Hello there, all! Well, I must admit I should have come to this site sooner. Following is an in universe recap of their historical events in my novel, Memento Audere Semper! (Remember to always be brave!).
Well, it'll be nice to collect my and other thoughts about the Alternate History scenario itself. Thoughts welcome, of course.
The POD - 54 BC/701 AUC; and following events thereof:
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The following is the recorded transcript of the speech Consul Caela Viola Barbatia gave on Rome's 2000th year.
[Before Rome]
“Romans. Latins. Italians. Republicans from New Italia to India! Socii and Allies from Canata to Hyperborea! Rome. Has. Prevailed! What a legendary eon before us.
“Allow me to bore you with, with, a history lesson. Two thousand, four hundred and thirty two years ago, the Greeks had united against Troy in Asia. After a ten year siege, they finally broke into the city via a false offering to their old gods. But there were survivors - Aeneas and his family, a son of goddess of love, who survived two events prior for a destiny he did not yet knew. They sailed across our sea, from Troy to Sytrica to Zeugitana, then to Italy. There, after trials with the kings, he settled down, and his son founded Alba Longa, and ruled for four hundred years.
“From Aeneas came Ascanius and Silvius. Silvius then took over after Ascanius died, followed by Aeneas Silvius, followed by Latinus Silvius, followed by Alba Silvius, followed by Atys, followed by Capys, followed by Capetus Silvius, followed by Tibernius Silvius, followed by Agrippa, followed by Romulus Silvius, followed by Aventinus, followed by Procas, followed by Amulinus and Numitor."
[Founding of Rome]
“Now, Alba Longa, founded by brothers Ascanius and Silvius, found itself in conflict by the brothers Amulinus and Numitor. Amulinus ousted Numitor, and sent his daughter, Rhea Silvia, to become a vestal virgin. However, she was raped, and Romulus and Remus were borne. Amulinus jailed her, and sent a servant to kill Romulus and Remus. The servant did not, however, most likely out of fear for killing such young children of a priestess, and sent them out on the Tiber, hoping most likely for Nature to do the job.
“However, they were saved; the flooded Tiber receded, a prostitute suckled them, and then a local shepherd and farmer, Faustulus, raised them. They became natural leaders, amassing a gang and protected the collection of villages on our quaint hills at the time. Then, when they found out their birth, they went to Alba Longa, and deposed Amulinus and raised Numitor.
“And so in love with their land of raising, they decided to unite the villages, hamlets, and cottages into a town. Remus preferred -” Caela motioned southward, to the Aventine- “the Aventine, Romulus preferred -” Caela motioned toward the Palatine - “the Palatine. It was decided to solve the matter via Etruscan Augury magic. Remus said he saw six vultures, Romulus said he saw twelve. Remus jumped over the boundary-ditch Romulus had made, in his anger, Romulus struck and killed Remus, and said ‘So perish all those hereafter who would dare jump over my walls’.
“Naming the new settlement “Rome” after his name and the Greek word “Rhome”, strength, vigor, he amassed his strength. For his men he abducted and offered a choice to the Sabine women for marriage, but of course abduction of the female populace enraged the male Sabines, who charged at Rome. They were given access to the Capitoline citadel by the daughter of the citadel captain - her name was Tarpeia, selling her city for what the Sabines ‘Wore on their left arms’, but instead of giving her their bracelets, they killed her under weight of their shields. Then they amassed right here, in this forum, facing down the city.
“The Sabine women, however, went between the fighting armies, showing babies and pleading to their fathers and brothers. A truce was made, the Sabines were incorporated into Rome, and their king, Tatius, ruled with Romulus. However, Tatius soon was gotten rid of by assassination, leaving Romulus to rule alone. Instruments of government and demography were formed then. Then, after a reign of decaying relation with the Senate, he too was assassinated - by the Senate."
[Founding and Early Republic]
“So passed Romulus, followed by Numa Pompillius, who was peaceful and religious. He passed, and was followed by Tullus Hostilius, a violent king who ended Alba Longa. He passed, and was followed by Ancus Marcius, peaceful and religious yet expanded us to Ostia. He was followed, then, by the Etruscan kings - Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, followed by a Slave who became king, Servius Tullus, followed by the grandson of Lucius, Lucius Tarquinis Superbus the horrid, who was overthrown by the Senate and by Brutus and Collatinus, revenging Lucretia and the abuse of power by Lucius and his power-hungry cadre. The Republic was formed, in a sense. Lucius was ousted, wars ensured. Then the Republic expanded.
“Wars against the Etruscans, Latin tribes, against the Gauls and Samnites which ushered a reform from the Hoplite mode to the Manipular mode, then wars against Pyrrhus, then against Carthage, our first where upon we landed in Africa, then against Illyria-Ardiaei and the queen there, Teuta, then against Carthage again, the second with Hannibal and Scipio Africanus, then against Macedon, then quickly against Sparta, then against Selucia in Syria. Wars in Aetolia, Celtic Iberia, Lusitania, and then the Cimbri invasion, the taking of Greece, then against Numidia, all showed how fast Rome, in three hundred years from the kings, had expanded....
“Then wars against Parthia, slave uprisings, wars against Pontus, against our brother Latins and Italians, giving them Citizenship, and then, against each other. Great Marius and Sulla, the first dictators, we come upon the dictatorate, in 666 Ab Urbe Conditia. Wars in the Caucasus under Dictator Pompey, the taking of Gaul by Caesar, then the taking of Mesopotamia by Crassus. The first rule of three, in which Caesar won - then lost. Assassinated by the senate and those longing for democracy. Then the second rule of three, which quickly broke. Caesar’s adopted, Thurinus, Marcus Antonius, and Lepidus. Then the splinter between Thurinus and Antonius, the rising of Fulvia and the massacre of Rome and the Senate by Thurinus, then Marcus and Cleopatra, the seventh of the Ptolemies, and then, an internal peace....
“But Thurinus was not settled with Rome, he expanded it, greatly. Germania, Hispania, Asia, Palestinia, Armenia, Thracia, Arabia Felix, Numidia, Mauritania. His daughter, Julia the great, took over as Dictatrix, who took Dacia, Britannia, Garamanta, Euxime, Parthia, Persia, Bactria, and what Alexander the Great of Macedonia could not do, took India intra Gangem, trampled across India Extra Gangem, and saw the outer sea.
“Then she was killed at the height of her prime by the Senate, and the Republic truly restored, but that did not bring peace for long. One hundred and fifty years after the Dictatrix, the Republic saw itself beset by barbarians at every corner. From the internal of India, from the Steppes into Euxime, Parthia, and Bactria, from the internal of Arabia, both Arab and Jew alike, from the south by the Nubae and from the north by Germanic rebels and Venedi.
[The middle Republic]
“Just as the Republic seemed to be tearing apart, Mother Terra did it for her. Around one thousand, or, actually, on one thousand, she fell cold. Volcanoes and impacts did it, and only both the smallest groups and the largest had the capability to survive. The Republic was one of them, prevailing through the long winter, moving and expanding south to feed its citizenry. Egypt and Mesopotamia and India and the Ganges and then even the Nigrita became our bases of food and living. In the North, Scandinavians and Britons and Hibernians hugged the ice coast until they reach the new world, driven by need, they pushed south and returned with tales of a land of ash but then a land of lush Jungle, and so Rome sent forth legions and we became a world power.
“But we were not the only ones to survive the long winter. China still prevailed, Nippon still prevailed, Ethiopia, Congo, Azania, Indonesia, the Southern Sun Kingdom, the steppe hordes. But we held them, and another era of relative peace stood.
“But inside, the long winter changed us. Kings came and went, if not politically then socially. The commoner was under chain and burden, for Slavery was gone officially - the long winter saw to that - but the commoner was tied to his land, and the Patricians were kings and queens over their stock. But with stability and warmth came prosperity and learning, and thoughts and ideas, and change. The common man rebelled, and rebelled, and rebelled, the middle class grew, and the rich class was taken down from their thrones. The Republic became open for all, as long as they were citizens. Ashen lands were reclaimed, and even the rivers of Hyperborea held farms and massive populations by eighteen hundred...
[The Modern Republic]
“Industrialization, technology, improvisation, expansion, all followed. The Sun Kingdom fell to us, Azania became Zesan to the Chinese, Ethiopia, Congo, all ours...but such came into Conflict. The Mongolians took command of the land, from the northern ocean to southern India Extra-Gangem, and in the third year of the last century, after years of proxy wars and sword rattling, all of the land came upon us. We were pushed from farthest Hyperborea to the coast of the ocean, only the mountains held back the hordes. But we pushed and dug ourselves forward.
“Trenches became our home, mountains our cemeteries. We died in the millions in the next half century. When Mongolia broke, China took the mantle, when China broke, Nippon took the mantle. That ended in 1953 after seven years of brutal sea and island warfare, and the atomic washing of their island - at the cost of hundreds of millions dead and even Rome bombed by one of our own, both bomb and person.
“Then China, having healed itself, and Hawai’i, came to, and beat their chests. An era of fear came, one of assured destruction from land, sea, air, and then the heavens above never before seen. But we were bigger, stronger, more united. Their alliance had to rebuild more, and catch up. We landed on the moon first! We were the first people up there! We landed on mars first with the first fleet! We unlocked the secret of the stars first! We landed on the furthest moons, we hold sway! Everything they have, from their paltry communication stations and moon base, came after! We still hold Mars and the gas giants in totality! Even today, later, we shall launch one of many ships into the heavens, and secure the name of Rome amongst our species for all time, as we reinforce our holdings here and beyond. My voice shall reach the corners of the system, and all shall hear: Rome. Prevails.
“Just recently, the Alliance rattled our vassals in Ethiopia and spread plague and violence there. The land has been decimated, but we did not falter! You there! And you, there, and you - and all men of Uniform, come forth!
“Rome. Look upon them. The men that founded this city, reinforced its founders, kept it safe, secure, alive. Their discipline and commitment to the Republic and their homes has never wavered. They have suffered more than other nations could ever, and yet they stand proud. Rome is proud of her offspring!”
“Rome! Rome shall always, always, always prevail, it may be beaten, rattled, struck, cast - but in the end, Rome *is*. If it falls, it will take the world with it. Our blood and iron shall hold true for years to come.
“Long! Live! The city, which rules the world!”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (quickly made) POLITICAL ALLEGIANCE, not sovereign nation, map of the world at 2000AUC -
Legend:
Dark Purple: The Roman Republic
Light Purple: Roman allied states, Roman Vassal states.
Beige: Alliance of Nations Members.
Gold: Hawaii, founding state and leader of the Alliance of Nations.
Well, it'll be nice to collect my and other thoughts about the Alternate History scenario itself. Thoughts welcome, of course.
The POD - 54 BC/701 AUC; and following events thereof:
- Crassus joins with the Armenians, rather than going into the desert alone. Thus, Rome has a early victory over the Parthians.
- After Caesar is assassinated, Gaius Octavius "Thurinus" (The same as Augustus) takes power, but he is more weary of the Senate and focuses more on the East.
- He has a daughter, Julia, who rides on his coattails to spread everywhere, taking India. For this push against, well, nearly every boundary, socially or politically, she is assassinated and the Senate takes control of the Republic.
- Possible Alien Space Bat - massive eruptions plunge the world into a near millenium long Age of Winter, where the population shifts south and spreads, eventually finding the New World. Gunpowder is discovered sometime around 300AD, with Persian Magi/proto chemists embroiled in a rebellion against Rome.
- Rome undergoes massive social change. Population die off eventually removes slavery, and the freeman gains more and more rights. As well, an industrial revolution (starting with water and then steam power) begins around 1500AUC.
- Rome survives as a premier power. In the East, Mongolia has emerged as the premier power. A common border raid from Mongolian-controlled states into the Slavic Roman Vassal state of Slovenia sparks off a world war, 1913-1918.
- To help alleviate them, the Romans encourage China and other Asiatic states to rebel, arming them. This works, and Mongolia is defeated, however, China becomes the premier power and a war begins over post war concessions. This war lasts from 1920-1935.
- To help alleviate their losses in that war, Rome turns to Japan, which had been slightly modernizing, and promises to Japan whatever land it takes from the Chinese and their hegemony will be theirs. Japan joins the war, and China sues for peace with Rome and Japan. Rome accepts, but warhawks in Japan do not, causing Romano-Japanese relations to soil.
- Eventually, Japan, pressed for resources for its massively growing industry, economy, population, and empire, attack Roman allies and lands to claim resources. The Romans are pushed out of the Pacific, the Japanese drive towards the oilfields of New Gallia/Texas and the Middle East, and since Rome was in want of a navy, there are massive early Japanese successes. This war lasts from 1935-1953.
- The Romano-Japanese war ends with Roman armament of Anti-Japanese Rebels, production of a massive Navy, and a grueling, bloody campaign on all fronts to push Japan back. This only puts the military of Japan in position to take more domestic power, and drags Japan down with it. A massive invasion of Japan is held, and the Islands are nuked and Japanese armies in the "Peninsula"(Korea) are also nuked and cut out by force.
- The rebels and states Rome armed during the war become the Alliance of Nations, headed by Hawaii. They negotiate for the post war dealings of Japan. However, an Pan-Pacific, Anti-Roman undercurrent becomes major and the Alliance and Rome find themselves quickly in a Cold War.
- This leads to an instigation of Roman allied states and vassals in Africa, causing the Novel to begin.
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The following is the recorded transcript of the speech Consul Caela Viola Barbatia gave on Rome's 2000th year.
[Before Rome]
“Romans. Latins. Italians. Republicans from New Italia to India! Socii and Allies from Canata to Hyperborea! Rome. Has. Prevailed! What a legendary eon before us.
“Allow me to bore you with, with, a history lesson. Two thousand, four hundred and thirty two years ago, the Greeks had united against Troy in Asia. After a ten year siege, they finally broke into the city via a false offering to their old gods. But there were survivors - Aeneas and his family, a son of goddess of love, who survived two events prior for a destiny he did not yet knew. They sailed across our sea, from Troy to Sytrica to Zeugitana, then to Italy. There, after trials with the kings, he settled down, and his son founded Alba Longa, and ruled for four hundred years.
“From Aeneas came Ascanius and Silvius. Silvius then took over after Ascanius died, followed by Aeneas Silvius, followed by Latinus Silvius, followed by Alba Silvius, followed by Atys, followed by Capys, followed by Capetus Silvius, followed by Tibernius Silvius, followed by Agrippa, followed by Romulus Silvius, followed by Aventinus, followed by Procas, followed by Amulinus and Numitor."
[Founding of Rome]
“Now, Alba Longa, founded by brothers Ascanius and Silvius, found itself in conflict by the brothers Amulinus and Numitor. Amulinus ousted Numitor, and sent his daughter, Rhea Silvia, to become a vestal virgin. However, she was raped, and Romulus and Remus were borne. Amulinus jailed her, and sent a servant to kill Romulus and Remus. The servant did not, however, most likely out of fear for killing such young children of a priestess, and sent them out on the Tiber, hoping most likely for Nature to do the job.
“However, they were saved; the flooded Tiber receded, a prostitute suckled them, and then a local shepherd and farmer, Faustulus, raised them. They became natural leaders, amassing a gang and protected the collection of villages on our quaint hills at the time. Then, when they found out their birth, they went to Alba Longa, and deposed Amulinus and raised Numitor.
“And so in love with their land of raising, they decided to unite the villages, hamlets, and cottages into a town. Remus preferred -” Caela motioned southward, to the Aventine- “the Aventine, Romulus preferred -” Caela motioned toward the Palatine - “the Palatine. It was decided to solve the matter via Etruscan Augury magic. Remus said he saw six vultures, Romulus said he saw twelve. Remus jumped over the boundary-ditch Romulus had made, in his anger, Romulus struck and killed Remus, and said ‘So perish all those hereafter who would dare jump over my walls’.
“Naming the new settlement “Rome” after his name and the Greek word “Rhome”, strength, vigor, he amassed his strength. For his men he abducted and offered a choice to the Sabine women for marriage, but of course abduction of the female populace enraged the male Sabines, who charged at Rome. They were given access to the Capitoline citadel by the daughter of the citadel captain - her name was Tarpeia, selling her city for what the Sabines ‘Wore on their left arms’, but instead of giving her their bracelets, they killed her under weight of their shields. Then they amassed right here, in this forum, facing down the city.
“The Sabine women, however, went between the fighting armies, showing babies and pleading to their fathers and brothers. A truce was made, the Sabines were incorporated into Rome, and their king, Tatius, ruled with Romulus. However, Tatius soon was gotten rid of by assassination, leaving Romulus to rule alone. Instruments of government and demography were formed then. Then, after a reign of decaying relation with the Senate, he too was assassinated - by the Senate."
[Founding and Early Republic]
“So passed Romulus, followed by Numa Pompillius, who was peaceful and religious. He passed, and was followed by Tullus Hostilius, a violent king who ended Alba Longa. He passed, and was followed by Ancus Marcius, peaceful and religious yet expanded us to Ostia. He was followed, then, by the Etruscan kings - Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, followed by a Slave who became king, Servius Tullus, followed by the grandson of Lucius, Lucius Tarquinis Superbus the horrid, who was overthrown by the Senate and by Brutus and Collatinus, revenging Lucretia and the abuse of power by Lucius and his power-hungry cadre. The Republic was formed, in a sense. Lucius was ousted, wars ensured. Then the Republic expanded.
“Wars against the Etruscans, Latin tribes, against the Gauls and Samnites which ushered a reform from the Hoplite mode to the Manipular mode, then wars against Pyrrhus, then against Carthage, our first where upon we landed in Africa, then against Illyria-Ardiaei and the queen there, Teuta, then against Carthage again, the second with Hannibal and Scipio Africanus, then against Macedon, then quickly against Sparta, then against Selucia in Syria. Wars in Aetolia, Celtic Iberia, Lusitania, and then the Cimbri invasion, the taking of Greece, then against Numidia, all showed how fast Rome, in three hundred years from the kings, had expanded....
“Then wars against Parthia, slave uprisings, wars against Pontus, against our brother Latins and Italians, giving them Citizenship, and then, against each other. Great Marius and Sulla, the first dictators, we come upon the dictatorate, in 666 Ab Urbe Conditia. Wars in the Caucasus under Dictator Pompey, the taking of Gaul by Caesar, then the taking of Mesopotamia by Crassus. The first rule of three, in which Caesar won - then lost. Assassinated by the senate and those longing for democracy. Then the second rule of three, which quickly broke. Caesar’s adopted, Thurinus, Marcus Antonius, and Lepidus. Then the splinter between Thurinus and Antonius, the rising of Fulvia and the massacre of Rome and the Senate by Thurinus, then Marcus and Cleopatra, the seventh of the Ptolemies, and then, an internal peace....
“But Thurinus was not settled with Rome, he expanded it, greatly. Germania, Hispania, Asia, Palestinia, Armenia, Thracia, Arabia Felix, Numidia, Mauritania. His daughter, Julia the great, took over as Dictatrix, who took Dacia, Britannia, Garamanta, Euxime, Parthia, Persia, Bactria, and what Alexander the Great of Macedonia could not do, took India intra Gangem, trampled across India Extra Gangem, and saw the outer sea.
“Then she was killed at the height of her prime by the Senate, and the Republic truly restored, but that did not bring peace for long. One hundred and fifty years after the Dictatrix, the Republic saw itself beset by barbarians at every corner. From the internal of India, from the Steppes into Euxime, Parthia, and Bactria, from the internal of Arabia, both Arab and Jew alike, from the south by the Nubae and from the north by Germanic rebels and Venedi.
[The middle Republic]
“Just as the Republic seemed to be tearing apart, Mother Terra did it for her. Around one thousand, or, actually, on one thousand, she fell cold. Volcanoes and impacts did it, and only both the smallest groups and the largest had the capability to survive. The Republic was one of them, prevailing through the long winter, moving and expanding south to feed its citizenry. Egypt and Mesopotamia and India and the Ganges and then even the Nigrita became our bases of food and living. In the North, Scandinavians and Britons and Hibernians hugged the ice coast until they reach the new world, driven by need, they pushed south and returned with tales of a land of ash but then a land of lush Jungle, and so Rome sent forth legions and we became a world power.
“But we were not the only ones to survive the long winter. China still prevailed, Nippon still prevailed, Ethiopia, Congo, Azania, Indonesia, the Southern Sun Kingdom, the steppe hordes. But we held them, and another era of relative peace stood.
“But inside, the long winter changed us. Kings came and went, if not politically then socially. The commoner was under chain and burden, for Slavery was gone officially - the long winter saw to that - but the commoner was tied to his land, and the Patricians were kings and queens over their stock. But with stability and warmth came prosperity and learning, and thoughts and ideas, and change. The common man rebelled, and rebelled, and rebelled, the middle class grew, and the rich class was taken down from their thrones. The Republic became open for all, as long as they were citizens. Ashen lands were reclaimed, and even the rivers of Hyperborea held farms and massive populations by eighteen hundred...
[The Modern Republic]
“Industrialization, technology, improvisation, expansion, all followed. The Sun Kingdom fell to us, Azania became Zesan to the Chinese, Ethiopia, Congo, all ours...but such came into Conflict. The Mongolians took command of the land, from the northern ocean to southern India Extra-Gangem, and in the third year of the last century, after years of proxy wars and sword rattling, all of the land came upon us. We were pushed from farthest Hyperborea to the coast of the ocean, only the mountains held back the hordes. But we pushed and dug ourselves forward.
“Trenches became our home, mountains our cemeteries. We died in the millions in the next half century. When Mongolia broke, China took the mantle, when China broke, Nippon took the mantle. That ended in 1953 after seven years of brutal sea and island warfare, and the atomic washing of their island - at the cost of hundreds of millions dead and even Rome bombed by one of our own, both bomb and person.
“Then China, having healed itself, and Hawai’i, came to, and beat their chests. An era of fear came, one of assured destruction from land, sea, air, and then the heavens above never before seen. But we were bigger, stronger, more united. Their alliance had to rebuild more, and catch up. We landed on the moon first! We were the first people up there! We landed on mars first with the first fleet! We unlocked the secret of the stars first! We landed on the furthest moons, we hold sway! Everything they have, from their paltry communication stations and moon base, came after! We still hold Mars and the gas giants in totality! Even today, later, we shall launch one of many ships into the heavens, and secure the name of Rome amongst our species for all time, as we reinforce our holdings here and beyond. My voice shall reach the corners of the system, and all shall hear: Rome. Prevails.
“Just recently, the Alliance rattled our vassals in Ethiopia and spread plague and violence there. The land has been decimated, but we did not falter! You there! And you, there, and you - and all men of Uniform, come forth!
“Rome. Look upon them. The men that founded this city, reinforced its founders, kept it safe, secure, alive. Their discipline and commitment to the Republic and their homes has never wavered. They have suffered more than other nations could ever, and yet they stand proud. Rome is proud of her offspring!”
“Rome! Rome shall always, always, always prevail, it may be beaten, rattled, struck, cast - but in the end, Rome *is*. If it falls, it will take the world with it. Our blood and iron shall hold true for years to come.
“Long! Live! The city, which rules the world!”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (quickly made) POLITICAL ALLEGIANCE, not sovereign nation, map of the world at 2000AUC -
Legend:
Dark Purple: The Roman Republic
Light Purple: Roman allied states, Roman Vassal states.
Beige: Alliance of Nations Members.
Gold: Hawaii, founding state and leader of the Alliance of Nations.
Last edited:
