Please activate 'Edit' 'Wordwrap'
//!\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\I//
>> <<                                    KOMNENAI                                         >> <<
>> <<                         From Michael VII to Michael VIII                            >> <<
>> <<                              A dance on a volcano                                    >> <<
(( ))                                 by Maciej Czyż                                      (( ))
//!\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\\I///!\\I//
/( )\                                                                                     /( )\
 \!/                                                                                       \!/ 
  +                                                                                         + 

7.09.2000-18.09.2001

WARNING: YOU NEED FANTASTIC WORLDS TO PLAY THIS SCENARIO!

The idea of this scenario got me a long time ago,
I always considered Alexios Komnenos one of the most
interesting leaders in history, or perhaps rather history
of the Empire during his times. However, making a scenario
just about Alexius would in fact mean making another scenario
about the first crusade; that's what people would think. 
To avoid this, I added the times of all Komnenai,
Angelai and Laskaris to this scn. In another words,
I brought it to the point where Fading Lights start.
On the other side, it starts before Alexius was crowned.
It is a way make You understand the problems that A.
had to deal with better;
the scenario starts in year 1071 (Mantzikert
battle) and ends in year 1261 (Michael Paleolog liberates
Constantinople). As my recent scenario, Paleo, deals with
history of Empire from year 1261 up to the complete end
of it in year 1461, I can say it's a serie already.

Paleo dealed with a time full of drastic changes, as the
fall of Roman-Byzantine Empire or Outremer, and I tried
to show it as accuratly as possible. Now, the aim is different.
In Paleo, the Empires were dieing; in the times of Comnenos scenario,
new powers are borning. There are many things to show; first of all,
Seljuks' invasion of Syria that took place a bit earlier, Turks' invasion
of Anatoly (it's not the same thing, remember), Byzantine
reconquista by Alexius, I crusade that created states
of Outremer, rise of Armenia, later Georgia and Bulgaria,
Saladin's conquests in Outremer and the third crusade,
Mongols, IV crusade and the partage of Empire, Nicean
reconquista, and last not least
rise of Normans, Genuans and Venetians. I would need at least
12 civs and much much much bigger event files to show it all,
but I must resign of something. After a long battle with myself
in my mind, I decided to create following civs:

1) Roman - Byzantine civilization
   in Balcans and Anatoly,
   owning also Cilicia, parts
   of Mesopotamia, Syria, Armenia.
It is the only playable civ.
Playing other ones is possible,
but then, Romans are doomed to fall
and all game will have nothing in common with
the real history; also, almost all of the events are
prepared for Romans.

2) Moslem civilization
   Including all Moslem civilizations but Turks
   (those that shall invade Anatoly) and Fatimids
   in their main posessity - Egypt.
   Cities of this civ are located in north Africa,
   Sicily, Cyrenaica, Syria, Mesopotamia,
   part of Persia...
It will be dangerous for You, Romans,
mostly because of their fleet.

3) Egyptian civilization
   Fatimid at the time; it includes Egypt
   and shreds of once theirs Syria.
Potential ally, if You want to risk conflict with
both Christians and Moslems.

4) Norman-Venetian civilizantion
   in Venetia, partially Lombardia
   (I had to make it stronger on the north),
   Dalmatia, and most of south Italy.
Your most dangerous enemy except for the Turks,
especially their fleet will be a problem for you.

5) Genuan-Hungarian civilization
   Representing all trade cities but Venezia (and Zadar);
   Genova, Piza, Ankona, Raguza, Marseilles with all their
   posessities, including Corse and Sardinia, plus Hungary
   (with Transsilvania)
Possible ally against Normans-Venezians and Christians.

6) Christian civ, representing all other Christian
   states; French, Italians, Croatians, Georgians,
   and Armenians.
Possible enemy, possible ally - at least at the start.

7) Turkish civ, at first having no clear territory.
Your worse enemy.

title.gif (thanks, Jorrit!) shows Ruins of StEumphemia
church in Constantinople with Ayasofya as the background...
This very nice, symbolical image I have taken -I believe-
from internet site of Constantinopolitan patriarchate

Historical accuracy.
I didn't check if every single event works,
as in FL. Not only because I got to the point
that 100% historical accuracy isn't possible,
but rather because even without that, my care
about h.a. is much bigger then most of civ creators.
So forgive me if you'll be too strong or too weak.
But history is in statu nascendi in every scenario.
It would be unfair to give You NO chance to change
it anyway.

And one more general note.
All shameless flatterers, newbies that haven't seen
any other scenario, all kind beings in all civ2 world,
I encourage You to mail&praise me at squonk@poczta.wp.pl

All enraged flamers, old civ2 dinosaurs for whom every
scn is worth laugh, all monsters hiding in the darkest
corners of Apolyton community, I encourage You to mail
and flame at bbrosing@debitel.net, jbalsinde@hotmail.com,
Stefan.Haertel@t-online.de etc...