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Age of Charlemagne: Byzantine Empire (Full Faction Overhaul - Kingdom Script, Chapter Objectives Incoming)

Faction Description:

"Imperium Romanorum. Basileia Rhomaion. The Roman Empire. Two centuries ago, the dream of a unified Roman state was nearly achieved: Justinian and his general, Belisarius and to be joined by Narses, fought a series of wars first against the Sassanian Empire in Armenia and Mesopotamia, then the Vandalic Kingdom in Africa and finally against the Ostrogothic Kingdom on the Apennine Peninsula. As a consequence of these wars, Roman rule extended from Constantinople in the east to Hispania in the west and, once again, the Mediterranean Sea could be called Mare Nostrum. Almost. While this bought great prestige to Justinian, it was not to last: Imperial resources were almost spent and the centralised infrastructure of Italia and Magna Graecia was all but destroyed, the Franks were able to fill the power vacuum in northern Europe and the Sassanian Empire to the east was almost unchecked, allowing them to grow in strength.

This great conflict came to a head and, in the previous century, both empires, exhausted from the final Persian War, could do little to check the emergence of a new and explosive force: the Arabian Empire. By the end of the 7th century, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia had fallen. More shocking still, they had completely overthrown the Sassanian Empire and had laid siege to Constantinople itself. To the west, the Emirate of Cordoba controls much of the former Imperial province of Hispania. Having usurped control of Africa, they formed the vanguard of a Muslim offensive that, at it's greatest extent, reached Narbonensis in the east and Tours in the north. They, like you, are all that remains of that empire in the western Mediterranean. The Umayyad Caliphate may be no more, but unshackled from the Arabian homeland, they will still prove to be powerful enemies. In pushing the Arabs back into Africa, you will gain friends amongst the Visigothic dynasty that rules the Kingdom of Asturias and, when the time comes, should prove a strong ally against the Franks.

Control over the Apennine Peninsula has been wrestled from the Romans once again. To the north, the Lombards have all but conquered the Exarchate of Ravenna. In the former Imperial heartland, Rome itself works against you: the Papal State is the head of an informal Christian empire spanning northern Hispania, through Gaul and into Lombardy. With the backing of the Francian Karling Dynasty, they grow bolder and this informal union threatens to blossom into a unified state: one that will challenge Constantinople for the title of Roman Emperor.

As Strategos of the Thema Sikelias you must not allow this to happen. With Imperial forces engaged in the Balkans against the Bulgarian Empire and the Avars, and in Anatolia against the Abbasid Caliphate, the Thema Sikelias is all that stands in the way of a future where the the authority and legitimacy of the true King of Kings and Autocrat of the Romans is lost forever."



As the title says, the Roman Empire is now playable in Campaign and Custom Battle. It will allow you to play as Basileia Rhomaion, originally being Theme of Sicily. Apart from the name change you can also expect to see some diplomatic, unit, political party changes. And there will be even more changes in future!

I've tried to be as authentic as possible with the naming conventions, but there is still work to be done.

If you have any problems, and have a TWC account, please post here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?705056-Age-of-Charlemagne-Basileia-Rhomaion-V-090-(Playable-in-both-Campaign-and-Custom-Battle)


Faction Name: Basileia Rhomaion
Dynasty/Political Party: Thema Sikelias
Faction Trait: Iconoclasm (Public Order: -5, +20 research, -50 religious building costs)
Diplomatic Change: Venice is a Vassal, not Defensive Ally.
Frontend Faction Leader - Done
Frontend Map - Done
Unit reskin by Snori (generals and officers by The Iron Chancellor)
Faction emblem by Harloldus Gytgudkydson

Army:
Skirmishers - Acontistae
Levy Spears - Akritae
Iuvenes - Castrophilakae
Light Cavalry - Cavalarii
Scout Cavalry - Ippoacontistae
Onager - Lithobolos
Large Onager - Lithobolos Megas
Bastion Onager - Lithobolos (Bastion)
Skoutatoi Axemen - Skoutati Tsekouroi
Skoutatoi Spears - Skoutati
Skoutatoi Swords - Spatharii
Dux's Guard (General) - Scholarii
Tagmata Cavalry - Stratiotae
Archers - Toxotae
Armourd Archers - Toxotae (Armoured)

Navy:
Levy Marines - Acontistae (Marines)
Skoutatoi Marines - Spatharii (Marines)
Roman Artillery Crew - Lithobolos (Vessel)
Archer Boatmen - Toxotae (Marines)
Guard Marines (Admiral) - Hypaspistae (Marines)

For additional units, check these out:
AoC Byzantine Units Expansion: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=575496550
AoC Byzantine Fire Ship: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=575364141

Both mods compliment Basileia Rhomaion.

Known issues:
Currently, there aren't any chapter objectives.
Front-end faction leader does not use faction colours