Well, here's the inaugural post of my first timeline. And as you know, first timelines usually suck. Perseverence is the key here, I guess, so I'm gonna start this off and improve it as I go along. Feel free to point out any discrepancies or problems with it, and I'll try to fix them as I go. Thanks! 
AD 570 - AD 600
* An Aksumite ruler known as Abraha sends an invasion force in the year 570 from Yemen into the Hijaz to strike at the Arabic city of Makkah. This attack takes the form of a sort of religious crusade, in which the Ethiopian Orthodox Aksumites plan to destroy the center of native Arabic religion. The divided, squabbling tribes of Arabs are no match for an organized invading force, and the city falls. The Kaaba is destroyed, and much of the Hijaz comes under Aksumite rule. Ethiopian Orthodox missionaries begin spreading their faith in the region. [1]
* Realizing that his sphere of influence on the Arabian Peninsula was threatened by Aksumite expansion, Persian emperor Khosrau I sends foot-soldiers south into Aksumite Arabia in an attempt to evict the Ethiopians. After a back-and-forth struggle over the course of half a decade, the result is essentially a stalemate which leaves both sides exhausted. Ethiopian Orthodox missionary activity continues unabated. [2]
* Due in large part to Persia's occupation with matters in Arabia, the Roman Emperor Tiberius II Constantine is free to focus on matters to the north and west of the Empire's borders. In 572, a Byzantine army crosses the Danube, crushing some tribes of Sklavenai on the way there, and pushes into Avar territory. After a yearlong campaign, and in collusion with the Lombards, who quickly abandon their venture into Italy, the Romans scatter the Avars to the north and east, where they vanish from the historical record.
* A Visigothic raid in 574 into Roman Spain is met with harsh retribution. A Roman army moves from Italy to Iberia, cutting a swath of territory south from Septimania to Carthago Nova. In the wake of their punishment at the hands of the Romans, the Visigothic Kingdom falls into a short period of anarchy and civil war.
* Khosrau of Persia dies and is succeeded on the throne by his son, Hormizd IV. Hormizd's rein will be marked by constant war against Turkic tribes to the east, which meets with some success. The Göktürks experience some major defeats in Central Asia and, as a result, look to their south. Sogdiana as far as the Amu Darya is annexed into the Persian Empire.
* In 582, the emperor Maurice ascends to the throne of the Roman Empire. One of his first priorities is a military foray into Lombard territory. The Lombards had recently resumed their attempts to raid northern Italy, and Maurice knew he'd have to move quickly to secure the province, the loyalty of which to Constantinople was still uncertain. After a summer of fighting, the Lombards are forced away from Italy, and remain north of the Danube and in the Carpathians.
* By 586, the state of anarchy in the Visigoth Kingdom dies down. From the proverbial dust emerges a soldier named Alaric, who seizes the reins of power. Though little is known of Alaric's early life, he seems to be an admirer of classical Rome. This likely explains why he proceeds to remodel much of the Kingdom's administrative structure to follow a more Roman model. More traditional elements of Visigothic society oppose the changes, but none are willing to continue the chaos of the past decade.
* Around this period of time, intermarriage between the Visigothic elite and Hispanian lower classes seems to pick up significantly.
* In 590, Israel, king of Aksum dies. He is succeeded to the throne by Ousanas II, who seems to have been a prominent general before his ascension. A priority of his twenty-year reign will be major reform of the adminstrative and military structure of Aksum, as well as proselytizing of the Ethiopian church. The appalling loss of life in the Akso-Persian War of 571-576 may be what convinced him of the necessity of this change. Numerous stelae will be erected across Aksum to commemorate the deeds of Ousanas II, later to be called 'the Pious'.
* Between 593 and 596, the kingdom of the Lakhmids in northern Arabia is invaded and annexed by the Sassanid Persian Empire. The underlying cause seems to be that the king of the Lakhmids, whose name is lost to history, reneged on the paying of a tribute to the court of the Shahanshah. Within the decade the territory is incorporated into Persia as a few new satrapies.
* In 598, Alaric of the Visigothic Kingdom passes away. He is succeeded by his son, also named Alaric, who will soon become known as Alaric the Great.
* In 600 a major treaty is signed between the Roman and Persian emperors, Maurice and Hormizd. The treaty extends the guarantee of peace between the two empires by two decades, allowing the Romans to continue focusing on affairs in Europe and North Africa. At the same time, several small tribal nations such as the Mauri and Altava are reclaimed by the Roman Empire, which seems to be experiencing a second period of conquests in the West.
* By the end of the 6th Century, Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity has been accepted by a great number of natives in Aksum's new Arabian possessions. Among the converts is a young man known as Muhammad.
[1]: In our timeline, this invasion force was decimated by the sudden outbreak of a plague amongst its ranks. Without any disease to stop it, the Aksumite army ITTL takes the city of Mecca, scattering the tribes which lived there into the interior of the Peninsula. Aksum now has a foothold in Arabia which greatly increases its power relative to its neighbors.
[2]: Due to the stronger Aksumite presence in the region, the Persians fail to kick the Aksumites out of the Peninsula. Due to its distraction with this conflict, the Roman-Persian War of 572 never occurs.
Thoughts? Comments?
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AD 570 - AD 600
* An Aksumite ruler known as Abraha sends an invasion force in the year 570 from Yemen into the Hijaz to strike at the Arabic city of Makkah. This attack takes the form of a sort of religious crusade, in which the Ethiopian Orthodox Aksumites plan to destroy the center of native Arabic religion. The divided, squabbling tribes of Arabs are no match for an organized invading force, and the city falls. The Kaaba is destroyed, and much of the Hijaz comes under Aksumite rule. Ethiopian Orthodox missionaries begin spreading their faith in the region. [1]
* Realizing that his sphere of influence on the Arabian Peninsula was threatened by Aksumite expansion, Persian emperor Khosrau I sends foot-soldiers south into Aksumite Arabia in an attempt to evict the Ethiopians. After a back-and-forth struggle over the course of half a decade, the result is essentially a stalemate which leaves both sides exhausted. Ethiopian Orthodox missionary activity continues unabated. [2]
* Due in large part to Persia's occupation with matters in Arabia, the Roman Emperor Tiberius II Constantine is free to focus on matters to the north and west of the Empire's borders. In 572, a Byzantine army crosses the Danube, crushing some tribes of Sklavenai on the way there, and pushes into Avar territory. After a yearlong campaign, and in collusion with the Lombards, who quickly abandon their venture into Italy, the Romans scatter the Avars to the north and east, where they vanish from the historical record.
* A Visigothic raid in 574 into Roman Spain is met with harsh retribution. A Roman army moves from Italy to Iberia, cutting a swath of territory south from Septimania to Carthago Nova. In the wake of their punishment at the hands of the Romans, the Visigothic Kingdom falls into a short period of anarchy and civil war.
* Khosrau of Persia dies and is succeeded on the throne by his son, Hormizd IV. Hormizd's rein will be marked by constant war against Turkic tribes to the east, which meets with some success. The Göktürks experience some major defeats in Central Asia and, as a result, look to their south. Sogdiana as far as the Amu Darya is annexed into the Persian Empire.
* In 582, the emperor Maurice ascends to the throne of the Roman Empire. One of his first priorities is a military foray into Lombard territory. The Lombards had recently resumed their attempts to raid northern Italy, and Maurice knew he'd have to move quickly to secure the province, the loyalty of which to Constantinople was still uncertain. After a summer of fighting, the Lombards are forced away from Italy, and remain north of the Danube and in the Carpathians.
* By 586, the state of anarchy in the Visigoth Kingdom dies down. From the proverbial dust emerges a soldier named Alaric, who seizes the reins of power. Though little is known of Alaric's early life, he seems to be an admirer of classical Rome. This likely explains why he proceeds to remodel much of the Kingdom's administrative structure to follow a more Roman model. More traditional elements of Visigothic society oppose the changes, but none are willing to continue the chaos of the past decade.
* Around this period of time, intermarriage between the Visigothic elite and Hispanian lower classes seems to pick up significantly.
* In 590, Israel, king of Aksum dies. He is succeeded to the throne by Ousanas II, who seems to have been a prominent general before his ascension. A priority of his twenty-year reign will be major reform of the adminstrative and military structure of Aksum, as well as proselytizing of the Ethiopian church. The appalling loss of life in the Akso-Persian War of 571-576 may be what convinced him of the necessity of this change. Numerous stelae will be erected across Aksum to commemorate the deeds of Ousanas II, later to be called 'the Pious'.
* Between 593 and 596, the kingdom of the Lakhmids in northern Arabia is invaded and annexed by the Sassanid Persian Empire. The underlying cause seems to be that the king of the Lakhmids, whose name is lost to history, reneged on the paying of a tribute to the court of the Shahanshah. Within the decade the territory is incorporated into Persia as a few new satrapies.
* In 598, Alaric of the Visigothic Kingdom passes away. He is succeeded by his son, also named Alaric, who will soon become known as Alaric the Great.
* In 600 a major treaty is signed between the Roman and Persian emperors, Maurice and Hormizd. The treaty extends the guarantee of peace between the two empires by two decades, allowing the Romans to continue focusing on affairs in Europe and North Africa. At the same time, several small tribal nations such as the Mauri and Altava are reclaimed by the Roman Empire, which seems to be experiencing a second period of conquests in the West.
* By the end of the 6th Century, Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity has been accepted by a great number of natives in Aksum's new Arabian possessions. Among the converts is a young man known as Muhammad.
[1]: In our timeline, this invasion force was decimated by the sudden outbreak of a plague amongst its ranks. Without any disease to stop it, the Aksumite army ITTL takes the city of Mecca, scattering the tribes which lived there into the interior of the Peninsula. Aksum now has a foothold in Arabia which greatly increases its power relative to its neighbors.
[2]: Due to the stronger Aksumite presence in the region, the Persians fail to kick the Aksumites out of the Peninsula. Due to its distraction with this conflict, the Roman-Persian War of 572 never occurs.
Thoughts? Comments?
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