The Roman Empire. Founded 27 B.C, fallen in the year 1453. But with a slight twist of fortune, it would never have fallen...
Taurus Mountains, Cilicia
The cold wind blew heavily through the mountains, as the poisoned arrow flew toward the unsuspecting Ioannes II Komnenos, Emperor of the Romans. But the wind blew it off course, and it struck a rock and splintered. Ioannes examined it, not willing to venture too close as it was still poisoned. He had been so close to dying, a brush with certain death. Now, however, he was safe - if suddenly aware of his own mortality. He still had 10 to 15 years in him, but he could die for any reason - an accident, a sickness, or the vagaries of war. His attendant came rushing to him.
'Basileus!' the attendant yelled. 'Are you all right?'
'As fine as ever,' the Emperor replied.
'That is good, then, Basileus,' the attendant said.
----
Extracted from Romanus Castellanos' 'A Counterfactual Rhomania'. Foreword
It is a wonder what the smallest things can change. The flight of an arrow, a shoe-less horse, anything indeed can change history. It is the dedication of the discipline of counterfactual history to see 'what could have been', i.e the worlds that never were, but whose existence was possible. Many focus on wars, battles, et cetera, but I believe that the smallest things can influence world history. Indeed, I propose this - if an arrow had but flown true on April 8, 1143, the Roman Empire would never have lived to see the sixteenth century, let alone the 21st...
Taurus Mountains, Cilicia
The cold wind blew heavily through the mountains, as the poisoned arrow flew toward the unsuspecting Ioannes II Komnenos, Emperor of the Romans. But the wind blew it off course, and it struck a rock and splintered. Ioannes examined it, not willing to venture too close as it was still poisoned. He had been so close to dying, a brush with certain death. Now, however, he was safe - if suddenly aware of his own mortality. He still had 10 to 15 years in him, but he could die for any reason - an accident, a sickness, or the vagaries of war. His attendant came rushing to him.
'Basileus!' the attendant yelled. 'Are you all right?'
'As fine as ever,' the Emperor replied.
'That is good, then, Basileus,' the attendant said.
----
Extracted from Romanus Castellanos' 'A Counterfactual Rhomania'. Foreword
It is a wonder what the smallest things can change. The flight of an arrow, a shoe-less horse, anything indeed can change history. It is the dedication of the discipline of counterfactual history to see 'what could have been', i.e the worlds that never were, but whose existence was possible. Many focus on wars, battles, et cetera, but I believe that the smallest things can influence world history. Indeed, I propose this - if an arrow had but flown true on April 8, 1143, the Roman Empire would never have lived to see the sixteenth century, let alone the 21st...
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