Byzantine Empire

Byzantine Empire
Location Properties
Continent	Europe Asia
Naming Properties
Demonym	Byzantine
Base Statistics
City Count	170
Square City Count	9
Base Population	51,219,011
Consumers Required to Upkeep	52.71
Base Income ($)	2,652,906
Base Manpower Capacity	1,024,381
Requirements
Starting Nation(s)	Greece
Required Entities to Form	Albania Bulgaria Cyprus Greece Kosovo Macedonia Montenegro Serbia Turkey
Can Form	Roman Empire (Considered) Macedonian Empire (If you form as Greece)
Achievements
Stability Gain	10
Title	Basileus
Formable Modifier	One God, One Empire, One Religion: Ideology Power: +7.5% Ground Defense: +15% Research Output: +8% Tax Income: +15%
Formable Modifier	One God, One Empire, One Religion: Ideology Power: +7.5% Ground Defense: +15% Research Output: +8% Tax Income: +15%
Formable Modifier Description	Carrying on the torch of Roman civilization, the knowledge and accomplishments of the Eastern Roman Empire is incredible, even to the modern era.
Formable Modifier Description	Carrying on the torch of Roman civilization, the knowledge and accomplishments of the Eastern Roman Empire is incredible, even to the modern era.
Interface
Decision Name	Form the Byzantine Empire
Decision Name	Form the Byzantine Empire
Decision Description	It is time we relive the once glorious days! Today, we reconstruct the Byzantine Empire!
Decision Description	It is time we relive the once glorious days! Today, we reconstruct the Byzantine Empire!
Title	Form the Byzantine Empire
Title	Form the Byzantine Empire
Description	It is time we relive the once glorious days! Today, we reconstruct the Byzantine Empire!
Description	It is time we relive the once glorious days! Today, we reconstruct the Byzantine Empire!
Enclosure	Excellent!
Enclosure	Excellent!
Resources
Aluminum	0.99
Aluminum	0.99
Chromium	4
Chromium	4
Copper	8.66
Copper	8.66
Gold	6
Gold	6
Oil	19.89
Oil	19.89
Titanium	0.55
Titanium	0.55
Electronics	64
Electronics	64

“	It is time we relive the once glorious days! Today, we reconstruct the Byzantine Empire!	„
	— Description of forming Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire is a formable located in the Balkans and the Middle East, acting as the crossroads of Europe and Asia . The player forming this gets the Basileus title. ‍

It can be formed by Greece. Due to Greece rarely being a player and many players not willing to attack Turkey, this formable is not seen very often. If Greece and Turkey are a player, it is possible for Greece to best Turkey despite Turkey’s seemingly massive advantage manpower-wise. Greece has a stronger strategic position than Turkey, and if a player plays their cards right, they can defeat Turkey with superior strategy and form the Byzantine Empire.

History

The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinople.

The "Byzantine Empire" is in fact a term created after the end of the realm; its citizens continued to refer to their empire simply as the Roman Empire (Medieval Greek: Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων, romanized: Basileía Rhōmaíōn) or Romania (Medieval Greek: Ῥωμανία), and to themselves as Romans (Medieval Greek: Ῥωμαῖοι, romanized: Rhōmaîoi) – a term which Greeks continued to use for themselves even into Ottoman times. Although the Roman state continued and its traditions were maintained, modern historians distinguish Byzantium from its earlier incarnation because it was centered on Constantinople, was oriented towards Greek rather than Latin culture, and was characterized by Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

Its origins stem from the splitting of the Roman Empire, and under Emperor Constantine (reign 324-337), the influence in the Empire had shifted even further to the east, and its capital had moved to Constantinople (modern day Istanbul). The Roman Empire would then finally be ruled separately by two different emperors after the reign of Theodosius I (reign, 379-395). This split would doom the Western Roman Empire, as its comparatively weaker emperors and location rendered it much weaker to barbarian invasions, subsequently causing its fall 81 years later. However, the East was still able to hold its own, and continued living through Late Antiquity and much of the Middle Ages.

Under the reign of Justinian I (reign 527-565), the Eastern Roman Empire reached its greatest extent, retaking many lands which had been lost in the west. This included modern day Northern Libya, modern day Tunisia, parts of modern Algeria, Morocco, Italy, some parts of the Western Balkans, and southern Spain. Despite the initial success of the invasions, Justinian's conquests had actually exhausted the empire economically, and the neighbouring Persians took advantage of the situation to push deep into the Byzantine Empire’s eastern territories. A widespread and highly-devastating Bubonic Plague (termed the Plague of Justinian) also struck Constantinople, causing the end of the Western conquests.

In a series of misfortunes however, the empire would later lose 1/3 of Italy to the Lombards, North Africa and the Middle East to the Islamic Caliphates, and the Northern Balkans to the Avars (later the Bulgarians).

Despite all these losses however, the reign of the Macedonian Dynasty would lead the Eastern Romans into a renaissance. One notable emperor being Basil II, also called the Bulgar-Slayer for his brutal elimination of the Bulgarian Empire, reconquered much of the Northern Balkans, and many of the previous lands in the East. This renaissance would end with the arrival of the Seljuk Turks from Central Asia, who subsequently defeated the Byzantines in the disastrous Battle of Manzikert (1071), causing them to lose much of Anatolia and leaving them in a vulnerable position. The empire would however, enjoy a recovery during the Komnenian Restoration, in which the Seljuk Turks were kicked out of Western Anatolia with some help from the Western Crusaders (First Crusade) and the Northern Balkans were retaken. This initial recovery would however end with the growing East-West divide and result in the failed Fourth Crusade in 1204, in which a massive Western Crusader Army (who were meant to retake the Holy Land from the Muslims) had instead, painted their swords crimson in Christian blood by sacking and burning Constantinople. The sack severely weakened the Byzantine Empire, which split into successor states, Nicaea, Trebizond, and Epirus. A new Latin Empire was established in Constantinople by the Crusaders, however, this empire was rapidly defeated and annihilated by Nicaea in 1261. Nicaea would subsequently also retake Trebizond and Epirus, restoring a fraction of the original borders of the Byzantine Empire prior to the Fourth Crusade.

However, the damage had been done. The Byzantine Empire never fully recovered from the troubles caused by the Fourth Crusade, and Constantinople soon succumbed to the Ottomans in 1453.

Base Statistics

The Byzantine Empire, if formed, will be quite strong, with a base tax income of $2,398,949 and $253,957 from its resources creating a total base income of 2,652,906. It has a base population of 52,212,973 million people.

Formable Modifier

Forming the Byzantine Empire grants a indefinite modifier called "One God, One Empire, One Religion" Granting:

• Ideology Power: +7.5%
• Ground Defense: +15%
• Research Output: +8%
• Tax Income: +15%

Resources

When formed, the Eastern Roman Empire gets access to a lot of Oil as well as decently sized Copper and Gold reserves. It also has a large Chromium production and a small amount of Aluminum.

Resources of Byzantine Empire
Aluminum	+1.11
Chromium	+4.44
Copper	+9.97
Gold	+8.1
Oil	+25.41
Titanium	+0.55

Military

It would also have a strong manpower pool, with a base manpower pool of 1,024,381 if the conscription law is on volunteer. Its starting nation, Greece has 40k infantry starting as the home guard in Athens.

Base Manpower Capacity of Greece,Albania,Bulgaria,Cyprus,Macedonia,Montenegro,Serbia,Turkey per Conscription Law
The following columns below present the manpower capacity from lowest (Disarmed) to highest (Required). RP stands for "Recruitable Population".
Disarmed [1% RP]	522,179
Volunteer [2% RP]	1,044,358
Limited [5% RP]	2,610,894
Extensive [10% RP]	5,221,787
Required [25% RP]	13,054,467

Geography

Terrain of the lands in the Byzantine Empire

The lands of the Byzantine Empire in Winter

The lands in the Byzantine Empire are diverse in terms of terrain. In the west lies Semi-Mountainous and Hilly terrain with the hilly terrain covering up most of western Serbia, some of western Albania, most of southern Greece with the exception of a few flat lands, and south eastern Bulgaria as well as parts of northern Turkish Thrace. In the east, on the Asian side of the empire, the western coastline is also flat while the lands inland and the south are Hilly. However for the east from central Turkey and the coastline is mostly Semi-Mountainous terrain with the south being flat or Hilly. The lands in the far east are Mountainous.

All of the lands in the Byzantine Empire are affected by no biome at all, however in the winter, Bulgaria as well as northern Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia and a small sliver of northern Greece are affected by Mild Winter.

Cities

The Byzantine Empire has 163 cities and 9 square cities. Its most populous city is Istanbul with 3,716,000 people. Ankara is the second most populous city with 3,716,000 people with Athens being the third largest city with 3,242,000 people.

Borders

The Byzantine Empire borders Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Hungary.

Threats

• Turkey, who needs to form the Ottoman Empire with Bulgaria, Albania, etc.
• Italy will likely want to invade the Balkans.
• Balkan countries will likely have conflicting interests with Greece.

Strategy

Starting Moves

• At the start of the game, you should build 1 electronic factory, 1 fertilizer factory, 1 steel factory, and 1 motor factory. You can buy the steel and motors, however this is not recommended. After this, buy all the resources you need for these factories.
• Justify conquest on Albania and Macedonia, you will need to invade them to seize their treasury.
• You should also enact the press censorship policy and raise taxes to high. Also make sure to move to low government spending or more.

Annihilating the Turkish

Turkey will be your main opponent and will usually stop you from forming Byzantine Empire, and Turkey will be tough, but not impossible to deal with.

Notes

• You should move towards communism while doing this if possible as it will minimize your war exhaustion.
• Having time in the beginning is key. If Turkey attacks you first, you don't stand much of a chance.
• Make sure to invade Albania and Macedonia to seize their treasury. After taking them, you want to immediately make 2 consumer goods factories. Once these factories are finished, sell the consumer goods to AI nations.

If Turkey is an AI

You should conquest Turkey like any AI. You can just kill the Turkish home guard with artillery. Turkey will be your main opponent if not an AI however.

If Turkey is a Typical Player

1. Once you have done your starting moves you should immediately build a destroyer and a battleship. Turkey is unlikely to focus on you much in the early game, so invade the countries north of you using your tanks to attack the AI before they take land in the Balkans. Make sure to also ally Russia, or any nation which you won't conquer in the future, such as Iran. You can also just ally people who you decide to kill later. These allies are NOT TO BE CALLED IN DURING THE WAR. They are simply for preventing Turkey from attacking you prematurely and to prevent Turkey from getting them as an ally.
2. Once you are ready and have taken all the lands you need to form the Byzantine Empire in the Balkans, justify war using the conquest casus belli on Turkey. If you have been attacked, skip all of the sentences previously. Use the destroyer and battleship you built earlier to navally bombard Turkey's forces by moving your navy close to Turkey's forces. If Turkey uses artillery, use 2 submarines to escort your battleship instead. The fight will be easy, as once your navy has obliterated Turkey's invasion force you should attack the troops with your tanks. (200 tanks can take on 20k-30k infantry on average.)
3. Once all of Turkey's forces have been destroyed, destroy them by besieging Istanbul with 800 tanks, and 400 tanks for Turkey's capital. Once both cities are sieged down you should use the form line mechanic (you can learn this by yourself because this page will be too long) to split all the tanks, and then you should set all the tanks to auto-capture to win. While doing all this you should justify war on Cyprus and annex Cyprus.

An alternate strategy could be to get Russia to join in because they could easily kill Turkey and they get some extra land for themselves, however, calling in allies is never recommended because your allies might grab extra land for themselves and that is never favorable unless they are willing to transfer occupation of the lands taken.

If Turkey is a Skilled Player

It is unlikely you will achieve victory, however, your allies will play a major role in saving you if they support you economically or manpower-wise or even directly. Making sure your economy is in check is key to winning a war against a skilled Turkey. That along with making sure they don't get the upper-hand navally will allow you to destroy them. You should only use tanks as they are the most efficient for your manpower and and focus on making sure your battleship doesn't get destroyed. Otherwise, dealing with a professional player is not too different than a typical player because of your strategic position. However, you will be mostly defensive rather than being on the offensive.

Make sure to note that after the war, you should take the Caucasus before Russia can do that, and if you successfully are able, ally allies that will be able to intimidate Russia into not declaring war on you. These allies can be China, United States, Japan, or any other nation that is opposed to Russia.

A Roman Empire

The Byzantine Empire's name was actually the Roman Empire in it's time, or more appropriately, the Eastern Roman Empire. You may have conquered the lands needed to form the Byzantine Empire, but why stop there? The Byzantine Empire had once tried to restore Rome back to the Roman Empire, and if you are willing to take up the challenge, you may also retake not only Rome, but the entire empire itself.

Retaking the Eternal City

Rome had been lost many years ago, however, perhaps you could undo the loss of Rome, and finally bring the city that had founded the Roman Empire back into the Roman Empire.

Have you kept your previous fleet (Remember, 1 battleship, 1 destroyer, any amount of submarines beyond 2.) that you built in the Turkish war? Well, you're going to need it now! Italy is not easily subdued if you do not have a navy, and utilizing naval assets will allow you to attack Italy much easier as well as stop incoming naval invasions from Italy in the event that they are a player.

The lands you should take.

Burning Venice.

1. Justify conquest on Italy, you should also be attacking the Levant and Mesopotamia if no one has taken them, as well as Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, and if possible, Austria.
2. Keep an eye on your war exhaust, this could be an easy or a tough war, however you don't want your war exhaust to be too high, if it does, increase your government spending.
3. Construct or move around 4k tanks to prepare for the invasion of Italy.
4. Around half-way through the justification, you should split your 4k tanks into two, and send the 2k tanks to navally invade Rome. You should also use your fleet to escort these tanks and navally bombard the home guard when they land in Rome.
5. Declare war.
6. If you have sent your fleet to Rome, Rome will fall very easily. You should also send your other 2k tanks you left behind to land in Italy as well, when they land, you should split them up and set them to auto-capture. Italy will likely create as many troops as possible to retake Rome, so until Italy's manpower runs out and they stop creating troops, you should keep your 2k tanks waiting in Rome.
7. When Italy is unable to create anymore troops, wait for your 2k tanks to reinforce back to around 1.5k tanks, then using the form line mechanic, your should split them up and set them to auto-capture. This will lead to a death sentence to Italy, and if you use your navy to bombard their remaining troops, Italy is sure to fall.
8. When Italy collapses or holds out in a few cities, go into the peace treaty and select all their cities to annex as well as well as choosing whatever terms you desire.
9. You have retaken Rome! However, many other Roman lands still lie under barbarian control.

Back in the 13th century, a massive blow that was irreversible had been done to the empire. The Fourth Crusade. A lot of the sackers were Venetian, and of course, the riches all ended up in Venice or somewhere else in Western Europe. Burn the city of Venice and all lands former belonging to the Republic of Venice.

Recovering Egypt and Alexandria

Egypt had been a wealthy and rich province long ago and had been with the Eastern Roman Empire since the final split of the Roman Empire, however in the middle of the Persian and East Roman conflicts, the Islamic Caliphate struck, and Egypt had been lost. It is time to retake what rightfully belonged to Rome!

You will be using your fleet to defeat Egypt next. Egypt is usually AI, and you will be able to use AI luring to crush Egypt's army and take Egypt easily. However, the next steps will be used in the rare case that Egypt is a player.

Where your troops should be before you declare war

This is what you should conquer!

1. Justify conquest on Egypt. You should also be attacking the rest of North Africa (If they have not been taken yet, if they have, you will be attacking their colonizers soon enough anyway.) as they are usually AI and easily takeable.
2. Move your fleet to the sea next to Egypt, also get 4k tanks and move them to southern Turkey/Anatolia.
3. Around 3/4 through the justification, split your 4k tanks and send 2k tanks down to Alexandria, you will use the rest of the tanks to attack Egypt through the Sinai Peninsula or the Levant if Egypt has taken it.
4. Attack while your tanks are about to land on Alexandria, use your navy to protect your troops in Alexandria as well as kill Egypt's home guard in Cairo.
5. Split your tanks up once Egypt has wasted their resources trying to retake Alexandria or are not attacking the tanks in Alexandria and set them to auto-capture, then use your other 2k tanks that is sitting by to blitzkrieg Egypt.
6. Egypt should collapse and if they hold out in a few cities, you can just choose to annex those cities in the peace treaty as well, since you are not actually able to form the Roman Empire, you can also choose to take the borders of the actual Roman Empire instead of all of Egypt.

Bringing back Western Europe to Rome

The western parts of the empire had been lost first, and the East had survived for a millenia, the west had been abandoned by the East and even been wronged, however, it is time to finally look to the west and bring the western provinces back into empire to make up for the injustices done.

Finish the Reconquest of Hispania

Historically, the East Romans had failed to retake Hispania, however, it is time that you yourself redo their efforts and even succeed.

By this point, your economy should be very strong if you played your cards right. If you have not produced consumer goods already, now is the time. Consumer goods will give you a 25% stability boost, and will allow you to raise maximum taxes. (Just like in the real Eastern Roman Empire!) In most cases, Spain has abandoned their country or are AI and untouched, however, in the case that they are not AI, we're going to take drastic measure this time.

Don't forget to conquer the micro-states in Iberia!

How your fleet should look

1. It's time to upgrade your fleet! Add another battleship and a few more destroyers... Then build an aircraft carrier.
2. You may have oil deficit, but do not hesitate to buy oil beyond how much the AI produces. You may also acquire massive deficit, but do not fear! If you keep invading nations such as San Marino and Monaco or Kuwait, their treasury will hold your deficit for the time being. You may also want to disband units that are not in use.
3. Build your army up, preferably 5k tanks to invade Spain. Do not place your navy or army next to Spain, but you should still have them somewhere in Italy or North Africa.
4. Justify on Spain (and Portugal if they are untaken yet).
5. Place your navy in range of Spain's capital, Madrid.
6. Send your tanks to navally invade Spain 3/4 of the justification.
7. Declare war, once your tanks land, immediately split them up and set them to auto-capture, however, select 600 tanks and make them go capture Madrid, the aircraft carrier will take care of any army in Madrid.
8. By now, Spain should have fully collapsed or is holding out in a few cities, you can just select all their cities in the peace treaty as usual and annex them fully.

Gallic Wars

Caesar had conquered Gaul in just 8 years, but your journey is nearing its end, and you may surpass his accomplishment in less than 4 years with ease. This still applies if Germany or the United Kingdom has conquered France.

1. France will not be as easily conquered as the rest, build an aircraft manufactuary and build 5 attackers and a few fighters if any other player decides to build aircraft, if France has fortified Paris, you will need to also build 3 or more bombers.
2. Move your fleet into the Atlantic Ocean, or rather, the waters west of France.
3. Move over 5k tanks to Spain, more specifically, the border between what was formerly Spain and France.
4. Justify conquest on France/anyone who conquered France, if they have any allies, just ally the allies and break the alliance as to create truces and make them unable to join the war.
5. Once the justification ends, declare war and immediately use your attackers to weaken any troops in Paris or the French border.
6. Split your 5k tanks up and set them to auto-capture on French territory. Select 2k of these split tanks and make them attack Paris. Focus your fleet and attackers on Paris as well as the defenders likely will defend Paris.
7. By now, most of France has been taken, if the United Kingdom was the one who conquered France, please go to Reconquest of Brittania, if Germany was the one who conquered France, please go to Recovering the Rhine.
8. Send the peace terms to France and annex their land. Conquer Belgium, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria if possible by now.

Reconquest of Brittania

Under Emperor Claudius, the Roman conquest of Britain began in 43 AD. The reconquest of Britain had been undone for centuries now, however it is time to end your journey once and for all, retaking the last rebellious province.

1. Move your fleet over to the United Kingdom, they will likely have a small navy, so you will need to get another battleship or two as well as a few more destroyers and 1 more aircraft carrier if you can handle it.
2. Justify conquest on the United Kingdom.
3. Create 20 bombers, they are the last ones, and they must be punished for their rebelliousness as an example to the rest of the empire.
4. Move or create 5k tanks or 1 million infantry (if you have researched infantry technology at this point) to northern France, have around 10 attackers as well to support them.
5. Declare war, the aircraft carrier will destroy their armies easily. Split up all your bombers and set them to auto-capture on British land as well. Split up your tanks and set them to auto-capture too, use your fleet to make sure there aren't any submarines that will block these tanks from crossing the English Channel.
6. Move your fleet around to destroy the British armies, then you will soon take all their cities.
7. Watch in delight as Brittania is destroyed with your bombers and crumbles to the ground.
8. Send the peace terms to the United Kingdom and take England and Wales or all their land.
9. Your journey is done! Congratulations! take a screenshot to immortalize your achievement. (However, bonus points will go to you if you have completed the bonus reconquests.)

Bonus Reconquests

Recovering the Rhine

If France had not conquered Germany, then we're going to end those who first ended the West Roman Empire. Germany won't see you coming and think they are safe because they're not part of the Roman Empire, so after you finish all your reconquests you want to deceive Germany into thinking that you won't attack them and that any military buildup on their border is for defense.

1. Justify conquest on Germany.
2. Move around 4-6k tanks to northern France.
3. Prepare 50-100 bombers to punish the Germans for their destruction of the Roman Empire and many years later, claiming to be its successor via the Holy Roman Empire.
4. Move your naval assets so that their range is enough to reach the Rhineland or Berlin.
5. Attack.
6. Split up all of your bombers and set them to auto-capture, do the same with your tanks. Move your fleet so that they are navally bombarding Germany's troops as well as using your attacker to damage massive stacks of German troops.
7. Germany has been subdued, Burn all their land except for the Rhineland, Austria, and the southern Netherlands if the have it.
8. Peace out Germany for the Rhineland and the Southern Netherlands.

Retaking the Caucasus

While during Constantine's reign the emperor which still ruled both sides of the empire and created Constantinople, the Caucasus had already been lost to Persia, perhaps its time to end its rule under any other barbarian state.

The Caucasus has likely been taken by Russia by now, however, maybe you could get Russia to give you the Caucasus, either by buying it or simply asking for it. This is only likely however if you and Russia are allies, the last thing you want to do is war against Russia.

War Against Russia

If everything has failed, it is time to resort to drastic measures. Not even Russia will stop the Roman Empire from being united in full.

1. Block Russia from using the Istanbul (Constantinople) canal, this will allow you to retreat your fleet from Russia if your fleet is facing major damage from Russia.
2. Train your tanks/infantry in winter specialization. This is done by right clicking the training button, this will give you options on which biome you want to specialize in, this is expensive however you will be able to take the expenses by now, you will need winter specialization because Russian winters will be horrible and cause massive damage to your armies if you have not specialized.
3. Make sure you have total naval supremacy over Russia, make sure your navy is larger than theirs if they have one.
4. Build around 7k or more tanks to invade Russia.
5. Justify conquest on Russia.
6. Attack.
7. Use your fleet to weaken all Russian troops in the Caucasus or Ukraine, then launch a naval invasion with your tanks of Russia through south Ukraine.
8. Split up all your tanks and set them to auto-capture, weaken all Russian troops with your fleet or attackers if they attempt to stop the tanks.
9. Try to get Russia to peace out for the Caucasus, however, if this does not work, continue invading Russia.
10. Once you reach Moscow, you will want to bomb it if it has any fortifications, you also will want to flank any troops in Moscow from the behind and the front at the same time, this will cause extra damage that will kill any troops easily.
11. After you take Moscow, it will take a long time to take the rest of Russia, but it will be a breeze.
12. Once Russia collapses or is still holding out in a few cities in Siberia, peace out for the lands you want (naturally including the Caucasus).

You have restored the Roman Empire under the Greeks! Now, the question is, will it fall apart once again? Or will you conquer all of the Roman Empire's rivals and surpass all your enemies?

Roma Invicta!

Trivia

• The Byzantine flag used in both the old versions of Rise of Nations is presumed to be based off a version of the imperial banner of the Palaiologos dynasty which ruled over the Eastern Roman Empire in its last years, not an actual flag as not every nation had a flag at the time.
• The symbols next to the cross were originally 4 letter b's, and the actual banners/flags itself had never used the symbols and the flags are western interpretations of the flag using the letters in the Serbian Cross.
• Most historians agree that the Roman Empire truly ended with the fall of Constantinople in 1453, which was the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
• Byzantine Empire was also knows as Eastern Roman Empire.
• Despite calling themselves Romans, the Byzantines primarily spoke Greek. Hence the empire sometimes is refered as Greek empire
• The first Byzantine flag used in the game was actually just a square version of the flag that was stretched to fit the 3:2 ratio.
• The Byzantine Empire is one of many nations/formables/releasables that does not have a rectangular flag. It shares this category with:
  • Afsharid Dynasty
  • Byzantine Empire
  • Caucasian Imamate
  • Chola Dynasty
  • Crimean Khanate
  • Crown of Aragon
  • Danish Empire
  • Emirate of Bukhara
  • Frankish Empire
  • Goguryeo
  • Grand Duchy of Lithuania
  • Hafsid Dynasty
  • Hui
  • Khanate of Kazan
  • Khmer Empire
  • Kingdom of Hungary
  • Kirat
  • Kush
  • Mamluk Sultanate
  • Mongol Empire
  • Nepal
  • North Sea Empire
  • Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
  • Sikh Empire
  • Swedish Empire
  • Timurid Empire

Criticism

The Byzantine Empire at its territorial height.

Map of the Byzantine Empire based on the Formable Optimiziations V3 google doc. (Light red means tiles that are likely meant to be part of it, but aren't actually mentioned)

The formable in-game has been criticized by the community as it does not represent the height of its territorial expansion, which owned all or some territories in modern day Greece, Turkey, Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, (North) Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, San Marino, Portugal, Gibraltar, Spain, Malta, Ukraine, Romania, and Italy.