alternatehistory.com

So, what if Britannia had been developed more during its time as a province? Maybe if, at its peak, Rome had managed to make temporary peace with tribes at least in the south to build up a solid Latin speaking population and large cities. During the gradual collapse, the Romans hold onto the island instead of retreating, seeing it an important economic province instead of a wild frontier. When Italy faced invasion during the Gothic Wars, what if Stilicho, Honorius' guardian and competent general, had made preparations to evacuate the entire Roman government to London before his assassination? How would this Roman state survive with only Britannia left? If at least the south was more Romanised, could a Roman Empire successor state similar to Byzantium thrive, remaining isolated from European politics?

I'm trying to write a timeline where this is the case, and Rome survives in some form until at least the mid 6th century (because realistically, they still have all the odds stacked against them). I figured there would probably be some form of division between tribes of Britain supporting the Romans, such as the Catullauvani in Superior, and ones that aim to bring it down, such as the Brigantes. So I imagined a sort of civil war in 550AD. I have thought and researched a lot into it but I am probably missing stuff!Small Map.pngSo what I've tried to show here is the division of Britons in 550AD, under the Emperor Honorius III (I got creative with the names as you can see). I also tried to think a bit about areas of support for the Emperor so I can begin to imagine where areas of conflict would occur, and whereabouts it would begin to collapse.Regional Influence.png(Anyways, small notes: the Saxons mostly came to Britain in the power vacuum that followed the collapse of the Roman Empire, so without its fall in Britain at least, this probably wouldn't have occurred.)

This is my first post here and I'm not feeling too bad about how it's turned out, and I want to develop it a wee bit! Let me know if I messed anything up haha
Top