"...Andrew Knytling was, by all accounts, a cautious, compromising ruler, just what the Empire needed. With the civil war finally over, he spent most of his early rule strengthening the devastated areas and rebuilding the army, and (largely successfully) restoring relations with all the Tzardoms and splinter Empires that got a taste of independence during the long civil war. It was during his reign that the Mongols first invaded Europe and the Middle East, and then went into direct conflict with the Empire. Many border states and provinces were threatened, but Andrew chose not to get too committed, preserving his army instead for the time the Mongols would attack some truly important centres. In the end, the Empire lost parts of Syria and the Black Sea steppe, but overall remained intact.