Commodus' Empire

The Fourth Century

304:
Claudius' son and heir Geta becomes emperor.

305:
Geta attacks the Goths and pushes them north of the Danaper. The newly conquered territory is settled with Christian exiles, who become subjects of the Bosporan king.

306:
Determined to end the barbarian threat once and for all, Geta raises two new legions and begins planning an expedition against the German tribes.

310:
Geta crosses the Rhenus and begins attacking the Franks.

313:
The Franks are finally defeated, and the Limes Germanicus are extended to the Albis river. Geta's younger brother Alexandrus is appointed governor of the new province of Magna Germania.

310s-320s:
Worship of Sol Invictus increases throughout the empire, promoted by the emperor who is now closely tied to the cult.

325:
Geta dies of natural causes and is succeeded by his son, Claudius III.

326:
Claudius III marries Lutatia Lepida

November 12, 330:
Vandals invade Pannonia. Claudius III is killed in battle near Sirmium

November 15, 330:
On the day news of her husband's death reaches Rome, Lutatia Lepida gives birth to a son, named Claudius in honor of his father. The infant Claudius IV is almost immediately bundled off to a country estate so as to protect him from those who would wish to assume the purple themselves.

January 12, 331:
Claudius III's younger brother Saturninus leads an army against the Vandals. Weakened by their earlier battles, the Vandals are defeated near Aquileia.

331-333:
Lutatia Lepida serves as an uneasy mediator between her brothers and those of her late husband, who swiftly begin fighting over who should rule in Claudius IV's name. Eventually, they compromise with one brother from each side serving as consul.

335-338:
A rebellion in Britannia is suppressed with some difficulty due to the conflict between the emperor's uncles in charge of the army.

345:
Emperor Claudius IV becomes consul, along with his favorite Pomponius Regulus. The son of an influential senator, Pomponius Regulus' relationship with the emperor raises eyebrows among the conservative Roman aristocracy, but no one says anything aloud for fear of incurring the wrath of the emperor's mother.

346:
Claudius IV resolves the conflict among his uncles by appointing them all governors of far-flung provinces.

340s-350s
Emulating Julia Domna 150 years before, Lutatia Lepida uses her position as the emperor's mother to advance philosophy, learning, and the arts. She expands the Library of Julia Domna in Rome, and establishes a library named for herself in her hometown of Londinium. She also convinces her son, who is primarily interested in ensuring the financial soundness of the empire to send embassies to China. As a result of her example, patronage of and participation in intellectual pursuits becomes a common vocation among wealthy Roman women.

360:
A Roman embassy is received at the court of Emperor Mu of Jin (whose early career was intriguingly similar to that of Claudius IV), they return with samples of Jin pottery and some Chinese scholars for the libraries at Rome, Alexandria, and Londinium.

360s:
Chinese philosophical and medical texts are translated into Latin and begin influencing Roman doctors.

374:
A hitherto unnoticed barbarian tribe, the Huns, invades the by-now largely Christian Bosporan Kingdom. Claudius IV takes an army to assist the Bosporans.

375:
Claudius finds that the Huns' horsemanship and archery tactics make them difficult to defeat in the field. He retreats to a the castra of Charax, and the Huns lay siege. Another Roman legion, led by one of Claudius' cousins, is dispatched to relieve the garrison.

376:
After suffering a defeat at Charax, the Huns agree to a treaty with the Romans. They retreat, accepting a payment from the Bosporan king and promising not to invade Roman territory.

380s-390s:
The Roman empire enjoys a period of peace and prosperity, and Claudius IV concentrates on improving the imperial infrastructure and building the baths that would bear his name.

400:
Claudius IV dies, childless. His nephew, Tiberius Germanicus, is his designated heir and promptly assumes power.
 
The 400s

401:
Tiberius Germanicus orders provinces to refurbish and extend their border fortifications.

Early 400s:
The Huns expand westward, forcing the migration of the Germanic tribes.

November 18, 401:
Amidst an unusually cold winter, an army of Goths and Vandals invades Rhaetia

January 12, 401:
Tiberius Germanicus draws the Gothic-Vandal Army along the Via Claudia Augusta. They are unable to break the concentrated Roman force and withdraw after suffering heavy casualties.

April 6, 401:
Tiberius Germanicus captures the Gothic king. He is released after promising obedience and tribute to Rome.

December 31, 405:
A massive force of Vandals and other tribes crosses the Albis.

February 10, 406:
With a massive force led by Tiberius Germanicus on the way from Rome, the Vandals destroy a Roman legion, but are heavily weakened in the process.

August 23, 406:
Tiberius Germanicus deals a massive defeat to the Vandals near Mogontiacum.

407-410:
Tiberius Germanicus attacks the territories of the Vandals, Goths, and Saxons, and installs a series of Frankish and Anglii client-kings.
 

Dirk_Pitt

Banned
This is interesting. Without the migrations into Gaul and Hispania this will make the future very interesting if and when the Roman Empire collapses. Are you trying to set up Rome as the China of the West, falling apart for a few centuries only to reunite?
 
The Crisis of the Fifth Century

410-412:
In response to his experiences in the Gothic Wars, Tiberius Germanicus reforms the structure of the legions, creating a greater role for cavalry.

Winter, 412:
Tiberius Germanicus sends an embassy to the Huns, extracting a renewed promise not to attack Rome or its client kingdoms.

March, 416:
The philosopher and astronomer Hypatia of Alexandria articulates a heliocentric model of the universe. Initially, it fails to replace the geocentric Ptolemaic model.

422:
An earthquake damages the Flavian Ampitheater, and it is rebuilt on the orders of Tiberius Germanicus.

August 15, 423:
Tiberius Germanicus dies shortly after returning from the first gladiatoral games in the rebuilt Flavian Ampitheater. He is succeeded by his son Balbinus.

425:
While at war with the Goths, the army of the Huns is struck by a plague.

427:
The Hepthalites invade Parthia. The thinly spread Roman forces are unable to defeat them, and retreat to the Tigris.

430:
Balbinus is killed in battle against the Hepthalites. He is succeeded by his nephew, Longinus, who signs a treaty with the Hepthalites surrendering Parthia beyond the Tigris.

434:
The Huns invade Thrace but are repulsed by Longinus. As they retreat, they are stricken by a plague and Longinus does not pursue them, fearing that the plague will spread to his own army. The king of the Huns dies and his son, Attila, takes his place.

436:
Longinus marches his army to Germania Magna and begins a campaign against the Burgundians.

439:
Longinus attacks the Huns. Taken by surprise, Attila is defeated and forced to accept a peace treaty including the annual payment of 700 pounds of gold.

440:
Longinus returns to Rome and celebrates a triumph.

443:
Longinus puts down a Pictish invasion of Britannica, pursuing the Picts northward to Caledonia. However, as Caledonia is of no interest to the Romans and there is not a sufficient Christian population to justify exiling them there, he does not assert permanent Roman control beyond Hadrian's wall.

444:
A plague begins in Britain amid Longinus' army and spreads throughout the empire and neighboring countries. Longinus himself and his designated successor Gaius die. His 14 year old son becomes Emperor Alexandrus II.

445:
A severe earthquake strikes Byzantium. In the process of rebuilding it, the emperor's mother, Flavia Primia, establishes a library named after herself.

447:
Realizing that Rome has been weakened by the ongoing plague, Attila the Hun invades the Balkans. However, his own army is weakened by the plague and he is defeated by Alexandrus II at the Battle of the Utus.

448:
Attila the Hun signs a peace treaty promising the Romans 2100 pounds of gold per year and 2100 slaves.
 
Last edited:
430:
Balbinus is killed in battle against the Hepthalites. He is succeeded by his nephew, Longinus, who signs a treaty with the Hepthalites surrendering Parthia beyond the Tigris.

434:
The Huns invade Thrace but are repulsed by Balbinus. As they retreat, they are stricken by a plague and Balbinus does not pursue them, fearing that the plague will spread to his own army. The king of the Huns dies and his son, Attila, takes his place.

436:
Balbinus marches his army to Germania Magna and begins a campaign against the Burgundians.

439:
Balbinus attacks the Huns. Taken by surprise, Attila is defeated and forced to accept a peace treaty including the annual payment of 700 pounds of gold.

440:
Balbinus returns to Rome and celebrates a triumph.

443:
Balbinus puts down a Pictish invasion of Britannica, pursuing the Picts northward to Caledonia. However, as Caledonia is of no interest to the Romans and there is not a sufficient Christian population to justify exiling them there, he does not assert permanent Roman control beyond Hadrian's wall.

444:
A plague begins in Britain amid Balbinus' army and spreads throughout the empire and neighboring countries. Balbinus himself and his designated successor Gaius die. His 14 year old son becomes Emperor Alexandrus II.

You may want to fix the early death of Balbinus.
 
The Later 5th Century

450:
The legions in Britannica repel an invasion of Angles and Jutes. To ensure that it does not happen again, the Roman governor, who is also the emperor's uncle, orders the construction of a large naval fleet to patrol the Northern Ocean.

450s-460s:
Metal horseshoes come into widespread use throughout the empire.

453:
Attila the Hun dies and is succeeded by his son Ellac, who ceases payment of tribute to Rome. Alexandrus immediately declares war on the Huns

454:
Alexandrus II defeats and kills Ellac. Internal conflict between Ellac's half-brothers further weakens the Huns, and Alexandrus II is able to drive them to the area north of the Bosporan Kingdom.

455:
The Roman empire is struck by a plague which begins in Vindobona. To avoid infection, Alexandrus II retreats to a palace in the Italian countryside.

460:
Spurred on by famine, the Hepthalite Empire begins an invasion of India.

464:
Alexandrus II appoints his son Longinus consul

472:
A massive eruption of Mt. Vesuvius blankets southern Europe in ash. In response, Alexandrus II orders a temple to Vulcan established in Neapolis so as to placate the god.

473:
In response to continued raids on Britannica, Alexandrus II launches an invasion by sea of the territory of the Jutes.

October 31, 475:
Alexandrus II accepts surrender and tribute from the Jutes, bringing to an end the barbarian invasions.

484:
The King of the Burgundians (along the Vistula River) converts to Christianity at the urging of an Adoptionist bishop.

490:
Alexandrus II sends an embassy to China.

493:
The Hepthalites are driven from India by the Gupta Empire

Late 490s:
Egyptian merchants come into contact with the expanding Gupta Empire and develop profitable trade links.
 
The Early 6th Century

501:
Alexandrus II sends an Embassy to the Gupta Empire.

509:
The Sushruta Samhita is translated into Latin. A Greek translation already exists at Alexandria.

November 27, 511:
Alexandrus II dies of old age and is succeeded by his son, Longinus II.

513:
Longinus II establishes the first resident embassies, at the Saxon and Burgundian capitals.

518:
The city of Scupi is destroyed in an earthquake. It will be rebuilt by Longinus II.

519:
News of Aryabhata's discovery of the volume of the earth reaches Alexandria.

520:
Priscian, a scholar at the Library of Julia Domna, compiles the Institutiones Grammaticae, which becomes the standard exposition of Latin Grammar.

August 6, 523:
Longinus II dies. He is succeeded by a nephew, Opimius Pius.

525:
Cosmas of Alexandria, a merchant and writer, travels to the Christian Kingdom of Axum and compiles a rather unsympathetic history of Christianity.

May 25, 526:
An earthquake levels Antioch, destroying the city's library and with it a great deal of knowledge about the religious practices and customs of the eastern portion of the empire.

528:
Another earthquake strikes Antioch, which was just beginning to rebuild.

530:
The Hepthalite Empire invades Roman territory but is repulsed at the Battle of Dara.

531:
Opimius Pius pursues the Hepthalites across the Tigris.

532:
The Hepthalites sign a peace treaty including the payment of 11,000 pounds of gold.

January 2, 533:
Opimius Pius dies and is succeeded by his son Priscus.

535-536:
Rome experiences an unusually cold summer, leading to crop failures.

541-542:
A plague strikes Alexandria and makes its way via trade routes throughout the Roman Empire. Doctors notice that the plague appears to spread from person to person and institute quarantine measures. Emperor Priscus contracts the plague, which will bear his name, but recovers. However, an estimated 40 percent of the urban population of the empire dies due to the plague or famine caused by the disruption of trade and agriculture. Similar death tolls are reported in The Gupta Empire and the barbarian kingdoms.

Mid-540s:
Trade within and outside the empire begins to recover as the plague recedes. Local outbreaks will continue for several hundred years.

548:
Cosmas of Alexandria writes a biography detailing his journeys as a merchant. It is particularly useful to later generations for his description of the island of Sielen.
 

katchen

Banned
Very good. The cold summer and the Plague from the eruption of Kraktau in 536, which is a consttant in both timelines. That makes a lot of sense. Of course no matter how many barbarians Rome subdues there are always more further away. Deal with the Angeles and the Jutes and as they said in the 17th Century, "God protect us from the Finns"!
Hakkaa Paale!
 
The Late 6th Century

550:
Weakened by an outbreak of the plague, the Gupta Empire Collapses into several regional kingdoms.

July 9, 551
Berytus is destroyed by an earthquake.

553:
The Sabirs invade the client kingdom of Armenia but are repulsed the next year by a combined Roman and Armenian army.

June 7, 555:
Priscus dies of dysentery on his way back from Armenia. He is succeeded by his son, Rufus.

Late 550s:
The poet Servius Otacilus Turrinus begins composing the mythological and historical epics for which he will become known.

March 4, 563:
A landslide triggers a tsunami which destroys the city of Tauredunum.

570:
The Christian Bishopric of Saba begins extending its control across the Arabian peninsula.

July 13, 574:
Rufus dies and is succeeded by his son Octavius Ruso.

581:
Roman General Flavius Mauricus Tiberius writes the Strategikon, an encyclopedic manual of military strategy.

583:
The Avars invade the Balkan peninsula.

584:
The Avars defeat a Roman army and sack Athens and Corinth.

586:
The Avars besiege but fail to capture Thessalonica. They are slowly driven out of the empire.

587:
Octavius Ruso orders the construction of extensive fortifications along the empire's northern frontier.

February 7, 590:
Octavius Ruso dies of the plague. He is succeeded by his son, Victorinus.

593:
In response to renewed raids by the Avars, Victorinus invades Avar territory. He is unable to conquer them but weakens them enough to put an end to their raiding.

Late 590s:
Christians under St. Thomas finally unite the Arabian Peninsula
 
Last edited:

J.D.Ward

Donor
501:

519:
News of Aryabhata's discovery of the volume of the earth reaches Alexandria.

This won't be a new discovery. Eratosthenes discovered the size of the Earth four hundred years before the POD.

550:

Late 590s:
Christians under St. Thomas finally unite the Arabian Peninsula

Islam ia butterflied away. Does Mohammed disappear from history ITTL, or does he become a Christian saint, as in Turtledove's Agent of Byzantium ?
 
Islam ia butterflied away. Does Mohammed disappear from history ITTL, or does he become a Christian saint, as in Turtledove's Agent of Byzantium ?[/QUOTE]

Mohammed is about to show up as a Christian, although the Romans aren't likely to see him as a saint anytime soon.
 
The End

600s:
Windmills begin to be used for irrigation in Egypt

February 26, 606:
Victorinus dies and is succeeded by Alexandrus III.

609:
Arab Christians launch an invasion of Persia.

610:
After the Archbishop of Arabia dies in battle, he is succeeded by Mohammad of Saba, a native Arab soldier who converted to Christianity as a child.

613:
Mohammad launches a new invasion of Persia.

October 19, 616:
Alexandrus III dies and is succeeded by his brother, Porcina.

619:
Mohammad completes his conquest of the Persian Empire. He orders the destruction of pagan temples and forbids open pagan worship.

March 17, 624:
Mohammad declares war on the Roman Empire, aiming to recapture the holy city of Jerusalem.

October 27, 625:
Porcina is killed in battle with the Arabs, and his forces are routed. His nephew Metellus succeeds him and sets off from Rome with another army.

627:
Metellus pursues the Arabs into their own territory but is forced to retreat after a failed seige.

629:
The Arabs invade Judaea and conquer Aelia Capitolina, which they restore to its ancient name of Jerusalem.

630:
Mohammad marches northward, to Asia Minor and Mesopotamia.

630-632:
The Arab armies' superior tactics and religious zeal allow them to defeat a series of Roman legions in the eastern part of the empire

March 9, 632:
Realizing that the Romans have no way of retaking the lands conquered by the Arabs, and that Mohammad is in a position to threaten Greece and Egypt, Metellus signs a peace treaty with Mohammad. The Arabs receive all the land they had conquered, and this date in future is taken as the end of the eastern Roman Empire. Egypt and the Balkan peninsula remain in Roman hands, but they will be gradually Latinized over the next 200 years.
 
Top