The eagle's left head

[Avrorrange]

How would that be different from the current, 14th century, practices? Appointing your own bishops was I believe already a more or less informal practice, which was piece and center of the investiture controversy.

And The investiture controversy ended in the Pope’s favour.So the monarchs no longer had the right to choose bishops. That right now belonged to the pope.

As for Gallican church? Perhaps you meant Anglican. Gallican church was, I understand, more an informal epithet to the informal political autonomy of the French clergy, but that did not cover liturgical or theological autonomy.
Back in the middle ages, the (proto)national monarchs already appointed their "candidates" to the bishoprics, and the pope confirmed them if the relations were good enough, or excommunicated the whole kingdom if not.

Yes GALLICAN Church. Louis XIV IOTL broke the Pope’s power over the French Church by taking back the right to administrate the Catholic Church in France by retaking control over Church appointments, made it illegal for Church officials to travel to Rome and meet the Pope without his permission, made it illegal for the Church in France to criticise him, the King having ownership over the revenues of empty sees etc etc.

So, in the Lascarid case, or more precisely for the Basilian dominated church in the Lascarid empire, the question is not so much about the right to appoint bishops, which every other powerful monarch in Europe did as they see fit, but the liturgical question, ie the Greek rite and language, and their acceptance or not as a part of the Catholic christendom, as opposed to being crypto-orthodoxes.
Of course, this does compound with the traditional power struggle over appointments of bishops and church revenues, and does seriously amplify it.

That would be part of it.At any rate, if you get everything that was mentioned, you are de facto independent from the Catholic Church while having all the rights to interfere with it, including selecting the next Pope , influence over all the other Catholic kings, monetary/military aid in the name of fighting the infidel, and without having all these other Christian rulers thinking you are a schismatic.It’s an insidious move where you look like you are submitting to the Church when you are taking over it from the inside.

 

[pls don't ban me]

by this rate i have the feeling that soon Ioannis will be deposed and the crown offered to the Rightful Basileus of Sicily

 

[galileo-034]

And The investiture controversy ended in the Pope’s favour.So the monarchs no longer had the right to choose bishops. That right now belonged to the pope.

The emperors lost, but the popes did not quite win. This "quarrel" between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperors went beyond the simple question of investitures, and did not consecrate the Pope's absolute victory.
If anything, the trend through 13th and 14th centuries is that of reinforcement of "national" monarchies, who swept into the vacuum left by the temporal decline of the Holy Roman Emperors; a large part of the 14th century summed up to the papacy being subservient to the French monarchy (and their Angevin cousins by extension). And the Western schism was only another illustration of it.

Yes GALLICAN Church. Louis XIV IOTL broke the Pope’s power over the French Church by taking back the right to administrate the Catholic Church in France by retaking control over Church appointments, made it illegal for Church officials to travel to Rome and meet the Pope without his permission, made it illegal for the Church in France to criticise him, the King having ownership over the revenues of empty sees etc etc.

Political and fiscal autonomy to a further degree still. Not theological or liturgical like in England.

 

[Avrorrange]

The emperors lost, but the popes did not quite win. This "quarrel" between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperors went beyond the simple question of investitures, and did not consecrate the Pope's absolute victory.
If anything, the trend through 13th and 14th centuries is that of reinforcement of "national" monarchies, who swept into the vacuum left by the temporal decline of the Holy Roman Emperors; a large part of the 14th century summed up to the papacy being subservient to the French monarchy (and their Angevin cousins by extension). And the Western schism was only another illustration of it.

Political and fiscal autonomy to a further degree still. Not theological or liturgical like in England.

The French Kings made the pope their bitch. Now you have the chance to make the pope YOUR bitch. At any rate, the pope still had plenty of influence over the other monarchies, and as the example of Louis exemplified, the Pope clearly still had power over investiture etc even in France until Louis XIV said NOPE.

 

[Nuraghe]

The French Kings made the pope their bitch. Now you have the chance to make the pope YOUR bitch. At any rate, the pope still had plenty of influence over the other monarchies, and as the example of Louis exemplified, the Pope clearly still had power over investiture etc even in France until Louis XIV said NOPE.

in reality the Pope's ability to invest new ecclesiastics in the dioceses of Europe ( in total autonomy ) gradually diminished over the centuries, therefore a compromise was reached with the monarchs, where the sovereign could propose his own candidate for the vacant seat of the moment and the Pope could or could not approve him ( but it was usually a purely formal practice, it was rare for the papacy not to approve a candidacy, except for any obvious irregularities ) now it is true that Rome, in its relations with Paris had become more intransigent but this was due exclusively to the fact of wanting to "erase" the Avignon period, furthermore it must be remembered that Louis XIV had to deal with Innocent XI, a eccelent Pope ( it is with an important international network of alliances ) who was against him for his hegemonic policies

 

[galileo-034]

The French Kings made the pope their bitch. Now you have the chance to make the pope YOUR bitch.

Which is one of the key reasons of the Western Schism. That said, England and France were already at each other's throats, fighting an existential war, so it made little difference.
The Lascarids however? Puppetizing Rome is a very good way to unite otherwise divided enemies and having to fight a war after another non stop, all while you don't have a single reliable ally (looking at you Genoa, refusing to commit in the war against Venice).

 

[pls don't ban me]

Which is one of the key reasons of the Western Schism. That said, England and France were already at each other's throats, fighting an existential war, so it made little difference.
The Lascarids however? Puppetizing Rome is a very good way to unite otherwise divided enemies and having to fight a war after another non stop, all while you don't have a single reliable ally (looking at you Genoa, refusing to commit in the war against Venice).

To be fair Genoa has enemy on all sides and does not have the same manpower of Venice.
Genoa has to constantly balance itself between the Savoy, Milanese incursions ( as we saw 2/3 chapters ago the siege of Genoa) and they have to look after other problems like the Crimean Khanate raids and the Savonese and other minors cities trying to regain independence.
the thing about Genoa is that not every city was gladly part of the republic. while some of them through OTL even asked to join ( like Novi Ligure) others like Savona were conquered. Savona at some point tried even to become a french vassal to gain independence. no need to say Genoa killed them worse then the Pisans: the city's fortress dismantled and every stone set in the port in order to ruin their economy.

Genoa is the best ally when it comes to give you money and you are not dumb into spending them. ( look at the spanish empire becoming a genoese economical bitch in the 16th century). Also the Genoese crossbow men are basically among the best long range fighters in the world.
IF Sicily could send people to help garrison the city i think Genoa would have less qualms about helping in the war as long as they also get their spoils of war ( Chios and Famagosta).

 

[Xenophonte]

I am surprised he didn’t turn to Adrienne the elder instead of Blanche.Ioannes’ father helped get her out of the marriage with the Serbian dude and she technically is still a Palaiologos.

Besides that“Beggars can't be choosers”,so he didn't get to choose to whom meet, their polities still are at war, (technically,at least):

It had taken some work to arrange the meeting, the empire might had dropped out of the war with Sicily but no formal peace had been arranged yet. Ioannis V would had been normally loath to come begging hat in hand the Sicilians.

 

[Avrorrange]

Besides that“Beggars can't be choosers”,so he didn't get to choose to whom meet, their polities still are at war, (technically,at least):

If John made an explicit request to meet his great aunt, I think it would be difficult for Blanche to shoot him down without consulting Adrienne first.Nevertheless, if she did meet him, the response would likely be a bit more diplomatic, but just the same.

 

[Basileus_of_the_Hellenes]

1370 Map is ready! Some notes:
- Iberia: Added Granada, Castille and Leon, Portugal and Navarre (unsure of the borders specifically, will change in the future as I get better sources.
- Interior Anatolia: Beyliks added, hoping there will be less in the next 30 years to manage lol
- North Italy: Really just wanted the major players here, unsure of the extent to which Milan has expanded TTL (unfamiliar with Milanese 14th century history).
- Ottoman Expansion: Used best judgement here based on descriptions of updates; restricted Ottoman Expansion South of the Balkan Mountains and East of the Serbian statelets.
- Serbia: Rebellious provinces are labeled as independents, names based on locations described in updates
- BSH: Following TL expansion here
- Crimea: Unsure of exactly which locations were held by Genoa and Trebizond so used best judgement and sources I could find

If anyone has any advice here, please let me know! Enjoy!

 

[Nuraghe]

1370 Map is ready! Some notes:
- Iberia: Added Granada, Castille and Leon, Portugal and Navarre (unsure of the borders specifically, will change in the future as I get better sources.
- Interior Anatolia: Beyliks added, hoping there will be less in the next 30 years to manage lol
- North Italy: Really just wanted the major players here, unsure of the extent to which Milan has expanded TTL (unfamiliar with Milanese 14th century history).
- Ottoman Expansion: Used best judgement here based on descriptions of updates; restricted Ottoman Expansion South of the Balkan Mountains and East of the Serbian statelets.
- Serbia: Rebellious provinces are labeled as independents, names based on locations described in updates
- BSH: Following TL expansion here
- Crimea: Unsure of exactly which locations were held by Genoa and Trebizond so used best judgement and sources I could find

If anyone has any advice here, please let me know! Enjoy!

View attachment 904586

For the rest it is a truly fantastic map, I would only make a slight modification, concerning northern Italy, by adding the Verona of the Scaligeri ( which in this period could compete almost on an equal footing with the Milan of the Viscontis ) and I would color Sardinia ( except Cagliari, Sassari and Alghero, which Mariano has not yet managed to conquer, since the rest of the island is under his control ) differently from Aragon

 

[Tsipouras1997]

If I remember right, Venice surrendered Dalmatia to Hungary in their peace treaty and Ragusa is also? Independent as a Protectorate of Hungary.

 

[pls don't ban me]

SNIP

u can use this one as a reference
Genoa if i recall well is still holding on something in Sardinia.

 

[Alkmaion]

Why should she do that?If the Lascarid Empire is in any position to send any forces, they could just take everything for themselves, including Constantinople.

Well summarized for the Lascarid Despotate, which, in turn, is exactly the reason why John V. should have stayed away. The two countries officially are still at war. An envoy would have been better.
As for the LD, it is stupidity at it´s best. An enemy they are at war with whose leader they allow to enter their lands! Someone murders Emperor John V. there and they would be painted as the responsible part! Allow an envoy, yes, but the enemy itself?

 

[Avrorrange]

Well summarized for the Lascarid Despotate, which, in turn, is exactly the reason why John V. should have stayed away. The two countries officially are still at war. An envoy would have been better.
As for the LD, it is stupidity at it´s best. An enemy they are at war with whose leader they allow to enter their lands! Someone murders Emperor John V. there and they would be painted as the responsible part! Allow an envoy, yes, but the enemy itself?

They probably don’t really care if someone killed John and they are framed for it. He was a small guy thinking he was big. Just the lord of a few towns in Thrace, that’s what he is.There are a lot of ways they could excuse what happened too. We don’t know this enemy boss was here. We just thought that he was an enemy grunt trying to loot and burn our land.

 

[Xenophonte]

u can use this one as a reference
Genoa if i recall well is still holding on something in Sardinia.

Also, would be worth to take into account that this was a period where Genoa developed an intense trading and colonizing activity in the Black Sea, Taman peninsula, Caucasus and in Bessarabia. The Black Sea was practically a 'Genoese Lake' with colonies and trading posts ffounded/established in multiple strategically locations around it.

Unesco Trading Posts and Fortifications on Genoese Trade Routes from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea

Spoiler: Anatolia

Description​

Yoros Fortress	41°10'49.41" N - 29°05'46.89" E
Galata Tower	41°01'35.85" N - 28°58'26.88" E
Foça Fortress	38°40'09.25" N - 26°45'02.78" E
Çandarlı Fortress	38°56'01.69" N - 26°56'01.50" E
Çeşme Fortress	38°19´24.60" N - 26°18´12.49" E
Amasra Fortress	41°45'02.84" N - 32°23'03.83" E
Akçakoca Fortress	41°05'10.80" N - 31°05'32.38" E
Sinop Fortress	42°01'42.52" N - 35°08'47.31" E
Güvercinada Fortress and the City Walls in Kuşadası	37°51'48.80" N - 27°14'51.79" E

 

[HunterX]

1370 Map is ready! Some notes:
- Iberia: Added Granada, Castille and Leon, Portugal and Navarre (unsure of the borders specifically, will change in the future as I get better sources.
- Interior Anatolia: Beyliks added, hoping there will be less in the next 30 years to manage lol
- North Italy: Really just wanted the major players here, unsure of the extent to which Milan has expanded TTL (unfamiliar with Milanese 14th century history).
- Ottoman Expansion: Used best judgement here based on descriptions of updates; restricted Ottoman Expansion South of the Balkan Mountains and East of the Serbian statelets.
- Serbia: Rebellious provinces are labeled as independents, names based on locations described in updates
- BSH: Following TL expansion here
- Crimea: Unsure of exactly which locations were held by Genoa and Trebizond so used best judgement and sources I could find

If anyone has any advice here, please let me know! Enjoy!

View attachment 904586

Does Constantinople still control Lemnos and the northern Aegean islands?

 

[Quinkana]

They probably don’t really care if someone killed John and they are framed for it. He was a small guy thinking he was big. Just the lord of a few towns in Thrace, that’s what he is.There are a lot of ways they could excuse what happened too. We don’t know this enemy boss was here. We just thought that he was an enemy grunt trying to loot and burn our land.

At this point John V of Constantinople is nothing more than a petty lord of Thrace, the former Empire has nothing left at this point and they're quickly being subsumed by the Turk due to their own actions.

Do not mourn for the death of the second iteration of the Roman Empire, for the third one shall rise from its ashes in the birthplace of Rome: in Sicily, where Carthage and Rome once fought each other to achieve Empire.

 

[Anarch King of Dipsodes]

1370 Map is ready!

Very good.

Is the ERE really this far gone?

 

[Quinkana]

Very good.
View attachment 905130
Is the ERE really this far gone?

With Morea and Thessaloniki going to the former Despotate now Empire the ERE is practically just Constantinople.