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