The Byzantine Republic - An Alternate Middle Ages RP
Inspired (but not plaigairzed) from this thread.
After the Rise of Islam and the many disasters that befell the Basilea ton Rhomanion (Byzantine Empire, though more accurately translated as 'Roman Empire'), the nation was reduced to Constantinople and most of Anatolia, which in turn was in danger of being lost due to the misrule of many reigning Emperors, many of whom embraced the creed of Iconoclasm, which forbade the veneration of Icons. As the populace questioned the official Imperial Ideologies, many of the elite aristocrats began reexamining the history of classical times, finding out that most of the expansion of the Empire in the past was as a Republic (not quite true, it's an exaggeration, perhaps even a lie, but one easily believed), and that most of its losses came as an Empire (also an easily belived lie).
Not merely that, but the Iconoclast Emperors, despite their undoubted military successes, were increasingly alienated from the common people, relying mostly on an army that was loyal to them...up to a point. Finally, however, the controversy reached a head when the Iconoclasts convened a fradulent Ecunemical Council, then, when said council showed signs of independence, moved to threaten it by force.
The revolution was swift and bloody, with riots in the streets, soldiers finally finding their loyalty pushed to the limits, and the Church siding with the rebels. News of the sack of Amorium, a key Imperial City, by the Arabs, also helped turn public opinion against the Emperor (who, no, isn't Theophilos, but an analogue). And, when the dust finally settled, one general, known as Thomas the Liberator, was supreme...but, after driving back the Arabs, cast aside all claim to the Imperial Throne and, with the agreement of the local, urban elites, the clergy, and the remaining higher-ups within the Military, proclaimed a Republic (yes, this is implausible, but the point is fun, not plausibility). This was due to the fact that Thomas had not been raised in the countryside, but was rather part of the urban elites that wanted a return to the days of Democracy.
That was in 842. The present day is two centuries later, and the Politeia tōn Rhōmaiōn, despite fractious, corrupt politics, has shifted the focus of the Empire from blind aderhence to ideologies of the past, and into a maritime, commercial direction much like Original Timeline's Venice, which in said Original Timeline, was able to present a powerful opponent to the Basilea despite just being a city, due to its focus on trade helped by its republicanism.
Now is the year 1042, and the trade-oriented direction of the Empire, acting in synergery with its superior Theme System, has resulted in a golden age where few enemies are to be found, the nations of the West look to it as a threat to their values, as well as the beating heart of Christendom, and all yet seems well.
However, the Kingdoms of the Middle East are falling to a new force, the Turks. Masters of the Steppe and Horse Archery, these people seek control of the centres of Islam, their new faith. Though still but a distant rumor, these nomads are crushing all in their way through horsemanship and archery, and inevitably, the Byzantine Republic is in great danger...
Rules:
1.) No Godmoding or Powergaming.
2.) No acting like you have unlimited troops..
3.) Timeskips of less than a week are permitted, but more than a week must be cleared with the other players.
4.) The minimum of each post is two paragraphs of three full lines each.
5.) I cannot always read your NRP Posts, so make sure to put a TL;DR summarizing your actions at the end of your turns.
Nation Sheet:
Nation:
Location:
Total Military Numbers (Keep it Reasonable!):
Icon:
History:
Character Sheet (Yes, Characters can be played separately from nations):
Name:
Appearance:
Bio:
Age:
Skills:
Personality:
Faction (if any):
Inspired (but not plaigairzed) from this thread.
After the Rise of Islam and the many disasters that befell the Basilea ton Rhomanion (Byzantine Empire, though more accurately translated as 'Roman Empire'), the nation was reduced to Constantinople and most of Anatolia, which in turn was in danger of being lost due to the misrule of many reigning Emperors, many of whom embraced the creed of Iconoclasm, which forbade the veneration of Icons. As the populace questioned the official Imperial Ideologies, many of the elite aristocrats began reexamining the history of classical times, finding out that most of the expansion of the Empire in the past was as a Republic (not quite true, it's an exaggeration, perhaps even a lie, but one easily believed), and that most of its losses came as an Empire (also an easily belived lie).
Not merely that, but the Iconoclast Emperors, despite their undoubted military successes, were increasingly alienated from the common people, relying mostly on an army that was loyal to them...up to a point. Finally, however, the controversy reached a head when the Iconoclasts convened a fradulent Ecunemical Council, then, when said council showed signs of independence, moved to threaten it by force.
The revolution was swift and bloody, with riots in the streets, soldiers finally finding their loyalty pushed to the limits, and the Church siding with the rebels. News of the sack of Amorium, a key Imperial City, by the Arabs, also helped turn public opinion against the Emperor (who, no, isn't Theophilos, but an analogue). And, when the dust finally settled, one general, known as Thomas the Liberator, was supreme...but, after driving back the Arabs, cast aside all claim to the Imperial Throne and, with the agreement of the local, urban elites, the clergy, and the remaining higher-ups within the Military, proclaimed a Republic (yes, this is implausible, but the point is fun, not plausibility). This was due to the fact that Thomas had not been raised in the countryside, but was rather part of the urban elites that wanted a return to the days of Democracy.
That was in 842. The present day is two centuries later, and the Politeia tōn Rhōmaiōn, despite fractious, corrupt politics, has shifted the focus of the Empire from blind aderhence to ideologies of the past, and into a maritime, commercial direction much like Original Timeline's Venice, which in said Original Timeline, was able to present a powerful opponent to the Basilea despite just being a city, due to its focus on trade helped by its republicanism.
Now is the year 1042, and the trade-oriented direction of the Empire, acting in synergery with its superior Theme System, has resulted in a golden age where few enemies are to be found, the nations of the West look to it as a threat to their values, as well as the beating heart of Christendom, and all yet seems well.
However, the Kingdoms of the Middle East are falling to a new force, the Turks. Masters of the Steppe and Horse Archery, these people seek control of the centres of Islam, their new faith. Though still but a distant rumor, these nomads are crushing all in their way through horsemanship and archery, and inevitably, the Byzantine Republic is in great danger...
Rules:
1.) No Godmoding or Powergaming.
2.) No acting like you have unlimited troops..
3.) Timeskips of less than a week are permitted, but more than a week must be cleared with the other players.
4.) The minimum of each post is two paragraphs of three full lines each.
5.) I cannot always read your NRP Posts, so make sure to put a TL;DR summarizing your actions at the end of your turns.
Nation Sheet:
Nation:
Location:
Total Military Numbers (Keep it Reasonable!):
Icon:
History:
Character Sheet (Yes, Characters can be played separately from nations):
Name:
Appearance:
Bio:
Age:
Skills:
Personality:
Faction (if any):
