Agricola's Folly- The Tale of a Roman Ireland
- Thread starter Abhakhazia
- Start date
Not for our poor alt-Romans, but for us, yes.
We're what's important.
Abhakhazia
Banned
Plagues, Riots and Collapse
The Reign of Lucius Verus was one of the most difficult parts of Roman History, second only to the Crises of 69 and 243, with the great plagues and provincial insurrections.
The Verian Plague is thought today to be either smallpox or measles, and originated over the Parthian frontier about in 150, and was present in Judaea, Syria and Alexandria by at least 165. The disease arrived on the Italian Peninsula by 170, thought to be from the dispersement of the legion IV Cyrenaica (previously stationed in Libya) by Verus in 168, due to a calming down of the African frontiers.
Once in the slums of Rome, it took on a new violence. In his The Plague, Roman historian Marcus Flavius tells us this- "The North part of the Subura, once held of close to twenty-thousand people, was reduced to under one thousand by the end of the Plague of Verus". Many turned to Christianity in this time of trial, feeling that the old gods had failed them. Even in the upper classes, Christianity was growing by at least ten percent a year between 170 and 185, making the total population of Christians in the Roman Empire up from less than five percent, to almost fifteen percent in fifteen years.
Verus tried his best to take control of the situation, centralizing imperial power once again, much to the distress of the Populare-dominated Senate who called out the Urban Cohorts[1] to attack the Palatine Hill. The Imperial Praetorian Guard managed to push back to Cohorts, but in the fighting, Verus's brother, Marcus Aurelius died. Furious, Varus called the legion III Italica back from their post in the Alps to resolve the situation in Rome. As the Legion marched forward, Consul Lucius Fulvius Romanus fled towards Sicilia, but was caught by officials in Bruttium [2]and publically executed for Treason.
As the III Italica arrived in Rome, approximately one-third of the Legionaries had caught the Plague. The remainer, along with the Praetorian Guard, caught, disbanded and executed every Senator residing in Rome, except for the most Imperialist of the Optimates.
Meanwhile, in the exterior provinces, the situation in Rome as well as the new power given to them by Hadrian, the Governors eventually took complete power to themselves, and the Jews of Judaea overthrew the Provincial government and took power to themselves.
As the situation in Rome began to stabilize, and Verus appointed new senators, a reconquest would begin, on an epic scale.
[1]Senatorial Guard/Police Force
[2]Calabria in Southern Italy
The Reign of Lucius Verus was one of the most difficult parts of Roman History, second only to the Crises of 69 and 243, with the great plagues and provincial insurrections.
The Verian Plague is thought today to be either smallpox or measles, and originated over the Parthian frontier about in 150, and was present in Judaea, Syria and Alexandria by at least 165. The disease arrived on the Italian Peninsula by 170, thought to be from the dispersement of the legion IV Cyrenaica (previously stationed in Libya) by Verus in 168, due to a calming down of the African frontiers.
Once in the slums of Rome, it took on a new violence. In his The Plague, Roman historian Marcus Flavius tells us this- "The North part of the Subura, once held of close to twenty-thousand people, was reduced to under one thousand by the end of the Plague of Verus". Many turned to Christianity in this time of trial, feeling that the old gods had failed them. Even in the upper classes, Christianity was growing by at least ten percent a year between 170 and 185, making the total population of Christians in the Roman Empire up from less than five percent, to almost fifteen percent in fifteen years.
Verus tried his best to take control of the situation, centralizing imperial power once again, much to the distress of the Populare-dominated Senate who called out the Urban Cohorts[1] to attack the Palatine Hill. The Imperial Praetorian Guard managed to push back to Cohorts, but in the fighting, Verus's brother, Marcus Aurelius died. Furious, Varus called the legion III Italica back from their post in the Alps to resolve the situation in Rome. As the Legion marched forward, Consul Lucius Fulvius Romanus fled towards Sicilia, but was caught by officials in Bruttium [2]and publically executed for Treason.
As the III Italica arrived in Rome, approximately one-third of the Legionaries had caught the Plague. The remainer, along with the Praetorian Guard, caught, disbanded and executed every Senator residing in Rome, except for the most Imperialist of the Optimates.
Meanwhile, in the exterior provinces, the situation in Rome as well as the new power given to them by Hadrian, the Governors eventually took complete power to themselves, and the Jews of Judaea overthrew the Provincial government and took power to themselves.
As the situation in Rome began to stabilize, and Verus appointed new senators, a reconquest would begin, on an epic scale.
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[1]Senatorial Guard/Police Force
[2]Calabria in Southern Italy
Abhakhazia
Banned
Next update on the Reconquest. Coming soon, maybe even tomorrow if I get around to it.
Awesome update!
I don't really have any specifics to comment on; all I can say is you're doing an excellent job.
Now this I gotta read.
I don't really have any specifics to comment on; all I can say is you're doing an excellent job.
"Hibernate" comes from the Latin word for "winter".
Hibernia has little to do with that, it's a transliteration from the Greek name of the island, in turn a transliteration of the then Celtic name whence "Eire" came much later.
Abhakhazia
Banned
Expect updates this weekend.
Yes, I said updates. As in plural. I'm hoping to get three in, but probably just two.
Yes, I said updates. As in plural. I'm hoping to get three in, but probably just two.
Abhakhazia
Banned
The Vienna Accords
The Empire was falling apart. Senatorial provinces had gone to hell in a handbasket, Imperial provinces were military juntas with legates exerting absolute power.
Little did most Legates know, but Verus had defeated his Senatorial foes and was on the march.
Heading northwest across the Alps, he met with leaders in Vienna[1] to determine the path forward for the Empire.
The Vienna Accords, determined after the meeting, would establish the precendent for the reconquered provinces.
The Accords are listed below
Three clauses, three shock waves.
The first clause restored imperial control to the levels as it had been under Domitian. This could possibly lead to more instability.
The second legalizes Christianity, which is still viewed as a crazy Jewish sect.
The last tore up the previous definition of Roman citizenship.
The Empire was falling apart. Senatorial provinces had gone to hell in a handbasket, Imperial provinces were military juntas with legates exerting absolute power.
Little did most Legates know, but Verus had defeated his Senatorial foes and was on the march.
Heading northwest across the Alps, he met with leaders in Vienna[1] to determine the path forward for the Empire.
The Vienna Accords, determined after the meeting, would establish the precendent for the reconquered provinces.
The Accords are listed below
Three clauses, three shock waves.
The first clause restored imperial control to the levels as it had been under Domitian. This could possibly lead to more instability.
The second legalizes Christianity, which is still viewed as a crazy Jewish sect.
The last tore up the previous definition of Roman citizenship.
Hm... we shall see what the effects of these reforms will be. That last one seems like a good example of carrot instead of stick.
Nice update. Was there supposed to be a footnote?
You mentioned provinces that had "previously" revolted-does that mean they've regained control of them?
Has the plague started to wear down?
Nice update. Was there supposed to be a footnote?
You mentioned provinces that had "previously" revolted-does that mean they've regained control of them?
Has the plague started to wear down?
Abhakhazia
Banned
Yes we shall.
It's not the entire update, just the stuff I got typed, had to leave in a rush.
The Accords set in after the rebellion is crushed, so no.
Yes. More in the next update.
Abhakhazia
Banned
Sorry for the delay, updates over Christmas. I may even finish the timeline.
Abhakhazia
Abhakhazia
Abhakhazia
Banned
The Long Third Century, Part I of III
The events from the Vienna Accords to the beginning of the reign of Lucius Gallius and the beginning of the Age of Reform is often called by historians "the Long Third Century", an age of progressive and regressive emperors, a final conflict with Parthia and an empire forced to heal and change. The events of this age are cataloged here.
175-185
185-195
195-205
The events from the Vienna Accords to the beginning of the reign of Lucius Gallius and the beginning of the Age of Reform is often called by historians "the Long Third Century", an age of progressive and regressive emperors, a final conflict with Parthia and an empire forced to heal and change. The events of this age are cataloged here.
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175-185
- With the help of the loyal legions from Hibernia, Brittania, and the Balkan Provinces, Verus continues to take back the provinces, one at a time
- The Battle of Colonia Agrippina in 179, pits the Rhine Legions against Verus's army. The experienced Rhine Legions were too cocky, and underestimated the skills of Verus's troops and were trapped in the city's interior were Verus's troops picked them off one by one.
- After the battle, the leaders of the rebellion surrendered and are crucified in the forum of Colonia Agrippina, with a sign saying "this is what happens to those who fight Rome"
- Verus returns to Rome, and spends the remainder of his reign attempting to restore the impoverished city after its months of plague. He reinstates the welfare system, cut to save money by the Optimates Consuls while he was away, and begins rebuilding projects.
- Lucius Verus dies in 183, he is replaced by a general that fought with him during the reconquest, Marcus Flavius Ruso, typically known as Ruso. Verus was known for acting tough in tough situations, and his legacy of intimidation to get what he wants is what's mainly remembered about him
- Ruso is faced with a resurgent Parthia, a growing debt problem and a disunited empire. He spends his first two years focusing on rebuilding.
185-195
- Rome's currency begins to devaluate as the imperial coffers go further into debt
- The economy is failing and Rome goes into a depression, economic activity is extremely low, but good harvests allow the food welfare system to continue, but it brings the government further in debt and causes the economy to continue to slump
- Ruso scales back rebuilding projects in Rome and across the empire
- Ruso also cuts military spending empire wide
- Parthians raid Roman colonies in Syria, but military budgets continue to be cut
- The average legion size decreases, as volunteers and recruits are turned away because legions simply can't afford them
- Threat of war with Parthia increases; Ruso sends a delegation to meet with the Parthians
195-205
- The diplomatic mission with the Parthians fail, and war breaks out along the frontier. Former Roman ally Armenia declares its neutrality, with Rome being on the weaker side
- The Roman legions are undersupplied and underman and begin to fall to Parthian calvary, although the average Roman foot soldier can take the average Parthian foot soldier
- Roman legion and three auxiliary units are completely annihilated at the Battle of Aleppo
- Legions are pulled from all over the Empire to fight the Parthians, reenforcements are shipped into Alexandria and proceed towards Syria
- The Syrian legions are being pushed to both the north and south, the majority of the army pushed along the Phoenician sea coast
- Parthians supply the Zealots and other groups within Judaea to cause a rebellion to slow Roman troops as they march up from Alexandria
- The Parthians defeat the Roman armies at Tyre, have pushed through to the Mediterranean
- Ruso sends legions east from the Balkans to surprise the Parthians from the north
- The Jewish Rebellion slows Roman reenforcements, Parthians proceed south.
- The revolt is quenched, the Parthians and fresh Roman troops clash outside Damascus and the Romans crush the Parthian army.
- The Balkan legions arrive at the frontier in Cappadocia and push through weak Parthian lines, Parthians are forced to bring troops of from the south
- Parthian lines begin to collapse across Syria, Roman troops continue to push north and swerve east
- Roman troops under Septimius Servius begin to cross into Mesopotamia
- The Balkan legions in Cappadocia push south, drive the Parthians out of Roman territory and continue with Servius's armies through Mesopotamia
- The Parthian armies make a last stand outside Ctesiphon, but are destroyed by the two Roman armies.
- Roman establish a puppet "Kingdom of Babylon" in southern Mesopotamia, and take Northern Mesopotamia for Rome
- Internal strife causes the Parthian Empire to begin to collapse, the Sassanids emerge out of the southeast and begins to challenge the Parthians for supremacy
- Ruso celebrates a great triumph in Rome; the riches of Mesopotamia refill the Imperial coffers and reconstruction continues at a new speed and pace