I decided to restart my Araldyana Timeline. This will have a different style than the original and the Chapters won't follow a two years rythm anymore.
Enjoy and comment.
Folk legends from Aralda till Tesephon (1) can tell the tale of a once mighty leader who will return in times of distress. These legends combine actual history with mythological elements and are often based on the Christian belief of the Messiah’s return on doomsday. By far the most popular of these is the saga of Stilicho.
[…] His death on the battlefield was the inspiration to Orijan Petri’s “The Fall of Rome” and Alexander Ostino’s “Elysian Fields”, which completed Stilicho’s image in popular culture as a betrayed hero who lived and died for Rome. But we can read if we look into the sources that the Roman chroniclers’ judgment is mostly negative. He is described as a power hungry man whose own greed killed him. The first literature who paints a more positive picture appears only 300 years after his death and might be politically influenced.
(Legends and Sagas of the Adriatic Coast, 1993)
***
Sir, Rufinus escaped. (2)
(Message from Gainas to Stilicho, November 395)
Try to find him but keep it civil. Don’t upset the folk in the city.
(Message from Stilicho to Gainas, December 395)
Sir, the atmosphere in the city is worrisome. The senators and priests agitate against us. We must leave Constantinople soon or we need more troops.
(Message from Gainas to Stilicho, December 395)
Stay there and suppress senatorial opposition. Leave the priests alone. I can’t neglect the west and send you troops because the beggars of Constantinople don’t like you.
(Message from Stilicho to Gainas, December 395)
Sir, Tribigild (3) of the Goths of Asia sent the head of Rufinus to the Emperor. The populace is very upset. Our men were attacked by an armed rabble on Christmas Eve. We have around 70 wounded soldiers and 25 dead. Their causalities were five to ten times higher. Parts of the palace burned down. We need help. It is urgent. The men’s moral is not good at all, it seems like some deserted and joined Alaric (4).
(Message from Gainas to Stilicho, December 395)
Keep your troops together and order Tribigild to help you if the situation gets worse. Hold the city under control at all costs.
(Message from Stilicho to Gainas, January 396)
Sir, we had to silence some of the Emperors advisors; it was a massacre. We can’t control the city alone anymore, Tribigild is on his way.
(Message from Gainas to Stilicho, January 396)
Do what you have to do but pacify the city. Your troops are needed on the battlefield. I can’t withdraw men from the border so they fight Alaric because you are unable to do your job.
(Message from Stilicho to Gainas, January 396)
Sir, our work in the city is done. We have burned down their houses, their baths and churches; thousands lay dead on the street. I will no longer serve this people who despise me for what I am, for my language and religion (5). Arcadius the coward sits in his palace surrounded by his guards. I am deeply sorry to inform you that I was unable to kill that bastard; it would have pacified the world. I, my men, Tribigild and his men will furthermore join King Alaric, we hope to receive more than what the Romans gave us, for they gave us nothing but despite. I advise you to do the same.
(Message from Gainas to Stilicho, January 396)
This is betrayal.
(Message from Stilicho to Gainas, February 396)
***
Notes:
(1) Ctesiphon, in OTL Irak
(2) Rufinus was a mighty East Roman statesman and hated Stilicho. The POD: Gainas killed him in OTL.
(3) Tribigild, leader of the Gothic foederati in Phrygia (rebelled OTL in 399)
(4) King of the (Visi-)Goths and currently destroying the Balkans
(5) Gainas was Arian Christ, the Romans were mostly Trinitarians.
Enjoy and comment.
The Araldyana Timeline
by Pischinovski
Chapter Iby Pischinovski
Folk legends from Aralda till Tesephon (1) can tell the tale of a once mighty leader who will return in times of distress. These legends combine actual history with mythological elements and are often based on the Christian belief of the Messiah’s return on doomsday. By far the most popular of these is the saga of Stilicho.
[…] His death on the battlefield was the inspiration to Orijan Petri’s “The Fall of Rome” and Alexander Ostino’s “Elysian Fields”, which completed Stilicho’s image in popular culture as a betrayed hero who lived and died for Rome. But we can read if we look into the sources that the Roman chroniclers’ judgment is mostly negative. He is described as a power hungry man whose own greed killed him. The first literature who paints a more positive picture appears only 300 years after his death and might be politically influenced.
(Legends and Sagas of the Adriatic Coast, 1993)
***
Sir, Rufinus escaped. (2)
(Message from Gainas to Stilicho, November 395)
Try to find him but keep it civil. Don’t upset the folk in the city.
(Message from Stilicho to Gainas, December 395)
Sir, the atmosphere in the city is worrisome. The senators and priests agitate against us. We must leave Constantinople soon or we need more troops.
(Message from Gainas to Stilicho, December 395)
Stay there and suppress senatorial opposition. Leave the priests alone. I can’t neglect the west and send you troops because the beggars of Constantinople don’t like you.
(Message from Stilicho to Gainas, December 395)
Sir, Tribigild (3) of the Goths of Asia sent the head of Rufinus to the Emperor. The populace is very upset. Our men were attacked by an armed rabble on Christmas Eve. We have around 70 wounded soldiers and 25 dead. Their causalities were five to ten times higher. Parts of the palace burned down. We need help. It is urgent. The men’s moral is not good at all, it seems like some deserted and joined Alaric (4).
(Message from Gainas to Stilicho, December 395)
Keep your troops together and order Tribigild to help you if the situation gets worse. Hold the city under control at all costs.
(Message from Stilicho to Gainas, January 396)
Sir, we had to silence some of the Emperors advisors; it was a massacre. We can’t control the city alone anymore, Tribigild is on his way.
(Message from Gainas to Stilicho, January 396)
Do what you have to do but pacify the city. Your troops are needed on the battlefield. I can’t withdraw men from the border so they fight Alaric because you are unable to do your job.
(Message from Stilicho to Gainas, January 396)
Sir, our work in the city is done. We have burned down their houses, their baths and churches; thousands lay dead on the street. I will no longer serve this people who despise me for what I am, for my language and religion (5). Arcadius the coward sits in his palace surrounded by his guards. I am deeply sorry to inform you that I was unable to kill that bastard; it would have pacified the world. I, my men, Tribigild and his men will furthermore join King Alaric, we hope to receive more than what the Romans gave us, for they gave us nothing but despite. I advise you to do the same.
(Message from Gainas to Stilicho, January 396)
This is betrayal.
(Message from Stilicho to Gainas, February 396)
***
Notes:
(1) Ctesiphon, in OTL Irak
(2) Rufinus was a mighty East Roman statesman and hated Stilicho. The POD: Gainas killed him in OTL.
(3) Tribigild, leader of the Gothic foederati in Phrygia (rebelled OTL in 399)
(4) King of the (Visi-)Goths and currently destroying the Balkans
(5) Gainas was Arian Christ, the Romans were mostly Trinitarians.
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