You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
alternatehistory.com
If we exclude the Roman or Byzantine Empires, which other historical country has best claim to being the successor of the Roman Empire?
Options (multiple choice allowed)
Russian Empire (By inheriting the religion of the Byzantine Empire and intermarrying into its ruling dynasty, as well as attempting to assert itself as "protector of the Eastern Christians")
Ottoman Empire (By conquering the Byzantine Empire and then taking a similar geopolitical role as the Eastern Roman Empire in terms of power projection into the Mediterranean and against Persia)
Italy (By inheriting the title of Kingdom of Italy through the Lombards, and having a language and culture directly evolved from the Latin one)
Holy Roman Empire (By being crowned Emperor and King of Rome by the Pope, later fighting the Ottoman Empire like the Byzantines, and being ruled by a Kaiser [Caesar])
Greece (By inheriting the religion and language of the Byzantine Empire)
Romania (By being descended in language and religion from the ancient Romanized inhabitants of Dacia, and by literally naming itself the Land of the Romans)
Papal States (By inheriting the title Pontifex Maximus, being head of the Roman Catholic Church, and being located in Rome)
Most Serene Republic of Venice (By being a major thalassocracy descended from a Byzantine port)
Latin Empire (By being Frankish barbarians that claimed to be Latin)
Republic of San Marino (By being founded inside the Roman Empire during its existence and surviving after both halves of the empire had fallen)
First French Empire (By being crowned Emperor by the Pope)
Kingdom of Spain (By claiming the title Imperator totius Hispaniae and being the first of the "Latin" nations)