This TLIAD format is one used by the Politi-Brits quite a lot, but it hasn't yet been transferred to the Before 1900 forum: nor has it been yet used for something other than British politics. This, then, will be a heavily condensed version of my always-planned TL "A Very Different Sixth Century", which I will aim to complete in the next 24 hours. I hope folks enjoy!
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The toppling of the Emperor Justinian I in January 532AD, in a particularly violent outburst of mob aggression in Constantinople, was a pivotal moment for the Roman state. Hitherto, Emperors had largely been able to face down the demands and desires of the rowdy citizenry of Constantinople, a feat pulled off impressively a generation previously by the Emperor Anastasius. For Justinian, though, the old formula failed badly. With attempts to reason with the crowds swatted aside, and the aristocracy lining up with the mob against the Latin-speaking peasant Emperor, Justinian had little choice but to slip away.
Arguably the biggest mistake now made was allowing the escape of Justinian and a large number of his supporters, notably his wife the Empress Theodora and Narses, the gifted eunuch general. But for the movers and shakers of Constantinople, the priority was now to calm things down after the removal of the hated Illyrian. An elderly nephew of Anastasius, a safely blue-blooded figure named Hypatius was quickly elevated to the throne, and the crowds were mercilessly mown down by the Bucelarii, the private bodyguard of a dashing young general named Belisarius. In the chaos, Justinian and Theodora fled across Anatolia, seeking refuge with the anti-Chalcedonian church of Syria before ultimately crossing the border into Iran, where the new Shah Khusro greeted the deposed Emperor magnificently. An earlier diplomatic snub of Khusro by Justinian was now forgotten, with the King of Kings eagerly welcoming his "brother" and the Roman exiles to the Iranian capital of Ctesiphon. Trouble now lay ahead.
In Constantinople, there was some awareness of this, but Hypatius wisely sought to consolidate his rule before making any rash decisions. Accordingly, the new Emperor's first target was a particularly low-hanging and tempting piece of fruit: the Vandal kingdom of Africa. Divided by civil war and roundly disliked by Chalcedonians and anti-Chalcedonians alike for their Arian doctrines, the Vandals had been the target of a planned expedition by Justinian's regime. Hypatius, who was despite his age a shrewd enough operator, was quick to grasp the opportunity this provided. In August 532, a magnificent fleet set sail from Constantinople to Africa, led by Hypatius' dashing young general Belisarius. Belisarius and his large army landed near Carthage that autumn, and briskly smashed two Vandal armies, killing in battle the Vandal king Gelimer. A few more skirmishes followed over the next few months, but all in all, the wisdom of Hypatius in providing Belisarius with a large and well-equipped army showed: by the summer of 533, Africa was securely Roman once more, with peace treaties drafted with the Moors and Constantinople's preferred candidate for the Vandal throne Hilderic set up with a small client state in Mauretania Sitifensis.
Hypatius' first year as Emperor had been an unqualified success, and for it Belisarius was richly rewarded with a series of titles. Things could not remain smooth, however: storm clouds were gathering across the Roman world.