WI: Byzantine capital moved to Carthage?

In the year 619, Byzantine Emperor Heraclius intended to move the Empire's capital from Constantinople to Carthage - he agreed not to after a plea from the Patriarch of the Church.

What if Heraclius had decided to move the capital anyway? Does western Africa become Christian? Spain remains Visigothic? The Balkans firmly Muslim? Catholic or Muslim Russia?

The PoD wasn't my idea, by the way; it came from GURPS Alternate Earths 2 - but it is presented as just the PoD, with no/little elaboration.
 
Carthage isn't nearly as defensible as Constantinople. It probably falls a whole lot sooner and perhaps the entire Eastern Empire does too.
 
Carthage isn't nearly as defensible as Constantinople. It probably falls a whole lot sooner and perhaps the entire Eastern Empire does too.
Well, how many threats pass by Carthage compared to Constantinople? There's no Bulgars in the area, at least.
 

Philip

Donor
In the year 619, Byzantine Emperor Heraclius intended to move the Empire's capital from Constantinople to Carthage - he agreed not to after a plea from the Patriarch of the Church.

Strategically, this is a horrible idea. Carthage has none of the advantages of Constantinople. The only possible advantage would be its distance from Persia, but this is overrated. If the Sassanids take Egypt as per OTL, there is little to stop them from continuing on to Carthage. Syracuse would be better.

Does western Africa become Christian?
If western Africa along the Med remains Christian, Christianity probably spreads south as Islam did IOTL.

Spain remains Visigothic?
Definitely not.

The Balkans firmly Muslim?
Way to soon to tell. Even if Heraclius moves the capital, that does not mean that the Romans abandon Constantinople. Even if they lose it, (probably to the Sassanids, perhaps the Slavs or Bulgars) that does not guarantee Islamic success in the area. Given the POD, there is not certainty that Islam has the military success and rapid growth of OTL.

Catholic or Muslim Russia?
How many times does it need to be repeated that at the time of the conversion of the Rus, there was no (formal) separation between the Christian East and West? Anyway, with a POD this early, Russia could go almost anyway the TL's author wants it to go.
 
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Philip

Donor
Well, how many threats pass by Carthage compared to Constantinople? There's no Bulgars in the area, at least.

Let's see, the Romans destroyed Carthage. The Vandals took it. Then the Romans sacked it again. The Arabs took it. Various other Arab tribes and groups sacked it. And so on. And that's without it being the capital of the Roman Empire. Make it the capital, and many more peoples will come looking.
 
Why would they even want to move anyway? What logical reason could Byzantium possible have to move the capital to Carthage.
 

Philip

Donor
Why would they even want to move anyway? What logical reason could Byzantium possible have to move the capital to Carthage.

There was precisely one reason it was considered: Fear of the Sassanids taking Constantinople. Once Heraclius reversed the tides of war over the next few years, the idea was completely forgotten.
 
There was precisely one reason it was considered: Fear of the Sassanids taking Constantinople. Once Heraclius reversed the tides of war over the next few years, the idea was completely forgotten.

Then why not move it to Thessaloniki? Sure, it may be better to get out of Constantinople, but there is no reason to just completely leave Europe and head for Carthage.
 

Philip

Donor
Then why not move it to Thessaloniki? Sure, it may be better to get out of Constantinople, but there is no reason to just completely leave Europe and head for Carthage.

Heraclius had personal ties to Carthage. His father was Exarch of Africa when Heraclius deposed Phocus. Heraclius staged his revolt from Carthage.

Really, I am not convinced that he intended to really 'move the capital'. It was probably something more like wanting to make a tactical withdraw to get control of the situation. I would speculate that he considered withdrawing to Carthage. From there he would regather his strength, and then repeat his triumphant return to Constantinople.
 

Deleted member 5719

A new city constructed at Tunis, or better, La Goulette, would be emminently defensible. Expensive though.
 
Well, how many threats pass by Carthage compared to Constantinople? There's no Bulgars in the area, at least.

As other people have said, making it the capital makes it an even bigger target.

Secondly, even if it is less accessible all this means is that you have the danger of ending up with a rump Empire in Africa if the rest of the Empire falls apart. At least from Constantinople you can relatively easily project power into most of the likely theatres of action. Without modern communications having a capital tucked away in the back of beyond is a bit of a liability.
 
I think one Byzantine emperor moved the capital to Syracuse or Messina once, to project more power over his Italian conquests, but im not sure which one. The whole project did not last long- not sure if thats any help...

Constans II. He got killed in the bath because of it. :p
 
Thanks for all the input.

And Philip, I meant Catholic Russia as in it would end up following the same type of Christianity as the rest of Europe
 
Perhaps Byzantium's capital being in Carthage may have prompted the empire's subjects to more vigorously defended it (and the rest of North Africa) from the Arab invasion a few decades later. Just a thought.
 
Carthage.

I'm not sure how strong the Greek element was in that part of N. Africa. I don't see it holding out for very long after the Islamic invasion. If it fell early (Carthage), the capital probably gets moved back to Constantinople anyway, especially after the theme system in Asia Minor is set up.
 
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