Glimpses Of History
- Thread starter Tynnin
- Start date
I thought about doing a glimpse that took a look at the whole Ptolemaic Dynasty but just don’t have the time for it right now. Besides, that wouldn’t be keeping with my theme 
– however, if I inspire someone to do a TL based on what I do here then cheers!
Many thanks for the interest.
Feel free to suggest, comment, and discuss further.
– however, if I inspire someone to do a TL based on what I do here then cheers! Many thanks for the interest.
Feel free to suggest, comment, and discuss further.
Well, assuming the Empire suvives, it would give Rome a rival...Tynnin said:I thought about doing a glimpse that took a look at the whole Ptolemaic Dynasty but just don’t have the time for it right now. Besides, that wouldn’t be keeping with my theme
Many thanks for the interest.
Feel free to suggest, comment, and discuss further.
Instead of trying to swing around through Spain the way Carthage did maybe just dig in. Egypt does have a friend with Syracuse – that could play into a landing in Italy. Egypt may not need to have help with the Celts if they go right for the jugular. Make a landing near Tarentum and move up the boot. Maybe Ptolemy II can garner some support from the Greeks in the area by promising to make Tarentum the new capital once Rome was put to the yoke?
Changing of the Guard
These are translated excerpts from the personal journal of Major Egor Llyin, chief aide to General Ivanov.
9 January 1905
A disaster, there is no other word for it. Though I am sure the finger of blame will find someone I can’t help but think that if there hadn’t been a protest there would not have been bloodshed. Nonetheless the great city of St. Petersburg is bathed in death. Reports have arrived in Moscow describing the events. Protestors, thousands of them, marched, sang hymns, and held posters of Tsar Nicholas as they carried a petition the zemstvo and Bolshevik party headquarters. The protestors never reached their destination. Troops tried to stop the march and with communication disrupted by heavy snow fall there was no word from command. Eventually shots were fired and all was lost. Making things worse are reports and rumors of similar events occurring in other parts of our great empire.
I have only just returned from General Ivanov who was in a closed door session with the Tsar since news began to pour into the capital. The Tsar remains committed to proving the strength of the monarchy but my General as well as many of the other military advisors suggested concessions. I am told no decision has been reached.
20 January 1905
The Caucasus are up in arms. Two additional divisions have been dispatched to subdue the unrest. Thankfully, thus far for the most part, the strikes and riots have dispersed once the military have moved in. Though that hasn’t stopped many cities and villages from being shut down by protestors.
10 February 1905
There has been a string of assassination, most notably Grand-Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. My duties now include a sentry detail outside the Tsar’s chambers – one I am proud to perform.
20 February 1905
The main surge of rage seems to have subsided. The Tsar issued a decree on the 18th that an assembly of duma members and local councils will be created to address the idea of constitutional reform.
5 March 1905
The war does not go well, we have been forced into retreat back across Manchuria. How can this be? The embarrassment is immeasurable yet the Tsar carries himself with dignity.
Though riots have been quiet since the February proclamation today in Odessa a large bomb was detonated and the city has been shut down by protestors.
12 June 1905
As I read back on my earlier entries on the war with Japan and the continuing disruption by workers I find that not a month has gone by that didn’t hold one disaster or another. It seems all that trouble culminates on this day. The high command has entered into peace talks today to draw the war to an end. I’m sure if our internal issues had been settled this day would go down in history much differently.
29 June 1905
Ingrates, the lot of them, and why is it that those who remain loyal are having such a hard time regaining order. There has been a wave of riots, work stoppages, and mutinies – from the reports it almost seems as if every port in our empire has been sacked. There are a number of war ships that are no longer in the Tsar’s control and whole swaths of countryside are in rebellion. Things haven’t been this bad since the days after Bloody Sunday.
3 September 1905
The peace treaty has been signed, the war is over. The only matter making this a joyous occasion is that the last of the rebellious war ships has been recaptured. Though most of the summer has been spent negotiating and offering concession in the name of the Tsar (and occasionally forcibly taking back control) it seems the storm of revolts has passed.
20 October 1905
The empire has come to a halt. I can still hear the sounds of gunfire. A massive strike has erupted, shutting down the railroad system – troops, food, supplies, citizens stranded. The Tsar has arrested two of his military command and proclaimed that he has finished talking with these upstarts. He has issued a full military crackdown. I am leaving with General Ivanov tomorrow for St. Petersburg, he has been put in charge of securing the jewel of the empire – it will take us months to work through the list of arrests. I’m afraid ee will all be kept busy for the foreseeable future, St. Petersburg isn’t the only city that has overthrown the imperial administration and established a council of workers. I’m sure the Social Democrats are involved with this, it is hard not to think so when their leader, Ulyanov, is so out spoken.
3 November 1905
There was news today of a massive protest that has been put down in Moscow. It is early yet but estimates suggest over 2000 civilians and government officials were killed by a regiment of the elite guard. I worry for my family.
5 November 1905
General Ivanov has forbid me to sort his mail or read any communication before he does. I try not to take this action personally as I am sure there are security matters of concern after the Moscow uprising.
10 November 1905
General Ivanov was issued orders today to shoot without regard. He called me into his office and told me of this as well of the communications he has had with the rest of the high command and their misgivings over the Tsar’s decision. I had the feeling he was testing my loyalty – not sure why.
12 November 1905
General Ivanov has been behind closed door for almost two days now. Men, most of which I had never seen before, coming and going through all hours of the night. I’m nervous and I don’t know why. Something is up but I fear to say any more on it. I am to bed early this evening as we are leaving for Moscow tomorrow morning – though I have seen no travel orders.
15 November 1905
I hardly know what to say. Even now tears blot my eyes making it difficult to write. But I must, for my children I must continue. This is a day for all those loyal to the empire must remember – the day the Tsar was arrested. The whole of the royal family has been taken away and more arrests continue even now. A commission of ranking military officials and civilian authorities presented the Tsar with a petition today in the name of the peoples of Russia. They called for new elections and for sweeping social reforms, the Tsar refused but was willing to work within the government as it stands right now. This was when the order for his arrest was given. I feel betrayed. The whole of the Empire has been betrayed. They are going to have their elections, the Duma will be restructured. I hold out hope that in so doing these traitors have done themselves in. The revolution may consist of peasants but the countryside is known to be conservative – conservatives will not vote for a continuation of this civil war.
10 January 1906
The results of the elections are in – beyond all reason, beyond all logic the empire is now in the grips of the revolutionaries. It was a sweeping victory for the Social Democrats – they have the majority. Their first order of business was to lay out their plan for the future. They’ve issued a new census, they’ve promised to lift the restrictions on “civil liberties”, they’ve promised to reach out to the disenfranchised, they promised to create a nation of self sufficient enclaves. Letters were written, a hundred of them, to be taken to all corners of the empire to spread the word to the zemstvo and other separate self proclaimed communes cut off from the political center that the voice of the people has been heard and their will be done. I was able to catch a glimpse of one of these letters – it was full of long flowery words and many promises, the intellectuals will be the downfall of honest society.
8 February 1906
I was approached today by a man, I shall not write his name. He said he represented those members of the duma and military who were still loyal to the nobility. He suggested a meeting that I am not sure if I will attend – Ivanov has let me down but after years of service to him even after all that he has done it is hard to reciprocate that betrayal. I will sleep on it.
These are translated excerpts from the personal journal of Major Egor Llyin, chief aide to General Ivanov.
9 January 1905
A disaster, there is no other word for it. Though I am sure the finger of blame will find someone I can’t help but think that if there hadn’t been a protest there would not have been bloodshed. Nonetheless the great city of St. Petersburg is bathed in death. Reports have arrived in Moscow describing the events. Protestors, thousands of them, marched, sang hymns, and held posters of Tsar Nicholas as they carried a petition the zemstvo and Bolshevik party headquarters. The protestors never reached their destination. Troops tried to stop the march and with communication disrupted by heavy snow fall there was no word from command. Eventually shots were fired and all was lost. Making things worse are reports and rumors of similar events occurring in other parts of our great empire.
I have only just returned from General Ivanov who was in a closed door session with the Tsar since news began to pour into the capital. The Tsar remains committed to proving the strength of the monarchy but my General as well as many of the other military advisors suggested concessions. I am told no decision has been reached.
20 January 1905
The Caucasus are up in arms. Two additional divisions have been dispatched to subdue the unrest. Thankfully, thus far for the most part, the strikes and riots have dispersed once the military have moved in. Though that hasn’t stopped many cities and villages from being shut down by protestors.
10 February 1905
There has been a string of assassination, most notably Grand-Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. My duties now include a sentry detail outside the Tsar’s chambers – one I am proud to perform.
20 February 1905
The main surge of rage seems to have subsided. The Tsar issued a decree on the 18th that an assembly of duma members and local councils will be created to address the idea of constitutional reform.
5 March 1905
The war does not go well, we have been forced into retreat back across Manchuria. How can this be? The embarrassment is immeasurable yet the Tsar carries himself with dignity.
Though riots have been quiet since the February proclamation today in Odessa a large bomb was detonated and the city has been shut down by protestors.
12 June 1905
As I read back on my earlier entries on the war with Japan and the continuing disruption by workers I find that not a month has gone by that didn’t hold one disaster or another. It seems all that trouble culminates on this day. The high command has entered into peace talks today to draw the war to an end. I’m sure if our internal issues had been settled this day would go down in history much differently.
29 June 1905
Ingrates, the lot of them, and why is it that those who remain loyal are having such a hard time regaining order. There has been a wave of riots, work stoppages, and mutinies – from the reports it almost seems as if every port in our empire has been sacked. There are a number of war ships that are no longer in the Tsar’s control and whole swaths of countryside are in rebellion. Things haven’t been this bad since the days after Bloody Sunday.
3 September 1905
The peace treaty has been signed, the war is over. The only matter making this a joyous occasion is that the last of the rebellious war ships has been recaptured. Though most of the summer has been spent negotiating and offering concession in the name of the Tsar (and occasionally forcibly taking back control) it seems the storm of revolts has passed.
20 October 1905
The empire has come to a halt. I can still hear the sounds of gunfire. A massive strike has erupted, shutting down the railroad system – troops, food, supplies, citizens stranded. The Tsar has arrested two of his military command and proclaimed that he has finished talking with these upstarts. He has issued a full military crackdown. I am leaving with General Ivanov tomorrow for St. Petersburg, he has been put in charge of securing the jewel of the empire – it will take us months to work through the list of arrests. I’m afraid ee will all be kept busy for the foreseeable future, St. Petersburg isn’t the only city that has overthrown the imperial administration and established a council of workers. I’m sure the Social Democrats are involved with this, it is hard not to think so when their leader, Ulyanov, is so out spoken.
3 November 1905
There was news today of a massive protest that has been put down in Moscow. It is early yet but estimates suggest over 2000 civilians and government officials were killed by a regiment of the elite guard. I worry for my family.
5 November 1905
General Ivanov has forbid me to sort his mail or read any communication before he does. I try not to take this action personally as I am sure there are security matters of concern after the Moscow uprising.
10 November 1905
General Ivanov was issued orders today to shoot without regard. He called me into his office and told me of this as well of the communications he has had with the rest of the high command and their misgivings over the Tsar’s decision. I had the feeling he was testing my loyalty – not sure why.
12 November 1905
General Ivanov has been behind closed door for almost two days now. Men, most of which I had never seen before, coming and going through all hours of the night. I’m nervous and I don’t know why. Something is up but I fear to say any more on it. I am to bed early this evening as we are leaving for Moscow tomorrow morning – though I have seen no travel orders.
15 November 1905
I hardly know what to say. Even now tears blot my eyes making it difficult to write. But I must, for my children I must continue. This is a day for all those loyal to the empire must remember – the day the Tsar was arrested. The whole of the royal family has been taken away and more arrests continue even now. A commission of ranking military officials and civilian authorities presented the Tsar with a petition today in the name of the peoples of Russia. They called for new elections and for sweeping social reforms, the Tsar refused but was willing to work within the government as it stands right now. This was when the order for his arrest was given. I feel betrayed. The whole of the Empire has been betrayed. They are going to have their elections, the Duma will be restructured. I hold out hope that in so doing these traitors have done themselves in. The revolution may consist of peasants but the countryside is known to be conservative – conservatives will not vote for a continuation of this civil war.
10 January 1906
The results of the elections are in – beyond all reason, beyond all logic the empire is now in the grips of the revolutionaries. It was a sweeping victory for the Social Democrats – they have the majority. Their first order of business was to lay out their plan for the future. They’ve issued a new census, they’ve promised to lift the restrictions on “civil liberties”, they’ve promised to reach out to the disenfranchised, they promised to create a nation of self sufficient enclaves. Letters were written, a hundred of them, to be taken to all corners of the empire to spread the word to the zemstvo and other separate self proclaimed communes cut off from the political center that the voice of the people has been heard and their will be done. I was able to catch a glimpse of one of these letters – it was full of long flowery words and many promises, the intellectuals will be the downfall of honest society.
8 February 1906
I was approached today by a man, I shall not write his name. He said he represented those members of the duma and military who were still loyal to the nobility. He suggested a meeting that I am not sure if I will attend – Ivanov has let me down but after years of service to him even after all that he has done it is hard to reciprocate that betrayal. I will sleep on it.