Birth of The Great Celtic Empire

Please forgive me as this is my first timeline and it may be totally ASB but any and all help would be welcomed. My POD is that Valentinian III is killed before OTL. And Boniface/Bonifacius survives as does Flavius Aetius.



"Caesar is dead. The cowards have killed him. Valentinian is with god now."

The rumours flew thick and fast, Valentinian III assassinated as he slept, the young child emperor murdered much like many a caesar before him.

The western Roman Empire was already in delcine, this would surely be the final deathknell for the greatest empire of all time?

Flavius Aetius, Boniface & countless other generals now sought to consolidate their power within the crumbling walls of Rome herself but they would face challenges, claims and threats from barbarians galore for the right to rule over the decaying lands of Rome.




I know this is short but I could use some help :)
 
I'll be having Aetius flee to the british Isles rather than remian in Gaul. Boniface will consolidate North Africa & using the Vandals control Hispania. I'm thinking who is strong enough to force Aetius to the British isles whilst not having Boniface assume complet dominion etc.
 
Flavius Aetius, one of the last great Romans now saw his chance, lesser genera;s would either attempt to carve their own kingdom or flock under his banner or that of the Count Boniface.

Gaul was the true seat of power for Aetius, Rome and its cities on the Italian peninsula were roguth with weaknesses, corruption and excess being the major gripes of his.

He was by no means the perfect warrior or man but he was the Perfect Roman! He knew all the inner workings, the machiavellian diatribe, everything that there was to knwo of Rome, he knew. Yet this would be his downfall.

As the young Valentinian III lay dead in his chambers the empire, fracturing already was close to near collapse. Boniface had the upper hand, he had supplies, many men and what some for years had dubbed 'A Hispanic Empire'. Aetius knew he had to quickly restore order before his rival seized the throne, a move that if were allowed to happen would end with possibly Aetius losing his head.

But claimants to the throne were pouring out of the woodwork, the most obvious to many was the Byzantine emperor. Mnay more were sure to come.


POD: Valentinian is young, say 4 years old, the usuper Joannes has been killed beforehand and so Valentinian was under the protection of another. But with his detah this leaves the door open. Attila has yet to surface but will in 426A.D. this is 424 A.D.

I hope the dates are correct
 
Bonface or Bonifacius as scholars now know of him was Aetius' equal and possibly superior in some ways, yet this man was arrogant, he waas one of the last great Romans but he suffered with what many Roman leaders all succumbed to, delusions of grandeur and designs for the seat of power.

With his Hispanic territories flourishing he needn't even bother himself with the troubles of Rome but then again, Rome is Rome, even if the empire did not exist truly in any form anymore, the Byzantines will surely tell you otherwise, the prestige of being THE Roman Emperor in the West is something Boniface could not resist.

It was decided, he would march on Rome, ignoring the threat of Aetius in the north as he attempte to consoldiate his power and keep the empire from falling apart.
 
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