Thomas

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Thomas Palaiologos (托马斯)
Alias(es)	Imperial Envoy; Roman envoy
Gender	Male
Affiliation	House of Palaiologos; Eastern Roman Empire
Occupation/Role	Prince; former Garrison General of Northern Thrace; Imperial Envoy; heavy-cavalry commander; commander of a rapid-response force
Status	Active 291
First Appearance	Chapter 126

Background / History

Thomas is the seventh prince of the Palaiologos family and one of Vitus's younger brothers. He and Demetrius were appointed to command Northern and Western Thrace respectively; while Western Thrace was quickly pacified, Northern Thrace remained unstable. 126

During a campaign in Northern Thrace, Thomas and Demetrius quarreled over captured silk, gold, and silver. Thomas offered Demetrius only twenty percent of the spoils, after which Demetrius destroyed a bridge to strand him and monopolize later gains. Thomas withdrew to Western Thrace when Vitus intervened. 126

John VIII later appointed Thomas Garrison General of Northern Thrace. His campaign against smuggling networks was effective but ruthless: Thomas later claimed to have purged more than forty implicated gentry and merchants and confiscated estates worth 50,000 florins. 130 174

Thomas pursued fleeing smugglers across the Wallachian border without authorization, killing one hundred people and capturing 230. The resulting diplomatic dispute led the Imperial Council to strip him of his post as garrison general. 173

Reassigned as an Imperial Envoy, Thomas traveled through the Dnieper region with Varro Santis. Initially resentful of his demotion, he left practical affairs to Varro and gradually accepted a largely ceremonial diplomatic role. 174 175

Vitus later tested Thomas during the Transcaucasian expedition by allowing him to command troops. Thomas proved courageous and willing to lead charges, but Vitus judged him impulsive, inexperienced, and suited only to commanding several thousand men against small or medium-sized enemies. 183

Rather than resume a provincial post in Western Thrace or Epirus, Thomas chose to seek opportunities in Italy. He stayed with the Palaiologos branch of Montferrat, whose prestige toward him had risen after the Eastern Roman Empire's victories. 186 202 213

When Montferrat joined the French offensive against Milan, Thomas volunteered to command its army. He distinguished himself in raids, loot management, and the Battle of the Po Valley, where his wing broke the opposing formation before the French secured victory. 216 217

After the French campaign collapsed, Thomas returned to Constantinople. During the coming war with the Ottomans, he obtained command of a combined heavy-cavalry force and later led a rapid-response unit against bandits and Ottoman remnants in western Anatolia. 222 233 245

Thomas subsequently investigated suspected Ottoman collaborators on Chios, personally reviewing records and interrogating merchants. He also considered opening a Constantinople shop specializing in Chian mastic. 260

Personality

Thomas is proud, ambitious, and deeply resentful of being overshadowed by Vitus. He repeatedly asserts that his military education and personal ability qualify him for independent command, even when others question his judgment. 174 214 228

He is restless and action-oriented, preferring battle, hunting, and field assignments to diplomacy or routine travel. His eagerness for glory often makes him hasty, such as his unauthorized Wallachian pursuit and his rush to move heavy cavalry toward the front. 173 233 260

Thomas also has a sharp eye for wealth. In Italy, he personally catalogued plunder, recognized hidden valuables, and arranged higher-value transport and sale of spoils rather than accepting merchants' discounted offers. 216 222

Abilities & Skills

Cavalry Command

Thomas commanded a force of approximately 1,120 heavy cavalry: 500 men from the First Legion's Armored Cavalry Battalion, 420 from Vitus's battalion, and 220 foreign noble volunteers. 233

• Led heavy-cavalry reinforcements that decisively defeated Ottoman attackers at a defended crossroads. 235
• Maintained composure despite mockery from dragoons, light cavalry, and mountain infantry over the heavy cavalry's poor mobility in rough terrain. 234
• Objected to Vitus's lighter cavalry re-equipment plan, fearing his men would struggle to adapt to changed tactics and equipment. 245
• His battlefield courage is a strength, but Vitus considers his impulsiveness and limited experience serious command limitations. 183

Swordsmanship

Thomas received knightly training and is a capable personal combatant. 174

• During an ambush in Italy, he fought in plate armor with a longsword, killing attackers despite being knocked from his horse and struck from behind. 215
• His armor absorbed a spear thrust to the back, allowing him to counterattack and continue toward Montferrat with the sole surviving guard. 215
• Demetrius considers Thomas's martial skill mediocre relative to his ambition, particularly for leading a decisive knightly charge. 228

Security and Suppression

Thomas has experience with internal security, smuggling investigations, and bandit suppression.

• Dismantled Northern Thrace's smuggling network through aggressive investigations, purges, and confiscations. 174
• Was appointed to lead a 2,500-man rapid-response force in western Anatolia, built around mountain infantry, Dragon Cavalry, light cavalry, and horse artillery. 245
• Investigated sixty Italian households on Chios suspected of reselling military supplies to the Ottomans. 260

Spoils Management

Thomas is highly attentive to the economic returns of war.

• Rapidly surveyed estates, located concealed valuables, interrogated servants for inconsistencies, and recorded seized property. 216
• Distributed gold and silver vessels to participating soldiers while storing grain, wine, and textiles for later sale. 216
• Used inland sailboats to transport spoils to Montferrat for consignment, avoiding heavily discounted sales to army merchants. 216

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Longsword 215
• Knightly plate armor 215
• Warhorse and separate riding horses for campaign travel 233
• Light travel armor consisting of an arming doublet, breastplate, and helmet 233
• Telescope, used while observing naval activity and mountain terrain 260 291

Relationships

• Vitus Palaiologos — elder brother; repeatedly evaluates Thomas's command ability, assigns him field commands, and entrusts him with the Anatolian rapid-response force. 183 245
• Demetrius Palaiologos — elder brother and frequent rival; their dispute over Northern Thracian spoils escalated into Demetrius attempting to strand Thomas behind a destroyed bridge. 126
• John VIII Palaiologos — elder brother and emperor; appointed Thomas Garrison General of Northern Thrace, later removed him from the post and used him as an envoy. 130 173
• Varro Santis — deputy envoy; handled the practical and documentary work of Thomas's Dnieper mission. 174 175
• Gian Giacomo of Montferrat — distant paternal uncle; permitted Thomas to command Montferrat's troops during the French offensive against Milan. 213 216
• Arthur de Richemont — French commander; consulted Thomas about persuading Montferrat to join France and used his troops on the right wing at the Battle of the Po Valley. 215 217
• Romanus Palaiologos — nephew; Thomas interacts casually with him during the Ottoman campaign, including ruffling his hair before leaving to join the cavalry. 233
• Orlando — junior officer assigned to Thomas's force; later served in a mountain-infantry company after participating in operations against Ottoman remnants. 263 287

Notable Quotes

“Nothing makes money like war.” 216

“I will never miss a war that will make its name known to future generations!” 223

Trivia

• Thomas was sixteen and had never been on a battlefield when he was initially appointed to command troops in Thrace. 126
• As a child, he carved the crudest warship drawing among his brothers' markings on a palace wall. 247
• He developed an interest in selling Chios mastic after inspecting its production villages. 260