Eparkhos
Well-known member
On further research, the timing is inopportune. Basil's reign is still in its weak phase, Lekapenos holds a lot of power and Phokas & Skleros are still waiting in the wings in Baghdad for any sign of weakness. Otto's capture is still a major boon, and I think Basil might--or even need to--use it to expand influence in Italy. The opportunities are simply too plentiful:
- the death of the Sicilian emir at Stilo leaves a succession crisis/civil war in Sicily
- the Lombard principalities were thrown into chaos by Otto's campaign and the deaths of their princes at Stilo
- Antipope Boniface VII is in exile in Constantinople, ready to be installed in Rome
- Restoring rule in Italy allows him to one-up Otto even harder and legitimize himself.
The problem with this is that Lekapenos still holds far too much influence. This leaves Basil with two choices; crushing Lekapenos and wasting the golden opportunity or taking the opportunity and leaving Lekapenos in a dangerous position. Knowing Basil, the logical choice is to crush Lekapenos whatever the cost; however, I'm interested in a Byzzie-wank, so I'll have the young, rash Basil decide to prioritize Italy. I'd say he probably succeeds, reconquers Apulia, Langobardia and E/NE Sicily--the latter with the help of a revolt, which were pretty much constant at this point--subdues the Lombard princes and installs Boniface VII in Rome.
Once Basil is sufficiently far away, Lekapenos, knowing that the emperor is against him, raises Constantine VIII as sole emperor with himself as the man behind the throne. Once word of this reaches Baghdad, Phokas & Skleros will cross the frontier and launch a revolt in the east. Samuel of Bulgaria will also be playing merry hell in the Balkans. Basil rushes eastward via sea, defeating Lekapenos/Constantine/whoever their chief general is (Delphinas?) and regaining the capital before crossing into Anatolia and defeating the Anatolian rebels from 985-988(ish). (This may seem deterministic, but simply put Basil is the better commander and has better legitimacy/support)
Effectively, Basil consolidates his hold on power a few years earlier and the Byzantines gain much of Italy in the process. Also interesting is the question of succession--with Constantine dead/blinded/imprisoned, will Basil formally adopt someone or (gasp!) marry someone to produce an heir?
- the death of the Sicilian emir at Stilo leaves a succession crisis/civil war in Sicily
- the Lombard principalities were thrown into chaos by Otto's campaign and the deaths of their princes at Stilo
- Antipope Boniface VII is in exile in Constantinople, ready to be installed in Rome
- Restoring rule in Italy allows him to one-up Otto even harder and legitimize himself.
The problem with this is that Lekapenos still holds far too much influence. This leaves Basil with two choices; crushing Lekapenos and wasting the golden opportunity or taking the opportunity and leaving Lekapenos in a dangerous position. Knowing Basil, the logical choice is to crush Lekapenos whatever the cost; however, I'm interested in a Byzzie-wank, so I'll have the young, rash Basil decide to prioritize Italy. I'd say he probably succeeds, reconquers Apulia, Langobardia and E/NE Sicily--the latter with the help of a revolt, which were pretty much constant at this point--subdues the Lombard princes and installs Boniface VII in Rome.
Once Basil is sufficiently far away, Lekapenos, knowing that the emperor is against him, raises Constantine VIII as sole emperor with himself as the man behind the throne. Once word of this reaches Baghdad, Phokas & Skleros will cross the frontier and launch a revolt in the east. Samuel of Bulgaria will also be playing merry hell in the Balkans. Basil rushes eastward via sea, defeating Lekapenos/Constantine/whoever their chief general is (Delphinas?) and regaining the capital before crossing into Anatolia and defeating the Anatolian rebels from 985-988(ish). (This may seem deterministic, but simply put Basil is the better commander and has better legitimacy/support)
Effectively, Basil consolidates his hold on power a few years earlier and the Byzantines gain much of Italy in the process. Also interesting is the question of succession--with Constantine dead/blinded/imprisoned, will Basil formally adopt someone or (gasp!) marry someone to produce an heir?