Discussion about this timeline must take place in this thread.
451:
[1] The first noticeable divergence from OTL is the survival of Theodoric I during the battle
[2] The council's decision is rejected by Armenians, who couldn't send a delegation due to their rebellion, and many in Ægyptus and Syria, who felt dyophysitism was too similar to Nestorianism
[3] The second noticeable divergence is that Attila doesn't die, and thus he is able to continue out his plan to punish Marcian for canceling the Eastern Empire's tribute to the Huns
[4] Butterflies cause this to happen a year early
[5] Some believe that Petronius Maximus was also behind the assassination of Aëtius, feeling spited for not being named a consul after his death
[6] Geiseric's son, Huneric, is engaged to Eudocia
[7] Theodoric I has an issue to settle with the Vandali, as Huneric was previously married to one of his daughters, but later sent her back home with her ears and nose mutilated
[8] Unlike OTL, Dengizich and Ernakh don't fight against Ellac over who gets what tribe, although there is enough tension between them to provoke rebellions amongst some of the vassals
[9] Tarasicodissa in OTL would become Emperor Zeno, but in ATL he's leading the Isaurian revolt
[10] Theodoric I and his son Thorismund were on one of the ships sunk by the Vandali
[11] Anthemius was one of the leaders against the Huns in Thracia and was thus also scapegoated by Leo
[12] Olybrius is chosen because of his wife, both for her connections to bloodline of Theodosius I and her connections to the Vandali via her sister
[13] The province, not the continent
[14] Aspar is, obviously, not happy at all with the Huns, but Ellac reminds him that it is he who has the larger army
[15] Osrhoene, inland Syria, and western Armenia
[16] The city's repairs were more focused on defending against further invasion from the west, not the east
[17] Aspar feels spited because Leo recognized Basiliscus' independence and not his
[18] Patricius is placed on the throne by Verina, Leo's widow, as Patricius has been her lover for some time
[19] This marks the traditional end of the Eastern Empire
[20] Theodemir is trying to keep the Roman (well, technically Greek) populace from revolting by leaving most of the internal administration intact
[21] Anthemius is the most likely cause of Aspar's death, as he is now solely in charge of the kingdom
[22] The official claim for his legitimacy is that he is married to former Eastern Emperor Leo's niece, but the fact that he is Marcellinus' nephew probably shows where most of his support is coming from
[23] Anthemius feels that the long term survival of his kingdom could depend on friendly relations with Roma
[24] Romulus is Orestes' son...connect the dots
451:
The Huns sack Divodurum [Metz], but are later defeated at the Battle of Catalaunum [Chalons] [1]
The Sassanids defeat the Armenians at the Battle of Vartanantz [Avarayr], killing Armenian leader Vartan Mamikonian, whose nephew Vahan would continue Armenian resistance
The Council of Chalcedon is held, in which the doctrine of dyophysitism is adopted [2], and the Patriarch of Alexandria, Dioscorus I, is exiled for his miaphysite beliefs and is replaced by Proterius of Alexandria
452:
The Huns invade Italia and destroy the city of Aemona [Emona]
Venetia is founded by Italian refugees fleeing the Hunnic invasion
Pope Leo I is able to convince Attila the Hun to withdraw from Italia
453:
The Huns invade the Balkans (again) [3]
General Aëtius is assassinated by Valentinian III, who feels Aëtius wants to put his son on the thrown [4]
Marcellinus, who controlled the soldiers in Dalmatia, rebels in response to the assassination
454:
The Huns besiege Constantinople, and Attila's son, Ellac, proves himself a capable commander
Axum decides to support the miaphysites in Ægyptus
Valentinian III is killed by former soldiers of Aëtius, and is replaced by Petronius Maximus [5]
Geiseric, king of the Vandali, invades the Western Empire, feeling Valentinian's death voids his treaty from 442
Petronius Maximus is killed by a mob, and soldiers declare magister militum Avitus emperor, who is in Tolosa [Toulouse] getting Visigothic aid against the Vandali
Olybrius flees to Ephesus
Pope Leo I convinces Geiseric to leave Roma intact, but the Vandali do loot and take Empress Eudoxia and her daughters Eudocia and Placidia hostage [6]
455:
The Visigoths are ceded Septimania in order to give them a Mediterranean port so that they may aid the Roman navy against the Vandali [7]
The Jutish ruler Hengest defeats the Briton king Vortigern and gains control over Kent
The Vandali sack Capua
The Isaurians begin to revolt against the Eastern Empire
Marcian dies and is replaced by Leo
Leo makes peace with Attila by resuming the tribute and ceding most of the Dioceses of Dacia and Thracia
A navy led by Ricimer and Theodoric I defeats the Vandali off the coast of Corsica
Avitus is deposed due to his consideration as a foreigner by the Italians and the famine in Roma brought about by the Vandali blockade
456:
Burgundians negotiate territorial expansion with local Roman senators
Disturbances begin on the Armenian frontier of the Eastern Empire
The Huns turn back north, defeating Marcellinus' Dalmatian forces and forcing him to pay a hefty tribute
Aspar, the Eastern Empire's magister militum, is used as a scapegoat for the defeat against the Huns; he is accused of treason but manages to escape to Achaea
Ricimer declares Majorian the Western Emperor
Visigoths capture the Baleares from the Vandali
457:
The Huns, once again, invade Italia, but are halted at the Battle of Bononia [Bologna], during which Attila is killed
Ellac, Attila's successor, barely manages to keep control of his vassals, and spends two years putting down rebellions across his empire [8]
Hormizd III seizes the throne after the death of his father, Yazdegerd II, prompting his elder brother Peroz to rebel against his rule with the support of the Hephthalites
Albania revolts against Persian rule
Aspar begins fermenting revolt against Leo
To try to regain some face, Leo pays the ransom for Eudoxia and Placidia
Childeric I succeeds Merovech as king of the Salian Franks
The Vandali are defeated in Campania by magister militum Nepotianus
Hengest and his son Oisc defeat the Britons, who retreat back to Londinium [London]
458:
Olybrius marries Placidia
Majorian reverses the territorial gains of the Burgundians
Envoys from Aspar reach Ellac and Tarasicodissa [9] asking for secret aid in his rebellion against Leo
The Isaurians sack Iconia [Konya]
Proterius, a dyophysite Patriarch of Alexandria, is deposed and replaced by the miaphysite Timothy II of Alexandria
459:
Peroz I becomes the Sassanid Shahanshah after deposing Hormizd
Albania brought back under Persian control
The Huns, once again, invade the Balkans and lay siege to Constantinople
The Vandali ambush and destroy the Western Empire's fleet off of Hispania, forcing Majorian to recognize Vandali control of Sicilia and Sardinia
Theodoric II becomes King of the Visigoths [10]
Peroz I takes advantage of the discord in the Eastern Empire and invades Syria, capturing Edessa [Sanliurfa]
Aspar is by now in control of most of the Peloponnesus and Attica
460:
The Sassanids capture Palmyra [Tadmor]
The Suevi are contained in western Hispania by Theodoric II at the Battle of Segovia
Aspar decides to put forth Anthemius as a claimant to the throne [11]
A mutiny forces Majorian to resign as Emperor and Ricimer proclaims Olybrius emperor [12]
Aegidius, magister militum per Gallias and a supporter of Majorian, sets up his own rump state in northern Gaul
461:
The Isaurians sack Perga [near modern Antalya]
Hilarius succeeds Leo I as Catholic Pope
The Sassanids capture Damascus, but are later defeated at the Battle of Caesarea Philippi [Banias] by Basiliscus, magister militum per Oriens and Leo's brother-in-law
Aspar is by now in control of most territory up into Thessaly, and a few revolts break out in Asia [13]
A failed coup causes chaos in Constantinople, providing the Huns with an opportunity to break through the city's walls and loot the {insert expletive of choice} out of it [14], prompting Leo to flee to Ephesus
The Huns cross over into Anatolia, and Aspar's army "liberates" Constantinople
462:
With a stalemate in the Levant, Peroz I turns his attention to the Eastern Empire's Armenian territories, and captures Amida [Diyarbakir], Arsamosata [Elazig], and Theodosiopolis [Erzurum]
The Isaurians sack Antiochia [near modern Yalvaç]
The Huns capture Nicomedia [Izmit], Nicaea [Iznik], and Dorylaeum [near modern Eskisehir]
463:
Aspar is by now in control of most of the Diocese of Macedonia
The Isaurians sack Caesarea [Kayseri]
In order to cut his losses, Leo cedes eastern territory [15] to the Sassanids
Basiliscus feels cheated out of possible victory, so he rebels, disregards Leo's peace treaty, and continues the war
What remains of the East Roman Levant pledges support to Basiliscus
Dengizich succeeds Ellac as Khan of the Huns
The Germanic vassal tribes of the Huns rebel; they are led by the Ostrogoths under Theodemir and the Gepidae under Ardaric
464:
Dengizich is killed at the Battle of Heraclea Perinthus [Marmara Eregli] and is succeeded by Ernakh, who flees back with the remaining Huns to Pannonia
The Heruli and Scirii, led by Odovacar, continue to travel east, capturing the city of Gangra [Cankiri]
Basiliscus gains support from Ægyptus, and the miaphysites that live there, by allowing Timothy II to return as Patriarch of Alexandria
Aegidius and Childeric I halt Visigothic expansion northward at the Battle of Limonum [Poitiers]
A famine begins in Sassanid territory
Basiliscus recaptures Damascus and Palmyra [Tadmor]
A loose coalition of Germanic tribes, led by the Ostrogoths and Gepidae, capture and hold Constantinople [16], forcing Aspar and Anthemius to flee back to Achaea
Anthemius establishes diplomatic relations with Marcellinus in hopes of forming an alliance against the Ostrogoths and Gepidae
Syagrius succeeds Aegidius as Dux of Noviodunum [Soissons]
Orestes, formerly in the service of the Huns, returns to the Western Empire
465:
Due to the famine, the Sassanids are unable to make the annual tribute to the Hephthalites, who invade soon after
Theodemir formally declares an Ostrogothic kingdom based in Thracia and northwestern Anatolia, and he captures the cities of Claudiopolis [Bolu], Ancyra [Ankara], Pessinus [Ballihisar], and Cyzicus [Kyzikos]
Ardaric establishes a Gepid kingdom in approximately the Diocese of Dacia
With the threat of invasion from the east, Peroz I negotiates peace with Basiliscus by ceding all territory southwest of the Euphrates
The area around the cities of Antioch [Antakya] and Tarsus pledge their support for Basiliscus
Marcellinus allows the Rugii to settle in his territory in exchange for military service
Odovacar captures Sinope [Sinop] and Amasia [Amasya]
The Isaurians sack Tyana [Kilisse-Hissar]
Marcellinus, bolstered with his new Rugii soldiers, invades the Gepid kingdom and captures Singidunum [Belgrade]
466:
Hengest and his son Oisc slay 10 Briton leaders at the Battle of Wippedesfleote
Ardaric is killed in a battle near Naissus [Niš] and the remaining Gepidae flee north across the Danuvius [Danube] to the Pannonian Basin, and Marcellinus and Anthemius divide up the former kingdom between them
Marcellinus refuses to swear allegiance to the Western Empire
The Isaurians sack Seleucia [Silifke]
Leo officially recognizes Basiliscus' independence
Aspar forms an alliance with the Vandali against the Eastern Empire [17]
Odovacar captures Neocaesarea [Niksar]
Theodemir defeats a large East Roman army near outside of Sardis [Sart] and takes the city
467:
Peroz I is defeated in battle by the Hephthalites and his son Kavadh is taken hostage
The Vandali decimate the Eastern Empire's navy off of Creta, which falls under the control of Aspar and Anthemius soon after; this defeat prompts the Western Empire to declare war on the Vandali
Olybrius' ties to the Vandali are no longer seen as beneficial by Ricimer, so Olybrius is deposed and Glycerius becomes the Western Emperor
Odovacar captures the remainder of NE Anatolia still loyal to the Eastern Empire
Theodemir besieges Ephesus
468:
Simplicius succeeds Hilarius as Catholic Pope
Anthemius and Aspar decide to support the Vandali in their war against the Western Empire
Ricimer defeats the Vandali at the Battle of Agrigentum [Agrigento]
Marcellinus does not ally with Anthemius and Aspar against the Western Empire, but he offer them the use of some of his troops
Ephesus falls to the Ostrogoths and Emperor Leo is killed
Patricius declares himself Eastern Emperor [18]
Anthemius defeats a West Roman army at Brundisium [Brindisi]
469:
The Vandali defeat Ricimer at the Battle of Catina [Catania]
The last East Roman military resistance is quashed by Theodemir at the Battle of Myra [Demre], during which Patricius is killed [19]
Cyprus, the last bit of territory controlled by the Eastern Empire, pledges allegiance to Basiliscus
Theodoric Strabo convinces Theodemir not to launch a campaign into Aspar and Anthemius' territory, as he is Aspar's brother-in-law
Euric succeeds Theodoric II as King of the Visigoths
470:
Glycerius request the aid of Briton king Riothamus against Visigothic expansion
Ricimer is killed in the Battle of Syracusae [Syracuse] by the Vandali and is succeeded as magister militum by his Burgundian nephew, Gundobad
Glycerius is forced by the Vandali to reaffirm their recognition of Vandali overlordship of North Africa, Sicilia, and Sardinia
The Visigoths utterly defeat Riothamus' army in central Gaul, but he manages to flee to Burgundian territory
471:
Acacius succeeds Gennadius as Patriarch of Constantinople [20]
Aspar dies mysteriously, but is survived by his sons Ardabur and Ermanaric [21]
The Sassanid famine ends
Gundobad convinces Glycerius to substantially increase the Burgundians' territory
472:
The Visigoths force Glycerius to recognize their independence
Roman senators revolt against Glycerius and proclaim Julius Nepos to be Emperor [22]
Marcellinus declares allegiance to Julius Nepos
Peroz I finally collects enough money to pay for the release of Kavadh
Nepos' army defeats Gundobad's at Florentia [Florence]
473:
An attempted invasion of Marcellinus' territory is halted near Siscia [Sisak]
Anthemius declares allegiance to Julius Nepos [23]
Gundioc, king of the Burgundians, dies and his territory is divided amongst his four sons, Godegisel, Chilperic, Gundomar, and Gundobad, who is replaced as magister militum by Orestes
Romulus Augustus succeeds Glycerius as West Roman Emperor [24]
The Rugii serving Marcellinus revolt, not wanting to be part of the Roman Empire
474:
With the deposition of the unpopular emperor Glycerius and the rebellion in Dalmatia, Nepos' movement loses momentum and his army is defeated by Orestes' at Asisium [Assisi], forcing him to retreat far to the south
Marcellinus is killed in battle with the Rugii at Salonae [near modern Split]
With Marcellinus' death, the Gepidae begin to travel back south to retake their former territory
Romulus Augustus attempts to reverse the territorial expansion granted to the Burgundians, leading Gundobad and his brothers to revolt against Roma
Gundobad defeats Orestes near Taurinorum [Turin]
475:
Orestes is captured near Brixia [Brescia] and executed shortly thereafter
Anthemius annexes the last remnants of Dalmatia not controlled by the Rugii or Gepidae
The Burgundians capture Ravenna and depose Romulus Augustus
Gundobad announces the end of the Roman Empire, and the newly formed Regnum Italia (which includes the Burgundians' territory) is divided amongst him and his three brothers
-------------------
[1] The first noticeable divergence from OTL is the survival of Theodoric I during the battle
[2] The council's decision is rejected by Armenians, who couldn't send a delegation due to their rebellion, and many in Ægyptus and Syria, who felt dyophysitism was too similar to Nestorianism
[3] The second noticeable divergence is that Attila doesn't die, and thus he is able to continue out his plan to punish Marcian for canceling the Eastern Empire's tribute to the Huns
[4] Butterflies cause this to happen a year early
[5] Some believe that Petronius Maximus was also behind the assassination of Aëtius, feeling spited for not being named a consul after his death
[6] Geiseric's son, Huneric, is engaged to Eudocia
[7] Theodoric I has an issue to settle with the Vandali, as Huneric was previously married to one of his daughters, but later sent her back home with her ears and nose mutilated
[8] Unlike OTL, Dengizich and Ernakh don't fight against Ellac over who gets what tribe, although there is enough tension between them to provoke rebellions amongst some of the vassals
[9] Tarasicodissa in OTL would become Emperor Zeno, but in ATL he's leading the Isaurian revolt
[10] Theodoric I and his son Thorismund were on one of the ships sunk by the Vandali
[11] Anthemius was one of the leaders against the Huns in Thracia and was thus also scapegoated by Leo
[12] Olybrius is chosen because of his wife, both for her connections to bloodline of Theodosius I and her connections to the Vandali via her sister
[13] The province, not the continent
[14] Aspar is, obviously, not happy at all with the Huns, but Ellac reminds him that it is he who has the larger army
[15] Osrhoene, inland Syria, and western Armenia
[16] The city's repairs were more focused on defending against further invasion from the west, not the east
[17] Aspar feels spited because Leo recognized Basiliscus' independence and not his
[18] Patricius is placed on the throne by Verina, Leo's widow, as Patricius has been her lover for some time
[19] This marks the traditional end of the Eastern Empire
[20] Theodemir is trying to keep the Roman (well, technically Greek) populace from revolting by leaving most of the internal administration intact
[21] Anthemius is the most likely cause of Aspar's death, as he is now solely in charge of the kingdom
[22] The official claim for his legitimacy is that he is married to former Eastern Emperor Leo's niece, but the fact that he is Marcellinus' nephew probably shows where most of his support is coming from
[23] Anthemius feels that the long term survival of his kingdom could depend on friendly relations with Roma
[24] Romulus is Orestes' son...connect the dots