Alternate fall of the Byzantine Empire

Originally posted by csw Micheal VIII (1258-1282)   Michael VIII does everything he can to appease western powers during his rule, while carving up large portions of the Rum Sultanate, which by that time had fallen into complete disarray. While he does not destroy the sultanate itself, he DOES restore the Commenian borders in the East, and subdues Trebizond and establishes trading rights with the Mamluks Through overland routes in Cilicia, greatly improving the Byzantine economy.

Perhaps I should have also mentioned "Lyon?", that place in France! And, as an outside guess, I might also mention that there might well be a connection to "Leon?", as in Spain!

Actually I am a "word play" kind of guy!

Edited by opuslola - 13-Mar-2010 at 17:23

Eaglecap, and others, since this is the "Alternative History" section, I will propose an alternative to the Fall of Byzantium!

First, I propose that the fall of Greece to Alexander (defender of man) was really the fall of the Byzantine Greek?/ Hellene Empire to the Ottomans! IE, the Moslems, who follow a prophet whose holy city is Mecca, which is also spelled variously as Makka, were those believers of Mecca / Makka or variously misplaced as the Makka-donians / Mecca-donians or Mace-donians, etc.! And, I also believe that the "Prophet" was also called either "defender of men" or "defender of the word!", very similar to Alexander. Phillip, meaning "horseman" or "horse lover", and the famous "Arabian Horses!"

Even the take over of Israel /Judah, etc., by the Maccabeans/ Makka-beans / Mace-beans could be related? Note that this family became famous / infamous for destroying "idols!" Seems strangely similar to Muslim beliefs, does it not?

As history is concerned, you must throw out maps made by modern historians, since map-making was only made reproducable after the invention of the printing press! Very old handmade maps sometimes showw a very different world! It is only after the "world places" had been assigned and approved, that historians decided to create places for ancient cities and nations upon the map!

Just a few "alternative" things to think about!

Regards,

If there exists anything remarkable about the so called Byzantine Empire, is that for many hundreds of years, it seems this formerly great Roman Empire, became (according to some sources) more an more effiminate, and less and less manly! Those in power were less and less willing to risk their selves or fortunes as warriors, knights, or Caesars!

Rather it seems, for centuries, they began to more and more rely upon "foreigners" to bear the brunt of military service, and one unit, the Varangian Guard, became the most reknowned of these units, at least as personal defenders of Byzant proper! It even seems that the old Rome, on the Tibur, also had its own city defenders, the were it seems called the Praetorians!

See; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praetorian_Guard

And compare it to the Varangian Guard!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varangians

The above groups seem to have been so popular that certain "Muslim" dynasties, began to use them in a like manner!

In Islam Egypt they were called what?

In Othman controlled Istanbul, they were called what?

But, just what, if anything, did they all have in common?

Edited by opuslola - 12-Sep-2010 at 18:06