Tetrachs - a 3rd Century Rome TL

(Hey all, first time poster+long time lurker here. I always thought this time period had a huge deal of untapped potential, so thought I'd try my hand at it. Feel free to tear me apart if I do commit any Sealion-esque errors {Though as the title suggests, there will be no eternal Roman Empire here})

Chapter 1 : The Severan Legacy

The Severan Dynasty had ruled Rome for over thirty years, with mixed fortunes - on average, less successfully than the preceding Nerva-Antonine Dynasty. Septimus Severus had ruled fairly successfully following the year of Five Emperors, sacking the Parthian capitol of Ctesiphon, expanding Roman possessions in Mesopotamia and securing Africa from the nomadic raiders of the Sahara. Though his policies were expensive, he was undoubtedly a strong competent leader, precisely what Rome needed after the uncertainty of his predecessors.

Septimus was succeeded by Caracalla, who although remembered mostly for his repression and the slaughter of those that displeased him, such as the inhabitants of Alexandria, did issue the Constitutio Antoniniana, giving Free men and women across the Empire status as citizens. Nevertheless, he died ignobly, assassinated by a disgruntled bodyguard.

In a brief interregnum, Macrinus, a Moor, seized the throne of Emperor, and though his policies were benign, and he even took steps to reverse the inflation caused by Septimus and Caracalla, his diplomatic, peaceful policies were unpopular with the vast military of Rome, and the women of the Severan Dynasty conspired to, and successfully replaced him with the decadent Elagabalus, and shortly thereafter Severus Alexander.

Alexander was a competent ruler, although one dominated by his miserly mother, Julia Mamaea. Mamaea was the most successful of the "Severan Women", who ruled from behind the throne. However, in 225 AD, she fell ill, and her grasp over her son diminished. Alexander was in turn influenced by his wife, Orbiana Sallustia, and when Mamaea had recovered enough to attempt to regain her position, she found her younger rival had supplanted her, receiving the title of Augusta. Alexander would not countenance the wishes of his mother to divorce and exile his wife, who he truly loved.

Throughout the reigns of all the Severan Emperors, three major threats existed to the Empire. To the East, the Iranian empires - first Parthian, then the Sassanid Dynasty of Persia, were an ever-present threat to Roman interests in Mesopotamia, Syria and Egypt, whereas to the North, Germanic tribes raided across the borders of the Empire. Finally, across the Empire, rebellions and mutinies broke out amongst soldiers that did not recognize or respect the authority of Alexander. The greatest threat was perceived to be Persia, and as the rapid growth of the Sassanids brought them inexorably into war with Rome, Alexander moved against them first, in an inconclusive war. However, as Legions were moved to the East to fight the Persians, Germanic raiding intensified, and Alexander was forced to address that. His mother recommended buying off the German tribes, but his wife recommended that the Roman soldiers would not tolerate anything less than a Roman expedition to avenge the depredations of the Germanic Tribes in Gaul.

Thus, Alexander marched to Germany, but heeded the warning of his mother that the Sassanids could not be ignored. However, his solution to the problem was one that infuriated her and was no doubt inspired by his wife - her father, Seius Sallustia, was dispatched as Caesar to safeguard the Eastern frontier. In a questionable decision that was likely advised by the spiteful Mamaea, Seius was reinforced by a number of legions that had previously murdered Alexander's officers.

The Germans, as they had been since the days of Teutoburg Wald, were a tenacious enemy, and occupied the Emperor's attention thoroughly, whilst he was utterly unable to inflict a decisive defeat on them. In the meantime, in Asia, the expected Sassanid offensive scored great initial successes. Unsure of his position, with unruly subordinates, Seius pressed for a peace favourable to the Sassanids - returning northern Mesopotamia to them in exchange for a cessation of hostilities. He made this peace without the approval of the Emperor, but its consequences were far-reaching.

In Syria, Aulus Novus Martilias led a number of legions against Seius, who was reviled amongst the soldiers for a perceived unmanliness in the haste with which he sought peace, and his association with the Severans. Seius was assassinated, and the legions of the east proclaimed Aulus as Emperor.

Alexander, aware of the sudden danger, and more inclined to heed his mother's counsel considering the weakness of his wife's position, hurriedly abandoned the German campaign, leaving it in the hands of Oppius Claudius Arcadius, whilst he mustered uncommitted legions to try and defeat this rebellion in the East. However, the sudden weakness of the Severan position was capitalized upon by another legionary mutiny in Gaul in 237 AD - led by Manius Gallus Segestes, as well as pressure from the Sarmatians near the Black Sea. Within the space of only two years, the Roman Empire seemed poised to revert to the same situation the Severan Dynasty had used to enter power.

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Thoughts and comments are always welcome. If it helps, the goal I'm aiming for is to try and maintain, as much as possible, the infrastructure of Rome, and the trade routes across the Empire, avoiding the progression into Manorialism.

Also, format. Is the size+font okay and easy to read? Do I drag on a bit? Should future updates be longer/shorter than this? Comments on my style of writing would be great, thanks. :)

Next Update: Plagues, Persians, and a Crisis Diminished.
 
So, the starting POD is Alexander Severus still alive, Massiminus not Emperor, and a Gaul attempt of secession? Subscribed.
 
So, the starting POD is Alexander Severus still alive, Massiminus not Emperor, and a Gaul attempt of secession? Subscribed.

Thanks for the subscription. :)

Yeah, the starting POD(s) are that Mamaea isn't able to just force away Alexander's wife, and as a result, loses some of her influence over him. This causes him to pursue some policies that aren't quite as likely to turn the legions against him. (OTL he paid off the Germanic tribes, which is what caused the legions to turn on him and murder him. TTL he doesn't, and so retains at least some loyal legions)
 
Thanks for the subscription. :)

Yeah, the starting POD(s) are that Mamaea isn't able to just force away Alexander's wife, and as a result, loses some of her influence over him. This causes him to pursue some policies that aren't quite as likely to turn the legions against him. (OTL he paid off the Germanic tribes, which is what caused the legions to turn on him and murder him. TTL he doesn't, and so retains at least some loyal legions)

However, this didn't avoid a new civil war in the Empire... For now, i'm curious to see if Alexander managed at least to have a heir with Orbiana... the survival of Severian dynasty could add some juice IMO.
 
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