Gallic Empire Survives

In the Third Century, Gaul, Hispania, and Britannia broke off from Rome and formed the Gallic Empire. In thirteen years it was reabsorbed by Rome. What if it had survived for longer? Could it eventually form its own culture and become a viable nation?

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It was never really intended to be a viable nation, at least the aristocracy that led it never meant it to be. Its eventual collapse was caused by the fact that the Gallic Emperor (whose name escapes me right now) refused to take Rome when given the chance (when the Roman Emperor was away fighting against Zanobia in Palmyra), which cause Britain and I think Spain to return to the Roman fold.

If it were to live on, the effects would be interesting: a stable Gallic Empire would have been better capable of withstanding the Germanic invasions and surviving the collapse, Rome without the financial drain of Britain (although without the manpower of Gaul) might have survived longer as well, especially if later on the Gallic Empire and the Roman Empire remain friendly, at least in the interest of defense and preservation.
 
It was never really intended to be a viable nation, at least the aristocracy that led it never meant it to be. Its eventual collapse was caused by the fact that the Gallic Emperor (whose name escapes me right now) refused to take Rome when given the chance (when the Roman Emperor was away fighting against Zanobia in Palmyra), which cause Britain and I think Spain to return to the Roman fold.

If it were to live on, the effects would be interesting: a stable Gallic Empire would have been better capable of withstanding the Germanic invasions and surviving the collapse, Rome without the financial drain of Britain (although without the manpower of Gaul) might have survived longer as well, especially if later on the Gallic Empire and the Roman Empire remain friendly, at least in the interest of defense and preservation.

To be more precise, Britannia and Hispania broke off because Postumus (the first Gallic Emperor) refused to let his troops plunder Mainz after defeating the usurper Laelianus. They murdered him because of that, and upon his death the outer provinces rejoined Rome.

And Postumus had no intention of taking Rome. He broke off from the Roman Empire because the people of Gaul wanted someone to protect them from the Franks and other barbarians, something that the Crisis emperors could not do very well. Postumus was very competent at keeping the Franks out of Gaul (defeating several large invasions and holding the Rhine frontier).


If Postumus had supported Aureolus in that general's bid for the empire, then the Gallic and Roman empires would have been on better terms (until Aureolus was overthrown, and given the time period I don't see him lasting beyond 270), and the Romans might have let the Gallic Empire survive. I think as long as it remains strong, they can hold the Rhine front against the barbarians. Until the Huns show up, at least.
 
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