As all official Europa games, it starts in November 1444 and Byzantium is on its way out, very beaten by the Ottoman Empire, who is about to strike its final blow. But some ill decisions by this very menancing Empire proved that God hasn't withdrawn from Constantinople just yet. The new Basileus was fast to cultivate alliances in Eastern Europe, with nations such as Hungary, Austria and Muscovy. Those alliances were proven to be fundamental to beat that force of Evil. And so, picking the battles, surviving as much as they could against the wars raged against that nation on the reborn process, paying the loans, reaping the fruits of a good administration, it caused Byzantium to survive, then thrive, once more! Provinces such as Bulgaria, Nikomedia, Napoli and Cyprus, all were annexed once more to the purple Phoenix! For some glorious decades, the dream of ancient Caesars, of having a mighty roman empire to survive forever, seemed within reach!
Alas, it was not to be. The first war that caused major pain in the new Byzantines was against the Commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania, a very mighty foe. Fighting their own wars, Austria did not answered to the call of Byzantium, but the newly formed Russia did. But with France joining in the enemy side, battle after battle were lost. Byzantium managed to not be as affected by this long and exhausting conflict on the peace terms, but Russia lost most of its revenue and many territories, it was devastating for them.
Then, another conflict arose. The Ottomans left a power vacumn in the nations of Islam, and that place was slowly but surely occupied by the Malmluks from Egypt. They conquered vast lands over the years, and after Byzantium defeated the muslim knights, they were now neighboring empires. Disgusted by seeing the previous Asia Minor region being reclaimed by Christians, they called on a Jihad against the romans. Just getting out of the war against the Commonwealth, with no armies and with a growing debt, the Byzantines were hit hard by this second one. Russia decided not to come to their aid, as they were devastated still by the Commonwealth's and France's invasion. Austria, once again, was nowhere to be seen. It was a disaster, by the end, the Egyptians captured many provinces of Byzantium, making their way towards Anatolia.
Another war hit, declared by the Papal States, to claim Napoli for their own. And another war, from another Islamic Nation, and not being able to resist its impulses, the Egyptians declared war again, eager to claim what they could from the once again declining force. At the end, Byzantium was drowned in debt, and had to retreat to Greece. And so it ends. Too easy saying Empires rise and fall, like history is an independent force. It is not.
Byzantium reverted its tragic demise, but at the end, its enemies were many and struck Byzantium hard and all at once, like the ottomans did, when the ottomans were a thing. As the Ottomans, Byzantium fell. And so this is the end.
The lesson that stays is that Europa Universalis is a harsh game, very Random Number Generator reliant. It is unforgiving, as you cant stay small for long before being eaten by the stronger empires around, you can't grow either, as you will be eaten by the stronger nations around. Byzantium is in a particularly bad spot, not sure if it is the hardest nation in the game to play as, but certainly is a very harsh one. It feels good when the odds are in your favor, but very bad when they're against you, and it can crush your spirit. Well, I will be playing again, as Byzantium? Perhaps... but the bad experiences certainly make it for a painful run.
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