The first thread wasnt that good, so i would rather make a new one. This is....well....the first "installment" if you like, to the an ATL i am writing (There will be only 3 installments). This currently depicts the civil war between Licinius and Constantine, with the defeat of the latter, and the religious turmoil that followed this events. The story ends at 400 AD with the beggining of the barbarian invasions.
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314 AD
In Colonia Aurelia Cibalae, Constantine is grossly defeated by Licinius. (The change from OTL to ATL). Constantine is forced to
withdraw back to Italian peninsula, signing a humiliating peace treaty which included to disband some of his veteran legions and
acknowledge Licinius the Younger as Ceasar. Constantine withdraws to Ravenna, and then to Rome, humiliated as the senate and the
people of Rome curse and insult him for his defeat. Licinius soldifies his power to the East. Nicomedia becomes the administation
center of the East part of the Roman Empire. Later in 314 the empire splits in two halves. Licinius turns Nicomedia from
administration center, to capital of the Eastern Empire and Constantine keeps Rome as the capital of the West.
315 - 316 AD
The empire is split in two halves. To the west, Constantine rules still, with the Edict Of Mediolanum still in charge. To the east,
Licinius continues to persecute the christians, whose numbers keep dropping lower and lower. The humiliated Constantine, is advised
constantly of revenge. Licinius raises his son, along with capable general from Andrianople Valerius Valens, to the rank of Augustus,
and awaits acknowledge from the western Emperor. Constantine refuses, and breaks the peace treaty. The civil war starts again. Naval
skirmish in the Adriatic end up in a stalemate. Constantine is ill-advised to draw legions from Gaul and begin the march.
Constantine, knowing that this would be catastrophic for the Gaulish provinces, he plans to raise new legions from Italy. It takes
around 2 years to raise a legion. Now, in one year or less, Constantine has to fill the gap that his defeat at Cibalae created.
317 AD
Early in 317, Constantine raised his army and begins the march towards the lands of Licinius. The Adriatic sea is dangerous, with the
two Roman fleets at a constant stalemate, the only path is to north Italy, to Aquileia, and from there, down to the lands of
Illyricum and then Dacia. Licinius, unable to abandon his anti-christian campaign to the east, sends general Valerius from
Andrianople. Licinius took message of Constantine's movements only after the latter one reached Cibalae, the battlefield where he was
defeated less than two years ago. The army of Constantine, unable to resupply due to the naval blockades, resorted to looting, while
staying in Illyricum. Without his veteran units, the Constantinian army is nothing more than young men who lack the experience of
fighting legionaries. Avoiding the coasts at any cost, Constantine's army, arrives at Sirmium and besieges it. The siege is long, and
the army of Valerius has taken note of the siege, by messenger. Their march pace is speeded up. If Sirmium falls, then the road is
open for the western army to reach Macedonia and Thrace. Valerius takes the Via Militaris and reaches Naissus to resupply. In the
mean time, Sirmium is starving. The besieging army has all the time to forage and loot whatever the defenders couldnt save.
Fortunately, Valerius arrives near the settlement of Sigindunum. Constantine cannot keep the siege, he withdraws and prepares for
battle. It is already summer, and the two armies, equally matched, meet at the fields between Sirmium and Sigindunum. The outcome of
the battle is a pyrrhic victory for Valerius, more of a stalemate, rather than a decisive move. Both armies withdrew towards
different directions. Constantine is isolated, battered and bleeding. His army moves to the north of Illyricum, razing whatever is
left from the previous months. By the end of the year, after starvation, guerrila fights and desertion, he reaches the Alps.
318 AD
The East might have won, but it was a strong blow for them as well. Valerius lost far too many soldiers. He already had entered
Sirmium with supplies, hailed as savior and divine, although this is far from the truth. The army leftovers stayed at Sirmium until
the winter of 317. Their march home started soon after, and they reached Thessalonica by the end of the year. From there, through Via
Egnatia, the army enters Andrianople. Licinius is on his way to Nikomedia, having succesfully persecutiond the christians from
Oriens. To the west, Constantine fails to reach Rome, as he dies from sickness, possibly dysentery. The surviving loyal soldiers
carry the message all the way to Rome. Crispus is still 16 years old and hardly knows anything about governing an Empire. Licinius
the Younger, lays claim upon the western throne, thus uniting the Empire again. The Roman senate refuses. The split between the two
realms becomes even greater. Emperor becomes Crispus, firstborn of Constantine. He immediately arrives from Gaul to receive the Roman
crown. Both parts of the Empire are exhausted and unwilling to commit more into the civil war. War continues, but the hostilities are
kept in small naval skirmishes. Legions are drawn from Gaul to Italy, in case of a naval invasion, although nothing like this
happens.
319 AD - 325 AD
In Western Empire, Crispus operates with the Edict Of Mediolanum. This causes unrest in Nikomedia between christians and followers of
the old faith. The persecution of the christians by Licinius starts again. Hundreds of christians flee to the West. Crispus seizes
the opportunity and contacts the eastern Emperor Licinius. The message is simple: peace, in exchange of religious tolerance. Licinius
and his advisors laughed at it. The persecution continues. To make matters further worse, Crispus converts to christianity. For the
first time in history of Roman Empire, and Emperor is a christian. The population has mixed feelings about this move. Unrest in the
western realm becomes stronger and stronger. The christian numbers increase day by day, while the old faith fades. Crispus, a pious
christian now, tries with peaceful methods to appease the crowds. The turmoil travels throughout the Italian peninsula, and into Gaul
and Iberia. The barbarians despise christianity, and the on hearing that the Emperor is now a christian, they rebel. The lack of
Roman legions favor the rebellion and soon, small Gaulish warlords proclaim themselves kings and overthrow the Roman yoke. Crispus
abandons the peacefull methods and launches an invasion into Gallic lands. Within the year 324, Gaul is reconquered, with some of the
former Gallic legions re-stationed there to avoid further discontent. In Iberia, situation is far calmer. The Iberians being far from
Rome, hardly take notice of what is happening to the Empire. Crispus returns in 325 in Rome, which flaired up as soon as he left.
Christianity is now a major religion in Rome, with the followers of the old faith becoming a small minority. Facing this turmoil,
Crispus makes christianity the state's religion. Himself a christian, just how Constantine, his father would want, he created a realm
where everyone is free to believe whatever he wants. Or so he believes.
325 - 330 AD
Within these years the numbers of christians increase in Rome and they start to increase in other parts of Italy as well. In Rome,
all the pagan temples have already been burned, destroyed, or simply made into christian churches. The same unrest that Rome has seen
8 years ago, is about to be seen in the whole western Roman world. Christianity is spreading, due to the continuous persecution of
the Eastern Emperor Licinius and the favorable christian lands of the West. The East hunts christianity with a passion, proclaiming
the old faith to be the one and true faith. The Eastern Empire now favors the ancient Roman god Janus, mostly by misinterpretations
of old scripts, when Rome was a small city called Latium. This ancient deity is revived in the Eastern Empire, combined with Platonic
scripts, it creates a strong religious backbone. Faith of Janus is signed as the official faith of the Eastern Empire, in the Edict
of Byzantium, considering christianity and judaism to be false. More and more christians flee to the west, leaving few people behind.
In Western Empire though, the numbers of refugees increase month by month, making squalor reach very high levels. In Rome, homeless
christians live and sleep in the Forum, as the emperor hastes to build camps and villages for them to stay. These 4 years the
religious word begins to spread. To the west, the christian monks start as new apostles, to teach the word of jesus christ. To the
east, the priests teach the ancient doctrines.
330 - 336 AD
The "proselytism" has begun. The Eastern Empire is passing down to the populus, ancient teachings about the gods, Romans and Greeks.
The new edict for the Eastern Empire acknowledges religious freedom, except to those of christianity and judaism. The message is
simple: conversion or exile. The first targets are the areas of Asia Minor and the greek cities of Europe. After more than 12 years
of persecution, there is still large number of christians in the empire. The center of the faith, the lands of Palestine are packed
with christians and jewish. The wave still hasnt reached those lands yet. To the west, Crispus is unable to maintain peace between
the immigrant refugees and the natives. Christian hits christian, christian robs christian, as the squalor reaches tremendous levels.
By the year 333 AD, this situation is more than what Rome can bear. Crispus, who by now is a devout christian, taught the virtues of
christianity and lived by them, as much an Emperor can do that, signs the order for religion persecution in the western lands...of
the pagans. He intends to payback the Eastern Emperor Licinius, with the same coin. With their numbers dropping month by month, the
pagans suffer as the legions burn their homes and force them to flee. This persecution will last for many more years, even after the
end of the christian torments to the East.
337 - 338 AD
The word reaches Gaul once again, that conversion or defeat is the Roman ultimatum. The Romans demand from Gaul to formally submit to
the one god, as Rome did 18 years ago. Gaul is flairing up once again, and the warlords, followers of Tutatis and Epona, march to war
against Rome. Crispus immediately seats his younger brother Constantine to the Roman throne, and travels to Gaul, to rest the
rebellion. After 1 year of campaigning, the Gaullish are defeated for second time, by their Roman adversaries. By the end of year 338
AD, Crispus reinstates Roman authority to Gaul. His emissaries are sent to all the surviving warlords of Gaul, they carry the
proposal that will secure peace and stability in Gaul. Many of them accept the offer and start their travel to the center of the
Roman world, Rome herself. In the mean time Licinius, who is more than 50 years old by now, delivers the final blow. Crucifications,
butchering, looting, rapings. If the Eastern Empire was the center of christianity, it certainly is not right now. Licinius, old,
tired and un-ethical reduced much of Eastern Empire. There are hardly any christians left, less than 10-15% of the population. The
fields, ravaged. The towns, full of ruins of christian churches. He successfully launches the persecution to the eastern parts of the
Empire, leading another handful of christians to seek refuge in Persian lands. The center of christianity and judaism, Jerusalem, has
been burned from side to side. Actions that cause more harm, than good to the Empire. By the end of the year 338 AD, the persentage
of christians dropped lower than 10% and soon to be extinct.
339 - 349 AD
Crispus meets up with the representatives of the Gauls. He offers them sanctification of their gods Epona and Esus, in order to
convert them to christianity, and to also satisfy their pagan beliefs. Forced by the spilled Gaullish blood, and the turmoil of the
times, many of them agree to the Roman terms. Those who dont, are presented with an awkward choice: to either flee to non-Roman
lands, or to leave Gaul and march towards the Eastern Empire. Crispus would grant free pass through Roman lands, no matter which
choice. To the East now. Licinius dies from old-age, on his way back to Nikomedia. Eastern Emperor becomes Licinius the younger, son
of Licinius, as Licinius the II. August and co-emperor becomes Valerius Valens who, although aged, he is still capable as commander.
As soon as Licinius gets to his fathers throne, he made it a target to rebuild the Empire, from the actions of his father. First was
the reconcilment between the two empires. Licinius II and Crispus signed a pact of non-aggression and the exchange of populations, an
act that would last for the next 10 years, instead of brutal persecutions. Many Gaullish warriors found themselves and their families
moving towards the balkans these and the next years, seeking religious freedom. The exchange was hardly finished in 10 years, with
hordes of Gaullish people swarming Illyricum. Settling in Macedonia and Pannonia, Licinius II grants them citizenship, knowing that
they will be the plaster for the rebuild of the Empire. To the west, the pagan Gauls abandoned their homes, but the remaining became
christians, praising Epona and Esus as christian saints. The conversion was slow, but it took place and reached entire Gaul. Lugdunum
was the first Gaullish city to erect a christian temple dedicated to Epona.
350 AD
Valerius Valens is the victor over Constantine. The cocky August served the east Empire all his life, with little to earn. Ambitious,
despite his old age, he dreams of Imperial purple. Yes, he wants the throne for himself, and why not, the Roman throne as well? The
new emperor is not Licinius, he is nothing but a ghost of Licinius administration. In his mind, he believes that HE is the true heir,
he is the rightfull heir, not Licinius II. So he makes the big plan. By the Via Egnatia, he moves to the south greece and plans to
take over from there. He knows that Licinius is still in the eyes of the Legions, the true and only Emperor and that the legions of
East would follow him, and he knows that his only chance is to march his army to Peloponessus and let the Imperial legions follow
him, so he can make his stand here, on the rough hills of Attica and Peloponessus. His soldiers at Andrianople are newly trained.
They are no match for superior forces of Licinius, but there, the narrow paths and the hillfight favor the defender. So when the
Emperor will arrive to punish him, he can emerge victorious. A smart plan indeed. By mid 350, he drags his army towards southern
Greece. He takes Via Egnatia once more, bypasses the city of Thessaloniki and the garrison and starts his march to the south. Greece
is looted and the villages burned. He crosses the Isthmus and pillages the little wealth Peloponesse has to offer. The small
regiments of Peloponessus capitulate. News reach the Emperor of Valerius betrayal. By the end of the year, Licinius II is forced to
act. He raised his army, and begins the march. At the same time, his messengers arrive to the gaullish camps and villages to ask for
warriors, willing to fight for the Emperor who gave them shelter. By the next year, history is about to decide the fate of the
Eastern Roman Empire.
351 AD
The Imperial army reaches south greek. It crosses the Isthmus in mid march. These lands are narrow indeed. Although Licinius has the
advantage of number, it means nothing here, as they would have to fight in a narrow path, or charge upwards a mountain. After weeks
of march, the Licinius army met the usurper Valerius at the banks of river Eurota. Small skirmishes between the camps during the next
days. For 5 days soldiers fight and die in attriction and skirmishing. At the beggining of the 6th day, Valerius Valens dies from old
age. The army's second in command, a minor Greek christian named Ioannes, surrenders unconditionally. The rebel army surrenders after
this move, followed by a decimation, and the transfer of the surviving men to the very eastern borders. The coup-d-etat is officially
defeated. Licinius II returns to Nicomedia without a triumph. To the West, the Christian faith is stable now between Romans and
barbarians, forming a sort of unity. Crispus knows that both realms are part of an Empire, who's bad luck was to split, so he asks
for meeting with the Eastern Emperor. The two meet by the end of the year in the city of Naissus, who by own is populated mainly by
Celts who abandoned Gaul. After days and weeks of discussion, the persecution of christianity stops in the Eastern empire. Licinius
and Crispus sign the Edict of Naissus, which basically repeats the Edict of Mediolanum, for the Eastern Empire. They also sign a pact
of military support and a 100 years non-agression. With these terms, its little to separate it from an alliance between the two
realms.
352 - 400 AD
Various events happen during this period, which is full of Emperors who fail to have their name carved in history. The Celtic
christianity of Saint Epona and Saint Esus mergers with Christianity to the Western empire. The two empires seem to live in
stability. Not as much as the old days when the Roman empire was at the peak of its power, but it is still a civilised land to live.
Until now. To the west, more and more German tribes appear to the horizon, crossing the Roman borders and settling in, mostly in
Alpean Gaul and the lands around Aquileia. There is general hostility between Romanised nations and barbarians and that leads to
situations unfavorable for the first ones. To the east, the large number of Gauls settles in the area of Thrace. The cities of
Andrianople and Phillipople speak Celtic as their second language. This forces the Eastern emperor to grand them rights, and equal
citizenship. With them, they bring the worship of Epona, who was mentioned before, as the goddess of war for the pagan Celts, but now
has little to no different from Saint Epona, protector of christian Celts. Many non ethnic Celts adopt this new religion, as they see
is something between the old faith and christianity. Within these 50 years, much of the Balkan lands follow this religion, as it
starts to spread in the Asia Minor as well. While these happens to the East, the West suffers even more. The pagan Germans becomes
more and more of a burden for the Roman emperor, as they dont pay taxation, they refuse to settle and ravage the lands. The western
empire considers them now as invaders and not as settlers. The Germans defeat a Roman army, and they soldify their positions in north
Italy. To Gaul, the Frankish tribes invade Gaul in the same style, overthrowing the Roman yoke in many cities of western Gaul and
establishing them as rulers. By the 70s of the 4th century, the Western Empire is split in half. Rome possesses almost all Italy,
Sicily and the africa shorelands, along with Ibera. The German tribes hold north Italy and the Alps. The Franks take over half Gaul,
with Roman authority only to the west lands. Typically its still Western empire, but you can hardly call the people Romans. The
barbarians bring with them the savageness of their lands. In order to Romanise them, and to hopefully ensure stability and dont break
apart, the Emperor grants them the right of Roman citizenship, along with military positions for their warlords, as long as they
convert to christianity. The new settlers, they are aware of the prestige Rome had and still has, and accept, because a few small
victories do not ensure their existance. To the east, Gothic germans appear to the Danube. While they still havent crossed the
Danube, the eastern emperor sends legions to the cold frontiers. In the mind of both the Eastern and the Western Roman Emperor lies
one question: What could cause thousands, even hundreds of thousands of people to leave their homelands and start crossing into the
Roman lands so desperately? Problems do not stop to occure though, throughout the Roman world. The Berber Magistrate of Africa
rebels. The Roman legions fail to restore order, and the rebellion spreads to the entire Africa coastline, except the Egyptian lands.
Seeing these kind of events, it is expedient that the army should be reformed. Otherwise more and more military defeats will be dealt
to the Empire.
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Any thoughts so far?