Chronicles of the second Empire: a reborning Roman Empire TL

[RyuDrago]

Chronicles of the second Empire

A reborning Roman Empire TL

Prologue

The rain fallen without stop over Toledo, the capital of the Visigoth Kingdom. However, the violence of the storm didn't manage to cease yet the various fires which devastated the entire city.

And despite the numerous fights between enemy soldiers in the streets and in the houses, many eyes looked over a tower of the palace-fortress the Visigoth kings used as their residence and court.

Two men, the swords in hand, were fighting a decisive fight for the future of an Empire. One of the contendants, a young black-haired man with two grey-silver eyes of the colour of the Moon, was bleeding on the face; just few moments ago he just received a wound from his left cheek until the upper part of his neck. He was lucky the wound wasn't mortal, he retreat just in time even if his opponent slighty hit him with a fendant.

The wounded looked around himself. In a corner of the tower, two women assisted to the fight; the more oldest of them, adorned with silk clothes and heavy jewels, looked to him with anger and holded in hostage the second woman, a beautiful young lady with a sad but noble expression, threating her with a dagger.

More distant, other four people looked to the scene: a Benedectine monk, a giant Saxon warrior, an arabian-dressed semitic man, and an oriental young women. They couldn't intervene to help the wounded, because the scaffolding which connected the tower to the palace (the complex was under reconstruction) previously fallen before their arrival, so isolating the first building. However, even if they managed to reach the tower, they couldn't do nothing.

The wounded then looked to his opponent, a red-hair man, a bit older and taller than him, with two crimson eyes of the colour of Mars and dressed like him, with a similar late Roman armour and a purple mantle on the shoulders; only notable difference, the wounded had on his head an iron diadem with no jewels or other features, except for some red veinatures of the colour of blood. The red-haired man made a vengeaful grim on his face, but even under the heavy rain the wounded saw he was crying.

Suddenly the wounded looked into the dark cloud-covered sky. He remember what day it was. He said in a loud voice: "So, this is the path you wanted me to cover until the end, Holy Mother of God? You really wanted this for the Empire, Mary?"

Then, he understood: "This is the path we all of them choice deliberately and in freedom, i can't blame no one for this, neither him. So, whenever it will end, i will finish this path today. For God and the Empire!"

The wounded then started to run versus the red-hair man...

[Arrix85]

Good prologue. Obviously a follow-up to give perspective is needed. While this idea is quite popular, all rests in the implementation.

[RyuDrago]

And so, i decided to start another TL in the meanwhile. I wanted so much to start a early Medieval Roman Empire. As for the Savoia AAR, it will be a mix of historical and narrative events.

I hope you like it, even if i fear some situations will be bad interpretated during the narrative parts. If you notice something you find wrong, please say to me.

[Earl_of_Somerset]

What year is this?

Also could you provide some names?

(For all i know this could be Phillipicus sacking Toldedo in my TL)

Anyway great start

[RyuDrago]

Originally Posted by Earl_of_Somerset

What year is this?

Also could you provide some names?

(For all i know this could be Phillipicus sacking Toldedo in my TL)

Anyway great start

For now i can say the period of the prologue it's in the first quarter of VIIth century, but the POD started between 534-535; and in the next chapter will not see yet the real start of the TL, but another "Prologue" between the POD and the events in the first post where some of these characters will be presented.

And because i'm magnanimous, i will give for now the title of the second prologue: "The fire of the Second Rome". And so you can imagine anything your want...

( Don't worry Earl, i will not trolling your TL )

[RyuDrago]

I forget to say a relevant thing: i take inspiration about the POD of this TL from a story i read time ago, adapting it for mine purpose, but i not reveal yet what story is it until the first chapter (so the third after the two prologues) is online.

Meanwhile, as for the quest of the three queens, try to indovine what story it is...

[RyuDrago]

Second Prologue

The fire of the Second Rome


Costantinople, 15th August 608 A.D.

The young prince Eraclius (1) didn't manage to sleep yet that night: he was worried for his father, the Roman Emperor Maurice (2), who went to see a horse racing in the Hippodrome of Costantinople, the beautiful and glorious capital of the Roman Empire. The prince didn't like those competitions, which made the population of the city very violent and incontrollable: the echoes of the Nika revolt were still present in the halls of the Magnum Palatium. In truth, the racing were supposed to be in honour of his thirteen birthday (he was born the 15 August of 595), but Eraclius decided to celebrate it with a modest feast with his friends and the most loyal servants of the family. Then, he spent the rest of the day studing and partecipating to a mass in the Cathedral of Saint Sophia in honour of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

The question of the Assumption was still debated between the members of the Latin and the Greek rites, but Eraclius didn't care too much; he hereditated his devotion for the Virgin to her beloved mother, Iuliana (3), daughter of one of the most noble senator of Rome, died in 603. Eraclius grew as a devouted orthodox Christian but he wasn't a infautated, he keeped an elastic mind thanks to his eclettic studies; for certain verses, his father was more rigid in ecclesiatic matters than him. However, Eraclius's faith was sincere and he will never betray it.

The great windows of the prince's bedroom looked towards the Hippodrome, were the screams arrived to his ears, and Saint Sophia. Eraclius looked into the cathedral, where he saw the lights of the lamps; surely the priests were celebrating the last mass of the day, while from the corridors outside his room he heard a continued noise of voices. The young didn't love very much Costantinople, he prefered much more Rome, where he was born. The Eternal City finally started to recover after the devastations of the barbarian invasions, he started to refill many abandoned houses thanks to the immigration from many parts of the Empire (mostly Italics) and some repaired aqueducts gave fresh water, but Rome was still far to be returned to its original glory.

Eraclius returned to watch Saint Sophia, now surrounded by a red aura: originally he thought it came from the reflection of the lights into the church, but soon realized there was something wrong. From the Hippodrome, the screams grew of intensity, while he heard crescent insolit movements in the corridors. The glow around Saint Sophia continued to expand and to be more vivid... and then Eraclius realized what was happening.

A revolt.

Surely as for the Nika revolt someone sobillated the people in the Hippodrome, so provoking a massive riot in the streets of Costantinople. And soon, it was already clear what was the glow around Saint Sophia: the flames are surrounding the cathedral.

For some interminable minutes Eraclius watched as petrified to the spread of the flames that soon engulfing most of Costantinople. Improvisely, the prince heard the door of his room opening; he was his old praeceptor Procopius (4). the old man had a pale skin, but that day seemed like a ghost.

" My prince... a revolt of massive proportions started in the hippodrome, and the angry populace is setting ablaze the city! "

" What happened exactly? "

" It seemed some legionnars from the Illyrian divisions spread false voices the Emperor was going to raise high taxes in preparation for new wars and he was going to reclute by force new soldiers, while the wages will be lowered... "

" Phocas..." (5) Eraclius knew the Illyrian Legions were under his command. The prince didn't never like him, he knew someday he will betray his Emperor. " The revolters are marching to the palace?"

" No, my prince, luckily Wulfila (6) was on the walls of the palace and immediatly understood the situation, so he ordered to close all the doors; the entire garrison of the palace is on alert now. Some times, that rude barbarian was able to make something useful..."

" Wulfila is always useful, don't blame him for his moods..." Eraclius made a little smile, immediatly changed in a worried face. " And my father? "

" I don't know, my prince, but it seems he managed to escape from the Hippodrome..."

" So where is he now? He reached the palace? "

" N-no... They said me... he was barricated into Saint Sophia! "

In that moment, the two heard a fragorous rumble; watching from the windows, they saw the dome of the cathedral crumbled into the weight of the flames.

After the first moment of shock, Eraclius said: " Where is Wulfila? I want to talk with him!"

" He's not here: he took a squad to search and save the Emperor. " The prince was partially relieved, even if his heart feared the worst.

" Fine, then. But now let's get outside."

Eraclius and Procopius now were walking towards the throne room, after commanding with a calm but firm voice to some scared servants to call the main officers and the ministers to his conspect. At a certain point, the two stopped, they encountered the prince's best friends: his cousin Aristovicus (7), prince of the Visigoths, Alessia of Toledo (8), daughter of a noble Roman Ispanic family now servant of the Visgoth royal family, and his nephew Simplicius (9). The little Simplicius ( he was the son of the daughter Maurice had from his first marriage, and he was born after Eraclius in 598) ran versus his uncle in tears.

" What happened, Eraclius? The servants fled in any direction, and i see from the windows those strange lights... i'm scared! "

Eraclius gave him a warm smile: " Don't worry, Simplicius, it was all fine. Soon the granfather will return here." His heart jumped. "It will not happen nothing, i promise. "

" But..." Alessia put an hand over Simplicius's shoulder.

" Don't worry, Simplicius. You know the prince always mantain his promises."

the child stopped to cry and smiled: "fine, if Alessia say so, i will stop."

" How! You believe more in Alessia than me?" Eraclius seemed anger, but he was smiling.

" Yes, because Alessia managed always to convince you in all!"

" How impertinent! " Eraclius blushed, while the rest of the group laughed.

Then Aristovicus approached them, more serious: " this is not time to joke; there is an enemy to fight outside the doors of this palace!". His red eyes shined in the penumbral of the corridor, partially shared by the external flames.

Eraclius went to him, with a reassuring face. " You are right. But it is unfair to let you fight in this war. You are a prince of a foreign country, so..."

" I'm a prince of the Imperial house! This revolt is against all of us!"

" I'm glad you want to support us, but you are still young; and I'm more younger that you, but in this situation until the Emperor didn't return it's my responsability to protect all of you."

" But..."

" Please, Aristovicus, i promise together will fight the future wars which waited us, but today you must still wait."

"...F-fine." Aristovicus calmed in a shout; his face blushed, and in the penumbral only Alessia noticed them, but remained silent.

" Good. Now, let's going to the throne room..."

Most of the Imperial court was now reunited in the throne room. The dignitaries were scared and attempted to charge their neighbours for the riot which devastated Costantinople, but Eraclius ordered to shout all; he said the only reasonable choice to made was to wait the return of Wulfila and of the Emperor.

And few hours later, Wulfila return alone. The commander of the guard of the Emperor kneel in front of Eraclius, crying. The Prince understood the truth.

Wulfila was a giant Saxon warrior who was forced to flee his homeland for false charges of treason; he was captured from Roman soldiers after committed for some years thefts and raids with a group of bandits in the Noricum province, but for his luck he was spared from the Emperor Maurice, letting himself as his guard. Wolfila sweared eternal loyalty to his saviour and his descendants, and for many years protected him from any menace; but that day he will arrived to late.

Wulfila and a little squad reached Saint Sophia, surrounded to the revolters who already set fire to the cathedral; the Saxon arrived near to the main door to see in the center of the building Maurice, completely surrounded by a ring of flames. The emperor was bleeding, but had still the force to raise his arm towards Wolfila. A last wave.

And then, the dome of Saint Sophia crashed and fallen into the center of the church.

For the rest of his life, Wulfila will never said to Eraclius how his father died.

But in these moments, the prince went towards the giant and put a hand on his shoulder: " You save all of us today, i'm so proud of you. "

Wulfila standed up, with a terrific expression: " Thanks, my prince, but i failed my duty... and to save my honor i swear one day i will slain that swine of Phocas with my own hands!"

" However, today i need your help. How much can resist the palace under a siege?"

" Against the mob, they are not a fight. But i encountered one of those sobillators who said to me just before i killed him the gross of the Illyrian army with Phocas is marching towards Costantinople..."

" Hm. Where are the senators, Procopius?"

" Many of them were killed or fleed, other i heard they went to meet Phocas to recognize him as new Emperor."

Eraclius remained silent for some moment. Then, he made a decision.

" So there aren't other choices. Wulfila, Procopius, i ordered you to organize the evacaution of the palace. Prepare immediatly the ships in the dock of the complex."

" The ships? We must sail? From where? "

"From Rome. If the senate of Costantinople is destroyed, that of the Eternal City is still operational and more legitimate of that..."

" Legitimate? For what matter?"

" To recognize me as new Emperor. Phocas will bring the empire to ruin. I'm the legitimate heir after all, and he is a traitor. If we act quickly, the other governors and the rest of the army will not pass on his side."

Wulfila and Procopius looked themselves for a bit, then both said: " At your orders, your Highness."

The Imperial convoy sailed from the dock of the Magnum Palatium in the first morning, but that day there will be no sun. The smokes from the flames darkened the sky. If the first Rome crumbled after a siege, the second Rome met its fate by its own hands. Eraclius was on the stern of the main ship, looking to the terrible scenery he was left; he requested to remain alone. The young was praying. " My Lord, i request all of your aid to face this menage; if it is necessary, i will sacrifice my life for the sake of the Romans; they suffered too long. I beg also you, Mary, Mother of God; please support me in this dark hour!"

But Eraclius had many doubts. " My faith is strong; but i lost my father, and i'm to young to support the weight of the Empire. If i could have a sign... it is not necessary as for the vision of Costantin, but an only sign..."

Suddenly, Eraclius saw, or he seemed to see, a light over his head; he looked up, remaining ecstatic for some moments and then fallen unconsciously.

" ERACLIUS, WAKE UP! YOUR HIGHNESS, PLEASE WAKE UP!"

The young prince slowly opened his eyes: around him he found all his friends, worried to find him unconcious. It was Alessia to speak to first: " You made worried all so much, your highness! We almost fear the worst..."

" No... i'm feel very well, don't worry..." Eraclius replied with a smile. He was sure Alessia called him with his name, but remained silent.

Aristovicus was a bit upset: " However, the situation was already worse without that you also fell sick! If you suffered the sea... we can however... take a land route..."

The Visigothic prince remained shocked as for the rest of the company when they noticed the eyes of Eraclius.

His eyes changed colour, they become silver... like two full, brilliant Moons.

Extract from " Miracles and beliefs at the foundation of the New Empire", Thor Philips, 2005, Uppsala press.

"... The psychologists generally are convinced that the stress derivated from the second revolt of Nika and the death of his father Maurice induced a physiological reaction in Eraclius, changing the colour of his eyes and convincing him to have the famous vision: but the main obstacle to this theory was to the convinction the young prince didn't enter in an "exaltated state" as they often suggested, also as we know Eraclius revealed his vision in the last years of his reign in the "De Imperium Dei" and also the Chronicles of Simplicius (10) always described him as a equilibrated man. Naturally, for the catholics, the event was a clearly sign of the favour of God towards him. From my point of view, is still hard to track a reasonable profile of Saint Eraclius Magnus..."


(1) Naturally, he is not OTL Eraclius...
(2) ...and he is not OTL Maurice.
(3),(4) are OC characters.
(5) Yes, he is OTL Phocas.
(6) (7) (8) (9) all OC characters.
(10) is (9), yes.

[Earl_of_Somerset]

So POD is Maurice not marrying Constinia?
Also Phocas doesn't revolt in 602, so Maurice didn't make the Legions camp over the Danube?

[RyuDrago]

Originally Posted by Earl_of_Somerset

So POD is Maurice not marrying Constinia?
Also Phocas doesn't revolt in 602, so Maurice didn't make the Legions camp over the Danube?

Water, Earl, water...

When i said «not OTL Maurice and Eraclius» i will say they are OC characters. The OTL Emperors didn't exist in this TL, they were replaced by two characters who ruled in periods similar in that of their historical counterparts....

[RyuDrago]

Chapter One: Italia restituta

In the summer of 534 the city of Costantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, was in jubilation: the Emperor Justinian had finally a heir, a healthy and beautiful girl who received the name of Costantia; however, her birth provoked the death of the Empress Theodora (1). Justinian was depressed because of the loss of his wife, he decided to not marry anymore and took with himself Costantia; without her mother, she grew as an orthodox Christian.

The affection towards Contantia gradually recovered Iustinian from his depression, just in time for taking a golden occasion: the liberation of Italy from the Ostrogoth rule. The 30 april 535 Amalasuntha, the legitimate queen, was killed by his husband Theodatus, so causing an internal crisis into the entire peninsula. Justinian decided to invade the kingdom from two directions: Belisarius, the counqueror of the Vandalic kingdom, will attack with his army the island of Sicily, while a second army at the orders of Mundus will have the task to invaded Dalmatia.

Belisarius managed to occupy with no particular difficulties the island and then to move into Calabria, while after a initial success Mundus was defeated and killed. However, also the Ostrogoth positions in Dalmatia were weakened, so letting the invasion of that region by the Lombards leaded by Audoin (2). The barbaric king however decided to not invade neither North Italy or Byzantine Balkans, and to settle his people in that region. In the end, the Lombard settlement in Dalmatia advantaged more the Byzantines, secured from a Ostrogoth invasion.

Meanwhile the advance of Belisarius proceed slow but inesorable. In 536, Naples surrended, and also Rome opened its doors to the Germanic general. Meanwhile at Ravenna Theodatus was deposed and killed, and the general Vitiges, who married Amalasuntha's daughter Matasuntha, became the new King.

Vitiges decided to move his efforts to the reconquest of Rome which was put soon under siege for over a year; but Belisarius managed to defend the city and in the end the Ostrogoth decided to retreat also because also the Picenum was lost in favour of the Byzantines.

With new reinforcements from Costantinople, Belisarius soon retook his advance towards North while the other valiant general of the Empire, Narses, had the task to conquer Ariminum and the Adriatic coast. However, the two generals were disagreeing almost over all, and in the end Justinian decided to recall the eunuch to sent to the eastern borders, to manage the Persian hostil actions in these areas. The Emperor was influenced in that decision by Antonina, Belisarius's wife, charged of the education of Costantia, so making her the most influential woman of the Empire after the death of Theodora.

In 538 meanwhile Mediolanum was conquered from a Byzantine army but Belisarius concentrated the main of this forces around the North-East and Ravenna; the slim garrison failed to resist the massive Goth counterattack and just few months later in 539 the city was recaptured and devastated. Most of the monuments of the ancient Roman age were lost forever, and Mediolanum took many years to recover from that wound.

But the atrocious events of Mediolanum compacted the Italics under the banner of Belisarius, who in 540 put under siege Ravenna. Soon Justinian ordered to cease any hostility because he accepted an offer where all of Italy south of the Po became part of the Eastern Empire, but the general refused to recognize that treaty; and in the end Ravenna fallen and Vitiges and Matasuntha captured and sent to Costantinople with the great treasure of Theodoric.

But Justinian was upset for the disregarding of his orders and called Belisarius to Costantinople, also because of the machinations of Narses who managed to repel away the Persians and returned in the goodwill of the Emperor.

In 542 it seemed Belisarius was fallen in disgrace, but during a famous encounter with the Emperor the young Costantia intervened in favour of the general, reassuring his father about his loyalty. The historians of all age are convinced behind this move the real mandant was Antonina, who had a strong ascendent over the princess. However, not only Justinian was convinced of the loyalty of Belisarius, but also gave him the control of Italy and the task of defeat once and for all the Ostrogoth menace.

After the capture of Vitiges, the Ostrogoths proclaimed new king Totila, who tried to reorganize the remaining forces of the kingdom and started to raid the Padan plain, but the return of Belisarius convinced him to assume a defensive stance. Justinian didn't give to the general great reinforcements, but however conceded him to utilize part of the treasure of Theodoric. With that wealth, Belisarius started to create local militias formed by Italics, while he paid other Goths to side with him and gained with favorable edicts and titles Roman-Italics nobles and merchants. Also, the Italics were tired of the Ostrogoth domination and dreamed to return once again to be part of an only Roman Empire.

Belisarius, with his army filled by Italics, when was ready in 544 marched towards Verona, capital of Totila, conquering it; the Ostrogoth king was forced to wage a guerrilla war in North Italy and in the years between 546 and 548 managed to hold most of Tuscia and tried to siege again Rome, but he failed as Vitiges before him (3). in June of 548 new reinforcements came from Costantinople while Belisarius blocked Totila any escape access from the North.

Meanwhile, also Narses returned in the Italian war theatre with the task to occupy the last Goth fortress in North Italy: his operational war was the little island port in the middle of the Venetian Lagoon; it was in that context the star of Venice started to shine.

In the June of 550 (4), in Tagina near Perusia Belisarius defeated Totila, who died because of the injuries, while Narses freed Milan and defeat the last Goth resistance leaded by Teia.

In the end of 550, Italy returned after 79 years to be part of a Roman Empire. But soon war will threaten again these lands...

(1) Here's the awaited POD: Justinian and Theodora had a female heir but the Empress died...
(2) I anticipated the Lombard invasion, but it was confined only in Dalmatia for now. Why? you will understand in the next chapter...
(3) So Rome is less devastated then OTL, many monuments were still up. However as in OTL even if Totila didn't take the city many bronze statues and columns were destroyed to be used as weapons against the Visigoths.
(4) I anticipated the battle of Tagina of one year and the end of the Gothic war of three years.

[Arrix85]

Good work! the next update will reprise the character of Eraclius? or you want to bridge 550 and 608 first?

[RyuDrago]

Chapter four: Tribolations of a Roman princess in Europe


Salona was atrociously devastated from the rebels, receiving a mortal blow; many refugees seeked refuge in the Diocletian's Palace ( the court was entirely in the capital for the marriage, so the complex was almost empty) and prepared to resist for a siege. Meanwhile, the plotters were deciding what to do about Costantia; many suggested to sent her to Costantinople in order to avoid the probable Roman vengeance, but Elmichi refused: he wanted to marry himself the princess, infautated by her beauty. However, Costantia refused to marry a traitor, assassin and arian with so firm convinction that Elmichi came away embarassed; he didn't even try to satisfied his lust because the young woman menaced herself to die by cutting her tongue with the teeths. The Lombard prince started to lose the reason, his supposed love towards her became hate, and in the end he found a suitable revenge against the princess...

Elmichi and his supporters, because Salona became inhospitable and the Diocletian Palace was inaccesible, moved the capital to Sirmium; here was proclaimed king of the Lombards, and his first move was to comdemn Costantia to death, guilty to have corrupted the souls of the king and his son. She was condamned to decapitation, but the day of the execution Elmichi changed her with a common, incapacitated woman similar to her, covering the face with a dark veil. While the poor woman died at her place, Costantia was secretly sold to a slave Gepid caravan going to west, in exchange of few coins: Elmichi though he was the better punition for a algid Roman princess. Few hours later, the caravan departed from Sirmium and Costantia put in a cage with other slaves...

Few weeks later, the news of the massacre of Salona and the (false) execution of Costantia spreaded into the Roman Empire and reached Costantinople, where Justinian almost died of heart attack in the first moments, but recovered: then he ordered to his armies to invade Dalmatia. The attack started in the last days of May of 552.

Justin was charged to lead the main attack, while to Belisarius was ordered to attack from Northeastern Italy. However, the invasion of Dalmatia din't find so much obstacles: in fact, the majority of the Lombards, already converted or supporters of Orthodox Christianity were enraged by the facts of Salona, refused to support Elmichi as new king, and covered the surviving Roman priests escaped from the wave of executions ordered to Sirmium in order to restabilish the Arianism. Revolts spreaded almost everywhere, many Lombards joined the Romans. Also, the soldiers of Elmichi lost many months to siege the Diocletianian Palace and in the end they were forced to retreat when the Romans were near. Lastly, the Frank king Chlotar supported the Roman invasion and refused any request of help from the Lombard nobles, because the events of Salona disgusted his own people and the Church visibly condemned these facts.

Already in the fall of 552 the Romans reached Sirmium, where the mental conditions of Elmichi deteriorated irreversibly (the modern historians says it was the pressure of the events to determine his folly, while apologetical christian theologians declared it was a divine punishment for all his sins); his same counselors, desperate to resist more and hoping for mercy from the Romans, arrested the king and surrended to Justin. The nephew of Justinian however was ruthless; he killed everywhere was involved in the events of Salona and the successive assassination of Roman residents, while he sent Elmichi to Costantinople.

The revenge of Justinian was indeed terrible: after being torturated for days, removed his eyes with hot blades, Elmichi was sent into the hippodrome where he died overhelmed by the chariots which partecipated in a horse race. For the first time after the Nika revolt, Justinian assisted to the race, personally giving the prize to the winner. The historians today consider that event as a blot in the Emperor's life, while for centuries the Church approved it as a right punishment and only in recent times, under the pressure of films and books talking about it comdemns the decision of Justinian, even if "in these sad days, there wasn't too space for the pity".

The death of Elmichi signed the end of the Lombard indipendence: Dalmatia returned to be part of the Roman Empire, its diocese was restablished, the local people sworn loyalty to the Emperor, the Arianism was repealed away: some Lombards who refused to be under Roman rule fled to the near barbaric kingdoms: most went to the Gepids, other merged into the Avars or reached Frank Germany. Salona however became a dead city, while around the Diocletian Palace it started to develop a new town who took the name of Spalato from a near village.

However, Justinian was saddened for the death of his daughter and started to make a more ritired life: soon the real detentor of the power was Justin, now sure to be the future Emperor...

Meanwhile, the slave caravan traveled across the French Kingdom and reached after a long and hard Visigothic Spain, where their rulers were more elastic about the question of slavery respect to the French and the Romans. Also, the country started to recover after a period of civil war who saw the victory of Athanagild of Seville, who claimed the throne as married with a daughter of Amalaric, last ruler of the Balti dynasty (1). The final destination of the caravan was Cordoba, the capital of the Kingdom; Costantia was still with her masters, who wanted to sell her to a high rank family. However, neither they were able to imagine it was Theodora, the wife of Liuvigild, the youngest brother of the King Athanagild, to notice and bought her to made her a personal maid.

Costantia soon started to live in the Visigothic court, but she revealed her identity to nobody: she not had proofs able to recognize herself as the daughter of Justinian, Emperor of the Romans. She accepted this was a trial God gave to test her faith (considerating she now lived in a country mostly Arian), and complied to her duties with diligence for some years, obtaining the respect of many people, seeing in her an innate nobilty; they expressed sympathy for her also for the arrogant moods used by Theodora on her regards, in a effort to calm down her frustation to not give yet a heir to his husband (2).

Soon, Liuvigild started to look towards Costantia, attracted to his beauty and his manners, and developing strong feelings towards her; the Roman princess also notice his attention from her master, but she refused to pledge to his avances even if she secretly started to develop similar feelings. To worsening the situation, also Theodora noticed something, so became more hostile towards her maid giving more humiliant duties.

In the end Costantia tried to escape, but in the end it was the same Leovigild to discovered her attempt. During a legendary, reported talk between the two the woman confessed her feelings towards the Visigothic prince, but she refused to pledge to him because of his marital condition and his adhesion on Arianism. So, Liuvigild for love of Costantia in 557 left Theodora adducting as motive her incapacity to give him a son, he converted to Orthodox Christianity by hand of the bishop of Seville Leander and finally obtained from his father the permission to marry Costantia. Athanagild agreed to his proposal because he apreciated too the virtues of Costantia and hovewer even if he converted his brother remained the youngest of his heirs (there is always the middle brother Liuva) and probably didn't become the future king: he feared the Visigoths didn't accept an orthodox christian ruler.

Costantia, despite all, obtained that Theodora remained in her court as her lady of compagnie, and wished to estabilsh to her amiable relations; the deposed wife was ufficially grateful, but in secret planned a suitable revenge...

At the start of 558 Costantia was expecting a child, but soon the king and his brothers, also Leovigild, left Cordoba to fight the Suebs in the North-West of Spain, in order to submit them. For Theodora it was a golden occasion, offering herself to watch the gestation of the princess. Both Leovigild and Costantia were grateful of that offer and accepted, without suspecting nothing...

In the September of that year, Costantia gave birth to a healty son who called Maurice and immediatly baptized him calling from Seville Leander; but soon with the excuse the princess must recovered Theodora closed all the accesses to her rooms, and then sent a letter to Leovigild where Costantia gave birth to a deformed monster and his same wife lost her beauty, her healty and the reason after the birth, so asking what to do. The King and his brothers were shocked to the bad news coming to Cordoba and believed in the false truth of Theodora; after a long debate, before the people knew what happened, Athanagild ordered to kill both Costantia and Maurice, but with the intercession of Leovigild it was decided to put them in a boat and sent away in the Mediterranean.

Few days later, without understanding what was happening, Costantia was arrested with her child, sent to Malaga and then put on a small boat with some food which was sent in the middle of the sea.

It seemed that time for Costantia and Maurice was the end, but the boat went towards the coast of Roman Africa, where a Imperial fleet which patrolled that area found them. The two survivors were conducted to the commander, where with surprise Costantia even he was old recognized in him Belisarius. The governor of Italy in that period wanted to retire from active duties and Justinian (or to better say Justin) granted his wish but he request the last task to patrol the Western Mediterranean, in order to give the impression to the Franks and the Visigoth that sea returned "Mare Nostrum". Costantia decided to not claim her identity, but she reclaimed she was a Roman enslaved in Dalmatia during the massacre of 551 and went in Spain where after some years of slavery a local noble married her but few days with any apparent reason she was sent in that boat with her ship; Belisarius was touched to her story and offered his protection, also because he reminded her the unlucky daughter of the Emperor, even he believed she was dead in these terrible days.

Soon the fleet returned in Italy, and Costantia, Maurice and Belisarius reached the villa of the general outside Rome. To expect them, the wife of the general Antonina; she was a bit upset in the first time to see another woman in house with a child, but soon she recognized Costantia from a little birthmarkon her shoulder. The princess then revealed herself, but after telling her adventures she requested to not reveal to others her identity. Antonina was an ambitous woman for all her life, but despite all she always loved Costantia as the daughter she never had, and accepted to maintain the secret.

So for the next six years Costantia and Maurice lived protected in their new family, and the child became a smart boy; Belisarius made him his heir. Antonina mantained the secret, but tried to convince Costantia revealing to Justinian also because to give Maurice the possibility to became one day Emperor; after all, he was his nephew. But Costantia refused, fearing it could caused more sufference to her and his son. But in the first months of 564, news spreaded to Rome the Emperor was coming to partecipate to the Easter celebrations leaded by the Pope...

Meanwhile, Leovigild was sailing to Rome, to request a Papal absolution for the tremendous sin which devoured him for six years. In the final months of 559 a truce was signed with the Suebs and the King and his brothers returned to Cordoba, where Theodora seemed very sad for the tragedy occurred to his former husband; in truth, she tried to convince him to remarry her. But Leovigild, talking with Leander, soon discovered there was something wrong and in the end discovered all; Theodora so was arrested and executed for high treason. The Visigothic prince requested then the fleet at his disposal to search his wife and his son, but Athanagild, even if sad for his brother, convinced him it was too late. In the next years Leovigild became the governor of Seville, but he refused to marry again. In the first months of 564, under suggestion of Leander, he decided to reach to Rome at least to ask an absolution from the Pope.

In March, Leovigild reached the outskirts of Rome and causally reached the villa of Belisarius, who offered him hospitality; in that moment, Costantia and Maurice were in the city to follow a mass in St. Johannes in Lateran. Soon Antonina, hearing the talk of his husband awith the prince, he realized who the men was and immediatly sent a chariot to bring here Costantia and Maurice immediatly while she managed all to stay Leovigild here; and her efforts were successful, because the woman and her son arrived just in time.

Leovigild and Costantia immediatly recognized the other, and after the first moment of hesitation they embraced theirself; later the episode was recalled in many paintings, theatral pieces, books and films. Leovigild was surprised and cried of joy when he also knew his son Maurice; his sufferences were finally ended. But few moments later, he remained even more surprised, and Belisarius with him, when finally Costantia decided to revealed herself, and Antonina proved it, as the daughter of Justinian.

After a long debate followed to the surprise, the group decided to wait the arrival of Justinian to reveal him all. In the meanwhile, Leovigild sent letters to Cordoba about the new good news, and encountered with all his reunited family the Pope.

In the first part of April, the old Emperor Justinian and Justin, considered by almost all as the future Emperor, arrived to Rome where the people still talked about the story of Costantia and Leovigild. Few days after, the Visigoth prince requested an audience: Justinian, who heard the story but didn't know yet who was her wife, was doubtous but Justin convinced him to receive him and his family: he didn't know he did regret that decision for the rest of his life. Leovigild, Costantia, Maurice entered in the Great Hall of the Imperial Palace on the Palatin accompanied to Belisarius and Antonina, and the young woman started to approach him. For Justinian, starting to look to her, seemed she was like her lost daughter, but he knew it was impossible... until Costantia managed to recognize herself.

It is naturally obvious the joy, the tears, the narration of her adventures... Few hours later the entire Rome was at knowledge of the entire story, who spreaded all across the Empire and reached even the more distant Indian lands. The Romans for generations narrated this story from generation to generation, and they were never tired ho hear it: because thanks to the tribolations of Costantia, a seed of hope was planted in the Empire these far days, in order to cease soon and forever the time of the "dark years"...

(1) Despite the fact Justinian didn't attack southern Spain, the Visigoth civil war sparkled however but a bit early than OTL.

(2) In this TL, Theodora and Leovigild didn't had sons, because she was sterile.

Anyway, at this point someone discovered the story i relaborated here?

[Arrix85]

Originally Posted by RyuDrago

Anyway, at this point someone discovered the story i relaborated here?

At first hand, not a clue .

[RyuDrago]

Originally Posted by Arrix85

At first hand, not a clue .

Little hint: some characters had the same name in the story...

[RyuDrago]

And for today here's the map of 564 AD...

As you can see, the Gepids inserted themselves between Pannonia and French controlled lands, the Avars settled in Pannonia, and naturally brown colour for reunited Roman Empire.

As always, please say me about mistakes.

[RyuDrago]

I commit a mistake: Liuva and Leovigild were brothers, not father and son; also, in that period, it was the other brother Athanagild to rule Visigothic Spain after a civil war...

So i request sorry for the visible error, and i re-edit the last chapter immediately. The implant of the story didn't change so much, I need only to revise a little the Spanish scenery.

[RyuDrago]

Ok, the revision of chapter four was done; i don't know why, i made that mistake... essentialy i replace Liuva with Athanagild, and said it was brother of Leovigild, so in the end i didn't change so much. However, if you want read the revised chapter.

Once again, sorry.

[RyuDrago]

Chapter Eleven: Ordalia

The Imperial army marched towards Augusta at rather fast pace, in order to join with the forces of Phocas before the Saxons launch a preemptive attack counting on their numerical superiority. Thanks to his spies, Maurice knew Hagan had around 60,000 men and waiting other 20,000 from the rest of Saxony; his army and that of Phocas if joined counted at least 40,000 soldiers but he hoped to attack before the enemy reinforcements arrived, and to win thanks the valor and the experience of his men. A defeat could only mean a continuation of the war where Hagan gained the upper hand that time.

Meanwhile, the Emperor managed to call around his army other 3,000 mercenaries, mostly of them Moravs, went under the orders of Wulfila; the Saxon managed to impose an iron discipline into his corp, also aided by his fame as raid commander between the barbarians. Also the rich paid promised from the Emperor made its effect, but it was imposed a only limit: in case of victory, Augusta will be spared and not razed. The time of devastation must be ended.


Wulfila spent most of the day to train his men, but the night generally participate to the war council as a counselor; his help was determinant to know better strong points and weakness of the Saxon army, even if some Roman generals were a bit disappointed the Emperor took a barbarian in high consideration, also because he was allowed to the Imperial dinners. The giant the first days was a bit agitated: he didn’t had the honor to eat in the same table of Hagan, while now he was invited to the Roman Emperor in person! However Maurice, after making funny of his tentative to show some good manners, he managed to set comfortable the Saxon. The dinners generally were occasion for Wulfila to learn some rudiments of Latin, to know better the past glory of the Romans, and the story of Maurice and his family: so he understood he and the Emperor were similar, because both tasted the consequence of a betrayal. Nevertheless, he still refused to tell Maurice his story, because it didn’t fair bothering him with his problems; despite all, more the Roman army approached Augusta, the Saxon was tormented.


The 16th Of October, the Romans were at the outskirts of Augusta; far away the Saxon camp was visible. However Phocas didn’t arrive yet; after two days of waiting and of little skirmishes, Maurice knew from his scout his reinforcements were at one day of distance while that of Hagan about at two. So, the Emperor decided to give battle the next day sending messengers to his commander ordering to hurry, and hoping to win betofe the Saxon reinforced their ranks.


In the night between the 18th and the 19th Wulfila didn’t resist more and went to talk to Maurice about his past, and of Rainulf, and Fresegunda, and Hagan, and his will of revenge. The Emperor showed him to believe his innocence, but at certain point he asked: “ If tomorrow in the Saxon ranks you will see Rainulf during the battle, what do you do so?”

The giant was surprised of this question, but he replied with his wrath. “ If I see him.. I will go towards him to kill him!”


“ That I just expected… So I guess it’s better to relieve you the command of the mercenary corp.”


“ To relieve… But… Why?”


“ Because in few hours we are going to fight a decisive battle where we must avoid any possible error. If you see your brother in a too far line and pushed your soldiers towards him in order to open a way in the enemy, the Saxon could easily encircle and trap all of you. And I can’t offer any help to you.”

Wulfila cooled down. Maurice was right.


“ Also, I want to win this battle with the minor loss of lives possible from our side; even the mercenaries must be safeguarded. They are not fighting for your revenge.”


“ But… You previously said my revenge could be useful for you!”


“ Not if may bring the entire army to disaster. You made a good job to train those barbarians, but if your wrath doesn’t put in charge to be lucid, you can fight by alone if you want.”


“ So… You want me to renounce my revenge? ”


“ I don’t request this; only, I don’t want it could bring to nefarious consequences for us.”


“ I understand. So I swear over my Gods and your I will comply my duties as soldier in the upcoming battle so you can win it, and so until the end of the war; but when the conflict is over, nobody will stop me to get my revenge.”


Maurice remained silent for few moments. “ fine, I will trust you. But do you think really if you will get satisfied after you get your revenge? ”


Wulfila was surprised by the question. “ But… Of course! Rainulf ruined my life, it’s my right to kill him and also a possibility to regain my honor! ”


“ However, generally revenge could only bring other pain and sufferance. Also, there is still both a human and a divine justice to reply to the injustice.”


“ Human justice? But to me it was denied… And I didn’t want to expect the death of all of us to see the justice of the Gods! ”


“ However, for me we must to have faith in both, even if the first failed and the second very far to time… But in the end both will recognize the truth. Also, I had a last question for you: If you kill both Rainulf and Hagan, What do you do next ?”


“ I don’t know… Surely, I can’t stay no more in my home country… Do you think the Empire could accept one like me…?”


“ The Empire is opened for everyone respects its laws, also to the barbarians.”


“ Even if they previously attacked and killed its people ? ”


“ Yes, even so. But it’s time to take a little nap, it’s no good to fight the upcoming battle as tired.”


In the early morning of 19th October 574, the Romans, even in numerical inferiority, attacked the Saxons army outside of Augusta. Philipphicus will lead the cavalry in the left, Maurice will remain in the center to coordinate the operations and Wulfila and his mercenaries will protect the right flank. The first skirmishes saw the Roman advance, because the Saxon were caught of surprise, but soon they were able to counter attack as well. Philippicus tried to smash the left flank of the Saxon army, but he must faced the enemy cavalry, not less valuable. Wulfila proceeded well to protect the right flank, when as expected by the Emperor the giant was able to see his brother with other nobles around Hagan; he had the temptation to smash the enemy lines to run towards him, but he remember the promise to Maurice and aided the Romans in difficulty in his sector.


For some hours the battle continued as in stall; the Romans killed many Saxons but they still possess the numerical inferiority. At a some point Maurice saw Philipphicus started to be in difficulty and feared he was at the point to be smashed; the Emperor was tempted to retreat, but he decide to resist till the end; also, he take his guard and run in aid of his commander.


The Emperor’s arrival was noticed by the Roman horsemen, boosting their morale and managing to defeat the Saxon Cavalry; the Romans were now free to attack the left flank of the enemy, while Maurice returned to the center of his army where the situation continued to be indecisive.


After five hours of combat, when it seemed the Romans were depleted their energies, the reinforcements leaded by Phocas arrived to aid their comrades. The fresh soldiers progressively replaced the exhausted fighters, while the Saxon lines finally started to crash; and pressed by the cavalry to the left and to the mercenaries to the right, the center of the Saxon army crumbled and the soldiers to flee towards North.


Hagan and his officials tried to send the last lines to fight, but their advance was disturbed from the flee of the other soldiers, so the Saxon king realized the battle was lost and ordered the retreat to North hoping to catch his reinforcements in time.


In the end, the Saxons lost from causalities, deserters and prisoners about 37,000 men against the 14,000 of the Romans; in the region they still had a numerical but very reduced advantage, but most of their supplies, stocked in Augusta, were lost and Hagan decided to retreat to the old Roman fortress of Castra Regina, now becoming a town called Ratisbona. Here, a war council was divided between who wanted to continue the war and who proposed a peace with the Romans; Hagan, under suggestion by Rainulf, wanted to try a last sortie outside Ratisbona, but news of mobilization from Austrasia convinced him to negotiate a peace with the Romans.


The 3rd of November, with the Romans at one day of distance from Ratisbona, Saxon delegates offered to start peace talks with Maurice; the Emperor agreed, but wanted to negotiate with Hagan in person. After two days of negotiation, the two delegations agreed to meet between Ratisbona and the Roman camp; Wulfila went with Maurice, Rainalf with Hagan. The two leaders decided to remain in a safe distance, and started to negotiate. Hagan wanted to renounce only to Pannonia, but Maurice claimed all the Roman conquests so the lands South the Danube, even the last bastion of Ratisbona, as rightful parts of the Roman Empire; in exchange he will release with no ransom the prisoners and let everyone who refused to stay under the Imperial rule to emigrate to North. Hagan needed men to face the possible Austrasian attack, so in the end accepted the treaty.


At a certain point, Hagan recognized Wulfila in the giant at the side of Maurice, so starting a furious quarrel between the two delegations. The Saxon King requested his handover as an assassin and, when it was clear he organized the raids against his people, as a traitor; he was supported by Rainulf, agitated after discovering his brother was still alive and trying to confuse more the situation. Wulfila instead accused Rainulf to be the assassin of Fresegunda and to orchestrate the entire situation to made him appear as the culprit; and Maurice was on his side, proclaiming he believed to the giant’s story and to considerate the raids as a regular war operation in favor of the Romans, seeing that Saxons soldiers committed of worse during the invasion of Dalmatia. At some point, Wulfila accused Hagan to not allow him an audience in order to say his version, but the King was surprised of that declaration because his brother said him in prison the giant declared his guilty; to save the face Rainulf confirmed his version and Wulfila continued to lied, so provoking his wrath and with difficulty the Romans hold him to kill his accuser. The situation seemed landlocked, when the Emperor offered to solve the question with the Germanic rite of the trial by ordeal; both the suspect will made nine steps holding an incandescent bar. Who will completed the trial unharmed was mean to be innocent; Wulfila accepted immediately so forcing Rainulf to make a similar declaration.


Few hours later, all was ready for the trial; Wulfila was the first to take the bar. The giant’s expression was cold, it seemed he didn’t hear the heat of the object. Calmly, he made the nine steps; when he released the bar, his hand didn’t had signs of burn.


Next, was the turn of Rainulf; unlike his brother, he seemed to be more sufferent, while a little smoke was released from his hand, sign his skin was burning; however, he managed to made eight steps. But when was going to made the last step, he didn’t resisted more to the pain… and launched the bar towards Maurice’s face.


Luckily for the Emperor, Wulfila with an unexpected rapidity for his size, he took the bar in time; then, he threw it against his brother. Rainulf, petrified, he even not tried to dodge the attack: the bar hit him in face, forcing him to fall to ground. The heat of the bar burned most of the skin, leaving an incurable scar all across the face. While the real murderer of Fresegunda was still suffering for the pain, Saxon and Roman soldiers encircled him, while Wulfila came to him holding his sword in hand.


“ So… It’s time to finish this.”


But when the giant was to inflict the final blow, he reminded the words of Maurice: he raised his sword screaming…


… only to throw it to the ground. With surprise, Rainulf asked why he spared him, but Wulfila said he didn’t want to come down to his levels. The giant demonstrated his innocence by winning the ordeal;
now, the real culprit must be judged by a fair trial. Wulfila watched Maurice, noticing his evident approval.


After assisting these events, Hagan confirmed the peace treaty with the Romans and recognized the innocence of Wulfila, pardoning him also for the question of the raids. The Saxon accepted the excuses from the King, recognizing he was deceived by his brother; however he refused to return to his service, deciding to serve forever the Roman Emperor. Rainulf wasn’t executed, but it was consigned to the Romans to let judge him for the tentative to harm Maurice; some Saxons will follow the prisoner to see he was adequately punished.


The 7th of November, Hagan ordered his men to retreat North the Danube, while Maurice decided to return to South, to Rome. But unexpectedly, few days later Rainulf managed to mysteriously escape from his jail killing the two prison guards; despite the researches, he seemed vanished without trace. Wulfila was out of control and he had in mind to personally search him, but Maurice stopped him; when he saw the corpses of the victims, he noticed their death injuries seemed to be made with Roman blades; so, he suspected a Roman traitor helped to escape him, for what reason he didn’t know yet. The giant then offered himself to protect the Emperor and his family as a personal guard, because he was sure Rainulf will tried to kill him for revenge…

***

That night, Rainulf was desperate to try escape from his cage; the two Roman sentinels were always on guard and it will be impossible to get them of surprise. Suddendly, he said three men coming towards him. The soldiers ordered them to halt but the man in the middle managed to recognize himself. “ I’m the general Phocas, soldiers. I’m here to talk with the prisoner for order of the Emperor.” The sentinels relaxed themselves.


“ What do you want, Roman? We have nothing to share in common.”


“ False, my friend. We have more in common instead. I’m sure you still wanted to get your revenge against your brother ? ”


Rainulf was surprised from his question, but tried to remain indifferent. “ Even so? Of course I want to revenge against that bastard who ruined me and also against your Emperor who meddled in this story!”


One of the sentinels hit him with a punch in his belly. “ It is better to better respect the Emperor, scum!”


Phocas intervened. “ Calm down, soldier; I don’t finish my interrogation. Barbarian, if you become free, you will tried to kill Wulfila and the Emperor ? ”


“ Of course, Roman! If I had a sword and the right possibility, I will kill them this same night! ”


“ And if someone save you even in this moment, you will accept his orders to get his revenge?”


The Saxon didn’t understood the question, but he replied. “ Well… He will have my gratitude and loyalty, but first I want my revenge…”


“ It is sufficient. Men, kill them.”


In a moment, the other two soldiers managed to caught by surprise the sentinels, killing them. Few seconds later, Rainulf was freed. The cage was in a isolated part of the camp and the patrol squad were still far, so nobody noticed something.


Rainulf touched his wrists, now free by chains. “ Why did this, Roman ?”


“ Because we have a common objective: to kill the Emperor.”


“ Interesting… and you want my help?”


“ Yes, because I want to take my own revenge against his dynasty, culprit to not give me the importance I rightful deserve after the years passed to defend this country! Also, Maurice is not a full Roman, he married a barbarian and he will take the Empire to ruin!”


“ So.. Why we don’t try to kill him now?”


“ Are you a fool? His personal guard will protect him till the end, and now there is your brother… He became his dog, he watched him night and day! No way… we must wait the right moment. These soldiers will help you to escape from the camp and to escort to a my property outside Rome… From here, you will wait for new orders.”


“ Fine, then. But how we must wait? ”


“ You must learn some patience, my friend… For me, I can wait all of my life.”.

[RyuDrago]

Chapter Twelve: looking over other powers

Indeed the Roman-Saxon war of 579-584 was the most important event in the period, but other notable changes happened around the Roman Empire seeing the consolidation of bordering countries and the birth of others.

In Spain, Leovigild with the help of Costantia reordered since 570 the Visigothic laws on the sign of the Corpus Iuris Civilis, so creating the so called "Codex Revisus"; however, his most discussed reform was the introduction of the Salic Law in the Royal succession, in order to create a solid ground over Theodatus. The Visigothic nobles were rather upset about the lost of the right to elect the successive ruler, and also to see a non-Arian and a half Roman heir, with a remote possibility to become the new Roman Emperor. To cooled down the discontent, Leovigild decided to invade again the lands of the Suebs in order to reunify Spain. The war lasted from 580 and 584, and saw the total victory of the Visigoths.

Remained to subjugate the Basques to complete the unification of the Iberian Peninsula; in 585 the King obtained a first victory towards them founding in their lands the city of Victoriacum (1), but soon the Basque pride allowed the invaded in 586 to defeat near the new founded town Leovigild, who lost his life. The Visigoths then asked to a truce, evacuating Victoriacum occupied to the Basques, while the thirteen-years-old Theodatus became new king with Costantia again as regent. However, the nobles asked the condition to let immediately marry the new ruler with Gunthelda. The daughter of Liuva however was smart and very ambitious, and above all she was a devouted arian: so, without her mother started to notice something, Gunthelda started to secretly subjugate the will of his husband, claiming it was better for the Visigothic people to have an Arian king than one Catholic...

More to North, Mercia continued its expansion in Britannia subjugating most but not all of Northumbria: in fact, the Caledonian people of the Picts managed to occupy most of the northern part of the Britannic island, including some part of the crumbling Saxon power in Northumbria. However, the Picts were appeased with rich tribute from Mercians to not invade their lands. Securing the northern border, the King Creoda marched to South conquering around 582 most of East Anglia and threatening directly Londinium; so this pushed the Southern Saxon and Jutes tribes to federate in another kingdom, called Wessex and ruled by Ceawlin, of the family of the Gewisse; in order to strenghtned his position, he asked the help of the Britannic and Celtic peoples in Cornwall, who in exchange of protection and tolerance policy between 582 and 584 agreed to submit as federates of Wessex. The kingdom, also to obtain more aid from the Franks, rapidly allowed the spread of Catholicism also in contraposition of the Mercian Arianism.

Meanwhile in Northern Gaul the king of Neustria Chilperic, wanting to expand his domain, pointed his armies towards the Armorican peninsula, called recently "Brettania" because of the Britannic and Celtic peoples who recovered in that region after the Saxon invasion of the island. The war (577-583) was hard and with high causalities from both sides, but it ended with the Neustrian victory; the still free Bretons remained with few enclaves along the coast. However the triumph of Chilperic was very short, he was killed in already in 584, leaving the kingdom to his recently born son Chlotar. This was a golden occasion for Guntram of Austrasia, who had his army ready to invade Saxony when it was clear Hagan was losing the war against the Romans; threatening to invade Neustria, he covinced Chlotar's mother Fredegund and the court to recognize him as only king of the Franks; in exchange, Chlotar will be his heir. So at the start of 585 Guntram reunited the two Frank kingdoms; the new state was generally called to the Romans "Francia" and allowed his people to live a period of stability and prosperity...

In Africa, Mauretania continued to consolidate its holdings and to reinforce ties with the Visigoths, but the Roman attention in that period was more dedicated to the region South of Egypt, where the Nubians countries born after the fall of the Kingdom of Meroe seemed to had reach a certain stability. In fact, the state of Nobatia repelled away the Blemmyes from the Nile, now bordering directly with the Empire, while more to South the kingdom of Makuria reduced to more reasonable borders the neighboring Alodia. The stabilization of the region permitted an increase in trade goods within the Empire, making more easy for the Romans the contacts with the more far Etiophian Kingdom of Axum. Surely, the relations with the countries in that region were more amiable respect to the time of Meroe, because the Nubian gradually accepted the Christianity, even if in the Copt rite; but also because the Nubians and the Axumite were highly hostile with the Monophisist preachers, many few in the Empire ( they progressively declined after the death of Theodora), the Romans, which surely tolerated more the Copt Church, dominant in Egypt, closed an eye.

As for Persia, the victory in the war of 580-583 gave finally Hormizd IV control over Armenia and Osroene; but at that point the Sassanid Empire started to submit more pressures at its Northern borders, specially from the Alans in the Caucasus and the Turkish tribes in Central Asia; and the oppressive moods of the ruler started to spread revolts in the Empire and even in the court, where his son Khorasu planned to depose the father…

(1) OTL Vitoria.

[RyuDrago]

And here's the map of 586 AD after the Saxon-Roman war.