I think the answer to this question in the presence of independent church authority that didn't exist to the same extent in Medieval Romania. Consider the case of Henry II. Even though he merely *suggested* the death of the Archbishop, that was still enough to face excommunication. While...
A popular saying in this TL will surely be something along the lines of, "it took Mr. Lincoln three years to lose a war, it took Mr. McClellan five months".
I can imagine a sort of Lost Causeism/Dolchstoßlegende appearing in the North after the war focused on the Northern Democrats, especially...
What a great chapter! Definitely a lot of questions to be raised about the longevity of the whole affair but hey, nothing breed legitimacy like victory. Still, I feel the schism that divides the empire will be a split between the more "religiously pure" Macedonian military class, and well...
I'm afraid I don't have a Spacebattles account at present, but if you'd like to crosspost it then you have my permission to do so!
Happy birthday by the way!