CHAPTER XII: Succession in Crisis.

In 1228, the Emperor Vatatzes suddenly died possibly by a sickness or poisoned by Lekapenos! But we are facing a crisis, as he left the throne without an heir. Therefore, having no sons nor daughters capable of ruling the country, a civil war has erupted again.

Various Strategoi fought with themselves but Justinian and I controlled some of them to our command, therefore two major sides has emerged. Our side, the second Nikephorian dynasty and Lekapenos' side as well, that traitor is still and well and he must not prevail over us.

During that year we have clashed with their war parties multiple times, but our superior menaulion that once created by Justinian but originally planned and confirmed by Nikephoros Phokas to defend against the cavalry charges. However, during 1226 to 27. I have travelled to the lands of what they call the Goldern Horde, I annexed the city of Chersonesus in the name of the Emperor Vatatzes.

Then, I have contacted with the local lords and connections to give me loyal mercenaries, then I paid them and of course personally led them into the Battle of Nicomedia, whereas the Latin and Lekapenos' forces was garrisoned in there so I led the enemy into a feigned retreat and unleashed them hails of arrows and routed them.

However, none was spared in their rout, a contingent of Saint Lazarus Knights led by Henri of Florence charged at them and massacred them all, they were all 8 thousand, now we only captured a hundred of them. We condemned him on such acts, but the event has been done. I can only pray for them to reach to heaven or even hell for their sins.

Justinian has officially embraced his dynasty's namesake, and time after time the stubborn Lekaporian armies defected to us, and Constantinople only remains. Constantinople has been besieged by us, the Latins and the traitors are trapped, and we have blockaded their ports and any remaining escapes, any small boats coming outside of the city was checked carefully making sure, If they are civilians or enemies, but we have captured one of the Latin troops, he had said that there will be a relief force led by the Venetians. So, we must take the city by storm at once.

Fortunately for us, I have bribed the guards of the gates, and unleashed my forces into the entrance of the gates. Anyone who was not our side was killed any civilian there was perished, I was there and personally led those two groups into the Palace of Porphyrogenitus to capture the city entirely, afterwards we went to Hagia Sophia to fully reclaim the city for the Empire.

We have successfully repelled the traitors and submitted the Latins to our will, we handed back the Latin captives to the Italians, while the traitors were either spared or blinded, while Lekapenos was nowhere to be found, maybe escaped or had his head chopped off.

Justinian and I was on the city of Constantinople to fortify and repair the defenses, and attested programs to repopulate the Great City once again, we have to persuade migrants or pay people just so they can stay on it, and it has been quite successful at least for now.

Justinian was finally crowned as the Emperor of the restored Eastern Roman Empire, with the favor of the citizens, soldiers alike, and the Patriarch of Constantinople.

I have not hearing a lot from George since then, but the increasing numbers of the Lazurian and the Hospitallier men are in the themes of Nicaea and Adrianople to protect the borders and help the needy and poor.

Vivat Imperator!

But I have been hearing rumors of an eastern warlord already making his way to Europe or Anatolia, perhaps a new problem or a new ally?