1422: The Venetian Merchant Who Revived Rome

[Gender-Swap Lord Eleven] [Intangible Cultural Heritage, Handmade Using Ancient Methods] In 1422, the thousand-year-old Eastern Roman Empire was nearing its end. Loyal ministers were few, and the way of kings was fading... A soul from a later age, devoted to the Roman Empire, drifted into this world and found himself in the body of a nobleman with immense wealth and power, whose family's influence stretched across the Mediterranean. He decided to take the first step toward restoring Rome: “We Romans fly into a rage on days one, three, and five, weep on days two, four, and six, and hang the Doge of Venice on Sundays.” “Guards, put the Doge of Venice on a lamppost!” “Yes, Your Excellency!” A servant carrying a noose entered the room. Later, people would describe him like this: “I think Zeno is doing pretty well in the Balkans. Firearms and the army have grown enormously, most of the nobles' estates have been confiscated, the Orthodox Church's power has crumbled, and the burden on the serfs has been eased. Add Turkic rule, and Rome would be my ideal sultanate.” Murad II, the Great Ottoman Sultan “Do you think this is still a time when the Senate and People of Rome rule? In the history of the restoration of the Roman Empire, I am the person most qualified to say this. When it comes to the Roman Empire, I have the strongest claim to speak. Zeno Dandolo, how many years has it been since you restored the Roman Empire?” Constance Palaiologos, the last Byzantine princess