Re-establish Byzantium?

[Guynemer]

For once, Ned is right.

The end is nigh.

[Barinthus]

Originally posted by Guynemer
For once, Ned is right.

The end is nigh.

:runs to the window to see if the moon has turned blood red:

Technically he is right. However for historians and students of history, the label 'Byzantine Empire' is appriorate (sigh I need to learn how to spell this word) to help them to disguish which era throughout the history of the Roman Empire they're discussing or whatever. 'Eastern Roman Empire' is a suitable name and I've seen it being used. Just that 'Byzantine Empire' stuck. It doesn't matter, if you truly know your history, you know the story behind 'Byzantine Empire.'

[Ted Striker]

This would be a disaster

The hottest hoes in the world like in Constantinople

We have to protect it at all costs

[CharlesBHoff]

Originally posted by Oerdin
I restore the Byzantine Empire all the time... In Europa Univerlis 2.

In my game of EU2 the Ottman start off with tech 30 in all technogogy. They now occup 1/3 of Italy ready to conquest more of Italy. Nime army and navy is so big and advance that when I attack someone his allies offer me white peace as they donot want to help my target at all.

[Az]

It's quite the intimidating thought to contemplate, but CharlesBHoff's post has the most to do with reality, so far.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by Ned
There never was an empire known as the Byzantine Empire. It was known as the Roman Empire or as Romania.

In other news, the Dutch don't call themselves the Dutch.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by St Leo

Originally posted by Ned
There never was an empire known as the Byzantine Empire. It was known as the Roman Empire or as Romania.

In other news, the Dutch don't call themselves the Dutch.

Riiiight. Next you'll say the Germans don't call themselves "Germans." Pfft.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Riiiight. Next you'll say the Germans don't call themselves "Germans." Pfft.

Have I mentioned there is no such thing as Finland?

[monkspider]

Don't be surprised if the Greeks get Constantinople back someday.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Um.. I'd be highly surprised if they somehow acquired Istanbul again... it would require a huge war wiping out the Turkish state .

[Agathon]

Originally posted by CharlesBHoff


In my game of EU2 the Ottman start off with tech 30 in all technogogy. They now occup 1/3 of Italy ready to conquest more of Italy. Nime army and navy is so big and advance that when I attack someone his allies offer me white peace as they donot want to help my target at all.

You play the Ottomans? You heathen!

Britain all the way, baby - if only for the pleasure of putting down the American rebellions and putting those tax dodgers in their place.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I had such a nice game with Britain, but then a little after 1710, the save game got corrupted .

I haven't really played a game of EU2 since.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove


No I mean the massacre of the Byzantines inhabiting Constantinople when it fell in the 15th century.

Some were killed, some were not- a Venetian eye-witness (Barbaro) said that quarters of the city that voluntarily submitted to the Turks avoided death:

'According to Islamic tradition the Sultan, before the beginning of hostilities, demanded the surrender of the city, promising to spare the lives of its inhabitants and respect their property. In a proud and dignified reply the Emperor rejected Mehmed's demand.'

Then:

'The Sultan swore to distribute fairly the treasures found in the city. According to tradition the troops were free to loot and sack the city for three days.'

and

'The excesses which followed, during the early hours of the Ottoman victory, are described in detail by eyewitnesses. They were, and unfortunately still are, a common practice, almost a ritual, among all armies capturing enemy strongholds and territory after a prolonged and violent struggle. '

but:

'In some distant neighborhoods, especially near the sea walls in the sea of Marmora, such as Psamathia, but also in the Golden Horn at Phanar and Petrion, where local fishermen opened the gates, while the enemy soldiers were pouring into the city from the land gates, local magistrates negotiated successfully their surrender to Hamza Bey's officers. Their act saved the lives of their fellow citizens. Furthermore their churches were not desecrated. '

http://www.greece.org/Romiosini/fall.html

Lest it be thought that this was a particularly odious 'Asiatic' practice, the same thing happened in Europe, as the fall of Rome to Charles V's Lutheran mercenaries illustrates, or the sack of Magdeburg, or the fall of Munster.

http://www.strategypage.com/cic/docs/cic66c.asp

Of course the city was rebuilt, refortified and repopulated, Greek subjects allowed to maintain their faith, and a new Patriarch, Gennadius elected, who lost no time in accepting control of the Orthodox churches of Serbia and Bulgaria, and finally repudiating union with Rome.

Why refound Byzantium anyway? The Byzantine Empire was markedly less tolerant than the Ottoman Empire.

[Lancer]

"Why refound Byzantium anyway? The Byzantine Empire was markedly less tolerant than the Ottoman Empire."

Because one of the owners of this site is Greek, and he's kicking in a Poly T-shirt to Oerdin, a Polytoner who is stationed in Tikrit. Nice thing to do...

[Az]

@Lancer. A winning argument, no doubt.