8 January, 1081

I have hit a writer's block. Storage, porridge? These are horrible rhymes! I have tried to write something for months and nothing seems to work. I have decided to banish all distractions and put something together.

 

 I still have not found the proper rhyme but by getting rid of all distractions I have focused on other important things in my life, like my fighting skills.

 

 

I have decided that my next life goal will be to use this ability to successfully fight the just war for Patras. The Lord willing!

24 October, 1079

I have been taking care of my daughter Iouliana, ensuring that she grows up to be a fine noblewoman. Today I got her lying. I trust that she knows the truth and that this is just a childish mistake, so I talked to her about honesty.

And she assured me that she understood that it was not right to lie.

June 9,1079

Finally another boy! Helias has just been born.

March 17, 1079

The war was on-sided  since I had so many more troops than the Doux

But rather than win by simply occupying his lands. I captured him in battle.

He traded his titles for his freedom and crawled to Kuma, a small insignificant county on the Eastern fringes of the Empire. I also achieved my ambition of increasing the size of my demense.

Since I may be fighting against the Doux of Patras soon I have decided to improve my martial abilities.

January 7, 1079

At the beginning of the year I decided to take what was mine and gain the county of Thessalia. In the civil war Duke Nikephoros had sided with the rebels and I think it is just that I should have his county and title.

25 December, 1078

Right after the rebellion I had sent my chancellor to Thessalia to drum up a claim for the county. The Doux of Thessalonika had turned on the Emperor and I felt that it was only just that I should take over his county. And today his work had come to fruition.

It will cost me some gold to bribe Imperial officials and many people will lose some respect for me but it is worth it.

I have declared war on my namesake, Doux Nikephoros of Thessalonika. May the Lord protect me in this righteous cause.

9 April, 1078

I received a chance to play tzykanion with the Doux of Antioch! I tried to make him win but my team was just too good. Luckily he was alright with losing and he respects me more. Maybe he will not join the Duke of Achaia when I invade.

20 November, 1077

I have received a clam against the Duchy of Achaia! This could be the excuse I need to extend my power.

Unfortunately the Doux has a powerful ally, the Doux of Antioch. The Doux of Antioch does not seem to like me that much. I will have to find some way to ensure that he does not get involved in a war.

12 July, 1077

My fifth child, Anna is born. Yet another daughter. Well I will be able to marry off my offspring to the nobles of the land once they come of age.

Now that my legacy has been solidified I have a new ambition. To increase my lands so that my son Xanathos will inherit a larger realm.

16 January, 1076

The Emperor is finally out of regency and running things on his own. His first act is to increase taxes on cities. Since it will not hurt me I have decided to support his decree.

13 September, 1075

Another child has been born. As a gesture of reconciliation I have named her after my wife.

24 June, 1075

The Boy-Emperor was able to win and take the county of Dwin. Maybe this is the beginning of a more stable reign.

4 June, 1075

The Boy-Emperor has started a war with a Muslim vassal. We will see how this goes.

11 February, 1075

It took a while to reconcile with Eudokia after, "the incident" but my wife is finally pregnant again. My legacy continues!

18 June, 1074

Since the end of the war we have been trying to reconstitute our forces. I have looked throughout my realm for those who could train my troops. Today I found two possible candidates and my wife offer an opinion on one. Ha!

22 February, 1074

The war did not go well for the Emperor. The rebels had won most of the battles and occupied much of the loyalist areas.

So now the Konstantinos starts his reign with less authority than his father.

21 november, 1073

My faction has decided to support the Emperor financially. The boy-king should appreciate us after this war.

18 November, 1073

Luckily, my vassals were willing to help and drove back the Mayor.

1 November, 1073

I had finally mustered some local troops to take care of the siege.

Unfortunately it was not enough and I lost over 500 good men. This will be more difficult then I thought.

29 August, 1073

The war has finally come to our doorstep. I defend the castle against a lowborn Mayor from the Aegean Islands! The fool has not realised how to handle the disease that comes from keeping so many men packed into a small space and is suffering for it. However we cannot rely on his lack of skill to save us. I will need to call on my vassals to help.

28 August, 1073

Just after the consolidation of his power. Basileus Konstanitons the Tenth died of natural causes. However the war to lower Imperial Authority continues.

The new Emperor seems like a nice young man but still pretentious, which is to be suspected of one born in the Purple. Rather than style himself "Konstantinos the Eleventh" he calls himself  "the Third".

This is because he is the third in his dynasty to be called Konstantinos, The fact that his ancestor, "Konstantinos the First" was not even a baron does not seem to matter to him.

30 July, 1073

With the rebels technically gone from the Empire the Emperor has been able to gain enough votes to impose more taxes on the city. He seems to be taking advantage of the situation.

11 July, 1073

The Doux of Nikea has called the Princely faction together and declared war to gain more power in the Empire, as we are fighting the Muslims!

With over half of the doukes revolting against the Emperor, brother fights against brother. All of my family-in-law, the Komnenos dynasty, Doukes of Armeniacon, Antioch, and Paphlagonia have rebelled. 

However Doux Theodoros has called in the Court Faction to defend the Empire. And now I am a loyalist to the Emperor. TO ARMS!

7 May, 1073

The Emperor has started a war with a small Muslim county called Dwin. Unfortunately the Sultan of the Seljuks has joined to defend his brother in faith. We may have another long drawn out war.

9 January, 1073

The injustice of the Emperor's request is still bothering me but there are others in the empire who are also not happy and have formed factions. The court faction is looking for more rewards and honours form the Emperor, the Ecumenical Patriach is trying to start a religious faction that increases the role of the church and the princely faction is looking to reign in the power of the Emperor.

I am concerned about the realm but do not believe that I should join those who would try to grab power for themselves so I have joined the court faction, hoping to persuade the Emperor to be more lenient by working my way into the court.

The faction leader of the court faction: Theodoros Gavras, Doux of Trebizond is very happy with the Emperor for now. But as a brave and god-fearing man i am sure he will do the right thing if the Emperor does not treat us well.

 

As I finished my letter to the Faction leader. I was told that I had another child. Iouliana. My first daughter.

29 October, 1072

I stood by the Emperor during the Invasion of Armenia but he is now asking for more money from vassals to pay for his mismanagement of the war and I do not believe this is just. I will ignore his decree.

27 September, 1072

The war is finally over and we have won.  The Sultan has accepted our terms and gone back to the East. Hopefully to be never heard from again.

8 June, 1072

Eudokia is pregnant again. Huh.

16 April, 1062

I have turned my newly developed rhetorical skills towards poetry; writings on chivalry and love mainly. We shall see if it is any good.