OK, so Emperor Honorius died on August 15th, 423, at the age of 38, without leaving any heir. At the time, a guy named Castinus was patrician in the Western Empire; Theodosius II was Emperor in the East
Let's assume this doesn't happen, and Castinus and Theodosius reach an understanding, leaving the latter sole emperor. Joannes remains a senior civil servant in Rome and Valentinian and his mother Galla Placidia go and live their lives in Constantinople.
Given his connections to the Huns, Flavius Aetius might very well still end up with the top job after all. Or Bonifacius, who after all defeated Aetius initially, only to die of his wounds. Flavius Felix, who after all could count both Aetius and Bonifacius as his subordinates, also has a shot, as does Castinus, who might get to keep his job after all.
Anyway, does this new arrangement help or hinder the Empire? Generals were quite liable to fight and kill each other OTL at this point in time anyway.
However, ITTL, there is no Valentinian III to assassinate Aetius (assuming he still emerges victorious); there is no Galla Placidia to switch her favor from one bigshot to the other; there is no Honoria to send her ring to Atilla (assuming the story is true) etc.
Your thoughts?
wiki said:Oost also argues that Theodosius reached an agreement with Castinus, where Castinus would act as his vice-regent in the West and in return Theodosius appointed Castinus and the Easterner Victor consuls for 424.[3] If such an agreement was made, Castinus broke it when he joined in declaring Joannes, the senior civil servant, as the new Western Emperor in late 423.[2]
Let's assume this doesn't happen, and Castinus and Theodosius reach an understanding, leaving the latter sole emperor. Joannes remains a senior civil servant in Rome and Valentinian and his mother Galla Placidia go and live their lives in Constantinople.
Given his connections to the Huns, Flavius Aetius might very well still end up with the top job after all. Or Bonifacius, who after all defeated Aetius initially, only to die of his wounds. Flavius Felix, who after all could count both Aetius and Bonifacius as his subordinates, also has a shot, as does Castinus, who might get to keep his job after all.
Anyway, does this new arrangement help or hinder the Empire? Generals were quite liable to fight and kill each other OTL at this point in time anyway.
However, ITTL, there is no Valentinian III to assassinate Aetius (assuming he still emerges victorious); there is no Galla Placidia to switch her favor from one bigshot to the other; there is no Honoria to send her ring to Atilla (assuming the story is true) etc.
Your thoughts?