what are you planning for the franks to become ?
Nothing definitive here but I want them to become a sort of “Bulgaria of the West”: a regional ambitious power, able to challenge Rome for control over Gaul, when the time is right, but also a power subject to division and infighting.
Will they have a charlemagne like persion ?
No they won’t, but maybe somewhere else a Charlemagne-like king could pop up.
And what are the saxons currently doing? I know the focus is on west rome but i find it intresting to see what the effects on such things would be ^^
I’ve no clear idea about them yet. I’m not even sure if they will ever feature in this timeline. Now it’s just an idea but I was thinking that they could do something similar to what they did to Britain and what the Normans did to the Mediterranean world, take advantage of an Age of Crisis and spearhead a new wave of invasions of the empire. But this as I said, is just a fantasy, not sure how realistic it is.
Thats auctually an interesting question, i think it would be stupid for them to split up like they usually did which was a inheretence tradition, if they did it would be a prime opportunity for Rome tho
Lots of people did “stupid things” (according to modern logic) in the past but that’s because the alternative would’ve been even more foolish or dangerous. Let’s not forget that fighting and changing tradition is easier said than done.
I don’t think it’s something you can just butterfly away. It’s frankish tradition to spilt your domains amongst your sons. Which would perhaps allow a reconquest of Gaul/Frankia. It might not be some Gaullic wars level of epicness but a reconquest is a reconquest.
Eastern Rome failed to reconquer Italy (or even only the southern half of it) from the Lombards and those were far from being united. And Rome may not be able to move all its might against the Franks.
i dont know if a full reconquest by this time is possible, especially if it is possible to hold it over a long time, the empire is already surounded on all fronts, conquering gaul could seriously overstrech them, similar to justinians conquests overstreched the east. i Think it would be intresting to see what happens to these tribes though (Franks, saxons bajuwarians, allemans etc.) since they otl were the foundation of medieval europe
The Alemans are part of the Frankish polity by now, though I don’t remember if I’ve already mentioned it yet.
Agreed. For the time being, the best case scenario is having the Burgundians as allies and, possibly, the Franks fragmenting into 3 or four roughly equal sized parts. Maybe some border adjustments to make the coastal strip of Gaul the Empire holds more defensible, but this is really low priority compared to Africa and Pannonia.
Even Hispania is probably more important right now since the Visigoth are outright hostile to Rome. Keeping the Frankish kings at bay with gifts and honours should suffice the emperor for the time being.
Never said it had to happen now or anytime soon. Eventually the Franks will weaken, their realms will split and they’ll suffer from internal strife. Piece by piece Rome can retake parts of gaul from these warring factions. And given that Latin is more important ITTL I bet the gallo Romans will retain their identity so it’ll be more like a liberation than conquest.
I agree that the Gallo-Romans might retain their culture (especially inside the Burgundian kingdom) forcing the Franks and Burgundians to adopt more of their subjects’ identity. But you are assuming that Rome and “Francia” will be the only contestants here: the Burgundians might turn to the Franks once Rome become too aggressive/greedy, bordering barbarian tribes beyond the Rhine might have a say about what happens in Gaul and even the emperor may consider Gaul not worth the effort, especially when facing more pressing concerns.
