The End of an Age 2.0

Hey there. This is the relaunch of my "End of an Age" TL. I've decided to return to my 261 POD. I now have a better understanding of the time period, so the problems of last time shouldn't affect this. I have a general outline of events up to 400, but this time the TL will grow more organically, and hopefully more realistically.




260

Emperor Gallienus defeats the Juthungi Germans at Augusta Vindelicorum.

Regalianus, Governor of Pannonia Superior, revolts against Gallienus and defeats the Roxolani Sarmatae in Pannonia, only to be killed by his own troops when Gallienus marches on Carnutum.

Marcus Cassianus Latinius Postumus, Governor of one of the Germanias, declares himself Augustus, establishing the Gallic Empire, centered at Augusta Trevirorum [Trier]. He kills Gallienus's son Saloninus and the Praetorian Prefect Silvanus.

Paul of Samosata becomes Patriarch of Antioch.

The African Legions defeat the Berbers.

Emperor Valerian is ambushed by Shahanshah Shapur I, and taken prisoner to Ctesiphon. The Sassanids plunder Cappadocia, but another force sent into Syria is ambushed by the Palmyrenes under Emir Odaenathus.

The Franks take over the Scaldis [Scheldt] River.

Fulvius Macrianus is declared Augustus by the Eastern Legions, but considers himself too old and so gives the title to his sons Macrianus Minor and Quietus.

261

The Macriani defeat a loyalist army under Domitianus in Thrace. The would be emperor and his father soon recieve support from the Governonr of Egypt, Aemilianus. [1]

Unaware of the Macriani victory in Europa, Emir Odaenathus defeats Quietus at Emessa. Quietus is killed by the Emesans in the hopes that the Palmyrenes would show favor.

Postumus defeats Franks and Alamanni who have crossed the Rhine.

262

Gallienus diverts more troops to the west to defeat Postumus, as he considers the war with the Gallic Emperor to be personal. [2] He charges Odaenathus to keep the Orient in check, naming him Imperator. However, his focus on the west allows the Macriani to solidify their position east of Istria, and then more trouble arrives.

The Goths enter the Balkans, sack Byzantion [Istanbul], then move on to pillage Asia and Greece.

Odeanathus recovers Coele-Syria from the Macriani, then moves his armies south to deal with Aemilianus.

Aemilianus defeats a loyalist force under Marcianus [3].

263

The Palmyrenes besiege Pelusium [Tell el-Farama] in Egypt.

The Goths invade Ephesus and destroy the Temple of Artemis. The Macriani attempt to defeat the Goths, but are defeated at Thessaloniki. They are finally stopped at Athenai by the historian Dexippus [4].

The loss of Egypt and the Balkans proves too much for the Romans. A conspiracy ends Gallienus's reign and replaces him with Cecropius [5]. In order to focus on one problem Cecropius grants Postumus imperium over Gaul, Germania, Britannia, and Hispania, basically making him de facto independent if not de jure.

264

The Synod of Antioch is held. [6]

Cecropius and Aureolus defeat the Goths at Naissus, driving them back into Dacia. They then move to defeat the Macriani. [7]

Odaenathus defeats Aemilianus and begins to move his forces into Asia.



[1] This is the POD. OTL, Domitianus won the battle, allowing Gallienus to maintain control over the Empire. TTL, he loses,and while it's not a catastrophic defeat, it weakens Gallienus's position
[2] Because Postumus, you know, killed his son
[3] Not to be confused with Macrianus, whom Aemilianus is supporting
[4] Seriously, this actually happened OTL
[5] This is largely the same coup that deposed him OTL, moved up a few years thanks to his weaker position. OTL they made Claudius Gothicus Augustus - TTL, Cecropius is the lucky one. The other members of the coup OTL were likely Aurelian, Praetorian Prefect Heraclinus, and the afore-mentioned Marcianus
[6] The Synod was to deal with the teachings of Paul of Samosata, who favored Monarchianism, the belief in the oneness of God, as opposed to the Orthodox view. The Synod ended in 269 with seventy bishops declaring Paul deposed and electing a man named Dominus as his succesor
[7] So what kept Macrianus and Mac Jr from entering Rome, or the coup from asking them to take over from Gallienus? The first reason is the death of Quietus meant the Macriani viewed Odaenathus as a personal enemy, and have their forces focusing on him. The second is their defeats at the hands of the Goths and Aemilianus's defeat by the Palmyrenes have rendered the Macriani damaged goods in the eyes of the Romans, whereas Cecropius was able to defeat the Goths and make peace with Postumus, making him the legitimate emperor in the eyes of Rome
 
And now we have an Empire divided worst than OTL, let's see if the Roman sub-states ( do you like if i use this term?) went better of the united Empire...
 
265

Flanked from east and west, the soldiers turn on Macrianus, his son, and their advisor Callistus Ballista. All three are killed. [8]

266

Death of Cormac Ulfada mac Art, High King of Ireland. The High Kingship passes to Eochaid Gonnat.

Odaenathus is killed, possibly because Cecropius feared his growing power. Zenobia declares herself Queen Regent of Palmyra and Egypt. [9]

The Heruli join the Goths in the Balkans.

267

Eochaid Gonnat dies. Cairbre Lifechair becomes High King.

A much larger force of Goths invades Moesia [The Cisdanubian Region], now bolstered by the Heruli. Cecropius attempts to defeat them at Serdica [Sofia], a mistake he pays for with his life.

Aureolus attempts to name himself emperor, but is soon challenged by Prefect Heraclinus. In the process, both men are killed, and a general named Victorinus takes the purple. [10]

268

The Alamannic king Chrocus is defeated by Legate Claudius at Ravenna.
Any fears Victorinus has over Claudius challenging him prove unfounded when the later dies of plague. However, Chrocus still has a large army, and Victorinus is now without his best commander. Then he finds out the Vandali have invaded Pannonia.

Victorinus grants Chrocus and the Vandali feodorati status, granting the Vandali Pannonia Superior, and the Alamanni Rhaetia. He also grants the Gothic king Cannabaudes Dacia [11]

A massive earthquake devastates Cyrenaica. Zenobia sends her forces into Cyrenaica to annex it to Palmyra. Cyrene is renamed Zenobiopolis. [12]

The Synod of Antioch declares Paul of Samosata deposed. However, support from Zenobia allows him to maintain his offices in opposition to the orthodox bishops

269

St. Felix is elected Pope succeding St. Dionysius.

The Marcomanni invade Western Noricum. The Iazyges invade Eastern Noricum. Victorinus tells the Noricans to look to their own defenses.

Postumus, hoping to establish his dynasty, elevates his son Postumus II to the rank of Caesar

[8] Yes, he really was called Callixtus Ballista
[9] As in OTL, the truth behind the death of Odaenathus is forever shrouded in mystery
[10] Yes, this is the same Victorinus who OTL became emperor of Gaul
[11] Victorinus's actions are the first time an emperor has surrendered land outside of Germania and Mesopotamia. In Victorinus's defense, Dacia had become untenable, and the Alemmani in Rhaetia could improve Italy's defense. Pannonia, though, will always prove controversial. And yes, Legate Claudius is OTL's Claudius II Gothicus
[12] OTL Claudius II moved in and renamed it Claudiopolis. It didn't last, and neither will Zenobiopolis
 
270

Without any support, Noricum passes to the Marcomanni and their Quadi allies

The Gallo-Romans abandon Traiectum ad Rhenum [Utrecht] after one too many Germanic raids

An economic crisis strikes the Former Empire as the Crisis gets worse, leading to up to 1000% inflation in certain parts of the Roman world [13]

271

Victorinus orders new walls to be built in Rome, seeing as the old walls of Servius Tullius Rex have long been rendered outdated.

With Rome defended, Victorinus marches against the Iazyges and Juthungi who are ravaging the north, and expels them into the feodorati lands.

In order to help administer the declining Empire, Victorinus names his co-consul for the 1024 AUC term, Censorinus, co-emperor [14]

272

Shapur I dies and is succeded by Hormizd I.

Victorinus attempts to invade Gaul, but is beaten back by Postumus.

Zenobia treats an ambassador from the Kingdom of Aksum, who wished an alliance with the "Megas Basileus" [Roman Emporer]. Zenobia proclaims her son Vaballathus as such, and agrees to an alliance with the Aksumites. [15]

273

The Isaurians rise up against the Romans. Palmyra sends in an army, under General Maeonius to support them, hoping to turn Isauria into a puppet and gain the core of Asia.

Hormizd I dies and is succeded by Bahram I

An Indian delegation visits Aegyptus, fostering trade with Palmyra [16]

274

The Roman Legions under Censorinus meet the Palmyrene Armies under Maeonius at Tyana. In the battle, Censorinus is killed and his armies routed. Isauria is proclaimed idenpendent under King Palfuerius, with Palmyra taking the center of Asia. Rome's sole possesions in Asia are now only the western and northern coasts of the peninsula.

With the loss of the majority of Asia, Victorinus is overthrown by the Legions, who name Julius Placidianus emperor

Frankish tribes pillage and raid a swath of destruction through Gaul, which had denuded her Rhenish defenses to focus on Italy. By the end of the year, Postumus crushes the franks at Lutetia Parisorum [Paris]. He resettles them in the Three Alpinine provinces, where they can provide a buffer against the Romans.


[13] Seriously, things were that bad
[14] Romans didn't normally refer to years by numbers, but by who was consul (in this ahistorical case, 1024 Ab urbe condita is the Year of the consulship of Victorinus and Censorius)
[15] The is the first official pronouncement of a seperate empire for Palmyra
[16] I don't know which Indian kingdom this delegation came from historically
 
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275

St Eutychian succeeds St Felix as Pope of Rome. He rules for only ten months

With the death of St Eutychian, St Valentine becomes Pope of Rome [17]

Placidianus begins a reformation of the remaining Imperial structure, putting a price lock on goods, redistributing labor, etc. To satisfy the Senate, he names Marcus Claudius Tacitus co-emperor

The Pallava dynasty begins in Southern India

On Decembrius 25th, Postumus announces that Sol Invictus is the sole faith to be practised in the Gallic Empire

276

Bahram II succeeds his father as Shahanshah. He is noted as a fierce Zoroastrian zealot, putting many Christians, Buddhists, and Manichaens to the sword. Mani himself is among those who die

Mahasena comes to the throne of the Anuradhapura Kingdom of Ceylon. He attempts to introduce Buddhism with mixed results

Maeonius and Zabdas attempt to lead a coup against the House of Nasor, but are stopped by a loyalist army under Firmus of Aegyptus [18]

Placidianus doubles the silver content of the aurelian coins

The Longiones, or Lugii, cross the Neccarus [Neckar] into Gaul

277

A Gaulish army defeats the Longiones and forces them to settle between the Rhenum and Neccarus

The Heruli and Maeotic Goths invade the Balkans, but are defeated by Governor Probus [19]

The Gallo-Romans abandon the Agri Decumantes [20]

The Isaurians begin to practise piracy on the Mediterranean

278

Postumus dies in his sleep. His son, Postumus II, is murdered not long after. Ulpius Laelianeus, a noble from Hispania and distant kin to Trajan, declares himself Emperor at Narbo Martius [Narbonne]

The Blemmyes attempt to invade Egypt, but are quickly routed by Firmus

The Isaurians grow bold and loot Athens, Ephesus, and Halicarnassus. They put the Mausoleum to the torch

Laelianus crushes the only real rival he has, Marcus, at Cenabum [Orleans], which he renames after himself - Laelianum. He relocates the imperial government to Tolosa [Toulouse] in the south

279

Placidianus moves against the Alemanni and Vandali, remindeing them that he is their overlord [21]

Laelianus begins adopting his own take on the Placidian Reforms

Tired of Isaurian piracy getting in the way of profits, Vaballathus leads his first army into Isauria. He captures and executes King Palfuerius, and annexes Isauria into Palmyra [22]

The Burgundii probe Rhaetia and Pannonia, but find Rome a tough nut to crack

280

The Alani begin raiding the Balkans, but are bribed by Tacitus to invade Palmyrene Asia instead [23]

Two would-be emperors, Bonosus and Proculus, rise in Gaul, but are dealt with swiftly. Laelianus's hold on power is now unquestionable [24]

The emperors of Rome attempt to have Probus killed, but he flees to Africa and is raised to the purple [25]

First recorded mention of the Thuringii

Bahram II sends envoys to Tadmor, hoping for peaceful relations

The Gupta Empire is founded


[17] Yes, that St Valentine
[18] The plan was for Maeonius, a cousin of Odenaethus, to take the throne. Neither man counted on Firmus, a Roman, being loyal to Vaballathus
[19] Probus was governor over the Roman remnant in Asia, so this technically wasn't his jurisdiction
[20] Because they had become too difficult to maintain
[21] This was more violent than that entry implies
[22] The irony is not lost on the Isaurians
[23] Kill two birds with one stone, in his mind
[24] A Germanic raid on the Gaulish fleet gave both men the oppurtunity
[25] Placidianus and Tacitus were growing fearful of Probus's popularity with the soldiers and masses, and his supposed connections with the Christians didn't help


Okay, next will come two maps, one for 260, and one for 280
 
Well, here is the 260 map.

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