OTL Analogy in the Videssos Series

Though Videssos is not alternate history per se, there is alot of analogy to real-life Byzantine  history. Many people, places and events also occured in our world. This article is an effort to record all analogues. Any additional information is encouraged.

Krispos Avtokrator
Krispos, a peasant with some Vaspurakaner blood, rises through much intrigue and conflict to become the Avtokrator  of the Empire of Videssos much like Basil I rose to become Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. Like Krispos, who was born in a remote village north of Imbros, Basil I was born in an obscure place in an obscure Byzantine province.

Basil is said to have to been kidnapped by Bulgarian barbarians, much like Krispos  was taken captive by the Kubratoi. However, Basil basically just escaped home while Kripos was ransomed off. Krispos also rose up by becoming a groom of an relative of the patriarch. Basil also worked as a groom, for a relative of the Emperor.

While working for Iakovitzes, Krispos gains the attention of a seer-noblewoman Tanilis, who foresees him becoming Avtokrator and helps him get to that position by endowing him with money. Without anything about prophesies, Basil also gains the attention of a wealthy woman named Danielis, who endowed with a fortune. Krispos gets the attention of the Sevastos by wrestling with a Kubratoi and winning, while Basil gained the attention of the emperor himself by defeating a Bulgar champion.

By becoming Anthimos III's vestiarios (chamberlain), Krispos ascends higher and higher towards the throne, while Basil became the bodyguard of his Autokrator, Michael. Finally, both men kill their sovereigns and take the throne for themselves. Each then holds their respective Empires for a long, stable reign; something that is rare in the tumultous histories of both countries. They both also become known for being exceptional rulers, despite no previous experience in administrative or military affairs.

Anthimos III
Anthimos III's reign is quite similar to Michael III, also known as the Drunkard. Both were known to squander Imperial money needlessly for their own festivities. Byzantine accounts describe Michael's habitual drunkenness disgusted the general population just as Anthimos' constant revelry and drinking shocked and dismayed most Videssians. Note however, that Michael was less of a debauch than Anthimos and devoted more attention to Imperial matters.

More fatally, both were killed by someone they trusted: their chanberlains. Anthimos was killed by Krispos, Michael by Basil (see above). In Anthimos' case, he was trying a sorcerous attack on Krispos before the latter killed him.

Maniakes the Younger
Maniakes II is named after the famed Byzantine general George Maniakes. He most resembles the Eastern Roman general Heraclius.

Vaspurakan
Vaspurakan resembles Armenia  in most respects. Both countries were stuck between two powerful empires, Vaspurakan between Videssos and Makuran (later Yezd), Armenia between Byzantium and Sassanid Persia.

Both were ruthlessly fought over by the two major powers. This caused both peoples to have a major diaspora in other countries.

Makuran
Makuran is heavily based on the Sassanid Persian Empire.

Powerful landholders Buy Up Freeholder Land, Transforming Peasants into Property....
In Videssos, things are quite feudal. Noble landowners bought up land that belonged to freeholding peasants, in return for protection from Imperial tax agents. These peasants were then used as soldiers by the landowners, who disobeyed the Emperor and answered themselves only.

This reduced the number of peasant-recruits to the army and weakened the Empire itself. This happened in several stages in Byzantine history.