The Heraclian Dynasty

The Heraclian Dynasty
Part 1: The birth of Modern Rhomania
588= Heraclius is born.​
590= Leontius (Heraclius' brother) is born. (POD)​
610= Heraclius and Leontius overthrow the Despot Phocas at Constantinople. They are crowned Co-emperors of the Eastern Roman Empire.​
611-622= Heraclian reforms.​
613= The Ecumenical council of Sparta is called by Leontius to unite the Church. a
622= Heraclius advances on Persia with 40,000 men.​
626= The Persians and Avars are defeated at Constantinople. Leontius alongside Strategos Bonos advances for the Danube with 51,000 men.​
627= Heraclius defeats the Persians at Nineveh.​
628= The Avars are pushed back across the Danube. The vulnerable Slavic tribes are trapped between Avar subjugation and the advancing Romans. Leontius takes heart, and allows them to settle in depleted Illyricum, permitting they convert to Christianity. These tribes become theme soldiers. If they serve loyally for a year, they will be granted citizenship.​
Leontius marries Venera "the Virgin Mary of Constantinople." b
Notes:
a. My main reference for Byzantium is Judith Herrin's BYZANTIUM The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire. She states that since all of the ecumenical councils were located in the East, Western Christians were underrepresented. Sparta was the best midpoint I could find.
b. The book also states that during the 626 siege, many citizens claimed they saw a brave Woman (the Virgin Mary) leading the defense. I used this as a potential wife for Leontius.
 
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Looks good so far. I'm not sure how much having an ecumenical council in Sparta would change much than having it in Nikaea or Chalkedon though.
 
Then what is the best place to get maximum representation of the various branches of the Christian world?
 
Not to rain on your parade, but Heraclius already had a brother IOTL. So what is this new brother going to accomplish that Theodore couldn't? Furthermore, wouldn't a POD before 602 change or butterfly Phokas' revolt as we know it?
 
I'm planning an update on all the reforms that are happening in TTL.
Also, I don't see how a change in Heraclius' family will affect the usurpation of Phokas.
 
Sorry for the delay. It was caused by some shyness and Schoolwork.
However, I am continuing this timeline.
Two points I would like to explain:

1. Ignore the "council of Sparta" I moved it to the more plausible Chalcedon. Details of Church reforms will be explained in the intermission coming in about 2-3 updates.

2. The presence of Leontius changes the entire family dynamic. Heraclius is the warrior while Leontius is the scholarly administrator (prefect Co-emperors). Theodoros and his son Niketas are the strategoi of Egypt and Palestine respectively.
 
Update 1.2

629AD- Leontius revives the senate.1

635AD- The Palestinian theme1 under Niketas (nephew of Heraclius/Leontius) defeats the Arabs at Yarmouk. Cicero is born to Leontius.

636AD- Heraclius leads 21,000 men in the conquest of Nabatea. 2

640AD- Heraclius dies. Leontius becomes sole emperor.

1. All reforms shall be detailed in a special intermission update.
2. Do you prefer Nabatea or Arabia minor.

 
629AD- Leontius revives the senate.1

635AD- The Palestinian theme1 under Niketas (nephew of Heraclius/Leontius) defeats the Arabs at Yarmouk. Cicero is born to Leontius.

636AD- Heraclius leads 21,000 men in the conquest of Nabatea. 2

640AD- Heraclius dies. Leontius becomes sole emperor.

1. All reforms shall be detailed in a special intermission update.
2. Do you prefer Nabatea or Arabia minor.


Just a small quibble: the Byzantine Senate wouldn't need to be revived in the 7th century, since it was up and functioning already. The Senate actually wouldn't fade away until the 1300s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Senate
 
After the fall of the west, its pretty much automatic that it is going to be underrepresented.

Also, color me skeptical that you'll present any formulation of doctrine that will not result in more schism.
 
I do not trust Wikipedia as a source.

I would never entirely discount Wikipedia when doing research. Although the information given should be double checked and corroborated (as should almost any source, actually), it can still give a good foundational understanding of a topic, and the cited sources of an article can also be used to further your own research.

However, what ever the case, Treadgold makes reference to the Byzantine Imperial Senate as late as the 11th century in "A History of the Byzantine State and Society", the later references reflecting how rich merchants were buying their way into the Senate and the Senatorial Class.
 
Update 1.3

640- The Lombards, sensing weakness at the death of Heraclius, invade and lay siege to Genoa.

641- 19,000 Romans conquer Tuscany. Later in the year, the Lombards retreat from Genoa.

642- 20,000 Romans defeat the Lombard king at Pavia. Before year's end, all Lombard holdings south of the Po river have fallen to the Romans.

643- The last holdings of the Lombard Kingdom in Venetia fall to the Romans.
 
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