Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire, also known as Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, is a 
Orthodox Christian empire during the Middle Ages. He occupied the Balkans, the Middle East, as well as North Africa, and even what is today 
Italy at some point. He is the continuation of the 
Roman Empire after the 
West fell.
History
Early Years
The Eastern Roman Empire was formed after 
Constantine I the Great shifted the capital of the remaining SPQR from 
Rome to the ancient city of 
Byzantium. Constantine the Great then proceeded to rename this city 
Constantinople and also gained the city a new set of prestigious titles, such as New Rome (Nova Roma), Second Rome (Roma Secunda), Basileuousa (Queen of Cities), Megalopolis (the Great City), Tsargrad (
Slavic name of Constantinople) and more. He also legalized 
Christianity.
Under the reign of 
Theodosius I in 380, Christianity became the 
state religion, and other religious practices became forbidden.
When the Western Roman Empire finally collapsed in 476 and Rome was captured by some barbarians, the East was still stable and thus, didn't completely collapse despite the existence of some hungry people like 
Sassanid and 
Germania.
Middle Ages
Between 502 and 506, a war erupted between Byzantine and his old arch-nemesis, the Sassanids. Despite giving the Sassanids a good fight, they lost and were forced to pay them 1,000 pounds of gold.
In 527, 
Justinian I ascended to the throne. He dreamed of reuniting the Roman Empire into one single entity. He however, needs to deal with the pesky Sassanids who wanted to flex their muscles and capture Dara. Just like Byzantine's previous fight, despite giving his best, he was forced to pay Sassanid 11,000 pounds of gold.
After dealing with the pesky Sassanids, Byzantine turned his gaze westward, determined to reclaim the lost provinces of Western Rome. Under the command of his brilliant general 
Belisarius, Byzantine launched the Vandalic War in 533. It only took one year to conquer 
Vandal Kingdom in North Africa, reclaiming the clay and securing the province. 
Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy was also conquered the same year.
With the eastern frontier now secured, Justinian dispatched his army to reconquer the west. This army were led by some of his best generals, which includes 
Mundus, 
Narses and of course, Belisarius. By 555, Eastern Rome achieved his apex, reconquering much of the historically Roman western 
Mediterranean coast, including 
Africa, Italy, and Rome, which he held for two more centuries. But Justinian's Plague hit hard in the 540s, wiping out a huge chunk of the population and completely wrecking the economy.
The Byzantine- Sassanian War of 602–628 exhausted Byzantine's resources, and during the early 
Muslim conquests of the 7th century, Byzantine lost his richest provinces (
Egypt and 
Syria) to the 
Rashidun Caliphate. He then lost Africa to the 
Umayyads in 698, before the empire was stabilized by the Isaurian Dynasty (717-802) who were successful in defending and consolidating the empire against Islamic aggression.
The Macedonian Dynasty (9th–11th centuries) expanded the empire again but ended with defeat by the 
Seljuk Turks at the Battle of 
Manzikert in 1071. Civil wars and the ensuing Seljuk invasion caused Byzantine to lose the most of Asia Minor. The empire recovered during the Komnenian restoration, and until the 
Fourth Crusade in 1202-1204, Constantinople was the largest and wealthiest city in Europe.
MORE WIP
Relationships
Friends
Western Roman Empire - He was my brother and ally before getting killed by 
Germany.
Republic of Genoa - He helped me in my final battle against 
kebab! I thank him for that.
Kievan Rus' - At first we were rivals and he even raided 
Constantinople, but I stopped him dead in his tracks multiple times with flamethrowers. He was so impressed that he begged to be adopted. I taught him how to be of good 
Jesus loving child and made him literate. He was my best trading partner for a while and served as my bodyguard in my times of need. He got really angry and jealous whenever I tried talking with the West though. In hindsight I think it was right to not trust them…
Timurid Empire - Thanks for repelling the Ottoman for a few years.
Taugas - Thank you for all the silk brought to the Empire. You are good at treating neck swelling and punishing criminals, also you are good at making nice containers, clocks, silk, architecture, and exploding shooty things. You are one of those rare civilized nations. That's why I made an embassy in 
Chang'an. If you weren't civilized I would do no such thing. You have an embassy in my empire too. We are good trading partners. Also thanks for giving rice.
Frenemies
Principality of Hungary - Warring barbarians that like to raid me. But not all hope is lost for you if you submit to the 
right church. And sometimes I try to team us up against the 
Bulgarians.
Enemies
- Ottoman Empire - BLOOD-THIRSTY HUNGRY MUSLIM
JIHADI! WORST AND MOST EVIL ARCH-ENEMY! YOU STOLE MY BEST CITY CONSTANTINOPLE! I DON'T CARE IF YOU GO AGAINST THE 
CRUSADERS TOO!! 1453 WORST YEAR OF MY LIFE!!!!!! REMOVE KEBAB!!! REMOVE JIHAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Sassanid Empire - This MANBIRD ruined the 7th century. And he was my main enemy in Middle East. At the start of the war, I lost heavy to him, even 
Jerusalem almost fell to him. I defeated him in the end and I still want to keep my clay.- Crusaders - You traitors! We could've removed
Kebab together but instead you had to plunder my resources and people and weaken me, allowing for the 
Ottomans to take me out. Yuo are reason for Kebab dominance and yuo is descended from those filthy German barbarians! - First Bulgarian Empire - Took a lot of my European clay and nearly took Constantinople… 922 NEVER FORGET! YUO WERE VERY HARD TO REMOVE UNTIL 1018!
Vandal Kingdom - Weak barbarian that I conquered in less than a year.
How to draw
Byzantine Empire has a drawing rating of intermediate.
- Draw a ball.
- Fill it with red.
- Add a yellow cross in the middle with its ends reaching the borders of the ball, like this +
- Your ball should now be divided into four sections. Add four Greek letter beta in yellow in each section.
- Add eyes and done!
| Color Name | HEX | |
|---|---|---|
| Red | #BA0E09 | |
| Yellow | #FEBE01 | |
