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--- timelines:a_light_in_the_east_archived_version [2014/07/14 06:40] – history up to 375 Max Sinister
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 AD - On the morning of January 9th, Vatche I, Mamigonian, the Great, first Emperor of Armenia since the days of Tikran the Great, dies peacefully in his sleep. The nation mourns his passing in a way unmatched by any in memory since the death of Ara the Beautiful, legendary king of the First Dynasty. His son, Vassak, although not appointed as heir, is unanimously voted by the Nakharar Council to take the Imperial Throne. The young ruler's first act is to make January 9th into a national holiday, and enshrine his father's body. The tomb is made near Echmiadzin, and becomes one of the most famous holy sites of the nation. Vassak, who grew up in a more modern Armenia, realizes that the people are not united, in so far as that each city and province speaks with a different dialect. He thus asks the wisemen of the Church and his government to set out and create a means to unify the people fully.
+AD - Benat I, king of the Basques, dies after a week-long illness. His son, Kemen, is crowned Kemen I. Soon afterwards, a Basque army, travelling south into Africa, sends a report that they have encountered people who, apparently, worship the God of the Romans. Soon after this report, the army sends further news that these Christians are lead by a powerful king known as Juan. Kemen, with the Basque mentality of invincibility, orders that the Christian king submit to and join the Iberian Union or face destruction. All traces of the Basque army vanish soon after the ultimatum is given.
+In Armenia, Sembat Aramian finishes the first prototype of the "Shaunt (Thunder) class chariot. Sembat's goal was to duplicate the power and effectiveness of the Armenian cataphract. Therefore, the foregoes the Roman "block" design and creates a more rounded vehicle, with a wedge-like angle at the front. Rather than making the thing out of iron completely, Sembat simply makes a bronze chariot and covers it in layers of chainmail. This also allows for more open viewing ports, as the chainmail is able to cover against attacks on the charioteer. Finally, a smaller ballista is added, lacking the range and strength of the twin ballistae on the "Divine Retribution," but enough to cause damage on the battlefield. On a side note, an earlier version of the Thunder was destroyed in an explosion when the steam of the engine was not vented properly. Sembat, intrigued by the unguessed strength of the engine, begins to speak with Fironicus about somehow employing the engine for other purposes.
+Gaius Fironicus, Commander of the Holy Armies of Constantinople, orders an end to the old legionnary formation. This comes as a shock to the Romans, even to Constans, who questions the scientist-turned-general on his decision. Fironicus responds that the new Roman army will work together with chariot legions, allowing them to disrupt the enemy enough so that the slow march of the legion will no longer be necessary. Fironicus also revises the numbers: each legion will have 5,000 infantry, 2,000 archers, a thousand light-cavalry, and 300 chariots. The legion will act as a single entity, rather than a heavy infantry army with cavalry and archer support. The crippled genius does not have to wait long to test his theory, as, several weeks after his revision of the armed forces, Yazdigert II, Shahanshah of the remains of the Sassanid Persian Empire, launches an attack on the Roman border, hoping to take advantage of the apparent weakness of the Romans.
+The battle is fought near the Silk Road city of Susa. Fironicus, confident in his strategy, sends only two legions to combat the Persians. Vassak of Armenia honors his nation's pledge and sends his troops into northern Persia, defeating the Persian army stationed there. Yazdigert II had foreseen this, and thus had concentrated his troops to the South: knock out the Romans, then swing north and take out the Armenians while they are still in Persian territory. And so, on the 11th of May, the Battle of Susa is fought (If you want a map of the battle, just ask for it).
+The Romans have an army of about 15,000 (10,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, 2,000 archers), with about 200 Divine Retribution chariots and 300 newly-built Cavalry chariots of the old design, with modern engines. The Persians have amassed an army of some 60,000, almost 35,000 of those being spearmen infantry, with the 10,000 Immortals as their cavalry arm. Fironicus orders his troops to move in smaller groups, rather than as a whole. Each unit will act as an individual army, with its own archer support.
+Fironicus begins to give unorthodox orders, which the soldiers, puzzled though they may be, dutifully obey. The bulk of the Roman army slowly marches forward, while a third of their cavalry flanks break off to merge with the Divine Retribution chariots at the front. Pieces of the Roman infantry also break off and advance to the flanks, checking Immortal advance. The Roman extreme flanks, however, are held only by light cavalry, and the Immortals immediately split into two groups: one to hold the infantry flanks in place while the other rides into the exposed cavalry flanks and into the archer support. Meanwhile, the Persians, wishing to maintain steady contact with the enemy, mold their advancing lines so that they form a wedge.
+As soon as the Immortals and the Persian infantry change their formations, the chariots charge forward. The heavily armored Divine Retributions charge suddenly into the Persian wedge, and, rather than concentrate on eliminating them, burst through. They are immediately followed by cavalry, which take advantage of the confusion. The Roman infantry rushes forward to capitalize, and massacres the first ranks of the Persians before they are able to hold the Romans in check. The single Persian line is now divide into 4 pieces, each with infantry to the front, cavalry to the flank and chariots to the rear. The Immortals, meanwhile, are stopped cold by massed Cavalry chariots, which hold back their famous charges. A piece of the Roman infantry flank then breaks off on each side and decimates the Immortal ranks after their initial charge. Meanwhile, the Immortal charges at the supposed cavalry flanks are ended quickly when the cavalry melts to either side, revealing a line of infantry with archer support.
+The battle is soon over. Each section of the Persian army is confronted with an army of its own. The Immortals are stopped by infantry, chariot, cavalry and archer combinations. The Persian lines are shattered, and Divine Retributions rip the exposed archer lines apart. The battle ends with an utter rout, which turns into a massacre. Forty eight of the sixty thousand Persian troops do not return from the fields of Susa. The Roman casualties are astounding: three hundred and thirty six dead, several hundred more wounded. Yazdigert II sues for peace, and is forced to concede even more territory to the Romans and Armenians, most humiliating of which is the loss of Persepolis, the ancient capital of the first Persian dynasty, to the Romans.
+AD - Tiran, son of the last Arshakouni king of Armenia, Khosrov II, dies in a dungeon cell in Dvin. His body is cremated. "He wished to ignore the word of God and continue worshipping that fire which his father and his father before him extinguished from this land," Emperor Vassak declares. "Then let his body and soul be consumed by that fire, and find no peace in the realm of Christ and His Father." Tiran's ashes are scattered into the winds in Persia, so that he never lies on Armenian soil.
+The Gaels, armed with their fleet of steam ships, begin to explore the seas around them. The Celtic missionaries, in particular, explore far and wide, spreading the word of God to all who would listen. None dare attack the missionaries, as they have the backing of the Barbarian Council and the Gaelic navy.
+AD - Keisera Gudeliva, considered by many to be the savior of the Romanigoths, has her first son, naming him Fritigern, after her father. The Empire, since the end of the European War, has begun to prosper once again, and overland trade (using the Gaelic landships) ties the distant cities of the Empire together, creating a unified nation. Information begins to travel along with the landships, keeping the various provinces up to date on current affairs from Rome. The Golden Age of Romanigotha begins.
+Kemen I, realizing that one of his armies has been completely lost, orders another to conquer "that Roman-loving Juan." The army, entering African territory that the Basques consider their own, report that the local folk consider the territory "the home of Prestor John." The report describes him as a local warlord who attempts to rule under the symbol of Christ, using a symbol unlike the Imperial cross, rather closer to the Armenian crucifix. The army vanishes soon after the report is given.
+The Shaunt chariot, which performed well in the limited existing numbers during the latest war against Persia, is produced in larger numbers in Armenia. Vassak, marvelling at Fironicus' efficiency, begins to somewhat model his own army after the new Roman strategy. One very important change that the Emperor orders is that commanders are given the job by skill, not by birth. Thus, one of the last nakharar holds on the army is severed, as they had previously been hereditary generals and commanders. Furthermore, with the existance of much coastline, Vassak orders the creation of a navy and a much larger merchant marine, and within a generation Armenian ships are a common sight in Mediterranean ports. Vassak also trades much of the lands Armenia just conquered from Persia to the Romans in exchange for freedom of Armenian merchants and ships to pass through the Bosphorus straits without paying any taxes.
+AD - A Greek-born Roman scientist, Leo Galeus, uses a modified version of the Light of God to stare into the heavens. By judging the length and time of various moving objects and precisely calculating the rising and setting of the sun, Galeus and his colleagues realize that the Julian calendar, set by Julius Caesar centuries before, is incorrect. They continue with the studies, wanting to have a larger set of data before presenting their findings.
+AD - With Roman borders now surrounding Armenia on all fronts except the North, Armenia enters a Golden Age. Vassak invites all artisans and architects to Dvin, both to improve the city and to further a budding cultural advancement. With the borders of the nation secure, a strong army with chariots at the frontiers, and a close alliance with the strongest power in the world, Armenia begins to concentrate on improving its social aspects. Vassak expands the Imperial Academy into a school teaching many subjects, harkening back to Plato's Academy in Athens. The school is open only to the wealthiest of citizens, and nobles across the country send their sons and daughters to study the teachings of the greatest minds in Greek, Roman, and Armenian history. The nobles, incidentally, have lost almost all major power in the government. They are, however, still allowed to hold onto their large familial estates and pay no taxes, and thus are relatively content. Many of the major businesses of the country are now run by noble families, which are referred to as "the merchant princes of Armenia."
+In Saxony, Wihtgils, King of the Saxons, is killed during a hunt when his horse stumbles over a fallen tree and crushes him. The surprise death of the beloved king, who showed little signs of aging, comes as a blow to the Saxon people. The twin brothers, Horsa and Hengist, both almost 30 years old, are both named as the Kings of the Saxons. With the elimination of the Adirondack from the North and the close friendship with the Haudenosaunee, Saxony is a very large and prosperous nation, far larger now than the Saxon lands in Germania ever were. With abundance of land, and the realization that neither will be able to profit from any sort of conflict, the brothers agree to co-rule the Saxons. Although they are also half-Red skin, the two are Saxon at heart, and are accepted by the populace. The Reign of the Stallions thus begins.
+Constans, hearing of the Basque troubles against a Christian foe in Africa, praises this "Prestor John" in upholding the faith of the One True God and His Son. Envoys set out from Constantinople to find this Christian nation. Constans also begins to call on his people to unite the lands between the two Christian nations "by spreading the word of God into all of Africa." Fironicus, realizing that a good portion of the spreading shall be done with the sword, hastens in his reorganizing of the armies. Titus Lucinius, the cripple's most apt military student, studies from his master all that he can, both strategic and scientific information.
+AD -  After an unusually long life and reign, Flavius Julius Constans, the first Holy Caesar of the Holy Roman Empire, dies after a sudden heart attack while writing at his desk. The nation mourns for its fallen leader, and the funeral procession tours the entire Empire, the Caesar's glass coffin carrying him across the land. In Christopolis, he is sainted as St. Constans the First. The Holy Army then leads his body from the former capital of the Persian Empire to Constantinople, where he is buried alongside his father in the Tomb of the Caesars.
+After the Civil War, no living relatives of Constantine nor Constans remained, other than the Holy Caesar's sister, Constantina. Constans, who had been paranoid about usurpers, had also made sure to put to death all the generals that he had deposed in favor of the cripple, Fironicus. Thus, with no clear heirs and no one strong enough to take the reigns of the armies, the Throne of Peter fell to the one man that most in the government had not looked to as even a contender, much less a threat: Gaius Fironicus. The army, having won its first victory since the Persian Wars under Fironicus' command, immediately support their commander. The holy men, realizing that none of them carried enough public support to take the Throne for themselves, and believing that the lame genius would be easy to manipulate, also support Fironicus. Thus, in February 1, 391 AD, Gauis Fironicus is proclaimed the new Holy Caesar of the Holy Roman Empire.
+//The heavy rain poured onto the streets of Rome. Weather like this had not been seen for generations. The few people still in the open were hurrying to reach warmth and shelter; if any of them saw the lone figure calmly walking towards the Palace, they did not say anything. The person strode upon the paved roads towards the Capitol, roads that had been set by engineers of a dead empire. The figure paused, as several armored guards barred his way.
+"The Empress does not wish to see any visitors this night," said one of the guards, a particularly gruff one with a matted beard; a barbarian. "Return home."
+"I care not for the... empress..." the figure responded, extending his seal for the ignorant thug to examine. "I am here for my mother."
+"Lord Constantine! Forgive me, sir, I did not recognize you in the storm!" He signalled his men, who immediately stood down. "Your mother, the Lady Constantina, is in her quarters, preparing to return to her villa."
+"I am well aware of that."
+Constantine continued on his way, stopping at a crossroads, looking ahead at his mother's office. He turned and walked down a different path, leading towards the Palace itself. With practiced precision, he climbed a tree and entered a window.
+Several minutes later, he was walking down the road again, this time leaving the paved street and heading for a secluded corner, one that he had been to many times. As he reached the area, a voice spoke out from the darkness.
+"The wise lead."
+"And the workers follow," Constantine responded.
+A man stepped out of the shadows and greeted him.
+"Constantine. How are you my friend? More importantly, how goes the plan?"
+"Excellent, Marcinius. The old sow should be waking up any moment now. And when she does, she will be childless and heirless."
+The man named Marcinius nodded.
+"Then we are that much closer to doing what our ancestors should have done. Let nothing stand in the way of progress."//
+AD - On a rainy night in January, Hauhamunths, only son of Keisera Gudeliva and the heir to the Romanigothic Imperial Throne, is murdered in his sleep. The dagger that was found is traced back to a popular Roman senator, Flavius Basilius, who represents the "New Roman" culture and ideals. Basilius was also the son of one of the New Roman Republic's finest generals, and often complained publicly about the future Rome had before the Goths arrived. The Gothic citizens of Rome immediately call for the senator's execution, whereas the Roman elements believe the senator's pleas of innocence and demand that an investigation take place, rather than a lynching. Despite the government's best attempts to keep order, the situation quickly escalates, as Hauhamunths represented the new generation, a true Romanigoth, not simply an emigrated Visigoth. As guards escort the senator from his quarters to the Palace to stand trial, a Gothic mobs attacks the group and kills the senator, the crowd cheering when his head is hoisted.
+Influential Romans had been warned by letter about the attempt on the senator's life, and the Roman mob arrived in time to see their beloved Basilius' head being kicked about. Many Romans draw weapons and attack the Goths, who respond likewise. With an hour, a fullscale riot has broken out in Rome.
+Despite the best attempts by the government, even the mourning Keisera, to keep the violence a secret, by the end of the day, cities and villages across Rome have been told of the violence and the murders. Many of the towns respond in a similar fashion. The trust and friendships that had been built up since the conquest by Fritigern half a century ago are thrown to the wind as Goths and Romans across Italy clash. The army, consisting of both Goths and Romans, are also heavily affected, and many of the officers "fan the fires." Gothic units assist the Goths when "restoring order," and Roman units assist the Romans. Within two days, reports of army units fighting eachother and officers arming civilians are widespread.
+As the Keisera and her supporters struggle to maintain the peace in the face of escalating violence, Constantina, the last surviving child of Constantine the Great, is found murdered; a spear of the Gothic Guard, Gudeliva's personal defenders, is embedded in her chest.
+The floodgates are raised after the murder. The majority of Romans, who had not participated in the violence, are driven to fury by the death of the beloved Princess, the last link between them and the glory days of Rome. A Roman legionnary charges the Empress and slashes her arm off before the Gothic Guard impale him. The Keisera suffers from blood loss, but survives the attempt; however, she is unable to take the reigns of power, when the wound becomes infected and she attempts to recover. A purge of the military occurs in her absence, with the Gothic generals ousting all Roman elements; in some cases, Roman soldiers in predominantly Gothic units are simply killed. The predominantly Roman Southern Italy declares independence from the "brutal barbarian invaders" on February 19th, and almost all Romans from the rest of the Empire emigrate to the south. The Romanigothic Civil War has begun.
+Most of the chariots being developed by the Empire are seized by the withdrawing Romans and taken with them into the south. Using the chariots, they are able to defeat several Gothic forces in heavily one-sided battles. The leaders of the revolution all declare Constantine, the son of Constantina, as the Praetor of the new Roman Republic. Constantine, raised mostly in Southern Italy, a bastion of science, philosophy, and knowledge, is heavily schooled in war, philosophy, mathematics and music, and is an excellent athlete. Constantine and his followers, including the leader of the original Roman mob in the riots of Rome, Gnaeus Marcinius, declare that the new Republic shall not be based on the flawed pseudo-democratic principals that have twice failed the Roman people. Instead, the new Republic shall be pased on the principals of Plato, who teachings are almost religiously studied in Southern Italy.
+The Republicans repeatedly defeat the Goths, but realize that they have less manpower than the Goths, and once Gothic chariots are produced again, they shall be defeated. So, Constantine takes a ship to Constantinople, and speaks to the scientist-Caesar Gaius Fironicus. Fironicus agrees to aid the Republicans, mostly because he himself is a lover of Plato, and is thrilled at the prospect of a Platoist friendly nation in Italy. Constantine makes several trade agreements with the Caesar, and returns to Italy at the head of three new Holy Roman legions, led by Titus Lucinius, the Caesar's pupil. The Republican forces, which had been losing ground to the Goths and their slowly building chariot forces, and bolstered by the Holy Romans, which are able to easily defeat Gothic armies four times as large as they. In the spring of 391, Keisera Gudeliva, still not fully recovered, signs a peace treaty recognizing the new Italian Republic.
+AD - Gudeliva, now fully recovered and always dressed in robes to hide her missing arm, arrives in Londonium, where she demands to know why her allies did not aid her in the Civil War. The Gaels and Germans respond, quite simply, that they did not wish to. The aging Daffyd, King of Hibernia, states that, "it was you who chose to have an empire, rather than giving each man his land and each tribe its freedom. It was you who attempted to cling to the old trappings of the lying Romans, and tried to befriend the murderers of your fathers. We do not try to impose our will on any others. Why should we die to ensure that you do?" In frustration, Gudeliva withdraws the Romanigothic Empire from Barbarian Council. The Gaelic Navy immediately withdraws from all Romanigothic ports, and gathers in the Gaelic Channel. The United Tribes of Germania warn the Romanigoths that the alliances are still binding, and any attack them or the Gaels will cause both nations to declare war.
+AD - In Armenia, the times are peaceful and the days idyllic. The new Catholicos, Sahak Partev and a brilliant priest, Mesrop Mashtots, set out to spread the word of God across all the land. The old Armenian Alphabet, having been banned by Catholicos Grigor the Illuminator, is rediscovered. Mashtots undertakes a project to modernizes and change the ancient Armenian alphabet into a newer, modern version, more applicable to the modern dialect and easier to learn.
+Gaius Fironicus, Holy Caesar of the Holy Roman Empire, willingly passes his crown to his student, Titus Lucinius, after having ensured that the sciences and other intellectual endeavours shall enjoy full funding from the government. Lucinius is crowned the new Caesar on Sept. 1, the Day of Enthronement, which becomes a tradition afterwards. The young man is not only a brilliant military tactician, but also a genius in his own right, having created several of the processes used by Fironicus in his latest update of the steam engine. Lucinius undertakes a massive development project across the Empire, having numerous aqueducts and irrigation canals built into the harsh climates of the Arabian peninsula, and modernizing cities from Anatolia to Africa. He also orders the creation of steam-powered farm equipment, to feed the ever-increasing population and increase trade. Taking a cue from the Gaels, he completes the modernization of the navy (all the more important now that they have an ally in Italy) and begins to create special roads specifically for "landships," which have evolved into long carriages that carry goods and passengers. Roads are also built into Armenia and Ostrogotha, increasing trade dramatically between the allied nations. The Golden Age of the Holy Roman Empire has begun.
+//Ahtagais was cold. He hated the cold.
+The broad-shouldered, barrel-chested Ostrogoth was seated upon his horse, looked out upon the plains. He was wrapped in furs, and his monstrous spear, also named Ahtagais, the terrible spear, was slung across the equine's back. He drank some home-brewed liquor from a sack; one needed liquid fire to warm up in this damnable weather.
+"I hate the cold."
+His friend, Waihtifuns, a blonde-haired warrior with a strong sword-arm, sighed.
+"And I hate you repeating the same thing every day."
+The two laughed, and Ahtagais tossed his liquor sack over to his friend.
+"Explain again, noble Waihtifuns, why it is we are to sit here in the gods-forsaken snow, staring at jackrabbits and deer prance hither and thither?"
+"Oh for the love of... I told you already! The King is spooked over talk of these eastern barbarians, these Hangs, or whatever they are called. If we are to see or hear anything, we are to ride to headquarters and report, so the army will be ready to intercept these invaders."
+"So we are to sit here, the two of us, and await the coming of an army? Not that I'm complaining, mind you, since Ahtagais can take a hundred thousand men; you, on the other hand, would have trouble taking your own wife."
+"I have no trouble taking yours!"
+The blonde-haired barbarian began to laugh, but Ahtagais cut him off.
+"Wait... do you hear that?"
+Waihtifuns, realizing that his companion was not jesting, looked about, his hand falling to his blade.
+"Yes... it sounds like..."
+"Horses," Ahtagais finished, looking towards the east. Ahead of the rising sun rode what look like a black wave; the ground began to thunder as thousands of hooves stamped into the earth.
+"What did you say these barbarians were called?" Ahtagais asked, turning his horse about.
+"Hangs."
+"Then the Hangs have come."//
+AD - In the beginning of the year, the Huns, a massive barbarian people utilizing cavalry archers and viciousness unseen by the relatively civilized Europeans, burst onto the eastern borders of Ostrogotha. They are intitially very successful, and their archer-cavalry tactics devastate the largely cavalry Ostrogothic army. Egfroth frantically calls on the Holy Romans to send aid. Caesar Lucinius, although not a fan of the Ostrogoths, realizes that the Empire needs a friendly nation to the north to maintain stability. Armenia, with its northern border to Ostrogotha, also agrees to send aid.
+About 4,000 heavy infantry, a thousand heavy cataphracts and a hundred Shaunt (Thunderbolt) class chariots are sent by the Armenians, along with two full legions by the Romans. The Armenians, led by Crown Prince Vagharshak Mamigonian, have modelled their army and tactics after the new Roman legion. Egfroth, upon hearing how few troops are coming to his aid, rages in Wigbarta, accusing the Romans of treachery. The Hunnic army, however, is promptly defeated by the join Armenian-Roman armies, with the chariots smashing Hunnic horse and deflecting Hunnic arrow. The Huns retreat, after inflicting devastating losses to Ostrogothic cities and fields.
+Egfroth, realizing that the era of the cavalryman has ended, begins to order his own chariots. Ostrogotha is poor, however, after paying Allied reparations for the European War. The devastation caused by the Huns further depleted the Ostrogothic treasury. In desperation, he is forced to sell off the southern provinces to Caesar Titus, who makes sure that all territories purchased are rich in ore that is useful for chariots.
+AD - The Philosophic Republic of Italy is finally fully established. The "capital" of the Republic, if it could be called that, is the city of Neapolis. The Philosophic Republic is based entirely off the model of Plato's Republic. The entire country, therefore, is simply a union of city-states, which each have complete autonomy. Each city-state is divided into two classes and three groups: the Upper Class, which are the Leaders and the Soldiers; and the Lower Class, which are the Workers. The Upper Class live in very modest, state-run homes, and are raised on an almost Spartan model: children are not raised by parents, and in fact never discover who their parents are, and are instead raised and educated by the state. They are heavily schooled in music, mathematics, philosophy, war, and athletics, as per Plato's instructions. The Upper Class owns no property whatsoever, thereby eliminating the corrupting influence of power. The Lower Class is allowed to own private property and raise traditional families, although they have absolutely no say in the government. Each city-state is run by a small council of Philosopher-Kings, and these Philosopher-Kings meet monthly in Neapolis to discuss national matters, such as war. Realizing that, with the strict structure of the system, armies would become small and professional, the Philosopher-Kings begin to research heavily into steam engine technology, hoping to gain an edge unseen by any other nation.
+AD - The Armenian priest Mesrop Mashtots, having travelled the Empire in search of the Armenian alphabet, finally compiles a new Armenian alphabet, of 36 letters. Much of the alphabet is based on the old, pagan alphabet, which was banned by Grigor the Illuminator and vanished when the Catholicos waged the destructive war against the old Armenian pagan priests. The Bible is translated from Greek and Aramaic into Armenian, foregoing the Holy Roman version for earlier ones.
+In Constantinople, the aged Gaius Fironicus, on his deathbed, completes the designes of the last improvement to his beloved chariot that he shall make: the track. Realizing the effectiveness of trenches against the chariot's wheels, Fironicus creates a system of armored plates attached to the wheels, creating a constant flat surface for the wheels to roll over. Shortly after completing the designs, Gaius Fironicus, former Caesar of the Holy Roman Empire and the "greatest genius in the history of the world," passes away. His track designs are immediately incorporated into all models of chariots by Caesar Titus. Titus realizes that much of the west is decidedly anti-Roman, and that the Ostrogoths are a weak ally, useful only for insuring that no hostile force exists in the north; therefore, in a show of goodwill and friendship, the Holy Caesar passes along the designs, as well as the models of the current steam engine, to "our eternal and graceful allies and brothers, the Armenians." Emperor Vassak, grateful at this gesture, gives Titus the title of "friend of the people," and awards him with Nakhararship, making him a nobleman of Armenia.
+During the funeral of Fironicus, now beatified as St. Fironicus, the scientist Leo Galeus presents Caesar Titus with a new calendar, which they call the Fironican calendar in honor of the deceased. Titus officially adopts the new calendar, and declares that the start of the new year shall be September 1st, and that Sept. 1, 349 AD, shall be the first day of year 1 ad imperium augustus condita, or ad imperium, AI, as it will be commonly referred to.
+AD - The Saxons, led by the twin kings Horsa and Hengist, have reached the staggerring population of three million in only two generations, staggering mostly due to the fact that less than half a million landed upon the shores of Saxony from Europe. The Stallion Kings have seen their lands become urbanized, with European style cities beginning to emerge, using paved roads and stone houses. The territories captured by the Saxons in their wars are so expansive that they have only been able to begin colonization efforts in roughly one quarter of the newly gained lands.
+//"Scientist Antonius, prepare steam engine for operation, block venting chamber."
+"Understood."
+Antonius activated the steam engine and slid the iron plate into the venting tube, blocking the path for the escaping steam.
+"Insert the sphere into the venting chamber."
+The scientist complied almost without thought, inserting the small iron ball into the end of the tube. According to the calculations, the steam engine could go another fourteen seconds before pressure within the steam chamber would become critical.
+"Withdraw the plate in six... five... four... three... two... one... withdraw."
+Antonius immediately pulled the plate up, freeing the steam. The force of the escaping steam propelled the iron ball forward at a stunning velocity. The small sphere ricochetted off the wall with a loud clash of metal against stone and flew into the body of Antonius. The scientist was killed before he even realized what had just occurred, his body crumpling to the floor with a sickening thud.
+A figure in the corner looked on impassively, calmly stepping aside when the blood of the dead scientist threatened to stain his boots.
+"Experiment a success. Guard Rufus, please remove the body of Scientist Antonius and have Scientist Gallus report to the invention chamber."
+Guard Rufus looked down at Antonius.
+"Shall I equip Scientist Gallus with armor, Administrator Aulus?"
+The figure did not deign to look at the guard.
+"We have not the resources to risk armor. Do as ordered."
+The guard saluted and grabbed the arms of the fallen scientist, hoisting him up and carrying him from the room.//
+AD - A scientist of the Upper Class of the Philosophic Republic, Administrator Aulus (the Upper Class has dropped the traditional Roman use of praenomens, nomens, cognomens and agnomens, and instead has taken to referring to the Upper Classmen by their designation and name), researches the unused properties of steam power; namely, the highly explosive ability of unvented steam first observed by the Armenian scientist Sembat Aramian. Through several experiments, Aulus discovers that steam, when vented after collecting enough pressure, can propel items at incredible speeds. Aulus immediately realizes the potential of this discovery and orders the scientists of the Republic to design a weapon that will rapidly project small iron spheres.
+In Germania, the use of landships has lead to the creation of permanent settlements connected by the paved roads that the landships run on. Without the need for constant migration in search of food, the Germanian tribes begin to advance culturally, and the settlements are allowed to urbanize as the farming communities with richer soil can ship their food to the new cities. The kings of the various tribes thus establish permanent boundaries, taking the first steps towards a nation-state.
+In the Romanigothic Empire, turmoil is spreading. Relatives of the dead Keiser Fritigern, having been prevented from claiming the throne when his daughter became Keisera, lead factions of traditional Visigoths as they protest against the Keisera. The older Goths claim that the softening of Gudeliva has caused the troubles faced by the nation, and that only a return to the old principles of their barbarian forefathers shall save the Gothic people. The urban populations of Italy tend to support Gudeliva and the "new Goths," whereas the rural population of Gaul follow the hardliners. The hardliner leaders, all princes of the Balthigg Imperial family, decide to refrain from open revolution, realizing that, without a direct heir, Gudeliva's death shall leave one of them in power.
+Their plans are spoiled, however, when the aged Keisera decrees that, after her death, the Romanigothic Empire shall become the Romanigothic Republic. The princes, realizing that word of this would begin to errode their popularity, immediately alter the news as it arrives in Gaul, portraying it as further proof that the Keisera has become a Roman, and that the meaning of the decree is that the country would be sold to "the traitorous thinkers" of the Philosophic Republic. The people, outraged, rise up against the Keisera. The Second Romanigothic Civil War begins.
+==== Further developments ====
+The Era of the Good Caesars continues for about a century and a half in the HRE, seeing it expand massively in the East. The last remnants of the Persian Empire are conquered by the HRE and by the Huns, whose numbers and savagery are able to beat back all Roman advances save those by chariots.
+Armenia, surrounded mostly by the HRE with a border to the north with the friendly Ostrogoths, begins to demilitarize. This will come back to bite in straight in the arse in a few centuries, however, when the Era of Good Caesars is over.
+The Platonic Republic launches an assault on the Romanigothic Empire during the Civil War, and captures some much-needed agricultural land. It's newly developed steam-cannons are incredible useful. Afterwards, it constructs a wall across its border, creates cannon-forts along the coast, and breaks off relations with all nations, turning in on itself (Confederation of Platonic City-States, the CPCS), having the resources to feed its own population and constantly furthering all sciences to ensure that it remains independent and secure despite its small size and population. The CPCS' spy network becomes unparalleled throughout the world.
+The Romanigoths plunge into Civil War. The Empress wishes it to become a Republic, the nobles wish it to remain a Monarchy. In the end, several of the Empress' "loyal" relatives succeed in winning the war, but turn the "republic" into an oligarchy, with a select few ruling in a council. The principles of unbridled capitalism develop in the "Republic," and it becomes the financial superpower of the world, giving loans even to the HRE.
+The Alemanni develop into an analogue of the Austrian Empire. Although the Germanic tribe itself is large in population, the land it controls number many other nationalities and languages.
+The Germans develop into an even looser version of the OTL HRE. Each tribe as a chief, and is divided even further into smaller tribes that are all of a single larger tribe. This resembles the Gaelic government, and both become bastions of liberalism and freedom.
+The Barbarian Union, as the alliance of the Gaels, Germans, and Alemanni is known, becomes a seafaring power and a trading giant. The Gaels make the first contact with the Saxons overseas, who eventually ally with the BU. They also create colonies in South America, which they name Hy-Brasil.
+The Saxons create a large land empire in North America (known as Asgard), and create a close alliance with the Iroquois. By several centuries, there is little distinction between the Germans and the Redskins except for skin color. The coming of steam technology is late to the Saxons, but the resources at hand for them dwarf anything in Europe, and they are able to mass produce chariots for war, becoming the arsenal of the Barbarian Union.
+The Basque Empire becomes an African powerhouse. After years of war, it conquers the Christian kingdom of "Prestor John," and gold stuffs the coffers of the Emperor. The HRE, however, takes this as an excuse to entire Central Africa, and after a quick and decisive naval war, the Kingdom of Prestor John is liberated as a Holy Roman protectorate. The Basques begin to develop steam technology, and carve a large African land empire.
+Asia will be contacted after the Era of Good Empires. Around 600 AD, religious zealots will gain the Imperial Throne of Peter. More and more people will be fighting the Huns, but will not want to return to simple pseudo-serfdom after their days soldiering. Demands for liberties and civil rights will continue until the Inquisition. This will basically try to return the HRE to a time about 200 years past, with people tied to their land and technology only for the military. The Caesar will decree that the use of technology by the common man has made them lose sight of God's plan, and will ban all technology except that used by the military. Science will face a severe crackdown, with the researchers requiring to pass "religious exams" to determine their loyalty. Many scientists will flee to Europe, bringing their knowledge up-to-date with the technology of the HRE (though not of the Platonic Republic, which is still far advanced).
+Armenia, which has refused to emulate the HRE's Imperial Church, will be attacked and conquered, having demilitarized for the most part and having nowhere near the population of the Empire. The people will be exiled to the East, to prevent them from aiding the Infidels in Europe. Many Roman scientists also are sent with them, again to prevent them from assisting the Europeans. This happens in about 800 AD, and they eventually settle in Mongolia, where they ally with the Mongol tribes, who convert to the Apostolic Christian faith.
+The Barbarian Union militarizes over this, and in response the HRE declares war. A brutal campaign is fought in Eastern Europe, and much of the Alemanni Empire is devastated, and eventually annexed by the HRE, which is the victor. At this point, the Barbarians, with the aid of their new scientists, devote much of their strength to research and development, using the vast expanses of Asgard to supply their war machine for the inevitable rematch (this is all in the year 1000, give or take a few decades).
+Hunnish India is finally conquered and a path to the East opened, but the HRE then stumbles into the Chinese Empire. Technology, having trickled East, has allowed China to maintain stability, and the war of the white devils unifies them like nothing else. Several Crusades follow, but little territory is lost, with the Chinese utilizing gunpowder against the Roman chariots.
+Meanwhile, the Armenians, Assyrians, and Mongols create the Apostolic Federation. Using Chinese gunpowder and Roman technology, they are able to create weapons unlike any seen in the West. They launch a war against the Ostrogoths (who occupy Northern Armenia during the joint war against the Armenian Empire) and are able to expand quickly. They also fight the Chinese, and ally with the Japanese in about 1000 AD. The Japanese use their technology to conquer and colonize many of the islands to their south, with the crowning achievement of Hoyaikyu (New Land, OTL Australia). They are challenged by the Southern Huns, which control Southeast Asia and the nearby islands, whereas the Northern Huns control the area to the east of the Caspian Sea.
+With the Federation attacking from the north and the HRE attacking from the West, the Chinese are finished. They flee Eastward, past Japan, and eventually colonize Western Asgard. The Chinese Empire thus controls the Asgardian west coast and parts of Southeast Asia. The Federation turns then on the war-weary HRE and conquers much of Asia, pushing back the HRE to their Hunnic borders.
+This broils down to the World War. The HRE allies with the Iberians and the Chinese, who fear and hate the Mongols worse than anything else. The Algonquins in Asgard, as well as the Incan and Mayan Empires, also join the Alliance. In response, the Barbarian Union allies with the Federation and their Japanese allies. The Aztecs, having been driven from their lands by the Chinese, as well as the Iroquois, decide to join the new Greater Federation for their own security. In about 1300, all hell breaks loose.
+All this broils down to the World War in about 1200-1300. The HRE, Ostrogoths, Iberians, Mayans, Incans, Algonquins, and Chinese will duke it out with the Federation, the Barbarian Union, Aztecs, Iroquois, and Japanese. The main fighting will be:
+  * Iberians vs BU
+  * BU vs HRE
+  * HRE vs Federation
+  * Japanese vs Chinese
+  * Aztecs vs Mayans
+  * Aztecs vs Chinese
+  * Iroquois vs Algonquins
+  * Saxons vs Algonquins
+  * Federation vs Ostrogoths
+  * Incans vs anyone who gets near them.