[quote=Marduk] Although to be fair, Jim, all of the proposed campaigns involve heavy Byzantine influence? After all, even if we chose Jerusalem, the first crusade was really little more than Europe uniting behind Byzantium to prevent their conquest by the Seljuk Turks. Before arriving at Jerusalem, the armies that made it into the middle-east also captured Nicaea, Edessa, and Antioch - all of which were handed over to Alexius of Byzantium! I draw that point only to illustrate that you can get in on the Byzantine action whichever way we go. However, I don't know anything about Varangians! I'll do some googling when I get home. :3
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Excellent.

But (And I hate to nitpick) only Nicaea was returned to Byzantine control. Both Edessa and Antioch remained in Latin hands.