670s- Constantinople falls to the Muslim invaders. Emperor Constantine IV dies a martyr. The Muslims then swiftly move to subdue Thessalonica and Roman Anatolia. Floods of refugees swarm westwards to what remains of Roman Italy. The capital of the Ummayad Caliphate is transferred to Constantinople.
680s- The Exarch of Ravenna proclaims himself Roman Emperor in Ravenna, and immediately sets about building a fleet to ward off Muslim and Slavic incursions into Italy. Meanwhile, a Syrian arrives at the Imperial court of Ravenna, bearing Greek Fire, which the Romans swiftly make use of to defeat a large Saracen fleet that has attacked Carthage. The Ummayads hunker down and attempt to secure the Balkans. In the east, Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet, begins to carve out a rival Caliphate in the Indus valley.
690s- The Romans attempt to consolidate their grip on North Africa, but the Berbers in the west and Arabs in the east are increasingly pushing them out. Roman control is effectively restricted to OTL Tunisia. The Arabs meanwhile in a series of succesful campaigns drive the Slavs from the old Roman provinces of the eastern Balkans, and establish the dhimmi tax on the Christian inhabitants, while enslaving the pagan Slavs.
700s- The Arabs attempt another attack on Carthage, but are beaten back by a force led by the Emperor personally. The Romans are then able to temporarily "liberate" Crete, though the inhabitants are less than pleased at the high taxes imposed from Ravenna. Taking advantage in the lull in Arab warfare, the Romans set the seal on a successful decade by defeating the Lombards of Benevento and restoring the region to the Empire.
710s- The Ummayads lose a war with Ali's Caliphate, which takes Persia, and comes close to overunning Mesopotamia. The war between the two Muslim states now settles down into a long conflict in the western Zagros and Persian Gulf, giving the battered Christians time to recover their energies. Carthage falls to the Berbers, and the Visigothic kingdom collapses into civil war.
720s- The Roman Emperor Theodosius V dominates the decade, reconquering Milan, Roman Africa, and Illyria for the Empire, with the support of his Frankish brother-in-law Louis. In Britain, the Christianised Saxons continue to move westward, thanks to subsidies from the Orthodox Christian Franks. The Ummayads begin to come under sustained attacks from the Bulgars on the Danube frontier.
730s- The Bulgars inflict a crushing defeat upon the Ummayads, and sack Thessalonica, before moving onwards to Constantinople. Meanwhile, the Romans consolidate their grip on Corcyra and support a semi-independent Christian kingdom of Epirus. With great efforts, the Ummayads throw back the Bulgars, but their dynasty has been tarnished beyond repair. In 739, another civil war breaks out within the Caliphate.
740s- Spania is reunited under Alderico, who immediately goes to war with the Franks. While this conflict takes place, Theodosius V quietly fortifies Ceuta, knowing that the Spanians may well turn to North Africa next. In 744, the Ummayads are overthrown by the Amanids, who move the capital from Constantinople to Iconium.
750s- The Amanids, eager to legitimise themselves as leaders of western Islam, attack Roman Italy, under the control of Theodosius' incompetent son Constantine VI. The Romans suffer several heavy defeats, and Rome is sacked, with the Patriarch being taken hostage and dragged back to Iconium. Constantine VI is overthrown and replaced by the millitarily minded Justin III, ending the Heraclian dynasty.
760s- Justin retaliates agsinst the Amanids, by sailing into the Aegean and destroying Athens, which has been lavishly restored by the Hellenophile Caliph. The Roman and Amanid fleets meet off eastern Crete, and the Amanids are utterly destroyed. Henceforth, Ravenna holds naval superiority for several years. The Spanians conclude a peace with the Franks, and settle down to consolidate their kingdom.
770s- The Frankish King Charles unites Francia, and invades Kent, which is under the rule of a pretender Queen. In the East, the Amanid Caliphate and Roman Empire wage a war of words in Pannonia, attempting to convert rival tribes to either Islam or Christianity. A Roman army in Illyria is heavily defeated by the Amanids, who devastate the countryside.
Vaguelly plausible for 15 minutes work? Should I go on for a bit?
680s- The Exarch of Ravenna proclaims himself Roman Emperor in Ravenna, and immediately sets about building a fleet to ward off Muslim and Slavic incursions into Italy. Meanwhile, a Syrian arrives at the Imperial court of Ravenna, bearing Greek Fire, which the Romans swiftly make use of to defeat a large Saracen fleet that has attacked Carthage. The Ummayads hunker down and attempt to secure the Balkans. In the east, Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet, begins to carve out a rival Caliphate in the Indus valley.
690s- The Romans attempt to consolidate their grip on North Africa, but the Berbers in the west and Arabs in the east are increasingly pushing them out. Roman control is effectively restricted to OTL Tunisia. The Arabs meanwhile in a series of succesful campaigns drive the Slavs from the old Roman provinces of the eastern Balkans, and establish the dhimmi tax on the Christian inhabitants, while enslaving the pagan Slavs.
700s- The Arabs attempt another attack on Carthage, but are beaten back by a force led by the Emperor personally. The Romans are then able to temporarily "liberate" Crete, though the inhabitants are less than pleased at the high taxes imposed from Ravenna. Taking advantage in the lull in Arab warfare, the Romans set the seal on a successful decade by defeating the Lombards of Benevento and restoring the region to the Empire.
710s- The Ummayads lose a war with Ali's Caliphate, which takes Persia, and comes close to overunning Mesopotamia. The war between the two Muslim states now settles down into a long conflict in the western Zagros and Persian Gulf, giving the battered Christians time to recover their energies. Carthage falls to the Berbers, and the Visigothic kingdom collapses into civil war.
720s- The Roman Emperor Theodosius V dominates the decade, reconquering Milan, Roman Africa, and Illyria for the Empire, with the support of his Frankish brother-in-law Louis. In Britain, the Christianised Saxons continue to move westward, thanks to subsidies from the Orthodox Christian Franks. The Ummayads begin to come under sustained attacks from the Bulgars on the Danube frontier.
730s- The Bulgars inflict a crushing defeat upon the Ummayads, and sack Thessalonica, before moving onwards to Constantinople. Meanwhile, the Romans consolidate their grip on Corcyra and support a semi-independent Christian kingdom of Epirus. With great efforts, the Ummayads throw back the Bulgars, but their dynasty has been tarnished beyond repair. In 739, another civil war breaks out within the Caliphate.
740s- Spania is reunited under Alderico, who immediately goes to war with the Franks. While this conflict takes place, Theodosius V quietly fortifies Ceuta, knowing that the Spanians may well turn to North Africa next. In 744, the Ummayads are overthrown by the Amanids, who move the capital from Constantinople to Iconium.
750s- The Amanids, eager to legitimise themselves as leaders of western Islam, attack Roman Italy, under the control of Theodosius' incompetent son Constantine VI. The Romans suffer several heavy defeats, and Rome is sacked, with the Patriarch being taken hostage and dragged back to Iconium. Constantine VI is overthrown and replaced by the millitarily minded Justin III, ending the Heraclian dynasty.
760s- Justin retaliates agsinst the Amanids, by sailing into the Aegean and destroying Athens, which has been lavishly restored by the Hellenophile Caliph. The Roman and Amanid fleets meet off eastern Crete, and the Amanids are utterly destroyed. Henceforth, Ravenna holds naval superiority for several years. The Spanians conclude a peace with the Franks, and settle down to consolidate their kingdom.
770s- The Frankish King Charles unites Francia, and invades Kent, which is under the rule of a pretender Queen. In the East, the Amanid Caliphate and Roman Empire wage a war of words in Pannonia, attempting to convert rival tribes to either Islam or Christianity. A Roman army in Illyria is heavily defeated by the Amanids, who devastate the countryside.
Vaguelly plausible for 15 minutes work? Should I go on for a bit?
