WI : WRE Italian Tax Reform

GdwnsnHo

Banned
I've read on these threads a few times that one of the major reasons that the WRE had issues with foedarti, and fell was that the Italians were unwilling to pay taxes and fight in the army, or rather the Senators and large landowners were unwilling to pay taxes.

When could this phenomenon been prevented, and what impact would this have on the WRE as a whole?

Furthermore, based on having more revenue, could they have invested in urbanising the WRE alongside maintain a fully functional army?
 
Majorian was on the right track in my opinion to reforming taxation in the late WRE, but his unfortunate failure in invading North Africa resulted in his removal from power. Majorian would probably have made a good Emperor in the long term and achieved the reforms you are talking about, but he needed more time. At that stage of the WRE an Emperor lasted only as long as they kept winning battles.
 
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