Byzantium mod for Hearts of Iron IV

Introduction

Ever since finding Byzantium, part of the Time Life Great Ages of Man series, in a small midwestern town library back in the late seventies, or maybe it was the early eighties, I have been a fan of the byz. Yes I know it would be more accurate to call them roman or romaioi, but I still know and love them as the byz.

I've really enjoyed playing the byz in Crusader Kings, Europa Universalis, Victoria, and even modded in to Hearts of Iron. But what about HoI4? Well here is my effort to add them.

Why Byzantium?

I find Byzantium fascinating and mod worthy because it is unique. A christian empire with both a roman and greek lineage. A city reaching a million souls guarded by walls whose remains impress. A bridge between the east and west. A golden horn. Viking guards. Cataphracts. Flamethrowers! And so much more.

Fantasy?

Byzantium came very close to being reborn in the 1920's. If Greece had been a little more successful during their war with Turkey Constantine I could very well have fulfilled the prophecy of the Marble King, instead of ending the Megali Idea.

Many greeks continued to think of themselves as roman well into the 20th century, as shown by songs like Romios Agapise Romia. Romios, not Hellenos. Even the first prince to be born in Greece, of modern greece's royal family, was christened Constantine. Not Plato or Achilles or even Alexander, Constantine.

Story

This mod's "what if" occurs during the 1919-1922 war between Greece and Turkey. The Greeks win an even more decisive victory at the Battle of Dorylaion in July 1921 and here choose not to advance on Ankara. Securing more of the eastern Aegean coastline and Thrace instead.

A weaker Turkey is unable to force the Greeks out and the Treaty of Lausanne re-ends the war between the Ottoman Empire and western powers as well as defining the new borders of a reborn Byzantium and newborn Turkey.

Byzantium instead of Greece because during the war Turkey reached secret agreements with the Italians and the French. Here the Greek government discovered it and went public. This outraged the Greek citizenry and was considered a betrayal of promises made in exchange for them joining the Allies during World War I. It led to a backlash not only against the French and Italians, but the "west" in general.

The label "Hellenes," used by Greek nationalists seeking western support in the 19th century, regained the pagan associations it had before and "Romaioi" returned as the way many Greeks prefered to call themselves.

Constantine I was proclaimed Emperor Constantine XII in 1923, the rebirth of the Basileia Romaion declared, and Istanbul rechristened Constantinople. By 1936 his son George II has been Emperor for a decade.

Lead the risen romaioi to greatness.
Restore the Imperium Romanorum.
One Empire, One Church, One Law

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Byzantium

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