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I have been developing an alternate history timeline that I plan to use as the basis for a mod for HOI Darkest Hour. The major point of divergence is 429, were the Vandals do not cross into Africa and remain in Hispania. I would like opinion and discussion on how different the world would be at the start of the 19th century if a Roman, Latin speaking state formed in North Africa from the remnants of the fallen Western Roman Empire.

North Africa was lost to the Roman Empire after the Vandals migrated en masse into the area, in 429, at the invitation of Bonifacius governor of the Diocese of Africa. The Vandals proceeded to conquer and establish their own kingdom in North Africa. It seems the loss of North Africa was a major blow to the survival of the Western Roman Empire. So what if the Vandal invasion never occurred?

So here is an alternate version of history. Lets say that Bonifacius never fell out of favor and thus never had to call on the Vandals as mercenaries. The Vandals remained in Hispania, and North Africa remained a vital part of the Western Roman Empire. The next 40 years go by pretty much as they actually did with Roman power quickly fading under constant infighting and barbarian invasions. Roman settlements in Hispania, Gaul, and Italia are in constant fear and turmoil. However in North Africa isolated by the sea the Romans continue to flourish, safe from the threat of barbarian attack. The relative calm and safety of the African provinces attract more and more refugees and settlers from other parts of the Empire. The Governor of North Africa becomes a more and more powerful figure in the Empire.

In 476 Odacer deposes Romulus Augustus and establishes control over the Italian peninsula. The Governor of Africa invites the Senate and anyone who can and will to relocate to Africa, an invitation that is supported by the Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno. The majority of the Senate, as well as thousands of other Romans from Italy, relocate to North Africa. After several decades and failed attempts to reestablish control over Italy the Romans in North Africa decide to abandon hope of reconquering the old empire and instead focus on surviving and flourishing in North Africa. This new Roman state stretches from the Atlantic coast to the border of the Eastern Empire, encompassing all of the territory that the Western Empire once controlled in North Africa.

If such a state managed to survive against all odds into the 20th century how would it have affected the rest of European and World history?

Some questions to ponder.

-The impact of Islam on this Roman state. Surely if such a state existed the struggle against Islam in North Africa would have defined it for centuries.
-If such a state existed would it have stopped Islam from reaching Iberia, and if so how different would the history of the Iberian peninsula be?
-Could they have converted to Islam?
-What would have happened to the Vandals if they stayed in Spain? Destroyed by the Visigoths?
-How would such a state affected the fate of the Eastern Roman Empire? Would the Eastern Roman Empire been able to survive longer?
-How would the history of the Catholic Church and Christianity in general been changed?
-How might the geography and climate of North Africa have affected this state?
-I believe there was quite a large population of Jews in Roman North Africa, if these Jews would have been accepted, tolerated, and valued as members of this new Roman state how might the history and tolerance of the Jewish people been different in Europe?
-What might the name of this African Roman state be? Would they have been ruled by an Emperor or a Senate? The capital in Carthage?
-Would this state have been isolated in North Africa or perhaps been a major player in European politics?
-I know its difficult to project but going later into European history how might such a state affected 17th, 18th or 19th century Europe? Or the colonization of the Americas?

I would love some input and help from this knowledgeable forum on just how this point of divergence might have changed the world up to the beginning of the 20th century, so I can develop a more clear and realistic alternate timeline.
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