For Justin II this was impossible to reach: he was crazy. His successor, Tiberius II Constantine, did have effective control over the conquered lands and was an able Emperor. Maurice was competent but was overthrown in 602 by Phokas, just because he had ordered the army to camp north of the Danube during the winter. It was Phokas who destroyed Imperial infrastructure and Khorsau II declared war on the Empire because Phokas had overthrown Maurice, an old ally of Khorsau.Would there by any way for Justin II to successfully keep control of and possibly expand the land added to the empire by Justinian?
(source: Procopius)
Would there by any way for Justin II to successfully keep control of and possibly expand the land added to the empire by Justinian?
- the continuous trouble in the Danubian region. Whoever you beat there is just gonne be replaced by a new problematic neighbour.
Spain, surely not: Italy, maybe if the Langubard ( I don't understand why in english they called they Lombards...) advance could be stop, could remain strongly in Byzantine hands...
I have in mind a TL project with this POD (Italy remained in Byzantine hands), but i will start it more later because it will have narrative parts and also for now two TLs still open are sufficent for me.
I think having 1/4 of the Empire's population die is pretty big, but yes I guess if the war goes really quickly the Byzantines might hold onto Italy until the next wave of barbarians strike or the area goes independentThe plague of Justinian is highly overrated. What really would have done him some good would be a quick wrapping up of the Gothic wars, or at least the proposed peace deals in which he would have gotten like all of Italy south of the Po.
Believe me, the 20+ years made a huuugeeee difference. A quick war saves a lot of money and a lot of would be happy Italians.
Very debatably 1/4th, and it hit everyone.I think having 1/4 of the Empire's population die is pretty big
I guess if the war goes really quickly the Byzantines might hold onto Italy until the next wave of barbarians strike or the area goes independent