A Roman Timeline

[I'm a Genius]

So, I've been a lurker here for a long time, and I've managed to convince myself to write a timeline.

I chose the Roman Empire for a number of reasons. The most important is that it's two thousand years away, so I can fudge things a bit more easily and because it's the topic currently stuck in my head.

My view is to update's centered around each emperor's reign, and the subsequent fall out. primarily so I can cover a long period of time in shorter intervals. since I really want to explore the transition of Rome over time.

no, I'm not going to do a Roman renaissance, steam or industrial age. eventually I might. but not in the near future. since I've already got a vague idea of what I want to explore already.

on a side note, yes my grammar's aweful, constructive critisicm's welcome.

please be aware that my timeline's going to be slow going with the affects of my POD.



the premise is that following assassination of Ceasar when Marcus Tullius Cicero fled he was captured, the triumvirate wanting to question him about those involved in the conspiracy. however he was completely ignorant of the assassination and further only held peripheral membership to the conspiracy.



The Fall of the Republic


49 BC to 45 BC


Caesar’s Civil War

After the subjugation of Gaul territory in what is now Francia up to the Rhine River, Julias Ceasar, supported by his Legions crossed the Rubicon into Italia and began a series of political and military confrontations against the Optimates. The political conservative and socially traditionalist faction of Rome.


44 BC


The Assassination of Julius Caesar

Prompted by the recent passage of the Dictator Perpetuo by the Senate of the Roman Republic. Which many Senator's believe will result in the dissolution of the Senate in favor of Totalitarianism. A Conspiracy of Roman Senator's stabs Julias Ceasar to death in the Theatre of Pompey.


43 BC to 40 BC


The Liberator’s Civil War

Following the assassination Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, Marcus Antonius, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, crushed opposition in the Senate and Established the Second Triumvirate. Detaining the notable Marcus Tullius Cicero in connection to the conspiracy. Together the Triumvirate controlled the Roman Army in the West.
Two of the main Conspirator's, Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, fled Italy for the Eastern Provinces. Taking control of the Republic from Greece and Macedonia to Syria. As well as allying to the Eastern Kingdom's.
What would be known as the Liberator's Civil war began in 42 BC, consisting of two separate battles called the First and Second Battle of Philippa. In the first Cassius would commit Suicide following the false report of Brutus' defeat while in the second Antony would decisively engage Brutus, ending with Brutus' suicide and leaving the Republic nominally in control of the triumvirate.
After the Battle of Philippa Octavian would return to Rome with the task of settling a large number of veteran's while Marcus would remain in the East. The Triumvirate would divide up the Roman Republic between them, Octavian gaining control over Italia, Hispania and Gaul. While Antony would travel to Egypt and ally himself with Queen Cleopatra. Lepidus was stymied by Antony and left with the province of Africa.
Upon Octavian return to Rome, utilizing the testimony of captured conspirator's Cicero would be proven ignorant of knowledge of the assassination as well as only peripherally linked to the Conspiracy. Although he would remain a political prisoner in his Italian Villa after his acquittal.



40 BC to 33 BC


The Roman-Parthian War

following the Macedonian Campaign Octavian was left with the task of settling tens of thousands of soldier's who had been promised discharge. The tens of thousands who had fought on the republican side could easily ally with a political opponent if not appeased. However their was no government controlled land to alot to the Soldiers. Advised by Cicero. Octavian chose to settle roughly a two third's of the total in the Roman Heartland. Spreading an equal amount of loyal and republican soldier's through the area. Roughly a another third were given the choice of the best land in a province of their choice.
after dealing with a brief marital divorce and a siege at Perusia. Although Octavian would ignore Cicero's advice in the matter. Then marrying Scribonia in 40 BC.
In 40 BC Parthian’s joined by Pompeian Forces and supported by Quintus Labienus, a Roman erstwhile supporter of the Optimates swiftly overrun Syria. defeating Roman forces in the province. Further installing Antigonus on the throne of Judea in return for 500 woman and large sums of gold. His three-year reign was a continuous struggle.

It would take until 38 BC for Mark Antony and legionary forces to arrive in the area. Where Mark Antony would be more concerned for his growing influence in Egypt and his growing relations with Queen Cleopatra.

Following Mark Antony's exit from Rome it would allow for the return of Marcus Cicero to Senatorial Life. beginning his campaign of opposition to the Triumvirate. Where he would utilise Mark Antony's defeat's against the Parthian's and his growing affiliation with Egypt to further his cause. Before his eventual death in 32 BC.


31 BC


The Battle of Actium

following the conclusion of Mark Antony's campaign against the Parthian's Mark Antony began to move against Octavian. Supported by Eqypt and Julius Ceasar's natural born son, Ptolemy XV, by Cleopatra. meeting with Octavian in naval battle in Greece. Mark Antony suffered complete defeat and withdrew to Alexandria with Queen Cleopatra.





30 BC to 27 BC


The Rise of Augustus

following the suicide of Mark Antony and Cleopatra in Alexandria following a siege by Octavian. Who subsequently named himself Pharaoh and was awarded the title of Augustus by the Senate.

Yes I copied this straight from Google images.

 

[I'm a Genius]

A/N: I've swapped around the Eastern and Western Empires, so I've had Tiberius stationed in Gaul and Hispania when I've been saying he's Imperium of the East. Also I've reduced the Augustus Military reforms in the later part of his reign so that the implications of the reforms are more reactionary.



The Reign of Augustus Octavian


27 BC to 12 BC


Consolidation of Augustus

After the demise of the Second Triumvirate Augustus restored the outward facade of the Roman Republic. With Governmental power vested in the senate, the executive magistrates and the legislative assemblies. In the following years he would build the constitutional framework known as the Principate while marginalizing Cicero’s followers in the Senate.

In 25 AD Galatia is annexed into the Roman Empire

Following the conclusion of the Cantabarian War’s in 19 BC and the consolidation of Hispania into the Roman Empire Augustus would move onto the subjugation of the Germanic tribes and the Germanic Wars.

Beginning in 17 BC with the annexing of Raetia and Noricum. The War would be a series of campaigns launched into Germania from 12 BC to their conclusion in 14 AD.


12 BC to 9 AD


Germanic Wars


Nero Claudius Drusus began construction of a series of Fort's across the Rhine in 13 BC, following their completion Drusus would begin a series of campaigns which would last until his death in 9 BC. After Drusus' death the campaigns would be overseen by Tiberius Claudio Nero, Augustus’ Heir.

During this time Pannonia is annexed into the Roman Empire.

The campaigns in Germania would be heavily debated in the Senate as it became apparent the Germania's forest landscape didn't lend itself well to Roman campaigning. Allowing for the Republican movement, formed from Cicero's follower's in the years since Augustus took rule to make their first major detrachment's against the Imperial Government. although vastly inflated and at times blatant lies. It did however force Augustus into a number of confessions. The most significant of which would be made in 6 BC when Tiberius was set to decline the position of Imperium over the Eastern half of the Empire.

Advised by Senator's to accept the position in return for the dissolution of Tiberius' marriage to Julia the Elder in favour of Vipsania Agrippina. it allowed the Senate to gain a peripheral of control over the Egyptian, Greek, Asia, Cappadocia, Syria and Galatia provinces of the Empire through Tiberius. In the following years Tiberius would utilise the local governer's and the Senate to exercise his rule. Allowing for the Senate to take a wider range of powers within the East then they had under the rule of Augustus.

Utilizing the newfound influence in the Senate the Republican's would begin exercising their authority through a series of legislature aimed at decreasing Augustus' popularity with the populace. The Eastern provinces undergoing a substantial infrastructure investiture while volunteer's settler's were introduced into the area to dilate the native populations.

The relationship between the Senate and Tiberius in the east as he and Augustus ruled as Co-Emperor's led to the widening gap between the two that was present in the later stages of Augustus' reign. To Augustus it was becoming obvious that Tiberius had no amitions to rule as Emperor. Leading to Augustus' search for a replacement Heir in the years following the appointment of the Imperium of the the East. Although the death's of Lucuius and Gaius Caesar in 2 and 4 AD, Augustus' adoptive sons would prevent the removal of TIberius as Imperium.
Exacerbating the succession issue was that by 5 AD Tiberius was beginning to see to believe that the Emperor should become similar to that of a Monarch. With the Senate acting as the Emperor's voice. It became clear to Augustus that Tiberius saw the Emperor purely as a grounding authority of the Senate.

With the worsening of his age Augustus in 5 Ad resolved to institute legislature into the Senate mitigating a revitalized Senate during Tiberius' and future ruler's reign. Demanding that any Heir appointed be met with the approval of the Roman Legion's.





9 AD to 14 AD


The Period of Reformation



Following the withdrawal from the Germanic War in the wake of the Battle Teutoberg, where ROman legion's were betrayed by germanic Auxilia and destroyed by a alliance of German tribes. Augustus, prompted by large swaths of the Senate demanding action instigated the subsequent retaliatory strikes across Germania. The military campaign's revealing that it was the defection of a Germanic Auxilia General who was primarily responsible.

As 10 AD passed the Senate and Augustus moved to prevent this scale of defeat from occuring again. Acting to prevent other Auxilia copying Teutoberg's example. Introducing the Roman Auxilia Legislature. The Republican's moved to completely ban non Roman's in the Army, which would in turn inhibit the power of the Army, but following this Augustus moved to block further attempts to reduce the effective combat power of the Roman Army. Augustus did however introduce a cap to the Auxilia, confining the effective manpower of each Auxilia of 1 to 10 legionaires. Secondly confining the number of Auxilia in a 10 to 1 ratio with Legions. Finally banning the creation of monetized ethnic Auxilia. While the Senate would be unable to pass the large number of their contributions to the bill. They did manage to convince Augustus that discharge payments be changed to a ratio of total pay for half the time served or a equivalency.

In 14 Ad Augustus died while visiting Nola.

In the wake of his death Tiberius is elevated to Emperor.

 

[inawarminister]

Uh I think you posted this on the wrong subforum... You should ask the mods to move the thread to Before 1900 section...

 

[I'm a Genius]

oops.
thank you mods

 

[I'm a Genius]

A/N: fixed the mix up of the east and west empires. 10/17/2018


The Julio Claudian Dynasty


14 AD to 20 AD

Reformation of the Military

After coming to power following the death of Augustus Tiberius first had to settle a revolt by the Legion's, releasing their mourning bonus and passing legislature excluding military tasks to service member's after 16 years of service. Excepting tasks that were required as part of their posting. In exchange the Senate demanded that Tiberius not give Germanicus the position of Imperium of the East, Convincing Tiberius to rule as a single Emperor which would allow the republican's to retain the strong grip on power that Augustus had moved to prevent in the later parts of his rule.

After settling with the Senator's Tiberius moved to appoint Germanicus as Governer of Germania. With the full intention of elevating him to Imperium of the East when the mood in the Senate allowed it. following this, in the later half of 14 AD Tiberius would begin the arduous process of reforming the military in line with the legislature.

To accomplish this the set a four year plan beginning in 15 AD, aimed at staggering the implementation over a period of time, reducing costs and preventing a major disruptions to campaigning. In this Tiberius would begin cannobilising the Auxilia over the next four years. Dictating Military policy for the next half decade to institute the reforms in non campaigning auxilia.
In 19 AD Tiberius had Germanicus poisoned with the intention of naming his natural son Drusus his Heir. Causing the Army and the Senate to unite to block the political movements of Tiberius, who wished to elevate his natural son Drusus as Heir.



20 AD to 30 AD

The Problem of Succession


Both Caesar and Augustus had maintained the position of not naming their natural progeny their Heirs. It was expected that Tiberius would name his most capable General as Heir. Drusus was not that. When in 19 AD it was suggested to the Senate by Tiberius that they support the nomination of Drusus as his heir the Senate would utilise the opportunity to legislate the greater devolution of powers to them.
Leading to the 20 AD reforms to the Augustian Heir Legislature. Which stipulated Senatorial support to nominate an Heir. Allowing for Drusus to be nominated in Heir.

Enter Sejanus, a Equestrian and head of the Praetorian Guard, who had since 15 AD overseen their rise as a Paramilitary power in Rome. Becoming one of the few confidants of the Emperor as the Praetorian Guard expanded in influence across Rome, Sejanus acted to poison Drusus of natural causes in 23 AD.
Afterwards becoming the nominated Heir of Tiberius. Although his further rise to Imperium of the East would be blocked by the Legion's, Sejanus would only use this to begin a purging process in the Legion leadership. Utilising a mix of Imperial authority, the Senate and latter the Praetorian guard bullying the Senate to promote loyal officer's.
At the same time Sejanus would hasten TIberius' waxing interest in ruling, in 26 AD leading to Tiberius' retreat to Capri Island with his wife and his Praetorian guard to spend the rest of his life, leaving the Imperium in the hands of Sejanus to rule as the Imperium of the East. Whose rule would deal with a uprising in Frisii in Germania in 28 AD before it's abrupt end in 31 AD with his execution
After Sejanus' execution Tiberius would return to Capri after attending the execution when he failed to raise his grandson through Drusus. Which was blocked by the legions and Senate. Eventually settling on naming Gaius Caesar his Heir, the son of Germanicus,



30 AD to 37 AD

The Regency of Gaius

Commonly known as Caligula the reign of Gaius as Tiberius' mouth piece was a time of restoration for the Roman Empire. Neglected in the past decades and minimized during the Germanic Wars Caligula embarked on updating and repairing the infrastructure of the Empire. In places constructed needed infrastructure for the expanding Hispanic and Gaulish regions of the Empire. Although Caligula would never attain the rank of Imperium before the death of Tiberius Caligula did manage to save the Praetorian Guard from falling alongside Sejanus and succeeded in preventing their devolution before he rose to Emperor in 37 AD.


37 AD to 41 AD


The Reign of Caligula


Caligula's time as Emperor was short, rising to power out of a era of succession crisis,' he spent most of his reign consolidating his power base. Deigning to postpone his selection of an Heir until a worthy candidate appeared, which supported the Senate's mandate of opposing imperial and militaristic power.

In his first year Caligula moved to complete the renewal's instituted under the reign of Tiberius, then choosing to fully commit to consolidating and then expanding his power as Emperor. Prompted by his observations under Tiberius Caligula believed that as Emperor their needed to be no doubt to his authority other the Roman peoples, which is what he believed was the basis of Tiberius' failings.

He sought this through the expansion of his military influence simultaneously to the reduction of possible challenger's to his position. After much though deciding that he would do this through the Roman expansion into Britannia, that Caligula believed a relatively safe possibility for expansion. Planning began in 38 AD, although the crossing would be blocked in 40 AD and Caligula would not be attempt again during his rule to cross the channel.

Seeking the same mandate in the Senate, Caligula began the rapid consolidation of his position by assassinating and banishing potential replacements for his position. while maintaining that he would appoint an Heir when a worthy Candidate appeared. Becoming rapidly apparent to the Senate that Caligula was unsuited for the position of Emperor. In 39 AD the handling of the Jewish riots in Alexandria when Caligula issued a statue of himself built within every Synagogue closing the opinion of the Senate. He continued this trend into 40 AD with the Greek gods, ordering their statues be torn down and statues of himself erected in his place. The next year, his reign came to an end when Praetorian's assassinated him with the backing of prominent legion and senatorial support.


41 AD to 54 AD

The Reign of Claudius

After the demise of Caligula, who had removed a great deal of probable candidates who would make a strong Emperor the Empire entered into fierce debate. While the Republican's called for a return to the Roman Republic, and argued to great vigor about the failings of the last twenty years. It was firmly rebuffed by the legion supporters in the Senate. What followed was the first major clash between the Loyalist and Republican Political Parties of the Roman Senate. Eventually what decided the matter was the Republican's and the Loyalist's settling on Claudius. Who they both viewed as an acceptable compromise. Being of the few of the Julio Dynasty that the Republican's wouldn't be heavy handed in his approach to ruling yet the Loyalists felt was suitably gifted for leading.

Lacking in experience and possessing a limp and slight deathness that made him an unpopular choice amongst the peasantry. Although as his reign progressed this view would be abandoned in light of his civilian and military contributions to the Empire. Following a diluted policy of consolidation of his position copied from Caliguli's reign. Claudius would adopt the Britannian invasion plans of Caliguli as his own. Acting to consolidate his power in the Senate and in the eyes of the Roman people's by championing legislature in the Senate. Historically it would be one of his first legislature that would have it's most profound impact on the Roman Empire when he concluded the Jewish Riots in Alexandria.

Sought out through letter's and representatives of Greek's and Jew's regarding the rioting in Alexandria that had commenced in 39 AD. Claudius would define the position of the Senate on the matter when he decreed religious freedom for the Jews to worship their religion while simultaneously expelling the majority of them from Alexandria. In agreement with the Jewish leader's for freedom to practice in exchange for the dispersement of Jewish communities to prevent the domination in any one area. During his reign this Religious freedom to cover multiple faith's, although he heavily favored the Roman Religion's and banned Druidism and other's he felt were completely against the Roman religious tenants.

in 43 AD under the general Aulus Plautius Claudius began the Roman invasion of Britain, conquering and occupying the lands up to the Tosse Way by 47 AD. Following the first invasion finishing in 47 AD, another would begin under Ostorius Scapula and lasting until 52 AD, where he would hand over command to Didus Gallus.

With the institution of the gold equivalency by Augustus the governmental practice of seizing land for discharged veteran's and buying under priced land had fallen out of practice. Instead the legislature had encouraged buying lot's outside of provinces. Although the practice had not managed to breach veteran displeasure for the large unclaimed lands that had not been breached by a hoe. Instead the Empire saw a shift in demographic's that saw Veteran's retiring on large blocks of cheap former barbarian farmlands and expensive lot's in small villages.

In the years following the bill passing the Senate began to see it as easier to allow veteran's to have their lot of the available lands to address the growing grumbling in the Legion's that the largest lot's were only available in the underpopulated areas of the Empire. The presence of Veteran's in the less populated areas of the Empire had led to an decrease in banditry from the wide spread of veteran's. In turn this was leading to a greater attractiveness to the regions where Veteran's had retired and the Empire was seeing the creation of small villages that were Legion Strongholds.

The changing demographics in the twenty five years following the death of Augustus and before the Britinnian invasion had led to a wider and more even dispersement of the Roman population. In the later years of Tiberius' rule the infrastructure programs would visit many of these Legion Strongholds to create the beginnings of a population and economic boom.

The Invasion of Britannia was different, the introduction of the legislature years previous had caused a shift in the expectations of discharge payments. Soldier's growing used to choosing between a large plot of land in a province of their choice, a valuable village plot. Following 45 AD the opening of Britannia to settlement the Senate would follow Roman tradition of awarding veteran's valuable plots in the conquered lands.

In the environment generated by the Augustus Military reforms the settlement of Britannia proceeded rapidly following the large wave of veteran's settling on the Island. Claudius acting to build the supporting infrastructure to continue the settlment wave and encouraged him to claim Wales in the 47 to 52 invasion. Laying down Roman infrastructure all the way to the beginning's of Brigantes and Parisi. With the infrastructure came the settlers required to maintain and service this. Rapidly beginnings the cities of the Legion stronghold of Britannia.



Elsewhere the Senate had difficulty controlling Claudius as he grew in confidence in his role it also let him indulge in running the Senate how he, the Emperor saw it as. Creating situations where the Senate had to act very firmly to stop him from overindulging in his role, and numerous edicts were issued during his reign. Claudius saw the role of the Senate decrease, and pushed through Senatorial reformations to this effect. Notably he was given to judging many legal trials in his reign and often time's it was the Senate's job to assist in this, ensuring his judgements were inside the view of the law and that his judgements were not variable.

As his reign approached 50 AD it became obvious that he favoured public works, fully funding the construction of Infrastructure in the Roman Empire, Claudius was responsible for building the Roman cities in Britannia. Commissioning cities following the campaigns to conquer Wales and starting the infrastructure needed to support the large movements of settler's to the area.

Claudius had never been to concerned with an Heir, lacking the Legion origins of the previous Emperor's he never felt the strong need to secure his throne with an Heir. In fact it is reported that Claudius at times shied away from choosing an heir. Prompted by his predecessor's concerns.
With a rehabilitating officer class following Sejanus' purges and a Senate that were looking to return to a republic choosing his Heir was never particularly important for Claudius. Reinforced by the 47 AD conquest of Britannia and it was only in 49 AD with his marriage to Agrippina that someone was able to convince Claudius of the importance of an Heir.

His adoptive son Nero Claudius Caesar was at the time eleven, and the Senate were not particularly enthused with the choice. But Claudius' view of the Senate as his advisor's did much to quieten their arguments against the eleven year old. When in 54 AD he would die by Agrippina's hand, Nero would enter into Office with a reduced Senate and a mother who sought to rule as his Regent.

I need someone to do maps, because I suck. So I'm just going to continue posting from google images.