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#1
February 5th, 2011, 01:35 AM
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The Grand Eagle of Europe: Romanana & Celtica
Alrighty. So I'm going to give this TL a shot.
I've been thinking over it for a month or so, but anything can change. I am planning a WRE survival through an undercover assassination. It will directly affect the rise and fall of other civilizations and create some that never had a chance in OTL. This will be as unique as possible, and just because it survives doesn't mean it will flourish. Remember to give feedback and keep this multi-sided, please!  Prelude: April 396 A.D. Shortly before the invasions of the Western Roman Empire, the new emperors of Rome, Flavius Arcadius and Flavius Honorius had just recently acquired the thrones as infants with co-rule by their father Theodosius I. The scholars in the capital of Mediolanum were distraught over the continuing rule of the Theodosius I. The taxes were raised daily on the poor, the economy was suffering, and the population could not match the necessary number of armies. The high classes and the nobility felt none of this, living in such luxurious conditions, but even the little educated knew something needed to change. Scholars in the capital advised against the crowning of these two, knowing their guidance would be futile in the long run. They knew the empire was torn in two, but seeing two different leaders of the empire crowned only increased the tensions. Some argued for the need of a single, strong leader who would protect the country from the suspicious Visigoths in the West and any future wars. If a single foreign force attacked the empire, all was lost. It was clear that any weak leaders in a fast declining empire would lead to the crumbling of the 500 year empire. All seemed hopeless until the mysterious, untimely deaths of the children emperors. Last edited by PyroTheGamer; February 19th, 2011 at 01:29 AM.. 
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#3
February 5th, 2011, 01:52 AM
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#4
February 5th, 2011, 03:01 AM
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Interesting. Does Rome stay a republic, do they stay pagan or convert. It would be interesting to see Rome stay Pagan and wage war against the Muslims, since their religion would end up coming first if Christianity did not take hold(I thinK
 confused a little). Well this would be good to see If Rome evolved into the Holy Roman Empire with the Francs, and Teutons incoroporated, and have them stay Pagan . Cant wait to see what you do.
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#5
February 5th, 2011, 03:52 AM
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#6
February 5th, 2011, 04:58 AM
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Varengellius The Conspirator 380 A.D. to 396 A.D. The Florentia Scholasticus Congregatio: a high scholar society in Florentia founded by a rejected adviser to Octavius during the spring of his second year as emperor. This adviser fled to Florentia, the then-soldier housing complex, and began planning the future of the Roman Empire. He was a wanted man for providing false information regarding the death of Julius Caeser years earlier. He created this "society" as a parallel to the noble authorities in Rome in a rebellious fashion. He hoped for a bright future for the Empire and for the capital. To fulfill this want, he sent out invitations to the greatest scholars of Rome. The exact motive of this man was a mystery, but it would prove to be the empire's shadowed turning point. Descendants of this man lived in Florentia for hundreds of years, carefully watching as the empire steadily moved towards destruction. They watched the horrors of the Nero and Domitian administrations transition to the prosperous Aurelias ones. But it was not until Diocletian did the congregation contribute any actual changes to Rome. The congregation constructed of a council system based off the old Roman Republic which managed internal affairs, but was widely ignored into the 4th century. The elected leader of the council on the heated morning of August 23rd, 380 A.D. was clear to be Appius Varengellius. He was a stubborn man who had some clear mental disturbance within him, reminiscent of Caligula. The second in command, Titus Sergius, was in a constant nervous state whilst confronting Varengellius for any minuscule purpose. Varengellius was an imposing man who legends say made "Lions Tremble at his Feet." The council leader held immense power over the other members of the council, but he could not force them to vote for resolutions. Varengellius was a conspirator, waking up every morning to write in his tiny, brown diary plausible battle plans and drafts of maps. He despised the current emperors Theodosius I and Valentinian II, and constantly drafted assassination plans to dispose of the leaders. The plans were well-made and well thought out (For someone with mental disorders, that is). However, each plan had a major flaw that prevented any successful assassinations: no one could breach the emperor's chambers. He waited and waited for an idea to come to resolute this conundrum, and after half a decade, after a long stare into his washroom's mirror, he announced the answer. -October 3rd, 391 A.D. Walking up the gold-plated stairs to address the council, Varengellius announced in his booming voice, "Attention fellow council members! The solution to Rome's depreciation has been unveiled to me. I will need the help of Titus for this important task. The sleeping lion will awaken soon!" He stepped down to thunderous applause. The last line in his to-be-famous statement sparked hope throughout Florentia. For the first time in years, hope was more prevalent than despair.  Varengellius walked with Titus in the long hallways to his inner chambers, discussing future plans. His words echoed throughout the halls as he began to explain to Titus that while looking in his mirror that morning, he realized the similarity between himself and emperor Valentinian II. Titus shook with fear, hardly remembering any words coming from the tall man. Varengellius ignored Titus' usual nervousness and continued to explain his plan. "...so do you understand, young Titus? Theodosius and his children are planning on attending a dinner event in Rome on May 15th. I plan to dress as Valentinian to make a surprise appearance while you and Lucius kill the real emperor in his home in Vienne, Gaul." Titus answered, "Oh...okay sir. Um..." "The security in the Western Empire is much lesser than that of the East. It'd odd, you'd think because of the West's power, it would have tighter security, but nobody knows how to operate this place anymore. But that's about to change. Hahaha!" "Very good, s-s-sir." "Indeed. Remember to make it look like a suicide. Leave no traces or chaos would ensue. Anyway, being dressed as Valentinian, I will enter the party, convince Theodosius to write the letter allowing my son to become heir, and finally poison him and his children." "Alright, then," replied Titus, writing down every detail of the plan. "But, why not make yourself emperor? Constanus is just a child, he won't last a day as emperor!" "I do not plan on returning here, Titus. I plan on being killed shortly after poisoning the emperor. There is no way for this to be done discreetly. And that's why he's named Tiberius Constanus and not Varengellius. When my true identity is discovered, my name must disappear from this earth. Constanus will ring out to Europe as the new Roman Emperor if all works out." Titus just gazed at Varengellius, no longer able to hide his thoughts, he spoke. "You're nuts, old man! Constanus is a boy of 10 years! This will never w-" Interrupting, "HOW DARE YOU INSULT ME!", while pushing Titus to the floor. "Don't make me have you executed. You know I have the authority. The plan will work." Titus stood up slowly and begrudgingly followed Titus. "I trust your judgment." -May 15th, 392 A.D. Months followed, and the plan did not go over exactly as planned... Titus fulfilled his role and successfully killed Valentinian in his home in Vienne. He made it look as though Valentinian committed suicide. In fact, his job was so successful that no one ever figured out if Valentinian really killed himself or not. Titus returned to Florentia and was given the role of council electorate, inheritable from Varengellius. Meanwhile, the plan in Rome was not nearly as successful. The first part of the plan went over splendidly, though. Dressed as the co-ruler of the Roman Empire, Varengellius was able to persuade Theodosius into believing the possibility of a disaster in the empires, resulting in the deaths of his entire population. Gullible and fearful, Theodosius listened, and was eventually convinced into signing the letter allowing "Constanus of Western Rome heir to the Roman throne in the case of a disaster." The disaster was later defined as, "an event ending the lives of Flavius Theodosius, Flavius Arcadius, Flavius Honorius, and the Eastern Emperor, Flavius Valentinianus." The guards oversaw this act with disdain, but could do nothing to stop the emperors. While the first part went well, the second...not so well. Contrary to Varengellius' opinion, the security was a touch more powerful than expected. Varengellius was spotted with a oblong shaped bottle shortly after leaving Theodosius' table, and after being immediately questioned by servants, was revealed to have been a fake and was sentenced to death. Word eventually got back to Florentia that the plan failed and Theodosius had survived...or did he? While not realized for another four years, Varengellius has slipped the poison into the bowls of the emperor and his children before being caught. Theodosius was away from the table at the time and the guards were too distracted to warn Theodosius of his infected meal. Theodosius and his two children, Honorius and Arcadius, had finished their meals within a half hour of the arrest. But when no other affects occurred besides slight muscle aches, it was widely believed that the poison either somehow expired or was never actually poison in the first place. The latter was true. The muscle aches in Theodosius and his children never left and only progressed into worse and worse symptoms. The public was unaware of this problem, as well as Valentinian's death, as it would 'plummet the empires into chaos and anarchy' the officials thought. The sickness worsened into a severe case of edema. The guards finally realized that the poison was not immediate kind, but the slow and painful kind. They suspected that could be the case, but four years was unexpected. On his deathbed, Theodosius handed the guards the letter with his signature. They read it, nodded, and served their emperor in his final hours. Honorius and Arcadius died a few days after Theodosius. -March 5th, 396 A.D. The emperor's guard walked on the golden pedestal, turned to the populous crowd, and proudly stated, "We have found Tiberius Constanus!" The crowd cheered an enormous cheer. Finally knowing the empire would once again be under one ruler. Women cried tears of joy that trickled onto the hard pavement below. Children covered their ears, trying to escape the screams. Through the door walked a young man at 5' 10''. He had dirty blond hair, a short, stubby nose, and not the fittest physique. He carefully walked over to the guard dressed in sparkling jewels and gold. "My father told me I would one day be great, but I never expected this." The guard turned to him and responded, "What is meant to be, is meant to be." The young man, no older than 16, walked up the pedestal and waited. "I now present to you, the people of Rome, your new emperor!" Placing the spectacular ruby and sapphire encrusted crown upon the boy's head. The guard stepped down and let Constanus to step on the pedestal. The guard shouted, "Long live Constanus! Emperor of the Roman Empire!" The crowd mimicked the guards in unison, "Long live Constanus!!" Author's note: The next part will be all about the reign of Constanus I. Will he unite the empires? Will the WRE shrink or grow? Will Rome survive the barbarian invasions? (The answer to that last one is yes  )
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