Right so we all know that I have some mad fascination with "Empires" so for some time I've been toying with the idea of a Fantasy version of the Byzantine Empire, so a story which involves magic during the Early, Late and High Medieval periods

After studying small bits of Byzantine history and more Roman history, I had a great Idea.

Emperor Alexios I Komnenos has managed to ascend to the throne of a weak and poor Byzantine Empire, who's borders are threatened by the Normans to the West and the powerful and rich Muslim countries to the East.

After joining with a rebel faction within the Imperial Court of Nikephoros III, Alexios was proclaimed Emperor by his Army and marched on Constantinople. Nikephoros had relied on Alexios to command the Western Imperial Army loyally to him so did not expect an attack on the city, especially from Alexios.

After reaching the city, Alexios bribed the Mercenaries guarding the city and took the Imperial Palace with very little resistance, Nikephoros was forced to abdicate and Alexios was crowned Emperor by Patriarch Cosmas I in the Hagia Sophia

Emperor Alexios successfully dealt with several threats to the Empire, reconquered lost Byzantine territory and made the Empire the wealthiest nation in the world and re-established Byzantine religious authority over the holy places (ie Jerusalem)

So this alone, Alexios ascending to the Imperial Throne, is exciting stuff