... Byzantine/emperor continued (1400-1430)
The fun goes on; I feel as if I was playing 4 games in 1 with the separate areas of Thracia, Macedonia, Morea and Philadelphia offering very different challenges.
In Thracia I remain on the defensive, fending off the occasional Ansar warrior raids with ease. I invest in a military academy in Constantinople only to find out after that an army costs 400 shields which is a lot. Having no tar I cannot build any sort of fleet and just have to watch as everyone's navy passes by the Strait of the Bosphorus. In 1418 I manage to re-open the horses farm west of Adrianople which is some achievement. My army of knights launches a few raids near Plovdiv to prevent the Ottomans from taking it; the situation is such that I cannot attack the weakening Bulgars for fear of having the Ottomans run over me, while a head-to-head conflict with the Turks seems premature. By 1430 however I have managed to move some sizeable army to the hills north of Alexandropolis, with trebuchets bombarding ennemy positions and my army attempting a few raids. Morale is much better and an orthodox cathedral has even been consecrated in Adrianople to show our ennemies the strength of our faith.
It is in Macedonia that the stakes are at the highest in our clash with the Serbian empire. Our broad alliance starts paying off with the Bosnians taking 2 northern Serb cities and cutting off Belgrade from Raska, while the Pirates take Skadar, east of their Ragusa stronghold. Yet the Serbs fight hard in the hills between Thessalonica and Ochrida, with much infantry and knights. Byzantine losses are heavy during a major assault in 1416; but the alliance starts to seriously wear down on Serbian re-enforcements from up north and finally Ochrida is conquered in 1430! This is a major geostrategical achievement giving much depth to Byzance in Macedonia, releasing pressure on Thessalonica and isolating all greek-serbian colonies from their northern base. Furthemore, a road link to the Venetian city of Durazzo enables continued and safe trade with Mistra in Morea.
In Morea troops have been massing up in Mistra, while the Latin duchés faced continued pressure from Napoli. After very heavy fighting in the mountains south of Corinth (and the slaughter of many of our orthodox monks), and heavy losses on both sides, the port city of Pirgos is finally conquered in 1420. 2 years later, the Napolitans take Taranto and the desperate Latins move their capital to Athens. A much needed salpeter mine is opened and our forces get ready for a siege of Corinth.
In Anatolia heroic Philadelphia continues to survive. At some point a strong rush by the Ottomans again almost brings the city down, but most defenders recover in-time and the christian stronghold still holds against all odds. Ottomans are on the rampage, continue to push eastwards vs the Beyliks and even raze the city of Antalya in their furor.
Elsewhere I am lucky with the Genoese carrying on their fight vs Ottomans; not that they gain any ground, but recently they have dragged into an alliance Napoli, Florence and the very powerful Mameluks in 1428. This could keep the Turks busy in the east and just maybe, give me a shot in southern Thracia.
The Venetians blackmail me for gold and I have to give in. They are very advanced yet are being bullied by the powerful Hospitaliers who now control 6 islands in the Aegan Sea.
In Italy the Papal States have been squizzed by the wars I had initiated and while their city of Ancone was turned to ashes, the main effect for Byzance was the end of their nasty naval raids in the Aegan. Amen to that.
It would have not been wise to compete for the wonders, I thought; Leonardo's W. goes to Mameluks, Sistine Chapel to Florentians and Naval Domination to the Genoans. At turn 38 I am still leading in VP's with 13,935 with Ottomans at 8,860 and Latins, Slavs/Beyliks and Mameluks close behind. My situation has improved, though slowly. I now control 10 cities and can hope to continue progress in Macedonia and Morea though I have to be careful not to over-extend my thin army. I will never be able to contend at sea so Byzance is to be a land power on the European shores; the ultimate goal would be a re-conquest of Ottomans' positions in Thracia (Alexandropolis, Gallipoli). Of that I am not capable yet.
Twilight suggests you a golden age? 
It's located by Moncastro on the Black Sea coast.
