How would a roman Gallia look in Middle Ages?
As POD, we will take a more successfull anti-visigothic campaign of late 460's/early 470's.
But before, I will explain the background I've chosen, to use, as the sources upon this period of gallic history aren't very precise.
Gallia: 450s-460s
In late 440's, a britton prince fled Britannia where the roman party had took over the britton party.
He settled in Armorica as many Brittons since late 4th century. With the treasure he had managed to bring in his escape, he built for himself a small state in a region subjected to anarchy. Little by little, he created a powerful army of Britton and former Bagaudes mercenaries, supported by roman general Aetius to who he had proposed his services to restore order in the region and from who he had received the governorship, proclaiming himself Riothamus, or High King.
Thereafter, he participated to the coalition created by Aetius to fight Attila.
After the death of Aetius, one of his lieutnants, Aegidius, became the governor of Gaul, alongside Count Paul.
While his predecessor sought to maintain an equilibrium between the different foederati, Aegidius favored the Salian Franks of Childeric. The relations of Aegidius with the Riothamus, as with many other foederati chieftains, became more tense.
At the new of the assassination of Emperor Majorian, Aegidius rose up against the new master of Rome, Ricimer, and his puppet emperor.
While Childeric rallied Aegidius, the Riothamus, Eadwacer and Theodoric II, at the cost of Narbonne, rallied Ricimer.
In 463, while Aegidius threatened to attack Italy, he is attacked himself by the Visigoths and the 'Armoricans' (I will use this term for the group of britton and bagaudes mercenaries).
Angers was occupied by the Saxons of Eadwacer who are settled in the lower Loire valley. But more at east, Theodoric was routed by Aegidius and Childeric before the walls of Orléans, what forced the Bretons and the Saxons to retreat.
The following year, Aegidius died.
Thereafter, the situation became more peaceful.
In Rome, the puppet of Ricimer is replaced by a candidate of the eastern roman emperor, Anthemius.
In Gaul, the situation worsened again with the rise of Euric. The increasing agressivity and expansionnism of the latter led Anthemius to create a coalition with the Armoricans and the Franks.
OTL campaign and consequences
The Riothamus and his army made their way to Bourges where they were to join the forces of Count Paul and Childebert. However, he was betrayed by Eadwacer from who he had used the ships to be transported from Armorica to Bourges. Thus, the Riothamus found himself isolated from Paul's army and Armorica. He decided to retreat to Auvergne. If he managed to have his army escaping from Bourges relatively unscathed, he was caught up at Deols and his army was destroyed. Himself barely escaped to capture.
Rather than go into Auvergne, Euric marched south to confront the army of Anthemiolus which was about to attack Narbonne. He then routed and killed Anthemiolus near Arles.
At the same time, Paul attacked the traitor Eadwacer but was killed, leaving the task of retaking Angers to Childeric who remained loyal to Rome.
Afterwards, Syagrius remained the only master of roman northern Gaul and governed as Dux, with the support of Childeric.
Taking advantage of the troubles due to the overthrow of Anthemius by Ricimer, Euric took Arles and Marseille. Julius Nepos, become emperor in 474, sacrified the roman Auvergne which was defended by Ecdicius in order to have the Visigoths leaving Provence.
In 476, the eastern roman emperor Zeno preferred to recognize the legitimacy of Odoacer over the one of Syagrius to govern the western empire. Following this, Syagrius cut all links with the empire.
From 481, after the death of Childeric, the relations of Syagrius with the Franks worsened as Clovis, more agressive and expansionist than his father, ascended on the throne.
Despite having attempted to seek help from the Visigoths, Syagrius is defeated by Clovis at Soissons in 486, thus ending the existence of the last western roman state.
Thus, the Riothamus joins Paul, Childeric and their respective forces at Bourges.
Shortly after, they confront Euric near Poitiers then take Bordeaux. At the same time, the siege of Narbonne by Anthemiolus forced Euric to retreat into Hispania.
However, in 472, Anthemiolus leaves southern Gaul with his army to rescue his father besieged in Rome by Ricimer, but is killed while trying to do it.
Euric cross then again the Pyrenees and retakes Narbonne, then attacks Toulouse where important forces under Paul repulse him. At the same time, the Burgundians occupy Provence, officially to protect the province from Euric, but annex it as soon as Romulus Augustus is overthrown.
In Italy, despite the intervention of Anthemiolus, TTL doesn't differ from OTL.
Zeno still recognizes Odoacer instead of the roman gallic lords.
Map of Gallia by 473:
As POD, we will take a more successfull anti-visigothic campaign of late 460's/early 470's.
But before, I will explain the background I've chosen, to use, as the sources upon this period of gallic history aren't very precise.
Gallia: 450s-460s
In late 440's, a britton prince fled Britannia where the roman party had took over the britton party.
He settled in Armorica as many Brittons since late 4th century. With the treasure he had managed to bring in his escape, he built for himself a small state in a region subjected to anarchy. Little by little, he created a powerful army of Britton and former Bagaudes mercenaries, supported by roman general Aetius to who he had proposed his services to restore order in the region and from who he had received the governorship, proclaiming himself Riothamus, or High King.
Thereafter, he participated to the coalition created by Aetius to fight Attila.
After the death of Aetius, one of his lieutnants, Aegidius, became the governor of Gaul, alongside Count Paul.
While his predecessor sought to maintain an equilibrium between the different foederati, Aegidius favored the Salian Franks of Childeric. The relations of Aegidius with the Riothamus, as with many other foederati chieftains, became more tense.
At the new of the assassination of Emperor Majorian, Aegidius rose up against the new master of Rome, Ricimer, and his puppet emperor.
While Childeric rallied Aegidius, the Riothamus, Eadwacer and Theodoric II, at the cost of Narbonne, rallied Ricimer.
In 463, while Aegidius threatened to attack Italy, he is attacked himself by the Visigoths and the 'Armoricans' (I will use this term for the group of britton and bagaudes mercenaries).
Angers was occupied by the Saxons of Eadwacer who are settled in the lower Loire valley. But more at east, Theodoric was routed by Aegidius and Childeric before the walls of Orléans, what forced the Bretons and the Saxons to retreat.
The following year, Aegidius died.
Thereafter, the situation became more peaceful.
In Rome, the puppet of Ricimer is replaced by a candidate of the eastern roman emperor, Anthemius.
In Gaul, the situation worsened again with the rise of Euric. The increasing agressivity and expansionnism of the latter led Anthemius to create a coalition with the Armoricans and the Franks.
OTL campaign and consequences
The Riothamus and his army made their way to Bourges where they were to join the forces of Count Paul and Childebert. However, he was betrayed by Eadwacer from who he had used the ships to be transported from Armorica to Bourges. Thus, the Riothamus found himself isolated from Paul's army and Armorica. He decided to retreat to Auvergne. If he managed to have his army escaping from Bourges relatively unscathed, he was caught up at Deols and his army was destroyed. Himself barely escaped to capture.
Rather than go into Auvergne, Euric marched south to confront the army of Anthemiolus which was about to attack Narbonne. He then routed and killed Anthemiolus near Arles.
At the same time, Paul attacked the traitor Eadwacer but was killed, leaving the task of retaking Angers to Childeric who remained loyal to Rome.
Afterwards, Syagrius remained the only master of roman northern Gaul and governed as Dux, with the support of Childeric.
Taking advantage of the troubles due to the overthrow of Anthemius by Ricimer, Euric took Arles and Marseille. Julius Nepos, become emperor in 474, sacrified the roman Auvergne which was defended by Ecdicius in order to have the Visigoths leaving Provence.
In 476, the eastern roman emperor Zeno preferred to recognize the legitimacy of Odoacer over the one of Syagrius to govern the western empire. Following this, Syagrius cut all links with the empire.
From 481, after the death of Childeric, the relations of Syagrius with the Franks worsened as Clovis, more agressive and expansionist than his father, ascended on the throne.
Despite having attempted to seek help from the Visigoths, Syagrius is defeated by Clovis at Soissons in 486, thus ending the existence of the last western roman state.
TTL campaign and consequences
The betrayal of Eadwacer doesn't occur; we can imagine for him a premature death.Thus, the Riothamus joins Paul, Childeric and their respective forces at Bourges.
Shortly after, they confront Euric near Poitiers then take Bordeaux. At the same time, the siege of Narbonne by Anthemiolus forced Euric to retreat into Hispania.
However, in 472, Anthemiolus leaves southern Gaul with his army to rescue his father besieged in Rome by Ricimer, but is killed while trying to do it.
Euric cross then again the Pyrenees and retakes Narbonne, then attacks Toulouse where important forces under Paul repulse him. At the same time, the Burgundians occupy Provence, officially to protect the province from Euric, but annex it as soon as Romulus Augustus is overthrown.
In Italy, despite the intervention of Anthemiolus, TTL doesn't differ from OTL.
Zeno still recognizes Odoacer instead of the roman gallic lords.
Map of Gallia by 473:
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