial tradition exists with the acclamation of the demes. During chariot races in the empire's largest cities, the different demes acclaim their preferred candidates, and the monarch listens to his subjects, which leads to a certain part of the senators being chosen through popular support. The Emperor has the theoretical power to dissolve the Senate at will, but that has never happened in the last half century, and the Senate itself has the power to protest against any decisions of the Emperor that seem unfair, through a system of official petitions, even if said petitions can be ignored.

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. His role is to supervise and coordinate the departments of the administration, which are led by the Logothetes (Λογοθέτης-Logothetes), who are acting like ministers. The Logothetes are chosen by the Emperor personally, sometimes with the support of senatorial factions. As such, Constantinople as a centralizing power in terms of administration, coordinating, and supervising the themes and implementing the decrees of the Basileus. The administration is highly hierarchical, ceremonial, rigid, and bureaucratic, forming an elaborate system that is at the same time, effective and extremely intricate. While the aristocracy plays an important part in the administration, and while corruption can be a mild issue, the system of the civil service is built on meritocratic pillars - while the Romans do not employ a combined civil service exam like some Asian powers, exams are needed in order to enter the administration, leading to a lot of skillful bureaucrats entering the service, which somewhat balances the aristocratic elements. At the same time, the Empire is still infamous for its continued practice of using eunuchs in some of the higher positions - while their numbers are much smaller than the eunuchs present in some Asian courts, they continue to play a part in the court and in the civil service.

The third power in the state theoretically belongs to the common citizens, the People of Rome (Λαός της Ρώμης-Laós tis Rómis), but this power is of course, mostly symbolic.

The Roman citizens enjoy extensive rights and obligations, and from this point of view, although they live in an absolute monarchy, they 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 Basileus and 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

The citizenship of a Roman citizen is irrevocable without extreme violations of the Empire's laws and regulations. While in Roman territory, citizens of nations allied to the Roman Empire receive certain rights, similar to a limited form of citizenship. 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, and members of such minorities are, besides from the cultural oppression, sometimes forced or influenced into accepting milder forms of slavery, which more of most them brings with it a much better situation than the one they were born in. The issue of slavery is as such a little complicated and has been mostly ignored. Slavery is not widespread by any means in terms of numbers, and it can be divided into two forms. The first is employed in the Levant and in Africa, where the Romans use uncooperative natives, mostly Muslims, for public works - the construction of the Suez Canal being the most famous example, but ever since its completion, moderate numbers of such slaves have been used for infrastructure works, even if the Romans do not refer to them as slaves, and pay them small amounts of money for their forced work. The second form of slavery comes through the use of servants in the empire's great cities, mostly by the aristocracy. Such slaves are most often foreigners and non-Christians, and this is only tolerated as long as the slaves are treated well, with the administration and the people just pretending that they are regular servants. And third form of slavery is represented by the eunuchs, but said eunuchs are normally freed upon entering the court or the civil service.

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 then 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 authority in his own theme, being directly responsible for the theme's defense. He is seconded by the Antistrategos (Aντιστράτηγος), another military officer, the second in command of a theme's military forces. The civilian government of such a province, in charge of the administrative and civilian matters, is the Anthypatos (Aνθύπατος), who deals with the civilian, administrative, and economic issues of a theme. 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 and an Anthypatos, 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 three Exarchates and three Exarchs, in Africa, the Exarchate of Alexandria, the Exarchate of Syrene and the Exarchate of Nubia.

Majority/State Religion: The Empire is a part of the Greater Chalcedonian Church, through its own Eastern/Roman Orthodox Church. 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. Ever since the mending of the Great Schism through the effort of the courts in Rome and Constantinople, the two sides of the Chalcedonian Church have continued to exist in full communion, albeit an uneasy one, following the formula of one church, two heads. The West generally follows the authority of the Pope and the Latin rite, but the Patriarchates in the East, unofficially led by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is recognized as "primus inter pares" (first among equals) between all the Orthodox bishops and patriarchs, consider the Pope to be merely another Patriarch - a leader of the church, a first among equals on the same level as the Ecumenical Patriarch due to their descendance from the greatest apostles (Saint Peter for the Pope, and Saint Andrew for the Ecumenical Patriarch), but still a Patriarch and a member of the Pentarchy. The Orthodox side of the Chalcedonian faith then considers the Church to be a union of various autocephalous patriarchates in full communion with each other, the Catholic Church in the West being counted as a single autocephalous entity. 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. In the East, 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 is in an interesting situation. Principles of mercantilism and protectionism were slowly abandoned over the past century, with the notable exceptions of a few specific industries, replaced with a push for free trade and elements of capitalism, but the autocratic government of the empire still reserves the right to regulate trade as it sees fit, so the current economic policy of the empire is the result of the decisions of the imperial administration, rather than a result of a specific, promoted economic ideology.
Major Production: Agricultural products, iron, coal, minerals, silk, clothing, industrial products
Economic Description: A regional economic power, the Roman Empire is economically divided between its industrialized western provinces, like its European possessions and Asia Minor, and its still mostly agricultural regions, like Syria, Palestine and Egypt. The Roman state has actively supported and encouraged the development of its industry for the past half century, but due to various reasons, its Middle Eastern provinces have remained overwhelmingly agricultural, an area in which they do excel. 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 relaxed its control over trade, resulting to the development of capitalist elements in its developed provinces and in Egypt.

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, with Constantinople still acting as the primary western terminus of the Silk Road, and most specially because of the Suez Canal the Roman Empire is a trade hub between Europe, Africa, and Asia. The Suez Canal is directly owned by the Roman state through its Emperor, with the Roman Empire having built it, and protected it ever since. The Canal has shortened the journey between the North Atlantic and the Indian Oceans ever since it was completed in 1869, and its ownership plays an important role in the economic policies of the Empire. The state still reserves the right to control its internal and the international trade if needed, 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 the point of view of infrastructure, as the railway system there is very well developed. The other regions of the empire are somewhat lacking, but railways unite most major cities, and many more are planned to be developed. Separate from the issue of railways, the Roman Empire maintains an incredibly vast and very well-developed system of paved roads throughout all of its provinces, trying to emulate the traditions of the empire of old. At the same time, all its provinces enjoy a modern and significant network of irrigation systems, inherited through the centuries and modernized with each passing generation.

The area of the Exarchate of Nubia is however a peculiar exception, having only been recently pacified by the Roman Army, it is still very much primitive and underdeveloped.

Development: Modern in in some provinces, semi-industrialized in others, primitive in Sudan
Development Description: The core areas of the Empire, including its European possessions, Asia Minor, and the large cities of its Middle Eastern possessions are modern and industrialized. The rest of its areas are however agricultural and heavily lagging behind, while its new possessions in Sudan/Nubia are primitive.

Army Description :

Roman Army
Ρωμαϊκός Στρατός
Exercitus Romanum

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


The Roman Army (Ρωμαϊκός Στρατός- Romaïkós Stratós|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, and for its soldiers. The glory of Rome was achieved through armed power and blood, and ever since Romulus founded the Eternal City, the army has stood at the core of the Roman state, influencing and often controlling its destiny. It was through the prowess of its soldiers that the East managed to avoid the collapse experienced in the West, and for more than a thousand years, the Roman Army has constantly fought countless wars on three continents, continuously adapting in order to maintain an edge over those who would wish to bring the eternal empire to its end. As such, the empire can wield a conscripted army formed around a core of professional officers and soldiers, and arguably one of, if not the best in its region, truly a force to be reckoned with. One of the army's biggest assets are the Roman soldiers themselves, still called "legionnaires" (λεγεωνάριοι-legeonárioi) by some, due to their morale, discipline, obedience, and harsh training. Being a part of the army is more than an honor in Roman culture - it is one's duty, for a Roman citizen cannot be a citizen and a man without serving in the army. Soldiers are as such indoctrinated before they even join, they military, convinced that they are the heirs of the Roman legions of old, with the empire skillfully using nationalism and religion to its advantage. Soldiers perform a personal oath to the Emperor and are followed in battle by priests and holy icons. The training of a Roman soldier is also very thorough and even somewhat harsh, putting a lot of emphasis not only on the soldier's individual skills but also on his ability to fight as part of a unit, in a process that other nations often try to copy. At the same time, harsh but fair punishments for any deserters or traitors and an attention on unit cohesion lead to a situation where the Romans can regularly field extremely motivated and loyal soldiers, with the most important units sometimes even bordering on the edge of fanaticism, often leading to Roman units being unwavering in their attacks or in their stands.

At the same time, the almost obsessive attention that the Romans put into the organization of their army brought with it a lot of other advantages. The Stratós uses a conscription system built from the combination of the French levée en masse with the old Roman systems. All able-bodied citizens serve a three-year term in the main army, after which only a small core of professionals is kept during peacetime. The rest then spend four years in the active reserve, in the so-called Auxiliary Force (Συμμαχία- Simmakhía), which is divided into the respective forces of each theme. The auxiliary forces still train periodically and are ready to be mobilized in case of war, the process of mobilization being also very well organized, compartmentalized through the comprehensive military organization system, which is closely intertwined with the civil administrative system. After those four years, the soldiers are moved into the normal reserve up to the age of 45, but a part of them is still assigned to the militia force of their respective theme. These militia forces, known as Akritai(Aκρίται), are normally formed specifically in the border regions of the empire, and their members retain their weapons and uniforms during times of peace. Preponderantly formed by the inhabitants of those regions, and also containing men older that the maximal reserve age, these units are specialized as irregular units to be used in case of an enemy invasion, using guerrilla tactics and their knowledge of the land in order to harass the invading forces. This system provides a large reserve force that can be mobilized in case of war, and the organization provides both a certain regional pride and loyalty to the units - being tied to their respective theme, but most of the army's units can trace their lineage even as far back as the creation of the themata system, while others have started to claim the heritage of famous Roman units of old, leading to a pride in their own units which maximizes morale and cohesion.

The officer corps is a bit of a mixed bag. It is a professional institution, with a core of experienced, veteran officers, and at least in theory, it emphasizes the need of a meritocratic perspective, it has a few very renowned military academies and the army's organization promotes the creation of such officers. However, the meritocratic elements are often tainted by aristocratic influence - a military career can often really increase a noble's or a politician's reputation, and as such, a lot of noble families tend to make sure that their members receive the ranks that are worthy of them. At the same time, officers are expected to bring in results and victories, and the pressure of continuing a millennial heritage means that officers will try to achieve their objectives at every cost, which can also be a benefit - as officers which fail will often be replaced, keeping the quality high. Being in a constant race to keep up or to maintain an edge over the empire's rivals, the officer corps will often try to adapt itself as quickly as possible, learning from the enemy in the characteristic Roman way.

The army is overall also well equipped, as the empire has the industrial base to sustain its forces, and the interest to do so. As such, the imperial forces enjoy domestically produced bolt action rifles, machine guns, and artillery, and are also able to use a few unique weapons - mostly centered around Greek fire using flamethrower units, and experimental uses of the substance.
In terms of strategy and tactics, the Romans use mixed elements. The Empire's long borders and often precarious position, combined with the disastrous experiences of the attrition wars fought in the Levant, Arabia and Mesopotamia, has led to the core principle that wars have to be as short as possible. That is why the empire will often combined the idea of a static defense on its easily defensible fronts, and of strong and direct offensives on the fronts were such a defense is impossible, attempting to crush enemy formations and to outmaneuver them before they can react properly, with the danger of a war on multiple fronts leads to the strict idea that wars should be won through decisive battles.

Army Weakness:

Despite all of its strengths, the Stratós still has to face significant weaknesses. The first shortcoming is created by the very geography and borders of the empire. While some borders, like the northern Balkan border, anchored on the Danube and strengthened with forts, or fortified regions like Taurica can be defended easily, the empire's eastern border is one of the longest and most difficult to defend borders in the entire world, draining significant resources and focus. The sheer size of the empire also makes coordinating the mobilization and thorough organization of resources and units on such a scale a daunting and exhausting task. The strong organization of the military, while with its own advantages, can also be rather stiff, and overly cumbersome, held back by anachronistic elements and concepts- there is a reason for why the word "byzantine" has such a meaning in the West. At the same time, not all themes are created equal. While the more developed regions have the industry and infrastructure to mobilize quickly and efficiently significant forces, the empire's Levantine and African territories are significantly lagging.

The officer corps can, as mentioned before, be easily tainted by aristocratic influence, so its abilities can often suffer. The upper echelons, while fully aware of how the adaptability of the Romans has saved them in the past, and focused on modernization, can also be led by a rather conservative style of thought, leading to tactical and strategical innovations being adopted relatively slowly - which does mean that the Roman Army is even more so prone to same strategic and tactical weaknesses experienced by real life European armies of this era. The idea that an officer must prove his worth through victories in the field and through achieving his objectives also means that the higher ranks will often try to do anything they can in order to follow their orders, which can easily lead to catastrophic results and to an inflexibility in the chain of command. Combine that with obedience and loyalty being preached as great values of a Roman soldier and officer, and you have a very rigid chain of command and officers who will not question orders. The beliefs which stand both at the core of the Roman outlook on the world, and the pride created by the concept of being a legionary and a member of such a fighting force can also lead to a certain arrogance that can be seen regardless of rank.

The biggest weakness of the army is however created by several combined issues. The reserve system, as good as it is, is just barely enough to compensate for the sheer size of the empire and the differences in development, and this does mean that the empire will suffer in the case of wars of attrition. This issue is exacerbated by the high morale and fanaticism of many of their soldiers - Roman units are expected to follow orders to the very end - often being decimated instead of stopping their attack or withdrawing. Surrendering is seen as an unforgivable shame and fighting until death is a behavior often observed in such units.

The reserve system is also fundamentally imperfect in that in only takes citizens or potential citizens into account, the Army having so far refused to conscript non-Romans.

Naval Description:

Roman Navy
Ρωμαϊκό Ναυτικό
Classis Romanum

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

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. The Nautikó is a well-organized and moderately sized force in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It is not a weak force, as its vessels are fairly modernized, and they do maintain a degree of discipline and organization like 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 enemies from attacking the Romans without thinking twice. As such, the Nautiko excels at defending the Roman coasts, the Bosphorus, the Dardanelles and the Suez Canal, and it does so with the help of a strong network of coastal forts, with bases in important fortified islands such as Crete and Cyprus, with irregular naval forces formed by smaller ships which can harass the enemy with the help of the Aegean Sea's many islands and with the help of a very well organized minelaying effort that can be deployed in case of war. At the same time, the empire employs a moderately effective brown-water force on the Danube, with a strictly defensive and auxiliary role, and with a force on the Nile intended to mostly protect the commercial and logistic ships sailing there.

The network of defensive forts is from certain points of view a marvel, even more so than the Navy, with an excellent coastal defense augmented by the use of a secret weapon, the Greek or the Roman Fire, an extremely inflammable substance that can even burn on water. Even if it is no longer what it used to be, now in this era of ships of steel and steam, it is still employed on naval and coastal fortifications, and in defensive operations, while secret projects exist that are trying to use in various other ways.

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 desire to the protect the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and to defend the straits and the Suez Canal being the only reason for why it is a more or less competent force today. The Navy has never received the same amount of funding as 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. The lack of funding also makes its numbers smaller than one would otherwise expect. This has led to a situation where the Nautiko is strictly a green-water navy, and is only intended to fight forces such as that of the French Navy in cooperation with the naval forces of the West. With such a defensive role, the Navy is competently dependent on its defensive installations, and will often refuse to meet the enemy in areas where it cannot be easily reinforced. As such, it will have major difficulties in any offensive operations, and it will also simply be unable to ever match the navies of more competent powers in direct combat. A certain reticence of the upper echelons to lose difficult to lose vessels further paralyzes the navy's ability to react - combined with simply put a lack of innovation that has the Romans lagging from a naval perspective.
#AltDiv (do not delete this, it's for keeping track of the apps)

>app continues in the next post

[Tracian Empire]

Further Military Description:

The Roman Army is in theory led by the Basileus himself, but the actual powers are delegated to a military officer known as the Grand Domestic (Mέγας Δομέστικος-Mégas Doméstikos). Immediately below him are the commanders of the distinct theaters of war (θέατρα-théatra), each led by a commander known simply as a Domestic (Δομέστικος-Doméstikos). The old Domestic of the East (Δομέστικος της Ανατολής, Domestikos tis Anatolís ), leading Asia Minor and the Levantine territories of the empire, and the Domestic of the West (Δομέστικος της Δύσης-Domestikos tis Dýsis), commanding over the empire's Balkan territories and Taurica, have been supplemented by the Domestic of Africa (Δομέστικος της Αφρικής-Domestikos tis Afrikís), nominally in charge of the three Roman Exarchates in Africa (with his powers slightly limited by the relative autonomy of these provinces), and by the very controversial Domestic of Italy (Δομέστικος της Ιταλίας-Domestikos tis Italías), who commands the Eastern Roman forces in the Western Empire. Subordinated to them are the forces of each theme, under the command of that theme's Strategos, and in times of war, the Domestics take over command of their respective theaters of war, reuniting the forces of each theme into larger groups. The theoretical organization is as follows, although it should be noted that the actual numbers can vary significantly based on the forces of each theater or of the individual themes. It should also be noted that although they share the same name, the Romans make a difference between a Strategos of a theme, and a Strategos commanding an army in the field.

Name	Personnel	Subordinate units	Officer in command
Théatra	~	~multiple Sóma Stratoú	Domestikos
Sóma Stratoú	~160,000	~2 Themata	Protostrategos
Stratevma	~80,000	~2 Legeonai	Strategos
Legeona	~40,000	~2 Tagmata	Legatos
Tagma	~20,000	~2 Menarchiai	Katepánō
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 legendary. 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 and declared enemies. In order to join the Guard, potential members must meet 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 to be the best they can be. 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 important 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 Domestic of the Schools (Δμέστικος τῶν Σχολῶν- Domestikos tōn Scholōn). He is helped by two subordinate officers, the Domestic of the Schools of the East (Δομεστικος [τον Σξηολον] τες Ανατολεσ-Domestikos [tōn Scholōn tēs] Anatolēs) and the Domestic of the Schools 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 and 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 Noumeroi (Νούμεροι, from the Latin numerus, "number"), are a unit used as an elite police force. They started as one of the garrison regiments of Constantinople, tasked with guarding the Great Palace and the Noumera prison. Now, while they still sometimes retain their position as prison guards, they are mainly used as a shock force in internal affairs, against internal dissent, and in order to maintain public order. They are infamous for their role in suppressing the revolt of an Egyptian city in 1891. They are led by the Domestic of the Numbers (Δομέστικος τῶν Νουμέρων - Domestikos tōn Noumerōn)
  
• 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 Berber 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 others.
• The Immortals (Ἀθάνατοι - Athanatoi) are an elite cavalry unit, created in the 10th century. Probably inspired by the old Immortal Guard of the Babylonn Empire, today they are used as an elite unit of dragoons.
• The Archontopouloi ( Ἀρχοντόπουλοι|"sons of the Archons") 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.

It was perhaps the most fearsome weapon of the Middle Ages. Legend says that its secret was given to Emperor Constantine the Great by an angel, and it has saved the empire, again, and again. It is the weapon that protected the Throne of the Romans against heathens and traitors. It is known by many names. The "sea fire" (πῦρ θαλάσσιον - pŷr thalássion), "Roman fire" (πῦρ ῥωμαϊκόν - pŷr rhōmaïkón), "war fire" (πολεμικὸν πῦρ - polemikòn pŷr), "liquid fire" (ὑγρὸν πῦρ - hygròn pŷr), "sticky fire" (πῦρ κολλητικόν - pŷr kollētikón), or "manufactured fire" (πῦρ σκευαστόν-pŷr skeuastón). Or as it is known to the West – Greek fire.
It is a highly combustible substance that can burn even on water, and the exact secret of the compound has been kept secret by the Romans for more than a millennium now. It was developed around 672 AD and it was used to great success in the two Arab sieges of Constantinople, becoming an integral part of the tactics and weapons of both the Roman Army and the Roman Navy. Its naval use was a lot more widespread from the beginning, but in recent years, great naval developments such as the ironclad have decreased its importance at sea, while the Romans continue to experiment with many potential new uses – all while jealously guarding their secret.
The part of the Roman military that deals with the Greek fire can be in many ways described as an almost a caste. The actual secret of the composition is known only to two men – the Emperor and his succession, while three handpicked chemists who oversee its production each know a part. The production itself is highly divided and compartmentalized, so that no single manufacturer has the entire recipe, with the entire process closely guarded by the Arkeoi, the Roman secret police, and this in turn is also the Greek fire’s greatest weakness – all the precautions taken in order to keep the production a secret means that the Romans are unable to mass-produce it on an industrial scale.
The caste-like connotations continue to its actual usage. Those in charge of the fire, whether in the navy or the army are known as “fire-wielders” (πυρχειριστές - pirkhiristés), and have a special status when compared to normal soldiers.
The Romans use the fire in a few different forms. In the Navy, the fire continues to be used through a tubular projector known as (σίφων - siphon). The emergence of ironclad naval designs has greatly reduced the role of such projectors, so they have been mostly relegated to coastal forts and coastal defense ships. In the Army, the fire is used through a hand-held projector, a flamethrower, known as a hand-siphōn (cηειροσιπηōν - cheirosiphōn). The continuous refinement of this design means that it is more advanced than the real life prototypes of this era – with some models able to project a jet fire to up to 28 meters away.
The Empire is actively working on developing more modern weapons that would use this fire – as experimental grenades and artillery shells are being experimented on.

National Goals: Protect the Empire by any means, strengthen the Roman military, defend the Suez Canal, create new alliances with other powers, accelerate the development of the Empire's Oriental provinces, expand into the Horn of Africa.
National Issues: A heavy and often cumbersome bureaucracy and administration, tensions between the aristocracy and the general population, a general desire for more reforms conflicting with the conservatism of the government, the rising popularity of movements demanding democratic concessions, the rising popularity of workers’ movements, conflicts with some the neighbors, a navy that might not necessarily match the empire's ambitious foreign policy, 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 geographical and regional position that is a double edged blade.
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: A series of reforms meant to strengthen the Empire and to avoid the fall of its autocratic system, creating trade relations with the Oriental nations, improving the Empire's diplomacy, resolving the tense relations with the West.
Rival: Potentially France, although the Empire itself would not admit it.

RP Sample: I'm Thrace

History :

The long and glorious history of the Eastern Roman Empire begins of course, in the year of our Lord 284, when the Roman Emperor Diocletian divided the once mighty Empire into two. Rome was weak and sick... in order to survive and to persevere, it had to shed its filthy pagan origins, and to be reborn. The rebirth of Rome truly began with the reign of Constantine the Great. Roman Emperor and Saint, Equal-to-the-Apostles, protector of Christianity, savior of the Empire. He founded the New Rome, a capital that would reach and surpass the glory of the Eternal City.. the Queen of Cities. Constantinople. While the Western Empire continued to rot and to decade, and while the Old Rome was sacked by the Vandals...the righteous looked East. Majorian was the last competent Emperor of the old Western Empire, and while the West was broken, again and again, the East continued to grow even stronger. With the barbarous Vandals threatening their African possessions, the Emperors of Constantinople forced Majorian to attack them, an attack which ended in failure. A final, desperate attempt was made, but a joint Roman force was utterly defeated in the Battle of Cap Bon. The Roman war efforts against the Vandals ended in 470, as the West was breathing its last.
And when the Western Empire fell to the accursed barbarian known as Odoacer, Emperor Zeno knew that the time had come. With the death of Julius Nepos, and the abdication of Romulus Augustulus, the West had no Augustus... and when he received the imperial insignia of the West, Zeno declared himself Emperor of both the West and the East. The Roman Empire was reborn that day.
Unfortunately, the Romans were unable to take back Italy on their own, so Zeno negotiated with the Ostrogoths under Theodoric, who was sent to crush Odoacer as the magister militum per Italiam. While the Italian Peninsula was still nominally under Roman rule, any dreams of restoration had to wait. The one who would restore the Empire to its older glory had to be someone else. The Leonid dynasty soon died, with the energetic reformer known as Anastasius I as its last member. The Justinian Dynasty followed.
Oh, Justinian the Great, Emperor and Saint, Restitutor Orbis... the Restorer of the World. Justinian assumed the throne in 527, with a dream to restore the Roman Empire to its former glory. The Eastern Empire signed a peace with its eternal enemy Babylon in 523, and with the help of his wife Theodora, the eunuch Narses, and the generals Belisarius and Mundus, the Emperor used the Blue faction against the Green faction in order to bring an end to the Nika Riots. In 533, the Romans started their long campaign of reconquering the West. This reconquest began with the Roman attack on Vandal Africa under the command of the great general Belisarius. Taking advantage of the overthrowing of the friendly King Hilderic by his fanatic cousin Gelimer, the Romans invaded the Kingdom of the Vandals in order to bring Hilderic back on the throne. After a short and glorious campaign, the forces of Gelimer were crushed in the Battle of Ad Decimum, with Belisarius entering triumphantly in the ancient city of Carthage. With Africa mostly secured, the Romans turned towards Italy, the former heart of the Empire, where internal struggle had left the Ostrogothic Kingdom weakened. In 535, the Romans took back Sicily, before landing in Italy proper, but due to Gothic resistance, the war was prolonged. The Roman expedition would have probably been defeated if not for the genius of Belisarius. On the brink of defeat, the Ostrogoths offered Belisarius the title of Emperor of the West, but Belisarius fooled them, remaining loyal. Rome, Naples, and Ravenna were all conquered, and the Italian peninsula was brought back under Roman control. Perhaps influenced by Theodora, perhaps by the Patriarch or by the Pope, Justinian decided to reward Belisarius by making him his junior emperor, the Caesar of the West. Imperial rule in Italy was strengthened, and Athanaglid, a Visigothic noble from Hispania, called for the Empire's help against the Visigothic King, leading to the reconquest of a small slice of Hispania's coast. With that, the Empire was truly reborn. Roman troops, led by Belisarius and his son, managed to crush the Lombard-Saxon force that was threatening to invade Italy, keeping it under Imperial rule. Eventually, both Belisarius and Justinian died, bringing their new empire on the brink of destruction.
Justin II and Tiberius II were both mediocre Emperors, losing bits and pieces of Roman territory. However, their successor Maurice, was an extremely competent general-emperor, energetic and aggressive. He stopped the decline, intervening against Babylon, pushing the Avars and the Slavs back over the Danube. But this was not going to last. Maurice was murdered by the usurper Phocas the Accursed, and the Babylonians pushed into Anatolia. A civil war soon started, led by Heraclius the Elder. Nicetas invaded Egypt, and after taking over Cyprus and Syria, Heraclius the Younger sailed to Constantinople with an icon affixed to the prow of his ship, managing to rally the citizens of the capital against the tyrant. Heraclius personally killed and beheaded Phocas, before the usurper's body was mutilated, paraded through the streets of Constantinople, and burned. The Babylonians soon advanced against the Levant, taking over Damascus and Jerusalem, taking the True Cross to Babylon. The counterattack of Heraclius took the form of a holy war, with an acheiropoietos image of Jesus Christ being carried as a military standard. Constantinople was saved from an Avar siege by Patriarch Sergius and what was claimed to be an intervention by the Virgin Mary, which allowed the Emperor to focus on the Babylonians. The enemy forces were destroyed at Nineveh in 627, and a peace treaty was signed. All captives and Christian relics were returned, while the borders before the war were restored. The True Cross was taken to Constantinople and placed high atop the altar of Hagia Sophia. Heraclius planned to return it to Jerusalem, and the Romans all expected their Emperor to lead them into a new age of glory. But the clouds of war were gathering at the Empire's borders. The Arabs had arrived.
The war with the Babylonians had exhausted both empires, but the Roman forces in the Orient were still strong. The Battle of Ajnadayn ended indecisively, with the Romans managing to withdraw with most of their forces. Damascus and Jerusalem were both besieged, and Heraclius quickly gathered all his available forces, perhaps also receiving help from Babylon. Heraclius closely prepared this offensive, with the Muslim forces geographically divided, the Romans tried to exploit this situation, and to fight the enemy forces one by one, concentrating large forces against each of the Muslim armies before they would be able to consolidate their troops. In 636, leaving Antioch under the command of Theodore Trithyrius and Vahan, the Roman forces pushed through Syria. Having been unable to find out about the plans of the Roman forces, the Arab forces continued to remain divided. The Romans managed to avoid a decisive battle, as the forces of Theodore crushed the forces of Yazid near Damascus. Before the Arab commanders managed to realize the danger, the forces of Vahan fought and destroyed the Muslim forces in Emesa, while a third army, led by Heraclius' son Constantine, managed to inflict serious damage to the forces of Shurahbil in Kordan. The remains of the Muslim forces withdrew towards the besieged Jerusalem, where Khalid ibn al-Walid tried to draw the Roman forces into a situation where the Arabs would be able overcome their numerical disadvantage. Their armies clashed near Jerusalem, but the arrival of a force led personally by Heraclius took Khalid by surprise. Enraged, and unwilling to lose all his achievements because of this barbarian invasion, Heraclius managed to overcome his fear of the open sea, and to lead a force that had landed at Tyre, before it moved south, never found by the Muslims. The forces of Islam were surrounded, but Khalid led a final counterattack that allowed some of them to break through. Jerusalem was saved, but the Roman forces were exhausted, and weakened by internal tensions. The effort made by Heraclius in this battle was too much for his old age, and the Emperor died a few weeks later, in Jerusalem. With his death, the Roman Empire was unable to stop the Arab forces from storming Egypt and expanding into Africa. The eternal curse of the empire, blood being shed for the purple cloak of an emperor. A war for succession fought between the sons of Heraclius threatened everything that the Romans had fought for. Constantine died of tuberculosis, and the regency of Martina for Heraklonas was weak and corrupt, allowing the Muslim forces to push again, defeating the Roman forces near Jerusalem and sacking the city, before pushing towards Syria. As Heraklonas was overthrown by the general Valentinus, the empire was reduced to its Balkan possessions and Asia Minor, teetering on the brink of collapse.
In the Balkans, the weakened Roman lines were unable to stop the invasion of the Slavs, spearheaded by the Bulgars and the Khazars. In 680, Roman forces sent to take care of the Slavs were defeated, and Constantine IV signed a treaty with the Bulgar khan, creating the Bulgarian state that would threaten the Empire for centuries to come. Expeditions in 688 under Justinian II managed to strengthen imperial rule in Thrace, Macedonia, and Epirus, stopping the Slavs from advancing even further and saving Greece from further damage. Conflicts with the urban aristocracy however brought the reign of the Heraclian dynasty to an end. The Twenty Years' Anarchy followed, but neither the Slavs nor the Arabs were able to properly take advantage of it. For the Romans, it seemed like the end of times was there, and desperate for an answer and a solution, the people turned on the icons. Considering them to be idolatrous and claiming that the defeats of the empire were God’s punishment for heresy, the Iconoclasts came into power through Leo the Isaurian in 717. The Second Arab Siege of Constantinople was stopped with Greek Fire and with Bulgarian help as some said, but to the Iconoclasts, it was the divine confirmation they needed. Iconophiles and Icons were persecuted, starting the period of the Iconoclast Wars.


Salvation came through the system of the themata, a military-administrative reorganization around the army groups in Asia Minor, which allowed it to keep the Arabs at bay.
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The reforms of Michael III, from 842 to 886 A.D. set the ground for the Macedonian Renaissance, which officially began with the establishment of the Makedon Dynasty by the energetic and aggressive Emperor Basil I. Good financial policies increased the gold reserves of the Empire, while the iconoclast movement was breathing its last, declining, suppressed by the Emperors who were promoting religious unity. The themata system was perfected, and the legislative, cultural, and economic situation continued to improve. The support of the Emperors for the iconodule cause turned the Church once again into a great supporter of imperial rule and the power of the aristocracy was weakened.
But the Bulgarians were at the gates. Tsar Simeon I had defeated the Roman forces in 896, and by 912, Constantinople itself was threatened, with the Romans being forced to grant Simeon the crown of Basileus of Bulgaria, while the young Emperor Constantine VII was forced to marry one of the daughters of Simeon. A great imperial expedition was then defeated, and the Bulgarians pushed into Greece, but the death of Simeon weakened the Bulgars, giving the Romans time to breathe. But the empire would not forget the dangers it had experienced, and the ever-present enemy to the northwest. Emperor Basil II came to power, and taking advantage of silence on the Anatolian theater, he fought back. The Reconquest of the Balkans as it would become known, was a twenty years long war. A systematic conquest of Bulgaria that would have made Caesar proud was led by Basil. The Slavs were massacred, assimilated and converted, their population pushed out of the cities, replaced with colonists from Asia Minor. The Bulgarian army, the deadly rival of the legions, was definitively crushed in the Battle of Kleidon. Legends say that from the Bulgarian survivors, 99 out of every 100 soldiers were blinded, with the remaining hundredth man left with one eye as to lead his comrades home. The last Bulgarian Tsar, Samuil, is said to have died of heart attack after seeing the remains of his forces. Bulgaria surrendered, being defeated and removed from history. The Danube frontier was permanently restored. Basil the Great would remain known in history as the Bulgar Slayer (Βουλγαροκτόνος - Boulgaroktónos)
However, he unfortunately never planned his succession, and his death weakened the Empire. The professional army created by the Macedonian emperors was difficult to maintain, and the economy of the empire declined. Unlike in real life however, the continuous distrust between the two sides of the Roman Empire forced Constantinople to not completely reliant on mercenary troops, the tagma forces under the command of the Emperor retaining a certain level of organization. But the tensions between Rome and Constantinople exploded in 1040.

The Great Schism still happened in 1054, as an outburst of all the tensions between Rome and Constantinople.
The Seljuk Turks crossed into Armenia in 1067. The new emperor, Romanos Diogenes, broke a peace treaty with the Seljuk forces in order to attack them and liberate Armenia, but during the fateful Battle of Manzikert in 1071, the Roman forces were defeated and for the first time in history – a Roman Emperor was captured by a Muslim host. The name of Manzikert would forever be remembered as a tragedy and perhaps the most dangerous moment in the history of the empire.
The captured Romanos was brought in front of Sultan Arp Aslan, and while their meeting is surrounded by myth and legend, it is known that the Sultan released the Basileus, and imposed light terms on the defeated empire. The Anatolian heartland would have been spared, even if Antioch and other territories would have been lost – and Romanos accepted. Luckily for everyone involved, the traitor Andronikos Doukas, who had caused the rout of the Roman army during the battle, was captured by Romanos and by the Mamluk guards the Sultan had given to him – which resulted in Doukas being promptly blinded. This meant that the co-emperor in Constantinople, Michael VII Doukas, was not emboldened to conspire against the defeated Romanos, and Romanos with his remaining forces managed to defeat and kill the traitor Roussel de Bailleul and his mercenaries. Romanos remained in Anatolia, where he managed to strengthen the remaining Roman garrisons. He was however then assassinated upon returning to Constantinople, but his actions meant that the Seljuks were faced with resistance when invading Anatolia, and as such, they failed to displace the natives as much as they did in real life.
Meanwhile, the empire further fell into civil war, through rebellions against the incompetent Michael VII, and fights between the various generals - Nikephoros III murdered and replaced Michael, but he was outplayed by the Komnenoi family, who managed to convince the soldiers of Nikephoros, led by Nikephoros Melissenos, the brother in law of the young Alexios Komnenos, to revolt – leading to Alexios entering the city and being proclaimed Basileus without the need for Seljuk support. The period of civil strife ended with a much-weakened empire – but one that still had control of the core of Anatolia.
Under Alexios the Great, the Romans finally managed to fight back against the Turks and the Caliphate. Alexios was one the first Eastern Emperors to realize that reconciliation with Rome was necessary for the survival of both sides of the Roman Empire. The Western Empire was divided, with local princes and city-states holding more power than the imperial throne in Rome, and the New Rome was teetering on the verge of collapse.
This created some trust, and personal efforts by Alexios managed to soften the blow of the recent Schism. He married one of his daughters to the prince of Naples and became the first Eastern Emperor ever since Arcadius to visit the Old Rome.
The West accepted the East’s request for help. But not in the way Alexios would have expected. The Basileus was simply hoping for some reinforcements, some Western tagmata troops to help take the pressure off as he reorganized the themata. But instead, the East was swarmed by hordes of Catholic knights and peasants, fanaticized by the speeches of the Pope and Catholic priests about retaking the Holy Land. Thus, the crusades began. The People’s Crusade pillaged its way through the Balkans, and Alexios’ mercy was the only thing that stopped the Imperial Army was massacring them. Instead, he gave them escorts and tried to send them to one of the Anatolic themes in order to provide them with equipment and training, but they abandoned their escorts, pillaged their way through Anatolia, and attacked the Seljuks – only to be ambushed near the Cilician Gates.
It took another few months for the actual crusaders to reach Constantinople, and the tensions between the West and the East once again made themselves be known. Alexios tried and managed to gain oaths of allegiance from the crusader leaders, making them swear that they would return any liberated territories to the East’s rule. As such, a grand campaign began – but the Roman reinforcements sent with the crusaders were stopped by a Seljuk attack. The crusaders attacked and conquered Antioch without any help and believing that Alexios had breached his part of the deal – the Principality of Antioch was born.
While the cooperation between the Romaoi of the East and the crusaders continued, relations quickly broke down. With Eastern reinforcements, the crusaders pushed along the coast and eventually reached Jerusalem, but the crusader force was much larger than the imperial one. The Western knights besieged and them sacked Jerusalem in a frenzy, despite the best attempts of the Roman troops to calm them down. During the chaos, Roman forces however managed to gain control of the place where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre once stood, leading to further tensions between the "Latins“ and the Romans, which continued as further crusader states were established.
In terms of prosperity and expansion, the Komnenian period was a true rebirth. The close relation with the Italians and the other Westerners led to Roman art, culture, knowledge being spread towards the West, while various Western ideas and customs were also brought to the Empire. The death of this great Emperor however cut the personal relations between Rome and Constantinople, planting the seeds for what was to come.
His son, Ioannes II, was not content with seeing whom he thought of as barbarians as traitors occupying the rightful lands of the empire. He crushed the Pecheneg threat, and defeated the Hungarians and the Serbs in the Balkans, further pushed the Seljuks towards the Caucasus, and perhaps most important for the future – he demanded the submission of the Crusader states, who appealed to Rome for help. The Western Caesar was hesitant, but some of the states under his control weren’t. John managed to finally liberate all of Anatolia and to conquer Antioch, and he was also the one to finally reconquer Taurica for the Empire. His successor, Manuel II, was even more aggressive – he personally invaded and obtained the surrender of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and he then rallied his armies and the armies of the now vassal crusaders for an attack of Egypt – that ended in the disastrous Battle of Pelousion.
1180 marked the final decline of the Komnenoi, as the regency of the Frankish mother of the young Alexios II Komnenos was incredibly unpopular. Andronikos I, a grandson of Alexios I, launched a revolt, overthrowing and killing Alexios II and massacring many of the Latins of Constantinople, who were believed to be the true power behind the regency. This only further destroyed whatever goodwill there was left between the two halves of the empire.
The reign of Andronikos began with a strong campaign against corruption, which earned him the support of the peasantry, but his struggle against the nobility earned him many enemies. Andronikos was never overthrown like in real life, and as such, the Komnenoi survived for a little longer, with his son, Ioannes III Komnenos, as the next Emperor. A mediocre leader, Ioannes was unable to do anything significant towards repairing the relations with Rome, and during his reign, an Islamic counterattack took over Jerusalem.
After his death, he was followed by his younger brother, Manuel II Komnenos, a son of Andronikos with the Western princess Agnes. Manuel was a much better leader than his predecessor, and his few reforms attempted to strengthen the empire. However, in the last years of his reign, Manuel fell under the control of the manipulative noble and Grand Logothete Alexios Angelos. Angelos married a daughter of Manuel, hereby gaining a vague claim at the throne, all in the hope of stopping Manuel’s firstborn son, Alexios Komnenos, who was perceived as pro-Western due to his half-blood, from taking the throne.
The plot of the Angeloi failed, but Manuel’s son was merciful after taking the throne, a mistake that would cost him his life.
From 1198 to 1204, the Fourth Crusade was planned pretty much just like in real life, but with the objective of retaking Jerusalem. The Crusade was spearheaded by Venice, and instead of paying the Venetians, the crusaders agreed to help them establish Venice's rule again in the Western Roman city-state of Zara. The Pope and the Western Emperor were both was reluctant to intervene against Venice, and as such, it continued. Alexios Angelos however, having been sent into exile, was seeking for aid in order to press his claim to the throne. Angelos offered to put the Ecumenical Patriarchy under the control of the Pope, to play the crusaders 200,000 silver marks, and to join the crusade against Jerusalem with all the troops at his disposal, while also promising to grant the crusaders their claims over the Levant. The Pope tried to stop this plan, but his letter arrived after the crusaders had left Zara. Alexios III was not expecting the crusaders to be hostile, so the city was unprepared. He was murdered in front of the gates of Constantinople, after the crusaders had deceived him to leave the walls in order to take part in a ceremony. Along with loyal Roman troops, Alexios Angelos took over the city, while the crusaders awaited their payment along the walls. Angelos was crowned as Alexios IV, killing the wife of the previous emperor, but the young daughter of Alexios III, Princess Eirene, was hidden in a monastery inside the city by Komnenoi supporters. Before a civil war could even properly start, tensions rose sharply between the crusaders and the Romans. In a coup d'etat against Alexios, yet another Alexios, Doukas this time, a noble who had married a cousin of Alexios III, started a revolt in the city, his men murdering every foreigner and Latin they could find. Alexios IV was murdered in front of the Hagia Sophia, and the crusaders attacked the city. Alexios Doukas was then murdered by someone else, and the imperial throne was left open, in the Thirty Years' Anarchy that had just started. A young noble called Michael Palaiologos, born earlier in this timeline, was in the city when the chaos started, and the young officer mobilized the remaining forces against the crusaders. Using burning ships and Greek fire, the garrison of Constantinople managed to burn parts of the Venetian fleet, forcing it to withdraw. The remaining crusaders managed to break into the city through an opened gate, although historians debate to this day whether the gate had been damaged in the fighting or intentionally let open by an ally of the crusaders inside the city. As soon as they properly entered the city however, the crusaders abandoned any sort of organized form of fighting, looting and raiding, killing and raping, even going so far as to attack and burn churches inside the city, and to rape the nuns serving in them. In the disaster which would become known as the Sack of Constantinople, the crusaders caused great damage but were unable to take over the city, being pushed back and then hunted to the last man by the garrison. Barely just remaining in control, Michael Palaiologos managed to pacify the city over the next few weeks, secretly saving as much innocent, Latin civilians as possible, ferrying them from Galata towards the other side of the Bosporus.

Led by the remains of the Venetian forces, the crusaders caused chaos in Macedonia, sacking and burning the city of Thessaloniki, creating their own states, including a so-called Latin Empire which claimed the Eastern imperial position. Venetian forces took over parts of the Aegean islands, over Morea and parts of Epirus, while other crusaders created a small state in Thrace after they took Adrianople through trickery. Meanwhile, in Asia Minor, a Doukas pretender claimed the throne, and the remaining Angeloi did the same, creating a state with the capital in Mytilene. In Trebizond, another alleged Komnenoi claimed the imperial mantle. Isaac Komenos had a short reign in Cyprus before being assassinated, and the Muslim forces started new offensive in the Levant. Everything seemed to be lost. But Michael, hailed as the savior of Constantinople, was there to take control. The Palaiologoi was crowned as Emperor by the Ecumenical Patriarch in early 1205, acclaimed by the people of Constantinople, by the army and by the senate, marrying Princess Eirene in order to solidify his claim to the throne. At the same time, the Senate awarded him the honorary title of Soter (Σωτήρ), the Savior, a title which would remain the epithet of all Palaiologoi monarchs from that point onward. The new Emperor was young and aggressive, calling the native Roman population to fight against the vilified crusaders. In a swift move, Michael attacked Adrianople, taking it after some of the inhabitants opened one of the smaller gates. The captured crusaders were executed, but before he was able to move on to Macedonia, the Doukas pretender attacked the loyal city of Nicaea. Michael crossed the Bosporus, reaching Asia Minor, defeating the pretender in the Battle of Nicaea. With the sudden and mysterious disappearance of the entire Angeloi family from Mytilene, Michael was able to retake the entire theme of Thrace, including its Asian lands.
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For the next thirty years, for most of his reign, Michael managed to wage successful wars against most of his enemies, alternating campaigns between Europe and Asia. The death of the Doukas pretender 10 years later brought an end to the rebellions in Asia Minor, and the region was pacified. With a lot more strength than before, the Romans defeated the crusaders in the Battle near Mount Chortiatis, pushing into Macedonia and Greece. The death of Michael in 1235 found the core territories of the empire back under Constantinople's rule. His status as a hero and a saint greatly improved the prestige of the Palaiologoi, and a series of extremely successful emperors managed to properly create a proper hereditary legitimacy for the succession to the imperial throne, hereby creating the Palaiologos dynasty.
The chaos of the Thirty Years' Anarchy and the wars between the Romans and the Crusaders weakened the overall Christian position in the Middle East, and the Muslims under the Ayyubid Caliphate of Saladin had already crushed most of the crusader states and brought most of Palestine and Syria back under Muslim control. Internal issues after Saladin's death stopped the Caliphate from trying to push into Anatolia, but soon after the death of Michael Palaiologos and the succession of his son, Andronikos, to the imperial throne, three centuries of Roman-Ayyubid Wars began in their earnest. The reign of Andronikos and of his immediate successors were generally defensive, as the Romans did what Romans do best - protect their borders and gather their forces. The two greatest accomplishments of the reign of Andronikos were the reorganization of the themata system, which finished his father's military reforms, and his economic reforms which kickstarted an economic recovery that the East Romans so desperately needed. The son of Andronikos, Gregorios, recreated the beleaguered Roman Navy from scratch, and the new Palaiologan navy managed to crush the Venetian Navy in the Sea or Marmara and later in the Aegean Sea, ending the Venetian dominance of those seas permanently, and leading to the eventual reconquest of Crete and Cyprus.
Further Palaiologoi continued to strengthen the empire, waging continuous wars in the East while also attempting to repair the destroyed relations with the West. Two Emperors, Konstantinos VII and Manuel IV eventually managed to do just so, sending military aid to Rome in their time of greatest need, organizing an Ecumenical Council of Ravenna in 1450 that canceled the mutual excommunications of 1054 and mending the Schism, bringing the churches back together, at least from a political point of view. The split in the Church along doctrinal, theological, linguistic and geographical lines was however never going to be healed, as proven even today by the followers of the Catholic, Latin rite, and by the followers of the Orthodox, Greek rite. One church with two heads, as many say even today, that was the formula that the council adopted.
Manuel IV is also the one who managed to recover Antioch from the Mamluk Sultanate, as the Romans finally went on the offensive. By 1500, Damascus had fallen, and despite setbacks like the defeat in the Battle of Sidon, the Romans gained the upper hand, liberating Jerusalem in the Mamluk-Roman War of 1552. By 1587, the Romans managed to gain the Sinai Peninsula, breaking the Mamluk possessions into two, and by 1642, Cairo and Alexandria were liberated, breaking the Mamluk state. Further wars with the self-declared Caliphate of Asyut led to the Romans pushing south along the Nile, and by 1681, Basileus Alexios IX celebrated the liberation of Egypt with a triumph in Constantinople. Over the next century, the neutral relations between the Babylonians and the Romans denigrated yet again, leading to chaotic and pointless wars being fought in 1731 and 1757, before the establishment of yet another Eternal Peace, that allowed following Emperors to focus more on Europe, and to play a role in the Revolutionary Wars. Roman victories confirmed the rising power of the two Empires, but relations further deteriorated, as a stronger and larger Eastern Empire attempted yet again to push the West into submission. Further contact with Europe accelerated changes into the empire, however.
Ioannes came into power at a turning point for the empire. The reforms of his predecessors had greatly modernized the state, but they also led to the introduction of more and more enlightened ideas into the realm. Students in Constantinople rebelled against autocratic rule in the day of his coronation, and the new Basileus responded to the situation in the same way he would face all issues throughout his reign – initially with brute force, by sending the Varangians and Numeroi to disperse the rebels, and then through diplomacy, promising token reforms and then finding a foreign enemy to focus on. For Ioannes, this enemy was found not outside the empire, but inside – in the Muslim community of Egypt. Restrictions unlike ever before were placed, the process of Romanization was reformed and reorganized, and those who opposed it were basically forced into slavery – for Ioannes had a great ambition. For too long had the Suez Isthmus interfered with Roman dominance in the Red Sea. The dream of a grand canal to connect the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and Asia beyond already existed, being proposed by several Roman and foreign engineers for close to a decade now. Ten years into his reign, in 1858, Ioannes officially began the construction of the canal, using large numbers of forced workers, and the Canal of Suez was officially opened in 1869. Ioannes also focused on an expansive and complicated foreign policy. The Basileus tried to further improve the relations between the two sides of the empire, but also to subtly undermine the position of the Western Caesar. In the East, rising tensions with Babylon led to several conflicts, while further East, good trade relations and military cooperation were established with Korea and its Viceroyalty, while also accepting the delegation of the newly created Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Such policies turned the empire and the Suez into the Western terminus of the Asian-European trade, greatly benefitting its economy. Economically, Ioannes properly led the empire into the age of industrialization, turning parts of the empire’s European possessions and Asia Minor into industrialized areas, while also coordinating land and agriculture reforms, supervising policies of urbanization and colonization in Egypt and the Levant. Internally, the Emperor relied on the support of the demes, turning the Blues and the Greens against each other, emphasizing their political role while also stopping them from effectively forming a common front against him, while his popular policies mellowed any sort of concrete popular opposition to his rule. Known as Ioannes the Great, the Basileus eventually died in 1886, being followed by his son, Andronikos.
Andronikos V Palaiologos was a different man. He was every bit as capable as his father, but he was arrogant, easy to anger, a very demanding perfectionist, and a complete and utter believer in his divine right to rule. Whatever reforms Ioannes had tried to organize internally, they were squashed, as the new monarch relied on his own autocratic powers, on the support of the Orthodox Church and on Roman nationalism to support his reign. Internally, he continued the campaigns against the non-citizens in the East, he suppressed the remaining powers of the Senate, and relied heavily on the aristocracy and the Blue deme. He involved the Empire in the Scramble for Africa, taking over Nubia and trying to exert some influence over Ethiopia. In the East, his aggressive policies led to the Roman-Babylonian War of 1886-1900, a pointless and brutal war in the desert of Arabia and Mesopotamia. Further to the East, he received a delegation from the Taiping that included members of their imperial family, and he hosted them in Constantinople for nearly two years, but upon realizing just how heretical the Taiping faith was from an Orthodox perspective, he broke relations with the Heavenly Kingdom and banished the delegation. To the West, he tried to further emphasize the authority of the Basileus in Constantinople over that of the Caesar in Rome, repeatedly trying to undermine the authority of the Western Emperor, and even going as far as to request Alessandra, the Caesara who took over the throne from her father in 1905, to personally come to Constantinople to receive her imperial insignia from his hands, something she refused to do, paralyzing relations between the two states.
Andronikos further became known as a ruthless, brutal ruler after stories of how he treated his children began to appear – as he took personal charge of their education, naming all three of them as Despots and even going as far as to have them conscripted as regular soldiers in the field. But just as Europe was waiting to see what he would do next, Andronikos died in sleep in the Great Palace of Constantinople, in December 1905.
And now, the imperial throne belongs to his son, Michael X Palaiologos..

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

[Danceria]

Howdy-ho, lads and lassies

[TENNOHEIKA BANZAI NIHON]

I am still working out the kinks of my app, but could someone pls give me access to the discord? It says I'm in but I can't see any of the messages.

[TENNOHEIKA BANZAI NIHON]

Full Nation Name : The Mighty Empire of Japan
Majority/Official Culture : The culture is Japanese, but after all this time of having its ports open to trade, over the years, Chinese, Korean, and other Asian cultures have been incorporated.
Territorial Core : Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Kuril Islands, Sakhalin Island, Guam, Papua New Guinea, Marina Islands, Guam, Micronesia, Marshall Iislands, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji Islands, Tuvalu, Wake Island, Baker Island, and Howland Island.
Territorial Claim : Takeshima Island, Hawaii
Capital City : Tokyo, Japan
Population : 50,889,500

Government Type : Shogunate (Dictatorship) under Constitutional Monarchy
Government Ideology/Policies : Imperialist, Expansionist
Government Focus : The Shogunate is seeking to expand the military and the economy, in order to become a recognized power capable of comparing to the other states in Asia.
Head of State : Emperor Mutsuhito
Head of Government : Shogun Tokukawa Yoshinobu
Government Description : Under the Constitution, The Emperor is the Head of State, Supreme Commander of the Army and Navy, and the religious leader of the nation. The real power lies in the Shogunate however, who acts as the absolute dictator of the country. He and the Emperor are advised by a council of 330 advisers. 300 of the advisers have been appointed the position. They are former daimyos, samurai, aristocrats, and political leaders. 30 have been elected by a popular vote by the public, and can be anyone, although the Shogun has the power to dismiss any adviser at any time. The Council of Advisers tend to offer guidance on big issues, but generally are allowed to vote on the smaller ones from which the Shogun will take the option from the majority vote. There is also the Office of the Public Adviser. This person is the head of the Council of Advisers and is elected by a majority vote from the public, although the Shogun has the power to dismiss this leader at any given time. The Public Adviser has leads the Council, directly consults with the Shogun and the Emperor, and should the Shogun be rendered unable to complete his duties or dies, the Public Adviser is appointed Regent until a Shogun is selected and takes the throne. In the lower levels of government, there is a democratic voting process to elect lower level city officials, while provincial leaders tend to be appointed by either the Shogun, or by vote in the Council of Advisers.

After the fall of the samurai, the transition was smooth for the most part, and these former samurai retained much of their wealth and power, everything except their title. The Shogun had ruled that the samurai would be allowed to keep and carry their swords and with that much of their pride. The former samurai play a huge role in the country, many of them still alive, and them and their families work in many government positions. Former daimyos are now governors of provinces, mayors in cities, and serve in high ranking positions in the government, ranging from serving on the Council of Advisers, to positions of serving as number two to the Shogun himself. They have not lost their power, their wealth, their pride, only their title. The samurai are a little different. While many served in the Imperial Army or Navy, many of the men and rare female samurai came to serve as police officers, city government officials, advisers to governors and on the Council of Advisers, and some using their vast wealth, owners of companies and leaders in trade.

Majority/State Religion : Shintoism and Buddhism
Religious Description : Shinto is a widely practiced religion in Japan that encourages life, and every natural thing is regarded as a divine spirit. The Emperor is regarded as a divine being, and the dead are treated as spirits that watch down on their descendants. Buddhism came from Korea and China, in early times, and another widely practiced religion that centers around the Buddha and Enlightenment. Other smaller religions include Christianity and Catholicism. These are treated with some respect, but are not common.

Economic Ideologies : Capitalism
Major Production : Japan is know for its good farmland, silk, mining, and fisheries while currently work is being done to create greater industrial abilities. Many natrual resources are not actually found in Japan such as oil and other metals, meaning Japan has to reply on trade and imports.
Economic Description : The majority of Japan's GDP comes from its farming and fishing, although another significant industrial sector is mining and lumber. Japan's most important crop is rice, which can be found in almost every single meal in Japan. The government encourages innovation and competition and tariffs are in place to protect Japan's industries.

Development: Modern
Development Description : Japan always followed after Korea and China, seeking to stay even with them should they become adversaries, and be actual competition. Japan has a good ship-building industry and has built up infrastructure although some rural areas may be more primitive. In effect, due to competition, is a modern nation, although lacks many of the natural resources needed to stay this way, relying on imports and expansion.

Army Description : The Imperial Japanese Army consists of 250,000 men. These men are very well equipped and well trained with the modern Type 30 and Type 38 rifles. They work to obtain the most modern equipment and cutting edge technology that resources allow. Many have seen combat experience, and these men are highly educated at the Imperial Army Academy. These men have diverse training, being that Japan has different terrains, and are used to operating from beaches, mountains, snow, and jungle environments. They specialize in stealth, jungle, and night fighting and are very well equipped to do so. These men are very loyal to the Emperor, having been taught his praises since birth, and are effectively an elite force. In times of war, conscription is often used, and while creating quantity, damages the quality of the force. Nearly all of the men currently in the Army are volunteers.

The Bafuku Army consists of 10,000 enlisted soldiers. These men have been handpicked to take orders from the Shogun and no one else. Loyalty is prized over skill in this army, and while this force sees some of the most elite men in the Japanese Armed forces, the Shogun looks for their loyalty to him above all else. They are given the best equipment, and priority over the Imperial Army. They are the personal guards of the Shogun, and his personal army. They have been deployed many times, if it be to suppress a rebellion, fight a war, or rebuild a city, they will do as he commands. Many of these men can trace their roots to some of the original Bafuku Army members having tradition of protecting the Shogun.

The Imperial Guard consists of 1,500 enlisted soldiers. Their duties vary as while they are trained to take a role as a soldier, their duties are to protect the Imperial Palace, the Emperor, his family, put out any fire on Imperial Property, and have the authority to act as a police force on Palace grounds. They are equally well trained and equipped as the Bafuku Army, but these men are handpicked to be loyal to the Emperor and effectively are the counterpart of the Bafuku Army.

The Imperial Army is always looking at ways to improve the armed forces, and if they can obtain more resources, are bound to expand its size. They are on the forefront of new military technology, and are currently looking into use of zeppelin, observation balloons, and aeroplanes as a military technology.

Army Weakness : The Army has not seen combat against a real military since the 1867 invasion of Papua New Guinea. Other than that, they have only suppressed minor revolts, and invaded the Marina Islands and Guam, which were fairly easy, as the locals lacked modern military capabilities. They are fairly untested in recent history, and at times lack the resources they need to continue. They rely on imports of metal and oil to keep their force moving.

Naval Description : The Imperial Navy is the focus of the government, being an island nation. To get to the colonies, and other nations, the navy must be powerful and have vast capabilities. The Navy operates a large transport fleet in order to ferry troops and sees large amounts of funding poured into it. This force is well trained and specializes in night fighting and sneak attacks. The navy is for the most part is an all volunteer force but has reserve ships in storage that are to be manned by conscripts when war breaks out.

The Navy currently operates; 12 pre-dreadnought battleships, 18 protected cruisers, 8 armored cruisers, 55 torpedo boat destroyers, 56 torpdeo boats, 1 ironclad, 8 gunboats, 2 river gunboats, 4 sloops, 2 survey ships, 7 prototype submarines, 65 transports, and 132 other auxiliary ships.

A side note of this is that the Imperial Army and Navy is known to commission civilian owned ships as transports and hospitals during times of war. One line, know as the Nihon Yusen for example operates 106 transports that could be seized and manned for use in service fairly easily. There are multiple cruise lines, and through this, they have a large selection for transport ships.

They navy enjoys more funding than the Imperial Army as it builds ships that take up a lot of the natural resources of Japan. Although additional battleships have been built from resources though secret agreements with Taiping, adding to the strength of the Imperial Navy. The agreement, while highly secret, provides oil and metals to build up the Navy, important to defending both Japan and possibly Taiping should conflict break out with the Koreas. They are constantly improving their equipment and tactics. Due to the lack of natural resources in Japan, the Navy has taken the approach of using fast, small warships to take out larger ones by using their torpedoes. This has become the focus seen in the Torpedo Boat Destroyers which being fast and agile, in theory could sink a battleship.

Naval Weakness : The Navy lacks the experience of actually engaging in battle. While it has in the past gone on patrols or even intercepted a foreign ship, the navy has never done battle except in support fire and against Papua New Guinea. Historically, navies of the daimyos had battled each other, pirates, and suppressed rebels, but this has not been seen in modern history. The main issue is the lack of natural oil in Japan. Japanese ships that run off of coal are fine, but oil powered ships are harder to maintain, as the navy is forced to import oil to keep up with demand.

Further Military Description : The Imperial Special Naval Landing Forces acts as the marine force of Japan, consisting of 20,000 men. These men are well trained in beach landings, hand to hand combat, and surprise attacks. They are much more skilled than the regular army, and have similar equipment. Their main duties are to land quickly to seize enemy territory, land quick to support a defense effort, or retake an island.

There are other various police organizations such as the Tokko that will deal with issues such as spies or the like.

The samurai have played a huge role in the Shogunate ever since the beginning, but they proved crucial during the reforms. Many during their fall went on to serve in the government and police, while others went and joined the Imperial Army and Navy. Some became generals, or other high ranking officers but there were a good many that continued on as regular infantry. The Shogunate is known for employing regular people to be soldiers since the 1600s but those were usually in lower positions and did not have the same training and while this is similar today, the samurai and their descendants find themselves on equal footing usually, as now the military uses rifles instead of melee weapons.

National Goals : The main goal of the Shogunate to to survive. It faces issues at home and abroad, facing off with other Empires in Korea and China. One main goal is to obtain the resources to continue on, if it means finding a reliable ally close to home, or taking it by force.
National Issues : There is some unrest in the colonies and at home while a major issue is the lack of resources for the ever growing population.
National Figures of Interest : [[OPTIONAL]]
National Ambition/Aspirations : Stabilizing Japan and expanding borders.

History :

1623 - Tokugawa Tadanaga becomes the third Tokugawa Shogun at age 17 after his father abdicates the throne. He is picked despite being younger than his brother Tokugawa Iemitsu, having been their parent's favorite. His father had initially declared his first son would take the throne, but after pressure from his wife, who favored Tadanaga, gives in. Iemitsu is furious but does nothing.

1632 - With the death of his father, Tadanaga seeks to continue his father's work in developing Japan. His father before had worked to develop Tokyo into a more modern city and now Tadanaga took this upon himself to do but for all of Japan.

1633 - Iemitsu in a spite of violence due to his anger over his belief he was not given his rightful place as Shogun, kills one of Tadanaga's retainers and as a result, is forced to commit seppuku after being forced to house arrest. During this same year, following the guidance of the carefully picked advisers in a series of edicts and laws over the course of ten years opens Japan up to trade from the rest of the world in a policy called Hirogeru. He does this because he sees it as furthering his father's dream that his brother had sought to destroy. His brother, Iemitsu had been seeking to expel foreigners and cut off trade, due to his hatred of all white foreigners. Iemitsu's mother had died of Typhus, in his mind, was a foreign disease that would not have come if the foreigners had not brought it to Japan. His hatred went over the top when Tadanaga, who supported foreign religion and trade was selected over him. Tadanaga knew this, and knew this was against both the wishes of his father, and the daimyos that advised him. If he were to do such a thing, it would anger the daimyos, and hurt trade. His administration encourages being open to foreigners and their religions to an extent. This appeases foreign countries and allows for military technological innovation that cements Japan as a military power and modern nation. The expansion of trade boosts the economy and further allows for greater military advancements.

1640 - Under the Tokugawa Tadanaga Shogunate, the population thrives as business booms for the country. The Shogunate has begun sending out trade expeditions of its own, encouraging the population to be accepting of foreigners and move to advance the country's economic and technological status by expanding horizons. Traders can be found on massive ships moving to do trade with not only with Asia, but nontraditional nations such as those in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Americas. This period of time marks the first point in history Japan has been sending mass amounts of trading ships across the globe. As a result of the flourishing trade focus, the Shogunate rushes to build up its navy to defend its ships from piracy, and keep the trade lanes open. By this point while smaller than most Asian Empires, Japan is on equal footing in terms of trade.

1651 - Tadanaga dies at age 45 and is succeeded by his eldest son Tokugawa Ietsuna. He his mother, Oda Nobuyoshi the granddaughter of Oda Nobunaga.

Over the next 94 years, the Shogunate retains strong control over Japan, ushering an age of technological and cultural growth. The population grows immensely, and Japan is starting to look like the modern nation it is today. Roads, bridges, and new buildings are constructed during this period of relative peace. The economy is booming, with merchants from around Asia and even as far away as Europe coming to the vast and rapidly growing trade ports. The country is making a lot of money due to Tadanaga's policies, and is becoming more and more powerful.

1745 - Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune abdicates the throne. Due to his first son's disinterest in politics, he picks his third son, Tokugawa Munetada as Shogun. A series of natural disasters and famines occur throughout the Shogunate, and to manage through this, Munetada institutes policies of rationing, the government purchasing foreign rice for cheap with its trade connections, and draws up plans to invade the Kuril Islands. This is all due to the population growth that was a result from the 'Hirogeru' policy and now the Shogun has to find solutions to solve the issue.

1750 - The Kuril Islands are seized from their native inhabitants, and used to grow crops to help sustain the growing population. These islands are not enough, so large amounts of land on Ryukyu are designated for farming.

1764 - Having no children, Munetada abdicates and appoints his nephew, the son of his eldest brother, Tokugawa Ieharu as Shogun. He goes on to die in 1765, but leaves daimyo advisers to watch over the nation as regents. He works to get on better footing with the Emperor, and is known to have continued work to manage the merchant class rising and hunger.

1787 - Tokugawa Ieharu dies and his son, Tokugawa Ienari is appointed the Shogun. Despite being 19, Ieharu's trusted advisers are appointed as regents and will lead Japan until Ienari is 25.

1788 - Riots erupt over rice in Tokyo, prompting the council of daimyos to place tariffs on all foreign rice and other grains. A great fire erupts in Kyoto, burning down the Imperial Palace. By luck, it had rained in the following days calming the inferno. Immediately after, the daimyos order that rebuilding of the city begin immediately and all excess funding be put into rebuilding Kyoto. They also institute laws and edicts that create an official full time fire fighting force to large public approval that will patrol the streets and also act as a police force. They also create volunteer fire fighting legions and seek out the production of equipment to more effectively put out fires instead of just buckets. In a matter of months already an innovation is on the market, meant to help firefighters breath in smoke.

1833 - A massive famine breaks out due to the corruption of officials in both the high and low levels of the government. Immediately the Shogun takes charge, blaming the corruption on the Imperial Court and moving to crack down on corruption. The Shogun with his personal funds begins purchasing food from local nations and distributing it, while he requests support from the daimyos.

1835 - The famine ends, and the Shogunate seen as largely successful in handling the crisis sees their popularity soar. The Shogun, in fears of another famine, orders plans to be drawn up on an invasion of Papua New Guinea. To do this he orders that by 1838 the fleet must increase the amount of transports by 30 and upgrade existing vessels to suit their purposes.

1837 - The Shogun dies at age 67, and his second son Tokugawa Ieyoshi is appointed to the throne. His plans for invasion of Papua New Guinea are immediately called off as his advisers warn they are are unprepared and leaderless.

1847 - A major earthquake hits Shinano, and as a result, having grown up seeing the kindness and strength of his father, he orders relief operations to begin immediately, and that the armies from surrounding provinces move in and assist rebuilding efforts.

1853 - The Shogun dies from a heart condition, and his first son, Tokugawa Takechiyo is appointed to the throne.

1854 - Earthquakes and Tsunamis devastate the Tokai region. The Shogun rushes to take this chance to win over the people, sending in his personal army to held rebuilding efforts and pushes funding towards feeding and sheltering survivors.

1856 - The Emperor is very supportive of the aggressive military and trade policies of the Shogun, and strengthens the movement towards a new system of a more united Japan.

1858 - A massive cholera outbreak reaches Japan, and officials struggle to manage the crisis. They request support from other provinces to send their doctors and healers, while putting into place self isolation measures for people, encouraging them to stay at home until the outbreak ends. As a result of the virus, Emperor Takechiyo dies. On his deathbed, he supports Tokugawa Yoshinobu to become his successor.

1859 - With Tokugawa Yoshinobu appointed Shogun, he immediately goes about reforming the Shogunate. Corruption is squashed, and the military gets more attention. His goal is to secure his control over the loosening grip of the Shogunate, and gain a central government. He knows if he is to continue to hold power, he must centralize the system so the whole of Japan is completely united. The military at this point has modern weapons but ineffective if Japan were to be invaded. Each domain has its own army of samurai, commanded by the daimyo that is in charge. At this time, the country has hundreds of small armies that supposedly serve the Shogunate but with the command structure so fragmented, in the event of an invasion, the troops would be a mess. If a single daimyo decided to attack, it was sending the entire country into a war. If on daimyo was lax on the military, a whole province was weak. So for Yoshinobu, the daunting task was clear. If he did not do this, his family could potentially easily lose power. He immediately went about forming a national army of the soldiers of all the domains, shouldering the cost of their pensions and other pay. To compensate the daimyos, they were offered payment, commands, high ranking government positions, and personal protection. With the support of his advisers, he convinced all hesitant daimyos with other support, offering them the rights to keep small personal para military police forces of their own.

1860 - The samurai of all provinces are given a choice to join the new national Imperial Army, or to continue on their pension but move to policing position. The switch is relatively peaceful, and while despite anger over losing their status, nothing comes of it because the government promises their pensions and they will still retain some powers. The Shogun is of the samurai class himself and he skillful in this transition. He ordered that the samurai keep all of their land, wealth, and pay, are still allowed the pride of carrying their swords, and still keep their same relative powers. They will lose their title, but not their pride or their money. This is enough for most to go along with this plan, trusting in the Shogun, a samurai himself. There are some against the plan, and some small groups of opposition, but the conflict is almost entirely in debate, as the samurai feel they still have the same powers and are given the same respect, just now they serve the Shogun and the country, not a daimyo or his province.

1861- The Shogun forms a personal army to composed of the most elite and well equipped forces in the Empire.

1862 - Facing pressure from the Imperial Court, and wanting to gain favor with the Emperor, the Shogun creates a new constitution granting the Emperor some of his old powers, including making him the supreme commander of the Imperial Army while the Shogun will still rule. This pleases the Emperor enough, and the two become friendly both seeking a Japan with more power, and reform.

1865 - Hunger among the poor is still common, and consideration is now moved back into the plan formulated by the Ieyoshi Shogunate to invade Papua New Guinea.

1867 - The invasion commences, and despite losses, the Imperial Marines and Army steadily advance, proving their worth and abilities of this newer force. They use modern weapons to great advantage. By 1868 the territory is taken and by early 1870, resistance has died down due to strikes carried out by the Imperial Army. This land is used to farm heavily and to provide for the Empire. Its people are Japanized, and they are welcomed to become a key part of the Empire.

1875 - The standing on the world stage of Japan is positive, and the Shogun holds a strong grip. If it were not for Shogun Tadanaga, the Empire would have been less modern, and plagued with public disapproval, along with ire from the Imperial Court not to mention the world. With the skillful leaders after him, Japan is in a good position on the world stage. Trade as a result of the Hirogeru policy is booming. The country is quite wealthy compared to other powers of its same size, and is doing well to manage the balance. The military continues expansions to improve the readiness of the navy while the army works on prototype rifles.They are trying to create a rifle that is semi-automatic.

1877 - The class system is abolished, but the daimyos still hold the control as advisers. To account for the system, the Shogun appoints them and other powerful officials and samurai to form two groups. One will advise the Shogun and the other the Imperial Court. They form a council that has the power to vote on issues yet for the most part, they are just advisers and what the Shogun says tends to be final. Since the reforms in the past, this seems to be just a formality, not an issue.

1879 - To ease end corruption, the Shogun allows city and provincial officials to be elected in democratic elections. Although he reserves the right to dismiss any one of them for any reason.

1880 - Trade and international cooperation flourish as the Shogun with the new Emperor Mutsuhito encourage the people to reach out and expand economically. As under the former Hirogeru policy, the new Shogun seeks advantageous deals and is looking to expand its GPD even more so.

1885 - Military reforms see new ships and weapons being built everyday as the Shogun travels across the country, leading by example, and meeting his people, and listening to advice to improve the military. Like the rest of Asia, Japan was modern. But the ambitious goal of the Shogunate, was to be the best.

1887 - To meet growing demands from the population, the Marina Islands are seized to help provide a home and resources for Japan. This also acts as a show of power to both the world, and the Imperial Court by the Shogun.

1889 - The capital is moved to Tokyo and construction of the Imperial Palace and government buildings begin.

1890 - The Emperor expresses his intent to get more involved in politics, and now is able to attend more meetings than before, but is kept on a tight leash and tends not to speak.

1891 - The Shogun marries Princess Kazu daughter of Emperor Ninkō as a way to showing the good relationship between him and the Imperial Court.

1895 - As a direct result of the undeclared war seeing Taiping and Korea face off, the Empire of Japan and Taiping form a treaty declaring a state of nonaggression, signed by Yuan Dakai and Shimizu Ieyasu. Only known to the highest levels government, this include a secret pact to join in a military alliance in the event of war with Korea. This also establishes the claims to spheres of influence. On the side the East Orient Co-Prosperity Sphere is created to lower barriers of trade restrictions, but actually acts as a secret front for Taiping to send large amounts of fuel, rare materials, and other resources to the Imperial shipyards.

1897 - The pride of the government, the first Japanese battleship is built, and a celebration is held, with the Shogun and Emperor in attendance, displaying to the world the new power the Empire had gained and how it would not be far off from advancing further.

1900 - The Shogun authorizes the introduction of conscription during a time of need, and due to the encouragement of the public, announces the Office of the Public Adviser. To allow for the public to make more decisions regarding the law, every four years a democratic election will be held to determine the representative that will act in the decision making process. While not being as powerful as the Shogun, this office will in certain areas hold more power and will be more powerful than an individual council member.

1903 - Due to public approval of the Public Adviser office, the Shogun makes a new law allowing for 30 representatives from the public to be elected every two years by majority vote to take a part in the council.

1904 - In a show of force, Guam is taken from the locals with little resistance.

1905 - The Empire continues to build up its forces and conscription was recently imposed after pressure from the Emperor. The military is building up, and it is unclear, if Tokyo is looking for another target, or what it is planning.


RP Sample: 1912-1990 Era War
1912-1990 Era War
Earth II

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

[Nazeroth]

Reservation

Nation Name: Grand Islamic Sultanate of Al-Maghrib
Territory: Algeria, remaining Morocco, Mauritania,Mali, Senegal, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin NOTE: Basically everything west of niger/nigeria that are remaining
#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 and removing reservations.

[Tracian Empire]

Reservation

Nation Name: Grand Islamic Sultanate of Al-Maghrib
Territory: Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania,Mali, Senegal, Canary islands
#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 and removing reservations.

Reservation accepted!

Just keep in mind that Islam in general took a beating in this timeline later on, from the Romans and the Babylonians, so Mecca and Medina are under the control of the pagan Babylonians, which could be very interesting for an Islamic state.

[Nazeroth]

Reservation

Nation Name: Grand Islamic Sultanate of Al-Maghrib
Territory: Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania,Mali, Senegal, Canary islands
#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 and removing reservations.

Reservation accepted!

Just keep in mind that Islam in general took a beating in this timeline later on, from the Romans and the Babylonians, so Mecca and Medina are under the control of the pagan Babylonians, which could be very interesting for an Islamic state.

yeah we are sort of like the Eastern Roman Empire of islam, we are distant from mecca but wish to have it again.

im hoping to be the islamic under dog

[Tracian Empire]

Reservation accepted!

Just keep in mind that Islam in general took a beating in this timeline later on, from the Romans and the Babylonians, so Mecca and Medina are under the control of the pagan Babylonians, which could be very interesting for an Islamic state.

yeah we are sort of like the Eastern Roman Empire of islam, we are distant from mecca but wish to have it again.

im hoping to be the islamic under dog

Sure, it sounds interesting!
Also, keep in mind that there might be no Caliph around, so you could potentially claim that title yourself.

As for your claim, sadly the updated map was not posted and it missed it while initially answering your claim, but Northern Morocco, Western Sahara (as the former Sahara Occidental) and the Canary Islands are reserved by Spain. The rest of your claim is alright though.

[Nazeroth]

yeah we are sort of like the Eastern Roman Empire of islam, we are distant from mecca but wish to have it again.

im hoping to be the islamic under dog

Sure, it sounds interesting!
Also, keep in mind that there might be no Caliph around, so you could potentially claim that title yourself.

As for your claim, sadly the updated map was not posted and it missed it while initially answering your claim, but Northern Morocco, Western Sahara (as the former Sahara Occidental) and the Canary Islands are reserved by Spain. The rest of your claim is alright though.

that leaves me with a bunch of dirt...lol