Is there anyway that instead of going to war with one another over Yemen, we could see Aksumite Ethiopia and Sassanid Persia enter into an alliance?
If Aksum annexes the Kingdom of Kush, this gives her a direct border with the East Romans in Egypt and cause conflict between the two which could lead Aksum to seek an alliance with the Persians against the East Romans - how plausible would this be?An alliance against whom? The East Romans don't border Aksum and the Arabs are not a threat until after 632.
If Aksum annexes the Kingdom of Kush, this gives her a direct border with the East Romans in Egypt and cause conflict between the two which could lead Aksum to seek an alliance with the Persians against the East Romans - how plausible would this be?
Could there be something that leads the East Romans to begin persecuting Miaphysite Egyptians (or just Copts) and have Aksum attack them in the name of saving their fellow Miaphysites?The East Romans won't focus on the Aksumites. The interest is in Armenia and Europe. But it depends on if Aksum is interested in Egypt. If that is the case, the possibilities of an alliance aren't that far off.
Could there be something that leads the East Romans to begin persecuting Miaphysite Egyptians (or just Copts) and have Aksum attack them in the name of saving their fellow Miaphysites?
The Aksumites might be able to project their power into Upper Egypt simultaneously from the newly-annexed region of Kush and the Red Sea while approaching the Persians about diverting East Roman forces to gain more territory.Well it could be a casus belli but Aksumite power is not strong enough furth than the Red Sea area. Well... who knows...
How about if Islam comes along as it did IOTL? How would this Persian-Aksumite alliance be affected?If Persia and Aksum make an alliance against the Byzantines and succeed in taking territory from them, would something like this butterfly away Muhammad and the rise of Islam? Let's say Aksum does expand northward to acquire Kush and Egypt, they would more than likely try and acquire the Arabian Peninsula coast of the Red Sea to turn it into an Aksumite lake and control access to India and the rest of Asia. Aksum could become insanely wealthy by basically becoming the key middle man in facilitating trade between Europe and the east, while also controlling the wealthy farmland of Egypt and nearly the entire Nile River. It almost becomes an impregnable position if they could fully consolidate their gains and establish Aksumite authority all throughout the region.
How about if Islam comes along as it did IOTL? How would this Persian-Aksumite alliance be affected?
Is Aksum in any better of a position than IOTL?Not much. As soon as the Muslims expand Persia gets wrecked as OTL. They were exhausted against the Romans. Considering Aksum mighy have supported the war vs Romans their strength is not optimal either.
Is Aksum in any better of a position than IOTL?
Is Aksum in any better of a position than IOTL?
I'd say they're probably in a worse position, at least for the time being. But I don't think that matters, since AFAIK, there weren't any serious Muslim attempts to invade Ethiopia until the 16th Century.
TTL's Aksumite Ethiopia might actually hold onto the Eritrean coast (and Djibouti) and they might actually avoid serious Muslim attempts at penetration into the Ethiopian interior - if Aksum retains control of Kush/Nubia, contact with European Christendom via Egypt might see her becoming relatively modernized and keeping pace with the Europeans so Ethiopia could be in a much better position than IOTL.It is in the same position which is good. Ethiopia was hard to conquer anyway.
Here’s another way that Aksum could ally herself with Persia:
During his revolt in Aksumite Yemen, Ma’d-Karib approaches Justinian for assistance against the Aksumites and Justinian agrees in order to prevent what he sees as an Persian monopoly on eastern trade. Plus, there’s the benefit of fully bringing Aksum into the East Roman fold as Justinian comes to support Ma’d. The revolt is crushed by Aksum who comes to see the East Romans as threats to her and approaches the Persians about a potential alliance. The Persians show themselves to be interested in such an undertaking, hoping to divide East Roman forces on multiple fronts.
Thoughts?
Neither am I - at least, not on the Byzantines and Sassanids.Sounds plausible. But then again, I'm no expert on this time period.
I was actually thinking about this being the basis of that same scenario you mentioned.As for your "Roman persecution" idea, maybe the persecutions lead to a deterioration of relations between Aksum and the Eastern Roman Empire. The Sassanids notice this and, operating on the principle of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend", approach Aksum about an alliance.
Maybe the persecutions could be caused by a religious fanatic becoming emperor.
I was actually thinking about this being the basis of that same scenario you mentioned.
Who would you have in mind as the Emperor?