Sword of Orthodoxy: The Rise and Fall of Byzantium 420-1453

About this board game

Sword of Orthodoxy: The Rise and Fall of Byzantium 420-1453 is a strategic solitaire board game for one player, with an approximately 240-minute playing time. It presents a high-level view of the Byzantine Empire’s saga from 421 AD through its end in 1453.

Across this thousand-year historical epic, you will encounter heroism, betrayal, intrigue, and spectacular cultural achievements. The game simplifies historical details to keep the experience playable while focusing on the period’s most memorable themes and turning points.

Sword of Orthodoxy brings together a remarkable range of conflicts and challenges associated with the Byzantine age, including:

• Religious conflict and Byzantine politics
• Dynastic intrigue and scheming empresses
• Barbarian hordes, Mongols, Khans, and Caliphs
• Greek Fire, naval sieges, jihads, and Crusaders
• Plagues and the shifting fortunes of the empire

Rather than attempting to reproduce every historical detail, the design emphasizes the “cool stuff” of the period in an accessible strategic framework. Its broad perspective highlights the forces that shaped Byzantium while leaving room for the drama of an empire facing recurring danger and internal upheaval.

This is a fun and challenging game for players whose interest in the era extends beyond the table. By presenting a condensed strategic account of Byzantium’s rise and fall, Sword of Orthodoxy aims to capture the character of a fascinating age and whet your appetite to learn more about its history.