Crusader Kings
The Aftermath
The Seljuk invasion of Armenia, coupled with the total mismanagement of the state & army by the Doukas Emperors, has plunged the Byzantine Empire into chaos. Armenia has been lost to the Turkish hordes & civil war has broken out across the Empire with five claimants all vying for the Imperial throne.
However first, I think it is prudent to show the reader an update of the various events that have been going on outside of the Byzantine Empire, now that it is 1070. As an additional note, I also hope that this chapter, as with most chapters in the future, will span a much greater time period than the previous one (I'll aim for 10+ years) which was an exception due to the Seljuk invasion & all that it entailed.
First is Western Europe. In Iberia the Jimenas have stopped squabbling among themselves long enough to unite against the Moors to the south. The Kingdom of Aragon now stretches from the Pyrenees to across the plains of Albarracin & Zaragoza, while Barcelona has reconquered the interior of it's de jure lands. However this unity of Christian Kings soon ends as in late 1069, Castille declares war of Leon, backed by its' Galician allies.
France has lost it's minor war with the Holy Roman Empire over Zeeland, with its' ruler King Philippe being killed in battle during the conflict. Now the boy king Hugues II Capet sits on the throne of France, but his powerful vassal, the Duke of Burgundy, has rebelled in an attempt to usurp it. Hugues II is backed by Barcelona in this rebellion.
Lastly, William the Conqueror of England has consolidated his power in his new realm and has declared war on Scotland over the province of Cumberland. Scotland, ruled by King Malcolm III, has exhausted itself in a long, yet successful, war against the Kingdom of the Isles (Suðreyjar), and it is no shape to defend against the Norman army.
In Eastern Europe, the Great Chiefdom of Novgorod, lead by the ambitious High Chief Svaitoslav, has completely subjugated it's fellow Rurikovich principalities of Kiev & Ryazan. Now only Polotsk, Galich & Rostov remain of the Rus Princes, against the expansionist Chiefdom.
The Hungarian King, Salamon, has invaded the Pecheneg steppe nomads to his east with the ambition of liberating the province of Tirgoviste from the Turkic heathens.
Lastly the Seljuk Sultanate has descended into civil war. Despite leading the Turks to victory against Byzantium, many of Alp Arslan's vassals think that the Sultan wields too much power & so have rebelled in an attempt to overthrow him and replace him with a more tractable leader. However Alp Arslan is a very popular figure for his great victories, has an equal amount of support in comparison to the rebellion and is a great military commander. These factors all set the stage for a long & hard war among the Turks, a blessing for Byzantium that could not have come at a better time, hopefully giving the Empire the opportunity it needs to recover.
After the rebellions are defeated that is.
The rebellion has progressed slightly from late 1069 to early 1070. A 5th rebellion, lead by Doux Leon of Thracesia, rose up in support of Theodora Komnenos, who is betrothed to Nikoloas Palaiologos, However Nikephoros would not break his loyalty to the House of Doukas, even for son's betrothed.
Nikephoros' campaign against the Athenian rebels has left them the weakest of claimants, followed by the Charsianon rebels, whose foolish gamble to take Constantinople ended badly for them at the battle of Galata. However the other claimants are still strong. Manuel Komnenos & the Armeniacon rebels are the most powerful faction, having beaten the loyalists in many battles & securing the aide of Seljuk mercenaries. Aside from the Komnenoi are Romanos Diogenes and his Anatolian rebels, who while beaten badly by Manuel at the battle of Prusa, still maintain a large army. It is this faction of rebels who Michael sends Nikephoros to meet.
The Epirotian army lands at Attaleia and quickly marches on Seleukeia, a province being besieged by Diogenes. On the 8th of February, battle is drawn between the two armies & Nikephoros is eager to enact his Liege's vengeance of the treacherous general
.
As Nikephoros conducts his battle against the Anatolian rebels, he receives news that Doux Leon & his Thracesian rebels have attacked Constantinople, besieging it by sea & land. The remnants of the Imperial army has attempted to relieve the siege but is outnumbered. Nikephoros is ordered to return & defend Constantinople after Diogenes is defeated.
Nikephoros is victorious at Seleukeia, but Romanos evades capture & retreats will a large portion of his army still intact. This failure to produce a decisive victory against Diogenes, is costly for the loyalists, for Nikephoros can no long evacuate Anatolia with a rebel army at his back & means he is unable to relieve Constantinople of the Thracesian siege. Meanwhile the loyalist attempts to break the siege, having given up hope of Epirotian reinforcement, end in disaster & complete defeat as out of an army of 2800 men, only 600 are able to retreat back behind the failing safety of Constantinople's walls. The Doux of Thrace moves in for the kill...
However as the Thracesians begin the final siege, a huge fleet of ships arrive on the Golden horn! Reinforcements from Cherson & Phaphlagonia storm the beaches of Constantinople & the Thracesian army is quickly broken, scattering like chaff before the wind. But the loyalists have not won. The Doux of Cherson, after being paraded around Constantinople, presents Basileus Michael with an ultimatum. Clearly having rethought his prior support of Michael, he demands that the young Basileus step down and hand the throne to Doux Alexios Komnenos of Phaphlagonia, who had secured Cherson's alliance. With the traitors already inside his city, the ultimatum was merely a formality & Michael VII has no choice. He folds into the demands of Cherson & Phaphlagonia and Alexios Komnenos is declared as Basileus Aleixos I Komnenos of the Byzantine Empire!
The new Basileus is only a boy, but is already promising. He is as shrewd as a fox, with a sharp mind for learning, He is very precocious, having earned a reputation for being a conscientious youth & deep thinker, but not a weak willed scholarly type either for many of his tutors look fondly on his hearty & strong-willed attitude. Should he be allowed to rule with complete authority, then surely the Empire will prosper once more!
Alexios' rise to Emperor is a shock to many throughout the Empire, as everyone thought Michael, having refused the demands of five factions already - despite the hopeless situation, would cling onto power until he died. Manuel Komnenos signs a white peace with his younger brother, wishing not to fight his own kin & knowing that he will effectively rule alongside the new Emperor, due to their brotherhood, at least until Alexios reaches maturity. Manuel had always been the most dangerous of the factions, with the largest army & the greatest general in the form of Theodoros Gabras & with Armeniacon now at peace with the Imperial crown, a large degree of stability is already restored.
With Michael disposed & knowing that a war against the Komnenoi would be futile, Nikephoros make a truce with Diogenes that allows him to freely sail home from Seleukeia. Once back in Epirus, Michael receives a message from Ancyra (for Alexios has yet to move his court to Constantinople) offering him the position of Adviser to Basileus if keeps peace with the new Emperor. Already intending to do so, Nikephoros accepts the position. Nikephoros, through his efforts in the civil war, has built himself a reputation for being a loyal & useful vassal & Alexios is eager to bind that loyalty to himself.
Now that his part in the war is over, Nikephoros decides that now is the time to introduce his heir, Georgios, into the realm.
Freed from the burdens of war, Nikephoros now begins to diligently help administer his realm, leading a hand to his councilors in their duty. Nikephoros is not a man for intrigue, but he hopes that by earning the respect & favors of his councilors they will support him in a number of reforms he has in mind to turn Epirus into a stronger Theme.
Unfortunately, these reforms will have to wait, as it appears Nikephoros' respite from war is at an end. Alexios has just raised a new army thanks to generous donations from Doux Theodoros of Cherson's Tradition faction, and he needs a tried & tested commander to lead it. Despite not feeling the same loyalty to the Komnenoi that he did for the Doukases, Nikephoros accepts as he knows he will need to court favor with the new Emperor if he wishes to reform Epirus.
The war is well and truly in its' final stages. Diogenes is able to score an impressive victory against Alexios' army at Lykia. However as Romanos campaigns away, the new Imperial army descends on his capital at Attaleia & besieges the city. Romanos is unable to get back in time in order to stop Nikephoros from taking the city & capturing Diogenes' wife. Realizing the futility of his situation, Romanos surrenders to Nikephoros the next day, who is now known as the "Bold" for his actions. One rebellion down, three to go.
In April 1072, the Imperial army is able to score a victory over the Thracesian rebels who where beginning to threaten Constantinople once more, scattering them yet again. Doux Leon is unable to avoid capture this time, having been found by Alexios' men hiding in a nearby hamlet. The Doux is forced to surrender & only two rebellions are left, the Athenian & Charsianon rebels.
The two rebellions have almost no army between them & are only holding out in their scattered strongholds...the war is practically won. Alexios allows Nikephoros to return home & he is now a respected commander. Soon after, Nikephoros Melissenos of Athens tries for a white peace with Alexios & is mercifully granted it.
In early 1073, the Seljuk rebellion ends after 3 years of war, Alp Arslan stands victorious...
In December 1073, Nikephoros is able to secure an alliance with King Giorgi II of Georgia, by betrothing his son Philaretos to Princess Bedisa of Georgia.
Finally, in January 1074, the war of the five Emperors is over, after a brutal seven years of fighting. Alexios Komnenos stands victorious.
Alexios sends out invites to his coronation at Ancyra & Nikephoros replies saying that he will gladly attend.
At the same time Alexios claims Constantinople for himself & moves his court there, organising a jousting tournament to celebrate his arrival. Nikephoros is invited, and gladly accepts seeing it as a chance to prove his worth throughout the Empire & gain even more influence in the Imperial court.
For further celebration, Alexios decides to increase Byzantine power in the west, to make up for the lost lands in the east & declares war on the neighbouring Serbian Duke of Duklja, hoping to add his lands to the Imperial territory.
Elsewhere in the world Leon weakened by their failed reconquest of Badajoz, proves unable to stand against the alliance of Castille & Galicia. The Castillian King takes the thrones, forming Castillia-Leon, the new regional power of Iberia.
England is also victorious in its' war against Scotland, conquering Cumberland from the crown.
In the middle east, the Fatamid Caliphate breaks into revolt, in an attempt to overthrow the unpopular Caliph. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Alp Arslan invades Fatamid held Syria.
The war in Duklja would be over by early 1075...
As Nikephoros prepares to travel to Constantinople for the jousting tournament, his son Romanos stops him with the request to travel with him & stay in the capital so that he can be in better service to the Empire. Nikephoros allows his request
Nikephoros arrives at the capital accompanied by Romanos. The jousting tourney is a glorious event, with Nikephoros getting through the first 2 rounds, before being unseated in the third after one of the best bouts in the tournament. Despite not winning, he has covered himself in glory.
After the tournament, the council has a meeting at the Imperial palace. As it ends, Doux Theodoros Gabras, the Imperial Protostrator, calls Nikephoros to one side. He talks to Nikephoros in lengths about the importance of the Bible when making decisions on the council & that Nikephoros is lacking in his knowledge of it. Theodoros offers to teach Nikephoros about the Bible on the council's behalf, but this only serves in flaring the anger of Nikephoros, who firmly believes that Religion & politics should not mix.
The meeting was regarding the nomadic Pecheneg Turks to the north, who where already at war with the Doux of Karvuna, a vassal of the Empire. Theodoros had proposed to take over Karvuna's war & conquer the territory of Wallachia for the Imperial throne, however Nikephoros had cautioned the Basileus that such an act would undoubtedly anger Karvuna. Eventually Nikephoros was shut down by Theodoros when he declared that Alexios had a God-given right to the Imperial throne & thus a right to everyone territory controlled by it, even those currently in dispute, such as Wallachia. This pleased Alexios, who decided to follow Theodoros' advise, declared war of the Pecheneg Khaganate once the meeting had ended.
In early 1076, with the war against the Pecheneg's going well, Nikephoros briefly withdraws from the battlefield to attend the coronation of Giorgi II of Georgia.
Nikephoros takes a large group of courtiers with him to the Georgian Coronation, along with his son Nikoloas. His wife Ioanna is unable to attend for she is educating young Philaretos.
As they gathered nobles celebrate the coronation, Nikephoros becomes convinced that a Epirotain women of a very minor noble family, is attracted to him. A passionate man, and not one to hold back from such opportunities, Nikephoros decides to make his move...
And it turns out that his suspicions where correct...
In October 1076, Alexios is successful in his war against the Pechenegs at takes the lands of Wallachia for the Empire. The Empire has surely entered a new age of prosperity & glory under the wise rule of the Komnenoi. Even Nikephoros has forgotten his previous ties of loyalty to the house of Doukas.
In early 1077 Nikephoros receives a visit from Nikarete. She has given birth to a son named Eugenios...
While not above affairs,Nikephoros considers himself too honorable to denounce the child & so begrudgingly acknowledges him as an illegitimate bastard.
Things go from humiliation to humiliation for Nikephoros as he is informed that Alexios has declared war on King Giorgi, Nikephoros' ally, with out even asking his adviser. Powerless to stop Alexios, Nikephoros can do nothing as Giorgi sends him hostile letters about his apparent betrayal of their alliance.
Some Douxes are beginning to feel that Alexios is being too aggressive with his expansionism, and so the Basileus' greatest supporter, the Doux of Cherson, calls a meeting of his faction to work out the problem in the Emperor's name. Nikephoros is personally quite annoyed with the Emperor's actions, but decides against removing Cherson as leader, despite the fact that he a zealously pro-Komnenos.
Cherson's meeting involves a huge presentation about the virtues of Basileus Alexios & that his expansion was only just the wishes of God. Nikephoros remains skeptical on this point, along with many others, but he can't help but nodding at a few of Cherson's points.
The war against Giorgi does not go of to a good start, with the Georgians soundly defeating the initial Byzantine offensive. However, the Empire massively outnumbers the Georgians still & there is little they can do to stop the rest of the Byzantine army from breaking into Georgia.
Nikephoros becomes more & more depressed as his position on the council is undermined by the other councillors (Theodoros in particular) & the actions of the Emperor himself. As a result he begins to spend more & more time in a nearby monastery, sampling the very fine wine that they make. These visits become so frequent that Nikephoros begins to build a reputation for himself as a bit of a drunkard.
In 1078, Alp Arslan is victorious once more, crushing the Fatamids in Syria & taking the land for himself. Truly a legendary leader.
Following Nikephoros' drunkenness, Nikarete has started to avoid him. Eventually the both of them decide to stop seeing each other, though this hurts Nikephoros, causing him to despair even more.,
However before Nikephoros can fully fall into the clutches of depression, things begin to look up for him. Despite being on the verge of victory, Alp Arslan's victory in Syria has worried Alexios, who had hoped the Turk would've been defeated & humiliated and as a consequence he believes that the Orthodox states of Byzantium & Georgia should stand unified together. The young Basileus calls on Nikephoros to negotiate a white peace between the two nations, which he does with both pleasure & success.
This new recognition, along with support for Ioanna, also helps Nikephoros to recover from his bout of drunkenness.
Nikephoros also seizes the chance to enact the reforms he had always planned on. Through honeyed words & monetary promises, he is able to secure the aide of the majority of his council, which he then uses to pass a new doctrine, that dictates higher vassal obligations to the Doux of Epirus.
Alexios is completely indifferent to Nikephoros' new law in Epirus, telling his adviser that governing his Theme is Nikephoros' duty alone. This disinterest is most likely due to Alexios' intense focus on his own secret plans, that he has chosen not to reveal to his court. That is until the 17th May 1079, where he reveals them to the whole world...
After the rebellions are defeated that is.
The rebellion has progressed slightly from late 1069 to early 1070. A 5th rebellion, lead by Doux Leon of Thracesia, rose up in support of Theodora Komnenos, who is betrothed to Nikoloas Palaiologos, However Nikephoros would not break his loyalty to the House of Doukas, even for son's betrothed.
Nikephoros' campaign against the Athenian rebels has left them the weakest of claimants, followed by the Charsianon rebels, whose foolish gamble to take Constantinople ended badly for them at the battle of Galata. However the other claimants are still strong. Manuel Komnenos & the Armeniacon rebels are the most powerful faction, having beaten the loyalists in many battles & securing the aide of Seljuk mercenaries. Aside from the Komnenoi are Romanos Diogenes and his Anatolian rebels, who while beaten badly by Manuel at the battle of Prusa, still maintain a large army. It is this faction of rebels who Michael sends Nikephoros to meet.
The Epirotian army lands at Attaleia and quickly marches on Seleukeia, a province being besieged by Diogenes. On the 8th of February, battle is drawn between the two armies & Nikephoros is eager to enact his Liege's vengeance of the treacherous general
As Nikephoros conducts his battle against the Anatolian rebels, he receives news that Doux Leon & his Thracesian rebels have attacked Constantinople, besieging it by sea & land. The remnants of the Imperial army has attempted to relieve the siege but is outnumbered. Nikephoros is ordered to return & defend Constantinople after Diogenes is defeated.
Nikephoros is victorious at Seleukeia, but Romanos evades capture & retreats will a large portion of his army still intact. This failure to produce a decisive victory against Diogenes, is costly for the loyalists, for Nikephoros can no long evacuate Anatolia with a rebel army at his back & means he is unable to relieve Constantinople of the Thracesian siege. Meanwhile the loyalist attempts to break the siege, having given up hope of Epirotian reinforcement, end in disaster & complete defeat as out of an army of 2800 men, only 600 are able to retreat back behind the failing safety of Constantinople's walls. The Doux of Thrace moves in for the kill...
However as the Thracesians begin the final siege, a huge fleet of ships arrive on the Golden horn! Reinforcements from Cherson & Phaphlagonia storm the beaches of Constantinople & the Thracesian army is quickly broken, scattering like chaff before the wind. But the loyalists have not won. The Doux of Cherson, after being paraded around Constantinople, presents Basileus Michael with an ultimatum. Clearly having rethought his prior support of Michael, he demands that the young Basileus step down and hand the throne to Doux Alexios Komnenos of Phaphlagonia, who had secured Cherson's alliance. With the traitors already inside his city, the ultimatum was merely a formality & Michael VII has no choice. He folds into the demands of Cherson & Phaphlagonia and Alexios Komnenos is declared as Basileus Aleixos I Komnenos of the Byzantine Empire!
The new Basileus is only a boy, but is already promising. He is as shrewd as a fox, with a sharp mind for learning, He is very precocious, having earned a reputation for being a conscientious youth & deep thinker, but not a weak willed scholarly type either for many of his tutors look fondly on his hearty & strong-willed attitude. Should he be allowed to rule with complete authority, then surely the Empire will prosper once more!
Alexios' rise to Emperor is a shock to many throughout the Empire, as everyone thought Michael, having refused the demands of five factions already - despite the hopeless situation, would cling onto power until he died. Manuel Komnenos signs a white peace with his younger brother, wishing not to fight his own kin & knowing that he will effectively rule alongside the new Emperor, due to their brotherhood, at least until Alexios reaches maturity. Manuel had always been the most dangerous of the factions, with the largest army & the greatest general in the form of Theodoros Gabras & with Armeniacon now at peace with the Imperial crown, a large degree of stability is already restored.
With Michael disposed & knowing that a war against the Komnenoi would be futile, Nikephoros make a truce with Diogenes that allows him to freely sail home from Seleukeia. Once back in Epirus, Michael receives a message from Ancyra (for Alexios has yet to move his court to Constantinople) offering him the position of Adviser to Basileus if keeps peace with the new Emperor. Already intending to do so, Nikephoros accepts the position. Nikephoros, through his efforts in the civil war, has built himself a reputation for being a loyal & useful vassal & Alexios is eager to bind that loyalty to himself.
Now that his part in the war is over, Nikephoros decides that now is the time to introduce his heir, Georgios, into the realm.
Freed from the burdens of war, Nikephoros now begins to diligently help administer his realm, leading a hand to his councilors in their duty. Nikephoros is not a man for intrigue, but he hopes that by earning the respect & favors of his councilors they will support him in a number of reforms he has in mind to turn Epirus into a stronger Theme.
Unfortunately, these reforms will have to wait, as it appears Nikephoros' respite from war is at an end. Alexios has just raised a new army thanks to generous donations from Doux Theodoros of Cherson's Tradition faction, and he needs a tried & tested commander to lead it. Despite not feeling the same loyalty to the Komnenoi that he did for the Doukases, Nikephoros accepts as he knows he will need to court favor with the new Emperor if he wishes to reform Epirus.
The war is well and truly in its' final stages. Diogenes is able to score an impressive victory against Alexios' army at Lykia. However as Romanos campaigns away, the new Imperial army descends on his capital at Attaleia & besieges the city. Romanos is unable to get back in time in order to stop Nikephoros from taking the city & capturing Diogenes' wife. Realizing the futility of his situation, Romanos surrenders to Nikephoros the next day, who is now known as the "Bold" for his actions. One rebellion down, three to go.
In April 1072, the Imperial army is able to score a victory over the Thracesian rebels who where beginning to threaten Constantinople once more, scattering them yet again. Doux Leon is unable to avoid capture this time, having been found by Alexios' men hiding in a nearby hamlet. The Doux is forced to surrender & only two rebellions are left, the Athenian & Charsianon rebels.
The two rebellions have almost no army between them & are only holding out in their scattered strongholds...the war is practically won. Alexios allows Nikephoros to return home & he is now a respected commander. Soon after, Nikephoros Melissenos of Athens tries for a white peace with Alexios & is mercifully granted it.
In early 1073, the Seljuk rebellion ends after 3 years of war, Alp Arslan stands victorious...
In December 1073, Nikephoros is able to secure an alliance with King Giorgi II of Georgia, by betrothing his son Philaretos to Princess Bedisa of Georgia.
Finally, in January 1074, the war of the five Emperors is over, after a brutal seven years of fighting. Alexios Komnenos stands victorious.
Alexios sends out invites to his coronation at Ancyra & Nikephoros replies saying that he will gladly attend.
At the same time Alexios claims Constantinople for himself & moves his court there, organising a jousting tournament to celebrate his arrival. Nikephoros is invited, and gladly accepts seeing it as a chance to prove his worth throughout the Empire & gain even more influence in the Imperial court.
For further celebration, Alexios decides to increase Byzantine power in the west, to make up for the lost lands in the east & declares war on the neighbouring Serbian Duke of Duklja, hoping to add his lands to the Imperial territory.
Elsewhere in the world Leon weakened by their failed reconquest of Badajoz, proves unable to stand against the alliance of Castille & Galicia. The Castillian King takes the thrones, forming Castillia-Leon, the new regional power of Iberia.
England is also victorious in its' war against Scotland, conquering Cumberland from the crown.
In the middle east, the Fatamid Caliphate breaks into revolt, in an attempt to overthrow the unpopular Caliph. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Alp Arslan invades Fatamid held Syria.
The war in Duklja would be over by early 1075...
As Nikephoros prepares to travel to Constantinople for the jousting tournament, his son Romanos stops him with the request to travel with him & stay in the capital so that he can be in better service to the Empire. Nikephoros allows his request
Nikephoros arrives at the capital accompanied by Romanos. The jousting tourney is a glorious event, with Nikephoros getting through the first 2 rounds, before being unseated in the third after one of the best bouts in the tournament. Despite not winning, he has covered himself in glory.
After the tournament, the council has a meeting at the Imperial palace. As it ends, Doux Theodoros Gabras, the Imperial Protostrator, calls Nikephoros to one side. He talks to Nikephoros in lengths about the importance of the Bible when making decisions on the council & that Nikephoros is lacking in his knowledge of it. Theodoros offers to teach Nikephoros about the Bible on the council's behalf, but this only serves in flaring the anger of Nikephoros, who firmly believes that Religion & politics should not mix.
The meeting was regarding the nomadic Pecheneg Turks to the north, who where already at war with the Doux of Karvuna, a vassal of the Empire. Theodoros had proposed to take over Karvuna's war & conquer the territory of Wallachia for the Imperial throne, however Nikephoros had cautioned the Basileus that such an act would undoubtedly anger Karvuna. Eventually Nikephoros was shut down by Theodoros when he declared that Alexios had a God-given right to the Imperial throne & thus a right to everyone territory controlled by it, even those currently in dispute, such as Wallachia. This pleased Alexios, who decided to follow Theodoros' advise, declared war of the Pecheneg Khaganate once the meeting had ended.
In early 1076, with the war against the Pecheneg's going well, Nikephoros briefly withdraws from the battlefield to attend the coronation of Giorgi II of Georgia.
Nikephoros takes a large group of courtiers with him to the Georgian Coronation, along with his son Nikoloas. His wife Ioanna is unable to attend for she is educating young Philaretos.
As they gathered nobles celebrate the coronation, Nikephoros becomes convinced that a Epirotain women of a very minor noble family, is attracted to him. A passionate man, and not one to hold back from such opportunities, Nikephoros decides to make his move...
And it turns out that his suspicions where correct...
In October 1076, Alexios is successful in his war against the Pechenegs at takes the lands of Wallachia for the Empire. The Empire has surely entered a new age of prosperity & glory under the wise rule of the Komnenoi. Even Nikephoros has forgotten his previous ties of loyalty to the house of Doukas.
In early 1077 Nikephoros receives a visit from Nikarete. She has given birth to a son named Eugenios...
While not above affairs,Nikephoros considers himself too honorable to denounce the child & so begrudgingly acknowledges him as an illegitimate bastard.
Things go from humiliation to humiliation for Nikephoros as he is informed that Alexios has declared war on King Giorgi, Nikephoros' ally, with out even asking his adviser. Powerless to stop Alexios, Nikephoros can do nothing as Giorgi sends him hostile letters about his apparent betrayal of their alliance.
Some Douxes are beginning to feel that Alexios is being too aggressive with his expansionism, and so the Basileus' greatest supporter, the Doux of Cherson, calls a meeting of his faction to work out the problem in the Emperor's name. Nikephoros is personally quite annoyed with the Emperor's actions, but decides against removing Cherson as leader, despite the fact that he a zealously pro-Komnenos.
Cherson's meeting involves a huge presentation about the virtues of Basileus Alexios & that his expansion was only just the wishes of God. Nikephoros remains skeptical on this point, along with many others, but he can't help but nodding at a few of Cherson's points.
The war against Giorgi does not go of to a good start, with the Georgians soundly defeating the initial Byzantine offensive. However, the Empire massively outnumbers the Georgians still & there is little they can do to stop the rest of the Byzantine army from breaking into Georgia.
Nikephoros becomes more & more depressed as his position on the council is undermined by the other councillors (Theodoros in particular) & the actions of the Emperor himself. As a result he begins to spend more & more time in a nearby monastery, sampling the very fine wine that they make. These visits become so frequent that Nikephoros begins to build a reputation for himself as a bit of a drunkard.
In 1078, Alp Arslan is victorious once more, crushing the Fatamids in Syria & taking the land for himself. Truly a legendary leader.
Following Nikephoros' drunkenness, Nikarete has started to avoid him. Eventually the both of them decide to stop seeing each other, though this hurts Nikephoros, causing him to despair even more.,
However before Nikephoros can fully fall into the clutches of depression, things begin to look up for him. Despite being on the verge of victory, Alp Arslan's victory in Syria has worried Alexios, who had hoped the Turk would've been defeated & humiliated and as a consequence he believes that the Orthodox states of Byzantium & Georgia should stand unified together. The young Basileus calls on Nikephoros to negotiate a white peace between the two nations, which he does with both pleasure & success.
This new recognition, along with support for Ioanna, also helps Nikephoros to recover from his bout of drunkenness.
Nikephoros also seizes the chance to enact the reforms he had always planned on. Through honeyed words & monetary promises, he is able to secure the aide of the majority of his council, which he then uses to pass a new doctrine, that dictates higher vassal obligations to the Doux of Epirus.
Alexios is completely indifferent to Nikephoros' new law in Epirus, telling his adviser that governing his Theme is Nikephoros' duty alone. This disinterest is most likely due to Alexios' intense focus on his own secret plans, that he has chosen not to reveal to his court. That is until the 17th May 1079, where he reveals them to the whole world...
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