Aegis Makedon ruled the Byzantine Empire for over 50 years. During her reign Constantinople power base steadily grew in the west. Some of the last remaining French dukes bend their knee in 1150s, and while Brittany will remain independent for another decades, it was ruled by Aegis' son - Ceasar, practically giving Makedons reign over great majority of Gaul provinces. One of the most prominent Byzantine commanders of the century was a common woman - Eopaxia. Claiming to be in commune with Jesus, telling her to lead her nation to great victory she was admitted in presence of Empress Aegis. Impressed by zealous purity of the young woman, Aegis gave her great favours, enraging nobles and clergy alike.
Eopaxia quickly gained popularity among commoners, rising to the status of Holy Maiden that would lead Empire to great deeds. There was only one problem - Empire was prosperous, borders were secure and Christian faith was in no threat outside of Spanish provinces, that fell firmly into Muslims hands. Spain laid however beyond reach of Imperial interests, far on the other side of Europe. It was not the time or place for great religious leaders to carry armies into holy wars, and prophesied by Eopaxia great struggle was nowhere to be seen.
As Eopaxia ascended, in minds of simple folk, to a status of saint - her reputation among Bishops and Lords couldn't be lower. With tension in the Empire growing over this single woman, Aegis begun looking for outlets to rising emotions. She even entertained the idea of invading Holy Land and retaking Jerusalem from infidels.
Jerusalem was for over a century under control of Muslims, and re-taking it was always goal of Christian rulers. Holy Land however laid too deep inside Muslim country, conquering it would only encourage Caliph to re-take it again - Jerusalem was simply too remote for Byzantines to hold. As Empress considered invasion of Holy Land, Caliphate beaten her - starting yet another Jihad directed at Anatolia.
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War couldn't begun in better time for Byzantines - as European Kingdoms, also enjoying time of peace, joined defense of Christianity quickly and in force. Byzantines themselves put to the field great armies, composed now not only out of Greek and Middle-Eastern soldiers - typical for their armies, but many French, Aquitanian, Italian, Croatian and Serbian soldiers as well.
Eopaxia, put in command of Byzantine Retinues (no noble lord would accept her command over him), made mostly out of heavy infantry, went though the borders of two warring states and dived deep into Caliphate, destroying or routing all Muslim forces that stood in her way, reaching Damascus, capital of Islamic rulers at that time, and besieging their castles. Christian armies meanwhile gathered in central Anatolia, and from here begun countering Arab incursions into Byzantine borders. No great army - similar to one fighting Constantine - ever came, and after few months of gathering forces and repelling smaller attacks, Allies begun their own invasion of Muslim country.
One of the reasons that Muslim attack wasn't as powerful as in previous Jihad, was the fact many powerful Emirs ignored call of Holy War - seeing the power of Byzantines and remembering the great defeat under Rhusos. Another reason for passive attitude of Arabs at the Imperial border was that they gathered forces to utterly destroy bold army lead by Eopaxia, that put their own capital under siege.
Damascus fell to the Byzantines eventually, but Christians had little time to celebrate, as many Muslims armies were now converging on their position. Recently battered into submission Damascus couldn't protect Eopaxia, she led her armies into open field and gave Muslims battle. Coming fight was nothing like the famous Rhusos struggle. It was very brutal and quick - Byzantine heavy troops, lead by Eopaxia fell upon Muslim ranks and shattered their center instantly, sending both flanks into rout within another few hours. Victory however had it's cost - Holy Maiden, Eopaxia, injured already during one of previous battles, was mortally wounded while charging infidel's ranks.
With their morale sapped by her death, Byzantine troops finished sacking Damascus and head west, hoping to reach Holy Land. Their path was blocked by another Muslim army, already blooded and without their zealous leader, Byzantines lost the battle, and now routed towards Beirut, with Caliph's armies at their heels all the way. Reaching shores of Levantine Sea, army's situation was desperate - with no means of destroying Beirut's walls and no time to besiege it, Byzantines were facing threat of being pushed into the sea by coming Muslims armies. Rescue however came from Imperial Fleet that evacuated trapped army from the shore.
Jihad would end soon and armies of Christendom would be victorious once again.
Muslims quickly deposed the weak ruler, and coming civil war would install Yusuf on Caliphate's throne. His dynasty would lead Arab world into next century.
Eopaxia, called saint and martyr forever joined the pantheon of Orthodox faith, revered, after her death by simple people and nobles alike.
Empress Aegis, now in her late 60s, with content observe return of her fleet, carrying scared veterans of Damascus. Ships brought to Constantinople some of the spoils and loot carried from Caliphate's capital.
This was an unexpected prize.
Empress never expected to see Eopaxia's army to take Damascus, nor to see any of the troops she sent with her to ever look upon The City again. She planned death of Holy Maiden since news of Jihad reaching her.
Sending Eopaxia to take Caliphate's capital city was a long shot at best. Sending her army without support was nothing short of murdering whole expedition.
Eopaxia died a hero's death - she stopped being the dangerous wedge pushed between plebs and nobility, she was now martyr for the cause.
Christianity emerged victorious from yet another struggle with infidels, and coming civil war among them would only weaken Arabs position for when Byzantine will decide to retake Jerusalem.
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Emperor Neophytos - Aegis grandson - consolidated Byzantine position in Italy using local civil wars to defeat warring cities. His son, Angelos, was the one that eventually retook Jerusalem from infidels - and with that, crowned himself as Emperor of both, East and West Roman Empires. His reign however was very short, Angelos dies at age of 31, leaving his only heir - daughter Zoe as the uncontested ruler of reborn Roman Empire. Zoe turns 16 years old on October 16, 1199.
Roman Empire has no equals in the known world - with territories from Scottish highlands to river of Nile.
However soon, an army from beyond the known world will arrive to challenge Romans over control of Europe.
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