Remnants of Rome

[Zuvarq]

IMPERIUM HUNNORUM ET IMPERIUM FRANCORUM

In early 432, Rugila invaded the Crimean Goths, and died in battle. Attila became the new King of the Huns. Attila ventured east, conquering Crimea, the Volga, and a sizable part of the steppe by January 433. Attila ventured west and conquered Illyricum from the Visigothic Empire, razing Sopianae, Mursa, Siscia, Tarsatica, Iader, Parentium, Emona, and more than a dozen other settlements. To the west, the Hermunduri passed through the eastern Alps and conquered much of northern Italy, razing many cities, among them Aquilea, Virunum, and Patavium. Germanius of the Hermunduri proclaimed himself a King of the Hermunduri. In November 434, once the Huns had conquered most of Illyricum, Attila and his horde invaded the Eastern Roman Empire.

The Eastern Roman-Sassanid War lasted from 427 to 435. The war was largely a stalemate in the Armenian Highlands from 427 to 432. In 433, the Persian general Shahrbaraz made a push to the Euphrates. Eastern Roman General Leo stopped the advance. There existed stalemate for another year. When Attila and his horde invaded the Eastern Roman Empire in November 434, Shahrbaraz was able to make another offensive and make a peace, gaining land up to the Euphrates.

Clodio III of the Franks invaded the kingdom of Aremorica in 430. Unlike the first Frankish-Aremorican war, there was no heroic reconquest by Aremorica. In the first month of the war, Nepotianus II sieged Lutetia. But Clodio III broke the siege and his troops pushed on for two years until reaching Portus Namnetus. The siege lasted a full year, but the Franks were victorious and Aremorica was destroyed. Without Aremorica to threaten the Franks, Clodio III moved his capital to Lutetia. On a related note, the Burgundians, Hermunduri, and some Germanic mercenaries fought a eight-month-war against Alemannia causing them to lose most of their territory in the Alps. Hundreds of thousands of people died on the battlefields, many due to the severe winter that most of the war was fought during.

Flavius Julius Tiranus made many reforms during his rule. He redivided the Roman Empire’s provinces into Gallaecia, Lusitania Nova, Olissipo, Baetica, Pyrenaei, Cartaginensis, Asturiae, and Hispania Interior. Flavius Julius Tiranus built the Sanctus Augustinus Cathedral in the capital Tiranamaxima. He built two new cities, Roma Nova, to become the new capital of Asturiae, and Iuliopolis, formerly a fort used in the Suevi War. He commissioned the construction of many roads, extensive fortifications along the Pyrenees, and an elaborate artificial harbour for Olissipo.

 

[Cuāuhtemōc]

I think the Western Empire is in a position to steal Corisca and conquer the remnants of the Visigothic Kingdom before the Eastern Empire can.

 

[Zuvarq]

I will hopefully be able to put up an update tomorrow. Although I doubt anyone cared that there has been a few days' absence of updates.

Suggestions are always welcome.

 

[tjvuse]

Its nice to see the Western Roman Empire chilling in the corner building it self up waiting for a chance to rock rather then over extending itself or getting conquered like it did in OLT for a change.

Keep up the good work Xwarq i love the maps ill be following this one waiting to see what happens next.

Cheers

 

[Deleted member 14881]

uestion is there going to be islam

 

[Cuāuhtemōc]

uestion is there going to be islam

Doesn't look like it. Though a new major religion forming is certainly in the cards though you would need to ask the time-line creator.

 

[Varangian]

Western Rome holding on in Spain?

Alamanni in Southern France?

All right, you got me, this is amazing.

 

[8Deer]

Really interesting so far. The idea of the Romans holding on to Spain is quite interesting and I like what you have written so far.

One thing: I notice you haven't mentioned the Alans. They were the dominant player in Spain up until they were defeated by the Visigoths (between 415 and 420, I believe)and their king was killed in battle. They asked Gunderic, king of the Vandals, to accept the Alan crown. After that, the Vandals became the more powerful nation.

However, in this TL, the Visigothic invasion has been butterflied away, so the Alans will still feature prominently in the political situation of Hispania.

But other than that little criticism (and the fact that I was hoping for the Visigoths to be superpowerful), keep up the great work. I really like Migration Period TLs, and this one is quite unique.

 

[Zuvarq]

FLAGELLUM DEI

The Huns under the leadership of Attila dominated Europe. In 437, Attila made peace with the Eastern Roman Empire after rampaging through Greece. Having secured most of the Balkans except Greece, Attila looked west. First he attacked his ‘allies’, the Hermunduri. In mid 438, the Hermunduri decided to offer the eastern and northeastern areas of their kingdom. Attila accepted because Hermunduri served as a good barrier against East Rome, and because Germania was weak and in a position to be conquered.

Meanwhile, in 436, the Western Roman Empire declared war on the Visigoths. Julius sent a fleet and three legions to conquer Corsica. Two legions attacked the east side and sieged Aleria and the other attacked the west side. Within three months Aleria and a sizable part of the western coast was Roman, and one month later Corsica was essentially conquered. After Attila made peace with the Eastern Roman Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire joined in on the war with the Visigoths. The Visigothic Empire was completely dissolved.

In early 439, the Horde began storming through Germania. Tribes were all massacred and enslaved. Cities were razed. By February 442, the Huns had reached the outskirts of the Saxon and Langobard chiefdoms. The Saxons and Langobards both fled west. But soon the Saxons and Langobards were cornered against the Frisians and Burgundians respectively. In April 442, the Huns invaded the cornered Frisians, Saxons, and Langobards. The Frisians and Saxons conducted a massive exodus to the west. Many Germanic kingdoms were established in Britannia. The Langobardi were not so lucky... or were much luckier, depending on how you look at it. The Huns made the Langobardi into a vassal state, controlling all lands that the Huns had and would conquer that happened to be west of the Rhine. Their independence was lost but their nation survived.

While chaos occurred on the borders of the rapidly expanding Hun empire, which had become as large as the Roman Empire in its heyday, prosperity and peaceful change occurred elsewhere. The city of Tiranamaxima continued to grow. Many nations made Latin a state language, including Alemannia, the Franks, and the Vandals. But these kingdoms’ Germanic languages undoubtedly had and would have tremendous effects on their regional varieties of Latin.

In addition, a man named Zohar Yehudah is said to have walked on the waters of the Tigris, turned water into wine and back again, gave bread to the poor, all while preaching his ideas about the supernatural. According to him, the Two Forces and the One God, Christ, Antichrist, and Ahura Mazda respectively, created the world thousands of years ago. Christ represents the good of the world, Antichrist represents evil, and Ahura Mazda is simply the neutral god. Zohar Yehudah had gathered up to ten thousand followers by 444.

 

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Awesome update! I can not wait to see more development on Zohar Yehudah. He seems to be the Persian analogue to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

 

[DuQuense]

Hunnish Empire is too big, and depends on one man [Attila]. When he dies in 453 his empire will collapse.
Interesting part will be how it splinters.

 

[stevep]

Xwarq

Interesting. In Britain the Saxons have landed further north and there are sizeable numbers of Friesians rather than Angles. Not sure how much difference this will make to 'England' if the Germans manage to establish themselves there.

What are relations like between the two Romes? Looks like despite the early western success the east has got all the Italian mainland and the west had to settled for Corsica.

I agree with DuQuense that the Hunnic empire is too big and will collapse at some point, although it might not be at Attilia's death. Might see a successor hold it together for a while. Also going to be interesting with so much of the former Roman Balkans under direct Hunnic rule for a period. That could have a lot of butterflies.

How is Yehudah's actions being viewed by the Sassanids? They were fairly militant about their religion themselves so are likely to be very hostile to a new faith.

Steve

 

[Zuvarq]

Really interesting so far. The idea of the Romans holding on to Spain is quite interesting and I like what you have written so far.

One thing: I notice you haven't mentioned the Alans. They were the dominant player in Spain up until they were defeated by the Visigoths (between 415 and 420, I believe)and their king was killed in battle. They asked Gunderic, king of the Vandals, to accept the Alan crown. After that, the Vandals became the more powerful nation.

However, in this TL, the Visigothic invasion has been butterflied away, so the Alans will still feature prominently in the political situation of Hispania.

But other than that little criticism (and the fact that I was hoping for the Visigoths to be superpowerful), keep up the great work. I really like Migration Period TLs, and this one is quite unique.

The Vandals/Alans were given land but not as sovereign land. Just as a foederati.

And well, as in OTL, the Vandals/Alans were not satisfied with what they got in southern Iberia. So the more adventurous Vandals and Alans would leave south and attack Mauretania as they did.

But now I'm not sure if the Vandals and Alans who stayed in Iberia would be completely assimilated, partly assimilated and remaining as a class of landowners or something, or remain as tribes.
There may be some natural pressure for them to assimilate into Roman society because they can't exactly raid anyone.

Hunnish Empire is too big, and depends on one man [Attila]. When he dies in 453 his empire will collapse.
Interesting part will be how it splinters.

That'll be in the next update.

Xwarq

Interesting. In Britain the Saxons have landed further north and there are sizeable numbers of Friesians rather than Angles. Not sure how much difference this will make to 'England' if the Germans manage to establish themselves there.

What are relations like between the two Romes? Looks like despite the early western success the east has got all the Italian mainland and the west had to settled for Corsica.

I agree with DuQuense that the Hunnic empire is too big and will collapse at some point, although it might not be at Attilia's death. Might see a successor hold it together for a while. Also going to be interesting with so much of the former Roman Balkans under direct Hunnic rule for a period. That could have a lot of butterflies.

How is Yehudah's actions being viewed by the Sassanids? They were fairly militant about their religion themselves so are likely to be very hostile to a new faith.

Steve

Well the area of the former province of Britannia had two main 'cultures' (Bython and Roman) and many sovereign states. The Frisians and Saxons just add a few 'cultures' to the picture.The Frisians and Saxons will be too busy fighting with each other to be as successful as the Angles, Jutes, and Saxons, because 'native' kingdoms will be expanding.

The two Roman Empires dislike eachother, simply for being a challenger of the claim to the Roman Empire, but they'd never think of declaring war on one another.

Hostile. Which will actually lead to the proliferation of Zoharism.

 

[Yelnoc]

The map looks great, I'll come back and read it tomorrow, right now its sleepy town time....

 

[Cuāuhtemōc]

I'm assuming the Arabs would be the one to take up the charge of Zoharism or do you plan on getting another group?

 

[Zuvarq]

I'm assuming the Arabs would be the one to take up the charge of Zoharism or do you plan on getting another group?

The Persians...but not necessarily the Sassanids.

 

[Monopolist]

The Persians...but not necessarily the Sassanids.

I take this to mean that another Persian dynasty will revolt and arise... might the East Romans take advantage of that? Then this Zoharism could spread there and conflict with the recently established Christians... Plus, Persia is a great spot for Zoharism to travel; being right smack in between Europe and India/China, very interesting...

 

[Zuvarq]

I take this to mean that another Persian dynasty will revolt and arise... might the East Romans take advantage of that? Then this Zoharism could spread and conflict with the recently established Christians...

Yes.

They will try. But like the Muslims, the Zohars will be very lucky militarily.

 

[Monopolist]

Yes.

They will try. But like the Muslims, the Zohars will be very lucky militarily.

Nice... I'm envisioning Zoharist Rome
Nothing in ah is as fascinating as an ah religion. I like this.

 

[Zuvarq]

TRANSLATIO IMPERII

Ever since Britannia was lost by the Romans, the region divided itself into countless tribes, chiefdoms, and kingdoms. For four decades, fighting occurred between many of the political entities in the area. This led to consolidation of the area and the rise of new kingdoms. After the citizens of Corinium, Londinium, and many other Roman cities learned that the Roman Empire was collapsing and had abandoned Britannia, generals of standing legions in cities such as Eboracum, Corinium, Londinium, and Lugavallium declared themselves emperors with the support of most of their soldiers and city administrators. Other Roman successor states were also founded, but by the people themselves of various cities. Some of those states were conquered by Brython tribes, while others expanded, notably Corinium, Londinium, and Lugavallium. In 442 and 443, when the Frisians and Saxons arrived, Corinium and Londinium stood out among the Roman successor states, being the two largest.

Romans did not hold all the power, though. Some kingdoms were founded by Brythons and immediately or soon adopted Latin and/or Christianity. And some kingdoms were founded by Romans and soon devolved into tribes, due to having a small or nonexistent Roman or Brython-Roman populace.. In areas with little Roman power or influence, tribal rule returned immediately. Brigantes (later Brigantia) was a notable example of a Brython-Roman state in former Britannia. Its founder, Dubnovellaunus, was a Brython. Dubnovellaunus became the first Great Chief of Brigantes, and a year later decided to adopt Latin as the state language and Catholicism as the state religion to appease the Roman and Brython-Roman populace, while continuing to tolerate the Brythonic language and Paganism. His son, Dubnovellaunus II, after succeeding to the title of Great Chief, declared himself the King of Brigantia. In the northern areas of Britannia, the eastern coast, and the western tips of Wales and Cornwall, Brython states were established and remained that way.

When the Frisians and Saxons arrived in 442 and 443, their arrival had an significant effect on Britannia. The eastern coast was heavily populated by the Brythons, and it was dominated by the large empire of Trinovantes, and another similar Grand Chiefdom named Parisii. The arriving Frisians and Saxons massacred most Brython men and took the women for wives. One might even call the invaders ‘barbarian’. With Parisii and Trinovantes crippled, and in the case of the latter, destroyed, Londinium, Corinium, and a few other Roman and Brython-Roman states were able to expand their territory and influence greatly by invading the dying corpse of the Brython east.

In 448 Attila the Hun launched a campaign into Francia. The horde razed nearly all the cities it came across, though the Franks occasionally made heroic, but temporary, reconquests. By November 450 Attila and his army began to siege Lutetia. Francia offered the occupied land and a huge amount of gold and silver. Attila accepted the offer, granted the newly conquered lands to the vassal state of Langobardi, and invaded Burgundia. However, in February 451, Attila died.

The Hunnic Empire immediately fragmented. Ellac became the new king, but of a much smaller entity, consisting of the entire Illyrian coast but not much more. The Kingdom of Biohaemia was led by Dengizich. The Gepids, led by Ardaric, and the Ostrogoths, led by Odoacer, became independent. The vassal state Langobardi became fully independent and was led by King Ernakh. In the far east, the Taurigoths, named so because they were Goths in Taurica, became independent once again. The vast territories in the north and far east of the Hunnic empire were split once again into hundreds of tribes. By 454, the successor states of the Hunnic Empire had all made peace with one another, with small conquests by the Biohaemia from the Huns and by the Gepids from the Ostrogoths, but otherwise little changed since the inital fragmentation.

The number of followers of Zoharism increased five fold from 444 to 446. It is said Zohar himself was illiterate, so instead of writing a holy book, Zohar Yehudah’s followers all memorized his teachings which were called the Târikh (History). In 446, Yazdegerd II decided that by now this heresy was too popular and too heretical, and sent assassins to capture Zohar. They succeeded and on November 5th, 446, Zohar Yehudah was hanged.

This turned out to be a grave mistake. The execution made Zohar into a martyr. A group of Zoharists, including Zohar’s son, Khodadad Yehudah, wrote down the Târikh as a holy book and spread the faith in secret. By 449 there were more than a million Zoharists. In 450, Kohdadad ‘Son of the Prophet’ Yehudah founded the Yehudahid dynasty of the ‘Persian Rahbarate’ and an open rebellion was staged against the Sassanids. By 454, Ctesiphon, Babylon, Tigris, and Persepolis, as well as many minor cities, were firmly under Zoharist control.