Could Rome Survive?

Could the Roman Empire survive as one united Empire into the Dark Ages, even the Victorian era? If yes, how. I was thinking they could find a strong Emperor or something, Caesar isn't assassinated maybe.
 

Delvestius

Banned
Nah, too many barbarians.

EDIT: You are that one guy, aren't you.. Anyways, you'd probably have a much better time with Byzantium.
 
In Konstantinopolis? Perhaps, with allot of luck, or rather, with an absence of the worst luck ever, we might see a surviving empire/republic in some form.

In Roma? I don't think so, the Italian boot well probably find a barbarian foot that fits right into it at some point.
 
I think Caesar was apart of the largest reason why Rome eventually fell. A vague, poorly designed system of succession where you have to be the last man standing in a civil war. This caused it's political system to balkanise, giving rise to corruption, and sucked it's wealth dry as well as destroying infrastructure.

*I admit this is more of a personal observation though.
 
I'm uncertain, its certainly true that Byzantium was much more defensive and didn't suffer from the same tendencies that made Roma's fall so 'inevitable', but to have the empire kick on for that long? I can also imagine them being reluctant to adapt to new western tactics and technology, but...then again if Rome, er, Constantinople doesn't fall, and the church is still split in the POD, then we might not even see a Renaissance anyways, not in the same way at the very least.
 
I'm uncertain, its certainly true that Byzantium was much more defensive and didn't suffer from the same tendencies that made Roma's fall so 'inevitable', but to have the empire kick on for that long? I can also imagine them being reluctant to adapt to new western tactics and technology, but...then again if Rome, er, Constantinople doesn't fall, and the church is still split in the POD, then we might not even see a Renaissance anyways, not in the same way at the very least.

What about if they fight back the Ottomans? I am just looking to see how long it could survive.
 
Generally speaking I think we can all safely say the goose is long cooked by the Ottomans. Get rid of the Angelos Dynasty, THEN were talking.
 
Generally speaking I think we can all safely say the goose is long cooked by the Ottomans. Get rid of the Angelos Dynasty, THEN were talking.
How can we do that? Maybe Constantine gets killed in a naval engagement off Sicily before he marries Theodora?
 
I think your thinking Justinian, not Constantine, but the Angelos were way way way after him. The Angelos can be removed by a vast number of methods and virtually any butterflies.
 
Constantine founded it, Theodora was Justinian's wife, who came a long time after. In any case, the worst thing you can do that late in the game is stop Constantinople (or em, Nova Roma, that is) from being founded, as the west is set to fall in any case.
 

Deleted member 67076

Yes, both the Western and Eastern Empires can survive past their OTL dates of expiration; potentially even until the modern day. You don't need a POD so far back with Caesar; keeping Stilicho alive or having a more successful Majorian would do the trick.

Ok shifting it to Byzantium. Can we logically see a Byzantine Empire still formed today?

Yes, even with a POD after the fourth crusade, although its much harder after that. If you want the Byzantine Empire as a superpower, you really need a POD before the Angeloi dynasty take the throne.
 

Redhand

Banned
Make succession absolutely never hereditary. The best emperors seem to have been chosen, not born. In addition to this, keep more Italians in the legions, to the point where they are a majority, so you can abandon the need to deal with foederati and the problems they bring. Keeping the legionary system would certainly help the military situation as long as the legions incorporate solid cavalry forces as a complement to the heavy infantry. Get rid of the Praetorians and replace them with Germans, work hard to keep valuation of currency solid, and make efforts to disrupt growing barbarian confederacies beyond Romea's borders every now and them. This might allow for longer survival up into the Middle Ages.
 
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