alternatehistory.com

Before we begin I would like to lay out a disclosure for this timeline. First and foremost I intend it to redefine typical Dark Age timelines, well perhaps not redefine but rather provide a radically new approach to cleanse your palate. That being said I do intend for this timeline to retain strong levels of plausibility and the events described within should remain within the bounds of realism. If though they might make you wonder and question.

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Part One: John the Pig

September 7th 476 would mark a turning point for the fortunes of the Western Roman Empire and in effect, if one would to look at the minute details of the preceding days mark a rebirth of that ancient state. The Scirian generalissimo Oadecer would be assassinated by a Rugian companion who then manage to escape and flee to the Balkans. Incidentally his withdrawal to the East lends credence to the assassination being a job paid for by the Eastern Emperor. Whether there is any truth to that accusation is up to debate as the following events hardly proved to fall in Xeno's favor.

The exact nature of the assassination aside the aftermath would prove to be as bloody as any failed coup attempt could be. A brief civil war erupted outside of Ravenna amongst Oadecer's former army, spurred by ethnic strife and the assassination of the erstwhile leader. Without the competency and charisma of Oadecer this ramshackle collection of Scirians, Rugians and other Germanics, not to mention the considerable Italian component, collapsed. Ravenna was sacked by rampaging Rugians and the deposed boy-Emperor Romulus Augustulus murdered.

The succeeding chaos is poorly documented and lasts for a few weeks until a little known soldier by the name of Iohannes manages to acquire control over a decent chunk of the Roman and foederati forces formerly under Oadecer's command. Iohannes heralded from Latium and was born a peasant shepherd outside the walls of the Eternal City itself. As a teenager he was drafted into the Imperial army, forming a part of the necessary Italic veneer to the legions, and apparently crawled his way up the ranks with some skill and ruthlessness. The latter which he excelled in and as the leader of the ragtag gang that called itself the Western Roman army he could not have survived otherwise.

As commander he pompously proclaimed himself Magister Militum and promptly marched his army to the Senate. Under the threat of death, a fate which would befall nearly half of the stately aristocrats anyways, Iohannes had the Senate revoke its earlier decision and crown him as the Emperor of the West. The hapless Pope was dragged from Rome to legitimize his ascension to the purple with some religiosity. In reality the manner by which the Latin peasant proclaimed himself Emperor betrayed his lowly upbringing and clumsy illiteracy, indeed his immediate actions as Augustus made the Italian elite miss the previous series of barbarian generalissimos. It's always fellow countrymen who make the worst tyrants.

As Emperor Iohannes was beset on all sides by extreme difficulty, an Eastern supported pretender in Dalmatia, questionable troop loyalty, opposition from the Italian elite and barbarian threats just past the Alps. Fortunately for Rome he would mark the beginning of his reign with action, actions that quickly earned him the derisive nickname "Porcus" (hence John the Pig). He himself referred to be known as Iohannes Latinus, and consequently he is known as the founder of the Latinian dynasty. Killing two birds with one stone Iohannes would, within the first months of his rein, start the so called "Latter Proscriptions". Perhaps the most decisive and monumental decision of his rule.

Much like their ancient forebears these proscriptions were intended to raise money and eliminate threats to a dictatorship, perceived and real. Iohannes for his part attack the Italian aristocratic elite and killed half of the Senatorial/patrician class, taking over estates and wealth in the process. In turn he replaced these men with goons from his army, practically overnight diminishing the overall status and prestige of the Senate as Italian and Germanic soldiers were shot up as Senators. To ensure their loyalty, for now, the Emperor would reward them with estates throughout Italy and entitled them as "Comites". The Scirians, now becoming a general term for the Germanic foederati living directly in Italy, were given lands in the Po River valley to settle. The region would henceforth be known as Sciria.

Now the repercussions and fallout of the Latter Proscriptions can not be overstated, it gave birth to a highly feudal system in Italy proper and sparked the Eastern Emperor's desire to support Nepos in his bid to overthrow Iohannes. In sum total this first year of Iohannes reign can be said to have reverted Italy back to an almost pre-Imperial stage, gradually de-urbanizing the province as the elite took to their estates. In due time his "reforms (if one were to paint the proscriptions in the rosiest of light) would also reignite a martial ethos, drawn from the feudal estates of the new comite aristocracy.

Of course resistance to the Latter Proscriptions were strong and a number of minor revolts and insurrections did occur, worst of which being a mutiny by a garrison on the Adriatic which allowed Julian Nepos to land with an army in July 477. The army that would light the peninsula on fire.
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