Belisarius, Emperor - Pre-TL Discussion

Planning to work on a new TL, entitled Belisarius, Emperor which features Flavius Belisarius, Justinian's general, becoming Eastern Roman Emperor. POD is in 535 AD. Butterflies include no Plague of Justinian, a militarily stronger and larger ERE, and so forth.

So, my question is: what is the most plausible way to have Belisarius become Emperor? If I can just figure out how to achieve this, everything will fall into place.

Thanks in advance!
 
Planning to work on a new TL, entitled Belisarius, Emperor which features Flavius Belisarius, Justinian's general, becoming Eastern Roman Emperor. POD is in 535 AD. Butterflies include no Plague of Justinian, a militarily stronger and larger ERE, and so forth.

So, my question is: what is the most plausible way to have Belisarius become Emperor? If I can just figure out how to achieve this, everything will fall into place.

Thanks in advance!

In 540 Belisarius accepted the offer to become king of the Ostrogoths. So Italy remain indipendent from ERE... but this is only a suggestion.;)
 
I have a TL idea about the very same thing.

Do NOT take this (as i may very well wish to use it ;)), mearly use it for inspiration. (Cite me if this TL uses anything Simmilar)

Besalarius is influneced by the Nika riots because Justinian I tried to cheat him from his pay (something he did to ALOT of ppl) . He joins with the Riot and rises to prominence in a small Skirmish with Pro justinian forces, after which He is chosen lead the army of rioters to depose Justinian. After a bloody battle the Rioters kill Justinian. After a breakdown of Order, Besalarius is hailed Emperor by the Senate, due to his Orgnaizational abilites and proven leadership.
 
A POD I once proposed went something like this...

- Justinian and Theodora never do hold their nerve, and flee Constantinople during the Nika Riots, going into exile in Persia or somewhere and never returning. Hypatos, nephew of Anastasius, becomes Emperor at the proposal of the Nika Rioters, but is elderly. The African expedition goes ahead as OTL, but, on Belisarius' return to Constantinople, he discovers the Emperor is dying. Hypatos names Belisarius his successor, and Belisarius thus becomes Emperor in 535.

This is a POD explicitly designed to avoid the OTL problem of Belisarius' loyalty to the throne in Constantinople: in this world, he is proclaimed as Emperor by the Emperor himself, and thus, is fully legitimate.
 
Besalarius is influneced by the Nika riots because Justinian I tried to cheat him from his pay (something he did to ALOT of ppl) . He joins with the Riot and rises to prominence in a small Skirmish with Pro justinian forces, after which He is chosen lead the army of rioters to depose Justinian. After a bloody battle the Rioters kill Justinian. After a breakdown of Order, Besalarius is hailed Emperor by the Senate, due to his Orgnaizational abilites and proven leadership.

I hate to be this guy to be all grumpy and what not, but the Nika riots and the factions in general have been recognized, especially since the mid-1970s has having been little more than glorified sports clubs. Sort of like football hooligans. Actually, exactly like foorball hooligans. There were no pro- or anti- Justinian forces in the riots. The crowning of Hypatius was never something particularly serious, nor was it planned, it only seemed to occur when Justinian spent three days trying to negotiate with them by deposing people like John of Cappadocia, before he realised that they were just an angry mob of sports fans whose anger extended to the rest of the city and it became a general riot.

Belisarius wouldn't betray the emperor like that either. And if you believe Procopius (I don't) his wife's unwomenly behaviour lost the respect of his troops. The lack of respect from his soldiers might not be wholly off as mind you they did ignore his pleas to not go into battle at Callinicum. They got beaten too.
 
Justinian lived to a ripe old age, very ripe for those times, and also lost his touch when Theodora died, so if Justinian gets a major cold after that point, and the legions elected Belisarius...? Who would gainsay him, John probably, but not perhaps Narsus.
 
Justinian lived to a ripe old age, very ripe for those times, and also lost his touch when Theodora died, so if Justinian gets a major cold after that point, and the legions elected Belisarius...? Who would gainsay him, John probably, but not perhaps Narsus.

Agree. John could have good chances, Narses few because of his physical situation...
 
Top