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Yeah, it's hard to go past the literal insanity of Caligula. However, it might not be his fault given some claims that he was afflicted by a fever six months into his reign (interestingly the first six months were described as a 'golden age' after the despotism of Tiberius). Which brings us to...

Perhaps because "A Century or Two More Advanced" is not possible with a POD After 1900. However, up to 50 years might be possible with a peaceful century. No WW1, for example. Of course, this has enormous butterflies because in some cases technological advancement was spurred by war. On the...

Early 1970s, likely to be a gradual shift to this anyway. I agree with the speculation that it would be Ciano who takes over, and I suspect he would not have the same level of power that Mussolini had. Further, around the same time in the late 1940s (assuming Mussolini dies around that time) you...

Its been years since I read it, but didn't Turtledove have George Washington and many of the OTL founding fathers as noblemen? So, Lord George Washington? IIRC the plot also involved Sir Martin Luther King as the Governor General of North America and on his retirement he would be made into a...

Good start to the timeline. I will read with interest. I always enjoy reading about Ancient Rome. Pertinax has a lot of potential. Do you plan on utilising the OTL usurpers as well (Albinus, Severus, Niger)? Niger and Albinus seemed to have the solid backing of cross section of society, whereas...

I don't think it would be too difficult to get the Nazi's to act more pragmatically with Russia, but it is a problem to get Hitler to act more pragmatically. There's been a number of timelines "Hitler killed 1940/1941" etc, that I'm sure this has been written plausibly before.

I'm not sure slaves would be any more loyal than foederati to be honest. Indeed, I think it would make things considerably worse if prudent barbarian kings like Alaric or Theodoric actively entice Roman "slave armies" over to their side — and why not? If the barbarians can deliver the goods to...

This is an interesting POD and I for one would read a fleshed out TL, or at least plausible speculation on how it would affect the Civil War. Unfortunately the discussion in this thread seems to say more about how the modern US views the Civil War than about POD itself.

You know, it hasn't been mentioned yet but there is a real problem with the motivation of many workers in the yards. I don't have direct experience of the facilities in Adelaide, but I was involved in the refit and commissioning of ships at the facilities in WA and NSW, and it was a real...

I should also add that Australian shipbuilders did OK with the Anzac class project, but the principal reason for that is because we did not take a proven design and cannibalise it to make it "Australian". With only very minor modifications, the Anzac class frigate virtually resembles its...

No deal with Gerontius? (Btw, what is Sarus' odd special relationship with Alaric?) Also, it occurs to me that Honorius badly mishandled Alaric which directly lead to the sacking of Rome. Obviously there will be big butterflies flowing from this POD, but a more capable Emperor would likely...

I also think the reign of Septimius Severus did enormous damage to the Empire in the long term, though its effects were probably not immediately obvious. Because of the Senate's apparent support for his rival Clodius Albinus, Severus' revenge on that ancient institution was deep and lasting. He...

Great POD. With Honorius dead Stilicho is unlikely to surrender without a fight like OTL. Though one question: wasn't Sarus personally loyal to Stilicho? If so, and your instinct is right that Stilicho has to go, then Sarus might be able to negotiate an abdication of sorts with Stilicho. Also...

Brest-Litovsk undoubtedly. To the victor go the spoils of war and seldom are the defeated pleased. I am confident that had the Germans won WWI they would acted in accordance with their national interests (as they should have) and imposed a treaty on France that would have secured their long...

Well said, sir! Of course, I agree and voted for 476. I'm glad the OP didn't ask "When did the Roman Empire technically end?" Because that would have started another debate on this board which always degenerates into a lawyers picnic.

The Arabic conquests of the 7th and 8th centuries were already wildly successful, I seriously doubt they would have the capacity to conquer Egypt as well. Consider that the Arabs inflicted crushing defeats on the Byzantine and Persian Empires, and in the case of the latter utterly smote them...

With Brian Blessed as the Speaker, to scream at them when they're out of control. Parliament has never sounded so good.

The Gladstone/Disraeli of their times?

Would be an interesting TL. As an aside I often wondered about a UK PM Christopher Lee. He had a very adventurous life, and he was also highly intelligent and humble.

Majorian was on the right track in my opinion to reforming taxation in the late WRE, but his unfortunate failure in invading North Africa resulted in his removal from power. Majorian would probably have made a good Emperor in the long term and achieved the reforms you are talking about, but he...