alternatehistory.com

I'm no great expert on the third century crisis, however after such a crisis it would the perfect time to institute constitutional reform. An alternative moment may be if Trajan/Hadrian had the foresight.

Now historically the Tetrarchy was put in place, but I was curious as to what opinions some of the more knowledgeable people on the board had regarding an idea I had. Rather than the Tetrarchy, instead have a constitution taking the ideas of a consulship and setting up a series of "Consuls" and the "High Consul"/"Emperor".

With the first Consuls appointed by Diocletian, the other Consuls would be selected by a Senate of the Consulate (To give them a name) - which can be rejected by the High Consul (perhaps a limited number of times).

Collectively when a High Consul dies (the first being Diocletian) the sitting Consuls sit to elect from their number a replacement. If there is a tie (the numbers may change if the empire expands) then the deciding vote is cast by the new Consul.

The Consuls would have ultimate economic and military authority, but only in their Consulate, with the defence of their external borders being a major focus. Another focus would be to expand the Emperor in their 'Mandate' as dictated when a Consulate is determined, as well as to support neighbouring Consulates when defending. When a ordered to support another Consul or to assist in the creation of a new Mandate defined by the High Consul, they must also support its establishment.

Initially the split would be as follows :-

1) A Western Consulate based in Hispania, Gaul and Britannia - responsible for the Rhine Frontier and the Pict border. Their mandate is essentially complete.

2) A Central Consulate based in Africa, Italy, Illyria and Pannonia - responsible for the Alpine and Pannonian Frontier. Their mandate is essentially complete

3) An Eastern Consulate based in the E.Balkans, Anatolia, Syria and Palestine (notably not Egypt) - responsible for defending the Danube, Caucasian and Eastern frontiers. Probably the wealthiest, and most burdened Consulate, but has the support of both the Greater Italian and Egyptian Consulates - it does have a mandate to divide the desert territories of the Middle East with the Egyptian and a future Mesopotamian Consulate. I imagine Diocletian would make himself Consul here.

4) A Southern Consulate based in Egypt with a Mandate to expand south along the Red Sea and the Nile - encompassing Abyssinia, Nubia, Arabia Felix and modern Oman. Whilst initially small, this consulate
has the most 'Mandate' to fulfil.

Now I'm well aware that I've not espoused any reasons why this would happen, I was mainly curious if people thought that this would be

a) Politically possible, whilst the ideas of Consuls and Govenors aren't new ideas - this does build upon them dramatically - and will it get any support from any power base.

b) Effective, whilst the two western Consulates have shorter borders to be responsible for, the eastern does not - and I'm not sure if the addition of the E.Balkans balances out Egypt - would these divisions lead to a stronger Empire in the long term?

c) Extensible - Assuming the best, I've mentioned the idea of establishing new Consulates as the Empire expands, accepting that there are limited to how far the Empire could expand without a drastic improvement in logistics, transportation and communications - could this expansion of Empire by Mandate work?

In advance, thanks for any thoughts!
Top