Last of the Romans

[8Deer]

This is something I was working on several months ago. I put it aside for a while, but Xwarq's TL inspired me to post it. It uses the same basic POD, but with much different butterflies. Here is the first bit:

Part One: Into Africa

Alaric's Goths had been fighting and travelling since 395. They had besieged Rome twice now, and still they were unable to get a reasonable peace deal out of Emperor Honorius. Alaric wanted three main things from the Roman government: to be settled in Roman territory, to receive a large tribute of supplies and gold, and to be officially recognized as a senior general of the Roman Empire (magister militiae). This would give him a huge amount of influence in the Roman court and guarantee Gothic safety for sometime. When Honorius wouldn't budge, he lowered his demands, dropping the generalship from the deal. Still, Honorius and his handlers wouldn't accept his terms, even though many in the Roman court were impressed with his moderation.

However, since Honorius was still unwilling to negotiate, Alaric returned to Rome a third time in 410. The people of the city must have already been well prepared to wait inside the walls until the Goths left again. This time, however, the Salarian Gates were opened.

The sack of Rome was not as violent and destructive as one would think. The Goths were Christian, and so they treated holy places with the utmost respect. Only one building, the old Senate house, was destroyed. All in all, it was an anticlimactic historical moment. When one considers the reasons behind the sack, it is clear why there wasn't more damage: Alaric didn't want the sack to happen. All he wanted was for his people to live out the rest of their lives in the safety of the Roman empire. When Honorius wouldn't agree to this, he was forced to take drastic measures.

Still, this didn't work. Honorius wouldn't negotiate, but Alaric hit upon a daring plan to starve the Emperor into submission: he would invade Africa, the breadbasket of the Empire. His army immediately marched south to Calabria, where he somehow managed to obtain enough ships to make the crossing. Our records for this are somewhat vague about this and the time frame involved. What we do know is that in late 410, a huge force of Goths moved into Africa, ready to force a peace deal from Honorius[1].

***************************************************************************************
[1]: In OTL, the fleet was wrecked by a storm and Alaric died soon after. ITTL, the storm obviously doesn't happen and Alaric lives a bit longer. Spoiler: At least long enough to see the conquest of Africa (bet you didn't see that one coming, )

Well, that's it for now. Please post constructive criticisms and point out any historical errors I might have made (I wrote this a while ago, and editing isn't my strong point). This part is basically just in intro to OTL, with the POD thrown in at the end. Part Two will be up tomorrow.

 

[Cymraeg]

Interesting. Please continue!

 

[Cuāuhtemōc]

So I forsee the Goths conquering Africa, interesting.

 

[8Deer]

Part Two

Part Two: Gothic Triumph

The Gothic fleet landed at Caput Veda in Africa in early January. From there, they encountered little Roman resistance as they advanced north to Carthage. There were several small skirmishes with Roman Moorish auxilliaries, but other than that, they managed to make it to Carthage almost unopposed. Africa, although very valuable, was considered far enough from the frontier to be safe from attack. The only soldiers in the area acted more as a police force against the occaisional raids by Berber nomads rather than a battle ready army. By mid February, Alaric's Goths had reached the walls of Carthage and had begun their siege. It was not to be a short, nor an easy one.

Back in Ravenna, the new power behind the throne was an ambitious general named Flavius Constantius. Constantius' priority at the moment was the usurper Constantine, who had the support of Britain, Gaul and most of Spain. His base of power was the city of Arelatensium[1], which put him firmly in control of the Alpine passes into Italy. Constantius feared that if he sent an army to engage the Goths, Constantius would swoop in and crown himself emperor. In hindsight, it seems to us that Constantius should have dealt with the Goths before confronting Constantine. However, this was simply not an option, as a head on conflict with the Goths would have allowed Constantine to invade Italy. So, Constantius made the only decision he could: he besieged Constantine at Arelatensium.

The siege went well and soon the city fell, leaving Constantine in the hands of Constantius. However, in Moguntiacum[2], a senator from Gaul by the name of Jovinus was proclaimed Emperor. He was supported by Gundahar, king of the Burgundians and Goar, king of the Alans. Clearly, Constantius' usurper problem had just begun.

Although he had a new threat to deal with, Constantius sent an army to Africa to meet up with the African legion and drive the Goths out. It was commanded by another Goth: Sarus, a sworn enemy of Alaric and Athaulf. Sending Sarus was certainly a gamble, as he had openly disobeyed Honorius before. It seems likely that Constantius was seeking to kill two birds with one stone. Sarus arrived in Africa with about 5,000 troops and he soon met up with an African general named Marius, probably the proconsul of Africa, who commanded around 10,000 men, most Moorish light cavalry. The Goths, however, fought mostly as infantry, although the nobles fought as skilled heavy cavalry, a technique learned from their time on the steppes with the Sarmatians. Once the Roman army had assembled, they marched on Carthage to break the siege.

Unfortunately, only one source of the battle survives and it was written over one hundred years after by an Eastern Roman historian named Avianus. He tells us that a hard battle was fought outside the city, with the Goths eventually prevailling. It is unfortuanate that we have no better records of such a monumentally important battle, but we must make do with what we have. Sarus was killed in the battle, apparently decapitated by Athaulf. Carthage fell several weeks later.

From Carthage, the Goths spread out across Africa. Ataulf went west to besiege Hippo Regius while Alaric turned back south to mop up Roman resistance in Tripolitania. The women and children could finally rest and settle down after years on the move. By late 412, after many squabbles with Roman and Moorish forces and thousands of lives lost on both sides, all of Africa was under Gothic control. Finally, Alaric had achieved his dream for his people. He sent an emissary to Constantius to negotiate.

***************************************************************************************
[1]: Arles
[2]: Mainz

 

[Cuāuhtemōc]

So it appears that the [Visi-]goths have conquered much of Roman Africa, that alone would secure them a good deal with the Western Roman Empire. Africa was the source of grain for the Western half and any Emperor would be wise to placate the new Gothic rulers of the province.

 

[8Deer]

Interesting. Please continue!

Thanks!

So it appears that the [Visi-]goths have conquered much of Roman Africa, that alone would secure them a good deal with the Western Roman Empire. Africa was the source of grain for the Western half and any Emperor would be wise to placate the new Gothic rulers of the province.

Indeed. Alaric doesn't want to dismantle the Empire (in fact, that would be totally contrary to his whole strategy), but Honorius and his handlers don't really know that.

Good catch on the "Visi"goth thing. The East vs West Goth dichotomy wont work in this TL, so I'm working on some alternate etymologies.

 

[8Deer]

Part Three

Part Three: Rebel Yell

Constantius had undoubtedly heard of Alaric's successes in Africa and was certainly alarmed by them, but like his predecessor Stilicho, he had a usurper problem to deal with. Jovinus, backed by the powerful Burgundian and Alan tribes, had been proclaimed emperor at Monguntiacum[1] in 411. He was also supported by a number of Gallo-Roman aristocrats who had participated in Constantine's rebellion. To avoid having to fight a costly war against a usurper without the African grain that Rome so desperately needed, he received Alaric's diplomats and prepared to negotiate.

Alaric's demands were the same as in 410: a safe home for his people, tribute and an imperial generalship. He promised that he would continue to ship African goods to the Empire as long as Constantius held up his end of the bargain. Really, Constantius had no choice, as the Empire was almost totally dependant on African agriculture for survival. Finally, Alaric's Goths were settled within the Empire as foederati. Alaric had also achieved his dream of being a high ranking member of the Imperial court; now, he had influence on the affairs of the Empire. However, this would cause significant friction between the Romans and the Goths after his death.

At any rate, Constantius was now free to confront Jovinus. With continued grain shipments from Africa feeding Rome's people, he lead a large army against the usurper at Moguntiacum. There, Constantius defeated his army, but was stopped by Jovinus' barbarian allies. However, Constantius got lucky when a soldier in Jovinus' guard strangled him to death and sent his head to Honorius. After Jovinus' death, his brother and co-emperor Sebastianus became emperor, but he was quickly defeated by Constantius at Treverorum[2] and the rebellion fell apart.

However, the Burgundians and Alans were still at war with the Empire. The Alans fled north, but they were pursued and harried by Roman forces. Eventually, they realized that they could not defeat the empire, as they had too few soldiers. Constantius, meanwhile, realised that it was not worth it to fight a costly guerrilla war with the Alans, especially with the recent loss of the African provinces. He offered them a deal: they would not be destroyed if they would settle and defeat the Bagaudae, Gallo-Roman brigands, in Armorica[3]. Goar, king of the Alans, accepted.

The Burgundians, settled near the city of Vangionum[4], were more numerous and powerful than their Alan allies. To deal with this threat, Constantius decided to simply pay them off. This was only a short term solution, and the Burgundians would remain a thorn in the Roman's side for another decade. By the end of 412, Constantius had dealt with all his enemies within the Roman Empire and he returned to Honorius in triumph. However, many senators were angered by his deal with Alaric and they arranged a conspiracy to have Constantius killed upon his return. He was strangled and thrown into the marsh outside Ravenna on November 14th, 412.

Not long after the murder of Constantius, Alaric died, having achieved his goal for his people. He was succeeded by his brother-in-law Athaulf. Thousands of Goths, Romans and Berbers attended his coronation in Carthage, many believing that it was a new beginning in Roman-Goth relations. Upon his coronation, he married Galla Placidia, sister of Honorius. She had been taken hostage during the first siege of Rome and had remained with the Goths ever since. Within the year, the royal couple had a son, who was named Theodosius[5]. When news of this reached Rome, it shocked the Imperial court: now there was a Gothic prince with a strong claim to the throne of the Caesars!

*****************************************************
[1]: Mainz
[2]: Trier
[3]: Roughly Britanny and Normandy
[4]: Worms
[5]: In OTL, he died soon after he was born. Here it is a different sperm and egg, so a totally different baby is born, even though he has the same name (a Roman one, which I found interesting)

 

[Rex Romanum]

Nice TL, 8deer...
Btw what would happen to the Vandals...?
Would they settled in other place, like Hispania maybe...?

 

[8Deer]

Nice TL, 8deer...
Btw what would happen to the Vandals...?
Would they settled in other place, like Hispania maybe...?

Thanks! The Vandals are currently settled in Spain, as per OTL. In this TL, they will stay there, since the Goths are currently too powerful to attack directly.

 

[Zuvarq]

I like this TL.

Although as a completely pointless thing to point out, the POD is actually different. In my TL, Honorius is killed in the third siege/conquest/sack, as well as the Visigoths crossing into Africa.

Also as another completely pointless thing to point out, anyone noticed that the updates are gradually getting longer? The first is four paragraphs, the second is six paragraphs with a few thin ones, the third is six thick paragraphs. By the fiftieth will it be a whole book? Is this a conspiracy?

 

[8Deer]

I like this TL.

Although as a completely pointless thing to point out, the POD is actually different. In my TL, Honorius is killed in the third siege/conquest/sack, as well as the Visigoths crossing into Africa.

Thanks. Somehow I'd missed that in your TL. I'll go re-read it more slowly this time!

Also as another completely pointless thing to point out, anyone noticed that the updates are gradually getting longer? The first is four paragraphs, the second is six paragraphs with a few thin ones, the third is six thick paragraphs. By the fiftieth will it be a whole book? Is this a conspiracy?

Hmm, I didn't notice this either. Unfortunately, part four is slightly shorter than part three .

 

[8Deer]

A map of the current situation.

 

[Cuāuhtemōc]

Loves how Theodosius now has a claim to the Western Roman Empire due to his mother being tied to the imperial family and his father being a Gothic leader. This might even start a precedent of tying the various Germanic warlords to the imperial family and use those marriages to keep the tribal kingdoms in the imperial orbit and maybe one day re-incorporate them back.

 

[8Deer]

Salve Romanophiles,

Just to remind you all that on this day, 24th August, exactly 1,600 years ago Rome was sacked for the first time in around 800 years by the Visigothic Army of Alaric.

It was the beginning of the end for the Western Roman Empire; but ITTL, Rome came under the Eastern Empire's control both in the time of Justinian and permanently again from the time of Manuel Komnenos.

I think most readers would also agree that this TL has come a long, long way from the 11th century events described on page 1 by BG.

Any more thoughts on mine and SF's recent Russia updates?

Thanks to Megas Dux ton Kypraion for posting this in the Isaac's Empire thread. As a way to "celebrate" this, here is an update .

Part Four: Heir to the Throne

Ataulf inherited both the titles of "King of the Visigoths" and "Comes africae" from his father. His kingdom included all of Africa Province, including one of the most wealthy cities in the Empire: Carthage. An estimated 100 000 Goths[1] were settled in the province, mostly in Carthage, Constantine and Byzacena. Most landowning Roman families fled to Italy during the invasion, so they were replaced by Goths. Ataulf handed out land as a reward to soldiers who had served his father. The serfs who worked the land were mostly poor Romans or slaves. To these people, the Gothic invasion was simply an exchange from a Roman upper class to a Gothic one.

As word spread throughout the Roman world about Alaric's triumph, many Gothic foederati sought to settle in Africa. Desertions and mutiny became very common, which only served to weaken the already fragile Roman army. Ataulf outwardly condemned this to appeal to Honorius' government, but in reality, he did little to stop the migration and welcomed new settlers. Goths outside the Empire began to refer to the African Goths as "Valhagoths" meaning "foreign" or "Roman" Goths.

Meanwhile, the power vacuum left by the murder of Constantius in Ravenna had yet to be filled. King Gundahar of the Burgundians saw an opportunity for plunder and revolted. A large horde of Burgundians, reinforced by Alammani from acorss the Rhine, fell upon the province of Gallia Narbonensis. In March of 413, they besieged the city of Arelatensium[2]. Ravenna was in the midst of a power struggle and was unable to mount an effective defense against the invaders. In response, Decimus Rusticus, the Praetorian prefect of Gaul was declared emperor. Gathering up a large army from the soldiers on the Rhine frontier, he marched south from Lugdunum[3] to confront the barbarians. This left the frontier largely open to barbarians, and they took full advantage of that.

Rusticus' forces met the Burgundian army near Avennio[4]. The usurper was victorious, and the barbarians fled back to Vormatia. After resting in Arelatensium for a while, he continued his victorious march on Ravenna. After his defeat of the Burgundians most Romans viewed him as a hero. There was no organized resistance between him and the capital. When he reached Ravenna on June 20th 413, he did not kill Honorius and make himself emperor. Instead, he simply had Honorius make him consul and he took over ruling the Empire with Honorius merely as a figurehead, as many before him had done. Although this angered many of his original supporters, who thought that Honorius should have been killed and replaced, many Romans were impressed by Rusticus' loyalty. Orators spoke of how he had saved Rome by defeating the pagan Burgundians. However decisive his victory over the Burgundians was, his removal of the legions from the Rhine frontier would have devastating consequences.

Ataulf learned of these happenings and chose to give his support to Rusticus, for now. He would bide his time, until his son was old enough to be of use.

**********************************************************************************
[1]: Estimated by ancient writers. In reality, it was probably less.
[2]: Arles
[3]: Lyon
[4]: Avignon

 

[Cuāuhtemōc]

So it appears that the Valhagoths with the extra numbers are going to last a lot longer as a distinct Germanic warrior class ruling over a mainly Romance-speaking population.

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Unfortunately, only one source of the battle survives and it was written over one hundred years after by an Eastern Roman historian named Avianus. He tells us that a hard battle was fought outside the city, with the Goths eventually prevailling. It is unfortuanate that we have no better records of such a monumentally important battle, but we must make do with what we have. Sarus was killed in the battle, apparently decapitated by Athaulf. Carthage fell several weeks later.

Heh. One way to avoid having write battle scenes.

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Thanks!



Indeed. Alaric doesn't want to dismantle the Empire (in fact, that would be totally contrary to his whole strategy), but Honorius and his handlers don't really know that.

Good catch on the "Visi"goth thing. The East vs West Goth dichotomy wont work in this TL, so I'm working on some alternate etymologies.

Why not? they had those names before coming into the Western Empire, didn't they?