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From 250-270 the Roman Empire saw a period of enormous instability and defeat: Various German tribes invaded the Balcan and even northern Italy, a plague ravaged the empire, Corruption and civil war were common, the Persians did capture the emperor and made huge gains, and there were two important independent states forming on it's territory: The Gallic empire encompassing Gallia, England, and Iberia and the Palmyrene Empire in the Levant and Egypt.
Of this two the later was particulary devastating as Egypt was the prime source of grain.

In 270 however Aurelian became emperor and he was able to defeat the German tribes, and reunite the Empire by conquering both break-away states. This gave rome another 200 years to live.

But this consolidation also had some problems: In January 271 tha allemans managed to ambush a Romen army under Aurelian and defeatet them at Placentia. Aurelian survived the battle and continued is unification of the empire.

But what if Aurelian would have fallen during that battle?

The defeat alone caused great fear in Rome of an invasion, and with the emperor dead this fear will became true and the at least northern Italy will be devasted. Under this conditions the Palmyrene and Gallic empire can't be reconquered, and the Germans continue to invade the Balcan.

It is very likely that under this condtions the decay of the Empire will continue and even accelerate so that the Roman Empire will be dead in 276 and not 476 how would the world evolve with the Roman empire dissolved so much earlier?
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