I wrote this when I was 12. Please excuse anything dumb in it. Tried to clean it up a little before I posted it. It is not finished... if people seem to have enjoyed this I will continue it. When I say it is a TL, it is literally a TL. Pretty much no story. Apologies for length. Apologies for dating conventions... it is in ab urbe condita. (Subtract 753 from the given year to get the AD year).
Enjoy!
The Eagle of the Legions
(Propter Aqvilam Legionvm)
and
The Lightning of Chichen Itza
(Chak cah Chichen Itza)
An Abridged Alternate History
by
the Author
Note:
This is merely speculation on what might have happened. This is not intended to be offensive in any way.
Note- all dates are in the Roman dating system. Just subtract 753 from the ITTL date to get the corresponding OTL date.
Marcvs Avrelivs (r.-929)
Marcvs Avrelivs has fought off barbarians along the Danube frontier, and as a consequence has expanded the empire there. The plague from the east however, threatens his campaigns to conquer Parthia. (POD: He contracts the disease on campaign and spreads to some of his family). Before dying of this terrible illness however, he regains enough of his mind to realize that his young son Commodvs is not fit to succeed him. As a result, he nominates his son-in-law Marcvs Mamertinvs as regent for Commodvs.
Marcvs Mamertinvs (r.929-943)
As regent for the young Commodvs, Marcvs Mamertinvs now held ultimate power in Rome. Marcvs presides over the full annexation of Marcomannia and Sarmatia to the Empire. He quickly comes under fire after he gets the Compromise of 931 ratified by the Senate. It states that Commodvs will be passed on in the succession if Marcvs has a male heir, and should Commodvs die, the throne goes to his closest male relative. For both of them, unforeseen consequences threaten the succession. Commodvs dies in 933 of a stroke caused by a blow to the temple in a gladiator match, and Marcvs’ heir dies young the year after. Tiberivs Pompeianvs regretfully agrees to take the purple upon his death, despite his misgivings: it is really intended for his future son.
The years after the annexations proceed in peace, and the Pax Romana continues, as yet another learned, “Good Emperor” sits upon the throne. Marcvs adopted Stoicism as his philosophy like his predecessor, and writes a document, not seen for hundreds of years, which secretly condemned the Roman pantheon in favor of Stoicism. At his peaceful death in 943, the Empire enters a new era.
Tiberius II Pompeianvs (r.943-952)
Tiberivs, despite having little want for managing the Empire, decides to expand it further. Seeing the Parthian Civil War between Osroes II and Vologases IV, he marches on Parthia with an enormous army of 100,000 men of the legions. Assembling at Nisibis, they march into Parthian Mesopotamia. In the chaos further east, the garrisons in Mesopotamia are either wiped out or surrender. Vologases is trapped by the Roman army in an attempt to defend his capital of Ctesiphon from Osroes. The triumphant Tiberivs forces the hapless king and his advisors to sign the humiliating Peace of 944. The Roman border is extended all the way to the Zagros Mountains, even absorbing the capital, Susa, Arbela, and other important cities. Vologases is to pay tribute to the Romans from the old city of Persepolis. In exchange, the Romans encircle Osroes’ approaching army and turn him over to Vologases. As well, Armenia is recognized as a Roman province, after having been fought over for hundreds of years.
Tiberivs returns in victory to Rome where a triumph is held, and his 20-year old son, also named Tiberivs, is acclaimed as co-emperor and his heir. With this, the succession once again appears stable through Tiberivs’ son and grandson. A revolt in the eastern conquests by Arsacid nobles is quickly brought down by the energetic heir Tiberivs. The Quadi in Marcomannia revolt as well, but are crushed for the last time. Tiberivs II presides over a few more years of peace, and then dies, leaving the throne to his son.
Lvcivs I Pompeianvs (r.952-971)
The young Lvcivs ascends the throne with ambition for more conquests. He sets his sights on Germania, and leads several legions into the wilds of the barbarians. The tribes along the Rhine border are crushed within 3 years, and are subjugated or killed. The further occupation of Germania is achieved, to the Albis. A fortress city dubbed Tibericvm starts to grow along the Albis, as the emperor encourages settlement in Germania. His plan is to reduce barbarian incursions simply by just settling more Romans, making land-hungry barbarians move elsewhere. His rule is spent doing this. Numerous tribes fight back, but the well-trained armies of his father and grandfather beat them back. Soon Rome has a defensible frontier in the north. While trying to expand it further, Lvcivs falls dead, having contracted an unknown disease during the operation. By the time of his reign, it is suspected that many Romans are secretly turning towards Eastern cults. His youthful son succeeds him.
Tiberivs III Pompeianvs (r.971-988)
Tiberivs ensures the reduction of the Germans. To handle the overextension caused by the new garrisoning of Mesopotamia and Germania, Brittania is evacuated. Roman civilians who can flee, and the others await the return of the Romans. The abandonment of Brittania allows Tiberivs the forces to destroy Germania. Amongst those of German descent he is known as the “Butcher,” as he slaughtered tens of thousands in perhaps one of the worst ethnic cleansings in Rome’s history. Colonists from Rome are invited to journey into Germania, rapidly being Romanized and developed. The brutal methods he used pave the way for the peaceful attitudes of his successors to Germania, as the Empire is now secure and defended from any invading tribes. Germania ceases to be a security concern for a good time. Tiberivs is assassinated by a captured barbarian, eager to avenge the death of so many of his kin. A brief struggle ensues, and civil war is threatened, but the Senate votes in a cousin of Tiberivs, also descended from the great Marcvs Avrelivs.
Diomedes Avrelivs (988-1012)
Diomedes is brought to the throne by the Senate and enjoys a largely peace-filled first half of his reign. The treasury swells and building projects flourish. There are a few roadblocks in the later half, however. The Empire falls victim to a terrible plague. For a time, it seems like there will be no salvation and the Empire is surely doomed as the plague kills more and more. Diomedes privately consults with a doctor. This doctor radically advises him not to go to the gods, but to use scientific remedies when he is sick. Diomedes had been on his deathbed, and now he was cured. Could the gods have been wrong? Diomedes urges many to seek proper medical care, leading to a healthy number of survivors, as well as a greatly heightened Roman interest in science and medicine. Around this time, a Buddhist slave enters the Imperial household. The naturally inquisitive Emperor asks him about the religion. He is unconvinced, but his impressionable young son could not listen enough. Diomedes dies of natural causes in 1012, and his son succeeds him.
Clavdivs II Avrelivs (1012-1037)
Clavidvs converts to Buddhism when he ascends the throne. The increased Indian influences in the East allow the arrival of many Buddhist scholars. The former slave is appointed to a high governmental post. Clavdivs was angry with the old gods of Rome, who he saw as failing to protect everyone from the plague. Buddhism, however, with its focus on the attainment of knowledge, was surely the correct path. The correct path however, would have to wait, as once again trouble brewed in Persia. This last and greatest of the Persian Wars would solidify Rome as the mightiest empire in history. The warlike Sanatruces III, ruling over a truncated Indo-Persian kingdom, half Zoroastrian and half Buddhist, attacked Rome. Attacking over the Zagros was a tall order, and the overconfident Romans believed it impossible. Sanatruces met their forces along the border and slaughtered them. Clavdivs would have to wait to reform the Roman religion. He assembled several legions and marched for Mesopotamia. Sanatruces was brutal in his treatment of the Mesopotamians, and this earned him much ire. The forces clashed at the old Ctesiphon, but Sanatruces again won. The Romans were routed and lost an eagle. The humiliation was total. They simply had not expected an attack, which Sanatruces and his ancestors had plotted for nearly a hundred years. The war dragged on, as the massive Roman army could not catch Sanatruces’ small force. The exhausted Emperor died, worn out by 15 years of chasing the Parthian king.
Cleandervs Avrelivs (1037-1040)
Cleandervs was the elder son of Clavdivs. He was universally unpopular in his desire to avoid fighting the Parthians. The last straw came when he tried to just cede them Mesopotamia. His younger brother Tiberivs rallied the legions near Italia and marched on Rome. Cleandervs shut himself up in the Imperial Palace, which Tiberivs marched on and broke down the door of himself. He found his foolish brother had taken poison. The legions acclaimed their popular commander as Emperor.
Tiberivs IV Avrelivs (1041-1067)
Tiberivs was fed up with the incursions of the Parthians. If they would not stop running around Mesopotamia, then he would burn Persia to the ground. Tiberivs marched north of the Zagros, burning all the Parthians cities to the ground. The terrified Parthian nobles pressured Sanatruces to return, but he refused. These nobles were all soon killed by the wrath of Tiberivs. Leaving a massive garrison force in the old Parthian lands, Tiberivs took a small army back to Mesopotamia. There he finally corned Sanatruces’ army against the Tigris River. Rather than die at the hands of his eternal foe, the last Great King of the Parthians jumped into the river. The Parthian Empire had ended. Rome expanded out to the Indvs River. The legionary standard was found in a Parthian vault in the East.
Tiberivs’ lust for blood was not yet sated, however. He wanted Brittania back too. All the veterans he could spare were sent to Brittania, where Celts and others had overrun about half of the old province. Tiberivs drove them back by the force of his arms, and the rejoicing Roman population was once again defended. No longer was Rome overextended. Tiberivs had begotten a mighty and rich empire to his sister’s son, himself unmarried. The spread of Eastern cults among the elite continued apace, and the great Antonine House was now mostly Buddhist.
Lvcivs II Axumicvs (r.1067-1100)
Lvcivs II is much more concerned with a far different part of the Empire: Aegyptvs. It has been under attack by Wazeba of Axum. Wazeba had taken advantage of the previous northern adventures to raid Aegyptvs and steal the prosperus grain crop. Under this newly expansionist king, Kush was rolled under the Akusmite war machine. However, Wazeba has underestimated the hardened Roman Legions and their tough Emperor, Lvcivs. Lvcivs quickly counterattacks along the Nile, preventing the fall of Antaeopolis. Lvcivs annihilates the Aksumite forces at the Battle of Aswan: Wazeba was killed and the Aksumite army crushed. Lvcivs marches further and captures Axum: but does not sack it due to the great library within it. Axvm is established along with the former Kvsh as a new Roman province.
Lvcivs returns back to Rome. There he is celebrated by the Senate as the latest in a series of “Glorious Emperors.” He begins the construction of roads and housing in the northern territories, and formally annexes them as provinces. During the rest of his long reign, he builds new temples to the gods across the expanded Empire, and upgrades infrastructure. A usurper from Parthia arises.
This usurper raises an army and defeats a local Roman garrison in Margiana, far to the east. He soon has taken control of much of the eastern frontier. Lvcivs leads an army to halt his rebellion, and at the Battle of Asterabad, the Arsacid Dynasty is extinguished. There is nothing more of note in the reign of Lvcivs but that he sired a son who became his heir, and a far different Emperor.
Cato (r.1100-1120)
Cato succeeded his father as Emperor of Rome. However, unlike his father, he was no warrior. He was a scholar. Near the beginning of his reign, he ordered the construction of numerous great libraries across the Empire, even in the still savage north. Far to the south, In Aegyptvs, he planned a great work.
Cato read in the libraries when he was young of how the Achaemenids, Ptolemies, and earlier Emperors built canals to the Red Sea. However, his canal would be greater than all the others. Going directly from the Mediterranean to the Sinvs Arabicvs. It was built between 1110-1118, using up the enormous sum of 350 million denarii. When the Lvcian Canal was finally finished, it is hailed as the greatest engineering wonder of the world.
His plans for a enlightened Empire were temporarily disrupted. In 1118, a great earthquake struck near Crete. It damaged the economy of the Eastern Mediterranean severely. However, he introduced public works projects to revitalize the economy, such as the building of aqueducts all along the former eastern frontier. Cato’s favorite building was the new Alexandrian Library. It stands 200 feet tall with 20 floors, each 10 feet tall. It is said to contain 500,000 books and scrolls, from Hibernia to China. After this, Cato abdicated (the first Emperor since Tiberivs to do so) to his son Agrippa in order to continue his libraries unimpeded.
Agrippa I (r.1120-1137)
Agrippa does not share the same passion for books as his father, but is more like his grandfather. He sees the Lvcian Canal as an opportunity for something he always dreamed of: an Imperial Navy. While a navy has been considered un-Roman by previous Emperors who served on land, Agrippa feels that the Roman Empire should express its’ strength through a navy as well. To facilitate this, he orders the construction of fifty triremes of great worksmanship. They have 200 sailors aboard each, with most coming from Aegyptus and the Greek provinces.
Putting his father’s canal to use, Agrippa sends the ships east to trade with the kingdoms of Indicum and Sinica. When they return, they come laden with untold riches. Rome is three times as wealthy as it was a hundred years ago because of this. Repeated voyages are made, enriching the nation and providing capital for growth in the newer provinces.
It was unfortunate that Agrippa chose his successor when he was gravely ill, as his mind was clouded. He chose his older son Varnvs, who was not too different from Nero or Domitian.
Varnvs (r. 1137-1155)
Varnvs never wanted to become Emperor. He would much rather have enjoyed himself his whole life, for he was selfish. He was completely dominated by his advisors, who tried hard to prevent his wishes for excesses while trying to keep the Empire stable. That lasted for 18 years, until he had them all killed. On his way to crowning himself a Roman God, fanatical supporters of his brother within the Praetorian Guard attacked him. They dragged him to the Temple of Minerva and killed him, sacrificing him to the goddess of wisdom, since his brother was a genius. With Minerva’s blessing, his brother would change the Empire forever.
Extoriscvs (r.1155-1180)
Extoriscvs was possibly the smartest person ever yet Roman Emperor, smarter even than Marcus Avrelivs and his grandfather, Cato. He was born with a natural mind for creating things. With the aid of scientists from the Jin Dynasty of Sinica, he creates novel things in the Roman world. (the dynasty was declining so they sought opportunity with Rome). The Jin scientists also bring with them the secret of gunpowder, which is crafted by Extoriscvs into a plumbum-igniens (a cannon). But perhaps most revolutionary, is when the Emperor takes a page from a child’s toy.
The aeolipile was a toy invented three hundred years previous, but was remarkably advanced. Hero of Alexandria failed to see it’s potential, but Extoriscvs sees it. It is a miniature steam engine. Using his excellent craftsmanship, Extorsicvs makes larger prototypes of it, to be used in Roman industry. The only problem is how to provide power for it. The solution is found when massive coal deposits are found in Germania, Brittania, and Asia Minor. The Vapor Machinam is quickly adapted to the Roman economy, powering mills, waterwheels, plubming, semi-automated agriculture, and new military weapons.
Thanks to the efforts of Extoriscvs and Cato, the Empire is more ready for conquest than ever before, and Extoriscvs’ nephew is the right Emperor for that job.
Agrippa II (r.1180-1215)
Agrippa II was by nature warlike. Where the last four Emperors had launched not one campaign, they laid the groundwork for his.
But conquest would have to wait, as barbarian tribes flooded towards Germania from the east, escaping the Hunnic hordes. However, Agrippa II was not going to let this destroy the Empire. He marched to the frontier, and with his new weapons of war, annihilated barbarians who had dared to cross the Albis (Elbe). More afraid of the Romans than the Huns, they fled east, leaving the Huns to battle Rome. The Huns, being on horseback, outflank the Romans. The Roman armies are left to chase them through Germania. They finally catch up to them at Augusta Raurica. At that battle, the Roman cannon obliterate the Hunnic foot soldiers totally, while the Legions hold together against the cavalry attacks. The Hunnic survivors flee east like the other tribes.
However, Agrippa II is not satisfied with this. He marches his legions through the wilds of Germania and into Polonia. He stops at the River Hypanis, (Bug River in Ukraine) having secured much more land for Rome. He sails to Taurica (Crimea) aboard the navy. Wanting a greater Roman guard there to watch the barbarians, he expands Taurica dramatically, going into Sarmatia Inferior. (Southern Russia) There he hears tales of a frozen sea to the north and millions of acres of forest to the east. Uninterested, he only takes from the native tribes a young boy who shows promise in military leadership. He adopts him as his son and names him Neritvs.
Upon the return to Rome, he is hailed as a hero. But being him, he does not rest for long. Tolls have had to been paid to Arabian tribesmen to use the Sinvs Arabicvs. Agrippa II finds this unacceptable, and bombards tribal outposts, before lading ashore and annexing the land into the Empire.
Agrippa II made use of new technologies to bring the Empire to a new height of conquest and prosperity, and now Neritvs must fortify his vast dominion.
Neritvs Sarmaticvs(r.1215-35)
Neritvs came to the forefront of the greatest Empire in the history of the world with eagerness. Neritvs however, would not expand it like his adopted father, but fortify it. His homeland had been conquered in order to defend the western frontier, and this he set about doing. Around Sarmatia, he built 200 miles of outposts and fortresses, all linked by the aptly named Neritian Wall.
The wall faced its first challenge when the barbarians of the north came south, hoping to reclaim the homelands of their western ancestors. The cannonade atop the redoubts stops many of them, while the steam-powered gates slam shut in the face of the attacks. Seeing the wall’s success, the settlers of the expanding Taurica and Sarmatia were elated. One ingenious Taurican came up with the idea of building similar steam-powered structures on the frontiers and major cities, in case of a massive invasion. His name was Archridinvs. Neritvs adopts the young man as his successor, and has him oversee the construction of the steam redoubts.
Neritvs expands further along the Sinvs Arabicus eastern coastline, desiring control of all the eastern spice trade. The natives are quickly driven out, and local shrines are replaced by a temple to Neptune, being near the ocean. After this seemingly minor triumph, Neritvs falls ill and dies of malaria.
Archridinvs I (r.1235-1254)
Archridinvs quickly aspires to bring the same confident charisma during his time in Taurica to the imperial throne. He will need it, since a new threat is rising in the East. Tens of thousands of Hephthalites have overrun Guptan Indicum, threatening Rome’s trade with them as well as the eastern provinces. He leads an army of 50,000 to halt their incursions at the River Autraecus. The only thing that had stopped them from invading sooner was fear of the Romans.
The Hephthalite cavalry is surprised to face the steam cannons and tougher shields of the legions. The archers there have nothing to fire at, as the armor of the Romans is too tough from enhanced metal from Polonia and Germania, as well as the superior worksmanship of steam-based industry. They are mowed down by the superior cannons, and flee back to Indicum.
However, when the Hepthalites capture Roman steam cannons, it devolves into a war of attrition. They battle it out for many years, to the point where the ephitaph given to the Emperor (the Glorious) is now a humorous statement. However, they are finally driven back by a new offensive into Indicum, and the Romans capture Taxila, the old Kushan capital. His name is once again honored, as he has defeated a great eastern menace and opened parts of Indicum directly to Roman trading.
However, after several years of peace in Rome, he is assassinated by a general of his who wants the throne for himself.
And so ends the Antonine Dynasty.
(The Roman Anarchy 1255-1258)
Semptentivs, Lvcraetivs, Sarminvs, and Thesianvs (r.1255-1258)
Semptentivs, another able general, saw his chance to take control of the empire, and killed the assassin two days after the Emperor’s death. Having avenged the Emperor, Semptentivs is honored with the throne by the Senate. However, others see him as weak. Over the next three years, he fights against the three rival factions of Lvcraetivs, Sarminvs, and Thesianvs. He is driven back into Gaul and Hispania, while Lvcraetivs has taken Italia, Brittania, Hibernia, and Germania. Sarminvs holds out in Polonia, Sarmatia, Taurica, the Balkans, and Asia Minor. Thesianvs, facing little opposition, has taken over all of Africa. However, to the east, a descendant of Marcvs Avrelivs himself emerges. Lvcivs Tibericvs styles himself as Lvcivs II, Imperator of Rome.
With the Empire cut into five, Lvcivs is forced to hold off the nomads to the east with almost no help, while the west tears itself apart. Semptentivs falls to an invasion by Lvcraetivs, while Thesianvs is killed by plague. This causes Sarminvs to be murdered by Lvcraetivs, and him and Lvcivs to fight over Africa. Lvcraetivs formally declares himself Emperor, believing that the Gods are with him due to his great honors to them. However, Lvcivs does not pray, and instead builds miniature coolant aqueducts, having learned that the steam engine is shut down by cold water. At the day of the Battle of Cyrene, Lvcivs fires these coolant systems directly into the steam cannons of Lvcraetivs, causing them to be rendered useless. Without the cannons, his army is critically weakened, and they surrender to Lvcivs as the usurper is executed.
Lvcivs II the Great (r.1258-1290)
Lvcivs II is crowned in Rome, bringing an end to the Anarchy. In order to defeat the usurpers however, he had to buy off the nomadic tribes assaulting the east. He gathers the forces of the usurpers and marches with them to the east, where he drives them out, now able to spare the steam cannons. He build fortifications around the mighty Caucasus Indicus, so that nomads can never again threaten the east. This wall becomes known as the Lvcivn Wall, and will protect Rome for centuries. Lvcivs presides after this over a long peaceful reign, of relative tranquility.
His next major accomplishment would come in the patronizing of learning. He greatly enriches the Platonic Academy in Athens, and begins work on a Roman university. The first one opens at Rome itself, with a second one opening at the former Ctesphion. Education is made mandatory for all free families, and as such the Empire is filled with more skilled craftsmen. For the first year of university, the cost is covered by the treasury (made possible by the spice trade that has Rome unbelievably wealthy). More universities are scheduled to be built in Londonium, Alexandria, and Constantium in Germania.
By the end of his long reign, the Empire is all the much the wiser, better defended, and richer. But where Lvcivs improved the Empire, his successor, a nephew of his, would revolutionize it.
Dioflectorvs I the Great(r.1290-1327)
Dioflectorvs comes to the throne as a wise young man. He has spent much of his life reading from the libraries of Cato the Wise, and graduated from his uncle’s prestigious University of Rome. Unlike other Romans of the time, he has grown up surrounded by belief in science. To him, the only way forward is to completely embrace reason, instead of belief.
Dioflectorvs announces soon after his accession that he does not follow the Roman Pantheon, and puts his trust in science. He is met with vast protests, but the other young educated elite support him, and bring in the army to stop the rioting. He closes down all the temples and buildings of all the faiths, and reopens them as Museumae, with the entrance fees paid to the Roman Government, who in exchange provide for the upkeep of it.
Fifty years before, he would’ve been burned alive for treachery. But now, him and the educated of the schools and universities hold power in Rome, and force the people to bend to their will. Dioflectorvs envisions a great empire based upon science and reason, governing the whole world justly and fairly. This starts the true period of the Roman Enlightenment. Revenues are increased due to the lack of sacrifices to the many gods, and every major city in the Empire now has an university (one per province). By twenty years of rule, less than a third of Romans still practice some kind of religion in secret. Dioflectorvs will not persecute the religious, as he finds that barbaric and uncivilized. However, as two generations of Romans now are going to universities, religion is dying out on it’s own. The Empire from this point forward will also spread knowledge and reason to the Pre-Enlightenment civilizations elsewhere.
Despite the suppression of religion, the ancient libraries are saved and restored. The “Enlightened” Romans revere ancient knowledge because they feel it is all encompassing in its wisdom. The Enlightenment is increasingly called the Renascentiam (rebirth) in reference to the flowing of millennia-old wisdom after many years of the control of knowledge by the priesthoods and other groups. After all this, Dioflectorvs dies and is succeeded by a comrade of his, who studied with him and was consul during his whole reign.
Parsemivs (r.1327-1350)
By this time, Parsemivs is nearly as old as Dioflectorvs, and mainly expands upon his work. He begins to codify a legal precedent for the rule of all following Emperors: that they have the right to rule in the name of the further development of mankind. This was an alien thought before him; but the words of the old Greek philosophers could not have put it better. At this point, Rome has fully become attuned to a meritocratic system. The Parsemian Code is put forward as an official guideline for all future Emperors.
His rather uneventful reign ends, and he is succeeded by his son Virveniens.
Virveniens (r.1350-1373)
Virveniens comes to the throne of a greatly changed Rome. He sets out in his reign to quash corruption and reform the economy. With the last major changes having been hundreds of years ago, he reorganizes the Roman monetary system. New coins are issued dividing up currency by factors of ten: the Unumos, Decimos, and the Centumos. The Unumos is worth the most, being equal to 10 decimos and 100 centumos.
The only other significant event of his reign is the Pantheonic Uprising. 10,000 Pantheonists riot and briefly seize control of Rome, nearly torching the University. But when they try to torch it, the people rise against them and they are slaughtered. Others across the Empire revolt, and try to burn down Universities. Damage is incurred by one in Athens, but the risings are all put down by the people and army. Virveniens is succeeded by his son Archridinvs.
Note: Muhammad is alive during his reign; but becomes a scientist at the University of Alexandria.
Archridinvs II (r.1373-1402)
Archridinvs set upon a new task: an engineering project perhaps as large as the Great Wall of China. He wants to build two massive road systems across the Empire. While previous roads have been maybe a 100 miles long, these new ones will be thousands each. Construction starts in the first year of his reign, and they will take until twenty years later. The Via Magna and Via Africana each stretch thousands of miles, and have been made of concrete. They have cost the Empire a sum so large it would’ve been six times the total wealth of the Empire 400 years ago, but now thanks to the spice trade money is of no concern.
These roads help to further integrate the Empire together, and bolster the economy with quicker transportation between the provinces. As well, the road has ban built in a fashion that it can be expanded at a later time. It will also help the movement of troops across the Empire.
Nothing much else of note happened in the reign of Archridinvs: but historians would praise him for that, as peace in the Roman Empire was not to last for long. Archridinvs gave the Empire to his successor, Tarentivs, not knowing where his true loyalties lay.
Tarentivs the Apostate(r.1402-1410)
Tarentivs was a Pantheonist. He had kept this secret from his father, but now he would try and reestablish the Roman Pantheon. However, his short reign would be entirely be taken up by a struggle against his cousin, Radianvs. Radianvs was a charismatic soldier, and firm Englightened Roman. Radianvs held sway everywhere, and only didn’t seize the crown because of his morals. Eventually, Tarentivs ordered the burning of the University of Rome, as it was heretical. The army mutinied and killed him: they then proclaimed Radianvs the Emperor.
Radianvs (r.1410-1437)
Radianvs stamped the last vestiges of Roman Pantheonism and other religions. After he had finished with this, he sent for an attack upon the defiant tribes of Arabia. The legions march from Parthia Inferior, and lay waste to any who oppose them there, brutally annexing Northern Arabia. Not satisfied with just this conquest, Radianvs marched north through the mountains of Taurica towards the upstart Khazarian Khanate. Their quick adaption of Roman technology had made them a threat to the north.
The Khazars move into Taurica, and at the Battle of Charax, they force the Romans back. However, the relief army under Radianvs besieges the city and forces the Khazars out. He chases them back beyond the Riphaeus Mountains (Urals), where most of them die of a particularly savage winter.
Through brutal tactics, Radianvs has conquered first the throne, then most of Arabia, then all the land east of Taurica to the Riphaeus. Radianvs dies and leaves the empire to his son Agrippa.
Agrippa III (r.1437-1460)
Agrippa III comes to the throne, and has a peaceful rule of about two months before news comes in. Hibernia is under siege. Nordmanni sailing from Scandinavia are launching raids on coastal towns. Avrelian heads with the Roman Navy to Dublinium. At the Battle of the Coast, the Viking warships devastate the old Roman Navy. This is considered the worst defeat for Rome since Teutoberg Forest, with the loss of half the Imperial Fleet.
Furious, Agrippa makes camp at Dublinium with his remaining armies to hold out against the unstoppable Nordmannic tide. However, he is forced to flee Hibernia in the face of the invasion. Through prisoners, he learns that the Nordmanni are attacking from Islandia (Iceland).
Agrippa leads a counterattack on Islandia, and forces his way through it, sacking the lone Viking outpost. He must withdraw shortly after though to defend Britannia and Caledonia, under fresh attack from Dania, which has been overrun with Nordmanni. He orders the army back in the continental Empire to march into Dania and destroy them. The force going to Dania is led by the general Traianvs Lvcivs, who served with Radianvs in Arabia and Sarmatia.
However, by the time Agrippa reaches Caledonia: it is too late. He now must fall back behind Hadrian’s Wall. However, the Nordmanni have adapted the steam cannon for their own uses: and blow the wall to pieces. After this, Agrippa holds out for three years, but eventually must give up Brittania. Meanwhile, Traianvs has forced the Nordmanni out of Dania, after savage warfare, complicated by the natural strength of the Nordmanni. He prepares to follow them into Svecia. (Sweden) Agrippa cannot come help, as he is fending off the Nordmanni in Gallia and Germania. While he only scores a few victories, he is remembered as a great military Emperor simply because of the challenge the Nordmanni pose.
The Invasion of Svecia goes reasonably well, but is halted by the winter. The Nordmanni counterattack, and drive Traianvs from the peninsula. However, they are unable to send ships to recover Dania. Avrelian loses Armorica (Brittany). However, remaining Roman troops in Brittania manage to reclaim Cambria and Cornvbia (Wales and Cornwall). The Nordmanni storm into Gallia Aqvitania, only to be halted by a spectacular Roman victory at the Battle of Bvrdigala (Bordeaux). The Nordmanni are completely annihilated, and desecrated Legionary Eagles from Caledonia, Hibernia, and Brittania are recaptured.
Agrippa, exhausted by the war, agrees to a peace treaty with the Nordmanni, despite his mistrust of them.
Treaty of Dvblinivm
-Rome shall cede Hibernia, Brittania, and Armorica (humiliating)
-The Nordmanni shall cede Dania, and cease raiding Roman provinces.
-And lastly, Rome will pay tribute to the Nordmanni (beyond humiliating)
Agrippa soon dies of heart failure, perhaps from all his campaigns, and Traianvs is made his successor.
Traianvs II (r.1460-1477)
Traianvs is haunted by the Svecian winter, and the humiliating treaty with the barbarians. A massive Nordmannic Empire now sprawls to his north, incorporating the former Brittania, Caledonia, and Hibernia, as well as Scandinavia, Islandia, and northern Sarmatia. He must restore the fleet and prepare Rome for war, as the war machine was broken in the last war. To start this, he equips all the new ships with steam cannons, and they are steam powered as well. In addition, they are no longer made of wood, but are made of low-grade iron. This is due to remarkable breakthroughs by engineers at the University of Parthia.
He also reforms the army drastically. The Nordmanni were able to get the legions to pull apart and slaughtered them. But now, the legions form ranks in a different way. Some have become cavalry raiders, in order to out speed the Nordmanni. Others have been trained as legionary archers, who retain most of the prior practices, but use the longbow (pioneered by engineers at the University of Hispania) as their primary weapon.
He spends his whole reign fighting off Nordmanni sea raids (in violation of the treaty) and reorganizing the Roman Army and Navy. In the next war, Rome will be ready. Traianvs declares his successor to be Archridinvs, his son and a brave warrior.
Archridinvs III (r.1477-1505)
As soon as he becomes Emperor, the Nordmannic raids increase, as they hope the new Emperor is weak. Infuriated, Archridinvs leads the new Roman Army up into Nordmannic Sarmatia, while the general Draconivs attacks Nordmannic Gallia. The Nordmanni are unprepared and are driven back quickly, mainly due to the Roman archers against their light armor. The longbow devastates them, and they abandon Northern Gallia, and hole up in Armorica. In Sarmatia, they stall the Romans, hoping for winter to come. Winter does come, and the Nordmanni drive back the Romans almost to Taurica. However, the Pontus Euxinus (Black Sea) Fleet repells the Nordmannic invaders. By spring, the Nordmanni’s gains are lost, and they are routed from Sarmatia.
After the destruction of Nordmannic power in the east, Archridinvs joins Draconivs in an Invasion of Brittania. They quickly push back the occupiers with help from former Roman citizens. At the ruins of Hadrian’s Wall, the Nordmanni are annihilated, and driven out of Caledonia and Brittania. Hibernia is invaded, but the war stalls there. For decades the two sides battle each other there, with the Nordmanni too entrenched to be defeated, and the Romans with a far superior army.
Archridinvs descends into madness, and becomes obsessed with reclaiming Hibernia. However, he fails to see that is a poor choice. To this end, supporters of Draconivs, who is proclaimed Emperor, and who now must defeat the Nordmanni, kill him…
End of Lvcian Dynasty…
Draconivs I Nordicvs (r.1505-1530)
Draconivs sees how to defeat the Nordmanni. The Romans wait till spring, and march through the mountains of Scandinavia, assaulting the homes of the raiders themselves. The various Nordmanni chiefs sue for peace, but get a peace that ironically was called “Draconian.”
Treaty of Rome
-Nordmanni cede Brittania, Caledonia, Armorica, Northern Gallia, Northern Sarmatia, Dania, and Hibernia to the Romans.
-Nordmanni return all collected tribute along with tribute from them
-Any raiding into Roman territory is punishable by death in a Roman court.
Finally the Nordmanni have been humbled. Despite this, some advocate like Cato the Elder did long ago that their weakened enemy must be destroyed. Draconivs refuses this, having been worn out by long years of army service.
Draconivs is acclaimed by the Senate as the conqueror of the northern menace. Legitimacy is given to him by a forged adoption of him by Archridinvs III. Draconivs has a vision of an enlightened universal Empire: much like Dioflectorvs. To accomplish this, Draconivs speeds up the process of Roman industrialization, by rebuilding the war-torn provinces and building roads in the new Sarmatia Superior.
Draconivs hears of a scientist in Aegyptus that has made a machine that works by itself (the gear). He personally arrives to inspect it, and in response, he gives the man unlimited funds and resources from the University of Alexandria. He soon creates a prototype of a weapons officina (factory). This however, is no normal weapons factory. It is an automatopoetus factory (automatic). The gears produce the raw materials needed without human labor.
The scientist quickly exports his machine across the empire, and it changes the Roman economy forever. In the new Eastern Arabian provinces, traders come into contact with Arab natives who have an extra number that the Romans do not: sifr (original name of zero). The sifr revolutionizes Roman mathematics, and paves the way for further mathematical breakthroughs in coming years.
One of the first of the breakthroughs is a Romanesque symbol for sifr- S. Shortly after, mathematicians begin using variabiles, which allows them to construct basic theorem primo quidem solutions alternis. (Algebraic theorems, literally Theorem of Alternate Solutions). A mathematician named Procylus writes a manuscript entitled “Huius rei Argumentum plures Solutiones.” (A Proof on many Solutions ).
Thanks to all these recent innovations, Draconivs feels that manual unpaid labor is no longer necessary, and that before the Roman Enlightenment it might have been alright, but not now. The general populace is against as well due to the barbarity of it's institutions, and the fact that it is no longer needed. Because of this, Draconivs abolishes slavery throughout the whole Empire, and dies, leaving the Empire to his son.
Draconivs II (r.1530-1553)
Draconivs wishes to continue the reforms of his father, but first he must quell protest from the Senate. Many of the Patricians are furious at the end of slavery, and try to force Draconivs to back down. From what he did afterwards, draconic was defined. He did something so dramatic that the Senate would not reassert itself for over 200 more years. He enacted a law that made it so that a Senator could only come to power with the approval of the Emperor. These measures prompted the removal of perhaps a quarter of the senators. To get the motion passed, Draconivs passes it on a day the Senate is not in session.
Angered at his seizure of nearly total power over Rome, the senators threaten to incite the army to rebel against him and reestablish a republic. But Draconivs plays upon the people. He reminds them of the great achievements in his father’s reign, and promises more in his. The people, believing him, rally against the “tyrannical” Senate in favor of their benevolent Emperor.
Now that Draconivs has sorted that crisis out, all slaves are set free. The Roman economy booms as it is discovered that people work a lot harder when they are actually paid. Merchants from Sinica (China) have brought with them a secret they nearly got killed for: folium charta (leaf paper as opposed to papyrus, we know it as paper). Folium charta is more cost effective, stronger, and easier to write on than papyri.
But perhaps the greatest addition to the new Roman Technological Revolution is the scripto machina (writing machine-printing press), invented by a industrious writer at the University of Carthage. The new machine, along with leaf based paper, changes the Roman mind forever. The explosion of knowledge is exponential, as ancient scrolls from across the Roman world are translated into Latin and “marketed” to the general public. The collective Roman knowledge triples overnight, and finally ideas can cross the world.
After a brilliant reign of inventions, prosperity, and peace, Draconivs leaves the Empire to his elder son Lvcivs, who has been secretly been becoming unstable.
Lvcivs III (r.1553-1555)
Lvcivs, unlike his father never had a good relationship with the people. He found them foolish, and incapable of comprehending the splendor of the Enlightenment. He increasingly became paranoid simultaneously, and feared the people were going to overthrow him. To stop this, the Praetorian Guards “acted in the name of Reason” and deposed, and brought his younger brother to the throne.
Nomaplatvs (r.1555-1590)
Nomaplatvs had never aspired to become Emperor. If in the days of the old Republic, he would’ve certainly become a Senator. But now, the Imperial Throne was the ultimate legislative office. And so Nomaplatvs took it upon himself to use it. He enacted, most famously, laws that allowed women total equality in the Empire. There was manifold protest against this, but Nomaplatvs was perhaps the greatest Roman orater since Cicero.
( an exerpt, copied by a scripto machina)
“Romans! Are we so barbaric as to let the inequality of the past to rule us? Are not all of us equals due just to common reason? The discrimination against the female gender, so expressed as horrid in our minds, is very real! The law must be amended, for the protection of Order, Reason, and the Enlightenment! Without these principles and common decency, we are no better than the Nordmanni who savaged us in the years of my great-grandfather! The only thing separating savagery from civilization is equality for all. My father abolished the cruel institution of slavery, and I shall continue his work! Ratio enim ordo et ivstitia!” (For Reason, Order, and Justice!) -Nomaplatvs
This stunning oration convinces the Empire, and complete equality is achieved for all. The succession to the Throne is also changed, making so that there can be an Imperatrix.
Later legislation by Nomaplatvs includes trade agreements with Tibetium, the kingdoms of Indicum, and Sinicum. He also is the first Emperor to officially allow for spying against the Nordmanni. It is discovered they have found a new land to the west, a land Nomaplatvs suspects they got to with Roman technology. It is rich and bountiful, and full of trees and minerals. However, it is further away from the Empire than Hibernia is frorm Bactria.
Such a voyage would take immense resources, and Nomaplatvs secretly starts building ships to get there, without telling the people. He names the new land supposedly far to the west as Hesperiavm (The Western Lands). He secretly comes into contact with Greek scholars of Eristothenes, who calculated the size of the Earth, to calculate the distance needed to reach this place and time. They estimate it at 4,000 miles (their miles are 9/10 of ours, it is actually 3,500 to Virginia from Ireland).
Nomaplatvs suspects the Nordmanni went further north than this, but he opts out of this, as Rome has no business in the frigid north. Despite this, imperial engineers tell him it could be hundreds of years before they can make the voyage. Nomaplatvs dies and leaves the Empire to his son Spartamiscvs.
Spartamiscvs I (r.1590-1615)
Spartamiscvs sends armies against the previously alarmingly expansive Tibetan Empire. They easily overwhelm the outdated Tibetan forces, but do not advance beyond the Eastern Caucasus (Hindu Kush+Himalayas). This is mostly because the former Tibet is locked in a civil war. For the remainder of his reign, all is peaceful. For this, he was adored by the people of Rome.
At this time, he follows up on the dreams of his father, and spends many years building a Roman Navy that could sail as far as it needed to. The fleet stands at 40 triremes of twice the length of normal ones, each holding over a thousand soldiers. These megaships are unlike anything ever seen before. But, before he can execute the plan, he dies. It is left to his nephew Romanvs to sail.
Romanvs (r.1615-1640)
Romanvs spends five years finishing the work of his uncle and grandfather, and then sends the fleet west. They embark from Dublinium, to much fanfare. This fleet encounters a fortuitously calm voyage. In 1621 AUC, Romans set foot upon Hesperia. (they land around OTL Yorktown). The settlement they then establish is named Novum Eboracum, as Eboracum is the captain’s hometown. (see the joke?) Some of the Romans soon report “Hesperiani” attacks. The legions march against these warriors, and drive them from the area at the Battle of Occidentali Munitionem (Western Fortress).
Scientists that have come with the Romans begin to spread Enlightenmentism among the Hesperiani. Many in the area begin to adhere to this, and swear fealty to the Emperor. Some of the Roman colonists return to the Eastern Lands: so as to inform the government of the success of the expedition. The ships return in 1630. The Romans are overjoyed at the success of the expedition. Hesperium Inferior is added as a new province. As well, a second voyage is prepared with far larger numbers and many supplies.
The colony is located along the Oram Fluminis (River on the Coast). (OTL Chesapeake Bay) The settlement expands around 25 miles to the south and east as well, and a military governor is sent to it (because of Hesperiani raids). Several more cities are founded, and farming begins in earnest. A library is built, containing only the classics and recently published field guides on Hesperia.
The colonists feel safe and secure in their new home, mostly due to the aid of the friendly Hesperiani to help them understand the native lands. But far to the south, a new empire arises out of the ashes of war…
Secondary POD: A young Mayan warrior living in a weak Chichen Itza does not die of sickness.
Huracan I the Unifier (r.1639-1660)
The Mayan city states are in decline. Internal conflict and strife have decimated their numbers. Climate change is beginning to catch up with their destructive farming practices. A young boy living in Chichen Itza is due to be sacrificed to appease the gods. (In OTL he died before the ceremony). At the sacrificial altar, suddenly lightning comes out of the sky and kills his would-be killer. The astonished people take it as a divine sign. (The priest had an article of metal about him)
The people are advised by another priest, who orders the teenager be spared. He is taken to have summoned the lightning himself. He is treated as a God-King. At the age of 21, he declares himself Lord of Chichen Itza, and works to revive it. He has all the sacrificial priests put to death, because they threaten his hold on power. As well, he never forgave them for nearly killing him.
The boy now must face down the mighty empire of the Toltecs. They have ruled Chichen Itza for three generations by his time, and have an iron grip on power. He rebels, raising a local army. He is surely doomed to failure, as the Toltec army is the mightiest fighting force in known history. However, he ambushes the Toltec army near the coast, and takes the high ground of a hill, driving thousands of Toltec warriors into the sea. The Toltecs withdraw from Yucatan.
Having eliminated all opposition to his rule over Chichen Itza, the boy now called Huracan embarks on a series of brilliant military campaigns. He quickly conquers Tulum and Uxmal, and adopts the revolutionary policy of drafting enemy soldiers back into his army. Coba, Xcaret, and Xel-Ha form a coalition against him, but many soldiers flee, believing he really is the god of lightning. This is augmented by his campaigning in the rain, at a time when lightning would strike often.
The coalition is annilihated, and the cities sacked. Wherever he goes, he receives tribute, as a god and as Lord of Chichen Itza. Modern scholars consider this to be the birth of the Ahaulil cah Chichen Itza (Kingdom of Chichen Itza). More cities are conquered under his rule, until he controls nearly all of the Peninsula. The only city left that stil defies him is Tikal. Tikal is lead by another warrior-king, who vows to crush the upstart Chichen Itzan lord. They meet at the Battle of the Lumob ( Forest). The Tikalan forces are destroyed, due to a challenge of mortal combat between the two leaders. It takes place during a storm, and Huracan has discovered why that priest died all those years ago. Doing this, he attaches a piece of metal to his opponent in the fight, who is struck dead by lightning. The enemy army surrenders afterwards, and pledges loyalty to him.
For the rest of his rule, he expands into all of the Mayan city-states, ruling all of the Mayan world. He then dies, leaving his fragile new empire to his son.
Araventivs (r.1640-1651)
Araventivs comes to Rome as a foolhardy young man who believed he could conquer the world. Remembering Rome has expanded in the west, he turns east to China under the T’ang Dynasty. He sees the supposed Roman superiority over them as proof that Rome can conquer this vast empire. He sends an army (foolishly) over the Eastern Caucasus. Many freeze to death, and the rest are along against the massive armies of China. Despite this, they manage to hold the Tibetan Plateau for about seven years. Then, the armies of the T’ang storm through and overrun Indicum, where the sympathetic natives help them against the Romans.
The panicked Emperor tries to flee to Hesperium Inferior, but is usurped by his brother Draconivs, and executed.
Draconivs III (1640-1645)
Draconivs quickly marches to Indicum with a new army and halts the Chinese invasion. Within the year, he has pushed them back over the Himalayas, using the invention of Greek fire, hurled from steam cannons. The Chinese quickly sue for peace, as a civil war has begun. The terms of the peace dictate that Rome controls all of the former Tibet, as well as certain ports in the east.
This is hailed as a great victory for Rome, but darker times are to come. Draconivs is overthrown by a Praetorian Guard who feels Rome should’ve conquered all of China. Another Guard revolts against him and operates his own army in the west. The legal heir is driven out of Rome, and flees to Hibernivm.
Second Interregnum (1645-1651)
Gallencius Valdvs and Lorcivs the Cruel
Gallencivs musters an army and tries to attack the weakened Chinese. However, he is waylaid by Lorcivs. He is brought to battle, and Lorcivs wins. Lorcivs returns to Rome. However, since the people see him as a usurper, he installs brutal measures to stay in power. The size of the Guard is quadrupled, and they are turned into a secret police force. Thousands of Romans are killed in the Lorcian Purges. The army is aloof of it due to bribes.
Draconivs garners support in Hibernia quickly, as the people grow to despise Lorcivs. He leads an army to Brittania, where he is crowned Emperor. But Lorcivs will not yield one more inch to him. Lorcivs constructs defensive fortifications around Gallia. Draconivs instead sails to the north to Dania. Marching through Germania, he meets Lorcivs at Noviodunum (suburb of Geneva, Switzerland). There Lorcivs’ troops mutiny and turn against the Emperor, and escort Draconivs back to the capital to protect him from members of the police.
Draconivs IV the Restored (r.1651-1675)
Draconivs has reunited the empire, and is helping it recover from the terrible reign of Lorcivs. He looks to expanding the Hesperian possessions of the empire, since the empire proper is nearly too large to manage as it is. Hesperia’s borders expand outwards around 100 miles from the original landing site. Contacts with the native Hesperiani reveal there are great mountains to the west. (Appalachians) Since the natives have no name for these mountains, they become known as the Ignotos Montes (Unknown Mountains). The colony raises troops and subjugates all who live even all that way out. Novum Eboracum now has a population of over 15,000 and growing. More ships arrive at Hesperium Minor. However, one adventurous ship decides to go further south. They land at a land later called Novum Hispanium (New Spain) (Florida).
The colony there however, is wiped out by a procella (hurricane). The survivors flee north to Hesperium Minor. While claiming Novum Hispanium, they also discourage others from heading down there, due to the strength of the procellas. Back in the old empire, Draconivs punishes supporters of Lorcivs harshly, showing them no mercy form the people’s dmeands. However, the question of the succession begins to loom over him. He is childless, and has no living relatives. An heir steps forward out of the shadows, being the great-grandson of the nephew of Spartamiscvs. As the only relative he knows of, Draconivs has no choice but to install him as Emperor in the event of his death, which comes to pass three years later.
Itzamna I the Innovator (r.1660-1680)
Itzamna succeeds his great father as the Lord of Chichen Itza. But unlike his father and people, Itzamna has become enamored with something other than war: knowledge. A vision he is sent brings him to a cavern near Chichen Itza. Within the cavern, a type of mascab (metal) is discovered. Itzamna brings it to his spear-crafters, after he bleeds from touching it. While experimenting on the peculiar substance, the Mayans accidently burn it (forge it). This creates what they call a iron spear. (sword made of iron). This begins the Mayan Technological Revolution.
Soon they discover other properties of mascab. They begin to fashion it into armor for warriors, as well as design primitive mascab-thrower (catapults). Various other msacab-based inventions are created, bringing the relative technological prowess of the Mayans up to that of the Romans in perhaps 1000 AUC.
His reign, unlike most of Mesoamerican rulers, is peaceful and bountiful for his kingdom. His great inventions will be put to good use by his son, conquering many more lands for the Lordship of Chichen Itza.
Spartamiscvs II (r.1675-1697)
Spartamiscvs comes to the throne of Rome gravely concerned about events to the east. China has not recovered from their defeat by Rome and is in a state of total collapse. Turkic remnants of Khazaria (still Jewish)migrate towards the Eastern Caucasus. He instead focuses on Africa, not wanting to deal with these issues.
He leads an army south from Mauretania (Algeria/Morocco) into Ghanium (Actual Mauritania!). The reason for being that the Ghana Empire has closed its borders to Roman trade, and Rome wants the riches of West Africa. The empire, despite having much Roman technology due to trade with them, is defeated soundly by superior Roman forces. The Ghanians see Spartamiscvs as being “demonic” in his brutal tactics used against Ghana. The resulting aftermath created a Roman protectorate that had a puppet king approved by the Emperor, as well as unrestricted trade with no tariffs.
This deal brings much more wealth to Rome than before, and Spartamiscvs learns the value of client states perhaps against annexation. In similar fashion, he turns all of West Africa into Roman protectorates (informally called Mauretania Inferior). This is due to the growing consensus that any more annexations to the core empire would be too hard to manage and administrate.
However, on his deathbed, Spartamiscvs hears alarming news from the east: Western China is being overrun by Khazars. This threatens Roman trade with the east, as well as their eastern territories.
Kukulkan I the Great (r.1680-1707)
Kukulkan starts his life as Lord of Chichen Itza by turning his eye north. The old Toltec Empire that ruled his lands at the birth of his grandfather still is a mighty force. His aim is to break its power for good and wipe it off the map. He marches north with a mighty army, now outfitted with metal weapons and catapults. The Toltecs hunker down in the capital of Tula, hoping to stall the invaders out, then let reinforcements arrive. However, at the sight of catapults raining death and destruction into Tula, allied nations worry for their safety against the might of Chichen Itza. After a month, a makeshift battering ram brings down the walls of Tula. The city is completely sacked, and the Toltec garrison massacred.
Kukulkan then pursues those who once allied with him: promising death if they do not submit to him. In result, a total of 15 different kings come to pay homage to Kukulkan at Chichen Itza. Now that the surrounding Mayan cultural world is completely under control, he turns his attention to developing better farming techniques. The reason for this is that the Mayans have been exhausting their soil relentlessly, because of poor agricultural practices. Kukulkan talks with local farmers, and has them find out what works the best.
They eventually find that when they switch the crops they plant from year to year, the soil is better. Despite no one really understanding this, Kukulkan makes it law to rotate crops. This creates an Agricultural Revoultion, and the increase in crops greatly enhances the wealth of the empire. Kukulkan is interred within a special pyramid, and his ancestors and relatives are laid next to him in the greatest pyramid of Chichen Itza. (Pyramid of the Lords).
Ligierivs (r.1697-1711)
Ligierivs is ill-equipped to handle the imperial throne, but he is on it regardless. Worried about the Turkish Khanate rapidly growing to the east, he looks to divert troops from somewhere else. Sarmatia Superior, is a borderland province on the edge of the Nordmannic Confederation. It really only has some garrisons to defend itself against the Nordmanni. However, they have not attacked Rome in nearly two centuries. He withdraws troops from that area, essentially abandoning it.
For the first time in more than 600 years, a Roman Emperor has abandoned territory. Despite this, the people of the empire had little concern for this area anyway. But Ligierivs has made a huge miscalculation. The armies he sends are ambushed by another branch of Turks to the north, and are annihilated. Ligierivs soon withdraws into the seclusion of his palace, unwilling to bear external affairs anymore.
Word comes from the east: China has fallen. The Turks are pushing through to the coast, and have crushed all resistance with their Romanesque technology and their brutality. Armies on the Eastern Caucasus prepare for war. Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty attempts to flee to Rome, but is killed by his own troops, who have been bribed by the Turks.
Then, disaster hits. The Turks sweep down across the mountains. The Roman garrison is forced back from Indicum and Bactrium (Afghanistan/Pakistan). By the death of Ligierivs, the Turks have overrun everything east of the Aral Sea and control even most of Parthia, a Roman province since the time of Aurelian the Great.
Hapikern the Just (r.1707-1730)
Hapikern seeks to consolidate the vast empire his predecessors have conquered. To accomplish this, he thinks up something unheard of in Mayan history: a central government system. He has noble warriors and men, 10 from each of his new provinces, come to Chichen Itza to help administrate the empire. Hapikern promotes industry within the empire, and increases trade with Hesperiani tribes to the north. The army is regularized, at a size standard of 100,000, which is spilt up into 25 groups of 4,000. In addition to this, the entire male population has warrior training, making it effectively over a million strong.
Hapikern spends his reign reforming the empire drastically, and he is remembered as a member of the “Great Founding Emperors.”
Severvs III the Great (r.1711-1730)
Severvs is no feeble Emperor like Ligiervs. He marches at once towards Parthia. A Turkish incursion however intercepts him, and the two armies clash at Manzikert. The elite Roman cavalry now have a chance to get at the Turkish cavalry, which is not suited to fighting in open spaces. The Turks are demolished. Severvs pursues them into Bactria, where he sacks their new capital with the aid of catapults. Cannons launching Greek fire are the last the Turks see of the Roman Empire. Severvs does not pursue them far: the former Tibet and China is left to the Turkish Horde.
Severvs leaves Northern Sarmatia to the Turks, not wishing to bear the costs anymore of keeping it. Around the same time, a brilliant scientist fleeing Turkish Sinica brings with him a marvelous invention. Nigri pulveris (black powder), and the schloporumque (musket). Being a wealthy noble, he seized the last remaining supplies before the Turks sacked the capital. The musket is quickly adopted into the Roman army, and replaces the bow as the favored weapon of the cavalry. This is yet another slap in the face of destiny, as Rome marches onward, unbowed and undefeated. Against all odds, it has managed to minimalize the damage done by bad Emperors, by regularly having somewhere between good and great ones.
In Hesperium, the colony is prosperous and expands further north, to the source of the Oram Fluminis. The population is now 200,000. A ship sending more people over is blown off course, and lands at Gallium Novum (New France) (Delaware and Pennsylvania). This site is settled quickly and has a population of 40,000 within 20 years. Trade routes begin to connect the northern and southern colonies.
Upon the death of Severvs III, he is succeeded by his still-young son Teleconivs.
Teleconivs I the Great (r.1730-1807)
Teleconivs comes to the throne as a young boy of 15, but is already governing the empire by himself. Under his rule, numerous technological breakthroughs will greatly improve the quality of life in Rome. The first thing to benefit is Roman medicine, as dissections of human bodies by naturalist scholars increases. With these added research sources, vaccines for many diseases are created. These include mephitis (malaria), pestilentia (plague), and gravedo (influenza).
Teleconivs is a great patron as well of mathematics and science, and founds the Academia Romana Scientia. There, the Evolutionis Legem is developed (Law of Evolution). This revolutionizes Roman science, and sets off another great increase in the collective knowledge of Rome, not seen since the days of Draconivs. Breakthroughs in mathematics include the development of trigometria (trigonometry), and Geometria Sublimiori (Advanced Calculus).
Because of all this new prosperity, Teleconivs is widely regarded as the starter of a new generation of “Good Emperors.” As the Turkish Khanate of the Khazars breaks apart, so does their grip on trade in the east. Once again can ships sail through the Canal and head to market. Destiny seems to be once again guiding Rome to universal dominion. A new social class is rising fast in Roman society at this time: the Agathone cum Numulariis (merchant-bankers). They benefit immensely from the trade in the east, but seek something more. They do not want the pesky convoys drying up profits, and aspire to steal the most valuable of the goods from the Chinese: sericum (silk).
Their plan is put into motion. Agents infiltrate the fields of China where the Turks do not hold sway, and steal bombyxi (silk-worms). The merchants vastly increase their power, with their capability to now produce independently of China. The trading ships are still immensely profitable, as the Chinese never sold much of their silk. Most of these merchants converge on a thriving new town on the island of Cyprini: called Eximivm (capital, extraordinary, glorious).
Carefully, Teleconivs manages to block them from acquiring too much political power. Teleconivs decides that the Hesperian colonies should become part of the direct empire. This is also to concentrate power with him, as an increasingly assertive Senate previously ruled the colonies. The senators grumble loudly, but nothing can change the mind of the Emperor. At the same time, Teleconivs creates a new position: Ratio Princeps (Sovereign of Reason). This person is supposed to be the ultimate authority in all matters concerning knowledge, as his power is derived directly from Reason itself. The holder of this title is to be treated as a literal manifestation of Enlightenment Knowledge.
Hoping that this official will not one day come to challenge him, Teleconivs withdraws to write.
(excerpt from Ratio ex Vivum) (The Reason of Life).
“To what is fated to happen, it is fated so by an Innate Reason. This can be thought of when thinking of the World in mathematics. To the unlikely, it is a game of chance, but still based upon central pillars of Reason. The purpose of Life is to be found through Reason, as it is different for every living organism of the World. Each being is touched and influenced by Reason, and it tells apart Good and Evil. How one uses their interpretation of it is what causes wars, births, trades, and all other actions. Whether these actions are good or evil, Reason swings back and forth, pointing to one or the other. As the Sovereign of Reason recently said “Reason is a but a Enlightened form of old Dualism. In it, you have the Reason of Good, and the Reason of Evil, and nothing more. From this, everything is built.” The Dualism of Reason, rejected by our unEnlightened predecessors, is to be the basis and fulcrum of all future thought. Any rejecting this, are absorbed in the murky darkness of the past, are spurning the common Nature of Reason and Order, upon which the Roman Empire is wisely governed. Alone along the nations are we in this, but many in the truth we are. For the other nations deserve the Truth of Dualist Reason, but decline it for ancient superstitions. To all future after me, I command you to head forth and civilize the world in the name of the Truth of Dualist Reason.” -Imperator Teleconivs I
The wisdom of Teleconivs and the Sovereign floods the empire, and by the death of the very old Teleconivs a few years later, 2/3 of the empire believes in the Truth of Dualist Reason. Teleconivs, after having worked on his beloved masterpiece for two decades, and having governed the empire for more than 7 decades, dies. He is succeeded by his grandson Denmiosker, who idolized his grandfather. Denmiosker will try to Enlighten the whole world with the Truth of Dualist Reason, by force of arms.
Qu’q’Umatz the Destroyer (r.1730-1755)
His reign is characterized by the development of toc kak (fire-burner) (gunpowder). This is when alchemists try to create an immortality elixir from advanced metallurgical crafts learned in the last few years. Gunpowder is quickly harnessed as a weapon. It is placed inside new wooden devices that are capable of launching metal projectiles from it. They rest on wheels and are pushed by warriors. The Lord of Chichen Itza decides to crush all the remaining Mesoamerican states, before they can unite against him.
First he rides south, and reduces the city of Chunza to ashes. The other primitive tribes of the region instantly submit to him. Those who resist, are massacred while trying to pursue him north. The Lord turns his eye further south. He rides into the cities of the Tairona, and forces them to submit to the authority of the gunpowder empire. The ancient Empire of Tiawanaku is crumbling from unfavorable climate change. Marching for almost 2,000 miles, Qu’Q’Umatz comes to besiege Tiawanaku. The by-then sparsely populated city was easily sacked, and the inhabitants butchered.
Now in control of a region spanning from Mexaca to the Andes, Qu’Q’Umatz is the most powerful ruler in the history of Meridionali Hesperium (South America). He orders the skilled craftsmen of the cannons to begin mining, having heard tales of rivers of silver metal flowing through the Earth. These places begin to be mined, and the Lordship of Chichen Itza is vastly enriched. The great ruler then dies, once again leaving his empire to his son.
MAYAN CHAOS… MORE COMING WHEN I FEEL LIKE IT…
Denmiosker I (r.1807-1830)
Denmiosker comes to the throne, and fascinated by his grandfather’s Truth of Dualist Reason, attempts to spread it by force. To a crowd in Rome he speaks:
“Fellow Romans! For too long this Earth has been populated by ignorance and cruelty. We can change that! We must raise forth the gears of war, and let our armies march through all the kingdoms of the world, and bend them to our will. If they will not accept the Truth… Then they shall find at their doorstep!”
Denmiosker rallies an army of 2 million, larger than any army even seen in the world before. To start out, Denmiosker leades his armies into Indicum. On horseback and with schlomporques, they overrun the entire Turkish host in the land. They then ride north, expelling the Turks from China by putting a well aimed shot into the Khagan’s head. They ride on into the rest of China, and force it to Roman dominance. Rome now has a grasp on all of Eurasia that it deems habitable. But before they celebrate, they march through the mountains of Svecia, and exterminate all Nordmannic resistance.
Denmiosker has now however recognized that the local populations despise the control of Rome, and tightens his grip on Indicvm and China, while abandoning the northern wastes and Svecia. After a decade of campaigns, he returns to Rome. At home, he finds a rampaging economic crisis caused by the overexpansion. The Crisis of the 19th Century has begun.
Massive protests erupt everywhere from Dublinium to Ctesphion, as ordinary citizens are made poor. Denmiosker manages to calm down the riots with the help of the Sovereign Dioflectorvs I. The economy rebounds slightly with the debasement of the currency, but Denmiosker is painfully ignorant of the consequences of a larger army and the debasement.
With the death of Denmiosker a few weeks later, the Second Golden Age started by his grandfather Severvs has ended.
Denmiosker II (r.1830-1845)
Denmiosker II accedes to the throne of his father, only to be faced with a crisis alongside the economic freefall, and the occupation of Sinicum. In 1831, Rome burns down. Despite attempts to gather funding for the rebuilding of the “Imperial City,” it is not enough. Rome is forced to be stripped of the honor of the capital city. The capital is moved to Narbo Martivs, (Narbonne, France) the old outpost along the Atax Fluminis (Aude River) founded by Ivivs Caesar himself. This city has quickly risen to become one of the most important cities in the western provinces, as it has benefited greatly from trade with the growing Hesperian colonies. Despite Denmiosker insisting, many believe the capital may never be moved back, and some in the east are enraged at the move westward.
Around this time, suffering from mental illness, Denmiosker splits the Empire. The eastern half is given to his son Teleconivs. The border is set at the crossroads between Asia Minor and Graecia. He retains control of the western half, as well as the colonies. Disasterously however, to prevent anger, he says the west will take up the cost of occupying Sinicvm, despite it's lack of sufficient funds.
In the meantime, Denmiosker encourages further expansion in Hesperivm. There, the western provinces become rich quickly. Also there however, develops an idea hidden for well over a millennia: republicanism. Reawakened by The Truth of Dualist Reason, which unintentionally has given strength to the growing movement. In the east however, enlightened absolutism holds out against the new political enlightenment of the west.
After this Denmiosker dies, but not before designating his heir in the west as Nvmaetvs, a terrible choice, but the best one he saw.
Teleconivs II and Nvmaetvs (r.1837/1846-1859/1851)
Nvmaetvs was not like his father and his ancestors, for in his mind there was paranoia and hatred. While Teleconivs gradually strengthened the Eastern Empire, and paid off much of its debts, Nvmaetvs ransacked the west. His attempts to enact crippling taxes were challenged by the Sovereign of Reason, Lsyimachvs II. This assertive Sovereign set an example for many future holders of his office, when he declared him an utlagandum (outlaw). Using the vast powers granted by the first Teleconivs, he mobilized the army and people against the tyrant. In revenge, Nvmaetvs sacked the Sovereign and appointed Draconivs Priscvs as a rival. The Occupation of Sinicvm was ended, as both sides drew troops away to control the west.
Teleconivs looked on in horror as radical neo-republican mobs combined with the Sovereign fought a civil war with his brother the Emperor of the West. Seeing that his brother was in the wrong, and hopeful that he even could control the west, he sent support to the Sovereign’s forces. At the Siege of Nova Eboracvm, the Sovereign’s forces burst into the Hesperian Imperial Palace and arrested the Emperor. He was dragged back to the gradually rebuilding Rome to await trial. However, in the meantime the radical neo-republicans split from the Sovereign.
The ensuing conflict devastated the Western Roman Empire, as armies under the command of the reformed Emperor in name but the Sovereign in fact, clashed with roving hordes of republican sympathizers. Attempts by these groups to start revolution in the east was put down mercilessly by Teleconivs, who was fortunate that most in the East were not republican. Soon, the Sovereign is reduced to hiding within Rome. For the first time in nearly two thousand years, Rome is entered by an invading army, who execute Nvmaetvs, supplant Lysimachvs with Draconivs, and form a republic. The Second Roman Republic refuses to recognize the Emperor as overlord, and moreover lay claim to all his territory.
Teleconivs quickly fortifies the vast border with the newly hostile Confederate Second Republic of the Rational Roman State (called such due to Teleconivs refusing to recognize it). The head of state is Consul-Sovereign Draconivs. Teleconivs appoints Drvsvs Fabivs as Sovereign in the East. The west refutes the legality of the east on grounds of absolutism being the opposite of Reason, in comparison to Republican ideology. Prominent imperial suporters flee east, and recognize Teleconivs as the singular Emperor.
Soon after this, Teleconivs dies, but not before entrusting the battered imperial office to one of his generals: Scipio Favstvs.
End of Draconivscan Dynasty
What will happen to the Empire now?...
Scipio I (r.1859-1880)
Scipio came to the throne with grand ambitions to revive the shattered empire. First in those, would be to seize Rome from the Second Republic.
Imperial Dynasties
Antonine-Avrelian-Pompeian Dynasty (-1254)
- Marcvs Mamertinvs (regent for Commodvs Avrelivs)
-Tiberivs II Pompeianvs
-Tiberivs III Pompeianvs
-Lvicvs I Pompeianvs
-Diomedes Avrelivs
-Clavidvs II Avrelivs
-Cleandervs Avrelivs
-Tiberivs IV Avrelivs
-Lvcivs II Axvmicvs
-Cato Drvsvs
-Agrippa I Aeqvorvs
-Varnvs Aelianvs
-Extoriscvs Aelianvs
-Agrippa II Favstvs
-Neritvs Horativs
-Archridinvs I Ivenalvs
Interregnvm (1255-1258)
Semptentivs Carinvs
Lucraetivs Marcellvs
Sarminvs Naevivs
Thesianvs Ovidivs
Lvcian Dynasty (1258-1505)
-Lvcivs III Seneca
-Dioflectorvs I Seneca
-Parsemivs Pvblivs
-Virveniens Servivs
- Archridinvs II Tarqvinivs
-Tarentivs Sextvs
-Radianvs Vitvs
-Agrippa III Silvanvs
-Traian II Silvanvs
-Archridinvs III Silvanvs
Draconivscan Dynasty (1505-1859)
-Draconivs I Nordicvs
-Draconivs II Tacitvs
-Lvcivs IV Septimivs
-Nomaplatvs
-Spartamiscvs I Martivs
-Romanvs Narivs
-Araventivs Varvs
-Draconivs III Demines
Second Interregnum
Gallencivs Valdvs
Lorcivs
Restored Draconivscan Dynasty (1505-1859)
-Draconivs IV
-Spartamiscvs II
-Ligeirivs
-Severvs
-Teleconivs I
-Denmiosker I
-Denmiosker II
-Teleconivs II
` -Nvmaentvs
Scipionic Dynasty (1859-2011)
-Scipio I
-Malvetivs
-Scipio II
-Scipio III
-Arcretivs
-Romvlvs I
Romvlvscan Dynasty of Rome (2011-?)
-Romvlvs I
-Romvlvs II
-Romvlvs III Nikephorus
-Trajan III
-Dioflectorvs II
-Vespasian II
-Fabivs
-Gnaevs Appivs
-Romvlvs IV
-Ciceronivs Tranqvilivs
-Valeria Bellatrix (regent for Romvlvs)
-Romvlvs V
-Longinvs
-Maximilianvs
Sovereigns of Reason (1750-)
Romvlvs I (1750-1777)
Avgvstvs I (1777-1799)
Dioflectorvs I (1799-1816)
insert more
Lords of Chichen Itza (1639 AUC-1755)
Huracan I the Unifier (r.1639-1660)
Itzamna the Innovator (r.1660-1680)
Kukulkan I the Great (r.1680-1707)
Hapikern the Just (r.1707-1730)
Q’uq’Umatz I the Destroyer (r.1730-1755)
Mechkulkan the Weak (r.1755-1755)
Mayan Civil Wars (1755-1860)
Confederacy of the Northern Aztecs (1860-)
Huracan II
Enjoy!
The Eagle of the Legions
(Propter Aqvilam Legionvm)
and
The Lightning of Chichen Itza
(Chak cah Chichen Itza)
An Abridged Alternate History
by
the Author
Note:
This is merely speculation on what might have happened. This is not intended to be offensive in any way.
Note- all dates are in the Roman dating system. Just subtract 753 from the ITTL date to get the corresponding OTL date.
Marcvs Avrelivs (r.-929)
Marcvs Avrelivs has fought off barbarians along the Danube frontier, and as a consequence has expanded the empire there. The plague from the east however, threatens his campaigns to conquer Parthia. (POD: He contracts the disease on campaign and spreads to some of his family). Before dying of this terrible illness however, he regains enough of his mind to realize that his young son Commodvs is not fit to succeed him. As a result, he nominates his son-in-law Marcvs Mamertinvs as regent for Commodvs.
Marcvs Mamertinvs (r.929-943)
As regent for the young Commodvs, Marcvs Mamertinvs now held ultimate power in Rome. Marcvs presides over the full annexation of Marcomannia and Sarmatia to the Empire. He quickly comes under fire after he gets the Compromise of 931 ratified by the Senate. It states that Commodvs will be passed on in the succession if Marcvs has a male heir, and should Commodvs die, the throne goes to his closest male relative. For both of them, unforeseen consequences threaten the succession. Commodvs dies in 933 of a stroke caused by a blow to the temple in a gladiator match, and Marcvs’ heir dies young the year after. Tiberivs Pompeianvs regretfully agrees to take the purple upon his death, despite his misgivings: it is really intended for his future son.
The years after the annexations proceed in peace, and the Pax Romana continues, as yet another learned, “Good Emperor” sits upon the throne. Marcvs adopted Stoicism as his philosophy like his predecessor, and writes a document, not seen for hundreds of years, which secretly condemned the Roman pantheon in favor of Stoicism. At his peaceful death in 943, the Empire enters a new era.
Tiberius II Pompeianvs (r.943-952)
Tiberivs, despite having little want for managing the Empire, decides to expand it further. Seeing the Parthian Civil War between Osroes II and Vologases IV, he marches on Parthia with an enormous army of 100,000 men of the legions. Assembling at Nisibis, they march into Parthian Mesopotamia. In the chaos further east, the garrisons in Mesopotamia are either wiped out or surrender. Vologases is trapped by the Roman army in an attempt to defend his capital of Ctesiphon from Osroes. The triumphant Tiberivs forces the hapless king and his advisors to sign the humiliating Peace of 944. The Roman border is extended all the way to the Zagros Mountains, even absorbing the capital, Susa, Arbela, and other important cities. Vologases is to pay tribute to the Romans from the old city of Persepolis. In exchange, the Romans encircle Osroes’ approaching army and turn him over to Vologases. As well, Armenia is recognized as a Roman province, after having been fought over for hundreds of years.
Tiberivs returns in victory to Rome where a triumph is held, and his 20-year old son, also named Tiberivs, is acclaimed as co-emperor and his heir. With this, the succession once again appears stable through Tiberivs’ son and grandson. A revolt in the eastern conquests by Arsacid nobles is quickly brought down by the energetic heir Tiberivs. The Quadi in Marcomannia revolt as well, but are crushed for the last time. Tiberivs II presides over a few more years of peace, and then dies, leaving the throne to his son.
Lvcivs I Pompeianvs (r.952-971)
The young Lvcivs ascends the throne with ambition for more conquests. He sets his sights on Germania, and leads several legions into the wilds of the barbarians. The tribes along the Rhine border are crushed within 3 years, and are subjugated or killed. The further occupation of Germania is achieved, to the Albis. A fortress city dubbed Tibericvm starts to grow along the Albis, as the emperor encourages settlement in Germania. His plan is to reduce barbarian incursions simply by just settling more Romans, making land-hungry barbarians move elsewhere. His rule is spent doing this. Numerous tribes fight back, but the well-trained armies of his father and grandfather beat them back. Soon Rome has a defensible frontier in the north. While trying to expand it further, Lvcivs falls dead, having contracted an unknown disease during the operation. By the time of his reign, it is suspected that many Romans are secretly turning towards Eastern cults. His youthful son succeeds him.
Tiberivs III Pompeianvs (r.971-988)
Tiberivs ensures the reduction of the Germans. To handle the overextension caused by the new garrisoning of Mesopotamia and Germania, Brittania is evacuated. Roman civilians who can flee, and the others await the return of the Romans. The abandonment of Brittania allows Tiberivs the forces to destroy Germania. Amongst those of German descent he is known as the “Butcher,” as he slaughtered tens of thousands in perhaps one of the worst ethnic cleansings in Rome’s history. Colonists from Rome are invited to journey into Germania, rapidly being Romanized and developed. The brutal methods he used pave the way for the peaceful attitudes of his successors to Germania, as the Empire is now secure and defended from any invading tribes. Germania ceases to be a security concern for a good time. Tiberivs is assassinated by a captured barbarian, eager to avenge the death of so many of his kin. A brief struggle ensues, and civil war is threatened, but the Senate votes in a cousin of Tiberivs, also descended from the great Marcvs Avrelivs.
Diomedes Avrelivs (988-1012)
Diomedes is brought to the throne by the Senate and enjoys a largely peace-filled first half of his reign. The treasury swells and building projects flourish. There are a few roadblocks in the later half, however. The Empire falls victim to a terrible plague. For a time, it seems like there will be no salvation and the Empire is surely doomed as the plague kills more and more. Diomedes privately consults with a doctor. This doctor radically advises him not to go to the gods, but to use scientific remedies when he is sick. Diomedes had been on his deathbed, and now he was cured. Could the gods have been wrong? Diomedes urges many to seek proper medical care, leading to a healthy number of survivors, as well as a greatly heightened Roman interest in science and medicine. Around this time, a Buddhist slave enters the Imperial household. The naturally inquisitive Emperor asks him about the religion. He is unconvinced, but his impressionable young son could not listen enough. Diomedes dies of natural causes in 1012, and his son succeeds him.
Clavdivs II Avrelivs (1012-1037)
Clavidvs converts to Buddhism when he ascends the throne. The increased Indian influences in the East allow the arrival of many Buddhist scholars. The former slave is appointed to a high governmental post. Clavdivs was angry with the old gods of Rome, who he saw as failing to protect everyone from the plague. Buddhism, however, with its focus on the attainment of knowledge, was surely the correct path. The correct path however, would have to wait, as once again trouble brewed in Persia. This last and greatest of the Persian Wars would solidify Rome as the mightiest empire in history. The warlike Sanatruces III, ruling over a truncated Indo-Persian kingdom, half Zoroastrian and half Buddhist, attacked Rome. Attacking over the Zagros was a tall order, and the overconfident Romans believed it impossible. Sanatruces met their forces along the border and slaughtered them. Clavdivs would have to wait to reform the Roman religion. He assembled several legions and marched for Mesopotamia. Sanatruces was brutal in his treatment of the Mesopotamians, and this earned him much ire. The forces clashed at the old Ctesiphon, but Sanatruces again won. The Romans were routed and lost an eagle. The humiliation was total. They simply had not expected an attack, which Sanatruces and his ancestors had plotted for nearly a hundred years. The war dragged on, as the massive Roman army could not catch Sanatruces’ small force. The exhausted Emperor died, worn out by 15 years of chasing the Parthian king.
Cleandervs Avrelivs (1037-1040)
Cleandervs was the elder son of Clavdivs. He was universally unpopular in his desire to avoid fighting the Parthians. The last straw came when he tried to just cede them Mesopotamia. His younger brother Tiberivs rallied the legions near Italia and marched on Rome. Cleandervs shut himself up in the Imperial Palace, which Tiberivs marched on and broke down the door of himself. He found his foolish brother had taken poison. The legions acclaimed their popular commander as Emperor.
Tiberivs IV Avrelivs (1041-1067)
Tiberivs was fed up with the incursions of the Parthians. If they would not stop running around Mesopotamia, then he would burn Persia to the ground. Tiberivs marched north of the Zagros, burning all the Parthians cities to the ground. The terrified Parthian nobles pressured Sanatruces to return, but he refused. These nobles were all soon killed by the wrath of Tiberivs. Leaving a massive garrison force in the old Parthian lands, Tiberivs took a small army back to Mesopotamia. There he finally corned Sanatruces’ army against the Tigris River. Rather than die at the hands of his eternal foe, the last Great King of the Parthians jumped into the river. The Parthian Empire had ended. Rome expanded out to the Indvs River. The legionary standard was found in a Parthian vault in the East.
Tiberivs’ lust for blood was not yet sated, however. He wanted Brittania back too. All the veterans he could spare were sent to Brittania, where Celts and others had overrun about half of the old province. Tiberivs drove them back by the force of his arms, and the rejoicing Roman population was once again defended. No longer was Rome overextended. Tiberivs had begotten a mighty and rich empire to his sister’s son, himself unmarried. The spread of Eastern cults among the elite continued apace, and the great Antonine House was now mostly Buddhist.
Lvcivs II Axumicvs (r.1067-1100)
Lvcivs II is much more concerned with a far different part of the Empire: Aegyptvs. It has been under attack by Wazeba of Axum. Wazeba had taken advantage of the previous northern adventures to raid Aegyptvs and steal the prosperus grain crop. Under this newly expansionist king, Kush was rolled under the Akusmite war machine. However, Wazeba has underestimated the hardened Roman Legions and their tough Emperor, Lvcivs. Lvcivs quickly counterattacks along the Nile, preventing the fall of Antaeopolis. Lvcivs annihilates the Aksumite forces at the Battle of Aswan: Wazeba was killed and the Aksumite army crushed. Lvcivs marches further and captures Axum: but does not sack it due to the great library within it. Axvm is established along with the former Kvsh as a new Roman province.
Lvcivs returns back to Rome. There he is celebrated by the Senate as the latest in a series of “Glorious Emperors.” He begins the construction of roads and housing in the northern territories, and formally annexes them as provinces. During the rest of his long reign, he builds new temples to the gods across the expanded Empire, and upgrades infrastructure. A usurper from Parthia arises.
This usurper raises an army and defeats a local Roman garrison in Margiana, far to the east. He soon has taken control of much of the eastern frontier. Lvcivs leads an army to halt his rebellion, and at the Battle of Asterabad, the Arsacid Dynasty is extinguished. There is nothing more of note in the reign of Lvcivs but that he sired a son who became his heir, and a far different Emperor.
Cato (r.1100-1120)
Cato succeeded his father as Emperor of Rome. However, unlike his father, he was no warrior. He was a scholar. Near the beginning of his reign, he ordered the construction of numerous great libraries across the Empire, even in the still savage north. Far to the south, In Aegyptvs, he planned a great work.
Cato read in the libraries when he was young of how the Achaemenids, Ptolemies, and earlier Emperors built canals to the Red Sea. However, his canal would be greater than all the others. Going directly from the Mediterranean to the Sinvs Arabicvs. It was built between 1110-1118, using up the enormous sum of 350 million denarii. When the Lvcian Canal was finally finished, it is hailed as the greatest engineering wonder of the world.
His plans for a enlightened Empire were temporarily disrupted. In 1118, a great earthquake struck near Crete. It damaged the economy of the Eastern Mediterranean severely. However, he introduced public works projects to revitalize the economy, such as the building of aqueducts all along the former eastern frontier. Cato’s favorite building was the new Alexandrian Library. It stands 200 feet tall with 20 floors, each 10 feet tall. It is said to contain 500,000 books and scrolls, from Hibernia to China. After this, Cato abdicated (the first Emperor since Tiberivs to do so) to his son Agrippa in order to continue his libraries unimpeded.
Agrippa I (r.1120-1137)
Agrippa does not share the same passion for books as his father, but is more like his grandfather. He sees the Lvcian Canal as an opportunity for something he always dreamed of: an Imperial Navy. While a navy has been considered un-Roman by previous Emperors who served on land, Agrippa feels that the Roman Empire should express its’ strength through a navy as well. To facilitate this, he orders the construction of fifty triremes of great worksmanship. They have 200 sailors aboard each, with most coming from Aegyptus and the Greek provinces.
Putting his father’s canal to use, Agrippa sends the ships east to trade with the kingdoms of Indicum and Sinica. When they return, they come laden with untold riches. Rome is three times as wealthy as it was a hundred years ago because of this. Repeated voyages are made, enriching the nation and providing capital for growth in the newer provinces.
It was unfortunate that Agrippa chose his successor when he was gravely ill, as his mind was clouded. He chose his older son Varnvs, who was not too different from Nero or Domitian.
Varnvs (r. 1137-1155)
Varnvs never wanted to become Emperor. He would much rather have enjoyed himself his whole life, for he was selfish. He was completely dominated by his advisors, who tried hard to prevent his wishes for excesses while trying to keep the Empire stable. That lasted for 18 years, until he had them all killed. On his way to crowning himself a Roman God, fanatical supporters of his brother within the Praetorian Guard attacked him. They dragged him to the Temple of Minerva and killed him, sacrificing him to the goddess of wisdom, since his brother was a genius. With Minerva’s blessing, his brother would change the Empire forever.
Extoriscvs (r.1155-1180)
Extoriscvs was possibly the smartest person ever yet Roman Emperor, smarter even than Marcus Avrelivs and his grandfather, Cato. He was born with a natural mind for creating things. With the aid of scientists from the Jin Dynasty of Sinica, he creates novel things in the Roman world. (the dynasty was declining so they sought opportunity with Rome). The Jin scientists also bring with them the secret of gunpowder, which is crafted by Extoriscvs into a plumbum-igniens (a cannon). But perhaps most revolutionary, is when the Emperor takes a page from a child’s toy.
The aeolipile was a toy invented three hundred years previous, but was remarkably advanced. Hero of Alexandria failed to see it’s potential, but Extoriscvs sees it. It is a miniature steam engine. Using his excellent craftsmanship, Extorsicvs makes larger prototypes of it, to be used in Roman industry. The only problem is how to provide power for it. The solution is found when massive coal deposits are found in Germania, Brittania, and Asia Minor. The Vapor Machinam is quickly adapted to the Roman economy, powering mills, waterwheels, plubming, semi-automated agriculture, and new military weapons.
Thanks to the efforts of Extoriscvs and Cato, the Empire is more ready for conquest than ever before, and Extoriscvs’ nephew is the right Emperor for that job.
Agrippa II (r.1180-1215)
Agrippa II was by nature warlike. Where the last four Emperors had launched not one campaign, they laid the groundwork for his.
But conquest would have to wait, as barbarian tribes flooded towards Germania from the east, escaping the Hunnic hordes. However, Agrippa II was not going to let this destroy the Empire. He marched to the frontier, and with his new weapons of war, annihilated barbarians who had dared to cross the Albis (Elbe). More afraid of the Romans than the Huns, they fled east, leaving the Huns to battle Rome. The Huns, being on horseback, outflank the Romans. The Roman armies are left to chase them through Germania. They finally catch up to them at Augusta Raurica. At that battle, the Roman cannon obliterate the Hunnic foot soldiers totally, while the Legions hold together against the cavalry attacks. The Hunnic survivors flee east like the other tribes.
However, Agrippa II is not satisfied with this. He marches his legions through the wilds of Germania and into Polonia. He stops at the River Hypanis, (Bug River in Ukraine) having secured much more land for Rome. He sails to Taurica (Crimea) aboard the navy. Wanting a greater Roman guard there to watch the barbarians, he expands Taurica dramatically, going into Sarmatia Inferior. (Southern Russia) There he hears tales of a frozen sea to the north and millions of acres of forest to the east. Uninterested, he only takes from the native tribes a young boy who shows promise in military leadership. He adopts him as his son and names him Neritvs.
Upon the return to Rome, he is hailed as a hero. But being him, he does not rest for long. Tolls have had to been paid to Arabian tribesmen to use the Sinvs Arabicvs. Agrippa II finds this unacceptable, and bombards tribal outposts, before lading ashore and annexing the land into the Empire.
Agrippa II made use of new technologies to bring the Empire to a new height of conquest and prosperity, and now Neritvs must fortify his vast dominion.
Neritvs Sarmaticvs(r.1215-35)
Neritvs came to the forefront of the greatest Empire in the history of the world with eagerness. Neritvs however, would not expand it like his adopted father, but fortify it. His homeland had been conquered in order to defend the western frontier, and this he set about doing. Around Sarmatia, he built 200 miles of outposts and fortresses, all linked by the aptly named Neritian Wall.
The wall faced its first challenge when the barbarians of the north came south, hoping to reclaim the homelands of their western ancestors. The cannonade atop the redoubts stops many of them, while the steam-powered gates slam shut in the face of the attacks. Seeing the wall’s success, the settlers of the expanding Taurica and Sarmatia were elated. One ingenious Taurican came up with the idea of building similar steam-powered structures on the frontiers and major cities, in case of a massive invasion. His name was Archridinvs. Neritvs adopts the young man as his successor, and has him oversee the construction of the steam redoubts.
Neritvs expands further along the Sinvs Arabicus eastern coastline, desiring control of all the eastern spice trade. The natives are quickly driven out, and local shrines are replaced by a temple to Neptune, being near the ocean. After this seemingly minor triumph, Neritvs falls ill and dies of malaria.
Archridinvs I (r.1235-1254)
Archridinvs quickly aspires to bring the same confident charisma during his time in Taurica to the imperial throne. He will need it, since a new threat is rising in the East. Tens of thousands of Hephthalites have overrun Guptan Indicum, threatening Rome’s trade with them as well as the eastern provinces. He leads an army of 50,000 to halt their incursions at the River Autraecus. The only thing that had stopped them from invading sooner was fear of the Romans.
The Hephthalite cavalry is surprised to face the steam cannons and tougher shields of the legions. The archers there have nothing to fire at, as the armor of the Romans is too tough from enhanced metal from Polonia and Germania, as well as the superior worksmanship of steam-based industry. They are mowed down by the superior cannons, and flee back to Indicum.
However, when the Hepthalites capture Roman steam cannons, it devolves into a war of attrition. They battle it out for many years, to the point where the ephitaph given to the Emperor (the Glorious) is now a humorous statement. However, they are finally driven back by a new offensive into Indicum, and the Romans capture Taxila, the old Kushan capital. His name is once again honored, as he has defeated a great eastern menace and opened parts of Indicum directly to Roman trading.
However, after several years of peace in Rome, he is assassinated by a general of his who wants the throne for himself.
And so ends the Antonine Dynasty.
(The Roman Anarchy 1255-1258)
Semptentivs, Lvcraetivs, Sarminvs, and Thesianvs (r.1255-1258)
Semptentivs, another able general, saw his chance to take control of the empire, and killed the assassin two days after the Emperor’s death. Having avenged the Emperor, Semptentivs is honored with the throne by the Senate. However, others see him as weak. Over the next three years, he fights against the three rival factions of Lvcraetivs, Sarminvs, and Thesianvs. He is driven back into Gaul and Hispania, while Lvcraetivs has taken Italia, Brittania, Hibernia, and Germania. Sarminvs holds out in Polonia, Sarmatia, Taurica, the Balkans, and Asia Minor. Thesianvs, facing little opposition, has taken over all of Africa. However, to the east, a descendant of Marcvs Avrelivs himself emerges. Lvcivs Tibericvs styles himself as Lvcivs II, Imperator of Rome.
With the Empire cut into five, Lvcivs is forced to hold off the nomads to the east with almost no help, while the west tears itself apart. Semptentivs falls to an invasion by Lvcraetivs, while Thesianvs is killed by plague. This causes Sarminvs to be murdered by Lvcraetivs, and him and Lvcivs to fight over Africa. Lvcraetivs formally declares himself Emperor, believing that the Gods are with him due to his great honors to them. However, Lvcivs does not pray, and instead builds miniature coolant aqueducts, having learned that the steam engine is shut down by cold water. At the day of the Battle of Cyrene, Lvcivs fires these coolant systems directly into the steam cannons of Lvcraetivs, causing them to be rendered useless. Without the cannons, his army is critically weakened, and they surrender to Lvcivs as the usurper is executed.
Lvcivs II the Great (r.1258-1290)
Lvcivs II is crowned in Rome, bringing an end to the Anarchy. In order to defeat the usurpers however, he had to buy off the nomadic tribes assaulting the east. He gathers the forces of the usurpers and marches with them to the east, where he drives them out, now able to spare the steam cannons. He build fortifications around the mighty Caucasus Indicus, so that nomads can never again threaten the east. This wall becomes known as the Lvcivn Wall, and will protect Rome for centuries. Lvcivs presides after this over a long peaceful reign, of relative tranquility.
His next major accomplishment would come in the patronizing of learning. He greatly enriches the Platonic Academy in Athens, and begins work on a Roman university. The first one opens at Rome itself, with a second one opening at the former Ctesphion. Education is made mandatory for all free families, and as such the Empire is filled with more skilled craftsmen. For the first year of university, the cost is covered by the treasury (made possible by the spice trade that has Rome unbelievably wealthy). More universities are scheduled to be built in Londonium, Alexandria, and Constantium in Germania.
By the end of his long reign, the Empire is all the much the wiser, better defended, and richer. But where Lvcivs improved the Empire, his successor, a nephew of his, would revolutionize it.
Dioflectorvs I the Great(r.1290-1327)
Dioflectorvs comes to the throne as a wise young man. He has spent much of his life reading from the libraries of Cato the Wise, and graduated from his uncle’s prestigious University of Rome. Unlike other Romans of the time, he has grown up surrounded by belief in science. To him, the only way forward is to completely embrace reason, instead of belief.
Dioflectorvs announces soon after his accession that he does not follow the Roman Pantheon, and puts his trust in science. He is met with vast protests, but the other young educated elite support him, and bring in the army to stop the rioting. He closes down all the temples and buildings of all the faiths, and reopens them as Museumae, with the entrance fees paid to the Roman Government, who in exchange provide for the upkeep of it.
Fifty years before, he would’ve been burned alive for treachery. But now, him and the educated of the schools and universities hold power in Rome, and force the people to bend to their will. Dioflectorvs envisions a great empire based upon science and reason, governing the whole world justly and fairly. This starts the true period of the Roman Enlightenment. Revenues are increased due to the lack of sacrifices to the many gods, and every major city in the Empire now has an university (one per province). By twenty years of rule, less than a third of Romans still practice some kind of religion in secret. Dioflectorvs will not persecute the religious, as he finds that barbaric and uncivilized. However, as two generations of Romans now are going to universities, religion is dying out on it’s own. The Empire from this point forward will also spread knowledge and reason to the Pre-Enlightenment civilizations elsewhere.
Despite the suppression of religion, the ancient libraries are saved and restored. The “Enlightened” Romans revere ancient knowledge because they feel it is all encompassing in its wisdom. The Enlightenment is increasingly called the Renascentiam (rebirth) in reference to the flowing of millennia-old wisdom after many years of the control of knowledge by the priesthoods and other groups. After all this, Dioflectorvs dies and is succeeded by a comrade of his, who studied with him and was consul during his whole reign.
Parsemivs (r.1327-1350)
By this time, Parsemivs is nearly as old as Dioflectorvs, and mainly expands upon his work. He begins to codify a legal precedent for the rule of all following Emperors: that they have the right to rule in the name of the further development of mankind. This was an alien thought before him; but the words of the old Greek philosophers could not have put it better. At this point, Rome has fully become attuned to a meritocratic system. The Parsemian Code is put forward as an official guideline for all future Emperors.
His rather uneventful reign ends, and he is succeeded by his son Virveniens.
Virveniens (r.1350-1373)
Virveniens comes to the throne of a greatly changed Rome. He sets out in his reign to quash corruption and reform the economy. With the last major changes having been hundreds of years ago, he reorganizes the Roman monetary system. New coins are issued dividing up currency by factors of ten: the Unumos, Decimos, and the Centumos. The Unumos is worth the most, being equal to 10 decimos and 100 centumos.
The only other significant event of his reign is the Pantheonic Uprising. 10,000 Pantheonists riot and briefly seize control of Rome, nearly torching the University. But when they try to torch it, the people rise against them and they are slaughtered. Others across the Empire revolt, and try to burn down Universities. Damage is incurred by one in Athens, but the risings are all put down by the people and army. Virveniens is succeeded by his son Archridinvs.
Note: Muhammad is alive during his reign; but becomes a scientist at the University of Alexandria.
Archridinvs II (r.1373-1402)
Archridinvs set upon a new task: an engineering project perhaps as large as the Great Wall of China. He wants to build two massive road systems across the Empire. While previous roads have been maybe a 100 miles long, these new ones will be thousands each. Construction starts in the first year of his reign, and they will take until twenty years later. The Via Magna and Via Africana each stretch thousands of miles, and have been made of concrete. They have cost the Empire a sum so large it would’ve been six times the total wealth of the Empire 400 years ago, but now thanks to the spice trade money is of no concern.
These roads help to further integrate the Empire together, and bolster the economy with quicker transportation between the provinces. As well, the road has ban built in a fashion that it can be expanded at a later time. It will also help the movement of troops across the Empire.
Nothing much else of note happened in the reign of Archridinvs: but historians would praise him for that, as peace in the Roman Empire was not to last for long. Archridinvs gave the Empire to his successor, Tarentivs, not knowing where his true loyalties lay.
Tarentivs the Apostate(r.1402-1410)
Tarentivs was a Pantheonist. He had kept this secret from his father, but now he would try and reestablish the Roman Pantheon. However, his short reign would be entirely be taken up by a struggle against his cousin, Radianvs. Radianvs was a charismatic soldier, and firm Englightened Roman. Radianvs held sway everywhere, and only didn’t seize the crown because of his morals. Eventually, Tarentivs ordered the burning of the University of Rome, as it was heretical. The army mutinied and killed him: they then proclaimed Radianvs the Emperor.
Radianvs (r.1410-1437)
Radianvs stamped the last vestiges of Roman Pantheonism and other religions. After he had finished with this, he sent for an attack upon the defiant tribes of Arabia. The legions march from Parthia Inferior, and lay waste to any who oppose them there, brutally annexing Northern Arabia. Not satisfied with just this conquest, Radianvs marched north through the mountains of Taurica towards the upstart Khazarian Khanate. Their quick adaption of Roman technology had made them a threat to the north.
The Khazars move into Taurica, and at the Battle of Charax, they force the Romans back. However, the relief army under Radianvs besieges the city and forces the Khazars out. He chases them back beyond the Riphaeus Mountains (Urals), where most of them die of a particularly savage winter.
Through brutal tactics, Radianvs has conquered first the throne, then most of Arabia, then all the land east of Taurica to the Riphaeus. Radianvs dies and leaves the empire to his son Agrippa.
Agrippa III (r.1437-1460)
Agrippa III comes to the throne, and has a peaceful rule of about two months before news comes in. Hibernia is under siege. Nordmanni sailing from Scandinavia are launching raids on coastal towns. Avrelian heads with the Roman Navy to Dublinium. At the Battle of the Coast, the Viking warships devastate the old Roman Navy. This is considered the worst defeat for Rome since Teutoberg Forest, with the loss of half the Imperial Fleet.
Furious, Agrippa makes camp at Dublinium with his remaining armies to hold out against the unstoppable Nordmannic tide. However, he is forced to flee Hibernia in the face of the invasion. Through prisoners, he learns that the Nordmanni are attacking from Islandia (Iceland).
Agrippa leads a counterattack on Islandia, and forces his way through it, sacking the lone Viking outpost. He must withdraw shortly after though to defend Britannia and Caledonia, under fresh attack from Dania, which has been overrun with Nordmanni. He orders the army back in the continental Empire to march into Dania and destroy them. The force going to Dania is led by the general Traianvs Lvcivs, who served with Radianvs in Arabia and Sarmatia.
However, by the time Agrippa reaches Caledonia: it is too late. He now must fall back behind Hadrian’s Wall. However, the Nordmanni have adapted the steam cannon for their own uses: and blow the wall to pieces. After this, Agrippa holds out for three years, but eventually must give up Brittania. Meanwhile, Traianvs has forced the Nordmanni out of Dania, after savage warfare, complicated by the natural strength of the Nordmanni. He prepares to follow them into Svecia. (Sweden) Agrippa cannot come help, as he is fending off the Nordmanni in Gallia and Germania. While he only scores a few victories, he is remembered as a great military Emperor simply because of the challenge the Nordmanni pose.
The Invasion of Svecia goes reasonably well, but is halted by the winter. The Nordmanni counterattack, and drive Traianvs from the peninsula. However, they are unable to send ships to recover Dania. Avrelian loses Armorica (Brittany). However, remaining Roman troops in Brittania manage to reclaim Cambria and Cornvbia (Wales and Cornwall). The Nordmanni storm into Gallia Aqvitania, only to be halted by a spectacular Roman victory at the Battle of Bvrdigala (Bordeaux). The Nordmanni are completely annihilated, and desecrated Legionary Eagles from Caledonia, Hibernia, and Brittania are recaptured.
Agrippa, exhausted by the war, agrees to a peace treaty with the Nordmanni, despite his mistrust of them.
Treaty of Dvblinivm
-Rome shall cede Hibernia, Brittania, and Armorica (humiliating)
-The Nordmanni shall cede Dania, and cease raiding Roman provinces.
-And lastly, Rome will pay tribute to the Nordmanni (beyond humiliating)
Agrippa soon dies of heart failure, perhaps from all his campaigns, and Traianvs is made his successor.
Traianvs II (r.1460-1477)
Traianvs is haunted by the Svecian winter, and the humiliating treaty with the barbarians. A massive Nordmannic Empire now sprawls to his north, incorporating the former Brittania, Caledonia, and Hibernia, as well as Scandinavia, Islandia, and northern Sarmatia. He must restore the fleet and prepare Rome for war, as the war machine was broken in the last war. To start this, he equips all the new ships with steam cannons, and they are steam powered as well. In addition, they are no longer made of wood, but are made of low-grade iron. This is due to remarkable breakthroughs by engineers at the University of Parthia.
He also reforms the army drastically. The Nordmanni were able to get the legions to pull apart and slaughtered them. But now, the legions form ranks in a different way. Some have become cavalry raiders, in order to out speed the Nordmanni. Others have been trained as legionary archers, who retain most of the prior practices, but use the longbow (pioneered by engineers at the University of Hispania) as their primary weapon.
He spends his whole reign fighting off Nordmanni sea raids (in violation of the treaty) and reorganizing the Roman Army and Navy. In the next war, Rome will be ready. Traianvs declares his successor to be Archridinvs, his son and a brave warrior.
Archridinvs III (r.1477-1505)
As soon as he becomes Emperor, the Nordmannic raids increase, as they hope the new Emperor is weak. Infuriated, Archridinvs leads the new Roman Army up into Nordmannic Sarmatia, while the general Draconivs attacks Nordmannic Gallia. The Nordmanni are unprepared and are driven back quickly, mainly due to the Roman archers against their light armor. The longbow devastates them, and they abandon Northern Gallia, and hole up in Armorica. In Sarmatia, they stall the Romans, hoping for winter to come. Winter does come, and the Nordmanni drive back the Romans almost to Taurica. However, the Pontus Euxinus (Black Sea) Fleet repells the Nordmannic invaders. By spring, the Nordmanni’s gains are lost, and they are routed from Sarmatia.
After the destruction of Nordmannic power in the east, Archridinvs joins Draconivs in an Invasion of Brittania. They quickly push back the occupiers with help from former Roman citizens. At the ruins of Hadrian’s Wall, the Nordmanni are annihilated, and driven out of Caledonia and Brittania. Hibernia is invaded, but the war stalls there. For decades the two sides battle each other there, with the Nordmanni too entrenched to be defeated, and the Romans with a far superior army.
Archridinvs descends into madness, and becomes obsessed with reclaiming Hibernia. However, he fails to see that is a poor choice. To this end, supporters of Draconivs, who is proclaimed Emperor, and who now must defeat the Nordmanni, kill him…
End of Lvcian Dynasty…
Draconivs I Nordicvs (r.1505-1530)
Draconivs sees how to defeat the Nordmanni. The Romans wait till spring, and march through the mountains of Scandinavia, assaulting the homes of the raiders themselves. The various Nordmanni chiefs sue for peace, but get a peace that ironically was called “Draconian.”
Treaty of Rome
-Nordmanni cede Brittania, Caledonia, Armorica, Northern Gallia, Northern Sarmatia, Dania, and Hibernia to the Romans.
-Nordmanni return all collected tribute along with tribute from them
-Any raiding into Roman territory is punishable by death in a Roman court.
Finally the Nordmanni have been humbled. Despite this, some advocate like Cato the Elder did long ago that their weakened enemy must be destroyed. Draconivs refuses this, having been worn out by long years of army service.
Draconivs is acclaimed by the Senate as the conqueror of the northern menace. Legitimacy is given to him by a forged adoption of him by Archridinvs III. Draconivs has a vision of an enlightened universal Empire: much like Dioflectorvs. To accomplish this, Draconivs speeds up the process of Roman industrialization, by rebuilding the war-torn provinces and building roads in the new Sarmatia Superior.
Draconivs hears of a scientist in Aegyptus that has made a machine that works by itself (the gear). He personally arrives to inspect it, and in response, he gives the man unlimited funds and resources from the University of Alexandria. He soon creates a prototype of a weapons officina (factory). This however, is no normal weapons factory. It is an automatopoetus factory (automatic). The gears produce the raw materials needed without human labor.
The scientist quickly exports his machine across the empire, and it changes the Roman economy forever. In the new Eastern Arabian provinces, traders come into contact with Arab natives who have an extra number that the Romans do not: sifr (original name of zero). The sifr revolutionizes Roman mathematics, and paves the way for further mathematical breakthroughs in coming years.
One of the first of the breakthroughs is a Romanesque symbol for sifr- S. Shortly after, mathematicians begin using variabiles, which allows them to construct basic theorem primo quidem solutions alternis. (Algebraic theorems, literally Theorem of Alternate Solutions). A mathematician named Procylus writes a manuscript entitled “Huius rei Argumentum plures Solutiones.” (A Proof on many Solutions ).
Thanks to all these recent innovations, Draconivs feels that manual unpaid labor is no longer necessary, and that before the Roman Enlightenment it might have been alright, but not now. The general populace is against as well due to the barbarity of it's institutions, and the fact that it is no longer needed. Because of this, Draconivs abolishes slavery throughout the whole Empire, and dies, leaving the Empire to his son.
Draconivs II (r.1530-1553)
Draconivs wishes to continue the reforms of his father, but first he must quell protest from the Senate. Many of the Patricians are furious at the end of slavery, and try to force Draconivs to back down. From what he did afterwards, draconic was defined. He did something so dramatic that the Senate would not reassert itself for over 200 more years. He enacted a law that made it so that a Senator could only come to power with the approval of the Emperor. These measures prompted the removal of perhaps a quarter of the senators. To get the motion passed, Draconivs passes it on a day the Senate is not in session.
Angered at his seizure of nearly total power over Rome, the senators threaten to incite the army to rebel against him and reestablish a republic. But Draconivs plays upon the people. He reminds them of the great achievements in his father’s reign, and promises more in his. The people, believing him, rally against the “tyrannical” Senate in favor of their benevolent Emperor.
Now that Draconivs has sorted that crisis out, all slaves are set free. The Roman economy booms as it is discovered that people work a lot harder when they are actually paid. Merchants from Sinica (China) have brought with them a secret they nearly got killed for: folium charta (leaf paper as opposed to papyrus, we know it as paper). Folium charta is more cost effective, stronger, and easier to write on than papyri.
But perhaps the greatest addition to the new Roman Technological Revolution is the scripto machina (writing machine-printing press), invented by a industrious writer at the University of Carthage. The new machine, along with leaf based paper, changes the Roman mind forever. The explosion of knowledge is exponential, as ancient scrolls from across the Roman world are translated into Latin and “marketed” to the general public. The collective Roman knowledge triples overnight, and finally ideas can cross the world.
After a brilliant reign of inventions, prosperity, and peace, Draconivs leaves the Empire to his elder son Lvcivs, who has been secretly been becoming unstable.
Lvcivs III (r.1553-1555)
Lvcivs, unlike his father never had a good relationship with the people. He found them foolish, and incapable of comprehending the splendor of the Enlightenment. He increasingly became paranoid simultaneously, and feared the people were going to overthrow him. To stop this, the Praetorian Guards “acted in the name of Reason” and deposed, and brought his younger brother to the throne.
Nomaplatvs (r.1555-1590)
Nomaplatvs had never aspired to become Emperor. If in the days of the old Republic, he would’ve certainly become a Senator. But now, the Imperial Throne was the ultimate legislative office. And so Nomaplatvs took it upon himself to use it. He enacted, most famously, laws that allowed women total equality in the Empire. There was manifold protest against this, but Nomaplatvs was perhaps the greatest Roman orater since Cicero.
( an exerpt, copied by a scripto machina)
“Romans! Are we so barbaric as to let the inequality of the past to rule us? Are not all of us equals due just to common reason? The discrimination against the female gender, so expressed as horrid in our minds, is very real! The law must be amended, for the protection of Order, Reason, and the Enlightenment! Without these principles and common decency, we are no better than the Nordmanni who savaged us in the years of my great-grandfather! The only thing separating savagery from civilization is equality for all. My father abolished the cruel institution of slavery, and I shall continue his work! Ratio enim ordo et ivstitia!” (For Reason, Order, and Justice!) -Nomaplatvs
This stunning oration convinces the Empire, and complete equality is achieved for all. The succession to the Throne is also changed, making so that there can be an Imperatrix.
Later legislation by Nomaplatvs includes trade agreements with Tibetium, the kingdoms of Indicum, and Sinicum. He also is the first Emperor to officially allow for spying against the Nordmanni. It is discovered they have found a new land to the west, a land Nomaplatvs suspects they got to with Roman technology. It is rich and bountiful, and full of trees and minerals. However, it is further away from the Empire than Hibernia is frorm Bactria.
Such a voyage would take immense resources, and Nomaplatvs secretly starts building ships to get there, without telling the people. He names the new land supposedly far to the west as Hesperiavm (The Western Lands). He secretly comes into contact with Greek scholars of Eristothenes, who calculated the size of the Earth, to calculate the distance needed to reach this place and time. They estimate it at 4,000 miles (their miles are 9/10 of ours, it is actually 3,500 to Virginia from Ireland).
Nomaplatvs suspects the Nordmanni went further north than this, but he opts out of this, as Rome has no business in the frigid north. Despite this, imperial engineers tell him it could be hundreds of years before they can make the voyage. Nomaplatvs dies and leaves the Empire to his son Spartamiscvs.
Spartamiscvs I (r.1590-1615)
Spartamiscvs sends armies against the previously alarmingly expansive Tibetan Empire. They easily overwhelm the outdated Tibetan forces, but do not advance beyond the Eastern Caucasus (Hindu Kush+Himalayas). This is mostly because the former Tibet is locked in a civil war. For the remainder of his reign, all is peaceful. For this, he was adored by the people of Rome.
At this time, he follows up on the dreams of his father, and spends many years building a Roman Navy that could sail as far as it needed to. The fleet stands at 40 triremes of twice the length of normal ones, each holding over a thousand soldiers. These megaships are unlike anything ever seen before. But, before he can execute the plan, he dies. It is left to his nephew Romanvs to sail.
Romanvs (r.1615-1640)
Romanvs spends five years finishing the work of his uncle and grandfather, and then sends the fleet west. They embark from Dublinium, to much fanfare. This fleet encounters a fortuitously calm voyage. In 1621 AUC, Romans set foot upon Hesperia. (they land around OTL Yorktown). The settlement they then establish is named Novum Eboracum, as Eboracum is the captain’s hometown. (see the joke?) Some of the Romans soon report “Hesperiani” attacks. The legions march against these warriors, and drive them from the area at the Battle of Occidentali Munitionem (Western Fortress).
Scientists that have come with the Romans begin to spread Enlightenmentism among the Hesperiani. Many in the area begin to adhere to this, and swear fealty to the Emperor. Some of the Roman colonists return to the Eastern Lands: so as to inform the government of the success of the expedition. The ships return in 1630. The Romans are overjoyed at the success of the expedition. Hesperium Inferior is added as a new province. As well, a second voyage is prepared with far larger numbers and many supplies.
The colony is located along the Oram Fluminis (River on the Coast). (OTL Chesapeake Bay) The settlement expands around 25 miles to the south and east as well, and a military governor is sent to it (because of Hesperiani raids). Several more cities are founded, and farming begins in earnest. A library is built, containing only the classics and recently published field guides on Hesperia.
The colonists feel safe and secure in their new home, mostly due to the aid of the friendly Hesperiani to help them understand the native lands. But far to the south, a new empire arises out of the ashes of war…
Secondary POD: A young Mayan warrior living in a weak Chichen Itza does not die of sickness.
Huracan I the Unifier (r.1639-1660)
The Mayan city states are in decline. Internal conflict and strife have decimated their numbers. Climate change is beginning to catch up with their destructive farming practices. A young boy living in Chichen Itza is due to be sacrificed to appease the gods. (In OTL he died before the ceremony). At the sacrificial altar, suddenly lightning comes out of the sky and kills his would-be killer. The astonished people take it as a divine sign. (The priest had an article of metal about him)
The people are advised by another priest, who orders the teenager be spared. He is taken to have summoned the lightning himself. He is treated as a God-King. At the age of 21, he declares himself Lord of Chichen Itza, and works to revive it. He has all the sacrificial priests put to death, because they threaten his hold on power. As well, he never forgave them for nearly killing him.
The boy now must face down the mighty empire of the Toltecs. They have ruled Chichen Itza for three generations by his time, and have an iron grip on power. He rebels, raising a local army. He is surely doomed to failure, as the Toltec army is the mightiest fighting force in known history. However, he ambushes the Toltec army near the coast, and takes the high ground of a hill, driving thousands of Toltec warriors into the sea. The Toltecs withdraw from Yucatan.
Having eliminated all opposition to his rule over Chichen Itza, the boy now called Huracan embarks on a series of brilliant military campaigns. He quickly conquers Tulum and Uxmal, and adopts the revolutionary policy of drafting enemy soldiers back into his army. Coba, Xcaret, and Xel-Ha form a coalition against him, but many soldiers flee, believing he really is the god of lightning. This is augmented by his campaigning in the rain, at a time when lightning would strike often.
The coalition is annilihated, and the cities sacked. Wherever he goes, he receives tribute, as a god and as Lord of Chichen Itza. Modern scholars consider this to be the birth of the Ahaulil cah Chichen Itza (Kingdom of Chichen Itza). More cities are conquered under his rule, until he controls nearly all of the Peninsula. The only city left that stil defies him is Tikal. Tikal is lead by another warrior-king, who vows to crush the upstart Chichen Itzan lord. They meet at the Battle of the Lumob ( Forest). The Tikalan forces are destroyed, due to a challenge of mortal combat between the two leaders. It takes place during a storm, and Huracan has discovered why that priest died all those years ago. Doing this, he attaches a piece of metal to his opponent in the fight, who is struck dead by lightning. The enemy army surrenders afterwards, and pledges loyalty to him.
For the rest of his rule, he expands into all of the Mayan city-states, ruling all of the Mayan world. He then dies, leaving his fragile new empire to his son.
Araventivs (r.1640-1651)
Araventivs comes to Rome as a foolhardy young man who believed he could conquer the world. Remembering Rome has expanded in the west, he turns east to China under the T’ang Dynasty. He sees the supposed Roman superiority over them as proof that Rome can conquer this vast empire. He sends an army (foolishly) over the Eastern Caucasus. Many freeze to death, and the rest are along against the massive armies of China. Despite this, they manage to hold the Tibetan Plateau for about seven years. Then, the armies of the T’ang storm through and overrun Indicum, where the sympathetic natives help them against the Romans.
The panicked Emperor tries to flee to Hesperium Inferior, but is usurped by his brother Draconivs, and executed.
Draconivs III (1640-1645)
Draconivs quickly marches to Indicum with a new army and halts the Chinese invasion. Within the year, he has pushed them back over the Himalayas, using the invention of Greek fire, hurled from steam cannons. The Chinese quickly sue for peace, as a civil war has begun. The terms of the peace dictate that Rome controls all of the former Tibet, as well as certain ports in the east.
This is hailed as a great victory for Rome, but darker times are to come. Draconivs is overthrown by a Praetorian Guard who feels Rome should’ve conquered all of China. Another Guard revolts against him and operates his own army in the west. The legal heir is driven out of Rome, and flees to Hibernivm.
Second Interregnum (1645-1651)
Gallencius Valdvs and Lorcivs the Cruel
Gallencivs musters an army and tries to attack the weakened Chinese. However, he is waylaid by Lorcivs. He is brought to battle, and Lorcivs wins. Lorcivs returns to Rome. However, since the people see him as a usurper, he installs brutal measures to stay in power. The size of the Guard is quadrupled, and they are turned into a secret police force. Thousands of Romans are killed in the Lorcian Purges. The army is aloof of it due to bribes.
Draconivs garners support in Hibernia quickly, as the people grow to despise Lorcivs. He leads an army to Brittania, where he is crowned Emperor. But Lorcivs will not yield one more inch to him. Lorcivs constructs defensive fortifications around Gallia. Draconivs instead sails to the north to Dania. Marching through Germania, he meets Lorcivs at Noviodunum (suburb of Geneva, Switzerland). There Lorcivs’ troops mutiny and turn against the Emperor, and escort Draconivs back to the capital to protect him from members of the police.
Draconivs IV the Restored (r.1651-1675)
Draconivs has reunited the empire, and is helping it recover from the terrible reign of Lorcivs. He looks to expanding the Hesperian possessions of the empire, since the empire proper is nearly too large to manage as it is. Hesperia’s borders expand outwards around 100 miles from the original landing site. Contacts with the native Hesperiani reveal there are great mountains to the west. (Appalachians) Since the natives have no name for these mountains, they become known as the Ignotos Montes (Unknown Mountains). The colony raises troops and subjugates all who live even all that way out. Novum Eboracum now has a population of over 15,000 and growing. More ships arrive at Hesperium Minor. However, one adventurous ship decides to go further south. They land at a land later called Novum Hispanium (New Spain) (Florida).
The colony there however, is wiped out by a procella (hurricane). The survivors flee north to Hesperium Minor. While claiming Novum Hispanium, they also discourage others from heading down there, due to the strength of the procellas. Back in the old empire, Draconivs punishes supporters of Lorcivs harshly, showing them no mercy form the people’s dmeands. However, the question of the succession begins to loom over him. He is childless, and has no living relatives. An heir steps forward out of the shadows, being the great-grandson of the nephew of Spartamiscvs. As the only relative he knows of, Draconivs has no choice but to install him as Emperor in the event of his death, which comes to pass three years later.
Itzamna I the Innovator (r.1660-1680)
Itzamna succeeds his great father as the Lord of Chichen Itza. But unlike his father and people, Itzamna has become enamored with something other than war: knowledge. A vision he is sent brings him to a cavern near Chichen Itza. Within the cavern, a type of mascab (metal) is discovered. Itzamna brings it to his spear-crafters, after he bleeds from touching it. While experimenting on the peculiar substance, the Mayans accidently burn it (forge it). This creates what they call a iron spear. (sword made of iron). This begins the Mayan Technological Revolution.
Soon they discover other properties of mascab. They begin to fashion it into armor for warriors, as well as design primitive mascab-thrower (catapults). Various other msacab-based inventions are created, bringing the relative technological prowess of the Mayans up to that of the Romans in perhaps 1000 AUC.
His reign, unlike most of Mesoamerican rulers, is peaceful and bountiful for his kingdom. His great inventions will be put to good use by his son, conquering many more lands for the Lordship of Chichen Itza.
Spartamiscvs II (r.1675-1697)
Spartamiscvs comes to the throne of Rome gravely concerned about events to the east. China has not recovered from their defeat by Rome and is in a state of total collapse. Turkic remnants of Khazaria (still Jewish)migrate towards the Eastern Caucasus. He instead focuses on Africa, not wanting to deal with these issues.
He leads an army south from Mauretania (Algeria/Morocco) into Ghanium (Actual Mauritania!). The reason for being that the Ghana Empire has closed its borders to Roman trade, and Rome wants the riches of West Africa. The empire, despite having much Roman technology due to trade with them, is defeated soundly by superior Roman forces. The Ghanians see Spartamiscvs as being “demonic” in his brutal tactics used against Ghana. The resulting aftermath created a Roman protectorate that had a puppet king approved by the Emperor, as well as unrestricted trade with no tariffs.
This deal brings much more wealth to Rome than before, and Spartamiscvs learns the value of client states perhaps against annexation. In similar fashion, he turns all of West Africa into Roman protectorates (informally called Mauretania Inferior). This is due to the growing consensus that any more annexations to the core empire would be too hard to manage and administrate.
However, on his deathbed, Spartamiscvs hears alarming news from the east: Western China is being overrun by Khazars. This threatens Roman trade with the east, as well as their eastern territories.
Kukulkan I the Great (r.1680-1707)
Kukulkan starts his life as Lord of Chichen Itza by turning his eye north. The old Toltec Empire that ruled his lands at the birth of his grandfather still is a mighty force. His aim is to break its power for good and wipe it off the map. He marches north with a mighty army, now outfitted with metal weapons and catapults. The Toltecs hunker down in the capital of Tula, hoping to stall the invaders out, then let reinforcements arrive. However, at the sight of catapults raining death and destruction into Tula, allied nations worry for their safety against the might of Chichen Itza. After a month, a makeshift battering ram brings down the walls of Tula. The city is completely sacked, and the Toltec garrison massacred.
Kukulkan then pursues those who once allied with him: promising death if they do not submit to him. In result, a total of 15 different kings come to pay homage to Kukulkan at Chichen Itza. Now that the surrounding Mayan cultural world is completely under control, he turns his attention to developing better farming techniques. The reason for this is that the Mayans have been exhausting their soil relentlessly, because of poor agricultural practices. Kukulkan talks with local farmers, and has them find out what works the best.
They eventually find that when they switch the crops they plant from year to year, the soil is better. Despite no one really understanding this, Kukulkan makes it law to rotate crops. This creates an Agricultural Revoultion, and the increase in crops greatly enhances the wealth of the empire. Kukulkan is interred within a special pyramid, and his ancestors and relatives are laid next to him in the greatest pyramid of Chichen Itza. (Pyramid of the Lords).
Ligierivs (r.1697-1711)
Ligierivs is ill-equipped to handle the imperial throne, but he is on it regardless. Worried about the Turkish Khanate rapidly growing to the east, he looks to divert troops from somewhere else. Sarmatia Superior, is a borderland province on the edge of the Nordmannic Confederation. It really only has some garrisons to defend itself against the Nordmanni. However, they have not attacked Rome in nearly two centuries. He withdraws troops from that area, essentially abandoning it.
For the first time in more than 600 years, a Roman Emperor has abandoned territory. Despite this, the people of the empire had little concern for this area anyway. But Ligierivs has made a huge miscalculation. The armies he sends are ambushed by another branch of Turks to the north, and are annihilated. Ligierivs soon withdraws into the seclusion of his palace, unwilling to bear external affairs anymore.
Word comes from the east: China has fallen. The Turks are pushing through to the coast, and have crushed all resistance with their Romanesque technology and their brutality. Armies on the Eastern Caucasus prepare for war. Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty attempts to flee to Rome, but is killed by his own troops, who have been bribed by the Turks.
Then, disaster hits. The Turks sweep down across the mountains. The Roman garrison is forced back from Indicum and Bactrium (Afghanistan/Pakistan). By the death of Ligierivs, the Turks have overrun everything east of the Aral Sea and control even most of Parthia, a Roman province since the time of Aurelian the Great.
Hapikern the Just (r.1707-1730)
Hapikern seeks to consolidate the vast empire his predecessors have conquered. To accomplish this, he thinks up something unheard of in Mayan history: a central government system. He has noble warriors and men, 10 from each of his new provinces, come to Chichen Itza to help administrate the empire. Hapikern promotes industry within the empire, and increases trade with Hesperiani tribes to the north. The army is regularized, at a size standard of 100,000, which is spilt up into 25 groups of 4,000. In addition to this, the entire male population has warrior training, making it effectively over a million strong.
Hapikern spends his reign reforming the empire drastically, and he is remembered as a member of the “Great Founding Emperors.”
Severvs III the Great (r.1711-1730)
Severvs is no feeble Emperor like Ligiervs. He marches at once towards Parthia. A Turkish incursion however intercepts him, and the two armies clash at Manzikert. The elite Roman cavalry now have a chance to get at the Turkish cavalry, which is not suited to fighting in open spaces. The Turks are demolished. Severvs pursues them into Bactria, where he sacks their new capital with the aid of catapults. Cannons launching Greek fire are the last the Turks see of the Roman Empire. Severvs does not pursue them far: the former Tibet and China is left to the Turkish Horde.
Severvs leaves Northern Sarmatia to the Turks, not wishing to bear the costs anymore of keeping it. Around the same time, a brilliant scientist fleeing Turkish Sinica brings with him a marvelous invention. Nigri pulveris (black powder), and the schloporumque (musket). Being a wealthy noble, he seized the last remaining supplies before the Turks sacked the capital. The musket is quickly adopted into the Roman army, and replaces the bow as the favored weapon of the cavalry. This is yet another slap in the face of destiny, as Rome marches onward, unbowed and undefeated. Against all odds, it has managed to minimalize the damage done by bad Emperors, by regularly having somewhere between good and great ones.
In Hesperium, the colony is prosperous and expands further north, to the source of the Oram Fluminis. The population is now 200,000. A ship sending more people over is blown off course, and lands at Gallium Novum (New France) (Delaware and Pennsylvania). This site is settled quickly and has a population of 40,000 within 20 years. Trade routes begin to connect the northern and southern colonies.
Upon the death of Severvs III, he is succeeded by his still-young son Teleconivs.
Teleconivs I the Great (r.1730-1807)
Teleconivs comes to the throne as a young boy of 15, but is already governing the empire by himself. Under his rule, numerous technological breakthroughs will greatly improve the quality of life in Rome. The first thing to benefit is Roman medicine, as dissections of human bodies by naturalist scholars increases. With these added research sources, vaccines for many diseases are created. These include mephitis (malaria), pestilentia (plague), and gravedo (influenza).
Teleconivs is a great patron as well of mathematics and science, and founds the Academia Romana Scientia. There, the Evolutionis Legem is developed (Law of Evolution). This revolutionizes Roman science, and sets off another great increase in the collective knowledge of Rome, not seen since the days of Draconivs. Breakthroughs in mathematics include the development of trigometria (trigonometry), and Geometria Sublimiori (Advanced Calculus).
Because of all this new prosperity, Teleconivs is widely regarded as the starter of a new generation of “Good Emperors.” As the Turkish Khanate of the Khazars breaks apart, so does their grip on trade in the east. Once again can ships sail through the Canal and head to market. Destiny seems to be once again guiding Rome to universal dominion. A new social class is rising fast in Roman society at this time: the Agathone cum Numulariis (merchant-bankers). They benefit immensely from the trade in the east, but seek something more. They do not want the pesky convoys drying up profits, and aspire to steal the most valuable of the goods from the Chinese: sericum (silk).
Their plan is put into motion. Agents infiltrate the fields of China where the Turks do not hold sway, and steal bombyxi (silk-worms). The merchants vastly increase their power, with their capability to now produce independently of China. The trading ships are still immensely profitable, as the Chinese never sold much of their silk. Most of these merchants converge on a thriving new town on the island of Cyprini: called Eximivm (capital, extraordinary, glorious).
Carefully, Teleconivs manages to block them from acquiring too much political power. Teleconivs decides that the Hesperian colonies should become part of the direct empire. This is also to concentrate power with him, as an increasingly assertive Senate previously ruled the colonies. The senators grumble loudly, but nothing can change the mind of the Emperor. At the same time, Teleconivs creates a new position: Ratio Princeps (Sovereign of Reason). This person is supposed to be the ultimate authority in all matters concerning knowledge, as his power is derived directly from Reason itself. The holder of this title is to be treated as a literal manifestation of Enlightenment Knowledge.
Hoping that this official will not one day come to challenge him, Teleconivs withdraws to write.
(excerpt from Ratio ex Vivum) (The Reason of Life).
“To what is fated to happen, it is fated so by an Innate Reason. This can be thought of when thinking of the World in mathematics. To the unlikely, it is a game of chance, but still based upon central pillars of Reason. The purpose of Life is to be found through Reason, as it is different for every living organism of the World. Each being is touched and influenced by Reason, and it tells apart Good and Evil. How one uses their interpretation of it is what causes wars, births, trades, and all other actions. Whether these actions are good or evil, Reason swings back and forth, pointing to one or the other. As the Sovereign of Reason recently said “Reason is a but a Enlightened form of old Dualism. In it, you have the Reason of Good, and the Reason of Evil, and nothing more. From this, everything is built.” The Dualism of Reason, rejected by our unEnlightened predecessors, is to be the basis and fulcrum of all future thought. Any rejecting this, are absorbed in the murky darkness of the past, are spurning the common Nature of Reason and Order, upon which the Roman Empire is wisely governed. Alone along the nations are we in this, but many in the truth we are. For the other nations deserve the Truth of Dualist Reason, but decline it for ancient superstitions. To all future after me, I command you to head forth and civilize the world in the name of the Truth of Dualist Reason.” -Imperator Teleconivs I
The wisdom of Teleconivs and the Sovereign floods the empire, and by the death of the very old Teleconivs a few years later, 2/3 of the empire believes in the Truth of Dualist Reason. Teleconivs, after having worked on his beloved masterpiece for two decades, and having governed the empire for more than 7 decades, dies. He is succeeded by his grandson Denmiosker, who idolized his grandfather. Denmiosker will try to Enlighten the whole world with the Truth of Dualist Reason, by force of arms.
Qu’q’Umatz the Destroyer (r.1730-1755)
His reign is characterized by the development of toc kak (fire-burner) (gunpowder). This is when alchemists try to create an immortality elixir from advanced metallurgical crafts learned in the last few years. Gunpowder is quickly harnessed as a weapon. It is placed inside new wooden devices that are capable of launching metal projectiles from it. They rest on wheels and are pushed by warriors. The Lord of Chichen Itza decides to crush all the remaining Mesoamerican states, before they can unite against him.
First he rides south, and reduces the city of Chunza to ashes. The other primitive tribes of the region instantly submit to him. Those who resist, are massacred while trying to pursue him north. The Lord turns his eye further south. He rides into the cities of the Tairona, and forces them to submit to the authority of the gunpowder empire. The ancient Empire of Tiawanaku is crumbling from unfavorable climate change. Marching for almost 2,000 miles, Qu’Q’Umatz comes to besiege Tiawanaku. The by-then sparsely populated city was easily sacked, and the inhabitants butchered.
Now in control of a region spanning from Mexaca to the Andes, Qu’Q’Umatz is the most powerful ruler in the history of Meridionali Hesperium (South America). He orders the skilled craftsmen of the cannons to begin mining, having heard tales of rivers of silver metal flowing through the Earth. These places begin to be mined, and the Lordship of Chichen Itza is vastly enriched. The great ruler then dies, once again leaving his empire to his son.
MAYAN CHAOS… MORE COMING WHEN I FEEL LIKE IT…
Denmiosker I (r.1807-1830)
Denmiosker comes to the throne, and fascinated by his grandfather’s Truth of Dualist Reason, attempts to spread it by force. To a crowd in Rome he speaks:
“Fellow Romans! For too long this Earth has been populated by ignorance and cruelty. We can change that! We must raise forth the gears of war, and let our armies march through all the kingdoms of the world, and bend them to our will. If they will not accept the Truth… Then they shall find at their doorstep!”
Denmiosker rallies an army of 2 million, larger than any army even seen in the world before. To start out, Denmiosker leades his armies into Indicum. On horseback and with schlomporques, they overrun the entire Turkish host in the land. They then ride north, expelling the Turks from China by putting a well aimed shot into the Khagan’s head. They ride on into the rest of China, and force it to Roman dominance. Rome now has a grasp on all of Eurasia that it deems habitable. But before they celebrate, they march through the mountains of Svecia, and exterminate all Nordmannic resistance.
Denmiosker has now however recognized that the local populations despise the control of Rome, and tightens his grip on Indicvm and China, while abandoning the northern wastes and Svecia. After a decade of campaigns, he returns to Rome. At home, he finds a rampaging economic crisis caused by the overexpansion. The Crisis of the 19th Century has begun.
Massive protests erupt everywhere from Dublinium to Ctesphion, as ordinary citizens are made poor. Denmiosker manages to calm down the riots with the help of the Sovereign Dioflectorvs I. The economy rebounds slightly with the debasement of the currency, but Denmiosker is painfully ignorant of the consequences of a larger army and the debasement.
With the death of Denmiosker a few weeks later, the Second Golden Age started by his grandfather Severvs has ended.
Denmiosker II (r.1830-1845)
Denmiosker II accedes to the throne of his father, only to be faced with a crisis alongside the economic freefall, and the occupation of Sinicum. In 1831, Rome burns down. Despite attempts to gather funding for the rebuilding of the “Imperial City,” it is not enough. Rome is forced to be stripped of the honor of the capital city. The capital is moved to Narbo Martivs, (Narbonne, France) the old outpost along the Atax Fluminis (Aude River) founded by Ivivs Caesar himself. This city has quickly risen to become one of the most important cities in the western provinces, as it has benefited greatly from trade with the growing Hesperian colonies. Despite Denmiosker insisting, many believe the capital may never be moved back, and some in the east are enraged at the move westward.
Around this time, suffering from mental illness, Denmiosker splits the Empire. The eastern half is given to his son Teleconivs. The border is set at the crossroads between Asia Minor and Graecia. He retains control of the western half, as well as the colonies. Disasterously however, to prevent anger, he says the west will take up the cost of occupying Sinicvm, despite it's lack of sufficient funds.
In the meantime, Denmiosker encourages further expansion in Hesperivm. There, the western provinces become rich quickly. Also there however, develops an idea hidden for well over a millennia: republicanism. Reawakened by The Truth of Dualist Reason, which unintentionally has given strength to the growing movement. In the east however, enlightened absolutism holds out against the new political enlightenment of the west.
After this Denmiosker dies, but not before designating his heir in the west as Nvmaetvs, a terrible choice, but the best one he saw.
Teleconivs II and Nvmaetvs (r.1837/1846-1859/1851)
Nvmaetvs was not like his father and his ancestors, for in his mind there was paranoia and hatred. While Teleconivs gradually strengthened the Eastern Empire, and paid off much of its debts, Nvmaetvs ransacked the west. His attempts to enact crippling taxes were challenged by the Sovereign of Reason, Lsyimachvs II. This assertive Sovereign set an example for many future holders of his office, when he declared him an utlagandum (outlaw). Using the vast powers granted by the first Teleconivs, he mobilized the army and people against the tyrant. In revenge, Nvmaetvs sacked the Sovereign and appointed Draconivs Priscvs as a rival. The Occupation of Sinicvm was ended, as both sides drew troops away to control the west.
Teleconivs looked on in horror as radical neo-republican mobs combined with the Sovereign fought a civil war with his brother the Emperor of the West. Seeing that his brother was in the wrong, and hopeful that he even could control the west, he sent support to the Sovereign’s forces. At the Siege of Nova Eboracvm, the Sovereign’s forces burst into the Hesperian Imperial Palace and arrested the Emperor. He was dragged back to the gradually rebuilding Rome to await trial. However, in the meantime the radical neo-republicans split from the Sovereign.
The ensuing conflict devastated the Western Roman Empire, as armies under the command of the reformed Emperor in name but the Sovereign in fact, clashed with roving hordes of republican sympathizers. Attempts by these groups to start revolution in the east was put down mercilessly by Teleconivs, who was fortunate that most in the East were not republican. Soon, the Sovereign is reduced to hiding within Rome. For the first time in nearly two thousand years, Rome is entered by an invading army, who execute Nvmaetvs, supplant Lysimachvs with Draconivs, and form a republic. The Second Roman Republic refuses to recognize the Emperor as overlord, and moreover lay claim to all his territory.
Teleconivs quickly fortifies the vast border with the newly hostile Confederate Second Republic of the Rational Roman State (called such due to Teleconivs refusing to recognize it). The head of state is Consul-Sovereign Draconivs. Teleconivs appoints Drvsvs Fabivs as Sovereign in the East. The west refutes the legality of the east on grounds of absolutism being the opposite of Reason, in comparison to Republican ideology. Prominent imperial suporters flee east, and recognize Teleconivs as the singular Emperor.
Soon after this, Teleconivs dies, but not before entrusting the battered imperial office to one of his generals: Scipio Favstvs.
End of Draconivscan Dynasty
What will happen to the Empire now?...
Scipio I (r.1859-1880)
Scipio came to the throne with grand ambitions to revive the shattered empire. First in those, would be to seize Rome from the Second Republic.
Imperial Dynasties
Antonine-Avrelian-Pompeian Dynasty (-1254)
- Marcvs Mamertinvs (regent for Commodvs Avrelivs)
-Tiberivs II Pompeianvs
-Tiberivs III Pompeianvs
-Lvicvs I Pompeianvs
-Diomedes Avrelivs
-Clavidvs II Avrelivs
-Cleandervs Avrelivs
-Tiberivs IV Avrelivs
-Lvcivs II Axvmicvs
-Cato Drvsvs
-Agrippa I Aeqvorvs
-Varnvs Aelianvs
-Extoriscvs Aelianvs
-Agrippa II Favstvs
-Neritvs Horativs
-Archridinvs I Ivenalvs
Interregnvm (1255-1258)
Semptentivs Carinvs
Lucraetivs Marcellvs
Sarminvs Naevivs
Thesianvs Ovidivs
Lvcian Dynasty (1258-1505)
-Lvcivs III Seneca
-Dioflectorvs I Seneca
-Parsemivs Pvblivs
-Virveniens Servivs
- Archridinvs II Tarqvinivs
-Tarentivs Sextvs
-Radianvs Vitvs
-Agrippa III Silvanvs
-Traian II Silvanvs
-Archridinvs III Silvanvs
Draconivscan Dynasty (1505-1859)
-Draconivs I Nordicvs
-Draconivs II Tacitvs
-Lvcivs IV Septimivs
-Nomaplatvs
-Spartamiscvs I Martivs
-Romanvs Narivs
-Araventivs Varvs
-Draconivs III Demines
Second Interregnum
Gallencivs Valdvs
Lorcivs
Restored Draconivscan Dynasty (1505-1859)
-Draconivs IV
-Spartamiscvs II
-Ligeirivs
-Severvs
-Teleconivs I
-Denmiosker I
-Denmiosker II
-Teleconivs II
` -Nvmaentvs
Scipionic Dynasty (1859-2011)
-Scipio I
-Malvetivs
-Scipio II
-Scipio III
-Arcretivs
-Romvlvs I
Romvlvscan Dynasty of Rome (2011-?)
-Romvlvs I
-Romvlvs II
-Romvlvs III Nikephorus
-Trajan III
-Dioflectorvs II
-Vespasian II
-Fabivs
-Gnaevs Appivs
-Romvlvs IV
-Ciceronivs Tranqvilivs
-Valeria Bellatrix (regent for Romvlvs)
-Romvlvs V
-Longinvs
-Maximilianvs
Sovereigns of Reason (1750-)
Romvlvs I (1750-1777)
Avgvstvs I (1777-1799)
Dioflectorvs I (1799-1816)
insert more
Lords of Chichen Itza (1639 AUC-1755)
Huracan I the Unifier (r.1639-1660)
Itzamna the Innovator (r.1660-1680)
Kukulkan I the Great (r.1680-1707)
Hapikern the Just (r.1707-1730)
Q’uq’Umatz I the Destroyer (r.1730-1755)
Mechkulkan the Weak (r.1755-1755)
Mayan Civil Wars (1755-1860)
Confederacy of the Northern Aztecs (1860-)
Huracan II