Based on the thread further down, here's a rough skeleton plan to get the WRE through its very tricky fifth century...
POD: Constantius III lives for another decade.
422: After much threatening and haggling over imperial titles, with the government of the young Theodosius II refusing to acknowledge Constantius as a fellow Emperor, Constantius bribes a Gotho-Hunnic army to invade the Balkans. Theodosius backs down, and Constantius is accepted.
423: The Emperor Honorius dies on schedule.
426: Hunnic attacks on Pannonia are repulsed by John, the OTL rebel against Valentinian III. The young Attila is killed in the fighting.
428-9: Constantius campaigns in Spain against the Vandals, inflicting several serious defeats on them. The Suevic occupation of the far north-west of Iberia is accepted, and the remaining Vandals are settled on the Atlantic coast as Foederati.
430: Frankish incursions in Gaul. The capable young general Flavius Aetius is made Magister Militum with responsibility for the province.
431: Constantius III dies, leaving behind him a twelve year old son, Valentinian III, who has been hugely influenced by his father. Constantius' daughter, a fourteen year old named Honoria is married off by her mother Galla Placidia to John, in an attempt to keep a secure regency. Aetius revolts in Gaul.
432: Aetius is able to persuade the Aquitan Visigoths to join his revolt, and an army sent by John is defeated. Aetius plans to invade Italy.
433: Italy is saved by an Eastern expeditionary force, which routs Aetius' army, destroying the cream of the Visigothic aristocracy with it. The pretender himself is executed. Galla Placidia delivers John a son, Honorius.
432-38: While all this is going on, there are heavy attacks on the Rhine by Franks, which precipitates another small revolt in 436. Several Gallic towns are sacked.
438: The nineteen year old Valentinian weds Licinia Eudoxia, only surviving daughter of his cousin, the Eastern Emperor Theodosius. John is removed in a palace coup, and retires to an Egyptian monastery.
439: Aiming to emulate his father as a soldier Emperor, Valentinian campaigns in Gaul, with mixed success, almost dying in the fighting at one point. Licinia delivers him a son, though, who is immediately associated on the throne as Constantius IV.
441: The Franks are conclusively defeated by Edecius, a general of Hunnic origin.
442: Another child is delivered to Licinia, a daughter named Justina.
445: Valentinian leads an expedition to Britain, and wins several victories.
446: Valentinian III dies at Lindum (Lincoln) after a wound obtained in fighting turns septic. The seven year old Constantius IV is now Emperor of the West, but some at court support the claim of his older cousin Honorius, who is made junior co-Emperor. There is much manoeuvring at Ravenna to achieve control over the boy Emperors.
448: Edecius, the Hunnic general and hero of the Gallic campaigns is assassinated by a group led by Anthemius, an Eastern general and OTL Western Emperor sent by Theodosius II to assert a measure of control over the boys. Anthemius rules supreme as the most important figure in the West, and marries Licinia Eudoxia.
449: Theodosius II dies a year earlier than OTL. Constantius IV, at the age of ten, is now Emperor of the entirety of the Roman world. Honorius, now sixteen, remains in Ravenna, while Constantius and Anthemius leave for Constantinople, where an attempt at placing an in-law of Theodosius on the throne is foiled.
Thoughts?
POD: Constantius III lives for another decade.
422: After much threatening and haggling over imperial titles, with the government of the young Theodosius II refusing to acknowledge Constantius as a fellow Emperor, Constantius bribes a Gotho-Hunnic army to invade the Balkans. Theodosius backs down, and Constantius is accepted.
423: The Emperor Honorius dies on schedule.
426: Hunnic attacks on Pannonia are repulsed by John, the OTL rebel against Valentinian III. The young Attila is killed in the fighting.
428-9: Constantius campaigns in Spain against the Vandals, inflicting several serious defeats on them. The Suevic occupation of the far north-west of Iberia is accepted, and the remaining Vandals are settled on the Atlantic coast as Foederati.
430: Frankish incursions in Gaul. The capable young general Flavius Aetius is made Magister Militum with responsibility for the province.
431: Constantius III dies, leaving behind him a twelve year old son, Valentinian III, who has been hugely influenced by his father. Constantius' daughter, a fourteen year old named Honoria is married off by her mother Galla Placidia to John, in an attempt to keep a secure regency. Aetius revolts in Gaul.
432: Aetius is able to persuade the Aquitan Visigoths to join his revolt, and an army sent by John is defeated. Aetius plans to invade Italy.
433: Italy is saved by an Eastern expeditionary force, which routs Aetius' army, destroying the cream of the Visigothic aristocracy with it. The pretender himself is executed. Galla Placidia delivers John a son, Honorius.
432-38: While all this is going on, there are heavy attacks on the Rhine by Franks, which precipitates another small revolt in 436. Several Gallic towns are sacked.
438: The nineteen year old Valentinian weds Licinia Eudoxia, only surviving daughter of his cousin, the Eastern Emperor Theodosius. John is removed in a palace coup, and retires to an Egyptian monastery.
439: Aiming to emulate his father as a soldier Emperor, Valentinian campaigns in Gaul, with mixed success, almost dying in the fighting at one point. Licinia delivers him a son, though, who is immediately associated on the throne as Constantius IV.
441: The Franks are conclusively defeated by Edecius, a general of Hunnic origin.
442: Another child is delivered to Licinia, a daughter named Justina.
445: Valentinian leads an expedition to Britain, and wins several victories.
446: Valentinian III dies at Lindum (Lincoln) after a wound obtained in fighting turns septic. The seven year old Constantius IV is now Emperor of the West, but some at court support the claim of his older cousin Honorius, who is made junior co-Emperor. There is much manoeuvring at Ravenna to achieve control over the boy Emperors.
448: Edecius, the Hunnic general and hero of the Gallic campaigns is assassinated by a group led by Anthemius, an Eastern general and OTL Western Emperor sent by Theodosius II to assert a measure of control over the boys. Anthemius rules supreme as the most important figure in the West, and marries Licinia Eudoxia.
449: Theodosius II dies a year earlier than OTL. Constantius IV, at the age of ten, is now Emperor of the entirety of the Roman world. Honorius, now sixteen, remains in Ravenna, while Constantius and Anthemius leave for Constantinople, where an attempt at placing an in-law of Theodosius on the throne is foiled.
Thoughts?