The Western Flame Shines Bright

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463 A.D.


The Ricimeran attempt to take Ravenna had continued for five months by October. Under Ricimer, a rebel army of 15,000 stood outside the walls of the Roman capital. Inside the city was Majorian with an army of 9000 men. Thanks to Imperial control of the waves, Ravenna was receiving fresh supplies, something that Majorian could not be more grateful for. By November, Imperial rule had been restored to northern Italy.

While this was happening, the Eastern Roman Empire prepared an army in their western borders. Constantinople decided that if Ravenna fell, the East would have to intervene in the civil war and restore order to the West. It was far too dangerous to have both Rome and Ravenna in the hands of a Germanic, pagan ruler.

Ricimer found himself in a very sticky position. Several Imperial legions were marching towards him from the north, threatening to trap him and destroy his entire army. However, retreating from Ravenna would be taken as a sign of weakness. Several nobles were losing faith in Ricimer's ability to wage war against Majorian, and if Ricimer was ultimately unable to take the capital, it was possible for him to lose the only support he had.

Therefore, Ricimer took his army and retreated west to Florentia, under the pretext of consolidating his forces for another attack on a weakened Ravenna. Majorian knew of his reinforcements coming from the north, and quickly dispatched a messenger to the commander of the armies in northern Italy, Vibius. The Emperor instructed Vibius to march southwest to catch Ricimer's army before it could reach Florentia. The plan worked, and on the 2nd day of November, the two armies met on some hills a couple miles east of Florentia.

Vibius's army consisted of a mix of barbarians as well as Roman troops who were incredibly loyal to Majorian. They were the soldiers who fought for the Emperor during his campaigns in Gaul. On the other hand, Ricimer's army was made up of a mix of retired soldiers, fresh recruits, and mercenaries. At noon, the Imperial cavalry led a devastating charge onto the right flank of Ricimer's main line. The initial assault was quickly followed up by a charge of the barbarian troops under Vibius's command. Ricimer moved up his reserves in order to flank the Imperial troops, but were countered by Vibius's own reserves. The battle turned brutal and bloody. Soon, Ricimer's right flank began to falter. The Imperial forces were ordered to withdraw from the battle and up a hill, greatly confusing the Ricimerans. Seeing a chance to destroy and rout the Imperial army, Ricimer ordered his men to give chase. Suddenly, the rest of Vibius's cavalry appeared from behind the hill and charged down, straight into the tired rebel infantry. The results were devastating. The Imperial infantry quickly turned around and charged downhill as well. Before long, Ricimer's army broke and fled south. Ricimer himself was captured, as well as several of his advisers who were at the battle.


464 A.D.

Upon hearing news of the bloody victory, Majorian took his men and set out, reconquering parts of Italy. Without Ricimer, the Italian nobles banded together at Rome. Many efforts were made in order to reestablish a rebel army, but they proved useless. In December, a medium sized army from North Africa landed on the boot, in southern Italy. By March, Imperial rule was restored to all of Italy, except for Rome. Several attempts were made on Majorian's life by the desperate Ricimeran nobles, but all had failed.

Rome was besieged from both land and sea for six months. In September, the weary Ricimerans sallied out of the eternal city and attacked Majorian and Vibius. Needless to say, the rebels were slaughtered. September 25 would come to be celebrated as Majorian Day: the day that Majorian symbolically marched into Rome and consolidated his position as Emperor of the West.

Ricimer, who had been a prisoner for the past ten months, was executed in Ravenna in early December for treason against the Emperor, alongside several of the more influential Italian nobles who had helped Ricimer. Some nobles were allowed to live and keep their wealth, after swearing loyalty to the Emperor and agreeing to the Tax Reform of 462. Emperor Majorian used the victory against the pagan Ricimerans to promote the spread and influence of Christianity in the Western Empire. Majorian also used his victory to discredit the city of Rome, which had been the first to rise up against the Emperor. Instead, the Emperor exaggerated the details of the Siege of Ravenna, making the city out to be a mighty and glorious city that could not be conquered even by Ricimer. Majorian would oversee the expansion of Ravenna, as he hoped to make the city one that would rival the likes of Constantinople. A new Senate was created in Ravenna as well.

Finally, Majorian found himself powerful enough to finally enact the necessary reforms to revive the empire.
 
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Given Ricimer's royal connections to the Visigothic,Burgundian and Suebi royal courts,I'd almost thought for certain that he'd ask them for help in return for more imperial territory.

At any rate,the eastern court has already recognized Majorian as emperor by the time of the Battle of Cartagena.Leo and Majorian jointly held the consulate in 458 to signal this move.
 
Given Ricimer's connections to the Visigothic,Burgundian and Suebi royal courts,I almost thought for certain that he'd ask them for help in return for more imperial territory.

At any rate,the eastern court has already recognized Majorian as emperor by the time of the Battle of Cartagena.Leo and Majorian jointly held the consulate in 458 to signal this move.

Hm, how surprising! I thought that Constantinople never officially recognized Majorian. I'll go back and fix that. Thank you. Any other comments on the latest update?
 
Hm, how surprising! I thought that Constantinople never officially recognized Majorian. I'll go back and fix that. Thank you. Any other comments on the latest update?

I also think that the Church would play a much more active role in the victory.They would try and persuade Christian rebel nobles to defect to Majorian.

And as I have said,the the Burgundians,the Visigoths and the Suebi would probably send soldiers to help Ricimer in the hopes that they gain more territory.Ricimer was related to the royal family of all three by either marriage or blood.IIRC,when the Gallic Army under Aegidius marched on Italy to try and avenge Majorian,the Burgundians sallied forth and defeated them on behalf of Ricimer.
 
I also think that the Church would play a much more active role in the victory.They would try and persuade Christian rebel nobles to defect to Majorian.

And as I have said,the the Burgundians,the Visigoths and the Suebi would probably send soldiers to help Ricimer in the hopes that they gain more territory.Ricimer was related to the royal family of all three by either marriage or blood.IIRC,when the Gallic Army under Aegidius marched on Italy to try and avenge Majorian,the Burgundians sallied forth and defeated them on behalf of Ricimer.

If I remember correctly, the Suebi were defeated by Majorian in his campaigns in Gaul and Hispania, thus too weak/too afraid to challenge the WRE once more. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Burgundians/Visigoths were too busy with their own matters to assist Ricimer in his civil war against Majorian.

I am now wondering though, what I should do about the Church in this TL. I can either have the Emperor control both the church and the state, following the Byzantine example, or I can let them be separate entities. Hmm.
 
If I remember correctly, the Suebi were defeated by Majorian in his campaigns in Gaul and Hispania, thus too weak/too afraid to challenge the WRE once more. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Burgundians/Visigoths were too busy with their own matters to assist Ricimer in his civil war against Majorian.

I am now wondering though, what I should do about the Church in this TL. I can either have the Emperor control both the church and the state, following the Byzantine example, or I can let them be separate entities. Hmm.
If the Pope doesn't have a power base of his own(the papal states) nor substantial rulers to back him up,it is impossible for the pope to be as independent of secular rulers as he was historically.This is especially since the emperor is right next door to Rome in Ravenna.
 
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