Episode 114
The Romans had a penchant for certain pastimes that were as much a part of their culture as their grand architecture. When you mention Roman games, three things typically come to mind: gladiator battles, chariot races, and civil wars. The last one might sound like a joke, but Rome indeed experienced more internal strife than any other nation. You could almost say they spent more time fighting among themselves than against external enemies.
The Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantium, was no different, boasting a history of spectacular civil wars. From the Nika riots during Justinian I’s reign to the 20-year chaos, and the civil wars led by Slavic Thomas and Leo Tornikios, the list goes on. The 12th century was no exception, with Bulgaria even declaring itself the Second Bulgarian Empire, breaking away from Rome.
Bulgaria was a region Rome couldn’t afford to lose, so they attempted to suppress the rebellion. However, under the inept rule of Isaac II, they lacked the power to do so. By the time Alexios III took the throne, the Second Bulgarian Empire was already establishing itself as a nation.
Alexios III was a capable ruler, but even he couldn’t solve all of Byzantium’s problems. It wasn’t a matter of ability; it was an insurmountable structural issue. Even if I, with knowledge of the future, were in his place, rebuilding the empire in a short time would have been impossible. The only solution would have been to oust Isaac II before he could do more damage, but without foresight, that path was unavailable.
Honestly, who could have predicted that a seemingly competent man would ride the express train to ruin until the very end? We should be grateful that the emperor was replaced before the empire was irreparably damaged, as in the original history.
The best course for Byzantium now was to focus and consolidate, and Alexios III chose to strengthen the empire’s core. He rebuilt the crumbling provincial administration and fortified the Anatolian coast, which was on the brink of collapse. The Komnenos emperors had been reluctant to reclaim all of Anatolia, but they knew the coastal regions near Antioch and the Aegean were vital.
Even with these efforts, Alexios III had done his part, proving my judgment of him was correct. Yet, the emperor, more capable than I anticipated, took another step forward.
“The Khwarazmians have declared war, but isn’t securing the rear our top priority?”
“We need to supply our Crusader allies, but too many resources are tied up on the Bulgarian front.”
“If only Bulgaria weren’t an issue, we could fully support Anatolia!”
In essence, he was saying, “Could you Crusaders help us deal with Bulgaria so we can focus on the real threat?”
The Holy Roman Empire, leading reinforcements to Anatolia, scoffed at this transparent plea.
“Why should we clean up your mess?”
It was a valid point, and Byzantium didn’t bother to argue. They simply reiterated that if Bulgaria were dealt with, they could send more troops.
However, Heinrich VI, leading tens of thousands of troops and 5,000 knights, was confident.
“We don’t need your troops, just ensure proper supplies. Handle Bulgaria yourselves,” he said, crossing the Bosporus with his forces.
I was curious why Alexios III made such a seemingly futile request, but unexpectedly, a response came from elsewhere.
“Leaving a threat in the rear while facing the Islamic enemy is unwise. Even if not now, we must stabilize Rome to prepare for future disasters that might engulf Europe.”
It sounded reasonable and moderate, but coming from Philip II, it was hard to take at face value. Suddenly awakened to the plight of humanity, Philip II turned his 10,000 troops around, heading back.
At first, I was puzzled, but then it made sense. Ten thousand troops might seem small, but it was nearly the maximum force France could muster. If they suffered losses in battle, it would be a huge blow to France.
Philip II likely judged that Bulgaria, rather than the rising Khwarazmian threat, was the easier target. He might just pretend to fight, dragging out the standoff, waiting for the Holy Roman Empire and England to handle the heavy lifting, and then join in when the tide turned.
His cunning in prioritizing national interests was impressive, but I couldn’t let it slide. When I hinted at this to Richard, he responded immediately.
“I thought he had changed, but I guess people don’t really change… Alright, I’ll handle it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Perhaps you could persuade Philip II…”
“If we crush Bulgaria quickly, Philip II will have no excuses left.”
”…?”
What a novel solution. At first, I thought Richard was joking, but he truly led his troops north.
What can I say… he’s not exactly normal either.
“Your Majesty, isn’t this a bit too transparent?”
“As expected, I can’t fool my son-in-law.”
“Anyone could see through it, not just me. Even Heinrich VI told you not to play games.”
“True, but I expected that from the Holy Roman Empire, so it doesn’t matter.”
Alexios III continued to speak with a satisfied smile.
“I never expected the Crusaders to solve the Bulgarian issue. The key was to instill a sense of urgency in them.”
“I figured as much. So, was there a prior agreement with Philip II?”
“He’s a reasonable man. We both knew what we wanted, so the agreement was smooth.”
“Sigh… Your Majesty, I’ve told you the Crusaders need unity. If you start maneuvering behind the scenes, it complicates things for me.”
Byzantium’s reputation as untrustworthy among European nations stemmed from such backdoor dealings. If this continued, there was no guarantee the Catholic coalition wouldn’t launch a ‘Fourth Crusade.’
“I understand your concerns. I have no intention of undermining this holy war led by Christ, nor do I have the courage. My proposal was a bit self-serving, but not entirely wrong, was it? There’s no guarantee the Bulgarians won’t seize the opportunity to attack while we’re engaged in the south.”
“Aren’t the so-called Bulgarian Empire members also Orthodox Christians? I doubt they’d have the courage.”
“You never know. They might think they can repent after the fact.”
It’s a familiar yet laughable solution, but there’s no guarantee they won’t try it.
“So, Philip II promised to keep Bulgaria in check and headed north?”
“Yes. In return, I agreed to give France some priority in supplies and military support, discreetly. And to clarify, it was their proposal, not mine.”
”…I knew something was off. Alright, I’ll explain this to the Holy Roman side. If the Crusaders split over this, it could lead to bloodshed. Just a word of caution, they might actually march on Constantinople if things go south.”
“Hahaha! Surely not.”
No, seriously, that’s exactly what happened during the Fourth Crusade. While such an event won’t occur in my time, emotions are unpredictable. If Byzantium continues to act unfavorably, who knows how it might affect the future?
“This Crusade is Byzantium’s only chance to regain its former power. I’m sure you’ll handle it well, but please focus on the bigger picture rather than minor gains.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind. By the way, I didn’t expect England to agree to my proposal. Did you persuade them?”
“Oh, I forgot to mention. It seems Richard is genuinely planning to take on Bulgaria.”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
When I relayed Richard’s words before he left, Alexios III was equally surprised.
“Is he joking?”
“Richard does joke in private, but he doesn’t make jokes about official matters.”
“The Bulgarian rebels aren’t pushovers… What if they suffer losses? Do we compensate them?”
The reason the Bulgarian rebels could call themselves an empire was that they repeatedly defeated the Byzantine forces sent to suppress them. Even if those forces were the disorganized troops of Isaac II’s time, their repeated defeats were undeniable.
From the perspective of the Eastern Roman Empire, the Bulgarian army still seemed to be quite a formidable opponent.
“Even with King Richard and King Philip II on our side, we shouldn’t lose… but losing troops is never a good thing.”
“I was hoping we could just maintain a standoff and send a signal to Bulgaria to back off. But things have gotten complicated.”
“It can’t be helped. I’ll step in and try to mediate.”
The Bulgarian Empire, once followers of Tengri, is now a firmly established Orthodox Christian state.
As a prophet recognized by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches, I could go and say, “We are all children of the same God. Fighting among ourselves will only bring divine retribution.”
With a message like that, neither side would be eager to continue the conflict.
The Eastern Romans would feel reassured if they could secure a written promise from the Bulgarians not to betray them.
And if, after all that, they still resort to aggression, we can always call in the Crusaders to deal with them.
“Then I’ll trust my capable son-in-law and send the troops to Anatolia. Go and talk some sense into those Bulgarians.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare and leave as soon as possible.”
Richard’s army left only a few days ago, so if I hurry, I can reach them before a full-scale war breaks out.
However, I still underestimated just how committed my liege was to this war.