540 AD:
After 5 years, the Eastern Roman Empire had almost completely Italy from the barbarian Ostrogoths. But now, war loomed with Persia in the East and Emperor Justinian was eager to end hostilities. He sent the Ostrogoths an offer of peace, letting them keep Italy north of the river Po. To the supreme commander of the Western armies, Flavius Belisarius, this was an outrage. Good Roman blood had been shed to save the city of Milan, and Venetia* was still in Gothic hands. Suddenly, the Gothic nobles, unhappy with their usurper King, Witiges, presented Belisarius with an astonishing offer - they offered to make him Western Emperor, even though the regalia was now in Constantinople. 'Justinian wouldn't like it,' Belisarius thought, 'and when Justinian frowns, somebody dies.' Then again, where was Justinian at Dara, Ad Decimum, Tricaramum, Naples, Rome, Milan? When was the last time he had fought, slept and ate with the few soldiers he had deigned to give his best general? He could make a good emperor. He wasn't of noble birth, or even full Roman birth, but he was no fool. He had learned a few things from his time in the court at Constantinople. Furthermore, while the Goths were Arian heretics, he had gained a grudging respect for their bravery, and he had read about Theoderic the Great. If the nobles were offering to make him emperor, they must be desperate indeed, and desperation, if used properly, can be useful.
In May, 540 AD, Belisarius entered Ravenna and accepted the offers of the Gothic nobles. Did his soldiers have any doubts, any private, traitorous thoughts? Perhaps, but they didn't say a word. Not during the coronation. Not when Emperor Belisarius imprisoned Witiges for the murder of his predecessor, Theodahad. And not when they were ordered to march South. Not a word...
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POD: IOTL, Belisarius only pretended to accept the offer and remained loyal to Justinian, capturing Ravenna for the Eastern empire.
*: The present-day regions of Veneto and Friuli–Venezia Giulia.
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This will be a short TL. Previously, I think I've gotten bogged down in details - that's just the kind of person I am. Here, I'll try and get this done in 7 days, then I'll finally have a go at that Romanos IV Diogenes TL I've been thinking about. But first I'll get some feedback on my writing (and wait for the latest CK2 patch to come out
).
After 5 years, the Eastern Roman Empire had almost completely Italy from the barbarian Ostrogoths. But now, war loomed with Persia in the East and Emperor Justinian was eager to end hostilities. He sent the Ostrogoths an offer of peace, letting them keep Italy north of the river Po. To the supreme commander of the Western armies, Flavius Belisarius, this was an outrage. Good Roman blood had been shed to save the city of Milan, and Venetia* was still in Gothic hands. Suddenly, the Gothic nobles, unhappy with their usurper King, Witiges, presented Belisarius with an astonishing offer - they offered to make him Western Emperor, even though the regalia was now in Constantinople. 'Justinian wouldn't like it,' Belisarius thought, 'and when Justinian frowns, somebody dies.' Then again, where was Justinian at Dara, Ad Decimum, Tricaramum, Naples, Rome, Milan? When was the last time he had fought, slept and ate with the few soldiers he had deigned to give his best general? He could make a good emperor. He wasn't of noble birth, or even full Roman birth, but he was no fool. He had learned a few things from his time in the court at Constantinople. Furthermore, while the Goths were Arian heretics, he had gained a grudging respect for their bravery, and he had read about Theoderic the Great. If the nobles were offering to make him emperor, they must be desperate indeed, and desperation, if used properly, can be useful.
In May, 540 AD, Belisarius entered Ravenna and accepted the offers of the Gothic nobles. Did his soldiers have any doubts, any private, traitorous thoughts? Perhaps, but they didn't say a word. Not during the coronation. Not when Emperor Belisarius imprisoned Witiges for the murder of his predecessor, Theodahad. And not when they were ordered to march South. Not a word...
__________________________________________________
POD: IOTL, Belisarius only pretended to accept the offer and remained loyal to Justinian, capturing Ravenna for the Eastern empire.
*: The present-day regions of Veneto and Friuli–Venezia Giulia.
__________________________________________________
This will be a short TL. Previously, I think I've gotten bogged down in details - that's just the kind of person I am. Here, I'll try and get this done in 7 days, then I'll finally have a go at that Romanos IV Diogenes TL I've been thinking about. But first I'll get some feedback on my writing (and wait for the latest CK2 patch to come out