Paul Spring
September 1st, 2005, 03:18 AM
I found an old thread from late 2004 asking about possible developments if Constantine had never converted to Christianity in the 4th century. I started a timeline, which I have modified and expanded a little. Here are the first few decades:
C. 282 AD - an 8 year old boy named Flavius Valerius Constantinus, son of an officer named Constantius in the Roman army, dies after a sudden illness.
303 AD - Emperor Diocletian launches the last and largest persecution of Christians within the Roman Empire
305 AD - Emperor Diocletian abdicates as Emperor, leaving a system of 2 senior emperors and 2 junior emperors that he hopes will ensure a stable succession (which it totally fails to do)
306 AD - Constantius dies in the province of Britannia with no son to succeed him
314 - 316 War between Maxentius, ruler of the western Empire, and Licinius, ruler of the Eastern Empire. Licinius is ultimately victorious as many of Maxentius’ troops are disaffected and change sides. Believing that he can not rule the entire empire at once, Licinius appoints Aurelius Valens as co-emperor, responsible for the western part of the empire.
317 - Licinius and Valens issue a general edict of religious toleration, ending the persecutions of Christians (which had been less and less common in the previous few years)
319 - 321 A series of synods are held by the various Christian communities, the main ones being in Antioch, Alexandria, Nicomedia, Carthage, and Rome. They attempt to reach agreement on many questions of doctrine and practice, with very limited success.
320 – 360 – The general trend continues of people in towns and cities turning away from traditional, regional, ritualistic religions and turning towards religions with universal claims that addressed issues like the fate of the soul, personal salvation, the nature of the universe, good and evil, and personal moral conduct.
With Christianity tolerated but not given preferential treatment, however, there is a more “level playing field” between different religions. Some older favorites like the worship of Isis, Demeter, Artemis, and Mithras continue to attract considerable numbers, with Mithraism remaining very popular in the army. More traditional, regional worship and cults remain very strong in the countryside, although the influence of personal “mystery” or “salvation” religions is felt in some rural areas as well. One major new religion that spreads more widely than in OTL is Manichaeanism, which will become a significant competitor to Christianity.
325 - Licinius decides to adopt Nicomedia in Asia Minor as his permanent capital, and pushes ambitious building projects in the city. In the west, Valens does much the same thing with Augusta Trevirorum in eastern Gaul, and Mediolanum in northern Italy.
328 - Licinius dies suddenly, leaving the throne to his young son Magentius. The “power behind the throne” in the east is actually Martinianus, who holds the position of Magister Officiorum.
329 - Martinianus deposes Magentius, has him placed under house arrest, and later quietly murdered when he is out of the public view. For some reason, Martinanus also becomes suspicious of the loyalty of the Christians in the eastern empire, and renews the persecution.
330 - Valens invades the eastern empire, declaring his intention to overthrow the murderer and usurper Martinianus.
331 - 332 Valens defeats Martinianus’ forces in a series of battles and sieges, until Martinianus flees with a few followers to the Persians. Most Christians in the eastern Empire welcome the victory of Valens, which ends the renewed persecutions.
333 - Valens decides to stay in the Eastern Empire, and leaves his capable young son Aurelian II in charge of the western empire. He keeps Nicomedia as his eastern capital, but also plans to enlarge and strengthen the nearby city of Byzantium, along the Bosphorus straits. In the recent war, his troops faced a difficult siege at that place, and were only able to capture it due to treachery on the part of one of the garrison’s officers.
334 – 337 - Valens fights wars against the Persians. Martinianus sneaks back into the Empire and attempts to raise a revolt, but he is captured and executed.
337 - In Alexandria, tension rises between rival groups of Christians, the Arians and Athanasians, who have opposing views on the nature of Christ. When rioting breaks out, imperial garrison troops have to quell the rebellion. Valens issues an edict instituting tough penalties for anyone disturbing the peace over religious disputes.
338 - 345 – The Arian/Athanasian dispute spreads to other parts of the Empire, and other disputes break out between different Christian communities. Nevertheless, Christianity still continues to gain in popularity throughout much of the empire.
347 – Valens dies, leaving the Eastern Empire to his younger son Licinius II.
348 – 352 – Another war between the Eastern Roman Empire and Sassanid Persia results in few gains for either side.
350 – Death of Aurelian II in the west after a sudden illness. In the absence of a surviving son, he passes authority to Claudius III, his most gifted general. (The first Claudius was the one who ruled in the mid 1st century AD, the second Claudius was a soldier emperor in the mid 3rd century.) Claudius continues the policy of general religious toleration.
353 – Marcian, the general in charge of Roman legions in Britannia, revolts against Claudius III.
354 – Councils at Rome and Carthage fail to resolve theological disputes among Christians in the western part of the Empire.
Marcian’s forces invade Gaul. Frankish and Allemanni tribesmen also invade this year.
355 – Claudius III defeats Franks and Allemanni, but Marcian is able to take control of parts of Gaul.
356 – Claudius III and Marcian meet at Trevirorum (Trier) and agree to partition Gaul between them. Secretly, however, both intend to attack the other as soon as an opportunity presents itself.
Most major construction at the expanded city of Byzantium finishes, completing the expansion project begun by Valens 23 years earlier.
C. 282 AD - an 8 year old boy named Flavius Valerius Constantinus, son of an officer named Constantius in the Roman army, dies after a sudden illness.
303 AD - Emperor Diocletian launches the last and largest persecution of Christians within the Roman Empire
305 AD - Emperor Diocletian abdicates as Emperor, leaving a system of 2 senior emperors and 2 junior emperors that he hopes will ensure a stable succession (which it totally fails to do)
306 AD - Constantius dies in the province of Britannia with no son to succeed him
314 - 316 War between Maxentius, ruler of the western Empire, and Licinius, ruler of the Eastern Empire. Licinius is ultimately victorious as many of Maxentius’ troops are disaffected and change sides. Believing that he can not rule the entire empire at once, Licinius appoints Aurelius Valens as co-emperor, responsible for the western part of the empire.
317 - Licinius and Valens issue a general edict of religious toleration, ending the persecutions of Christians (which had been less and less common in the previous few years)
319 - 321 A series of synods are held by the various Christian communities, the main ones being in Antioch, Alexandria, Nicomedia, Carthage, and Rome. They attempt to reach agreement on many questions of doctrine and practice, with very limited success.
320 – 360 – The general trend continues of people in towns and cities turning away from traditional, regional, ritualistic religions and turning towards religions with universal claims that addressed issues like the fate of the soul, personal salvation, the nature of the universe, good and evil, and personal moral conduct.
With Christianity tolerated but not given preferential treatment, however, there is a more “level playing field” between different religions. Some older favorites like the worship of Isis, Demeter, Artemis, and Mithras continue to attract considerable numbers, with Mithraism remaining very popular in the army. More traditional, regional worship and cults remain very strong in the countryside, although the influence of personal “mystery” or “salvation” religions is felt in some rural areas as well. One major new religion that spreads more widely than in OTL is Manichaeanism, which will become a significant competitor to Christianity.
325 - Licinius decides to adopt Nicomedia in Asia Minor as his permanent capital, and pushes ambitious building projects in the city. In the west, Valens does much the same thing with Augusta Trevirorum in eastern Gaul, and Mediolanum in northern Italy.
328 - Licinius dies suddenly, leaving the throne to his young son Magentius. The “power behind the throne” in the east is actually Martinianus, who holds the position of Magister Officiorum.
329 - Martinianus deposes Magentius, has him placed under house arrest, and later quietly murdered when he is out of the public view. For some reason, Martinanus also becomes suspicious of the loyalty of the Christians in the eastern empire, and renews the persecution.
330 - Valens invades the eastern empire, declaring his intention to overthrow the murderer and usurper Martinianus.
331 - 332 Valens defeats Martinianus’ forces in a series of battles and sieges, until Martinianus flees with a few followers to the Persians. Most Christians in the eastern Empire welcome the victory of Valens, which ends the renewed persecutions.
333 - Valens decides to stay in the Eastern Empire, and leaves his capable young son Aurelian II in charge of the western empire. He keeps Nicomedia as his eastern capital, but also plans to enlarge and strengthen the nearby city of Byzantium, along the Bosphorus straits. In the recent war, his troops faced a difficult siege at that place, and were only able to capture it due to treachery on the part of one of the garrison’s officers.
334 – 337 - Valens fights wars against the Persians. Martinianus sneaks back into the Empire and attempts to raise a revolt, but he is captured and executed.
337 - In Alexandria, tension rises between rival groups of Christians, the Arians and Athanasians, who have opposing views on the nature of Christ. When rioting breaks out, imperial garrison troops have to quell the rebellion. Valens issues an edict instituting tough penalties for anyone disturbing the peace over religious disputes.
338 - 345 – The Arian/Athanasian dispute spreads to other parts of the Empire, and other disputes break out between different Christian communities. Nevertheless, Christianity still continues to gain in popularity throughout much of the empire.
347 – Valens dies, leaving the Eastern Empire to his younger son Licinius II.
348 – 352 – Another war between the Eastern Roman Empire and Sassanid Persia results in few gains for either side.
350 – Death of Aurelian II in the west after a sudden illness. In the absence of a surviving son, he passes authority to Claudius III, his most gifted general. (The first Claudius was the one who ruled in the mid 1st century AD, the second Claudius was a soldier emperor in the mid 3rd century.) Claudius continues the policy of general religious toleration.
353 – Marcian, the general in charge of Roman legions in Britannia, revolts against Claudius III.
354 – Councils at Rome and Carthage fail to resolve theological disputes among Christians in the western part of the Empire.
Marcian’s forces invade Gaul. Frankish and Allemanni tribesmen also invade this year.
355 – Claudius III defeats Franks and Allemanni, but Marcian is able to take control of parts of Gaul.
356 – Claudius III and Marcian meet at Trevirorum (Trier) and agree to partition Gaul between them. Secretly, however, both intend to attack the other as soon as an opportunity presents itself.
Most major construction at the expanded city of Byzantium finishes, completing the expansion project begun by Valens 23 years earlier.