In the event of a restored 7th-century-WRE through the union of the Visigoths with the western remnant of a fallen ERE (a concept developed in my lastest threads), I would want to check the plausibility of different later expansions if this state would succeed and consolidate (see map below).
My thoughts regarding this secnario:
- Important to ensure land connection between Visigothic Septimania and northern Italy: Latinized Aquitaine could be attracted to the WRE taking advantage of the ongoing fights between the Franks (Neustria vs Austrasia). I don't know how easy could be to take the former Burgundy (Provence and Rhoneland) into the restored WRE. Ideas?
- It is also important to reconnect by land the Exarchate of Carthage with the area of Septum. I don't know how difficult could be to attract all those Roman-Berber states. Direct invasion seems to be not a good option.
- I don't know if it's possible an early expansion through the northwestern African coastline or settlement of the Macaronesian archipelagoes.
- If the restored WRE would host a significant number of Greek-Roman expats (it's likely that many Greeks from the fallen ERE would flee to Italy and Carthage if the Sassanids invaded them), it's possible that they would push the WRE to retake some of the former ERE, at least Greece and the Aepyrum.
- Some slight expansion through Tripolitania is also possible, if the Sassanids don't take it (but it's possible that they would stop at Cirenaica due to strategic reasons). It's difficult for any form of WRE to take Cirenaica if Sassanids rule Egypt. But some clashes at Libya seem unavoidable at the long time.
- Any expansion into the Balkans seem difficult at this point, but maybe the WRE could be able to regain all Dalmatia and push the Croats to the inner parts?
- The most difficult part for me is predicting how will this WRE fare with the proto-Germanic states of Neustria, Austrasia, Bavaria and others, as the WRE would need a stable northern border. Any suggestion?
The map of the scenario:
My thoughts regarding this secnario:
- Important to ensure land connection between Visigothic Septimania and northern Italy: Latinized Aquitaine could be attracted to the WRE taking advantage of the ongoing fights between the Franks (Neustria vs Austrasia). I don't know how easy could be to take the former Burgundy (Provence and Rhoneland) into the restored WRE. Ideas?
- It is also important to reconnect by land the Exarchate of Carthage with the area of Septum. I don't know how difficult could be to attract all those Roman-Berber states. Direct invasion seems to be not a good option.
- I don't know if it's possible an early expansion through the northwestern African coastline or settlement of the Macaronesian archipelagoes.
- If the restored WRE would host a significant number of Greek-Roman expats (it's likely that many Greeks from the fallen ERE would flee to Italy and Carthage if the Sassanids invaded them), it's possible that they would push the WRE to retake some of the former ERE, at least Greece and the Aepyrum.
- Some slight expansion through Tripolitania is also possible, if the Sassanids don't take it (but it's possible that they would stop at Cirenaica due to strategic reasons). It's difficult for any form of WRE to take Cirenaica if Sassanids rule Egypt. But some clashes at Libya seem unavoidable at the long time.
- Any expansion into the Balkans seem difficult at this point, but maybe the WRE could be able to regain all Dalmatia and push the Croats to the inner parts?
- The most difficult part for me is predicting how will this WRE fare with the proto-Germanic states of Neustria, Austrasia, Bavaria and others, as the WRE would need a stable northern border. Any suggestion?
The map of the scenario: