It can work to your advantage as well. Playing Byz early I got caught with my pants down in Trebizond (sounds kinky)and lost the province to the Turks. The next turn my loyal subjects rebelled with a couple of Varangian gaurds as well as Pronoi Al..(can't spell that to save my life) cav units in addition to the spears, archers, and peasants. I used these units with some mercs to steam roll the Turks into an historical foot note.