After his successful invasion of Byzantium in 1082, it was 'discovered' that 'Michael' was actually a monk named Raiktor, and he was subsequently executed. This marked the end of the Greek Led Byzantium, as the real Michael had not wanted his crown, and as the history books would read 'Take the fucking chair yourself', in a rather gossip-worthy letter. Robert as it would turn out, would love to have taken the crown of Byzantium, and on October 26th, 1082, he was crowned Emperor of all Byzantines. As a ruler he was decent enough, but he was a warrior, so in 1084, he would lead what would be known as Megáli Anakatálipsi, or The Great Reconquest. He would lead the largest army the Byzantines would ever field, as many young men joined his army.
From 1084 to 1091, the Byzantine army would conquer and conquer. Cities that yielded to him were spared, and allowed nominal religious freedom, such as Cairo and Giza. But most cities caused him sufferance. The Cities of Jerusalem, Alexandrea, Damascus, Beirut, Tripoli, and many more suffered near extinction, as most of their people were killed, down to a man. This, as it would turn out, would lead to another war to strike up.
Whilst Robert was off in the Middle East, his heir Roger Borsa was the Duke of Apulia, and was fighting a war that seemed impossible.
The HRE under Henry II was invading Apulia, with the aid of the Pope, it seems as if Roger would die, but he was able to lead decent enough defense, keeping the HRE from advancing, and was able to hold them off, until Robert would return. As it turns out, Robert was pissed.
After defeating the Emirs of Africa, he set sail and landed in Pisa, burning it to the ground. he would kill from Tuscany down to Rome, and forced The Pope and the HRE to grant him vast tracts of land. The next day the Pope had hung himself, with a distant relative of the de Normandie line become Pope Honorius II.
Robert would die in 1105, from Typhoid fever. He would pass the throne to Roger Borsa, who would become Roger I "the Lawgiver'. The Hauteville family would continue in Byzantium until modern day, as one of the longest royal lineages to exist.
Several prominent Hauteville Royals.
-Robert I "The Fox" Hauteville
-Roger I "The Lawgiver" Hauteville
- William VI "The Burning" Hauteville
-Roger II "The Possessed" Hauteville
-Robert III "The Fury" Hauteville
- William IV "The Good" Hauteville
- Alexander I "The Ironside" Hauteville
-Robert X "Eagle Eye" Hauteville