The Appeasement of Ares: A Derailed Rome

[Errnge]

Originally Posted by willbell

Thanks for the advice, I went back, hopefully it looks better now.

worlds better!

[willbell]

Originally Posted by Errnge

worlds better!

I should take this opportunity to say your TL is awesome and if this is 1% of what you did it would be a great achievement for me.

[willbell]

Chapter One - Days of War

Part Five - Dodecapoli

“Can everyone see the map on the processor screen?” the professor asked, a grumble of affirmation came from the quiet lecture hall. “Okay then,” the professor continued, “how many of you have any knowledge of the Dodecapoli?” One young man in the back row made a sign with his hands that the professor interpreted to mean ‘a little, not much’. The rest stared blankly, the professor smiled, some kids were concerned that they had no idea what a “dodecapoli” was, but the professor soon put them to ease, “Don’t worry, that’s fine. Today’s lesson is about the dodecapoli so you will all understand it reasonably well by the end of today’s class.”

“The Dodecapoli was the league of 12 cities that together co-ruled mexl-Rasnal, the cities were originally Fufluna, Vetluna, Veia, Curtun, Aritim, Perusina, Velathri, Velch, Tarchna, Caisra, Clevsin, and Velzna. All Rasna politics during this period was league-based because for religious reasons they organized every city into a league of 12, if one of the original 12 cities was destroyed for example, then another one would take its place,” the professor grumbled now, he saw that 2 people were asleep and others were not paying attention, he went up to one of the sleeping students, and yelled directly into her ear, immediately she woke up and the rest of the class looked back in attention, “okay, now that I have your attention, this is all going to be on the exam so listen up!”

“Now the dodecapoli would control mexl-Rasnal for a period of about 500 years,” he said calmly, “in this time they moved to the position of being one of the most influential nations in the western Mediterranean, and even a large player over the entire Mediterranean before being forced into irrelevance.”

“That map on the processor screen is of mexl-Rasnal in the year, this shows Rome and the Latins which should be discussed on page 61 of your textbooks,” the professor paused to drink some water before continuing, “I encourage you to bookmark that page and read it later. However right now we must continue.

"The results of the Rasna’s skirmishes into Campania were the complete submission of the Latins, especially because of the successful military campaigns of the first two Rasna kings of the newly-founded Ushiluna who were known as Thucer Sterculus and Cuinte in Magna; Thucer decentralized Latium and had all Volsci and Latin cities destroyed along with their people, Cuinte managed during his reign to drive out the decentralized resistance left after Thucer’s death, to occupy to Latins with other things, and in many cases make them reliant on the state for food in poorer areas. These actions combined resulted in Ushiluna becoming prosperous, especially as a trade artery between the Greeks to the South, and of course the Dodecapoli. The Dodecapoli of course also traded with the northern celts during this time period.”

“The Tarna Dynasty in Ushiluna are especially important, and they give the expansion of mexl-Rasnal into the Bodincus River Valley [1] the occasionally used title ‘the Tarna Expansion’ for all the greek weapons used that must certainly have travelled through Ushiluna. The Tarna Dynasty started with Cuinte in Magna and continued for little over half a century till the poisoning of Pesna II,” he looked up at the processor screen that had just entered sleep mode.

“After the poisoning of Pesna II, his best advisor took the thrown. His reign is totally undocumented other than the fact that he was Pesna II’s advisor and was killed less than 5 years after taking the thrown,” now the professor looked down at his notes, “I’m afraid I am getting sidetracked here, is there any questions before I get back on topic. One hand went up. He pointed at the hand, “Yes?”

“Is it true that Cuinte in Magna came up with the idea of Fufluns et Maris?”
“Yes, the idea that you could keep a population happy with only food and entertainment was first brought up by him, however I believe other philosophers thought of the concept individually, often to explain the erosion of public interest in patriotism and politics. And it of course is the official motto of the Vetio Kingdom.”
“Are you from Vetio?”
“Yes, I escaped when I was only 12 with my parents to Alalia.”

[1] Bodincus (River Valley) is Ligurian for the Po River Valley.

Sorry, not the best quality map, but I am using Paintbrush.

[Muwatalli']

Interesting update. I like your style of writing, and the fact that you write it from the modern ATL viewpoint is very original and interesting.

[nlspeed]

Agreed, I like the classroom updates.

[willbell]

Originally Posted by nlspeed

Agreed, I like the classroom updates.

The classroom updates were inspired by this thread:
http://www.alternatehistory.com/disc...d.php?t=246617
I was planning to make those updates be parts 1, 5, 10, 15, 20... but if you like it I will make the entire timeline that way.

[nlspeed]

Oh, I don't mean to imply that I dislike the rest, it just stands out.

Do whatever you want; it's your timeline / story, and as long as it's good, I'll read it. :P

[willbell]

Chapter One - Days of War

Part Six - Alliances Broken

“Ch. 6.1 – The Economics of the Dodecapoli, History of the Rasna Ed. 5”

The dodecapoli had an important and unique role in international trade, they were positioned in between the rapidly modernizing Keltoi peoples to their North (however trade with this group would only really pick up in the 4th century BU (5th century BCE) ), and the economic centre of Lennenes outside of Ellás, known at this time as Megálē Ellás, this of course means “Greater Greece” referring to the wealth of many of the Italia colonies.

Neos Megálē Ellás is of course named after the original, and is a congregation point for refugees from Vetio, giving it a large Lennisk population, along with Oscan and Rasna groups as well who fled the modern totalitarian state under the rule of Diarmad Elvetorix. However that will be covered in more detail in later chapters.


Rasna Coinage.

There was a confluence of interests, trade, and powers in the city of Ushiluna (modern Sluna), this city controlled all passage between the northern city-states of Megálē Ellás such as Neapolis, Poseidonia, and Cumae, and the Dodecapoli (especially Veia). These interests were often trying to slant the government of Ushiluna towards the favour of one, one ruling family would prefer to Rasna and tax the Lennenes while another ruler would do the opposite. This balance of interests meant that the city was rife with corruption.

At the same time of course the Rasna were growing and their sphere of influence had begun to conflict with that of the Carthaginians, these conflicts escalated in 3rd century BU (Very late 5th century BCE; most of 4th century BCE) but died down during and after the Senone and Safineis Wars.

The Rasna in this period of time had one thing that particularly made them unique, this was the fact that they were mostly land-based all but two of the major Rasna cities (those being Fufluna and Pisae) are all on normally top of hills and nowhere near the coast of the Tyrrhenian (or Adriatic) Sea, this meant that almost all trade was done over land at least to begin with. In the 5th century BU (6th century BCE), alliances began to diverge from what they had been previously, the Carthaginians and Rasna, now allied together against the growing numbers and strength of Lennenes that had moved into Massalia and other colonies (or apoikia [1] ). This culminated in multiple battles, the most important of which was the Battle of Alalia sometime mid-century; this battle in which approximately 130 Rasna and Carthaginian ships fought the Lennene’s 60 pentekonters. This battle saw the near destruction of the Carthaginian/Rasna fleet and as a result of the navy of Alalia being crippled we also see the hasty evacuation of Alalia, which was almost immediately claimed for the Rasna.

[1] Lennene for distant home or colony, during this period of Lennene history overpopulation of Ellás sent many refugees to fertile and wealthy colonies.

[willbell]

I will be gone all next week; so no updates are going to happen probably until next sunday.

[EvolvedSaurian]

I do quite like this a lot. Very promising start, sir or ma'am.

[willbell]

Originally Posted by EvolvedSaurian

I do quite like this a lot. Very promising start, sir or ma'am.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[willbell]

Chapter One - Days of War

Part Seven - Water Hemlock

Ushiluna, 537 BU (649 BCE)

The taster waited until the right moment, he knew if he were to succeed after 5 years of struggling under this fat pig, he slowly mixed the water hemlock in with his drink and watched as the berries’ juice disappeared in the wine. The king had poisoned the former king with Belladonna, well now its your turn. He knew he couldn’t hope for things to return to the way they were under Pesna II, but at least it would be an improvement over this shameful shadow of a man.

As he walked toward the table, and a short distance away the Veientes marched to battle at the gates of Ushiluna. And as the king’s pulse quickened, and his throat began to swell, he passed into a deep sleep. And as the army of Veia marched on Ushiluna the city began to collapse as quickly as the king’s condition, the next day the Veientes once again controlled Ushiluna and stopped the Ushilunans from being absorbed into greek culture under the influence of Megálē Ellás.


Ruins at Fufluna, another port city of the Rasna.

The king placed on the thrown was know as Venel I and was a corrupt leader, but important to the Veientes was the fact that he was all Rasna, and even though he obviously favoured the merchants of Veia, the Lennenes stayed silent, they knew that a major part of their success was trade with the Rasna, his reign lasted to 515 BU (627 BCE). His successor was once again corrupt, however he turned out to be a brilliant strategist and re-instituted food programs for the poor and began to organize horse and chariot races. This calmed down the people of Campania and Latium at least momentarily. However he also ordered the deaths of many aristocratic Lennenes who came through the city and promoted the Veiente merchants to powerful positions and solidified the once fluid culture of Ushiluna.

He was succeeded by Venel II a member of the same family as the first of his name, and he succeeded in bringing his city into the 5th century BU (6th century BCE), he even began building a port near Parthenope and began to construct a navy, the ships are said to have had both Rasna and Latin crew members and the fleet was a formidable foe despite the relatively inexperienced nature of Rasna shipbuilders.

The carthaginians who were now concerned with the trade the Rasna were doing over the same water that they used began to increase raids, even destroying the Rasna’s vessels in port. The Ushiluna port however would stay, despite its trial by fire.

Venel II would also receive the opportunity to declare independence once again from Veia so that his heir could one day take the thrown unchallenged from outside the gates of Ushiluna. Ushiluna was yet to enter its period of greatest power however, but already the allegiances and alliances of the Lennenes, Rasna, and Carthaginians began to move into a period of flux. This lead to the major conflicts of the 5th century BU (6th century BCE) as the Rasna and Carthaginians fought back Lennene advances into their area of the Mediterranean.

[willbell]

Just a quick update to let everyone know I am back.

[willbell]

No interest? Bump.

[willbell]

Chapter One - Days of War

Part Eight - Fluctuation

The world of the 5th century BU (6th century BCE) was very different from previous centuries, in 657 BU (545 BCE) the battle of Alalia was fought between ~130 Rasna and Carthaginian ships on one side and the Lennenes on the other side with 60 pentekonters [1], it stopped the expansion of young Lennene colonies in the western Mediterranean, the annexation of the formerly Lennene city of Alalia and of Corsica also started in this period. At the same time it saw the once mighty leagues of mexl-Rasnal have their influence wane, from a power trading as far away as the Near East to a regional power in their corner of the Western Mediterranean Sea.

Carthage had become the commercial centre of the West Mediterranean region, a position it retained until decline under the Second Council of Elders. The city had conquered most of the old Phoenician colonies, subjugated the Numidian and Moor tribes, and taken control of the entire North African coast from modern Morresco in close proximity to the borders of Egypt. Its influence had also extended into the Mediterranean, taking control over Sardinia, Malta, the Balearic Islands, and into Sicily. Important colonies had also been established in Iberia. Their cultural influence in the modern day on the Iberian Peninsula is powerful despite the near destruction of all Carthaginian architecture by the Celtiberian conquests.


Force of Numidian Calvary.

Defeating the lennene colonies once however was not enough, in the next century the Carthaginians, Lennenes, and Rasna would continue to conflict for more than a century. Alliances would change and revert to old patterns, which despite hostilities did not slow the trade between all these different groups; for example the trading city of Ushiluna continued to grow under an independent dynasty that brought the city to the same level as many Dodecapoli (Rasna governance in this time period), it was definitely the most powerful city at this time in the campanian league [2].

The underlying ethnic tensions are still seen in this region today, Vetio Kingdom is known for its brutal crack-downs on violence between the Lennisk and Phenisians of Italia.

This area of the world seemed to be among many regions in flux, at the same time the grand Persian Empire of Cyrus the Great destroyed the hegemonic median empire, this empire lasted for over two centuries. Buddhism was founded even further away, the greek philosophers began to grow various forms of thought, psalms was written in the Near East, Jainism was revolutionized by a new prophet, Sun Tzu wrote “The Art of War”, at the same time many others also contributed to major religious, technological, and philosophical innovations.

[1] OTL ~120 Rasna/Carthaginian Ships vs. 60 Alalian pentekonters, the Ushilunans have in this reality contributes greatly to the war effort from their now bustling harbour, that as a bonus has a trained navy, unlike much of the OTL force on the R/C side.

[2] All Rasna cities were put in leagues of 12, Campania had a league of its most powerful rasna cities, so did Padania and other rasna groups. The Dodecapoli was the most important of these.

[Arrix85]

Celtiberian conquests! hell yeah!

[willbell]

Originally Posted by Arrix85

Celtiberian conquests! hell yeah!

Don't get too excited we still have a couple centuries to go until we get to that.

[willbell]

I will be gone for this week, I should be able to post an update saturday night.

[Muwatalli']

This is a very good TL so far. I am looking forward to the next update. It is a shame it does not get more intrest.

[cimon]

Originally Posted by willbell

This timeline is a redo of "There but for the grace of gods" a timeline where Rome is destroyed, hopefully this timeline won't have to be redone but until then, enjoy. We will start with a flash forward to the present day:

Chapter 1 - Days of War

Part 1 - Troubled Teachings

Lennene School of Higher Learning, Neos Megálē Ellás

(OTL: New York City)

The students filtered into class, the teacher is the first Oscan teacher to teach at the Lennene [1] school. He walked to the front of the class just as the final students streamed in.

In perfect Lennene he wrote on the board: “What does Italia mean to you?”

Then he turned and looked at his class; “Tell me,” he commanded, “what do you know about Italia?” Instantly about 10 hands stuck up. He pointed to one hand; the student stood up, and said; “It is a peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea.” The instructor smiled; “Come, come, that must not be all you have heard?”



The student gulped loud enough that it could be heard from the back rows; however he spoke softly now; “The region of Italia is a monarchy controlled by Vetio [2], one of the oldest countries in the world.”

He could feel the instructor gazing through his eyes now, it felt as if he was looking into his very soul now; “You know what I am referring to… what was your name? Achaikos?” The timid student responded simply with “Yes, my name is Achaikos.” The instructor nodded, “Okay, if you feel that way I will ask someone else.” The student sat down, and muffled a brief “Thank you.”

The instructor turned toward another hand raised that seemed more eager to add to the conversation. The student shot up and stated firmly, “The Vetio government is a brutal dictatorship that has oppressed its citizens for decades under the leadership of the current Elvetorix [3]. The Lennisk [4] and Phenisians [5] however continue to engage in ruthless ethnic feuding in the south.” The instructor now grinned with satisfaction, “Thank you, umm… Goran is it? That is an Illyrian name isn’t it?”
Goran responded, “Yes, I’m a Pirote [6].” The instructor now stopped for a second, he considered this and then continued. Finally he started his lesson.

[1] Hellene or Greek.
[2] Guess where that comes from.
[3] I will tell you if you guess correctly, this should help a little (EDIT: Dathi THorfinnsson is correct (Helvetii)).
[4] Italian Greeks.
[5] Phoenicians.
[6] Epirote, someone from Epirus.

Will,
I write about the answers of the second pupil:"Goran...that's an Illyrian name Yes I'am a Pirote"
Not 'Pirote' but "Epirotis(from Epiros or Epirus with Latin ending for no reason)
Epiros starts about half way down of now days Albania and continues south into Greece forming the north western part of Greece;Illyria is to the North and it is mostly Vlach in Population,but 'Goran' is for certain neither Greek nor Vlach since his name is Slav...and Illyrians were not Slavs.