By researching for my TL, An Empire Divided (Link in Signature), I came across an interesting detail. Apparently Roman Empire Galerius, once appointed emperor, renounced his Roman Name, and annouced his Dacian Identity. This guy even wanted to rename the Roman Emperor the Dacian Empire, once made Emperor of the East. According to sources, he treated Roman citizens with utmost cruelty, saying it was due to the cruel treatment of the Dacian people under Trajan almost two centuries earlier. Despite all this, he was never removed from power, and continued to rule to his death in 311. Is there any possible way to make said Empire a reality? He ruled in this manner for 5 years, and apparently only treated Latins like this, so his Greek power base didn't take much punishment.
A Dacian Empire? Galerius' Ambitions
- Thread starter Marcus Sergius
- Start date
A Dacian breakaway empire is conceivable for a limited period of time, but more than five years. But not run Galerius-style, rather resulting from a usurpation caused by the anxiety along the Danube. The region teemed with Roman soldiers, so defending this breakaway empire against Roman rivals should be possible for a while in a context like that of the Crisis of the Third Century. Like the Palmyrene or the Gallo-Roman Empire. It should include Moesia and Pannonia, too, and as much of Illyricum as possible, too.
That wouldn`t rereate much Dacian identity, though, but then again, Galerius wasn`t able to inspire that, either.
If you want a crossover of Dacian and Roman traditions, there must be other solutions.
That wouldn`t rereate much Dacian identity, though, but then again, Galerius wasn`t able to inspire that, either.
If you want a crossover of Dacian and Roman traditions, there must be other solutions.
Wouldn't the Roman Empire just collapse if the Danubian legions also broke away?
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What sources say this, by the way? I would be slightly skeptical if it was a Christian one, considering Galerius' association with the Diocletianic persecution. The whole thing sounds rather unrealistic and politically suicidal (although certainly more probable than headless demons).
OK-checked Wikipedia, where the only source cited is Lacantius. Early Christian, advisor to Constantine and writing in a book about persecutions: sounds like almost a perfect storm for false propaganda to make Constantine look better compared to his predecessors. I take my earlier statement about headless demons back, that does seem a tad more likely.
if it all happens simultaneously, it might well do. Though strictly speaking, that might even prolong the lifespan of its successors, including a possible Daco-Roman Empire.
But things don't have to happen additionally. Around 250, a decade earlier, there might be an alternative three-way split, with Odoenathus remaining, as he was, nominally loyal and subordinate to whoever sits in Rome and just got stabbed in the back both by the Rhine and Danube legions.
Once one of the frontiers is temporarily stabilised, though, someone is going to defeat and reintegrate someone else.
That's....where did you get this from? I've never heard anything about Galerius having some Dacian identity and wanting to create a Dacian Empire separate from the Roman Empire. That's just not going to happen, nor was it remotely anything close to what Galerius wanted.