WI a Romano-Gothic Empire in late 6th century? Possible?

The cousin of Emperor Justinian I Germanus Justinus was placed in charge of Imperial forces in the Gothic War in 550. Though he married a lady of the noble family of the Anicii, a Roman family which had moved to Constantinople, he was eventually married to Matasuntha, the heiress of the Gothic queen Amalasuntha, and the widow of the defeated Gothic king, Witiges. He was made a Roman patricius, but any schemes for a revived Romano-Gothic kingdom which may have been based on his personality were prevented by Germanus' early death. His widow, however, bore a posthumous child, also named Germanus. This younger Germanus did nothing in his life to realize these anticipations, but the somewhat pointed way in which his name and his mother's name are mentioned by Jordanes lends some probability to the view that he hoped for the child's succession to the Eastern Empire, and the final reconciliation of the Goths and Romans in the person of a Gotho-Roman emperor.
Is a Romano-Gothic Empire plausible in late 6th century AD? At least in the West? How is this potential Empire altering History? Any thoughts?
 
Bump because it is plausible and I think this is a cool idea.

Maybe Germanus could ally with the Franks in order to stabalize his control. I remember they launched some attacks into Italy at around this time. Maybe that would help him?
 
Is a Romano-Gothic Empire plausible in late 6th century AD?

It could have worked, though it wouldn't have been an easy job. First Germanus should have been able to beat the other gothic factions, second he should have managed to keep Lombards and Franks out of Italy. Germanus' goal would have been pacify Italy, not inviting predons in.

The real problem, though, would be the Justinian Plague. OTL it weakened the byzantine rule and let Lombards invade the peninsula.
 
I don't think that Justinian would allow one of his commanders to consolidate that kind of an independent power-base in Italy. Furthermore, I don't know if Italy had enough resources to serve as a power-base, owing to the destruction wrought by the back and forth of the Gothic Wars.

Justinian was paranoid and Italy was destroyed. I don't think you can get much mileage out of Italy in the second half of the 6th century.
 
I don't think that Justinian would allow one of his commanders to consolidate that kind of an independent power-base in Italy. Furthermore, I don't know if Italy had enough resources to serve as a power-base, owing to the destruction wrought by the back and forth of the Gothic Wars.

Justinian was paranoid and Italy was destroyed. I don't think you can get much mileage out of Italy in the second half of the 6th century.

Maybe with a little Frankish help Germanus could have established something in Italy... Maybe he could be Justinian's viceroy there the same way Odoacer was under Zeno... But in this case Germanus would be the actual ruler and Justinian the titular one...
 
Top