Part VIII: 1185-1200

1185

The Megas Logothetes's Report: Damascus is captured by the Turkish Sultanate and the Megas bring to attention the military state of the Levant.

Arintheos Voutoumatis, Ioannis Erotikos and Markos ek Sinopis all announce their candidacy for the position of Megas Logothetes. As the two latter lack the prerequisites to assume the position, they are disqualified.

Markos ek Sinopis'report and recommandations and Iakob's addendum.

The Basileus Ioannis Komnenos demand that all Senators make peace with Helarionas Anagiros.

Ceasar Methodios Tagaris secedes from the Empire. His vassal, Markos ek Sinopis surrenders to the Basileus, the Protoasecretes is displeased. Moments later, an underling of Helarionas Anagiros rescues Markos ek Sinopis. Anagiros later joins the secession

The siege of Theopolis is broken.

The Basileus' counsel.

A bad omen.

Nikitas Moschos ponder his past.

Helarionas seeks the approval of Methodios.

1186

The Megas Logothetes's Report: Cairo and Alexandria rebel against the Despot of Egypt. Meanwhile administrators of the Empire give the wrong financial figures to the Megas Logothetes causing the Empire to fall into debt, they are hung in punishment.

The real identity of Helarionas Anargiros is revealed.

A sick Basileus.

1888

The Megas Logothetes's Report: The economy of the Empire is in shambles. Basileus Ioannis Komnenos dies and his successor Basileus Methodios Tagaris dies a week later. The son of the latter, Ioannis Tagaris, is crowned Basileus while Andronikos Komnenos, brother of Ioannis Komenos, is named Ceasar.

Theo Petzeas fight the Turks north of Theopolis.

Discord and doubt in Helarionas' camp.

1190

The Megas Logothetes's Report: Amidst the financial crisis of the Empire, Senator Erotikos and Kousinos continue their march on the capital.

The Protoasecretes announces the new Basileus and Ceasar, amongst other things. Isaakios Komnenos replies and declares war on Ioannis Erotikos and Kousinos Sophianos.

A task accepted.

Riding to the rescue.

1191

The Megas Logothetes's Report: The financial crisis continues unabated. Senator Erotikos and Kousinos continue their march on the capital, the former declaring himself rightful Basileus.

Arintheos Voutoumatis follows the example of Isaakios Komenos. Most of the Senators then declare themselves neutral.

Kousinos Sophianos reveals that he is in fact Constantine Ksanthopoulos, the son of Makedonios Ksanthopoulos and Anna Komnenos. He claims he is the rightful Basileus by blood and declares war on Ioannis Tagaris, Andronikos Komnenos and Ioannis Komnenos III. Ioannis Erotikos does
likewise.

1192

The Megas Logothetes's Report: Ceasar Andronikos Komnenos secedes with much of Georgia and the Northern Anatonlian coast, with Tbilisi as his capital. Ioannis Komnenos III also secedes with the cities of Constantinople, Niceae and Dardanellia; taking Constantinople as his capital. Jerusalem becomes the new capital of the Empire. Riots erupt throughout the Empire.

Basileus Ioannis Tagaris makes his first appearance.

Ioannis Komnenos III secedes, as his uncle, Andronikos Komnenos, also secedes with an announcement in the Hippodrome. Ioannis Tagaris responds by moving the capital to Jerusalem.

Ioannis Komnenos III and his wife.

1194

The Megas Logothetes's Report: Zagreb is ready to fall and more military saving are made. Riots overwhelm Trebizond and Yerevan and both towns become independent. The economy still has not recovered, the loss of two cities only worsening the deficit. Senators Erotikos and Kousinos still march on, their destination now unknown.

A bloodless victory for Venice. Ammonathas Kalameteros attempts to rectify the situation.

1195

The Megas Logothetes's Report: Senator Petzeas defeats and kills the sultan of the Turks, Ioannis Tagaris besieges Damascus.

Ioannis Tagaris signs a peace treaty with Ioannis Komnenos III.

1196

The Megas Logothetes's Report

Iosif ek Artas is defeated at Damascus by a large force of Turks while Ioannis Tagaris relieves the siege at Tortosa.

1198

The Megas Logothetes's Report: An overview of the last fifteen years reveals massive financial losses. With no resolution of the civil wars expected in the near future, the Empire is worse off than ever.

Andronikos Komnenos, moving quickly to secure territory, meets an outnumbered Theophylaktos Petzeas in the Battle of Edessa.