Julian II Parthicus

Athens was basically because I'm trying to base this Julian somewhat on Gore Vidal's Julian, and it seemed from the book that it would've been Athens or Ephesus. With the choice of Athens and its philosophic schools, the priesthood will appear more secular/philosophic Neo-Platonist rather than the religious cult structure of smaller groups. I'm planning for events to lead to a majority pagan west and a Christian east, on approximately the borders of the east/west split.

I admittedly haven't thought of an official name, I'll think about it for the next part.

Constantius

He was very much a fan of classical Greek culture. As such Athens or Ephesus would be likely choices. Also he seemed very much a support of the stoic philosophies.

It sounds like this is going to fail however if the split is going to be where you say. Means the pagans are going to lose all Greece and much of the Balkans. True if the Huns and possibly later Germans ravage much of those regions they might not be of much value but I suspect that if it looks like a major split then both factions would fight hard for Greece, both for its resources and its prestige.

Steve
 
Spring, 365: Germanicus and the rebel Britons cross to Gaul. The combined forces of Germanicus and the Franks drive the Gallic army out of Batavia. Proconsul Marinus regroups the Gallic army at Avaricon, along with the troops returning from Julian's Sassanid campaign. Germanicus proclaims himself the protector of the gods, appealing to the still pagan population of Gaul.

In the far north beyond Dacia, a band of Goths encounter the Huns. Few survivors make it back to tell the tale.

In Alexandria, the return of Arian exiles prompts inter-Christian fighting. Rioters set fire to the Library of Alexandria, and the world's greatest repository of knowledge is lost.

The last of the Turkic invaders are cleared from Khwarezm. Ardashir forms an alliance with newly independent Armenia.

Julian and his legions begin the march from Nicomedia to Armenia, stopping at Julian's childhood home in Cappadocia along the way.

The Lakhmid king, still enraged over being snubbed by his nominal protector, invades Ghassanid territory with the intent of conquest, quickly occupying the eastern third. Procopius sends a warning but takes no action.


Summer, 365: Julian pursues Arsaces and the Armenian royal army through Armenia, eventually besieging them in a fortress in the south. Unbeknownst to Julian, Arsaces was fleeing to rendevous with Ardashir. The three armies engage in a massive battle on 10 July. The battle goes on for days, but in the end, the Romans are worn down to nothing, and Julian is killed. Ardashir has his body torn to shreds, and sends the head to Constantinople. Most of the rest he makes a gift to the Antiochenes, though the preserved heart and hands he sends to Athens along with a suggestion: "To adorn your very own charnel house," a reference to Christian martyriums. Julian had not appointed a Caesar or made any indications of his heir.

In Mesopotamia, a stunned Procopius has himself acclaimed by the legions, and offers Ardashir an additional 2,000 pounds of silver if he will return to the old five year peace. Before receiving a response, Procopius takes his best troops and flees west to Constantinople.

In Gaul, Germanicus and his Frankish auxiliaries defeat Marinus and the Gallic army at Paris. Soon after, news of Julian's death arrives, and most of Gaul and her army defect to the usurper in lieu of any other pretenders.


Autumn, 365: Procopius, as it turns out a crypto-Christian, arrives at Constantinople with a sizeable army gathered on the road from Ctesiphon and formally asks the Byzantine Senate to recognize his claims to the Empire, promising a return to the pre-Julian religious policies. The senate agrees, and Procopius is coronated by Archbishop Eudoxius. The next day, Procopius declares an end to the toleration of paganism and re-exiles the Arians.

Spain and Italy declare for Germanicus. Africa and Egypt remain silent until local usurpers pop up in each.

Ardashir takes advantage of Rome's chaos to attempt to retake Mesopotamia, and so, he invades. Arsaces of Armenia, too, sees and oppotunity. He invades Lazica and the fringes of Pontus Orientalis, accordingly.

The Arab war rages on between the Lakhmids and Ghassanids, with little changing since spring.

The Vandals take advantage of the situation by occupying Helvetia.

Across the splintered empire, famines set in as all the great granaries of the Empire are in different and mutually hostile hands.

julian.png
 
Guys! Please be more realistic!
Well, I can beleive that Julian can take Ktesifon (if he did not make severel mistakes at the very beginning of his Persia company). I can beleive that he organise a new province there. But I don't beleive that he can hold this peovince for a long time. We have four emperors who conquered Ktesifon
1. Trayan (actually he was the first who sailed Gulf :D
2. Lucius Vero (co-emperor of Marcus Aurelius)
3. Septimius Severus
4. Carus

All of them finally had to retreat.

The only bonus of overtaking the Ktesifon for Julian (apart usual plandering) is to conclude a profitable truce with Sapor (contribution, several bordering regions, hegemony in Armenia). If Julian decides to hold all Messopotamia he would waste his forces - his army will melt because of battle with persians and Messopotamian climat (remember that majority of Julian soldiers are from the West - Gallia and Danube.
I personally think that Julian decides to hold, but after first losses even he understands that he mast retreat.

Another thing. You are saying about Franks and other barbarians in 364. Why? Lets read Ammianus - "the great Barbarian plot" referred to 368 A.D. Why do they have to attack earlier in your timeline?

Riot of "crypto-christianis" Procopian. Is he mad? Prolopian is the only alive member Julian famyly and his ONLY successor. Without Julian he is noone, army does not know him good.
In reality he did not even try to claim to throne after Julian death.

BUT! Riot of western legions is VERY possible. Mentally Julian was an eastern man, Greek, not Roman. So he always paid more attention to the eastern part, that is why he went to Persia. Read Ammianus, he say that after Persia Julian wanted to reconquer Dacia!
So, he would stay on the East until 368, taking more and more forses from Gallia and after barbarian attack in 368 local legions would praclaim a local general an emperor on a rason that Julian annot protect them. I think it would be Theodosios (father of Theodosios the Great). I think in this war Julian also wins, cause he has more power and he is a great commander. But this war would make him absolutely mad, I am sure. After that I think he would started very strickt pressure on christians like in time of Diocletianus.
Yes, it would be interesting world :)
 
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