Byzantines

Faction Overview	Strategic Overview	History
The Byzantines have the power of Empire.
A small Roman ark in a sea roiling with barbarians, Byzantium continues the heritage of the old Classical world, even as her domains have shrunk all the way to Asia Minor, Epirus, and small slivers of Italian and African coastline. Ensconced in the mountains of Anatolia and bordered by sea, Byzantium forms the gateway to Europe from Asian soil, and in the past centuries has begun to prosper once more.
But new threats are now on the rise. Barbarian invaders, long a threat to the empire and all Christian civilisation, continue to roil Europe and harry the Empire's westernmost possessions. The Arabs, long a weak and dissolute race, have suddenly rallied around the teachings of a false prophet, supplanting the once formidable Persians in the Middle East, even as religious controversies and political corruption sap Roman values and Christian faith at home. How will Rome continue to survive in such times of chaos? is there a means of turning back the barbarian tide, or is eternal night the ultimate fate of Roman civilisation?
In spite of these troubles, the Byzantines' tools to deal with the situation are nonetheless legion — so to speak. Highly disciplined infantry, along with punishing shock cavalry, along with a sprinkling of mercenaries and gold (how those come together!) may well be the key to success and survival into the Middle Ages for Byzantium. Units aren't just the sole bulwark — Roman laws may be forgotten but the heritage they have spawned, a love of law and order, has never truly left the Byzantines. With better laws come better recruitment opportunities — where others may have to rely on impoverished viliens to carry the day, the Byzantines have access to a highly disciplined pool of manpower and knowhow to keep the fight going on both land and sea.	
A small Roman ark in a sea roiling with barbarians, Byzantium continues the heritage of the old Classical world, even as her domains have shrunk all the way to Asia Minor, Epirus, and small slivers of Italian and African coastline. Ensconced in the mountains of Anatolia and bordered by sea, Byzantium forms the gateway to Europe from Asian soil, and in the past centuries has begun to prosper once more.
But new threats are now on the rise. Barbarian invaders, long a threat to the empire and all Christian civilisation, continue to roil Europe and harry the Empire's westernmost possessions. The Arabs, long a weak and dissolute race, have suddenly rallied around the teachings of a false prophet, supplanting the once formidable Persians in the Middle East, even as religious controversies and political corruption sap Roman values and Christian faith at home. How will Rome continue to survive in such times of chaos? is there a means of turning back the barbarian tide, or is eternal night the ultimate fate of Roman civilisation?
In spite of these troubles, the Byzantines' tools to deal with the situation are nonetheless legion — so to speak. Highly disciplined infantry, along with punishing shock cavalry, along with a sprinkling of mercenaries and gold (how those come together!) may well be the key to success and survival into the Middle Ages for Byzantium. Units aren't just the sole bulwark — Roman laws may be forgotten but the heritage they have spawned, a love of law and order, has never truly left the Byzantines. With better laws come better recruitment opportunities — where others may have to rely on impoverished viliens to carry the day, the Byzantines have access to a highly disciplined pool of manpower and knowhow to keep the fight going on both land and sea.	
A small Roman ark in a sea roiling with barbarians, Byzantium continues the heritage of the old Classical world, even as her domains have shrunk all the way to Asia Minor, Epirus, and small slivers of Italian and African coastline. Ensconced in the mountains of Anatolia and bordered by sea, Byzantium forms the gateway to Europe from Asian soil, and in the past centuries has begun to prosper once more.
But new threats are now on the rise. Barbarian invaders, long a threat to the empire and all Christian civilisation, continue to roil Europe and harry the Empire's westernmost possessions. The Arabs, long a weak and dissolute race, have suddenly rallied around the teachings of a false prophet, supplanting the once formidable Persians in the Middle East, even as religious controversies and political corruption sap Roman values and Christian faith at home. How will Rome continue to survive in such times of chaos? is there a means of turning back the barbarian tide, or is eternal night the ultimate fate of Roman civilisation?
In spite of these troubles, the Byzantines' tools to deal with the situation are nonetheless legion — so to speak. Highly disciplined infantry, along with punishing shock cavalry, along with a sprinkling of mercenaries and gold (how those come together!) may well be the key to success and survival into the Middle Ages for Byzantium. Units aren't just the sole bulwark — Roman laws may be forgotten but the heritage they have spawned, a love of law and order, has never truly left the Byzantines. With better laws come better recruitment opportunities — where others may have to rely on impoverished viliens to carry the day, the Byzantines have access to a highly disciplined pool of manpower and knowhow to keep the fight going on both land and sea.	
A small Roman ark in a sea roiling with barbarians, Byzantium continues the heritage of the old Classical world, even as her domains have shrunk all the way to Asia Minor, Epirus, and small slivers of Italian and African coastline. Ensconced in the mountains of Anatolia and bordered by sea, Byzantium forms the gateway to Europe from Asian soil, and in the past centuries has begun to prosper once more.
But new threats are now on the rise. Barbarian invaders, long a threat to the empire and all Christian civilisation, continue to roil Europe and harry the Empire's westernmost possessions. The Arabs, long a weak and dissolute race, have suddenly rallied around the teachings of a false prophet, supplanting the once formidable Persians in the Middle East, even as religious controversies and political corruption sap Roman values and Christian faith at home. How will Rome continue to survive in such times of chaos? is there a means of turning back the barbarian tide, or is eternal night the ultimate fate of Roman civilisation?
In spite of these troubles, the Byzantines' tools to deal with the situation are nonetheless legion — so to speak. Highly disciplined infantry, along with punishing shock cavalry, along with a sprinkling of mercenaries and gold (how those come together!) may well be the key to success and survival into the Middle Ages for Byzantium. Units aren't just the sole bulwark — Roman laws may be forgotten but the heritage they have spawned, a love of law and order, has never truly left the Byzantines. With better laws come better recruitment opportunities — where others may have to rely on impoverished viliens to carry the day, the Byzantines have access to a highly disciplined pool of manpower and knowhow to keep the fight going on both land and sea.
Faction Type: LatinNational Bonuses:
*Doesn't need to research Urban Corporation to obtain the Peasant Commune.
*25% Higher Commerce Cap
*Receive Double Income from Taxation
*Forts and Tower +3 Range. Mercenary Quarters have no Ramp cost, and have no tech requirements.
*Receive Free Fishing Boat with each New Dock
*Create Ships 33% Faster
*Archers receive free upgrades
*Receive a free archer whenever you build a new Barracks.
*Outposts created 33% faster.
Unique Units:
* / / : Angry Mob
* : Limitanei => Akritai, Psiloi
* : Skoutatoi, Militia => Spathatoi, Composite Bowmen
** : Kontaraton Infantry
*Stable: Bucellarii, Cavalry Achers, Scout Cavalry
** : Athanatoi , ...
* : Scolarios, Excubitores
* : Scorpion, Trebuchet, Ram
* : Chelandion, Dromonarion, Dromonas, Chierosiphon
Mercenaries:
* : Slavic Raiders, Brigand, Caucasus Mountain Men, [Caucasus Huntsmen], [Merchant Cavalry]
* :
**{Lvl 1} [Turks] Turkish Lancers, Turkish Archers => Pechenegs
**{Lvl 2} [Germans] German Warriors, German Nobles, German Crossbowmen	
Faction Type: LatinNational Bonuses:
*Doesn't need to research Urban Corporation to obtain the Peasant Commune.
*25% Higher Commerce Cap
*Receive Double Income from Taxation
*Forts and Tower +3 Range. Mercenary Quarters have no Ramp cost, and have no tech requirements.
*Receive Free Fishing Boat with each New Dock
*Create Ships 33% Faster
*Archers receive free upgrades
*Receive a free archer whenever you build a new Barracks.
*Outposts created 33% faster.
Unique Units:
* / / : Angry Mob
* : Limitanei => Akritai, Psiloi
* : Skoutatoi, Militia => Spathatoi, Composite Bowmen
** : Kontaraton Infantry
*Stable: Bucellarii, Cavalry Achers, Scout Cavalry
** : Athanatoi , ...
* : Scolarios, Excubitores
* : Scorpion, Trebuchet, Ram
* : Chelandion, Dromonarion, Dromonas, Chierosiphon
Mercenaries:
* : Slavic Raiders, Brigand, Caucasus Mountain Men, [Caucasus Huntsmen], [Merchant Cavalry]
* :
**{Lvl 1} [Turks] Turkish Lancers, Turkish Archers => Pechenegs
**{Lvl 2} [Germans] German Warriors, German Nobles, German Crossbowmen	
Faction Type: LatinNational Bonuses:
*Doesn't need to research Urban Corporation to obtain the Peasant Commune.
*25% Higher Commerce Cap
*Receive Double Income from Taxation
*Forts and Tower +3 Range. Mercenary Quarters have no Ramp cost, and have no tech requirements.
*Receive Free Fishing Boat with each New Dock
*Create Ships 33% Faster
*Archers receive free upgrades
*Receive a free archer whenever you build a new Barracks.
*Outposts created 33% faster.
Unique Units:
* / / : Angry Mob
* : Limitanei => Akritai, Psiloi
* : Skoutatoi, Militia => Spathatoi, Composite Bowmen
** : Kontaraton Infantry
*Stable: Bucellarii, Cavalry Achers, Scout Cavalry
** : Athanatoi , ...
* : Scolarios, Excubitores
* : Scorpion, Trebuchet, Ram
* : Chelandion, Dromonarion, Dromonas, Chierosiphon
Mercenaries:
* : Slavic Raiders, Brigand, Caucasus Mountain Men, [Caucasus Huntsmen], [Merchant Cavalry]
* :
**{Lvl 1} [Turks] Turkish Lancers, Turkish Archers => Pechenegs
**{Lvl 2} [Germans] German Warriors, German Nobles, German Crossbowmen	
Unique buildings:
*Mercenary Quarters
*Peasants' Commune
*Constabulary
*Magistracy
*Fortified Barracks
Wonders:
*Aya Sofia
*Abbey
*Damascus Basilica
*Palace
Upgrades:
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" class="article-table" style="width: ;"
	Lvl 2		Max
	Lvl 2		Max
	Max 		Lvl 2
	Lvl 2		Max
	Max 		Lvl 3
	 		Yes
Category:Swords of the Prophets factions