Emanuele Rizzardi

The usurper Emanuele Rizzardi

The last years of the thirteenth century are harsh for the already tired Byzantine Empire, recently reconstituted in Constantinople, under the cunning and fierce family of the Palaiologos. What remains of the wealthy provinces of Asia Minor have fallen into anarchy. Bands of Turkish raiders, lusting for booty and land, repeatedly loot the countryside, forcing the citizens of the empire to desperately attempt an escape to the coast or to perch behind the walls of ancient and solid fortresses. In the meantime, Karman Bey, Muslim lord of Miletus, increases his power and grip on the land beyond what has been seen before and gathers an army large enough to convince the court of Constantinople to respond by any means necessary. The Turkish dream of conquering the "queen of cities" seems to be becoming a sad reality. Basileus Andronikos II places his hopes on his young nephew Alexios Philanthropenos, commissioning him to put an end to the enemy pressure and preserve what is left before it is too late. Alexios, elated at the idea of showing off his qualities as a military commander, will discover that intrigue, power games and war always have a price to pay, and his youthful illusions will face a harsh reality. Soon after his arrival he begins to understand the bitterness of the local reality and concludes that the defeat of Karman is not enough to ensure peace, he will decide to rebel against his uncle and take the throne for himself, propelling him and his allies to an uncertain future.