Byzantine Empire: Faction Overview

Byzantine Empire: Faction Symbol

Byzantium is essentially the Greek speaking remnants of the Eastern Roman Empire and the centre of Orthodox Christianity. The Byzantines themselves merely see their Empire as an unbroken continuance of the Roman Empire and its Emperors. The Empire is currently a shadow of its former self, having lost a great deal of territory in Asia Minor to the Seljuk Turks, and in other areas to internal strife and civil war. Current Emperor Manuel I is a dynamic leader and a resourceful general determined to build on the progress made by his immediate predecessors in restoring the Empire to its former glory. The Byzantine Empire will need to regain its losses to the Turks in Asia Minor as well as the regions lost to internal strife, before it can expand into other faction’ s territories. Fortunately the Seljuks, as well as the Egyptians, are more focussed on the Crusader States; but should they fall the Byzantines are unlikely to withstand a united Islamic offensive. As such, some cooperation with the Crusader States will be necessary for the Empire’s wellbeing. The Byzantine Empire was created on the back of a strong military tradition, although much smaller than in the past, the Empire’s forces tend to be well trained and disciplined. The Empire’s forces consist of a wide range of unit types, from heavy cavalry to infantry, and many ranged units including the devastating Greek Flame Thrower.


Table of Contents


Campaign Overview

Religion
  • Orthodox
Long Campaign Win Conditions
  • Hold 25 Regions
  • Hold Constantinople (30 Turns)
  • Hold Ankara (10 Turns)
  • Hold Baghdad (10 Turns)
  • Hold Alexandria (10 Turns)
  • Hold Antioch (10 Turns)
  • Eliminate Turks
Short Campaign Win Conditions
  • Hold 15 Regions
  • Eliminate Turks
Finances
  • Initial Money: 15000 Florins
  • King’s Purse: 4000 Florins
Initial Settlements
  • Constantinople(Huge City, Capital) – Huge Orthodox Cathedral, Dockyard, Irrigation, Merchants’ Quarter, Paved Roads, Mayor’s Palace, Militia Barracks, Tavern, Ballista Towers, Docklands, Aqueduct
  • Nicea(Town) – Dirt Roads, Small Orthodox Church, Town Watch, Leather Tanner, Grain Exchange, Land Clearance
  • Abydos(Town) – Town Watch, Port, Grain Exchange, Dirt Roads
  • Smyrna(Castle) – Dirt Roads, Drill Square, Knight’s Stables, Practice Range
  • Paleokastron(Town) – Town Watch, Land Clearance, Dirt Roads
  • Rhodes(Castle) – Knight’s Stables, Port, Mustering Hall, Bowyer
  • Laodiciea(Town) – Land Clearance, Dirt Roads, Small Orthodox Church, Town Watch, Grain Exchange
  • Iraklion(Town) – Small Orthodox Church, Grain Exchange, Land Clearance, Port
  • Heraclea(Town) – Town Watch, Port, Grain Exchange, Dirt Roads, Small Orthodox Church
  • Sinope(Large Town) – Port, Grain Exchange, Brothel, Town Guard, Small Orthodox Church
  • Trebizond(Castle) – Dirt Roads, Drill Square, Knight’s Stables, Practice Range, Small Orthodox Chapel, Land Clearance, Mines
Initial Generals
  • Emperor Manuel(46, Faction Leader) – 8 Command, 0 Chivalry, 7 Authority, 3 Piety
  • Prince Stefanos (30, Faction Heir) – 2 Command, 0 Chivalry/Dread, 5 Loyalty, 4 Piety
  • Mavros (26, General) – 1 Command, 0 Chivalry, 5 Loyalty, 3 Piety
  • Evangelos (24, General) – 1 Command, 0 Dread, 5 Loyalty, 3 Piety
  • Theodoros Comnenus (28, General) – 1 Command, 0 Dread, 5 Loyalty, 3 Piety
Initial Admirals
  • Admiral Panagiotes (37) – 1 Command
  • Admiral Demetrios (37) – 1 Command
Initial Agents
  • Konstantinos (40, Priest) – 4 Piety
  • Anna Comnenus (20, Princess) – 3 Charm
  • Maria Comnenus (22, Princess) – 3 Charm
  • Foteinos (26, Spy) – 2 Subterfuge
  • Ermanes (26, Spy) – 2 Subterfuge
  • Gavriel (30, Merchant) – 3 Finance
Initial Troops
  • General’s Bodyguard – 5
  • Skythikon – 11
  • Byzantine Cavalry – 15
  • Greek Firethrowers – 1
  • Byzantine Spearmen – 9
  • Trebizond Archers -20
  • Pronoia Infantry – 10
  • Byzantine Infantry – 9
  • Town Militia – 9
  • Spear Militia – 4
Byzantine Empire: Starting Positions

The Byzantine Empire is spread out over a large area with hostile neighbors, but the economy is quick and easy to establish. A quick strike East towards the rebel and Turkish lands is the obvious option, and be assured that if you do not attack the Turks, the Turks will attack you. An early alliance with the Crusader states could be advantageous, but you must always be on your guard. Additionally, be aware that not all threats come from the East – do not neglect your capital city. Once the Turks have been pushed back and the Byzantine economy is up and running, the Empire can once again reclaim the entirety of the Levant.

Important to note is that many of the best Byzantine units can not be constructed without Constantinople – defend the capital at all costs. An interesting point of note is that three Venetian full stacks land to siege Constantinople but none of their generals have night fighting traits. You can use this against them and fight each army in turn.


Recruitable Units

Varangian Guard

The following table contains all of the units that the Byzantine Empire can recruit in Multiplayer and Custom Battles. For the Grand Campaign, use the “All” period with the following corrections:

  • Units in (Brackets) are mercenaries and therefore cannot be trained in campaign, although any general can recruit them in the field if he has space in his army and there are some available.
  • Units in [Square Brackets] cannot be recruited in campaign, they are for Multiplayer and Custom Battles only.
  • Units in Italics can only be recruited in certain regions (eg. The New World) or after a certain event (eg. The discovery of gunpowder).
PeriodMilitia UnitsInfantryMissile InfantryCavalryMissile CavalryArtillery
Early
  • Town Militia
  • Cavalry Militia
  • Peasants
  • Byzantine Spearmen
  • Byzantine Infantry
  • Dismounted Byzantine Lancers
  • Pronoia Infantry
  • Dismounted Latinkon
  • Alamanoi
  • Varangian Guard
  • Peasant Archers
  • Trebizond Archers
  • Byzantine Guard Archers
  • Greek Firethrowers
  • Byzantine Gunners
  • General’s Bodyguard
  • Byzantine Lancers
  • Kataphractoi
  • Archontopoulai
  • (Alan Light Cavalry)
  • Skythikon
  • Byzantine Cavalry
  • Vardariotai
  • (Cuman Horse Archers)
  • Ballista
  • Catapult
  • Trebuchet
  • Mangonel
High
  • Town Militia
  • Cavalry Militia
  • Peasants
  • Byzantine Spearmen
  • Byzantine Infantry
  • Dismounted Byzantine Lancers
  • Pronoia infantry
  • Dismounted Latinkon
  • Alamanoi
  • Varangian Guard
  • Peasant Archers
  • Trebizond Archers
  • Byzantine Guard Archers
  • Greek Firethrowers
  • Byzantine Gunners
  • General’s Bodyguard
  • Byzantine Lancers
  • Kataphractoi
  • Archontopoulai
  • (Alan Light Cavalry)
  • Skythikon
  • Byzantine Cavalry
  • Vardariotai
  • (Cuman Horse Archers)
  • Mangonel
  • Bombard
Late
  • Town Militia
  • Cavalry Militia
  • Peasants
  • Byzantine Spearmen
  • Byzantine Infantry
  • Dismounted Byzantine Lancers
  • Pronoia Infantry
  • Dismounted Latinkon
  • Alamanoi
  • Varangian Guard
  • Peasant Archers
  • Trebizond Archers
  • Byzantine Guard Archers
  • Greek Firethrowers
  • Byzantine Gunners
  • General’s Bodyguard
  • Byzantine Lancers
  • Kataphractoi
  • Archontopoulai
  • (Alan Light Cavalry)
  • Skythikon
  • Byzantine Cavalry
  • Vardariotai
  • (Cuman Horse Archers)
  • Mangonel
  • Bombard
All
  • Town Militia
  • Cavalry Militia
  • Archer Militia
  • Spear Militia
  • Peasants
  • Byzantine Spearmen
  • Byzantine Infantry
  • Dismounted Byzantine Lancers
  • Pronoia Infantry
  • Dismounted Latinkon
  • Alamanoi
  • Varangian Guard
  • Peasant Archers
  • Trebizond Archers
  • Byzantine Guard Archers
  • Greek Firethrowers
  • Byzantine Gunners
  • Byzantine Lancers
  • Kataphractoi
  • Archontopoulai
  • Latinkon
  • General’s Bodyguard
  • (Alan Light Cavalry)
  • Skythikon
  • Byzantine Cavalry
  • Vardariotai
  • (Cuman Horse Archers)
  • Ballista
  • Catapult
  • Trebuchet
  • Mangonel
  • Bombard

Constructable Buildings

Cities

Building Type Village Town Large Town Minor City Large City Huge City
Walls Wooden Palisade (Upgrade) Wooden Wall (Upgrade) Stone Wall (Upgrade) Large Stone Wall (Upgrade) Huge Stone Wall (Upgrade)  
Improved Towers   Ballista Towers Cannon Towers
Barracks   Town Watch Town Guard City Watch Militia Drill Square Militia Barracks
Siege   Ballista Maker Catapult Maker Siege Works  
Cannons   Gunsmith
Smiths   Leather Tanner Blacksmith Armourer Heavy Armourer Master Armourer Armour Factory
Ports   Port Shipwright Dockyard Naval Drydock
Sea Trade   Merchants’ Wharf Warehouse Docklands
Trade   Grain Exchange Market Fairground Great Market Merchants’ Quarter
Roads   Dirt Roads   Paved Roads  
Farms Land Clearance Communal Farming Crop Rotation Irrigation  
Mines   Mines Mining Network  
Academia   Alchemist’s Lab Alchemy School Lycaeum
Churches   Small Orthodox Church Orthodox Church Orthodox Abbey Orthodox Cathedral Huge Orthodox Cathedral
Inns   Brothel Inn Tavern Coaching House Pleasure Palace
Town Hall   Town Hall Council Chambers City Hall Mayor’s Palace
Sanitation   Public Baths Aqueduct
Ikoners   Ikoner’s Studio Master Ikoner’s Studio
Assassins’ Guild   Assassins’ Guild Master Assassins’ Guild Assassins’ Guild Headquarters
Masons’ Guild   Masons’ Guild Master Masons’ Guild Masons’ Guild Headquarters
Theologians’ Guild   Theologians’ Guild Master Theologians’ Guild Theologians’ Guild Headquarters
Merchants’ Guild   Merchants’ Guild Master Merchants’ Guild Merchants’ Guild Headquarters
Alchemists’ Guild   Alchemists’ Guild Master Alchemists’ Guild Alchemists’ Guild Headquarters
Thieves’ Guild   Thieves’ Guild Master Thieves’ Guild Thieves’ Guild Headquarters
Explorers’ Guild   Explorers’ Guild Master Explorers’ Guild Explorers’ Guild Headquarters
Swordsmiths’ Guild   Swordsmiths’ Guild Master Swordsmiths’ Guild Swordsmiths’ Guild Headquarters
Horse Breeders’ Guild   Horse Breeders’ Guild Master Horse Breeders’ Guild Horse Breeders’ Guild Headquarters

Castles

Building Type Village Motte and Bailey Wooden Castle Castle Fortress Citadel
Castle Motte and Bailey (Upgrade) Wooden Castle (Upgrade) Castle (Upgrade) Fortress (Upgrade) Citadel (Upgrade)  
Improved Towers   Ballista Towers Cannon Towers
Stables   Stables Knight’s Stables Baron’s Stables Earl’s Stables King’s Stables
Barracks   Mustering Hall Garrison Quarters Drill Square Barracks Armoury
Ranges   Bowyer Practice Range Archery Range  
Siege   Ballista Maker Catapult Maker Siege Works
Smiths   Leather Tanner Blacksmith Armourer Heavy Armourer Master Armourer Armour Factory
Ports   Port Shipwright
Roads   Dirt Roads   Paved Roads  
Farms   Land Clearance Communal Farming Crop Rotation Irrigation  
Churches   Chapel Large Chapel  
Swordsmiths’ Guild   Swordsmiths’ Guild Master Swordsmiths’ Guild Swordsmiths’ Guild Headquarters